Affiliate Buzz | Affiliate Marketing / Affiliate Programs / Internet / Online / Social Media Marketing - James Martell

Affiliate Buzz | Affiliate Marketing / Affiliate Programs / Internet / Online / Social Media Marketing - James Martell

By James Martell: Online Entrepreneur, Speaker and PodcasterBusinessTechnologyEducation
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Affiliate Buzz | Affiliate Marketing / Affiliate Programs / Internet / Online / Social Media Marketing - James Martell episodes

  • AB #384 | Telling to Selling – Why It’s All About the Story
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell along with his wife Arlene reveal exclusive insight on "Telling to Selling - Why It's All About the Story" or how to create a presentation that sells your affiliate marketing podcast.
    The episode opens with a special Happy Birthday to James. Arlene about the celebration for their family's patriarch, including a sentimental grandchildren who presented their grandpa with some special artwork.
    Finding a Topic for Your Presentation
    Then James and Arlene dive into today's topic, creating presentations to help sell your affiliate marketing podcast. James has put together hundreds of presentations, many of which Arlene has taken part. James says there are a few ways to display your presentation to others, but the bottom line is that you are trying to sell something.
    James and Arlene do a mini-brainstorming session and decide on the topic of sciatic nerve pain, something which Arlene suffers from and has been researching. During the podcast she relates the events leading up to the problem, and what she wishes she would have known when the pain first surfaced.
    Speaking of having a story, James says that's one thing he looks for when creating a presentation. As the story unfolds, you want to be able to hang things on it.
    Some of the things mentioned in Arlene's story include:

    * Chiropractor
    * Acupuncture
    * Sciatic pain
    * Kinesiology
    * Orthopodics
    * Bowen therapy
    * Physiotherapy
    * Back surgery

    After three specialists, the pain would go away for a day or two but would come right back. She wound up in the emergency room where, because x-rays had already been performed, a CAT scan was planned. The result was a bulging disk putting pressure on her sciatic nerve, and the latest attempt to seek relief will be seeing a physiotherapist who also does acupuncture.
    Creating Your Presentation in Four Easy Steps
    James then outlines his four-step process for creating a presentation based on a personal story such as the one Arlene shares during this episode. Although some things might be uncomfortable to talk about, people don't forget the personal experiences and stories you share with them.
    1. Identify the problem.

    2. Find the story in the problem.

    3. Tell the story in great detail.

    4. Use the solution to sell a product or service.
    James says to outline your story from beginning to end. He does this before he ever opens up his presentation software. Once you are organized, it makes the act of putting the presentation together easier.
    Arlene agrees and adds that sharing a personal story makes you more credible to your audience. If they have similar experiences, then they trust what you are saying because you both had the same problem.
    Arlene has some experience in this area from when she wrote the book: Getting Adam Back - A Mother's Triumph Over Epilepsy & Autism. The book is their son Adam's story. Arlene says she followed her chronologically organized records and the story flowed from her. James says this isn't a simple little e-book, but a full-length novel available on Amazon.
    Did You Enjoy Today's Episode?
    Please head over to http://jamesmartell.wpengine.com/itunes where you can leave a review. It helps other people discover the Affiliate Buzz so they can also benefit from the knowledge shared in these podcasts.
    There's a brand new way to sign up for the Affiliate Buzz. Send a blank email to [email protected] if you'd like to subscribe and, if you send one now, then James and Arlene will show their gratitude by sharing an exclusive bonus report.
    Resources:
    36 min
  • AB #383 | Starting Business Over After Life Got In The Way
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell along with his wife Arlene follow up on the last episode, I Sure Screwed that Up, with more advice for starting business over after life gets in the way.
    James shares that before the podcast, he had a nice drive along the Vancouver area coastline. He and Arlene describe the moderate climate of their corner of the continent, and compare it to temperatures in some other areas of North America.
    When Life Derails Your Business Plan
    James then segues into the topic of what happens when you come back after something gets in the way of your business. If you started your company with high hopes, then you are not alone. James says he and Arlene did the same after the dot-com crash happened and merchants that previously paid for leads no longer existed.
    After deciding to take off again, in the middle of the Christmas holidays several years ago, James and Arlene's business took another hit when suddenly their sites disappeared and everything stopped ranking. Once again they started over.
    James and Arlene also run through some of the ways they've seen life derail entrepreneurs' plans to start a business. These range from taking time to recover after a death in the family, to the merchant changing something that affects the conversion rate, to losing your passwords and domain name, and more.
    How to Start Over after Life Happens
    Life creates ebbs and flows that will cause you to adapt and change your business. During this episode, James and Arlene share tips about starting over that include:

    * Get a plan in place that is your own. James cautions against using someone else's plan. You know what's best for your business.
    * Unsubscribe from all your lists. This will allow you to focus without distractions or influences.
    * Turn off the online noise, grab a pencil and paper, and really focus on making your plan.
    * Evaluate the status of every aspect of your site. You might need to prune back a few things, or scrap everything and start over.
    * Look at the end result. Arlene offers some ideas for things you might want in the end result, such as your website graphics, how you're going to use that site to sell, etc.

    Why People Enter the Affiliate Marketing Industry
    When James and Arlene entered the business, they had four children between the ages of 5 and 12. One of their sons was very ill at the time (and thankfully is in good health now). James' goal was to earn $100 per day to have money to pay for the things his family needed.
    Today James and Arlene have come a long way. They not only achieved James' original goal, but also saw some of their dreams come to reality. During the podcast they discuss the importance of visualizations for success, not only in business but in all areas of your life.
    Arlene offers that if you're looking for some help in this area, to check out the Hay House World Summit, an online journey to self-discovery, health and success.
    If you're in need of help, then head over to The School of Internet Marketing where you can find help with a wide range of topics like these:

    * Affiliate Marketer's Bootcamp is a must for getting started, or re-started with your business.
    * Daily Traffic Blueprint can help you learn how to drive more traffic to your site.
    * Outsourcing Essentials explains how to build a team of freelance contractors via a site like Elance.
    * Email Marketing 101
    * and more!

    Links to the courses can be found in the list of resources below.
    Did you enjoy today's episode? Please head over to http://jamesmartell.wpengine.com/itunes where you can leave a review. It helps other people discover the Affiliate Buzz so they can also benefit from the knowledge shared in these podcasts.
    There's a brand new way to sign up for the Affiliate B...
    33 min
  • AB #382 | Well, I Sure Screwed That Up!
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell along with his wife Arlene, talk about a project that didn't go so well. James says, "In fact, I completely screwed it up". The headline for this episode pretty much sums it up.
    Before introducing the topic, James and Arlene briefly talk about their latest breakation to Oak Harbor in Washington State, and all the benefits that this type of working vacation offers. Arlene shares that getting away from your house makes a huge difference in attitude as it is a great way to refresh.
    James divulges that he frequently leaves home with his laptop to spend evenings working in a local pub. When people ask him how he can work with all the pub-related noise he explains that he was home all day.
    When people ask Arlene if she minds, she assures them that she has no problem having the house to herself for a few hours. James adds that after all, they have spent day after day together for at least a couple of decades.
    What to Do When a Project Goes Off the Rails
    Next James tackles the topic at hand, which is a project that did not meet with his client's satisfaction. Upon unveiling a site to a client, the reaction was not what James had hoped to hear.
    James quickly points out that while he blames only himself, that he has never missed the mark by this far. Arlene chimes in that this type of reaction rarely happens from their clients. There was only one way to respond, and that was by making it right.
    Over the past few episodes, James and Arlene have boasted the benefits of outsourcing. While James is better accustomed to being the client who gives the details, he recognizes that he should have asked for more details from his client in this situation.
    Arlene says that from the start she and james did not ask the right questions, and did not ask enough questions, to get the full picture of what their client wanted. James says if he would have picked up on this, then the entire negative situation could have been avoided.
    A Red Flag to Alert You to Get More Details
    After a short break, James describes how he and Arlene organize their project through every stage, from initial templates to collaborating with members of their team through Basecamp. Looking back, James says something stood out that should have come up as a red flag.
    "James, I trust you to take care of this for me."
    In retrospect, James says this was a warning that the client wasn't sure what he wanted from the project. Arlene adds that even though the client had some ideas, he was not sure how to express them.
    James points out that if you have to look up terms, such as "whimsical", then you may want to ask your client for a deeper understanding to make sure that you are both on the same page.
    How James and Arlene Righted the Problem
    In an effort to satisfy the needs of their client, James and Arlene went back to the drawing board. Arlene touched base with the client via telephone and, along with asking a lot of questions about what he did and did not like about the first attempt, she made detailed notes about his vision for the finished results.
    The steps they took included:

    * James and Arlene scrapped the initial site including graphics and logo.
    * The text was all rewritten from scratch so the tone suited the style.
    * James and Arlene developed a character graphic at the client's request.
    * Other elements of the site were color-coded to tie into the character.

    The client, James, and Arlene are all thrilled with the new results. You can see at http://thedebtninja.com/ but James asks that you keep in mind that the telephone number is still a dummy number at the time of this podcast's recording.  It was a good lesson learned that good communication is the key to ...
    33 min
  • AB #381 | How to Look Like a Million Dollar Business on a Shoe String Budget
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell and his wife Arlene offer some great examples and takeaways so that you know how to look like a million dollar business on a shoe string budget.
    The episode starts out with James and Arlene relaying their love of baseball season. They reminisce about their children's days in the outfield as a segue to share that their granddaughter is enjoying her first year of playing t-ball.
    The High Cost of Not Keeping Updated
    James then turns to the topic at hand and lets listeners in on one of Arlene's pet peeves, which is outdated websites. Arlene chimes in, giving both her impression of her reaction to finding one and her reason for disliking them.
    Next James and Arlene talk about what an outdated website costs the business owner in terms of sales. Arlene explains that she will not shop from sites that look outdated, because she wants to know that her online purchases will work out.
    Arlene then goes on to talk about the advantages of having a professional look, and not just on your webpage. The professional look is not only limited to your webpages, but is also extended to your presence on social media sites as well.
    Arlene points out that people want to see a website that looks professional with an updated, current appearance, functional features (including no dead links), and that is aesthetically pleasing. Attention to these details have the power to boost your sales.
    After sharing some specific examples of outdated websites that he has visited in the recent past, James reveals the secret weapon that he and Arlene use to really improve the look and feel of both a website and an online presence in a huge way for a low price.
    The Envato Marketplace offers a suite of websites with dynamic features such as WordPress themes, stock video, audio, Photo Dune for royalty free photos, Code Canyon for speciality scripting and coding, and 3D Ocean for effects and graphics.
    James and Arlene use the Envato Marketplace on a daily basis, and during the podcast discuss the site's features which include the following for as low as $1 per item:

    * PhotoDune.net offers royalty-free stock photography in a wide range of sizes to serve all the needs of your web or social media site.
    * 3DOcean has 23,825 3D models, textures, and accessories that you can use in Photoshop or other graphic design programs.
    * GraphicRiver boasts 373,777 stock graphic files as well as a drop-down menu of web elements like banners, sliders, newsletters, and more.
    * AudioJungle contains 261,150 royalty-free audio files which you can use to help put some pizazz into your podcast.
    * ThemeForest provides 19,338 website templates and themes for email, WordPress, Joomla, and more starting at $3 each.

