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 #340 | Todd Crawford: Transparency, and a Multi-Channel Approach to the Pay for Performance Model
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host and Instructor of the Affiliate Marketers BootCamp, James Martell is joined by Todd Crawford, the co-founder and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Impact Radius offer up a lively discussion about why publishers, advertisers and affiliate agencies should be implementing a multi-channel approach to their affiliate marketing partnerships.
    Arlene is not on the episode this week as she spending some well deserved time with her grandchildren at the beach.
    James begins the episode by announcing that in a few weeks he will be able to provide a review for a new tool he has discovered. The discovery came via another podcast, the Facebook Answer Man podcast with Scott Ayres and it is a way for users to triple their following with just 10 minutes a day.
    James also asks listeners to go to the Affiliate Buzz Facebook page and tell him what device they use to listen to Affiliate Buzz.
    A Founding Father of Modern Affiliate Marketing
    Todd is considered to be instrumental in the founding of the modern affiliate marketing industry. Previous to his role at Impact Radius, he was a co-founder and Vice President at Commission Junction. He admits this was a different time when the web was a painfully slow tool.
    At Commission Junction they saw an opportunity to change the affiliate system. As Todd explains, at the time, affiliate programs were very advertiser centric. Commission Junction attempted to change this and eat into the market share of their main competitors Be Free and LinkShare.
    During this time, Todd explains some of the following:

    * The common problems that existed within the system.
    * How Commission Junction went about changing that.
    * The effect Commission Junction had on the industry.
    * What happened to Commission Junction following their success?

    After the sale of Commission Junction to Value Click (now known as Conversant), James noticed there was a change in culture at the company. James also states that many of the founders left the company all roughly at the same time. Then after a few years, they reappeared together to quietly launch Impact Radius.
    The Need For Transparency Due to Problems in the Multi-Channel Approach
    Todd explains advertisers need to look at their model because sometimes publishers don’t get the credit they deserve. He gives a scenario where a customer finds out about a brand through a publisher. They then go away and look at some reviews or some more information about the advertiser and then return, perhaps through a paid search. In this scenario, the affiliate would not get any recognition for the vital part they have played in the sales process. In some cases, as James has pointed out in a previous podcast, this can be a huge loss of earnings for the publisher.
    The different avenues customers use for finding an advertiser’s products has been spoken about before in a previous addition of this podcast.
    James knows Matt Frary at SmarterChaos speaks about this problem as well over on his affiliate marketing podcast Chaos Makes Sense. Part of the problem is that previously it was hard for the different groups to talk. What would often happen would be the advertiser would speak to the agency who would speak to the affiliate. However in this approach, barely anything would happen.
    36 min
  • AB #339 | Jeannine Crooks: Working at Home Offers Time Flexibilty and Cost Savings
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, James Martell is joined by Jeannine Crooks, Senior Account Manager at Affiliate Window, while his wife is away. During the course of this episode, James and Jeannine explore her background from her thirty years of marriage to working from home in the affiliate marketing industry. They then talk about how this could be a good model for you and what skills are required for this lifestyle.
    Jeannine began her career in affiliate marketing while she was working as Director for Marketing at a small company which sold motorcycle parts and accessories. While taking the first forays into internet marketing, Jeannine launched the company’s first website. They then realized the potential for further income through affiliate marketing with their motorbike dealers and so she set up the system.
    At this time affiliate marketing was brand new and it wouldn't be until 2005 that she realized the vastness of the industry. This eye-opener occurred at an affiliate marketing conference which she attended weeks after joining a new company.
    Affiliate Marketing: The Closeness of an Industry
    What has struck Jeannine as special about the affiliate industry is that you can make friends and relationships will last a lifetime. Everyone is there to help each other and if she doesn't know the answer she will often be acquainted with someone she can send a client to for advice. The support everyone is willing to give each other is something Jeannine really likes.
    Jeannine thinks it is these special relationships which are also important for those who want to join the industry. Simply, if you want to be good in affiliate marketing, you need to listen to those who have been there. There are a number of people willing to teach this important internet marketing skill.
    The industry gives many individuals the chance to work from home, something which can support flexible working once they have become established. For example Jeannine has been able organize her work around looking after her ill mother and taking her dog to physiotherapy.
    Jeannine has even pointed out the interesting places she has been able to work at which include the Sturgis Motorcyle Rally and on board a cruise ship. With the advent of the web, internet marketing can be conducted almost anywhere.
    During the conversations about her past, Jeannine explains:

    * How she got into the affiliate marketing industry.
    * How she landed her current job.
    * What makes her love her current work with Affiliate Window.
    * What she thinks is an important aspect for being a great affiliate marketing manager.

    What Essential Skills Do You Need to Work From Home?
    Jeannine admits there are certain skills which are essential if you want to work from home. The flexible working arrangements can be too tempting and as Jeannine and James state, it isn't about slacking off at home so having the right mindset is therefore essential.
    Jeannine has clients all across the world, including one in Thailand. Her client in Thailand works completely the opposite hours to Jeannine due to time zones – she admits she has had more than one meeting in her pajamas and gone straight to bed afterwards. Yet there are also benefits to this. The flexible working means she has worked while watching hockey or otherwise been enjoying herself.
    These aren't the only requirements needed for working from home and Jeannine explains that some of the others are:

    * Being able to multitask.
    * Having really good communication skills.
    * Being able to keep up with the ever changing industry.

    James ends the edition by asking Jeannine what technology she couldn't live without. She admits that
    34 min
  • AB #338 | Basecamp: A Game Changing Tool to Scale Your Publishing Business
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, James Martell is joined by his wife Arlene Martell and JambMedia’s manager of business services, Kimberly Juchnowski, to talk about the game changing tool Basecamp. This virtual team management tool is brilliantly developed to help with business building and online success.
    James begins the podcast with an introduction to the business game changers he has taken on board over the years. In 2001, he came across Google, which was really big for affiliate marketers. The next new finding was Elance, while he was a speaker at a university. The third was WordPress in 2007 and the fourth is the topic of today’s podcast, Basecamp.
    James has given advice on WordPress in a previous Podcast and other tools which affiliates can use to boost production and their profits.
    Kimberly was quick to embrace Basecamp, which offers a 60 day free trial not requiring credit card details. James is at a point now where he is awaiting an invoice for the first 30 days of paid subscription to the site.
    Arlene goes on to describe the situation prior to the use of Basecamp. Arlene has always been a real ‘to-do list’ maker. These lists would have questions to be answered or actions to undertake for current projects on the go. Everything on her ‘to-do list’ had a due date and she struggled to know where everything was, often unsure if her note was on a piece of paper or on Google Drive.
    James knows that Arlene is strong on business organisation and when she gets a little disheveled something needs to change. To show how important being organised is, James recalls that when they were finishing off the Affiliate Marketers Handbook in 2002, they settled on the first chapter being ‘How to Get and Stay Organised’.
    James clearly feels that organisation is a big challenge for those with an online business and reflects on his own experience that virtual team management can be tough. He was getting very frustrated at one point earlier this year and having to conduct regular meetings with Kimberly, to discover what stage they were at with certain projects. This is when they discovered Basecamp.
    The Moment of Enlightenment
    Kimberly hadn't realized how bad the organisation had become until she started using Basecamp but she admits things were getting messy with the numerous simultaneous projects. She had to spend countless time checking everything to ensure nothing was being missed, going back and forth between different team members to get work completed on time.
    The situation resulted in a team which was not cohesive and it was hard to reference a recurring aspect or issue in a project. To Kimberly, Elance is a great tool, but when you have many threads contributing to one project, it can be difficult to stay on top of things.
    Since the team started using Basecamp, only one meeting has been required and James laughs that they really had nothing to discuss.
    During the podcast James, Arlene and Kimberly go into detail about the benefits of Basecamp. Here are some of the topics they discuss:

    * The problems with another virtual team management tool they have used called Action Method.
    * Have any problems been experienced with Basecamp?
    * How James can use Basecamp to keep all his ideas organised.
    * How Basecamp can create an excellent team environment.

