Enhancing conversion with consumer reviews isn’t a new idea. It always works, even to the point of negative reviews having a positive effect on sales. Empowering affiliates to quickly put reviews (thematically-sorted across different merchants) to good use, and doing this in a manner than helps merchants monitor affiliate compliance with the FTC’s rules on testimonials and endorsements… now that is definitely innovative and has been much needed.

I was thrilled to learn that something like this was in the works when in early spring I got approached by Ankesh Kumar, CEO of SearchReviews. Their tool was originally conceived as a tool for affiliates to use consumer reviews that merchants would upload (in a manner similar to product datafeeds) to the SearchReviews’ server. I proposed taking it one step further, turning it also into an compliance-monitoring tool for merchants. I still believe this to be a very promising idea, and am excited to see them roll out their tool today.

Examples of how the SearchReviews affiliate widget looks and works may be found throughout iPond.com. Here’s one of them:

I wish SearchReviews luck. This is a very interesting idea.

When running an affiliate program on a tight budget you inevitably face a challenging reality: good tools normally cost good money. You, on the other hand, may not necessarily have enough to invest into all of the paid tools you may need. Do not despair! There is a number of great tools out there that are available for your use at no cost. Of course, you do not want to depend only on the free ones (and have a number of robust ones that you do pay for), but it is useful to know which good ones are free.

Here’s my alphabetical list of 10 such tools (all of which I myself use on a daily basis):

1. Facebook — if you haven’t done so already, create a fan page for your affiliate program (and use it as a part of your affiliate communication channel)

2. Forums — use affiliate marketing forums (like ABestWeb and Affiliate Summit’s forum in the US, or affiliates4u in the UK) to participate in the community and gently get the word about your affiliate program out

3. Google — yes, the search engine! you can use it to find potential affiliates (when there’s no contact info on the prospect’s site, use Who.is to pull it up)

4. Google Alerts — use it to monitor what competing affiliate programs are doing, as well as for recruitment of new affiliates

5. Google Website Optimizer — use it for testing and optimization of your affiliate landing pages

6. iTrademarkBidding — monitor affiliate violations of your paid search rules and restrictions

7. Omgili — use it to monitor what’s being said about you affiliate program, your brand(s) and your competitors in forums and other online communities

8. Quantcast — analyze the volume and type traffic your prospective affiliates get (for a better picture always use it together with Compete.com‘s data)

9. Twitter — monitor it to spot prospective affiliates (use both Twitter Search, and tools like TweetDeck for streamlining the monitoring process)

10. WordPress — if you don’t already have it, start an affiliate program support blog on it (I personally prefer the self-hosted solution; hence, the link to the .org site)

Have fun exploring these free tools, and if I haven’t mentioned a great tool that can help affiliate program managers in their day-to-day tasks of affiliate recruitment and monitoring, competitive intelligence and program optimization, please do chime in with your suggestions using the “Comments” field below. ↓

Less than a week ago in an intro to this post, I blogged how pleasing to my (and I’m sure every affiliate marketer’s) eye it is to see new developments at different affiliate networks. Now, in addition to ShareASale, Google Affiliate Network and LinkShare, we have AvantLink with their February news!

Yesterday they announced their very own (and a very robust one too) WordPress plugin. So immediately I have reached out to them to get a better idea of how it works, and how bloggers can/will benefit from this launch. This is how this post was born…

The AvantLink plugin for WordPress basically allows quick and simple integration with a number of the network’s integrated Affiliate tools & scripts. Once the plugin is installed and activated, there are several things to note within your WordPress admin panel.

1. Plugin users will see a “AvantLink WP” link in the admin sidebar, under the “Settings” section. Clicking that link opens the “AvantLink WP Plugin Settings” page, which includes four tabs that allow the configuration of several functions, including a product search engine via the AvantLink API (see image below).

2. Plugin users will see an AvantLink icon in their post editor’s kitchen sink. Clicking the icon will open a dialog box that allows affiliates to select any pre-configured ad type/unit (banner, text, video, etc.), from any merchant the affiliate is active with. It will also allow affiliates to create custom tracking links to any merchant URL they choose (see the two screengrabs below)

3. Plugin users will notice several new AvantLink WP widgets in the “Appearance” area of their WordPress admin. These include

• • AvantLink Product Ad Widget – Easy integration of any AvantLink Product Ad Widget (PAW) subscription that has been configured and saved.
  • AvantLink Product Search Form – Quickly enable an on site product search engine, using data from AvantLink merchants.
  • AvantLink Related Products – Display related products from AvantLink merchants driven by custom keyword searches.

