A new venture

Just recently Gill and I bought a 2 bedroom cottage up in the pennines in the small village of Rookhope in Weardale. The intention is to have a place to disappear to when the need takes us - and to rent out by the week when we don't need it.

The Lane outside

Its been an interesting ride dealing with a solicitor who despite only being 5 years older than me, seemed more old in his head than my own dear father!! Eventually the searches and surveys were completed and we are now the proud owners of a sweet little place in a great spot.

The views are great and there's loads of places nearby to visit and amazing walks and cycle routes as I've tried to show in the Terrace Cottage website. I really love the drive over from the A68 via Blanchland (now I've mastered it and don't get lost) and the view over the village as you drive down from the moors on the hairpin bends is amazing.

For us, bookings were a prime consideration and we looked at the Sykes/Hoseasons type option but decided at least for the first year on something a bit less tying as they wanted exclusivity and a 12 month contract. So we're now listed on Freetobook.com and Holidaylettings.com which is actually a Tripadvisor property and so part of Expedia. The first of those is 'as it says on the tin' - and Holidaylettings has lower charges than any other mainstream booking engine.

So we're waiting for the calendar to fill - so if you want to take a week out in beautiful countryside just shout out your dates! You can book via this Freetobook.com link.

Let me know you've booked and I'll make sure we leave a special welcome pack for you :)

Christmas

We've currently got Christmas week available (New Year has been taken!) - and the lucky visitors will have a real Christmas Tree, and complimentary Mulled Wine to warm those chilly evenings by the fire!

GAN closure...

This was added as a comment to a post on the affiliates4u.com news pages on the announced closure of the Google Affiliate Network, announced yesterday (April 16) on the Google blog.

There was a fair bit of talk yesterday afternoon here at #AMDays when the news broke which produced many differing opinions on where this leads. My view on how this changes the landscape extends beyond the simple technology and 'where to place my programme?' questions.

Google have dipped their toe in the water and gained a lot of valuable knowledge from which to make their next changes, which will no doubt become apparent over coming months. One key element is: while Google were running an affiliate offering, affiliate websites with obvious affiliate links were an important part of the mix for them. So until now affiliate sites have still performed well in natural search, where the site can be seen to add value to the browser in this post-Penguin/Panda world.

Now they are exiting that space, they are likely to evolve their offerings to advertisers with the primary objective to provide increased revenue without the higher costs and less controllable aspects of using affiliate sites. I'm sure advertisers will be able to buy ads on a CPA basis going forwards - but that will be so much more on Google's terms and in their control.

Once affiliate revenues are taken away from the Google P&L, that leaves the question for them over how their algorithm will perceive affiliate links on a website. One metric that will be very interesting to record is how some of the affiliate sites currently performing well in search fare going forwards. Will Google now start changing their algorithm to gently (or even quickly) ditch these sites from SERPS? That of course would enable the big G to provide 'more relevant' results from their own stable of advertisers within the results - without the competition from affiliates.

The potential of this scenario and threat to affiliate revenues is likely to see a rise in less trackable and untrackable server call tracking systems now available in some of the more advanced affiliate networks. Again - if this scenario does play out as I've painted it, how would the behemoth networks with legacy tracking from the late '90s fare.

I think that should make the rest of 2013 a very interesting ride, and one that will see some soul-searching and technical advances at the same time. I look forward to tracking this at the various conferences as well in Philadelphia, Amsterdam and London - so see you all there!

Chris Tradgett

Performance Marketing in New York City - March 2013

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It was a very interesting few days in NYC in March, where Performance Marketing Insights held its inaugural conference slap bang in the middle of the action in the Crowne Plaza, Times Square Manhattan. 

Probably as an indication of the heritage of other Existem events there was strong European support from Affiliate Networks and other NYC was that the Affiliate Summit organization also had an event scheduled. Not co-incidentally Shawn's Performance Marketing Summit event clashed with PMI's first day. I had postulated that there was an element of bad blood involved here with the incumbent US affiliate event people feeling threatened by incomers from the old country!

