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How did you get into affiliate marketing?

I started in marketing directly out of college and got into advertising in 2003 in radio. I worked for a direct response agency, and helped the owner build a new company that effectively functioned as an affiliate network for local spot radio. I had many friends in the affiliate marketing space at the time (including my best friend, who would regale me with stories of the job and the shows and the general zeitgeist of the industry and I wanted in. So I left radio and started at a small agency with two other partners where we bought network and direct publisher traffic. I then joined Hydra on the advertising side in August of 2007.

What was your biggest challenge getting into affiliate marketing?

Most definitely making myself known. There is very much a rookie/veteran dichotomy in the way personnel is viewed, so I spent a great deal of time pushing through and making contacts and being remembered.

What are the main things merchants do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Not communicate effectively. The faster I can learn information about the quality of the traffic, the more quickly I can help them. Additionally, the more quickly I can communicate with an affiliate manager and his or her publisher to answer their questions, the better I can service their campaigns and generate more volume.

What are the main things affiliates do that you wish they wouldn’t?

That’s a loaded question! I’d have to say I wish they would better understand the challenges networks face when dealing with advertisers. Make things more of a partnership rather than having their affiliate manager simply serve a customer service function.

Where do you see growth in the affiliate field?

Even without taking the current U.S. economic situation into account, advertisers need more accountability for every dollar they spend and that is exactly what affiliate marketing does. Therefore I see large brands and politics as having huge growth potential in the space. I’d also like to see the stigma of “affiliate” marketing go away as what we all really do is performance marketing.

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

Despite the IAB not including it, the banner size of 110X80 is becoming a standard part of the creative package due to Facebook. They are also providing separate links in order to evaluate social media traffic separately from email and SEM.

What do you do to improve the world?

I donate to Jewish charities from time to time. Every once in a while, such as during this past AdTech show in San Francisco, I am faced with the position of being able to help someone who truly needs it and least expects it. It’s nice to try to restore someone’s faith in humanity after it has been severely called into question.

What do you do that is green?

I recycle everything that can be recycled.

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

Most people know I am a baseball junkie, but most do not know that I am also an avid reader. I read an average of one book a week…

What is on your iPod?

I actually do not have an iPod! I do love music, but I usually listen to either baseball or my thoughts…

What’s your favorite book?

That is a very tough question to answer. I love postmodern American fiction, so anything by the writers Phillip Roth, Kurt Vonnegut, Dom DeLillo and Thomas Pynchon are high on my list. I also enjoy detective fiction writers such as Robert B. Parker and Robert Crais, both of whom follow in the shadow of Dasheill Hammet and Raymond Chandler. Lastly, I am a huge fan of satirists such as Christopher Moore and Christopher Buckley.

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

[email protected]
http://hydranetwork.com
http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=7586372&locale=en_US&trk=tab_pro
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hydra?trk=co_search_results&goback=.cps_1240803873368_1

(I refuse to use Facebook or MySpace – weird for an affiliate marketer, but I have very lengthy, well-developed reasons why)

Who would recommend you and why?

I would like to think that each and every one of my clients would recommend me, (and I think most of them truly would), as I strive to achieve that type of relationship with all of them and offer the best service I possibly can. I expect my former bosses at Hydra and SAJE would recommend me highly as well. Hopefully, this is a long list.

Who would you recommend and why?

The people at Prosper202. Their open source tracking solution integrating all search engines into one intuitive, effective solution has literally revolutionized search and affiliate marketing. I expect huge things from that group. I also recommend Evan Lovett, a legendary affiliate manager doing some very interesting things with CPC right now. Also, Doug Walker, Jason Walker, Abby Whitridge, Ayala Salehrabi, Rachel Lasseff and Chris Pink, six of the best, most fun, and most knowledgeable people I have ever had the privilege of working with. And of course, everyone at Hydra.

