Social Media Guru Eric Schechter at the ClickBooth Affiliate Network

Eric Schechter is responsible for ClickBooth’s Social Media efforts and works hand in hand with the company’s top publishers. In his spare time, Eric loves drumming and playing the guitar, working out, and taking his dog Amberlee Jenkins III to the dog park. Eric is also an avid Miami Dolphins and Miami Heat fan.

Tell me about your company?

With over 25,000 publishers and 4,000 campaigns (500+ True Exclusives) Clickbooth has positioned itself as the industry’s Top Exclusive Performance-Based Network. Founded in 2002, we pride ourselves in working direct with Fortune 500 companies and niche businesses alike. We pair advertisers with publishers (search engine marketers, email marketers, and Top 500 Alexa ranked websites) on a Cost per acquisition (CPA) pricing model, which means advertisers only pay for RESULTS and publishers are rewarded with higher eCPMs. We have a strong focus on quality, which ensures that our publishers receive the top campaigns at the highest payouts, EPCs and eCPMS in the industry.

When did you get into social media?

I first started participating in the space during my senior year of high school, to help increase the exposure and online presence of my band, A Daylight Away. When sites like MySpace, Purevolume, and later on Facebook came about, I immediately saw how powerful those tools could be in helping bands connect and engage with their fans on a whole new level and I immediately took advantage of it.

I utilized those platforms to build relationships with our current fans, as well as prospective fans all over the world, by listening and engaging in meaningful conversations with them. By being “human” and showing that I really cared about their thoughts and opinions (not just about selling my music) I was able to not only build long lasting friendships and fans for life, but I also sold a TON of records. The same approach can be used for businesses looking to grow in the space and also sell more _____.

What was your first blog?

The earliest blogs I created and participated in were for my band and then for the clients I was consulting. It wasn’t until a few months ago that I finally created www.EricSchechter.com / Eric Schechter, so that I could have a place where I could share my own thoughts on Social Media, Personal Branding, Affiliate Marketing, Gen Y etc.. I have a lot of cool things planned for the blog in the future, as well as for my newest project, www.TheSocialMediaMan.com  ! 🙂 I am also the editor and main contributor to Clickbooth’s blog / Clickbooth which you can check out here. Any feedback or suggestions you may have on either of my blogs are welcome and encouraged!

What is the biggest tip you would give to a newbie blogger?

Be yourself, create quality content that you are truly passionate about, and be consistent. Too many bloggers just starting out try to mimic other bloggers, because they think that is the only way to achieve their level of success. The truth is, if you write content you really care about, you engage with your readers, and you are willing to put the time and work in, you WILL be successful. It’s only a matter of time.

What new ideas are advertisers coming up with to take advantage of new trends?

Compliance is one of the biggest areas advertisers are focusing on right now, because they realize just how important it is for their long-term growth and success. Making sure that their landing pages contain legit information (e.g testimonials, endorsements etc..) and that everything on the page is clear to the consumer, are some of the ways advertisers are moving towards being 100% compliant. By doing this, they are ensuring that their customers are happy and that their business will be successful for the long haul.

As CPA marketing continues to thrive, it’s imperative that successful advertisers develop relationships with network partners pro-actively monitoring and teaching healthy compliance practices, because it will ensure their longevity in the industry. For more information on how Clickbooth has stepped up to ensure 100% compliance from our advertisers and publishers go here.

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t?

One thing I see a lot of companies/brands doing (that has really hurt them) is jumping into the Social Media space before they fully understand how it works, what their goals are, and how to use those tools effectively to reach their end goal. They hop on sites like Twitter and all they do is try and shove their products and brand down everyones’ throats without ever engaging or interacting with their community. This not only gives them a bad reputation in the space, it also seriously hurts their chances of ever really selling anything through those platforms.

What do you do to improve the world?

I try to be as active as I can volunteering and spreading the word about Non-Profit organizations I really care about. One that will always be close to my heart is Rock For Hunger. They are an amazing organization based out of Orlando, Fl who’s mission is to end homelessness, poverty, and hunger one person at a time through music and peace in Central Florida. For more information, go to http://www.rockforhunger.org

I am also extremely grateful to work for a company that truly cares and understands the importance of giving back to the community. Whether its hosting a blood drive, putting together charity events to raise money, or going out into the community to lend a helping hand – Clickbooth is extremely supportive in our efforts to make this world a better place.

What do you do that is green?