It’s important to note that once the AvantLink WP plugin is installed and activated, an Affiliate Link Encoder (ALE) subscription is enabled by default on a site-wide basis. The ALE uses JavaScript to convert direct-to-merchant links to affiliate-tracking links on the fly, and within the end user’s browser. This of course can be deactivated via the settings page, if that’s preferred.

Several integrated tools and scripts from AvantLink offer unique and exclusive functionality free of charge to qualified affiliates, and now WordPress CMS affiliates can easily utilize these ad tools and subscriptions with simple, easy to configure widgets. Very nice development!

Not too long ago I have found out about 2Performant, developers of “a CPA ad server” which is essentially another platform for in-house affiliate programs and affiliate networks. One of their newest products (not even launched yet), Graffly, is an interesting idea. So, I got together with Radu Spineanu of 2Performant who kindly agreed to walk me through Graffly.

Here is the full interview I did with him:

GP: Radu,  in  a  few words could you please tell my readers a bit more about yourself, where you work, and what you do?

RS: I am the Founder/CEO of 2Performant. 2Performant is a platform for affiliate networks, similar to HasOffers or Post Affiliate Pro.

I started 2Performant because I believe Cost per Action, affiliates and links are the future of online advertising. No matter how big CJ, LinkShare, Shareasale are right now, there is still room for CPA to create billion dollar companies. Zynga is an amazing example of the looming opportunities.

I’m constantly amazed of what great things affiliate marketers are doing. We want to give them incredible tools and access to new markets.

GP: Not too long ago, I’ve come across one of your developments, Graffly, which seems like an interesitng one. From a couple of our previous talks I know that you’re calling it “the Woot or Groupon for affiliate marketing”. Could you please elaborate on this parallel a little further?

RS: Graffly is our first project based on 2Performant.

Graffly is a short-term affiliate network with one running campaign each month. That campaign has a payout that’s significantly increased from the standard one for that one month.

For merchants it’s a way to advertise their regular affiliate program. They join Graffly and provide affiliates a huge payout for 30 days. If they get accepted, their campaign will be the only one affiliates can promote for that one month.

Affiliates will know that Graffly always has the best payout. And they’ll get introduced to great new merchants that otherwise they might have not known about.

Graffly doesn’t take 20% fee or anything like that. Our fee with Graffly is $89 fixed for that one month. We ask advertisers to give the extra amount to the affiliates.

Graffly will be launching on the 1st of November with David’s Cookies. They will be offering a 25% premium on all commissions. In December affiliates will be able to promote UncommonGoods.com which will double their regular commission! That means 20% from all sales instead of 10%.

GP: Can you tell my readers a little more about Graffly’s App Store you were telling me about?

RS: Yes. Graffly will introduce affiliates and advertisers to our Apps Store. The App Store is filled with 3rd party apps that add functionality to Graffly like:

• behavioral targeting
• funnel analysis
• social ad units
• dynamic banners based on product feeds
• lead per call

We want to give affiliates access to technology that was inaccessible until now.

Affiliates don’t have to pay up-front for most apps. Most of them take a percent from commissions if they send a valid lead. So if an affiliate agrees to use the Dynamic Banner app, any commission coming from that app will be split amongst the developer and the affiliate (eg. 20% – 80%).

Any developer can write an App and add it to the Apps Store.

GP: Sounds very interesting. Can advertisers use these Apps outside Graffly?

RS: Yes, the platform behind Graffly is offered as SaaS or remote-hosted solution. Details about pricing here.

GP: I appreciate your time, Radu. Best of luck, and looking forward to the launch of Graffly.

If you’re a frequent reader of my blog, you know that I’m constantly on the lookout for new and unique technologies in affiliate marketing.

It hit me the other day that there is an unparalleled technology used by AvantLink that I haven’t really heard much about even though it has been around for 5 years already! They call it Affiliate Link Syndication, and it essentially allows affiliates to offer deals-oriented consumers an RSS subscription to AvantLink-powered dynamic deal feeds (which may be focused on one or multiple merchants); so that any time the customer clicks a link from their feed reader, the affiliate gets a new cookie set.

