Shawn Collins and I will be sponsoring up to 8 merchants at Affiliate Summit East 2012, providing them with free tradeshow space in the Exhibit Hall or Meet Market, as part of our new “Pay it Forward Merchant Endowment” Program.

The goal of the endowment is to make the tradeshow networking experience of Affiliate Summit available to merchants who might not otherwise be able to exhibit.

Each recipient of the Pay it Forward Merchant Endowment be awarded their choice of one (1) 8×10 booth package (non corner), valued at $6,825 or a Meet Market with Platinum Pass package, valued at $5,295. For more information on these packages please visit: http://www.affiliatesummit.com/12e-exhibitors/.

Endowments are limited to U.S. based Merchants with active affiliate programs. Applicants will be considered based on current participation in; and future contribution to the affiliate marketing industry.

All applicants must answer ONE of these questions in essay form in 300 words or less:

1. What is a problem in affiliate marketing and how do you propose it be fixed?

2. What are the top two unique value propositions for affiliates in your affiliate program?

All applications will be reviewed by the Affiliate Summit Advisory Board and winners of the scholarships will be notified by Friday, March 9, 2012.

To be considered for a Pay It Forward Scholarship, please complete the online application. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Good luck!

Earlier this year, I attended a conference in which the Founder of Dermalogica and the International Dermal Institution; Jane Wurwand, delivered a powerful keynote. Her passion for teaching people to create their own healthy skin has resulted in Dermalogica being the most professionally requested brand of skincare in the world.

The story of how she went from sweeping floors in a beauty salon in England; to immigrating to the United States with only a suitcase and a dream; to starting Dermalogica and the related struggles of being undercapitalized; to where the company is now, 25 years later, with offices in over 50 countries, and a brand legacy of empowering female skin therapists to achieve financial independence as entrepreneurs, was truly awe-inspiring.

That would have been enough to make me a Jane Wurwand fan because I can relate to her story in many ways. But, as fate would have it, Jane had one more weapon in her arsenal which sealed her significance in my life – her role in joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship), an opportunity to help women entrepreneurs in the developing world, with a hand up; not a hand out.

Why Women’s Economic Empowerment?

• 1 billion people (1 in 6) live in extreme poverty – on less than $1 per day, and a disproportionate number of these (70 percent) are women.
• Women perform 66% of the world’s work, produce 50% of the food, yet earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the property.
• When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90% of it into their families, as compared to 30-40% for a man.

The challenge for would-be entrepreneurs in poor communities is that there is little to no access to money. Some people only need $50 to buy fabric, but the banks won’t lend it to them because they are poor and in some cases, simply because they are women.

This is Where Microfinance Comes In

joinFITE, powered by kiva.org is a platform of active philanthropy to help women start or grow their own business and thereby help themselves and their communities become more independent through small loans, starting at as little as $25.00, from people like you and me.

To be clear, these are not donations and this is not charity. These are loans which are repaid back by the aspiring entrepreneur. To date, the average repayment rate is almost 99% and joinFITE’s goal is to empower 25,000 women to start or grow a business through this endeavor.

Lend Your Hand, Through Painless Giving

Part of the joinFITE’s Lend Your Hand campaign encompasses redemption codes that can be found on six of Dermalogica’s skincare products and through joinFITE Partners. These codes can be activated online to direct a $1.00 joinFITE Partner donation to an entrepreneur in a part of the world for a type of business of your choosing.

I have been fortunate to receive 2,000 redemption codes that will be funded by Dermalogica to share with my reach so that together we can maximize the chances of further propagation of joinFITE. You Activate the Code > We Loan > She Invests in Her Own Potential.

Again, I am not asking you for any money. I am asking for you to activate one of my joinFITE redemption codes by visiting http://www.joinfite.org/missyward, so that you can help me loan $2,000 to aspiring women entrepreneurs.

Simply complete the form, select Team “Missy Ward” and submit. Once all the redemption codes are collected, and the loans have been funded, you will receive an email containing some information about the entrepreneur who is benefiting for your action to help them. [These are just some of the entrepreneurs being helped by joinFITE].

Want to Do More?

If you would like to help a female entrepreneur directly, you can help fund a microloan for as little as $25.00! After you activate the joinFITE code, you can peruse all of the women’s profiles and find one that inspires you.  Together, you and she can start something bigger than the both of you!

Redeem my joinFITE code today.

The Affiliate Summit staff wants to wear your company’s logo on their shirts at Affiliate Summit West 2012, taking place January 10-12, 2012 in Las Vegas — and it’s all for charity.

Shawn Collins and Missy Ward modeling the Affiliate Summit East 2011 Staff Shirt that DIYThemes sponsored. Their sponsorship money was donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Once again, in conjunction with Affiliate Marketers Give Back, we teamed up with Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to help raise money for breast cancer research, treatment and community programs.

The cost of the sponsorship is $7,500 and will be donated in full, to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

By booking this sponsorship, the entire Affiliate Summit team will wear your company’s logo on the FRONT of our conference staff shirts for all three days of the event.  [Just like this picture to the right.]