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Murray Newlands blog on Amazon Kindle. How to submit your blog to Amazons and make it available on Kindle? It could not be simpler; it was a 5 minute process. This week, Amazon.com opened up it’s Kindle Publishing I would like to thank Joetech in his article for brining this to my attention. If you are a blogger it will no double be something worth your while doing too! Subscribing to murraynewlands.com blog on Amazon Kindle is only $1.99 per month. Is this revenue stream the future of blogging?
kindel

To Subscribe to Murray Newlands on Kindel click here.
To Subscribe to Joetech on Kindel click here.

If you have a blog on Amazon Kindle that may be of interest to my readers let me know and I will list it here.

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Green Affiliate Programs

I have an exciting website to share with all of you who are interested in green affiliate networking. Green Affiliate Programs is an affiliate networking site whose mission is to spread the reach of affiliate marketing into the green and Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) sectors.

I believe that green affiliate marketing is one of the fastest growing and most important verticals. Green Affiliate Programs is actively facilitating the networking between green affiliate programs, green businesses and green bloggers. They are connecting health and wellness bloggers with affiliate options for the eco-products they blog about. They are making affiliate programs accessible for people who are passionate about green issues but aren’t yet part of affiliate marketing. They understand that affiliate programs connect green-minded businesses with health conscious, green-minded affiliates as part of the creative, emerging green economy.

“We are seeing great things happening in the online green sector. For one, more web businesses are going green and offering green products at more affordable prices. Secondly, these same businesses are beginning to embrace more sophisticated ways of marketing their products, including affiliate marketing.  Having achieved success in other less-inspiring affiliate markets in the past, it is a sheer pleasure and joy to bring these same skills to a cause I care very passionately about. I am very proud to be the director of Green Affiliate Programs, not only because we are the first affiliate program directory dedicated to the online green market, but also because we are seeing positive changes happening as a result of our presence online.” — Ryan Jones, Director, Green Affiliate Programs

They offer a comprehensive listing of affiliate programs in the eco-affiliate and LOHAS sectors. GreenAffiliatePrograms enables affiliate programs to be integrated into your personal website or third-party affiliate management. They promote three different types of programs: Affiliate networks (hosted and managed), non-network affiliate programs (hosted), and do-it-yourself software programs (non-hosted, non-managed).

I believe in utilizing green affiliate marketing to help people act on the moral imperatives inherent in climate change through personal action, products and social media. Green Affiliate Programs is making that green affiliate marketing more accessible and effective. I highly recommend that you visit and learn more about them.

Keywords
green affiliates
green affiliate
green affiliate programs
green affiliate program

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If you are on Twitter you’ve noticed the way etiquette works- or maybe you haven’t? Twitter is a community built on relationships, networking and adding value. If you are new to Twitter or looking for ways to get more out of your Twitter account, being part of that community is important. It can be a great marketing channel, but only if you work within the community environment it creates.
So how do you do it? Here are a few things to keep in mind when you want to grow your Twitter presence:

1. Communicate
This is what Twitter is all about. It’s not a one-way mechanism. Whether you have 10 or 10,000 Followers, the key is to respond to questions when they come and engage in dialogue. Learn, teach, ask, share. If you spend time with that, the affiliate marketing opportunities come with it!

2. Tweet with Value
Make sure that some of your tweets are adding value to either conversations or bring new things to the attention of your followers. Even if it is outside of your typical Twitter-stream, adding value is not forgotten.

3. Tweet with Respect
For a few reasons it’s best to stay respectful on Twitter. It mixes professional and personal lives, and you are constantly meeting new people. Always treat the people who you are just meeting with the same respect you treat the people you Follow. It comes back to you.

4. Keep it Interesting
Beyond adding value like I said in #2, tweeting outside of your typical Twiter-stream will keep your tweets interesting—surprise is always good for getting people to take notice. Keeping your Twitter-stream fun and interesting will keep your Followers following—and sets you up for great marketing opportunities.

5. Appreciate Help
On Twitter, part of the power comes from when other people pass your article or information along. When somebody with loads of Followers ReTweets your tweet, make sure to say thank you. Similar to communicating with respect, but very specifically responding to the individuals who helped your Twitter presence.

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If you haven’t checked out the TweetStats Twitter app yet, you need to (right after you finish this article). TweetStats is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: It gives you great statistics about your Twitter use, and about Twitter in general.

