icon for podpress  Affiliate ABCs #27 Merchant Spotlight - Legacy Learning Systems [25:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Affiliate ABCs hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare talk to Legacy Learning Affiliate Program Manager Matt McWilliams about how affiliates can best promote the Legacy family of products. In this Affiliate ABCs Merchant Spotlight, we talk about the various ways the Legacy Learning programs can be promoted, the creatives available and target audiences you might not know about or think of. We had some technical difficulties at the end, so it actually ends rather abruptly.

Some links mentioned in the show:

Legacy Learning Affiliate Program Blog
Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
Legacy Learning ABestWeb Forum
Affiliate site
Legacy Learning Website
Join the Legacy Learning Affiliate Program

Find us on Twitter:
Matt McWilliams
Vinny O’Hare
Deborah Carney (a.k.a. Loxly)
Affiliate ABCs
Geekcast.fm

Many thanks to GeekCast.fm for hosting the Affiliate ABCs podcasts!

 
icon for podpress  Affiliate ABCs #26 Tips About Communicating with Your Affiliate Manager [31:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards “Affiliate Manager of the Year” Matt McWilliams joins Affiliate ABCs hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare discuss how are some ways that affiliates can maximize their communication with their affiliate program managers. A lot of affiliates are shy and hesitate to talk to affiliate managers and outsourced program managers because they “aren’t big enough” or they are afraid they are interrupting the manager. In truth, lots of affiliate managers are very glad to hear from affiliates and would love to give them advise and tips about how to promote their programs.

Some highlights:

*Find out if your merchant has a dedicated affiliate manager or an OPM (Outsourced Program Manager)
*Be sure the affiliate manager/OPM is available whichever way is best for you. Good ones will be available via, phone, email, IM and forums.
*Don’t be afraid to ask for creatives, advise, tips
*If you are promoting them successfully, ask for a commission increase. If you are a promoting a competitor successfully, show them and ask for a commission increase to change some of those links for the new program.

*Advantages of using instant messaging: can drop links to each other, instant feedback for both manager and affiliate

Some links mentioned in the show:
Legacy Learning Affiliate Program Blog
ABestWeb Affiliate Marketing Forum
Legacy Learning Website
Join the Legacy Learning Affiliate Program

Find us on Twitter:
Matt McWilliams
Vinny O’Hare
Deborah Carney (a.k.a. Loxly)
Affiliate ABCs
Geekcast.fm

 
icon for podpress  Affiliate ABCs #26 Evaluating Merchants for your Affiliate Site [28:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards “Affiliate Manager of the Year” Matt McWilliams joins Affiliate ABCs hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare to talk about what affiliates should look for when evaluating a merchant to promote. One of the toughest decisions an affiliate has to make is which merchants to give the real estate on their website to. Matt, Deborah and Vinny have a candid discussion about what to look for to be sure a merchant is worth promoting and is worth “above the fold” attention (or not).

Some highlights:
*Find merchants in the networks you belong to and search by category or keywords

Take a look at the merchant from the Consumer perspective::
*First impression – would you shop there?
*Do they have “leaks” (banners to other sites, adsense, send shoppers away)?
*If there are links to other sites, do they actually track back to the affiliate program? Some merchants cross track with others.
*Easy to navigate? FAQ? Shipping information? Contact information, About Us, Whois Information matches the site About Us information?
*What is the shopping process like? Is it easy or are there roadblocks? Is there a prompt to call to complete the order? Is it secure?

Now look from the Affiliate perspective:
*Compare commissions, cookie duration, other program terms to other similar programs.
*Appropriate banners? Text links?
*Is it a site that you would promote with a datafeed? Do they have one? Is it well categorized? Is it available in 3rd party tools you may be working with?
*Send a note to the affiliate manager if there is something you would like created, see if they respond. Is there contact information?
*For Shareasale merchants: Are they on Auto Deposit?
*For any other network, what happens if the merchant’s balance with the network goes offline? Is there a way to check the merchants online/offline history?

Some links mentioned in the show:

Legacy Learning Affiliate Program Blog
ABestWeb Affiliate Marketing Forum
Legacy Learning Website
Join the Legacy Learning Affiliate Program

Find us on Twitter:
Matt McWilliams
Vinny O’Hare
Deborah Carney ( a.k.a. Loxly)
Affiliate ABCs
Geekcast.fm

Blogging ABCs #6 Intro to Podcasting on Your Blog

by Affiliate ABCs on December 24, 2009

in Blogging ABCs

 
icon for podpress  Blogging ABCs #6 Intro to Podcasting on Your Blog [31:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Since so many bloggers are podcasting or are interested in podcasting, Deborah Carney and Daniel Clark decided to share how they record each of theirs. They talk about equipment, software and all things podcasty and geeky.

