Archive for October 2007
Yesterday we rolled out the Affiliate Link Encoder (ALE), yet another innovative tool that offers Affiliates the option of direct linking to their AvantLink merchant partners in the context of articles, blog posts, forum threads or anywhere else for that matter! A simple JavaScript we provide takes direct merchant links and appends Affiliate tracking details so credit will be applied for all customer referrals, not just those referrals that click through configured tracking links from the network.
With a couple of weeks of live BETA testing from select Affiliates, the ALE has proven extraordinarily handy to forum administrators or bloggers because often times their members post direct links to merchant web sites. Now those direct links posted through user generated content will credit referred sales accordingly. It can also save substantial time for a content writer because they will no longer have to configure tracking links using the Custom Link Builder or prefabricated campaigns through the Affiliate tool center.
Affiliates, for active partnerships with any merchant in AvantLink, just add the ALE script to your site template or page and direct link away. The ALE will take care of the rest!
From the Affiliate Link Encoder detail page on our site:
Once the javascript is installed on a page or site-wide template, Affiliates using the ALE will not have to login to the network to get tracking links. Simply add the merchant homepage URL or any deep link URL and the ALE will take care of the rest. Check it out! When the ALE javascript is in place test by hovering or clicking on a direct AvantLink merchant link, then viewing the source code of the document.
So far, the ALE has seen good reviews and attention from a few ABestWeb heavies (we announced the ALE there yesterday). Note the following comment from Haiko de Poel, Jr., owner of ABestWeb.com:
I think it’s an invaluable addition to the Avantlink repertoire of linking options and wicked smart also … WTG!
Read the tool announcement thread on ABW for more comments: Introducing the Affiliate Link Encoder
We welcome your comments at ABW or here on the blog. Thank you for your continued support.
Gary & AvantLink
Just a quick note to highlight a new Affiliate exclusive coupon code from Moosejaw, to compliment the coupons we listed from them a couple weeks ago for October.
Now through November 12th, the Moosejaw Affiliate program is offering an exclusive affiliate coupon worth 10% off for the MSR BlackLite Gourmet Cookware Set. Use coupon code 311 at check out to redeem these cookware pieces.
There are creative available in the Moosejaw ad list, and this offer has also been posted to the Dynamic Coupon Feed. Happy converting! If you have any questions you can drop us a line at AvantLink, or contact Stephanie at Schaaf Consulting. Stephanie also posted this offer to their sponsored ABW category.
Gary & AvantLink
AvantLink.com launched a unique Affiliate Network in 2005, offering savvy online marketers a secure and efficient environment to promote a specific advertiser segment. This segment utilizes the traditional, cost per sale model of performance-based marketing; and consists of “merchants” offering “product catalogs” or datafeeds. AvantLink is a selective platform where Affiliates and merchants are screened thoroughly to insure professionalism and ethics.
As the industry leader in developing advanced, customizable, deep-linking Affiliate tools, and by offering an exceptional level of support, AvantLink quickly emerged on the radar of the top Affiliate marketers. Have a look at our Affiliate API, one of our most recent tool releases!
What makes AvantLink different from other Affiliate networks?
- We are committed to fostering an Affiliate centric and responsive platform.
- We run a quality over quantity performance-based marketing network.
- We offer a technology suite of free, dynamic tools for qualified Affiliates.
- Our network consists of merchants only; no lead generation or CPA offers.
- We maintain a parasite-free, ethics-driven and quality controlled environment.
There are two groups of merchants running programs in our network (click here for merchant index). The first group consists of exclusive merchants who use AvantLink as their sole Affiliate marketing provider. The other group is made up of merchants who use AvantLink as an alternate for Affiliates looking for exceptional support and advanced online marketing technology; including ease-of-use datafeeds and Affiliate-embedded RSS feeds.
Why should you, as an Affiliate marketing professional, promote AvantLink merchants?
- We pay you a consolidated check for all your merchants on time every month.
- We’ll treat you as a partner rather than a commodity.
- We’re committed to protecting your legitimate traffic from rogue Affiliates.
- Our merchants convert and support their Affiliate programs.
- We listen to what you need, then adapt or innovate to meet your needs.
Affiliate Terms of Use:
http://www.avantlink.com/terms_and_conditions.php
Affiliate Application:
https://www.avantlink.com/affiliate_app.php
Thanks to all that have contributed to the growth and sustainability of AvantLink to date, and here’s to a HUGE Q4 2007!!
- New Merchant RSS Feed - Subscribe!
- Press Room RSS Feed - Subscribe!
- Support Forum RSS Feed - Subscribe!
- AvantLink Blog RSS Feed - Subscribe!
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Drop us a line or comment here on the blog.
Gary & AvantLink
Introducing an exclusive AvantLink merchant:
This is a great new addition to our Apparel category. eCampusColors.com is the web store for Campus Colors, a national retailer for licensed NCAA apparel and novelties. Their catalog consists of thousands of licensed products from the top colleges and universities in the US.