Even though Affiliate Summit lasts for just three days, your company logo on the shirts will continue to receive exposure in the Affiliate Summit photos and videos.

Book the staff shirt sponsorship today and check out other remaining sponsorships for Affiliate Summit West 2012.

Team Affiliate Marketers Give Back Gears Up for its 6th Annual Walk in New York City.   Walkers and Non-Walkers Welcome!

In 2007, I founded AffiliateMarketersGiveBack.com (“AMGB”) with two goals in mind — to raise money to support Breast Cancer research, treatment, awareness and community programs through combined efforts within the Affiliate Marketing Industry and also provide an outlet for people to help themselves by uplifting others in ways that another piña colada-filled vacation or more “stuff” couldn’t possibly begin to do.

Since then we have raised over $325,000.00 to help #SaveTheBoobies.

Taking a bite out of the Big Apple!

In October 20-21, 2012, Team Affiliate Marketers Give Back will take on a 39.3 mile walking tour around the City that Never Sleeps for the 10th Anniversary of the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer.

It’s the perfect time of year to take in the best that New York has to offer as we’ll be walking through some of the most well-known neighborhoods including Chelsea, Greenwich Village, SOHO, Chinatown, Lower East Side and the Upper East Side.

We are IN IT for a Purpose

Our team will walk a total of 1-1/2 Marathons (26.2 miles on Saturday, and 13.1 miles on Sunday) so that women and men can get the medical care they need regardless of their ability to pay,and leading research teams can receive vital support in their ongoing search for a cure.

Walkers and Non-Walkers Can Participate

This time around the great folks at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer will be providing a Cheering Station for our team to manage on the Sunday of our walk. We will be assigned a set locale for our team to cheer on and motivate the walkers as they pass our station. [For those of us that have participated in these walks, we know how much we appreciate the applause, high-fives and motivational words as we struggle through those miles!]

So whether you want to walk all 39.3 miles with the Team, walk part of it or simply participate in the cheering station on Sunday, October 21st, we welcome love for you to join our team.

It’s important to note that each participant is required to raise $1,800 in order to take part in the Avon Walk.  But, Affiliate Summit is going to help you out there.

When you join the Affiliate Marketers Give Back Team, Affiliate Summit will match your fundraising up to $500, in order to get you started.  Of course, if you can raise more than the $1,800 everyone benefits.

In addition, any team member that raises $2,300 or more, will receive a Platinum Pass to Affiliate Summit West 2013 [a $1,249 value; location and dates to be announced]!

Please support us in our fight against breast cancer by joining our team, making a donation in any amount or sponsoring us in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

>> Click Here to Join our Team

>> Click Here to Sponor our Team

>> Click Here to Make a Donation to our Team

If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Missy Ward.

Double Play Media is calling their shot and looking to hit a grand slam in the fight against breast cancer by partnering with Affiliate Marketers Give Back.

In an effort to increase awareness and contribute to the ongoing struggle against breast cancer, Double Play Media is holding a social fundraiser to benefit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on their Facebook page. With every new “like” to their fan page, Double Play Media will donate $1 to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on behalf of Affiliate Marketers Give Back.

“It’s something that Rob and I have always wanted to be a part of. We firmly believe that if someone has the means to help, it’s their responsibility to do so and we couldn’t think of a better way for Double Play to help out in the fight against breast cancer.”

Double Play Media was founded in 2003 by Corey and Rob Gleichenhaus. Over the last nearly 10 years, they’ve built Double Play Media from the ground up into a full service online ad agency, respected by many in the affiliate marketing and lead generation industry. The self-proclaimed “Lead-Gen Legends” compare the way they run their company to a Major League Baseball organization: play hard, have fun, work as a team and love what you do. It’s that mentality that they’ve said has helped Double Play Media ascend to the level they’ve achieved today.

For more information on how you can help Double Play Media achieve their goal of $500 by the end of October, visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DoublePlayMedia and give them a little “Like”.

Will ya?

For the last 8 years, I’ve been an active fundraiser for charities working to prevent and cure Breast Cancer. In 2007, I founded AffiliateMarketersGiveBack.com  to provide the affiliate marketing industry a platform to raise money for Breast Cancer research, treatment, awareness and community programs.

The cause was very close to my heart and I had hoped that I’d be able to enhance its visibility somewhat and raise a little bit more money to help fight it. I had no idea that so many folks would actively support the effort but in just a couple of weeks we had raised $17,000.

Support began to snowball and to date; AffiliateMarketersGiveBack.com has helped to raise almost $325,000.00 in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, through various fundraising efforts, which you can read about on the AffiliateMarketersGiveBack.com website.

PinkPurpose.com is another one of those efforts.

As an affiliate marketer, I earn commissions when you purchase an item from the online retailers retailers featured on this website.  All you have to do is simply click on the link from PinkPurpose.com to visit that retailer in order for me to receive credit for that sale.  I will donate 100% of the commissions that I receive to the Affiliate Marketers Give Back 2012 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

So please consider shopping through PinkPurpose.com and help us raise funds for the prevention, treatment and cure of this devastating disease.  There are hundreds of items available and more being added every day!