    James points out that once you have an Envato account, everything you purchase stays within your account. This means the history of your purchasing something, like a photo or template, is still there if you misplace or lose the file after downloading it and you can download it again for no extra charge.
    Arlene adds that Envato is very user-friendly, and that the search engines give results that are the best potential matches for your project. James performs a live demonstration using AudioJungle, where he searches for things like dogs and jets and then gives an actual sampling of the sounds found within the search results.
    Wrapping things up, James and Arlene share their final thoughts about Envato, including using the site's resources in conjunction with outsourcing work through a site like Elance.
    Don't miss an episode of the Affiliate Buzz. There's a brand new way to sign up. Send a blank email to [email protected] now and receive a bonus complimentary report.
    34 min
  • AB #380 | Projects You Can and Should Outsource: Get Much More Done in a Lot Less Time
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell, is joined by co-host Arlene to present tips for how you can outsource projects to get much more done in a lot less time.
    James kicks off the episode by inviting Arlene to share how she gets more done in less time through outsourcing contractors via Elance. She explains how outsourcing makes her job easier, and describes how her team of outsources kept everything on track when she was away from her desk the previous day.
    Getting Your Outsourcing Projects Off on the Right Foot
    James then opens his Elance account to give an on-the-spot review of the projects they currently have open. Arlene explains about ongoing jobs, and how Elance allows clients to keep the job open by adding milestones for additional work over a long period of time. This is especially helpful once you find the right person for a particular job.
    Next James describes the most recent project they posted. In less than 24 hours, nearly two dozen contractors from around the world have vied on the job with proposed bids ranging from just over $150 to $650. James and Arlene agree that they are always amazed at the diversity and range of the bids, as it really brings the world together.
    James goes on to list some of the other projects he and Arlene are currently outsourcing, which include someone to write about environmental products, a voice talent, a graphic designer, ghostwriter, someone for WordPress help, a video editor, and the list goes on and on.
    The Benefits of Having an Outsourcing Team
    For a reasonble hourly fee, Arlene outsources adminstrative and other work as needed to an outsourced Virtual Assitant. As James points out, if you're doing the work of someone you can pay $5 per hour to do, then you lower your value to $5 per hour.
    Then James talks about the price difference between hiring someone through outsourcing and privately hiring someone for the job, and goes on to use examples from his current cache of Elance projects.

    * Do what you do best, and outsource the rest. James admits he does not deal with technical issues very well, and outsourcing is a great way for him to avoid the stress of trying to handle everything himself. That's what these people do for a living.
    * When creating projects, if you need a quick turnaround time, James suggests adding a line saying you are ready to award the job to the first person with the expertise who offers a fair price. This will help you avoid those who drive the price up for these types of jobs.
    * Beware of price jumps. James has called a few contractors out on bidding up prices for similar jobs. For example, if a contractor bids $70 on a job and you award it to them, then they should not bid $110 to do a repeat job with similar requirements.
    * Communicating with outsourcers can tricky. James gives examples of how resources like Skype can be handy when dealing with jobs of a technical nature which may need a quick answer. Otherwise you can use Elance's internal messaging service as long as you check regularly for new messages and give prompt replies. James also shares a live example of how a communication problem can delay an entire project.
    * Creating your own digital products is vital to affiliate marketing, and was the topic of Affiliate Buzz #379. James is currently creating a new e-book with the help of an outsourced ghost writer. He reads off actual emails during the podcast to give examples of what communication should sound like when a project is going well.

