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Affiliate Summit Vegas - Day 2Adrian Singer, 02-24-2008 |
Yesterday, at the conclusion of Day 1, the SoftwareProjects team had a chance to attend the ShareASale party at the 34 floor of the Palms hotel.
Brian Littleton secured an amazing $20k/night suite for the event, complete with two heated pools, three Jacuzzis, open bar and an amazing view. The suite next door to us had a "Hugh Hefner" plaque on the door, so we were in good company.
The view from the pool that extended outside as a porch:
-
Day 2 began with a keynote by Jason Calacanis (founder of Mahalo) where Jason used his old controversial linkbait tricks that put him on the map two years ago. Back then, Jason said "SEO is BullShit" in front of an audience of SEO professionals. Today, Jason started his keynote saying "Affiliate Marketing is BullShit". Jason then proceeded to explain how for the most part, Affiliate Marketing is about spamming the web and how his brainchild - Mahalo offers a clean spam-free web search engine.
Love him or hate him, you can't ignore him. Jason proves the controversial linkbait technique still works as his speech is now the most blogged about session of Affiliate Summit West.
Day 2 was the first day of the exhibitor hall and we had a chance to meet and interact with dozens of new vendors -
Marin Software and MediaBoost, both offer an entry level PPC bid management system, similar to SoftwareProjects own PPC Console. Marin Software launched a couple of months ago after developing their product for two years. MediaBoost is an Israeli company that promises a hands free one-click AdWords optimizer. We'll definitely be monitoring these two companies.
Clicks2Customers, brain child of super affiliate Vinny Lingham, did not present their PPC bid management system (it's not for sale), but spending some quality time with Ariel from C2C and learning more about their approach, Clicks2Customers definitely offers the most robust solution of the three. That's probably why C2C is the only affiliate approved to do direct-linking by Zappos.
Tracking202 offers a free PPC ROI tracker that allows you to track ROI across your affiliate campaigns. At this point, Tracking202 requires a manual upload of data to work. Then again, you can't beat free.
AffSpy, endorsed by Paul from UberAffiliate, will help you find the network that offers the highest commission payout for any offer you are currently promoting. This tool is also 100% free and they make their money from network referrals.
Virtumundo and Options Media offer an Email Marketing solution, similar to SoftwareProjects own Email Marketing system. Unlike SoftwareProjects, the two companies offer a bare bones Email Delivery platform, where you have to design creatives, manage campaigns and optimize ROI on your own with no hands-on management. On the front-end, each system offered some nice eye candies but no built-in ROI and CPA tracking.
DirectTrack is the most popular Affiliate Tracking system, widely deployed by hundreds of merchants worldwide. While DirectTrack is not cheap, its large install base is a testament to how robust DirectTrack really is. SoftwareProjects Affiliate Management system offers comparable features at a lower price tag and a greater level of customization.
What did I learn?
A lot of agencies brand themselves as "full service Internet Marketing", but very few (if any) can offer holistic in house PPC, Email Marketing, Call centers, Software development, Copy writing, Analytics, Affiliate Management systems and Payment centers like SoftwareProjects does.
3 out of 5 attendees to Affiliate Summit use tools and services by SoftwareProjects. This being my first Affiliate Summit, it was exciting to meet with clients and understand the integral role our one-stop-shop plays in their businesses.
Everyone wants to be an Affiliate Network
Our friends from PepperJam, featured a double sized booth, promoting both the new PepperJam Network as well as SEM services. In true PepperJam style, an army of 8 PepperJammers attended the show, manning the booth, interacting with partners like SoftwareProjects and live-blogging sessions.
The exhibitor hall was flooded with new Affiliate Marketing networks. It seems like just about any company wants to be a network these days.
Many full service Internet Marketing agencies are realizing the financial potential of becoming a network (using other people's money & time to increase bottom line profits). I was surprised to see some of our competitors take the plunge, shifting their business focus from Search Engine Marketing to an affiliate network. All in all there must have been at least 50 new affiliate networks in attendance.