ProHealth.com, an online store featuring a quality selection of vitamins, natural supplements and health research; is the latest merchant to support AffiliateMarketersGiveBack.com efforts to fight breast cancer with their Save 10% and Give 10% promotion going on now, through October 31, 2011.

ProHealth.com will be donating 10% of each sale to the Avon Foundation through AffiliateMarktersGiveBack.com to support Breast Cancer Research. As if that isn’t enough reason to shop with ProHealth; you will also save 10% on when you place your online order.

With flu season on it’s way, I’ll be loading up on my EPICOR® IMMUNE COMPLEX™

So, go ahead an check out all of the healthy living products ProHealth has to offer and stock up, save and help fight breast cancer at the same time. It’s a win-win situation all around.

Click Here to Visit ProHealth.com’s Website

buy.at hosted their “Give Back” event during Affiliate Summit East 2011.

Supported by their wonderful sponsors (Girly Checks and TicketSizzle) they hosted an engaging event at The Kimberly hotel and raised $1,825.00 for Affiliate Marketers Give Back‘s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Guests enjoyed a stunning view of Midtown Manhattan from the 30^th floor while snacking on delicious hors d’oeuvres and choosing from a selection of cocktails including the Girly Checks “Blank Check” martini.

Guests were challenged to “Think Pink” and wear any pink item to the event (clothing/accessories).  In return, a $2 donation was made each by buy.at, Girly Checks and TicketSizzle to Affiliate Marketers Give Back.  We are pleased to announce that 172 attendees wore pink resulting in a $1,032 donation.

In addition, the event included a silent auction featuring prizes donated by TicketSizzle, Girly Checks, Lindsay Phillips, VIP Live Drive and Team Loxly/PartyBeans.  I also donated a bottle of my Signorina Wine.  In total, the auctions raised another $793 for AMGB.

Since I love even numbers, I just personally donated $175.00 to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to make the buy.at Give Back Event’s total funds raised…. $2,000!

A heartfelt thanks goes out to the buy.at team, their sponsors, all of the attendees that sported their pink to the party, and the winners of the silent auction.

MWAH!

Just in time for Affiliate Summit East 2011!

Pick up your official gear from your favorite New York team (or any team in any sport of your choosing) at Fanatics.com and help fight breast cancer.

Fanatics.com Will Donate 10% to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Shop at Fanatics.com between now and August 31 and Enter the code “GIVE10” on checkout and Fanatics will donate 10% of your order (less tax and shipping) to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Let’s Go Yankees!

A trip to Affiliate Summit East is not complete for me without going to a Yankee game. And, that’s where you’ll find me on Tuesday night, August 23rd as the Yankees take on Oakland.

Fanatics.com has a great line of women’s fan gear and I’ve already picked up mine.

I’ll be rockin’ this Yankees look and helping to fight breast cancer at the same time:

A Special Bonus to Affiliate Marketers

Any affiliate marketer that decides to join the Fanatics.com Affiliate Program on ShareASale as a result of reading this blog post, Fanatics.com will pay 12.5% on sales (instead of 10%) through the end of September. [You must use this link to join.]

Support Your Favorite Team & Help #SaveTheBoobies at the Same Time!

Shop Fanatics.com Today.

“It’s All About The Cookies“, Affiliate Marketers’ Recipes for Yummy Desserts and Success is now available for purchase for on Amazon’s CreateSpace for $19.99 and with a terrific special offer attached!

For a limited time, with the purchase of It’s All About the Cookies, you will be eligible to receive a complimentary Gold Pass (a $279 value) to Affiliate Summit West 2012 taking place January 8-12, 2012 in at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.

Offer expires and certificate must be redeemed by August 31, 2011.

The redemption certificate along with submission instructions can be found on the last page of It’s All About the Cookies.  Proof of purchase must accompany your redemption certificate.

About the Book

Since the 90’s, affiliate marketers have had a love affair with cookies – not the chocolate chip, or oatmeal variety – but the pieces of code that ultimately tracks affiliates’ sales and commissions earned.

These affiliate marketers are a diverse group. Some work part-time and earn enough to subsidize their income while others have created extremely lucrative businesses.

Ultimately, success is defined by the affiliates themselves.

To that end, we’ve asked affiliate marketers from around the globe to share their recipe for success and favorite cookie (or other yummy dessert).

The result is a mouth-watering collection of recipes and thought-provoking insights learned on their road to success – an interesting read and a wonderful addition to your own kitchen.

Info for Affiliate Marketers

It’s All About The Cookies is now available on Amazon.  Here is a direct link to the book for you to review and/or purchase.

Supporting “Affiliate Marketers Give Back” Efforts

“It’s All About the Cookies” was produced to help Affiliate Marketers Give Back efforts to raise money to support breast cancer research, treatment, awareness and community programs.
100% of the net profits will be donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which has raised more than $380 million since 2003 to help fight this horrible disease.

For more information about the project please visit AllAboutTheCookies.com.