Timing is all in marketing as many have said before me and the timings shed an interesting light on the hows and whys of how these clashed. PMI was announced during January 2013 and until then there was no hint of any other ASW activity in the East - apart from a photocopied page added into the ASW13 convention notes

So, as I attended both events, here are a few observations on the Affiliate turf wars in New York.

the Linkdex elevator pitch

PMS - Performance Marketing Summit

This was billed as going back to basics in respect that it was held in the same venue as the very first Affiliate Summit in 2003; the Baruch College campus on Lexington Ave. 

There were basic elements throughout and the conference materials were a little sparse, perhaps reflecting that there weren't big sponsors supporting the production of brochures.

The format was of quickfire 20 minute sessions to cover a lot of ground quickly, all in one room, without exhibition booths, apart from a couple of promo tables from the main sponsors. There were some excellent speakers, notably Brian of Shareasale and Mike Buechele.

One of Mike Buechele's slides at PMS13 shows display ad technologies infographic!

The event was marred slightly by one of the main speakers pulling out in the week running up to PMS, and it did seem a very hasty addition to have a 20min 'elevator pitch' session allowing attendees to give a brief 1 min pitch to the room.

Performance Marketing Initiatives

The PMI conference was far more businesslike - evidenced in a brochure that was very professionally produced and reflected the quality of speakers. We were privileged to hear some interesting sessions with topics reflecting innovations across the industry. 

As this was over two days, there was also a lot more opportunity for networking. I met up with many friends from UK and US in the Crowne Plaza bar on the Monday evening and caught up with much of the industry gossip. Even more fun was the event across town in the very cool Sky Lounge on the Tuesday evening which led to several Weds AM late risers! 

The two day PMI conference was visibly a more polished event overall, with some industry leading speakers and not just friends within the affiliate industry as I'd seen at PMS.  

You can see more photos of the event here

Compare and Contrast

Both events had a strong speaker line up and tackled some of the pressing issues facing the industry, such as attribution and threats to the basic model of linking and reporting from browser software and elsewhere. 

Both also managed to attract a very strong attendees. From an exhibitor's point of view, the quality of attendees at PMI was much much stronger, certainly from judging from my own conversations at both events. At PMS, many I spoke to were just starting in affiliate or were pretty small merchants, I had three content writers on my table.

At PMI the attendees did live up to the billing as C-level execs and above and we at Linkdex had several very good and useful conversations that have already developed into client relationships. As an exhibitor, that has to be the measure for any event; and on reflection also differentiates the Affiliate Summit and A4UExpo events in Europe and the USA.

Shawn did note that the PMI website had only been registered in May '12 and that PMS had been planned well before that. I do question the use of of the 'Performance Marketing' name (a weird coincidence if it was), with the the addition of Summit to keep on 'brand'. Certainly there was no mention of the event until a few days after PMI was announced and was a simple photocopy page in the ASW brochure.

Judging by comments from a number of attendees I met at both events, it was seen as detrimental to the reputation of the ABW organisation and its excellent reputation built over the years of the Affiliate Summits.

Having said all that, the US is a huge space and there should be space for both events to be successful over coming years. I would urge both organisations to try and ensure there isn't the awkward calendar clash which overshadowed what was otherwise - with both events - a very good week for the Performance Marketing Industry.

Chris Tradgett

Performance Marketing in New York

This month +Linkdex will be taking in another digital conference (or two) in New York City for the Performance Marketing industry. The timing of them both suggests more than a little tension in the air as Europe's leading affiliate conference organisers take their new offering across the pond. It seems that Affiliate Summit must have felt a bit threatened with another organiser running an event in their space and on 'their turf'!

Matt Wood of Existem announced the first Performance Marketing Insights event

In reponse, Shawn Collins announced a spookily similar sounding event - it could be seen as a 'spoiler' intended specifically to confuse attendees. Adopting an almost identical title could have been seen as a brand infringement, and in another industry with a more litigious victim could have led to a dispute. As is, the obvious spoiling technique will be viewed in a number of lights depending on viewpoint, but does not reflect well on the Affiliate Summit organisers at all.