All you have to do is type in your Twitter name and in a few minutes TweetStats will bring up graphs (which are easy to read and colorful) that show your: Tweets per hour, Tweets per month, Tweet timeline and Reply statistics.

It’s fun to look at, bottom line. And if you are in affiliate marketing, this can be an amazing tool. You can see what keywords you use, what words you use the most and where you will be found on TweetSearch, and vividly show you where your blank spots on the Twitter timeline are. The one drawback is that it takes a few minutes to create your graphs—factor that in when you visit the site.

The site even has some great stats about Twitter in general that give you a fun overall picture of Twitter. There are graphs of the current Twitter trends and graphs about who is getting the most @messages. There is even an “All-time” Trend Cloud. Guess what’s #1? Looks like it’s iPhone with Christmas and Obama close behind. Other notables are Apple, Sarah Palin and #tcot.

TweetStats is easy to use, free, and could lead to some great insights or ideas for anyone in digital marketing or affiliate program management.

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jotech

Tell me about JoeTech?

JoeTech.com was originally just a domain before people were really blogging. I buy and sell domains and figured I’d probably need it one day, so I bought it. In 2006, I decided to install WordPress and start a blog. I had been using social sites to talk about tech products and topics I was passionate about to friends, but I wanted a more controlled atmosphere with a targeted audience and a blog just seemed to fit.

What was your first computer and your first website?

My first computer was a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack. Of course, it was really the family computer, but I spent more time on it than anyone else. I’d tinker so much with the software and hardware that I would often break something and then have to fix it before my dad got home. I was 12 or so at the time, so not getting grounded was great motivation for me to quickly learn how to restore the operating system and put the hardware back together.

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

I have to go with what so many successful bloggers like ShoeMoney and John Chow have said over and over. Blog about what you have a passion for. When you move too far away from your passion, your relaxing hobby becomes a job, and usually an unhappy one. When I started out, I was copying the same old posts about products with a stock image and small paragraph. Every other blog had those posts (and many still do) and I wanted their traffic. It bored me and my post frequency suffered greatly because I wasn’t motivated by passion. Now I blog about what I’m passionate about and while a post takes hours instead of just five minutes, I’m enjoying it and I look forward to doing it three years into the game.

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

I have some great advertisers, so it’s hard to answer that. I would say that wanting me to change their ad constantly would be a pain, but I’ve only ever had one or two requests. I’m sorry (and a bit pleased) that I can’t give a more complete answer, here.

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

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I go to my feed reader and see four or five technology blogs posting the same short review of the same product or they all post generally the same thing about a recent story.
Usually, these blogs have a lot to offer, but when this happens, I feel like it junks up my reader. It’s different if it’s a hands on product review and each blog has their own unique review.

Where do you see growth in the blogging field?

Make Money Online blogs are all over the place, but most of them are trying to get rich fast and easy and forget that it takes a lot of work.
I see a shift taking place in mass media right now. It feels like more and more people are becoming part-time journalists with their blogs and I think we’ll see a huge increase in blogs that cover daily news.
I’m also seeing a lot more blogs that do just product reviews and as companies continue to embrace social media more and more, these blogs will become more and more popular.

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

The smart marketing companies are jumping right into Facebook, blogging, and Twitter. The iPhone is really becoming a marketing platform these days, as well. We’re seeing more and more artists and companies with Twitter accounts and iPhone applications to talk about and show off their products. Advertising is becoming more and more about genuinely connecting with the customer and less about the actual advertisement.

What do you do to improve the world?

That’s a question we should all ask ourselves frequently. As a blogger, and social marketer I try to keep my eyes open for giving opportunities.
I participated in a blogging drive for DonorsChoose.org and 100% of the funds from my first sponsored posts with SocialSpark went to Tyler’s Hope, which gives to qualified groups pursuing breakthrough treatments and cures for the various forms of Dystonia. I also dragged my wife out to the Water charity event to help raise money to drill wells in parts of the world where clean drinking water is rarely experienced.

What do you do that is green?

