Welcome to the Real Deal - the Official Newsletter of Affiliate Summit. Please white list realdeal@affiliatesummit.com to ensure that your weekly copy will make it to your inbox.
If you'd like to stay in the loop on Affiliate Summit news and information, subscribe to receive the Affiliate Summit blog by e-mail. Just send a blank e-mail to affsummit@aweber.com
Articles in the Affiliate Summit Real Deal newsletter are the opinions of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of the newsletter, or its owners. The Affiliate Summit Real Deal newsletter always welcomes opinions of an opposite nature.
The Next Affiliate Summit is July 9-11 in Orlando, FL. Register now.
Read past issues of the Affiliate Summit Real Deal newsletter in the newsletter archive.
Topics in this issue:
- Affiliate Buyer's Guide Launches
- LinkShare 2006 Golden Link Award Winners
- Affiliate Summit Hotel Alternatives
- Affiliate Marketing Classifieds and Other Stuff
- Ask Shawn Collins: What Would Jesus Do?
You can find products and services in the Affiliate Buyer's Guide with the search tool or by drilling down through the product and service categories.
The Affiliate Buyer's Guide was created in an online format after a lot of interest was generated by the print version, which will be distributed at Affiliate Summit (July 9-11 in Orlando).
Since the print version had limited space, it couldn't fit as many listings as we would have liked, plus some information will inevitably be outdated in the near future.
There are two types of listings in the Affiliate Buyer's Guide: free and enhanced. Enhanced listings enable companies to provide more details about their products or services, add their logo, as well as include images and documents related to their company.
Both types of listings allow affiliate marketers to submit reviews and rate the listings.
The Affiliate Buyer's Guide is located at http://www.affiliatesummit.com/buyers-guide
Judges for this year's LinkShare Golden Link Awards were Bob Johnston, President and Executive Director for the Executive Council of New York; Kerry Murdock, Publisher of "Practical E-commerce" Magazine; Lisa Picarille, Editor-in-Chief of "Revenue" Magazine and Stefan Tornquist, Research Director for MarketingSherpa.
The 2006 LinkShare Golden Link Awards Winners were:
- Innovative Affiliate of the Year: FabulousSavings.com
- Best New Affiliate: Visa Extras
- Innovative Merchant of the Year: Sierra Trading Post
- Best New Merchant: Cingular Wireless
- International Achievement Award: figleaves.com
- Best Performance-Based Search Strategy: Boden
- Best Online Merchandising Campaign: Techbargains
- Best Integrated Online-Offline Marketing: Hallmark.com and Upromise
- Best Overall Online Distribution Strategy: Walmart.com
- Performance Marketing's Most Vocal Advocate: Shawn Collins, AffiliateTip.com
- Affiliate's Choice: Overstock.com
- Merchant's Choice: KeyCode.com
The following hotels are in walking distance of the Hilton in order of proximity:
- Buena Vista Palace: 407-827-2727
- Royal Plaza: 407-828-2828
- Grosvenor: 407-828-4444
- Doubletree: 407-934-1000
The Affiliate Summit conference starts on Sunday, July 9 at 2 PM EST with the Affiliate Meet Market & Vendor Showcase and runs through the evening of Tuesday, July 11.
Passes are still available - visit https://www.regonline.com/90769 to register.
Hydra Network is the leading CPA source for affiliate publishers. Over 800 campaigns and more than 200 exclusive offers available. Find all the right campaigns, market them to your site, email, path, pop or other audience, and get paid fast! Sign up today to begin maximizing your inventory profitability, while getting the attention you deserve from one of our Affiliate Managers. Call 310-659-5755 or visit: http://network.hydramedia.com/.
5 Star Affiliate Forums
Affiliates :: Discover supportive affiliate forums, filled with great ideas and discussions. Affiliate Managers :: Promote your program in the forums.
All :: Find the latest blogging tips and tools in our new blog marketing forums. Visit the 5 Star Affiliate Marketing Forums today.
New Payless.com Promotions
There is the Sandal Spectacular Sale - select womens styles up to 50% off (no coupon needed), as well as free standard ground shipping & handling with $40 Purchase (no coupon needed). Also - we've got a coupon for you that gives $5 off purchases of $50 or more. Coupon: PSS5OFF50. The dates for the offer will be 6/15 - 7/5. Landing page is http://www.payless.com/Offers/AffOffers.htm
Snapfish Now on GoldenCAN
Snapfish is happy to announce that we now have a GoldenCAN Data Feed available. Start displaying the entire inventory of Snapfish products, categories, coupons and special promotions on your Web site within minutes. For more details, please visit our page on the GoldenCAN site or here for a store integration sample.
Affiliate Manager Training Course Launches
Affiliate Classroom will be launching the 1st Edition of their Affiliate Manager Training Course on June 27, 2006. The Affiliate Manager will teach affiliate managers (novice or experienced) how to recruit, train, manage, motivate and activate affiliates in any affiliate program. Get the Affiliate Classroom Affiliate Manager Report and learn more about the training course.
New Yahoo! Affiliate Program
Yahoo!’s hottest products and services are now available to you in a single affiliate program. Join today and start promoting any or all of the following Yahoo! Properties – Autos, Games, Personals, Messenger, Music, Search and more! Each Yahoo! user you refer means multiple opportunities for you to earn commission. Join now and become a member of one of the most innovative programs on the web: http://advertising.yahoo.com/affiliate_programs/index.html
Well, I am not clergy, so I don't think I am the most appropriate to address this sort of question. Also, the answer here may well vary significantly depending on your faith.
However, I asked a similar question a while back to my Pastor. I had asked him:
How do you view business/capitalism in the context of Christianity? I was thinking that strictly speaking, business is largely about survival of the fittest and getting rid of the weakest link, rather than assisting them. That said, it almost seems like Christianity is more in line with socialism, but so many devout Christians are capitalists.
Here is what he had to say in response:
You are absolutely right that Christianity seems to be more in line with socialism than capitalism. However, socialism also encourages the lack of motivation. And if we are indeed gifted by the Lord with health and ability, what right do we have to languish?
Also, fundamentally, if you have nothing, how can you assist those unable to fend for themselves? The true victims of this world are the sick in mind and body and the children of those in such state.
I like the term 'benevolent capitalism.' To me that means we seek to be as productive as we can with our lives and ensure that this productivity is dedicated to alleviate the suffering of those not able to care for self. With this, we ought not to give the people too much fish; but teach them where the fish are and how to fish for themselves.
Advertising is available at a price of $1,500 for display ads (728x360) and $300 for text ads (50 words or less). Affiliate Summit Real Deal is published weekly to over 5,000 subscribers.
Pay by Credit Card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
Book now at http://www.affiliatesummit.com/advertise.shtml
We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at realdeal@affiliatesummit.com and let us know if you have any suggestions, questions, or would like to advertise in future issues.