Web Hostgods

Recently, I downloaded the trial version of a custom screensaver software. I was figuring I would just make a screensaver of my family to put on the computer at work, but then I realized I could also use it as a marketing tool.

I purchased a copy of the full version to promote one of my sites, and it’s been a great success. I am tracking the traffic from the screensavers, and with a small amount of distribution (visitors can download it from my site), I’m seeing 10-20 clicks a day. Not huge, but it’s just the start.

The software allowed me to easily create a screensaver, and upload it to my site. I was able to insert messages over the pictures, which definitely lends to marketing options. It’s a dummy proof process to create a neat screensaver.

And the utility of this software is certainly not limited to promoting your site - it can also be used to promote your affiliate links! I know I’ll be using it for that purpose.

Kowabunga and MarketingSherpa are putting on a free Search Engine Marketing Teleseminar on Wednesday, September 8 at 4 pm EST/1 pm PST.

The title is “Paid Search Marketing Metrics for Eretailers:
Google vs. Overture vs. Shopping Engines”, and it will be presented by Anne Holland, Publisher, MarketingSherpa, and Rachel Honoway, VP of Sales and Marketing, KowaBunga!

The teleseminar is based on MarketingSherpa’s new report: “Search Marketing Metrics Guide: 169 Useful Charts on SEO and PPC“.

Anne and Rachel will present what experienced etailers, publishers and direct response marketers have said works — and what doesn’t — for their own search marketing efforts:

- Which search engines really pay off based on sales?
- How much should you be paying per click? Per sale?
- How do I optimize my landing pages for stronger conversions?

Register now for free at http://www.kowabunga.com/sherpa.php

Beth Kirsch/Audible will be hosting an affiliate marketing get together in northern NJ on September 10 at noon.

This will be an informal meeting, where we will discuss various issues in affiliate marketing, including adware, pay per click search engines, and anything else participants care to discuss.

The meeting is at the Audible.com offices (65 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ 07470) and will be a great chance for affiliate marketers from the NYC metro area to get together for some networking, learning, etc.

If you are interested in attending, please send an email to shawn@affiliatetip.com to RSVP.

AD:TECH New York is taking place November 8 - 10, 2004 at the Hilton New York.

Exhibitors include Claria, eZula, Hotbar, and Quigo.

Go to http://www.ad-tech.com/register.asp to get your free exhibit hall pass. If you wait until the day the show starts, the exhibit hall pass is going to run you $75.

I was just visiting the site for James Martell’s Affiliate Marketers Handbook and I saw that he had created a video of his experience at Affiliate Summit 2004.

See James Martell and his wife Arlene (and lots of other conference attendees) as they cruise from NYC to Halifax, and hear him offer up his opinion of the event.

Windows Media: Cable - DSL / 56k
Real ONE: Cable - DSL / 56k

Did you know the most popular method for promoting an affiliate program is with a 468×60 banner? That’s all fine and good, except that the 468×60 banner is also the least effective way to promote an affiliate program.

The folks that make the most money with affiliate programs are doing it in ways other than the tired old banner. Two techniques that beat out the banner are pop-ups and text links in newsletters. While pop-ups can be extremely effective, they can also annoy your visitors.

But I didn’t bring you here today to talk about pop-ups - rather to encourage you to test text links. Specifically, I endorse the use of content that has integrated affiliate links.

For instance, some affiliate programs offer a number of articles and checklists with affiliate links that can be featured on an affiliate site. So, when affiliates send out their newsletter, they can include a teaser to the full version of content.

This affiliate linking technique is beneficial in multiple ways: it adds content to your newsletter, provides a reason for your subscribers to click to your site, adds content to your site that can be indexed in the search engines, and it’s a high conversion affiliate link.

There is increasing competition for the attention of customers out there, and if you want to maximize your reach, you’ve got to be creative. If you’ve got the right audience for it, try offering coloring pages that feature your affiliate URL - these are great offline marketing tools you can offer from your site.

For instance, when I was running the ClubMom affiliate program, we offerred a number of coloring pages, and they were designed with the intention of Moms picking a picture, printing it, handing it over to the kids with some crayons, and then putting the masterpiece on the fridge.

Each time Mom would go for some milk, apples, etc., she’d be reminded of ClubMom.

What you can do is piggyback on this strategy. Just save the coloring page image to your hard drive, add a message (including your URL) to the image using a graphic design program, and then making the coloring page available from your site.

Bear in mind that your plain affiliate links may be unsightly on a coloring page, so try using a re-direct page to the affiliate link. For instance, use www.domain.com/company.htm, rather than www.affiliate-link.com, which would be a little tougher to remember and type in a browser.