At home, my wife and I are careful to recycle our cans and plastic bottles and we use canvas shopping bags to really minimalize our dependence on plastic or paper bags that have to be recycled. We are also conscious of our electricity consumption, using energy efficient light bulbs and turning off devices when not in use. I’m currently reviewing a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid for JoeTech.com and just may make a move from my fuel efficient Honda Civic to a Fusion.

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

I was on a daytime talk show in 1994. The topic was Internet Dating.
That’s all I’m saying about that. =)

What’s your favorite book?

It has to be The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Long ago, I wrote short stories and when I first read this book, I realized that he and I write almost exactly the same. Anyone who hasn’t read it should.

What is on your iPod?

Honestly, I don’t know. I’m usually in front of a computer, so I almost never use my iPod. My iPhone has zero songs on it. I listen to a wide variety of things like VNV Nation, The Smiths, Frank Sinatra, Nine Inch Nails, Johnny Cash, Frau Frau, Eminem, etc. I really have an eclectic mix.

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

Web: http://www.JoeTech.com
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: JoeTech
Company: JoeTech.com, 1702 W. Camelback #13, Phoenix, AZ 85015
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=696620713

How do you prefer to communicate?

I prefer email over most forms. I can answer it on my own time and review my response before committing to it, unlike a phone call.

Who would you recommend, and why?

There’s a couple people I recommend reading. First is John Chow (www.johnchow.com). Although I never really read his food posts, I find that he is a true thinker. He always sees the marketing angle and is usually the first to share it with the world. His posts get bookmarked by me more than most others, which is a good barometer. Another blog I highly suggest reading is Mashable (mashable.com). Again, I end up bookmarking a lot of posts from Mashable. They offer some great reviews and insight on emerging sites, especially in social media.

Who would you NOT recommend, and why?

That’s hard to say. There have been many deleted from my Google reader, but I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone “don’t read that blog”.
However, I found that I loaded up my reader with a ton of blogs I thought would interest me. I read them in order of preference due to time constraints and I’ve slowly been deleting the ones that end up never getting read. For me, this has worked well to weed out the stuff that won’t benefit me in some way.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

I co-founded a couple technology companies before JoeTech.com, so I don’t really see myself quitting my “day job” like a lot of bloggers aspire to do. Instead, I will probably be still working in the office during the day and blogging at night. I do have some lofty goals for JoeTech.com, however, in regards to overall readership and name recognition. My hope is that in five years, I will have met or exceeded those goals. I don’t need to make $30,000 a month like John Chow, but working hard to get to a similar level should make blogging easier in the long run.

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Interview with Anthony Hull the Event Manager of ad:tech London. I am a big fan of the Ad:tech shows and realise that I have been to more than 10 Ad:tech show in 3 continents now.

Tell us more about Ad:tech London this year?

I believe the Ad:tech Shows are about learning and networking within your industry. I try and help make the show as interactive as possible and a great experience for everyone who comes. I work with a great team who help to make this one of the leading online marketing shown in the world.

Why come to the Adtech London Show?

• Network & share real experiences with like-minded professionals in digital marketing.
• Source the latest solutions for your marketing strategies and advertising campaigns.
• Understand how to build brands successfully online and generate measureable marketing return on investment.
• Build relationships with consumers online and maximise your customer retention.
• Investigate the latest innovations to stride ahead of the competition.
• Learn the latest industry initiatives at the FREE ad:tech seminars.

What was your first show?

My first show ad:tech London 2007. I was amazed by the sheer scale of the event and the incredible buzz on the show floor. You could walk the floor and at any given time see three or four groups of people doing business around you. I’ve spent nearly 11 years working on various different kind of events, many of them market leaders, but I’ve never worked on a show as successful as ad:tech London.

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

There’s an old-fashioned mindset that sometimes persists where exhibitors feel that once their space is booked its job done. Don’t fall into this trap. There are so many ways you can maximize your investment at a show whether it be by speaking, including press releases in the buyers guide or perhaps getting involved in the hospitality around the event. I’m lucky in that my role allows me to talk to exhibitors about any element of the show so I can take their brief and deliver a tailored package that suits their budget and maximizes their ROI. I’m also lucky that the ad:tech exhibitors are so switched on. They know how to work the floor and go home with as much business as possible.