    James and Arlene wrap up the podcast with some advice for using Google Documents and Dropbox to collaborate with clients. Arlene also reminds that if you post a job to Elance and don't find the right person, then you can cancel the project, risk-free.
    There's a brand new way to sign up for the Affiliate Buzz.
    55 min
  • AB #379 | How to Earn $2,000-$3,000 a Month with Audio Marketing
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell and his wife Arlene reveal how to earn $2,000 to $3,000 per month with audio marketing.
    James kicks off the episode by sharing strategies that he and Arlene have successfully used to generate revenue for many, many years now. One such strategy is podcasting, which is such a nice fit for affiliates and the affiliate model because essentially, it's just a method of marketing.
    Then James explains that audio is coming on strong for perhaps the first time in marketing history. Google originally indexed texts, then images, and then jumped straight to video. Somehow the audio portion got missed. James shares his surprise that more people aren't using this powerful tool.
    The conversation then segues into strategies for using audio to better engage audiences on your website. During this episode, James and Arlene also discuss about products to create to help gain audiences. If you missed the previous episode, Affiliate Buzz #378, then head there next to learn about selling your own products and getting 100% profit.
    Overcoming the Biggest Audio Stumbling Block
    The biggest stumbling block is having a place to record. James uses Audacity by SourceForge, a free software which is as easy to master as Microsoft Word. In the past when introducing other affiliates to the software, James has found that they've picked it up in just a few minutes.
    After downloading the software, the next thing he suggests is to get a decent headset. James recommends the one he uses, a German-made model by Sennheiser that Arlene got for him. It plugs in via USB, has excellent sound quality, and costs under $50 USD. Listeners can visit http://www.podcastingmastery.com/headset for more details.
    Recording is as easy as hitting the red button on the software application and recording. If you don't like what you hear, then you can delete and re-record. Otherwise you can edit out um's, ah's, and other pregnant pauses to tighten up the recording right in the software - the same methods used by other professionals.
    How to Use Audio Marketing to Create Money
    Next James talks about ways you can use audio to create money. In other words, audio increases the chance to generate a higher number of sales to increase your bottom line. The methods James and Arlene discuss during this episode include:
    1. Audio Newsletter

    When sent out once or twice a month, an audio newsletter can take the text version to the next level. Instead of narrating your text newsletter, share something relevant like:

    * Customer Reviews
    * Industry News
    * Tutorials

    When you offer relevant information via audio, you'll gain readers who prefer to listen over read.
    2. Audio Courses

    An audio course, James has found, is easier to put together than a video course. More importantly, people prefer attending audio courses as they can download and listen wherever is convenient, including on the commute to and from their day job.
    The example James uses in this episode is Guest Blogging Mastery, a course with 12 fifteen-minute episodes. Putting together an audio course is no different from putting a course together in an eBook, video, or other document. The steps are:
    a. Organize your information, such as separating into chapters or other sections.

    b. Choose your preferred media format(s), which could be audio, print, or video.

    c. Edit your own audio files or hire someone from Elance (approx. cost $120 USD) to edit them for you with some nice theme music.

    d. Have someone from Elance transcribe the audio into an eBook (approx. cost $100 USD.)

    e. Hire someone from Elance to create an attractive cover for your eBook (approx. cost $50 USD.)

    f. Put some marketing materials (approx.
    30 min
  • AB #378 | How to Create Quality Digital Products, Earn Passive Income and Work from Home
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell along with his wife Arlene, shares some tips and takeaways on how to create quality digital products, earn passive income and work from home.
    James points out that working from home offers a lot of benefits. He turns to Arlene who describes the sunny, beautiful day outside. Because she's not cooped up in a cubicle all day, she can enjoy the fresh, Pacific air from the comfort of her own patio or gazebo.
    Benefits of Meeting Up with Other Entrepreneurs
    James then shares about a recent speaking engagement he had at the Vancouver Entrepreneurs Group. At the last minute, he convinced Arlene to go with him - something she could do because of her work-from-home schedule.
    Next James recommends checking out Meetup.com for gatherings related to marketing or affiliate marketing. He and Arlene have found it very beneficial to use these gatherings to meet new friends and network with other businesses. Just because it's an affiliate product doesn't mean you can't promote it to the offline world as well.
    James offers a firsthand, quick review of a gadget he found at Affiliate Summit in January called the JBL Charge 2. It's a Bluetooth-driven speaker the size of a tall beer can. Arlene was dubious at first, but after seeing it in action agrees that it's an invaluable tool.
    How Digital Products Can Increase Your Passive Income
    The topic of digital products is near and dear to James and Arlene's hearts, as they've been using them alongside their affiliate business for more than a dozen years.