While SoftwareProjects is not an Affiliate Marketing network and we don't plan on ever becoming one, we do feature a pay-by-performance Lead Generation service. Emphasys, Microsoft, ReMAX, HerbaLife and Visa, are some of the companies who have been utilizing our lead generation service for the past two years.
Surprisingly, the big networks - LinkShare & ClickBank did not attend and Commission Junction had a small booth.
Affiliate Summit Sessions
To be perfectly honest, I personally found most sessions filled with too much self-promotion and too little quality information you can take to the bank.
That being said, here are some tips and takeouts from my favorite sessions -
"Video Innovation in Affiliate Marketing":
Video is here to stay. Use it to boost your SEO rankings, increase readership and enhance your brand recognition.
(Video) quality is not important. Produce engaging content your target audience cares about. No one cares about bad lighting, poor audio or grammar mistakes.
"Email is Media":
Done right, Email Marketing is still the most cost effective way to generate an instant flow of quality leads to your website or offer page.
Done wrong, Email Marketing can take your site down.
"Managing your Affiliate Manager":
Affiliate Marketing is all about relationships. Build and maintain a strong relationship with your affiliate manager.
If you're speaking to (or chatting with) your affiliate manager twice a week, you're well on your way to becoming a super affiliate.
Moniker - Domain Auction
Our Florida friends from Moniker hosted a live domain auction open to everyone. Monte Cahn, founder and CEO of Moniker shared with us that Moniker hosts 50 domain auctions every year, attending most (if not all) technology related shows.
Affiliate Marketers must be frugal as total gross sales barely hit $500,000, compared to 7 figure earnings at InterNext (a.k.a "the porn show") where single domains were selling at high 6 digits like cup cakes.
Affiliate Bash - "the" party of Affiliate Summit West
Affiliate Bash, a public open-to-all party at the Venetian Tao exclusive restaurant was definitely the most extravagant party of Affiliate Summit West.
Sponsored by our partners from PepperJam, RocketProfit, Forge and AMWSO, AffiliateBash featured a 15 minute show by the Blue Man group, free food and an open bar.
The atmosphere was quiet enough to network and it was fun granting some of our clients with VIP tickets to watch the entire show from the second floor.
Brian Littleton secured an amazing $20k/night suite for the event, complete with two heated pools, three Jacuzzis, open bar and an amazing view. The suite next door to us had a "Hugh Hefner" plaque on the door, so we were in good company.
The view from the pool that extended outside as a porch:
-
Day 2 began with a keynote by Jason Calacanis (founder of Mahalo) where Jason used his old controversial linkbait tricks that put him on the map two years ago. Back then, Jason said "SEO is BullShit" in front of an audience of SEO professionals. Today, Jason started his keynote saying "Affiliate Marketing is BullShit". Jason then proceeded to explain how for the most part, Affiliate Marketing is about spamming the web and how his brainchild - Mahalo offers a clean spam-free web search engine.
Love him or hate him, you can't ignore him. Jason proves the controversial linkbait technique still works as his speech is now the most blogged about session of Affiliate Summit West.
Day 2 was the first day of the exhibitor hall and we had a chance to meet and interact with dozens of new vendors -
Marin Software and MediaBoost, both offer an entry level PPC bid management system, similar to SoftwareProjects own PPC Console. Marin Software launched a couple of months ago after developing their product for two years. MediaBoost is an Israeli company that promises a hands free one-click AdWords optimizer. We'll definitely be monitoring these two companies.
Clicks2Customers, brain child of super affiliate Vinny Lingham, did not present their PPC bid management system (it's not for sale), but spending some quality time with Ariel from C2C and learning more about their approach, Clicks2Customers definitely offers the most robust solution of the three. That's probably why C2C is the only affiliate approved to do direct-linking by Zappos.
Tracking202 offers a free PPC ROI tracker that allows you to track ROI across your affiliate campaigns. At this point, Tracking202 requires a manual upload of data to work. Then again, you can't beat free.
AffSpy, endorsed by Paul from UberAffiliate, will help you find the network that offers the highest commission payout for any offer you are currently promoting. This tool is also 100% free and they make their money from network referrals.