They also blogged about it last year:

…did you know that in addition to publishing promotional-related (dynamically updated) content on your sites, you can also promote RSS subscriptions to those feeds? Think about that for a second. If you’re site visitors subscribe to one of these RSS feeds from AvantLink that you promote, then your tracking details are embedded in all links within that feed … for the life of that feed subscription!

Fast forward months later, and to that RSS feed sitting in someone’s reader or live bookmarks after the 60 day cookie from the click is long expired. The shopper you enticed to subscribe sees a killer deal from one of our retailers, clicks the link directly from their RSS reader or live bookmark, and there you have it; your Affiliate cookie is set again for another 60 days (or whatever cookie life the particular merchant offers).

This development really does spell out a different level of customer engagement and ownership — one that goes beyond what the standard “click-on-a-website-link -> cookie” path does, as the clicks then come from someone’s personal RSS subscriptions (which they themselves took the time to set up and configure).

I don’t believe there is another affiliate network who offers affiliate tracking-embedded RSS feeds that can be promoted as subscriptions. Belated kudos to AvantLink on this development. I hope it inspires other affiliate networks and/or external tool creators too. After all, competition should breed improvement.

A few days ago Clarke Duncan, one of the co-founders of Paid On Results UK affiliate network, sent me the following tweet:

Paid On Results (POR) were the first affiliate network to create a deep-linking tool for affiliates, and this was back in 2005 [see the way it used to work]. Ever since then they have been perfecting and renewing the tool, and came up with the “innovative” 2010 version [see demo here].

No wonder why. Other UK networks have similar tools: buy.at launched their FireFox (FF) Deeplink Generator in March of this year (see point #3 here), Affiliate Window has had their FF plugin for generating deep links for some time too, and LinkShare UK offers a tool as well.

POR’s newest version of the Deep Link Generator is probably the most advanced of all. It allows you to do everything in one screen (without leaving the merchant’s site), automatically detects product images, offers URL shortening options, supports all major browsers, and has a number of other affiliate-friendly functions of which you may read here.

Does “any USA network have a tool like” the Deep Link Generator?  Some do indeed offer deep link generating tools:

• AvantLink — Custom Link Builder
• LinkShare — LinkGenerator Bookmarklet
• ShareASale — “Create a Custom Link” tool [tutorial here] + License Plate Links

…but none do it at the level that Paid On Results does now.

It is always good to see an affiliate network come up with a more advanced tool (like the buy.at’s video linking tool too). Competition challenges other affiliate networks to grow, and their development is good for everyone involved: merchants, affiliates, outsourced program management agencies, and the networks themselves. Thank you for the setting the bar high, Paid On Results!

In case you haven’t heard, the Zappos’ PATRON (Public API for Translating Request to Object Notation), originally announced two months ago, is already in early beta phase, and developers can start playing with it.

Shopping APIs are great for affiliate marketers that are technologically capable of putting them to use, creating online stores of their own, using the merchant’s product information. In case with Zappos, the public API will not only support such basic information as product price, image, and description/specification-related details. They already have the search function in place, and more fun features are coming up in the near future. Product Manager Will Young wrote:

The first release of the API will support the following:

• Search : Leverage Zappos robust product search functionality that includes sorting, filtering, and a deep level of categorization/facets
• Products : Pull relevant product details (description, default images, different styles, price)
• Images : The full set of images for products (different views, sizes, etc.)

Nothing crazy there.  In our upcoming releases, we are going to have a lot more fun things.  APIs such as “What are the most popular products right now”, “What was just bought in my city in the last 5 minutes”, etc.

This is definitely promising to be a great tool for affiliates to use once it integrates with their affiliate program (on the roadmap per this tweet).

Developers can start testing the API pretty much right away, but Zappos requires an API key to make calls; so you want to contact them to obtain it.

See also their Google Group dedicated to it.

It is hard to overestimate the importance of market research for affiliate marketers. Whether you are a merchant, or an affiliate, you cannot afford not to keep your finger on the pulse of the market. Francis Bacon’s famous maxim “knowledge is power” says it all, but merely realizing this fact is not enough. You gotta know where to get the knowledge.

Besides things like RSS subscriptions to important blogs and Google Alerts, I find Twitter’s concise 140-characters-a-message format extremely helpful in keeping an eye on the market.