    * THE AFFILIATE MARKETER'S HANDBOOK 2002 was James' first foray into writing a book and hiring an editor. It took him about six months, but the time was well-spent as the book sold over 5,000 copies.
    * THE AFFILIATE BUZZ was the Martell's next digital product. This allowed students to better connect with James and Arlene and ask questions. At a fee of $10 per month, they had more than 500 subscribers for nearly five years.
    * DIGITAL COURSES and BOOT CAMPS followed the success of the eBook and the podcast.
    * THE SCHOOL OF INTERNET MARKETING is the most recent digital product offered by James and Arlene Martell. It was founded to meet the needs of business owners who want to understand and use the most powerful internet marketing tools as quickly as possible.

    James points out that these courses all revolve around an eBook, an audio, online membership, or some other type of digital product.
    Advantages of Having Your Own Digital Product
    Next James and Arlene talk about the advantages of having your own digital product. One of the biggest reasons is that you get to claim 100% of the sales, unlike an affiliate program where you just earn a percentage of the sales.
    James says another benefit is that you get to control everything: the landing pages, your lead magnet, and the entire sales process from beginning to end. On the affiliate side, you can only control leading the customer to the online shopping cart.
    Then James shares another huge benefit, which is that you can start your own affiliate program. This is how James doubled the amount of sales for the first eBook he ever published.
    Arlene points out that it's great to have your own product, because it's another revenue stream for your website. James adds that there is a high level of prestige that comes with creating your own product, and that it can open doors for indirect benefits, like speaking engagements.
    Additionally, because the digital product is digital, then once you create it there is no cost to manufacture print copies. These digital products include eBooks, podcasts, digital courses, and membership sites.
    James cautions that instead of trying to create everything and winding up with fluff, choose one product and take the time to commit to create a good produc...
    32 min
  • AB #377 | Outsourcing, Hiring a Virtual Assistant and Get Everything Done in Waaaaaay Less Time!
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell, is joined by co-host Arlene Martell for reviews of some on-the-spot topics.
    James kicks off the episode with a reminder that the Podcasting Mastery course at The School of Internet Marketing kicks off on April 7. Anyone who learns more about podcasting on their own is encouraged to check out a free podcasting webinar.
    Next James and Arlene discuss her recent birthday, and a gift of personalized wall art that she received from her grandchildren. James segues into the fact that he recently took note of how Arlene manages her time. She's getting way more done in way less time.
    What You Can Do to Work Less and Earn More
    Then James asks Arlene to define the term "breakation". A term coined by the couple years ago, a breakation is a few extra days booked before or after an event, like a conference. These days give them time to get out and explore the geographic area where the event takes place. It works out great, especially in cities like New York or Las Vegas.
    This leads to James recalling a family memory involving swimming at Black Rock beach in front of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. He and his daughter were swimming in the tropical waters when he bumped right into a sea turtle that, unphased, kept swimming right along. To James, this "Swimming with the Turtles" story parallels the job of an affiliate marketer.
    Arlene's secret to getting more done is outsourcing work to others. Her team of includes her Virtual Assistant (who is a WordPress expert), an Internet technician, and two types of writers - standard writers that she uses all the time, and new writers that she uses for specific purposes. Arlene enjoys working with these people because she can give any member of her team basic instructions and they get the job done.
    Staying Organized with Project Management Apps
    Next James and Arlene talk about the benefits of project management applications. Their app of choice is Basecamp, which helps groups of people finish projects together. For example Arlene uploads project descriptions and assigns tasks to her team members. As each person finishes their part of the job, they tick it off as complete in Basecamp.
    James goes on to discuss how he and Arlene did things in the early days before Elance and outsourcing, and remarks that there is no reason why anyone should do all of this work themselves. He also points out that if you do work that you could hire someone else to do for $5 per hour, then it is like saying your worth is $5 per hour.
    Arlene chimes in that outsourcing also saves the frustration of trying to do everything yourself. It erases the learning curve. As James explains, you will have to hire someone if something goes wrong, so you might as well outsource the work. During the podcast Arlene shares these tips for listeners who plan to outsource:

    * Your project description should state exactly what you are looking for.
    * There is a good chance that you get just the right person for your job.
    * If the person you want bids too high, ask them if they are willing to work within your budget.

    After a short break, James references the professionals mentioned during the advertisements. He mentions that Tim Ash, Danny Sullivan, and Bruce Clay are people he has met personally, and that if you are looking for someone to advertise your business, then turn to the people at WebMasterRadio.FM, just like other professionals with high conversion rates.
    Then James and Arlene revisit the topic of Basecamp, a program management app that Arlene says has been vital to their business. They can put all of their projects in separately via to-do lists with tasks assigned to specific team members. James reveals that listeners who want to give it a try can head over to Bas...
    33 min
  • AB #376 | The School of Internet Marketing + Webinar and an Exciting NEW Course!
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell, is joined by co-host Arlene to discuss The School of Internet Marketing, a webinar, and an exciting new course.
    James kicks off the episode with a recap of what's been going on in the past weeks, including an update about Arlene's surgery, a visit to an acupuncturist, and more. As James points out, a flexible schedule is another great example of the benefits of having a career in affiliate marketing.
    James then digs into the meat of this episode - The School of Internet Marketing. He and Arlene recap the humble beginnings of this online facility, and then go through the evolution of the school starting with the Affiliate Marketers' Handbook.
    From Handbook to Premiere Online Educational Courses
    James asks Arlene to take listeners back a decade to the first boot camp they hosted in Vancouver. People flew in from all over the world, giving James and Arlene an opportunity to connect with them in person over a period of a few days.
    After the training was done, Arlene explains, she and James took the students on a tour of Vancouver. Although they had to give a lot of information in a short period of time, the sold-out event was such a great success that they held it again the next year.
    Then in 2007 James was introduced to online conferencing as a way to do online training. In that same year, he and Arlene kicked off the Affiliate Marketers' Boot Camp: the Online Edition. Arlene explains the benefits of live sessions and agrees with James that it was a lot of fun. Some of those benefits included:

    * Nobody had to pay the fare to fly from their home to Vancouver.
    * Online sessions meant spreading information out over weeks, as opposed to cramming it into a few short days.
    * The online Boot Camp allowed students to build an affiliate site over the course of the sessions.