NCAA apparel is a hot gift item during the holiday season, so get eCampusColors.com added asap to your site or respective site category. It’s not too late to cash in on this opportunity during the holiday buying frenzy. To jump start things, there’s a discount offer valid right now through November 15th: Customers can take $10 off orders over $99. This campaign is available now through the AvantLink interface (as a text link and it’s also in their coupon feed). eCampusColors.com will be running regular promotions and compelling offers that will drive your conversion in the right direction.
Remember, if merchants aren’t ready for “prime time” in the Affiliate world, they wouldn’t be launching with AvantLink! The eCampusColors Affiliate program has dedicated program support, a very professional site, a focused and popular product line and the best Affiliate tools in the business. So take a close look at them 
From their program description:
Featuring top quality merchandise by vendors such as: Nike, Adidas, Champion, JanSport, Columbia Sportswear and more, Campus Colors offers a wide selection of sweatshirts, t-shirts, shorts, pants, hats, jerseys, and novelties for men, women, and children. Ranging in size from toddler to XXL we can outfit just about anyone.
Read the program launch announcement on ABestWeb.
Let us know what we can do to help you get started promoting eCampusColors.com. Contact anyone at AvantLink or the program manager Jon Rubenstein, jr[at]ecampuscolors.com.
Gary & AvantLink
Introducing an exclusive AvantLink merchant:
We’re excited to announce this unique program where Affiliates can earn commissions by referring people to Liftopia to book lift tickets for US ski resorts. Winter outdoor enthusiasts are savvy web shoppers. They also spend time online digging up info on local ski culture, best restaurants in town and where to buy discount lift tickets. Enter Liftopia.com!
This is a brand new Affiliate program offering an array of creative, including a search form that can be added to your site. These forms come in standard banner sizes. Just cut and paste the form on a page or into a banner rotation script and you’ll have a compelling ad that will catch the eye of most any skier passing through your site.
The Liftopia founders used to work at Hotwire.com, so they know online travel, yield management, and how to get customers to convert. The average order is high, as customers purchase lift tickets that range (retail price) from $50-$80 per person, per day. Affiliate payout is 3%, with 120 cookie life.
From their program description:
“…we partner directly with ski resorts to offer exclusive, “by-day” deals that they can adjust at any time. Much like an airline or hotel, Liftopia resorts can adjust their prices up and down at any time for specific days, and customers purchase tickets for specific days in advance. Liftopia’s direct partnerships allow us to offer deals that no one else has access to.”
Read the program launch announcement on ABestWeb.
Let us know what we can do to help you get started promoting Liftopia.com. Contact anyone at AvantLink or the program manager Evan Reece, evan[at]liftopia.com.
Gary & AvantLink
This morning we went live with an exclusive AvantLink merchant (OutdoorCooking.com) on a co-branded news release distribution from PRWeb. The article highlights the benefits of partnering with the OutdoorCooking Affiliate program from the Affiliate’s perspective, and it also discusses their $100 cash bonus opportunity going on right now through the month of October.
Press release and news distribution has been a huge part of our branding initiative for AvantLink since we started the company in 2005. We’ve noted that the same branding benefits can be utilized by new merchants looking to establish themselves in the space as an authority, and as a program worthwhile for Affiliates to promote. More on all this soon in an article dedicated to merchant branding strategies, though!
We’ve done several of these co-branded releases this year. Check out the Press/News category of the blog for details and links to the news articles. PRWeb.com has been our distribution partner of choice for over two years. We pay for the $200 level distribution (which allows your links using the anchor text of your choice in the article), and it’s worth every nickel. For more info see: Press Releases and Your Site
Here is the summary text and a quote from the article we released today with Outdoor Cooking:
OutdoorCooking.com, a premier online retailer for outdoor cooking equipment, recently launched a compelling performance marketing program through an exclusive arrangement with Affiliate technology leader AvantLink.com.
“We would like our current and future Affiliates to be assured that when they commit time and effort to sending us their traffic, we’re going to do everything we can to convert the referral for them,” says Craig McLaughlin from OutdoorCooking.com. “We have the premier store online for our niche, and we take pride in our site and conversion,” he adds. “We want to hear from Affiliates, so let me know what we can do to get you on board.”
Read the entire article on PRWeb: OutdoorCooking.com Introduces Affiliate Marketing Program on AvantLink Platform
Just a quick note to let folks know that the Moosejaw Affiliate program is currently running three killer coupons for their Affiliates during the month of October. That’s this month, BTW (there, a little Moosejaw Madness humor for ya ;)).
One coupon is an Affiliate-exclusive deal…meaning customers can only find this offer through Affiliate campaigns. Moosejaw is already one of the top converting programs in the AvantLink network. They have a competitive payout, offer the best brands in the outdoor industry and they have the great group at Schaaf Consulting behind the effort. Here are the specifics on the coupons:
- Expiring October 22:
- (Affiliate Exclusive) 10% off the Mountain Hardwear Piute Sleeping Bag. Use Code 504. (As a personal aside, this is Brook Schaaf’s old Boy Scout troop number.)