    Information at Your Fingertips
    James loves Basecamp as it can easily tell him the status of any project. He looks at the statistics on the site and it shows him there are current...
    33 min
  • AB #337 | Why Building an Audience Needs to Be at the Top of Your List
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, James Martell is joined by his wife Arlene Martell, to discuss strategies for list building and growing your audience. Before they start however, James asks his wife where she snuck off to early in the morning. Arlene replies she was taking the time to see their grandchild for a ‘baby snuggle morning’, something she is able to do because of the flexibility of her work, which is aided by having a large list.
    List building doesn’t have the attention it deserves, according to James, who also mentions alternative names of developing or growing an audience.
    Constant Watch on Subscriber Numbers
    There are many advantages to having a large list but as James states it isn’t going to be instantly created; it can take time and hard work to get traction. List building is critical to the online success of your business and that is one of the reasons why James will constantly look at his subscriber numbers.
    During the podcast, James gives plenty of supportive advice on how you can build your list, including:

    * The first thing you should do to build a list.
    * Using the list to stay in touch with your contacts.
    * The main marketing benefits of having a list.
    * Satisfy the needs of your clients with a marketing list.

    James also shares how his email marketing list helped transform his business. He sent an invitation to his list to complete a simple form on askdatabase.com and from those responses he was able to determine what his clients’ biggest challenges were. It also gave him great sales content for future contacts.
    Automating the Email Marketing
    James has many discussions with clients and others and often finds out that they don’t have an email auto-responder sequence. An email auto-responder sequence is very important and James shares that his longest runs for four years.
    The importance of an email marketing list and an auto-responder series reminds James of an interview he had with former CEO and iContact founder Ryan Allis. In the interview Ryan stated you will never again see 70% of the visitors to your website unless you sign them up to subscribe to something.
    The Three Strategies To Growing An Audience
    James continues the podcast to talk about three methods for growing an audience and list building. He also explains that he has used a number of different platforms and tools, and also shares which one he likes best because of it's beautiful interface and easy to use template, amongst other powerful features.
    During the end of the podcast James discusses:

    * Do you need to be an expert on all the list building strategies?
    * How can you start your own list building?
    * Examples of successful list builders.

    With this information, and a killer opt-in as discussed previously by James, you can really start to develop a marketing list to grow your audience and achieve online success.
    1 min
  • AB #336 | How to Hire a Great Graphic Designer (and Save a Bundle)
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, hosts James and Arlene Martell take you through the vetting process and the advantages of having a good graphic designer available for the creative needs of your company.
    Graphic design is an important part marketing for any business, and is essential for the look and feel of your company’s brand. This episode of the Affiliate Buzz reviews all things related to graphic design so you get the best value for your money.
    The Best Resources for Getting the Graphics You Need
    This episode kicks off with James and Arlene sharing some of the trials and errors they endured regarding hiring graphic designers in their early days of affiliate marketing. They also discuss the following:

    * What you can expect to pay for graphic design work
    * The quality and quantity of graphics available on the web
    * What types of graphics you might need for your site

    Next James goes through a live walk-through of how he sets up a new job on Elance to hire a graphic designer, and gives a tip about how to make sure your graphic designer is giving you what you want.
    The Graphics You Need at a Price You Can Afford
    Then James shares a link to a website to give you a real-time example that puts all this information in perspective. He points out what you should look at on this site in regards to ordering graphics for your brand. He also talks about:

    * What you can do to prevent delay of a graphic design job
    * How you can get the best job for your company’s budget
    * The type of file you can request from your graphic designer