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

Sit down talking on their phones when they should be doing business with visitors!!! Seriously though, it always amazes me when you see stand staff failing to engage visitors as they approach their stand. You’ve paid to be in front of these people, talk to them! Whilst you were taking that quick phone call someone with £200k to spend on your solution could walked past. Thankfully these incidents are few and far between with the ad:tech exhibitors – they know what they’re doing.

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

To be honest the ad:tech visitors are brilliant. They have the money to spend, they take the conversations they have with exhibitors seriously but they’re also there to learn, network and have fun so I couldn’t ask for more. Mercifully the tire kickers leave us alone!

Where do you see growth in the online field?

Every year we commission independent research to find out what our visitors will be spending money on for the next 12 months and for this year mobile and social were the frontrunners in terms of newer solutions. Interestingly though there was also a shift towards the more “traditional” techniques like email and search which is almost certainly a reflection of the economy and the visitors’ desire to use tried and tested techniques. I also think measurement is going to be incredibly important. Now more than ever marketers need to justify their investment.

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

Exhibitors realize that ad:tech London is an ideal place to launch new products, rebrand and generally tell the industry what you’re up to so you know when you go to the show that there’ll be a few surprises and stories to take home! Networking has always been important to our visitors and exhibitors so as well as finding suppliers and taking orders there’ll be parties to go to and friends to catch up with.

What do you do to improve the world?

ad:tech provides a place were where one of the fastest growing and exciting industries in the country can come together, exchange ideas and celebrate the amazing work they do. Online marketing is not only weathering the recession but growing and evolving despite it. We should support and encourage that in any way we can.

What do you do that is green?

I recycle but it’s more what I don’t do. I got rid of the car last year so it’s public transport all the way, the flat doesn’t have a garden so no hosepipes and I’m terrified of flying so I don’t do much air travel aside from business!

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

If I was a girl I was going to be called Andrea.

What’s your favorite book?

Hmmm, tough but probably the Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. It’s bewildering and bizarre but heart-warming and beautifully written at the same time. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys the stranger side of life. Actually, I wonder what that says about me?!

What is on your iPod?

At the moment early Streets and Dizzie Rascal are putting in a repeat performance. The new Yeah Yeah Yeahs is fantastic and I love the White Denim album. I’m in a band so I could bore you about music all day…..

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

Anthony Hull
[email protected]
Twitter: anthonytweet

How do you prefer to communicate?

Phone or email is fine.

Thank  you Anthony Hull of adtech London.  Are you going to Ad:tech London this year?

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In the continuing battle against global warming, climate change and that same battle to reduce our personal carbon footprint, U.S. President Barack Obama continues pushing for a cap-and-trade program for U.S. businesses. A new study from the Charles River Associates says that Obama’s proposed cap-and-trade program would have substantial impact on both the oil and gas industries.

The study finds that the program may raise costs and cut jobs. It is interesting to look at spin here—Yes, if we work to cap and reduce our oil and gas use and those caps and reductions work, then people will lose those jobs. The crucial thing is to create new jobs so that displaced workers will have new skills and new areas to cultivate. Industrial carbon footprint reduction necessitates scaling back our fossil fuel use right now- and this will mean difficult transitions. For now it could mean enforcing things like carbon offsetting or the cap and trade system.

Reducing your personal carbon footprint can require sacrifice and a change in both priorities and outlook. Reducing your carbon footprint inherently means just that- reducing. For an economic model based on perpetual growth rather than sustainability, reduction is still a taboo word. Doing what it takes to become carbon neutral or create a low carbon footprint will be a dramatic shift for greenhouse gas burning industries who are used to getting their way in the U.S. government.

“The projected increased costs imposed on US-located refineries to cover facility [greenhouse gas] emissions under the Obama administration’s proposed cap-and-trade provision would not be faced by many refineries outside the US, which would put US refineries at a competitive disadvantage,” said the Charles River Associates report.

