Missy Ward

Impact Radius, Multi-Channel Performance Advertising Platform Launches

by Missy Ward

Impact Radius launched today with its multi-channel performance advertising platform that is the first to connect advertisers and media partners directly for the delivery of performance campaigns across TV, radio, print and online media channels from a single platform.

The ability to track offline performance-based marketing campaigns is very exciting to me as it's one of the initiatives that I really believe will finally take off in 2010.

The group behind Impact Radius has had several innovative business launches prior to this including the Commission Junction network concept. I personally know two of them, Todd Crawford and Lisa Riolo for quite some time and can attest to their passion for performance-based marketing.

I wish them the best of luck in their new venture and look forward to seeing them kick-start some great new affiliate marketing trends.

About Impact Radius

Impact Radius links performance advertising to TV, radio, print, outdoor and online distribution channels—delivering to advertisers and media partners opportunities for growth and profit. By providing the tools and technology to negotiate and manage relationships directly on a single platform, Impact Radius is changing how performance deals are transacted across all media channels. With its “clear box” philosophy, Impact Radius is championing a new direction for performance advertising by increasing transparency in relationships and improving decision-making for media partners, advertisers and agencies. To find the clear path to better performance partnerships, visit: www.impactradius.com.

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Do Good. Feel Good.

My Birthday Wish: A World With More Birthdays!

by Missy Ward

Birthday Cake On Sunday, January 10th, I will turn 43.

Am I freaked out that I'm “that old”? Yeah, a little.

But, I'm also pretty darn appreciative that I have the chance to live another year. (Because seriously, having too many candles on one's cake really is a good problem to have.)

To celebrate this year's birthday, I decided to declare the American Cancer Society as my official birthday cause and try to raise some money to help those that have been affected by cancer.

So, if you had any thoughts on buying me a birthday card or balloon, please don't. Instead, why don't you consider donating a couple of bucks on my Birthday Donation Page that I've set up with the American Cancer Society?

Together, we can help create a world with a whole lot less cancer and a whole lot more birthdays.

And, if you do make a donation, I promise to include you in my wishes that I get when I blow out the candles this year 🙂

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Affiliate Marketing

Take the 2010 AffStat Affiliate Marketing Benchmark Survey

by Missy Ward

For the last seven years, AffStat has delivered annual affiliate marketing benchmarks that are crucial to the development of any affiliate marketing program.

View the 2009 Affiliate Summit AffStat Report

And, now it’s time for the 8th annual AffStat survey of affiliate marketing statistics which feeds the data that will be presented in the 2010 AffStat Report.

The survey is now open through February 28, 2010.

The research has been designed to increase awareness and foster best-practices in the affiliate marketing industry.

Later this year, AffStat will be providing its annual report on affiliate’s wants and requirements, based on their experience in the industry.

This report will be available for the entire affiliate marketing community to benefit from and data from the AffStat survey will be published in future editions of FeedFront Magazine (get a free subscription).

If you’re an affiliate, now is the time to sound off on issues facing you every day. Take the AffStat survey today.

(This AffStat survey is focused on affiliates, so please do not complete the survey unless you are an affiliate.)

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Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing in 2010 – Bring It!

by Missy Ward

crystal ball It’s that time of year when everyone is trying to predict how consumers will react in 2010 and beyond as we emerge from the recession.

But, there is no crystal ball needed to see that online marketing tactics are going to need to change in order to keep up with the new consumer buying habits and brand awareness that have developed since the downturn of our economy. However, with these changes comes tremendous opportunities and those that innovate will continue to thrive in the year to come.

Through technology, consumers are becoming more connected and the world is becoming much smaller. In 2009, I observed affiliate marketers invest in social media marketing and other relationship-building techniques on a much larger scale in order to communicate efficiently and in a more transparent manner, to subsequently build trust and consequently, increase sales.

I also spoke to numerous affiliates who were now focusing on creating their own content to add to their sites including words, images, audio and video in an effort to personalize their customer’s shopping experience and garner incremental sales.

For 2010, I see new technologies such as pay-per-call and other off-line tracking initiatives becoming more mainstream, and as such, new marketing opportunities will emerge. Additionally, with the popularity of smartphones increasing (along with download speeds), I believe 2010 may finally be the year where mobile marketing takes off and affiliate marketers really leverage this virtually untapped market.

I believe this will also be the year where smart online merchants, both big and niche that have weathered the 2009 storm will concentrate on solidifying the relationships they have with their affiliates.

See, they know that us affiliate marketers have the advantage over so many other companies and industries. We know how to leverage trends. We’re used to bootstrap-marketing. We know how to fail and rebound swiftly. And yes, we know how to hustle.

These strengths coupled with retailers’ belts continuing to tighten on non-proven ad spends offer up a huge opportunity for the affiliate marketing industry to continue to flourish.

So, what say you? Please share your affiliate marketing industry predictions for 2010.

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