I recycle, try and use as little electricity and water as possible, and I carpool to work as much as I can. One thing I love about working at Clickbooth is their strong commitment to being a Green company. We have recycling bins in every room, we go paperless as much as possible, and we are constantly going out into the community and doing whatever it takes to help keep the Earth and Mother Nature healthy 🙂

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

I play the drums, guitar, bass, and I’ve been in about 4 bands since high school.

What is on your iPod?

I love almost every genre of music except country haha…Some of my favorites include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles, No More Kings, Bayside, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Coheed and Cambria and a slew of others. I’m also a big advocate of local music and try and support the local music scene as much as possible.

What are your contact details (email, company, blog, facebook, myspace, forums, etc)?

Email: [email protected]
Company: Clickbooth
AIM: EricClickbooth
Blog: blog.clickbooth.com
Twitter: EricSchechter and Clickbooth
Facebook: [email protected]
You can also reach me at 954-655-5123. I’m available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about Clickbooth, CPA Marketing, or if you just want to talk about sports, movies, or my favorite – Music!

How do you prefer to communicate?

Email and AIM are the best ways to reach me if you want to talk about contests, sponsorships, advertising, or any other business related inquiries. I’m always available on AIM whether it be at the office or not (I put it on mobile when I leave) so feel free to hit me up 24/7! For any non-business related chatter, Twitter and Facebook are both great places to reach me.

Who would you recommend, and why?

My Mom – She makes a killer Chicken Parmesan, and also gives birth to really handsome kids 😉
UCF – My alma mater and an amazing place to go to college. Go Knights!
Arby’s – mmmm I love their fries!

On a more serious note…here’s a list of industry professionals you should check out and keep a close eye on. They are all doing AMAZING things in this industry:

Greg Rollett – One of the most knowledgeable and passionate people I know when it comes to Gen-Y, Personal Branding, and living the RockStar lifestyle. This guy is going places. Http://gregrollett.blogspot.com .
Chris Goyzueta – Chris is the founder and CEO of Rock For Hunger and one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. He devotes his entire life to helping others in need and wouldn’t have it any other way. Check out the Rock for Hunger blog to connect with Chris and to also learn more about what this amazing organization is doing. Http://www.rockforhunger.org
Darren Rowse – Want to make money blogging? Read Darren’s blog…period. http://www.problogger.com
Brian Clark – It still amazes me how this guy continues to pour out such amazing content day after day. If you are looking to become a better copywriter/blogger I wouldn’t recommend any blog over his. Http://www.copyblogger.com
Chris Brogan – Chris continues to impress me with his quality content, forward thinking, and unique outlook on life. If you are looking to learn more about Social Media, Chris’s blog is one of the first places I would go. Http://www.chrisbrogan.com
Gary Vaynerchuk – An expert on hustling and CRUSHING IT. Http://www.garyvaynerchuk.com
John Chow – Not only will his blog show you how to make money online, it will also show you where all the best places to eat are! We are currently running a $5000 Twitter contest with John Chow, which you can enter here. http://xr.com/twittercontest
Jonathan Volk and Zac Johnson – Two of the nicest bloggers/Super Affiliates you will ever meet. Both of their blogs are filled with tons of great content regarding affiliate marketing and making money online. While a lot of people pretend to know what they are talking about when it comes to making a living online, I can assure you that these two are the real deal! Http://www.jonathanvolk.com  http://www.zacjohnson.com
Aff Buzz – A great site that aggregates the best Affiliate Marketing blogs out there (e.g Zac Johnson, Jonathan Volk, Jeremy Schoemaker). Great resource for affiliate marketers! Http://www.affbuzz.com
Unique Blog Designs – After working with them on our blog makeover, I wouldn’t recommend anyone else to design your blog. Not only are these guys super talented, they are also great people and amazing to work with. Http://www.uniqueblogdesigns.com
Clickbooth Staff – Everyone that was hired at Clickbooth was chosen because they are an expert in their field. From the Accounting department to Tech to Design – they are all the best of the best! Not only that, they are all amazing people with big hearts!

What is one thing people can do for you?

Reach out to me and say hi! One of the best perks about my job is that I constantly get to meet new people every day – something I truly love. However, as we all know, its impossible to meet everyone, but that won’t stop me from trying! Whether you are an affiliate, blogger, kindergarten teacher, fortune cookie writer, NBA Mascot, rockstar, or a crocodile wrangler – I want to meet you!

So if you see me at conference or local event and I haven’t met you yet, please come up and introduce yourself! You can also hit me up on any of the ways listed above. I look forward to getting to know all of you! 🙂