    The episode wraps up with James giving some advice about why you need the raw data files for any images that you hire a graphic designer to make for your site. Arlene chimes in sharing a personal experience that could have been avoided by using that advice.
    32 min
  • AB #335 | Podcasting’s Rise in Popularity Offers Numerous Opportunities to Savvy Affiliates
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, host James Martell is joined by guest Todd Cochrane from RawVoice and GeekNewsCentral. The two talk about the lucrative opportunities for affiliate marketers to offer tools to eager podcasters. Podcasting has exploded onto the affiliate marketing scene, and presents a unique revenue opportunity. This episode of the Affiliate Buzz will help you better understand everything you need to produce a successful podcast.
    How Far Podcasting Has Come in Recent Years
    James begins by giving a quick review of Todd’s background in this emerging industry. Then the episode kicks off with Todd sharing how he got started in the world of podcasting and what he’s seen along the way. The two also discuss the following:

    * How Todd went from a military career to one in podcasting
    * Differences between early podcasting and today’s tools
    * What plug-ins Todd helped build to grow the industry

    Next James recommends a free WordPress tool for anyone who plans on doing a podcast. It’s one that he uses for his own podcasts and also recommends to all of his clients.
    What Tools Can Help You Get Ahead in Podcasting
    Then after a short break, Todd talks about the tools a podcaster needs to be successful. He also describes where his affiliate program fits in with these tools, and describes goals that he has for the program. Then James and Todd move along to the following topics:

    * What plugin is best to integrate podcasts to iTunes
    * How can podcasting help affiliates find success
    * What do affiliates need to know about podcasters

    This episode of the Affiliate Buzz wraps up with some advice for how to market via podcasts that promote different products and services. James and Todd explain how this differs from creating a blog post, and offer advice about specific tools you can use to run a successful podcasting campaign.
    Subscribe to the Affiliate Buzz now to stay on top of the latest news about the internet marketing industry, and if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else, be sure to visit the Facebook page for the show.
    30 min
  • AB #334 | Podcasting Finally Arrives – iTunes Announces 1 Billion Podcast Subscribers
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, hosts James and Arlene Martell talk about a topic that is near and dear to their hearts -- podcasting. After all, the Affiliate Buzz is the longest running podcast dedicated to the affiliate marketing industry.
    Podcasting is on the rise, as weekly audio podcast consumption has grown year-over-year. One prime example is Apple's new CarPlay system which looks to turn tens of millions of cars into iPhone accessories.
    How Much Has Podcasting Grown Over the Years?
    The discussion kicks off with a review of the Canada Marketing Summit, a conference where James spoke to a substantial audience of attendees on the topic of podcasting. Then also go on to answer the following questions:

    * How were early podcasts and web shows recorded?
    * What were podcasts called before iPods existed?
    * How much does podcasting grow each year?

    Moving right along, James and Arlene share some statistics that really put things in perspective about how big podcasting has grown. They also discuss some of the more popular places where you can host your own podcast.
    Where Is Podcast Going in the Future?
    Next James and Arlene discuss the technological gadget nearly everyone owns that can act as a vital tool for both creating and listening to podcasts. During this episode the other things they talk about include:

    * The single feature that makes podcasting so convenient
    * How podcasting stacks up to traditional radio programming
    * The next big thing that people can expect from Apple

    James and Arlene wrap up the episode by sharing articles in sources such as Forbes and USA Today to back up the information about what's in store for podcasting in the future. Listen to this entire edition of the Affiliate Buzz now to hear all the information.
    Subscribe to the Affiliate Buzz now to stay on top of the latest news about the internet marketing industry, and if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else, please visit the Affiliate Buzz Facebook page.
    9 min
  • AB #333 | ShareASale ThinkTank 2014 Announced to Take Place in Charlotte, North Carolina
    In this edition of the Affiliate Buzz, hosts James and Arlene Martell talk about ShareASale Think Tank 2014, which has been announced to be presented at the four star Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge in Charlotte, North Carolina.
    ShareASale ThinkTank is an annual event designed to bring together top clients as well as new, up and coming Affiliates and Merchants. James and Arlene have attended numerous of these events and recommend attending this conference in addition to Affiliate Summit.
    Why You Should Attend ShareASale ThinkTank 2014
    James and Arlene kick off the discussion with some of the advantages and reasons why affiliates should attend. In addition to an overview of what costs you can expect to pay to attend, they also discuss the following:

    * What are some past ShareASale ThinkTank venues?
    * What did past venues offer to conference attendees?
    * What can attendees expect from the 2014 event?

    Moving right along, James and Arlene invite Brasco from WebmasterRadio.FM to share a big announcement. It's something that will make it even easier for you to stay up to date with all your favorite podcasts on the site, including the Affiliate Buzz.
    What to Expect on the 2014 ThinkTank Agenda
    Next James and Arlene discuss what happens during a ThinkTank event. They begin with what's on the agenda the moment you first arrive, and work their way right through the entire event. They also discuss:

    * Some of the swag that is available during ThinkTanks
    * Recreational activities you can attend during the event
    * Details about the ThinkTank's educational sessions

    James and Arlene wrap up the podcast by explaining some of the overall benefits of attending a small conference, like ShareASale's ThinkTank 2014. They also go into more details about the cost, and how they're planning on turning the event into their own personal "breakation".
    Visit the ShareASale website at http://shareasale.com/thinktank/2014/index.cfm to learn more about the 2014 ThinkTank.
    Subscribe to the Affiliate Buzz now to stay on top of the latest news about the internet marketing industry, and if you have any questions about this podcast or anything else, please visit the Affiliate Buzz Facebook page.
    11 min
  • AB #332 | Google+ Hangouts to Create High Quality Content and Brand Optimization
    Do you use Google Plus Hangouts for business? Are your customers aware of your online presence? If you haven’t considered all the tools available at your disposal, then you might not be optimizing your brand to its full potential.
    Social networking is a huge influence on how we use the internet. Businesses that use tools like video chatting enjoy more traffic to their website and higher revenues. Does this describe how your business uses social networking?
    If you’re interested in how to add content and optimize your brand then you’ll want to invest 20 minutes to listen to this edition of the Affiliate Buzz where your host James Martell interviews Bonnie Sainsbury, ‎Founder and Online Marketing Consultant at Social Media Smarter about Google Plus Hangouts to create high quality top end content and brand optimization.
    For many internet users, Google Plus Hangouts are the first choice in video communication. Forbes describes the service as “a video chat service where an unlimited number of people can join your conference. For free.” This interview is a chance to learn how to use Google Hangouts to promote your business.
    How to Use Social Media for Online Success
    The episode kicks off with Bonnie sharing a bit about her background. With more than three decades’ of industry experience, she’s no stranger to new technologies and finding out how useful they are in regards to productivity.
    Next Bonnie shares her perspective on social media and what she looks at to make changes to her own website. James chimes in why this perspective is vital to online success, and takes the chance to remind why you should adopt this same attitude.
    If you’re not sure how to tweak your website based on social media, then you risk losing both traffic and revenue.
    What the Different Types of Google Plus Hangouts Are
    Communicating is important, but if you’ve never used Google Hangouts then you could be limiting your abilities. During the podcast Bonnie explains more about communicating via Google Plus and answers these questions:

    * Can you tell me what Google Plus Hangouts are?
    * How can I brand the Hangout for my business?
    * What are live Hangouts and how can I join one?
    * How are other people using Google Plus Hangouts?

