Amazon Are Cheeky Buggers!

They say they've got recommendations for me then say "not", I'd expect that sort of talk from my 8 year old niece and not a multinational company! ;-)



I think someone didn't write the code properly! Surely it should say something else if I'm not logged in! Doh!

School boy error!

Its taking off ... (again)

You know what I'm like ... I'm like pissing in the wind.

But its all go here as I'm getting a new corporate site built, the designs for the business cards sent to the printers and more clients coming on board. (And they're bloody nice people too)

I've started doing less sub-contracting, less faffing with affiliate marketing (I'm concentrating on fewer sites) and doing more direct to client SEO work.

I know I charge a fair bit for SEO and it's less than I've have been doing SEO-wise, but I've realised I've got the horn for serious SEO consultancy stuff and have been working with some damn fine brands recently.

I'm a bit of a work-a-holic anyway so I'm still working my backside off for the Christmas market, but what can you do when you take established sites and increase online sales by 45% in two weeks? :-)

Happy days!

What's Wrong With Discount Code Sites - Prime Example(s)

A new merchant, no codes issued but good ole Mark acts if they are!

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB225GB225&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=the+purveyor+discount+codes&spell=1


http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB225GB225&q=zelens+discount+codes&btnG=Search&meta=

Exclusive News: Voucher Codes, Cookie Cutting and a Network Update

I've just heard from a reputable network spokesperson that has said that they're currently working on a largescale analysis of the possible situation where Voucher Code sites are obtaining sales (and Brand Bidders for that matter).

The idea is that they will be able to see in aggregate and on the micro level the path that a purchaser takes during that process and at which stage the touch each type of affiliate (and I presume the merchant's own marketing channels).

To be honest I've got the horn for this. It'll be great to see what value Voucher Code, content, Brand Bidder, traditional PPC guys etc add to the merchant.

Can't wait for it to come about.

Exclusive Codes Or Commissions For The Masses?

There's a degree of socialism whiffing through the forum at the moment.

The stench has been caused by discount code affiliates stealing exclusive codes and using them on their own sites.

Should these unfriendly site owners be allowed to get away with it? And if not, how should we make it uneconomic to do it?

James (J Lil, Keeky D) of Affiliate Future believes that the issue to should be micro managed where each merchant's codes are monitored and if exclusive codes are used out of place then the offending affiliate will be dealt with.

Another view taken by other networks is that affiliate commissions will be awarded to the affiliate that effectively "owns" the code.

I favour this view as the affiliate should be rewarded for their ability to drive traffic and prove their worth. Whilst the affiliate that steals it should be punished for not playing ball.

I know of one codes affiliate that is making serious cash out of another code affiliate stealing his exclusive codes. To me that's tough shit! We can not reward affiliates for being this unethical.

I can see Jame's point to a degree. They want to open up affiliate marketing to the masses and don't want (I believe) a few affiliates dominating the market to the detriment to the rest. However, I see the situation in a more capitalist light.

There are rules and regulations, work hard to increase your lot, but don't break the rules. Exclusive codes exist so affiliates should work for them. If punters want to search for discount codes then affiliates should offer them on their sites to make sure they are responsible for the last click - within the rules.

If we want to stop code affiliates breaking these rules then we have to hit them where it hurts and where it matters to them - their pockets.

I love the fact that this one code affiliate is loosing a bucket load everyday to a competitor because they're too lazy and arrogant to get their own codes.

Respect for the web-user and others in the industry has gone out of the window for some - all they care about is themselves. But I'm sorry, no individual is bigger than the industry.

And I'd rather have a resolution that has more teeth rather than hope that networks can spot the raping of sites in time AND take appropriate action.

Affiliate Tip - Affiliate Window's ShopWindow Service

So I use the Affiliate Window ShopWindow service to find new products to blog about, use as tracking links when I link out from blogs and even PPC. So it's a bit of a shock to log on to my Kadgroo site which I've created for that purpose only to find that I've exceeded my quota - to be honest I have no idea how - my logs aren't showing anything untoward on it.

I'm assuming that Miss G'Bot has gone a bit mad on crawling the various sites I've loaded it on to.

So a bit of advice for affiliates, keep an eye on your quota usage and be ready to contact them.

A bit advice for Awin - can you email us when the usage limit is being approached and not stop the service from working at weekends when your offices aren't being "manned"?

p.s. I've dropped a support note in.

Nutter? You Can Talk ;-)

Hannah calling me a nutter?

Miss Swift, now of Existem AM, was interviewed at the Manchester A4U event last week. When asked who was the maddest person in the industry she mentioned me!?! Damn you, I'm a relative saint compared to most in this game - certainly by Barbados V.3 standards!

Anyway, good luck booby! I know Plymouth won't be the same after you've moved down there. But looking forward to the first Existem event in what feels like my true hometown!

Catch the slightly inebriated Hannah on video:


Affiliates4u.tv - Hannah Swift from Existem-am from Peter on Vimeo.

Sorry ....

I've been exceptionally quiet on this blog for a couple of weeks. And there's been good reason.

• More client wins means there's less time to waffle;
  
  
• I've been out and about - the A4U Get2Gether last week was a nice mellow affair. It was great to catch up with a few people and make contact with others. The Affiliate Future event was also a cracking affair. I took a couple of days off from the PC to attend and to meet a couple of clients in the big smoke;
  
  
• I've been getting my new corporate redesigned by a fantastic web designer in New Zealand (cough)
  
  
• I've not had anything to moan about. It seems that most people use their blogs to bitch, and to be honest, I'm all out of bitching!
  

Anways, I thought you'd may be interested in registering for this search engine I found. They aim to answer complex questions quickly. So if you had any complex questions what would they be?

Mine are:

• How come J Lil can dance like that and how long will his knees last?
  
  
• Why does QCJ always invite me to Portgual when I'm up to my eyeballs in client work?
  
  
• Why can I never find a hotel even when I've got a map?
  
  
• Why did about 70% of the cars on the M6 always drive in the middle lane when they're over-taking feck all?
  
  
• Why do Liverpool fans think they've got the team ever when they've one only a handful of trophies in the past 20 years?
  
  
• Why do networks hire people that ... (no I said I wouldn't bitch)
  
  
• Why does my iPhone never bloody work when its absolutely essential that I make a call?

Anyways, what's yours? And none about me to replying to emails, msn messages, text messages or phone calls!! ;-)

Typical Bloody Google!!! Chrome is Not For SEO'ers!

With all those billions at their disposal they couldn't afford to purchase a collective braincell (sorry Jason - a former collegue who now works for them).

The thing is, I started using their new web browser Chrome more heavily as it's great for handling their cookies. Previously trying to log in to Blogger then going over to Adwords and then I'd do a bit of stats analysis and then I'd try and use another Google product. Trying to do this would cause so many problems with cookies and logging on - Gawd help me if I tried to use Gmail on the same browser.

Anyways all this isn't a problem now. How great.

The fecking annoying thing is that when I try and download THEIR own fecking toolbar onto it they tell me to download Firefox! FFS! Don't launch a browser and then expect one large swathe of your community to go back to their favourite browser!!

Google should have learned from Microsoft (I know they'll hate me saying that) - but make it easy for people to bolt-on stuff to your software! Don't make me go back to something else, because I won't even think about using Chrome again!