So, I suggest every affiliate marketer (or anyone involved in online marketing, for that matter!) adds the following 10 Twitter accounts to his/her follow list:

1. eMarketer — Digital intelligence for marketers & advertisers on social media, mobile, media, advertising, retail, consumer products, and more.
2. Forrester Research — Independent research company that provides pragmatic and forward-thinking advice to global leaders in business and technology.
3. Google Retail Team — Uses their Twitter account to provide the latest industry news and data.
4. Pew Internet — The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization.
5. BigResearch — Consumer intelligence firm providing solution-based insights of consumer behavior.
6. Focus — Online resource where professionals can freely access the research and expert advice they need to make better business decisions.
7. American Marketing Association — Official Twitter account of AMA, a professional association for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing.

If I have missed your favorite one(s) (for market monitoring and research), please post those Twitter handler(s) below.

Having looked at the blogging platform options for affiliates, it is only logical to continue the topic by looking at the top affiliate plugins and WordPress-friendly tools.

Below you will find my list of plugins and tools that affiliates use, and rate highly. The order is merely topical (network-offered plugins, plugins related to the import of data feeds, etc), and does not represent any sort of ranking.

Top 20 WordPress Tools and Plugins for Affiliates

1. Affiliate Link Encoder from AvantLink – Detects and changes direct links into affiliate tracking links for the merchants that are in the AvantLink network.
2. Commission Junction Product Search – Creates Commission Junction product listings within blog posts and pages.
3. Clickbank Widget – Adds targeted ads for Clickbank products to your blog’s sidebar.
4. LinkShare RSS DealFeed – Automatically populates your WordPress blog with deals and other promotional content.
5. LinkShare AdMix – Helps integrate RSS content ads from LinkShare advertisers with your blog posts.
6. PopShops Affiliate Store Plugin – Helps add products to your WP blog from any of the major affiliate networks (LinkShare, Commission Junction, ShareASale, buy.at, Google Affiliate Network, LinkConnector, WebGains, and even in-house based programs like that of Amazon).
7. DatafeedR – They call it a “Factory where you build, modify and download your stores, as well as customer support, community forums, and video tutorials.”
8. DataFeedFile.com Featured Product Plugin – Helps you add a product of your choice, or allows your blog’s visitors to compare prices across different merchants without leaving your blog.
9. Skimlinks Affiliate Marketing Tool – Allows you to “instantly monetize untapped links on your blog.”
10. 123Linkit Affiliate Marketing Tool – Transforming keywords into affiliate links.
11. Pretty Link – Allows you to “shrink, track and share any URL on the Internet from your WordPress website” creating shortlinks “coming from your own domain.” Each hit is tracked with details “of where the hit came from, the browser, OS and host.”
12. Affiliate Link – Another tool to shorten your affiliate links using your own domain name (and not any of the URL-shortening services). Tracking also provided.
13. Ad Squares Widget – Helps you display and manage 125×125 ad square banners (and other sizes). Works “with standard affiliate ads, or even with ad network codes.”
14. WP125 – A robust and popular ad management plugin for WordPress.
15. Amazon Autoposter – Allows users to post products from Amazon.com in their own blogs (automatically, based on keyword match).
16. Amazon Product In a Post Plugin – Help you “quickly add a formatted Amazon Product/Item to a post or page by using just the Amazon product ASIN (also known as the ISBN-10).”
17. Amazon Affiliate Link Localizer – “Automatically changes any Amazon link on your site to use your affiliate ID” and “also changes the link to point to the user’s local (i.e. country-specific) Amazon store.”
18. Amazon Store – Helps you quickly create your own Amazon affiliate store.
19. Amazon Post Purchase – Based on the above-quoted Product In a Post plugin, but works with sidebars “in themes that support dynamic sidebars.”
20. Amazon Product Link Widget – Another sidebar widget for Amazon product links/ads.

Have I missed your favorite plugin? Please post it about it below!

One of my favorite affiliate networks, AvantLink, has just announced the launch of a mobile phone application – AvantLink Mobile:

AvantLink Mobile allows both affiliates and merchants check their stats on the go (right from their mobile). Affiliate program managers can also review and make decisions on pending affiliate applications, while affiliates may review recently launched affiliate programs, and decide whether they may want to join any of them:

Considering the rapidly growing popularity of Android phones (Nexus One, Motorola Droid, HTC phones, Samsung Behold, Dell Aero, etc), this is certainly a very nice development by AvantLink. It is also good to know that a similar iPhone application is already in the works too.