Obviously the USA is a great deal larger and arguably there is plenty of space for two events in a similar sector to get along fine. So what do the two promise to offer:

Performance Marketing Summit

This is a simple format one day event for a maximum of 200 people, going back to their roots in the Baruch College in New York. The format will be a series of 20 minute slots including:

• Emancipate Yourself from Mental Slavery
• Build a Better Program: Segmentation, Attribution and Motivation
• Mobile Affiliate Marketing Insights
• Social Media Buying Campaign Tricks
• Do Not Track vs. Affiliate Marketing
• The Mobile and Social Engagement Story
• Should Last Clicks Still Rule?
• Behavior Driven Gamification in Performance Marketing
• Rapid Media Buying at Massive Scale
• How Affiliate Marketing Helps Brand Exposure

The full agenda is on the PMS page of the Affiliate Summit site

Tickets are priced at $199
____________________________

Performance Marketing Insights

This is a two day event and in a more grown up venue of the Crowne Plaza in Times Square.

the event promises:

Exceptional Content & World-Class Speakers

Case Studies, Debates & Actionable Insights

Structured & Inclusive Networking Opportunities

Smarter Performance Marketing Strategies

Multi-Channel Publishers

Forward-Thinking Advertisers

High level Conversations

- See more at: http://www.performancemarketinginsights.com/#sthash.10KHHLGe.dpuf <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} -->

·  Exceptional Content & World-Class Speakers

·  Case Studies, Debates & Actionable Insights

·  Structured & Inclusive Networking Opportunities

·  Smarter Performance Marketing Strategies

·  Multi-Channel Publishers

·  Forward-Thinking Advertisers

·  High level Conversations

The full agenda can be found on the Performance Marketing Insights website 

Hear the recent Webmaster Radio Interview as well 

Exceptional Content & World-Class Speakers

Case Studies, Debates & Actionable Insights

Structured & Inclusive Networking Opportunities

Smarter Performance Marketing Strategies

Multi-Channel Publishers

Forward-Thinking Advertisers

High level Conversations

- See more at: http://www.performancemarketinginsights.com/#sthash.10KHHLGe.dpuf

Exceptional Content & World-Class Speakers

Case Studies, Debates & Actionable Insights

Structured & Inclusive Networking Opportunities

Smarter Performance Marketing Strategies

Multi-Channel Publishers

Forward-Thinking Advertisers

High level Conversations

- See more at: http://www.performancemarketinginsights.com/#sthash.10KHHLGe.dpuf

Exceptional Content & World-Class Speakers

Case Studies, Debates & Actionable Insights

Structured & Inclusive Networking Opportunities

Smarter Performance Marketing Strategies

Multi-Channel Publishers

Forward-Thinking Advertisers

High level Conversations

- See more at: http://www.performancemarketinginsights.com/#sthash.10KHHLGe.dpuf

Tickets are priced at $895 for two days with a day two only pass for just $495
_______________________________

Given the disparity and the relative agendas, it is easy to see that the Affiliate Summit event has been put together quickly as a response rather than as the claims set out in the ASW handbook.

Interestingly with just over a week to go, its the Existem event winning out in Google from both .co. and .co.uk, so its not just a location anomaly:

PMI is also showing in a G+ entry and Performance Horizon link on page one.




It will be very interesting to see how this all pans out - especially as Missy Ward announced she was planning a trip to London via social networks - and though I'm not the most prolific writer (note the infrequency of posts!) I'll come back and share my thoughts on them both.

See you in New York!

Chris Tradgett

Steve Jobs

As many others have written the world woke up to the very sad news of the death of Steve Jobs. 

Many more eloquent than I have crafted wonderful words that reflect the impact he has had on the lives of almost everybody, not just in making wonderful, beautifully designed devices but by making ones that have created, defined and led their categories. 

My own first encounter was by using an early Mac with 8" monochrome screen, and then the early Mac X with the huge 1Gb of RAM and 20Mb hard disk for typesetting and page make up - a big step up from the Amstrad 1512 :)  That was in the early days of full page typesetting; I was the only user making me not popular at all with the typesetters at the print company I was working at the time who saw it as either a toy or a threat. Within a year the whole studio was turned over to Macs and pre-press time for platemaking was reduced dramatically.