- Expiring October 31:
- 10% Off Coupon at Moosejaw.com! Save 10% on all regular priced items and 5% off all sale priced items. Use code MOOSE at checkout.
- SUPERSALE! at Moosejaw.com. Take an extra 15% off all sale products. Use code SUPERSALE at checkout.
These campaigns have been added to Mossejaw’s dynamic coupon feed, so if you’re using that tool they’re already on your site. You can also grab the stand alone links in the creative library, or use the custom link builder to create your own link(s).
Drop us or Schaaf Co. a line if you have any questions.
Gary & AvantLink
On September 14th we announced the addition of the OutdoorCooking Affiliate program to AvantLink through this blog, and through our category on ABestWeb.
OutdoorCooking.com is the premier source on the web for outdoor cooking equipment. From Grills and Outdoor Kitchen Supplies, to Dutch Ovens and Camp Stoves, these guys have it all!
This is an exclusive AvantLink program, and so far so good with this merchant! And when I say “so far so good”, I mean really good (to the tune of 7.14% conversion on all Affiliate traffic so far this month). Now granted, this is a brand new Affiliate program so there isn’t a huge amount of traffic coming through the network yet, but those numbers should get your attention.
Considering there isn’t too much competition from other Affiliates yet, this opportunity is a good one. Seems like an easy chance to make an extra 100 smackers to me. Here are the specifics:
Craig and team at the OutdoorCooking Affiliate program are confident that it will be worth your while to add their links. In fact, they will pay any Affiliate who can drive $1000 in sales for the month of October a cold cash bonus of $100. For those of you who have already referred sales for OutdoorCooking.com this month, you have a head start already!
If you have any questions drop us a line at AvantLink or contact OutdoorCooking.com directly at affiliates/at/outdoorcooking.com.
This bonus opp was posted at AffiliateProgramBonus.com as well.
This morning we distributed a news article on PRWeb.com featuring the four new Affiliate programs for Massey’s Professional Outfitters that recently launched on the AvantLink platform. These four programs all have very innovative terms which include no sale reversals on returns and 365-day cookie life! More information available on their respective programs detail pages:
- MasseysOutfitters Affiliate Program
- 800-SKI-SHOP Affiliate Program
- WeGotYourPack Affiliate Program
- TheFlipFlopper Affiliate Program
As you may or may not know, we utilize PRWeb as our news distribution channel of choice for everything from new Affiliate tools and technology announcements to features on new merchants in our network. Affiliates and merchants alike, consider adding press releases to your arsenal of traffic driving techniques. This is powerful for a variety of reasons outlined here: Press Releases and Your Site
Our latest distribution with Massey’s features the new programs in general with special emphasis on their dedication to the programs, their innovative terms and their experienced management team behind the effort. I just checked before writing this post and as of 7:25am the article had already been syndicated to over 10,000 distribution points including news portals and relevant industry sites. Not to shabby. (NOTE there are several distribution levels at PRWeb, we recommend at least the $200 level for a number of reasons - dip into that PPC budget and give it a try!).
Here is a quote from the this co-branded article:
“The Outdoor/Recreation category in Affiliate marketing has a true leader with Massey’s Outfitters,” says Gary Marcoccia, Marketing Director at AvantLink. “They understand and embrace the power of high-value Affiliate partnerships. Program terms for all four stores include a 365-day cookie life, and they do not reverse Affiliate sales on returns. For Affiliates in our network with qualified traffic, it’s a no brainer to promote these guys,” Marcoccia adds.
Read the entire article: Massey’s Professional Outfitters Opens Affiliate Program on AvantLink Platform
I wanted to bring more attention to recent news that exposed a Mozilla Firefox browser plugin that overwrites legitimate Affiliate cookies, with the author’s (author of the plugin) Affiliate cookie. It’s not surprising that the savvy membership base at ABestWeb first brought light to this Add-on that literally rips off honest Affiliates, and merchants…for that matter! Here is the thread that was started by member jtoskey on September 29th, and it’s still actively growing in post count now on ABW:
Firefox promoting cashback add-on
From the thread, post No. 27…
Right after they click your link, it’s redirected thru their own affiliate link. Traffic hijacking basically…
Jangro.com followed up on the ABW thread with a very thorough report…
The developer of this program doesn’t seem to have done his homework on “How to play nice as an incentive affiliate with a browser plugin.” It’s a bit surprising to see a tool like this appear without any apparent awareness to the issues that surround it.
The author of this plugin is not an active AvantLink Affiliate, and won’t ever be. The good news is that it appears that most networks are now removing the Affiliate account behind this FF plug in. That’s good news, but of course how many people already have it configured on their browser?
At any rate, THANKS ABW (and jtoskey) for exposing this!
Gary & AvantLink
