Affiliate Summit Florida
Affiliate marketing in the USA is not that different from affiliate marketing in the UK. Its nice to hear that the main issues in the UK are the same in the US.The main difference is the there is more money in the US and affiliate programs are bigger but not always better. Issues like allowing affiliates to bid on brand names, pros and cons is very topical.
The affects of Google and shifting goal posts, vague guide lines and same amount of urban myths interwoven with truth, every one knowing and adding a little something but we still ending up with knowing a whole lot of nothing. Separating the fact from the fiction is still hard work and nice to see its the same across the pond.
But wait what’s this? A new Search Engine magazine, aimed at people like me. Its called Search Marketing Standard, www.searchmarketingstandard.com a very easy read and wades through those urban myths. I urge everyone to try and get a hold of issue 1. with articles like “15 of the biggest myths in search marketing exposed”, “measuring SEO success with web analytics”, not for the SEO savvy but definitely for those that know the basic and want to understand more. Was a surprise to see such an abundance of affiliates, by contrast to that of the UK. Hybrid deals are very popular and whilst these deals are all behind closed doors in the UK, nice to see its the same in the US. So what was different?
US affiliates don’t mess about, they are on a mission and you go from short polite pleasantries and bang straight into making the deal. I saw and overheard two guys take five minutes from start to finish go from “Hi my name is….” to “Ok you got a deal”. I watched as they went their separate ways and I thought to myself, yeah who needs all that banter and schmoozing, I guess its down to how sociable you want to be. I quite like the long schmooze, I like to try to get to know the person as its the key to a potential long lasting partnership, but the short approach frees up more time, clinical and no emotion. Could be the start of a debate?
Of all the networks, Linkshare.com amused me the most, their newby sales guy, so young, so enthusiastic to impress his boss and make a good impression by saying all the right things “we are the best network because…”. I got the whole sales pitch which lasted a good fifteen to twenty minutes, I did not have the heart to tell him that I was actually working with them via a client or two and knew LS pretty well. Bless his cotton socks.
Would I recommend going to the US as a UK Affiliate? Only if you want to do business in the US, then worth every penny. And big congratulations to Jonathan Kraft and his missus for getting to the summit of Kilimanjaro http://www.kilimanjaro2006.com/video-final.html Sorry I missed you at the Affiliate summit, but well done guys!!!!
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Comments
I’ll drop you a line soon, had an influx of new business and its time to get a real office 🙂
Oh you have to come to London and try to time it with one of our affiliate get2gethers. Id be happy to show you both around. Yes…it was a real shae we did not meet up, Guy Norris said I had missed you by minutes, so close…ah never mind. Deffo meet up one day, if not in Vagas Min Jan (any more mountain climbing? Got the bug?)
Jsx
Hey Jess!
Yes, definitely have the bug… not necessarily the climbing bug, but defintely the travel bug!
We have an open invitation to use the London flat of a friend of ours for our honeymoon (after we get married next fall), so what does the schedule look like for October 2007 for an affiliate get2gether?
So I hope business is going absolutely fabulously for you. It’s felt like a big game of catch-up for me since getting back, but I’m feeling more and more caught up by the day, which is VERY good!
So I noticed you blogged on the Vegas casino conference… Are you actually going to that conference? I will be in Vegas (just by chance) during that time for the World Internet Summit. If you’re going, maybe we could get together at that point?
Jonathan
Hey Jessica!
Thanks so much for the link and for posting our news! I’m sorry we missed you at the summit too. Have no idea how – but it was disappointing not to meet you. Ah well, just another reason to come to the UK!
I look forward to chatting affiliate marketing with you again. Call me any time!