“Overall, the cap-and-trade proposal in the Obama administration’s fiscal 2010 budget is designed to raise the cost of using conventional energy by requiring emission allowances for the use of that energy, effectively restriction [its] use in the US economy. Higher energy costs would likely reduce total consumption, employment and economic output,” the study said.

The plan is generating debates in the U.S. capitol with many in Congress vehemently opposed to the entire plan, viewing it as destructive to an already fragile economy. Obama’s supporters, however, see it as a bold move forward for an agenda that includes national carbon footprint reduction, from personal to industry.

The transition from fossil fuel burning economy to a low-carbon economy will be difficult and will require many difficult changes along the way. How governments and industry deal with those imminent changes will determine the future.

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An Interview with Nadeem Azam of Azam Marketing a Affiliate Management Agency and Affiliates4u 2009 Awards Finalist. I have known Nadeem Azam virtually as long as I have been in affiliate marketing; he is the Yoda of affiliate marketing. He has been a keen contributor to the Affiliates4 A4uforum since the beginning of time.  If you want to know anything about affiliate marketing he is your man.

Nadeem Azam

Tell me more about Azam Marketing?

Azam Marketing is a full-services online marketing and design agency and affiliate. A pioneer in the digital arena, our team have 86 combined years of experience and know-how in affiliate, email and search marketing. We also specialise in public relations, website design and development, online business consulting, and corporate training.
Tell me more about how you feel about being nominated for the a4u affiliate forum awards as Affiliate Management Agency of the Year?

I feel proud that our team has been recognised for the hard work they put in. I have honestly never worked with such a bunch of talented and knowledgeable people.

Why should I vote for you to win?

While I would obviously like people to vote for Azam Marketing as Affiliate Management Agency of the Year, I know the other three shortlisted agencies very well and would be equally happy if you voted for them. To give you an example of how special the other agencies are to me, Equator sent us a humongous Christmas hamper last year and I recently wrote a testimonial to say how fabulous they are; one of my colleagues will actually be sitting on the Existem Affiliate Management table at the a4u awards as she was kindly invited by them; and just the week before last I spent more time chatting to the wonderful people at RO Eye than anybody else at the exhibition.

How did you get into affiliate marketing?

In the 1990s I was a writer for various community newspapers, magazines and academic journals. Much of the work was voluntary and the rest of it paid next to nothing. I was dirt broke and, one day when I couldn’t even afford a £1.99 meal, it dawned upon me that I needed to start earning some money.

I wanted to start my own business because I had been working for others since the age of nine and had generally been treated unfairly by my bosses. At the supermarket I worked at, for instance, I was paid 90p an hour even though I was responsible for the entire frozen food department (this was the days before the minimum wage).

It was 1997 and I did not have the internet at home, so while working for a magazine, I would go into the office at 8am, before anybody was in the office, and stay there until late at night after everybody else had left (sometimes I even slept in the office) to surf the internet, learn HTML, and see what potential there was to earn an income.

I discovered this new-fangled thing called affiliate marketing and started raving about its potential to all and sundry. Everybody thought it was a fad that would die out in a year or two!

What was your biggest challenge getting into affiliate marketing?

Having no internet connection! I couldn’t afford an internet connection, so I would go to the internet room of my local college and started running my business from there. I would be there from about 9am until 8pm every day, when they would close down and kick me out. It wasn’t easy trying to do your work from there with the teenagers around you constantly chatting, fighting, and flicking pieces of paper at each other past your nose

Also, of course, in those days there weren’t many affiliate programs in the UK, so I had to focus on the US market. I therefore set-up book review websites which had affiliate links to Amazon.com and Books.com. To this day Azam Marketing has a strong presence in the American market.

What are the main things merchants do that you wish they wouldn’t?

I am speaking with my affiliate hat now. It infuriates me when a merchant closes down their affiliate program, switches networks, restructures their website or changes their Terms and Conditions without giving their affiliates notice. This happens all the time and is the bane of my life. For instance, three advertisers in the last three weeks have closed down their affiliate programs or are switching networks, one for which our design team spent over 100 unpaid hours building a state-of-the-art affiliate website and another for whom we spent over 15+ unpaid hours negotiating and setting up a PPC campaign, and not one of them gave any notice when changing their T&Cs, meaning all our time was wasted. It would never happen in any other line of business in the Western world, but affiliates are shown little respect in this industry.