It is a rare thing when a company creates a brand that generates so much good feeling, admiration and even devotion amongst users and followers. Apple and the Mac have done that and engendered fierce loyalty among users that borders on love. How much of that love was also invested in Jobs as well is difficult to gauge; he was the face of Apple and it was his vision and intuition that drove everything. That was made crystal clear in the episode when he was sacked back in '85.

He leaves a huge legacy in one of the worlds most valuable companies and beautiful products. We can only hope that there will be someone to pick up that baton for the next generation. 

The best way of ending is to let the man speak for himself in his brilliant and inspirational speech to students at Stanford in 2005:

 

 Steve Jobs, rest in peace.

...and as he urged the students we should perhaps follow his advice:  

stay hungry - stay foolish 

Chris Tradgett

ThinkVisibility 6 - what a great event!

The irrepressible Dom Hodgson - with Nadeem

I just spent a couple of days recovering from the effects of Dom Hodgson's Yorkshire hospitality at ThinkVisibility6 in Leeds. What an event that was; a really great mix of many of the key movers in Search, Affiliate and Social Media.

What made it so different to other events, was that it was in an almost uniquely totally relaxed and non-corporate atmosphere. That didn't detract fro the content though, which covered a good spread of subjects with original thought (not always found from event speakers) and humour - also often original!

We at Linkdex were very pleased to be sponsoring the event to give some visibility for Linkdex in the wider Search market. Andy Betts, Tom and I got some great feedback from existing users of or platform, as well as a lot of interest from those who'd not seen it yet. I was really good to catch up with many of the nicest affiliate folk at the event, as well as some search folk I'd been speaking to recently.

Many more eloquent that I have already written some great reviews of the content from the event. For me, some of the hightlights for me were:

• Tops has to be Dom in the Gold coat and hat with Search Family Fortunes - and the sight of  Koozai's Anna with a box over her head whacking away at the Pinata with a stick to win sweets
• Malcolm Coles exposition of what can be achieved by using Duplicate content; the Daily Mail seemed past masters of this technique and may well be on Google's radar by now then!
• Neil Walker's great talk on some of the stats in the search industry and that 60% of search came from 3 word or longer phrases
• Robot Wars 
• Guy Redwood's Neuro Insights and the clarity that his methods bring to site usability
• Keiron's Lanyard's travels (see right)
• Sunday breakfast after the night before - and going into recovery with the help of a full English

Lego & Pick n Mix

I also have to thank Jason for the travels of his Lego man. Keep up the good work.

So after all the fun, learning and hangovers and we're all back to desks, we need to apply some of the knowledge gained, and follow up on the promises made (often very late at night!).

So if I promised to give a demo of the Linkdex platform and not rung you by Friday - just give me a nudge :)

ThinkVisibility

Having seen friends in the industry raving over ThinkVisibility for the last few years, I'm very pleased to be going to this September's event in Leeds. Kieron made the case for the conference as one of the best in the calendar in his blog about the March event on Here.org.

Looking at the lineup of speakers it seems we have a very varied menu to look forward to; starting in Thailand with Ben Wolfenden and playing Championship Manager with Kelvin Newman - through to dealing with lazy affiliates with Jane Copland. The day finishes off with an evening party sponsored by Manual Linkbuilding.

I shall be there with Tom from Linkdex.com as one of the sponsors and available at pretty much any point to give a demo of the amazing Linkdex SEO platform to anyone who wants! 

 Luckily we kick the day off with bacon butties and proper brew in true Yorkshire style so we should all be suitably fortified for the event.  So if you're not signed up for it yet - get on the case! If you are one of the lucky ones going along, then I look forward to seeing you there :)

Seems like a lot of folk, I shall be staying at the Mint Hotel with what it says is a Mac in every room - very sensible!! I'll be around from Friday afternoon through to Sunday morning, so look forward to seeing you there.