    Now ask yourself two questions. Do you want an alternative to email for communicating with a remote team? Would you like to host a Hangout to introduce a featured guest? If you answered “Yes” to either, then it’s time to learn all the benefits of Google Plus Hangouts for your business.
    How to Set Up a Google Hangout to Promote Your Brand
    Next Bonnie explains how to use Google Plus Hangouts for video conferencing. She shares examples from her own experiences with using the feature, and offers advice to help others use this to promote their own business.
    Bonnie explains the specific steps you need to take to set up a Google Plus Hangout of your own. Businesses that take advantage of these types of resources are able to create new content for their website that brings in more traffic which increases the potential for more revenue.
    The internet is an ever-changing environment. Your competition is using these tools to help optimize their brand. Why aren’t you doing the same?
    The episode wraps up with Bonnie explaining the resources you need to carry out for using Google Plus Hangouts to promote your business, including the type of hardware, internet connection, and more.
    What Could Google Plus Hangouts Do for Your Business?
    Are you always looking for new ways to add content to your business website? Do you want to know how you can use Google Plus Hangouts to optimize your brand? Listen to the entire podcast now.
    32 min
  • AB #331 | Canada Marketing Summit 2014 – Yes, We’ll Be There! :)
    Do you plan to attend Canada Marketing Summit 2014? Is your business in need of help with marketing strategies, online lead generation, or advertising? If attending a conference for your business isn’t in your future, then you could be missing out on significant growth opportunities.
    Marketing conferences offer endless opportunities for businesses and for those who attend the rewards are spectacular. Does this describe how you stay on top of the latest opportunities for your business?
    If you’re interested in learning more about the Canada Marketing Summit 2014 then you’ll want to invest 20 minutes to listen to this edition of The Affiliate Buzz where your hosts James and Arlene preview their visit to the event which will feature education on Marketing, Advertising, Online Lead Generation and Best Marketing Strategies.
    Conferences are known to offer both online and off-line marketing information. Canada Marketing Summit 2014* is a 3-day event offering 18 speakers from around the world and 34 concession booths. This interview is an opportunity to learn how to make this event work for your business.
    Who Should Attend Canada Marketing Summit 2014?
    The episode kicks off with James and Arlene sharing the benefits of attending a conference in Vancouver, which is a short distance from their home in White Rock. Locals aren’t the only ones who benefit as James and Arlene share advantages to visiting the Semiahmoo Peninsula during the spring.
    Then James segues into an overview of who he would say this conference is for, and how it differs from the Affiliate Summit conferences held annually in Las Vegas and New York.
    If you aren’t attending conference then you’re missing out on an opportunity to learn how to obtain growth and revenue for your business.
    What’s the State of Your Online Presence?
    Next James talks about the importance of forming an online presence, and how attending conferences can help boost that for your business. He also answers these questions:

    * Should I stay in the hotel where Canada Marketing Summit 2014 is being held?
    * How can Canada Marketing Summit 2014 help me get more customers?
    * Do I need to attend all three days of Canada Marketing Summit 2014?
    * What is the format that Canada Marketing Summit 2014 will follow?

    Now ask yourself two questions. Do you plan to attend Canada Marketing Summit 2014? Are you aware of how it could benefit your business? If you answered “No” to either or both of these questions it’s time to reconsider attending conferences.
    Who Can I Expect to Hear at Canada Marketing Summit 2014?
    Then James and Arlene discuss some of the speakers you can expect to hear when attending Canada Marketing Summit 2014 as well as the topics that these people will cover in their presentations.
    James points out the common thread among all the speakers who are presenting at Canada Marketing Summit 2014, and talks about how three days of this can benefit your business.
    Not every conference that you attend is about pitching things people want you to buy. Many presenters have genuine advice about how to increase your business. Why aren’t you taking advantage of these opportunities?
    The episode wraps up with James and Arlene reviewing what you need to know if you’d like to sign up to attend Canada Marketing Summit 2014*.
    What Can Canada Marketing Summit 2014 Do for Your Business?
    Are you ready to set aside a weekend in Vancouver to attend Canada Marketing Summit 2014? Do you want to know more about how attending conferences can increase your business?
    33 min

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

From the publisher's feed

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…