    While teaching the courses, James and Arlene needed a place where students could meet up online. They registered a website, put together a membership site for everyone to log in, and set it up so students would have access to audio, video, and printed transcripts for the various classes.
    James and Arlene quickly recognized that despite being extremely fluent in their own areas of expertise, they could not teach everything there was to know about these new mediums such as YouTube, Twitter, and other social media networks. And thus The School of Internet Marketing was born.
    New Courses at The School of Internet Marketing
    Next James and Arlene talk about what you'll find at The School of Internet Marketing, starting with logging in and landing on the control panel. Arlene paints a picture of what to expect during a live walk-through as she logs into the site and peruses the various areas.
    One feature offered is the Live Q&A, which allows people to meet with James and Arlene in the online conference room and ask questions on any topic, at any point that they are in their business. Newbies and accomplished students alike have equal opportunities to get answers to their questions in a real-time event.
    Designed for small businesses looking to build up their online marketing, the podcasts are another popular feature. The Affiliate Buzz podcasts focus on the affiliate side of things, while The School of Internet Marketing sister-podcasts talk about things like local search, WordPress, how to hire a writer, and more.
    The next features discussed are a calendar where students can get information about upcoming events, a digital Rolodex, and a chat forum. James weighs the pro's and con's of having a chat forum versus a Facebook group, and reveals what to expect with the chat forum in the future.
    Next James and Arlene discuss another series of podcasts called Coffee Talk,
    34 min
  • AB #375 | “Affiliate Summit” – Our Guide to Getting the Most out of this Premier Event! #ASE15
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell, is joined by co-host Arlene to present the Affiliate Buzz’s Guide to Affiliate Summit, with insider tips on getting the most out of the event.
    This year's Affiliate Summit East 2015 takes place in New York City from August 2nd to the 4th at the Marriott Marquis - Times square.
    James kicks off the episode by reminiscing about the very first Affiliate Summit. Just one year after The Affiliate Buzz got started, James and Arlene were present at this event with a couple hundred other attendees, on a cruise ship that went from New York City up to Halifax.
    Affiliate Summit Is Growing by Leaps and Bounds
    James points out that Affiliate Summit is a premier industry event and has grown a little each year. He and Arlene reminiscence about the locations of past Affiliate Summit events, including Disney World, Vegas, Austin, and other major cities.
    Affiliate Summit takes place in venues such as the New York City Hilton, Disney World Hilton in Orlando, Austin, Texas, and a wide range of Las Vegas, Nevada locations. Some of the Las Vegas locations have included: the Riviera Hotel & Casino, Bally's Las Vegas, Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Paris Las Vegas, and Caesars Palace.
    Next James gives listeners an idea of how the scope of the event has changed, from a single event in 2004 to multiple conferences per year that easily boast between 6,000 and 10,000 people. The way the event is growing, in James' perspective, is a good barometer of how much the affiliate marketing industry is still growing.
    Tips for Getting the Most Out of Affiliate Summit
    James and Arlene then launch into some talking points. These topics provide useful tips for listeners who have either never been to an Affiliate Summit event, or who have maybe not attended a conference in recent years. The eight talking points are:
    #8 Breakations
    James and Arlene coined the term "breakation" more than a decade ago. Unlike a vacation, the idea is to work hard for the first part of your trip, and then having some fun by getting away from it all for a couple of days. James and Arlene take a few extra days before or after the event.
    #7a: Meet Market
    The Meet Market kicks off on the Sunday afternoon along side with the educational session speaker tracks running in the background.  The meet market hosts a couple of hundred merchants and their affiliate managers sharing products and programs that they are representing.
    #7b: Exhibit Hall
    The exhibit hall is a large room filled with displays. James and Arlene spent an entire afternoon perusing the display areas and networking at the last conference they attended. These features give you an opportunity to meet others in the affiliate industry, get tips and strategies, and pick up some swag.
    #6: You Can Write Off the Event
    James shares some of the things he can write off his taxes when attending Affiliate Summit, including airfare, hotel room, and more. He points out that people attend the event from all over the world. Because not all tax laws are the same, he recommends running this by your accountant before trying it.
    #5: Educational Tracks
    Speaker tracks start off when the Meet Market kicks off. At the last Affiliate Summit, James spoke about How to Earn $100 per Day in Passive Recurring Income. He anticipates speaking about podcasting at Affiliate Summit East 2015 as well. Arlene recommends being on time and taking notes during the presentation, and explains more about this during the podcast.
    #4: Networking
    James points out that Affiliate Summit offers a lot of networking opportunities. He and Arlene discuss the positive influence networking has had on their business as well. Then they discuss the Newcomers Program,
    56 min

About Affiliate Buzz | Affiliate Marketing / Affiliate Programs / Internet / Online / Social Media Marketing - James Martell

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Since 2003, James Martell has been keeping affiliate marketers inspired, informed and motivated to succeed with affiliate programs. The Affiliate Buzz is the first and longest running podcast in the…