Our websites have a lot of deeplinks to specific pages and products on merchants’ websites and it is a horrendous task for us to maintain those links because merchants don’t co-operate with us. Affiliate Managers are constantly telling affiliates to create content rich websites which deeplink to specific merchant pages, but if the merchants don’t even bother to let affiliates know when they change their site architecture and therefore the pages that affiliates deeplink to become dead, then I can understand why most affiliates don’t put in the effort to do that.

To give one example, we have been an affiliate of WHSmith Online (and the previous incarnation of their website, the Internet Bookshop) for 12 years and sold thousands of products for them. They have changed their site architecture several times, but never once, not once, bothered to inform us. It takes five minutes to write an email.

What are the main things affiliates do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Affiliates are generally the ones being kicked around like footballs, so my sympathies generally lie we them/us, but there are many, mainly newer affiliates who have no concern for how their dubious actions will reflect detrimentally on affiliate marketing as an industry. They have told me to my face that their one and sole aim is to make money and they don’t care how they do it. It’s sad when the love of money leads people to throw morals and ethics out of the window.

Where do you see growth in the affiliate field?

Next year will be the year of mobile marketing…. LOL. I’m glad that almost every speaker at every internet exhibition has been saying that every year since about 1999, and proven to be wrong every single time because, while so many companies have devoted countless man hours and money into mobile marketing and made zilch in net profit from it, Azam Marketing has been focusing on what does make a profit. We do not run our business based on soundbite economics or what we think is ‘sexy’.

What do you do to improve the world?

Just yesterday one of my best friends spent half an hour giving me a rollicking saying I spend too much of my time doing stuff for others, but whatever I do and do not do is between me and God so I’d rather not go into it.

One of the people I dislike the most is Margaret Thatcher who famously said “there is no such thing as society” and spent 11 years destroying the fabric of British society. Britain is one of the greatest countries in the world and I would like to play a part in building the sense of community and togetherness that we have lost since the 1970s.

What do you do that is green?

I have never had a car in my life and always use public transport. I haven’t sat on an airplane for over five years.

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

Not many people know that I have $2.72 credit in my Searchfeed PPC account.

What is on your iPod?

I’m not cool enough to have an iPod, but on my computer I listen to Geekcast.fm in which some of my favourite people in America talk about all aspects of internet marketing. Shawn Collins is one of the most extraordinary people in the industry and his ‘Affiliate Thing’ podcasts are engrossing.

What’s your favorite book?

The Koran and the Bible are a well of knowledge: each and every sentence is packed so many layers of meaning and there is so much to learn. I wanted to study Theology at university, but my father thought it would be a waste of time!

Jane Austen’s Persuasion is my favourite non-religious book.

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

Website: www.azam.net

Blog: www.azam.info

Facebook Group: www.azam.net/facebook

Twitter: twitter.com/AzamMarketing

My email address is nadeem [at] azam.net

Who would recommend you and why?

Marilyn has been loyal to me through thick and thin in all my years in online marketing and would always recommend me. She is lovely and would never walk out of the door, no matter how many 14 hour days I spend on the net.

Who would you recommend and why?

There are so many tremendous people in this industry that I would indeed be writing something as long as the Bible if I listed everybody who I thought were a delight to enjoy the company of and work with.

There are so many people out there in online marketing land who have supported me over the years and made each and every day I have worked in this industry a thorough pleasure – to each and every one of them, a massive thank you.

It goes without saying that I would recommend all the terrific staff that I am honoured to work with at Azam Marketing. I count myself so lucky to have such an amazing bunch around me.

As Jonathan Erwin, the Publisher Account Manager at Online Media Goup (OMG), recommended me in his recent interview with you, I will publically ‘name and shame’ him in return and say he is somebody who I think is amazing. I am so impressed with the skill and fortitude with which he carries out his Account Management that, when training Account Managers, I single him out and encourage them to be like him!

Thank you Nadeem Azam of Azam Marketing

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