Be sure to check out our first podcast with Daniel here.

Geek Dads Weekly – formerly Geek Dads @ Home
Ubercaster
Audio Hijack Pro
GarageBand
Audacity
Plantronics DSP400 Foldable Multimedia Headset

Follow Host Deborah Carney on Twitter @loxly and our show @BloggingABCs

Many thanks to Geekcast.fm for hosting our podcasts and many other educational and entertaining podcasts related to all things geeky :)

Blogging ABCs #5 Using Social Media to Drive Traffic

by Affiliate ABCs on December 23, 2009

in Blogging ABCs

 
icon for podpress  Blogging ABCs #5 Using Social Media to Drive Traffic [20:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Blogging ABCs #5 is all about using social media to drive traffic to your blog. Host Deborah Carney is joined by Wendy Limauge who shares how she uses social media. Hopefully that will help give you ideas on how to get more traffic to your blog.

Sweeties Swag
Wendy on Facebook
@sweetiesswag
Wendy on Linkedin
Sweeties Secret Sweeps Membership Site
The Mommybloggers Guide
Wendy’s Lifetime TV blog

Follow Host Deborah Carney on Twitter @loxly and our show @BloggingABCs

Many thanks to Geekcast.fm for hosting our podcasts and many other educational and entertaining podcasts related to all things geeky :)

 
icon for podpress  Merchant ABCs #2 Case Study #1 LaLa Baby Boutique - Getting Started [24:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Merchant ABCs Episode #2 is a Case Study with Mom Entrepreneur Stephanie Elie, owner of LaLa Baby Boutique. Your host Deborah Carney talks to Stephanie about taking her existing online store to the next level with an affiliate program. We will be following Stephanie through the process and hope that other merchants will “learn as we go”.

LaLa Baby Boutique is an online baby and maternity boutique that caters to mom who aren’t afraid to maintain their sense of style when they become parents. You will find unique baby t-shirts, stylish diaper bags, flattering maternity t-shirts and more at LaLa Baby. We look for unique products that can’t be found out your local chain store.

LaLa Baby Boutique
@lalababy
LaLa Baby on Facebook

Follow Host Deborah Carney on Twitter @loxly and our show @MerchantABCs

Many thanks to Geekcast.fm for hosting our podcasts and many other educational and entertaining podcasts related to all things geeky :)

Merchant ABCs #1 What is an Affiliate Program and How Does it Work

December 23, 2009
 
icon for podpress  Merchant ABCs #1 What is an Affiliate Program and How Does it Work [24:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Merchant ABCs is hosted by Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare of Team Loxly internet marketing. In this first episode they talk to merchants that are considering setting up an affiliate program and outline what merchants need to know before making the jump into creating an affiliate program.
Things we will be doing in future podcasts:
Case [...]

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Affiliate ABCs #24 Affiliate Summit – Why You Should Be There

December 21, 2009
 
icon for podpress  Affiliate ABCs #24 Affiliate Summit - Why You Should Be There [27:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Affiliate ABCs episode 24 is all about networking at Affiliate Summit, focused on the ASW10 in January in Las Vegas. Hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare are joined by Jim Kukral who is the emcee once again. From the interesting <a href="http://www.affiliatesummit.com/10w-agenda/"keynotes to discussions about sessions including Jim’s session on getting motivated and [...]

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Affiliate ABCs #23 Back in the Day with Jim Kukral

December 19, 2009
 
icon for podpress  Affiliate ABCs #23 Back in the Day with Jim Kukral [38:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Affiliate ABCs episode 23 is another in our series of “Back in the Day” profiles of an internet and affliate marketing pioneer. Hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare are joined by Jim Kukral who started his journey online back in 1995. We talk about Jim’s transition from web designer to affiliate marketer to [...]

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Blogging ABCs #4 Interview With Stephanie Elie – BizzieMommy

December 17, 2009
 
icon for podpress  Blogging ABCs #4 Interview With Stephanie Elie - BizzieMommy [17:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Blogging ABCs Episode #4 has another wonderful blogger guest Stephanie Elie joining your host Deborah Carney. Stephanie and Deborah discuss how Stephanie got started and her advice for other bloggers. A candid and fun look at a blog that talks about being an entrepreneur, mom and blogger all at the same time!
About BizzieMommy
Mom [...]

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