Virtumundo and Options Media offer an Email Marketing solution, similar to SoftwareProjects own Email Marketing system. Unlike SoftwareProjects, the two companies offer a bare bones Email Delivery platform, where you have to design creatives, manage campaigns and optimize ROI on your own with no hands-on management. On the front-end, each system offered some nice eye candies but no built-in ROI and CPA tracking.
DirectTrack is the most popular Affiliate Tracking system, widely deployed by hundreds of merchants worldwide. While DirectTrack is not cheap, its large install base is a testament to how robust DirectTrack really is. SoftwareProjects Affiliate Management system offers comparable features at a lower price tag and a greater level of customization.
What did I learn?
A lot of agencies brand themselves as "full service Internet Marketing", but very few (if any) can offer holistic in house PPC, Email Marketing, Call centers, Software development, Copy writing, Analytics, Affiliate Management systems and Payment centers like SoftwareProjects does.
3 out of 5 attendees to Affiliate Summit use tools and services by SoftwareProjects. This being my first Affiliate Summit, it was exciting to meet with clients and understand the integral role our one-stop-shop plays in their businesses.
Everyone wants to be an Affiliate Network
Our friends from PepperJam, featured a double sized booth, promoting both the new PepperJam Network as well as SEM services. In true PepperJam style, an army of 8 PepperJammers attended the show, manning the booth, interacting with partners like SoftwareProjects and live-blogging sessions.
The exhibitor hall was flooded with new Affiliate Marketing networks. It seems like just about any company wants to be a network these days.
Many full service Internet Marketing agencies are realizing the financial potential of becoming a network (using other people's money & time to increase bottom line profits). I was surprised to see some of our competitors take the plunge, shifting their business focus from Search Engine Marketing to an affiliate network. All in all there must have been at least 50 new affiliate networks in attendance.
While SoftwareProjects is not an Affiliate Marketing network and we don't plan on ever becoming one, we do feature a pay-by-performance Lead Generation service. Emphasys, Microsoft, ReMAX, HerbaLife and Visa, are some of the companies who have been utilizing our lead generation service for the past two years.
Surprisingly, the big networks - LinkShare & ClickBank did not attend and Commission Junction had a small booth.
Affiliate Summit Sessions
To be perfectly honest, I personally found most sessions filled with too much self-promotion and too little quality information you can take to the bank.
That being said, here are some tips and takeouts from my favorite sessions -
"Video Innovation in Affiliate Marketing":
Video is here to stay. Use it to boost your SEO rankings, increase readership and enhance your brand recognition.
(Video) quality is not important. Produce engaging content your target audience cares about. No one cares about bad lighting, poor audio or grammar mistakes.
"Email is Media":
Done right, Email Marketing is still the most cost effective way to generate an instant flow of quality leads to your website or offer page.
Done wrong, Email Marketing can take your site down.
"Managing your Affiliate Manager":
Affiliate Marketing is all about relationships. Build and maintain a strong relationship with your affiliate manager.
If you're speaking to (or chatting with) your affiliate manager twice a week, you're well on your way to becoming a super affiliate.
Moniker - Domain Auction
Our Florida friends from Moniker hosted a live domain auction open to everyone. Monte Cahn, founder and CEO of Moniker shared with us that Moniker hosts 50 domain auctions every year, attending most (if not all) technology related shows.
Affiliate Marketers must be frugal as total gross sales barely hit $500,000, compared to 7 figure earnings at InterNext (a.k.a "the porn show") where single domains were selling at high 6 digits like cup cakes.
Affiliate Bash - "the" party of Affiliate Summit West
Affiliate Bash, a public open-to-all party at the Venetian Tao exclusive restaurant was definitely the most extravagant party of Affiliate Summit West.
Sponsored by our partners from PepperJam, RocketProfit, Forge and AMWSO, AffiliateBash featured a 15 minute show by the Blue Man group, free food and an open bar.
The atmosphere was quiet enough to network and it was fun granting some of our clients with VIP tickets to watch the entire show from the second floor.
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