Does Wes Mahler ever stop kicking ass? Apparently not. I remember just awhile back about International Affiliates having a tough time viewing International offers. Well, it just got easier. Wes and the rest of the Prosper202 team have a new product on board in WorldProxy202 that allows you to quickly view offers in other countries. I cannot tell you what a time saver this is to me personally. You wouldnt think a Kansas USA affiliate marketer would need such a service so much right? Well, I wouldnt if I did not promote nearly 75% of my CPA offers OUTSIDE the US. Fortunately for me, I know there’s a ton of money being made outside the US and I dont plan on coming back in anytime soon.

As if this was not enough the team also developed another handy tool for all of you toolbar lovers. They have created a Firefox WorldProxy202 Toolbar (<–That link is and installable .xpi file) which is as simple as downloading, installing and opening it up. Anytime you need to view a site from proxy just load the toolbar up and select the country you would like to view it from. You can read all about it here. For all the PPC Marketers in the forum this would be a great and easy tool to have. I’m not into toolbars really on my browser but I am gearing up to use the WorldProxy202 Service tomorrow.

Popularity: 21% [?]

I would first like to thank Linda from the 5 Star Affiliate Marketing Blog for her story on the Rash Of Insurance Affiliate Programs Closing In The UK as well as the Insurance Daily blog for their story on Virgin Money Withdraws Insurance Affiliate Schemes. What follows here was inspired by both sources:

Typically most of the readers of this blog are from the US. If you think we have it bad with credit crunches, mortgage markets plunging and a recession setting in you really need to start reading up on sources of information as stated above on how it’s becoming a world-wide problem. We are not the only ones facing hard times. Proof that some of the largest UK Insurance Affiliate Programs are withdrawing from Affiliate Promotion is only a small pebble being tossed into a vast ocean. I can see right now what they are trying to accomplish. By withdrawing their programs from networks or not offering them altogether to affiliates, they are restructuring their cost effectiveness in how they acquire business. More SEO and less payments to affiliates.

Just reading this information I can see an influx of debt consolidation, credit repair and financial services being a huge need. If you have been in the game awhile then you can already see this coming. As for promoting insurance in the UK, it looks to me as if you could find a UK Insurance Program, it’s a pretty good possibility you could do well.

Reaching out a bit I personally already know how profitable the UK Cash Loan and Payday industry is and I’ve probably have not even scratched the surface. Learning this type of information in International Markets helps give you the jump start before everyone starts to follow.

Thoughts?

Popularity: 39% [?]

With the recent release of The Poll Factory I have seen nothing but good things said about it on other marketing blogs and in the discussion forum. For the record, I did not receive any monetary compensation for leaking the launch, nor do I receive any compensation for the advertisement being displayed this month. There are hundreds if not thousands of ways to make money online but it seems the lack of execution in helping others achieve the same status WITHOUT wanting anything in return is at a low.

With that said, I would like to cover what someone else has done and chronicled in becoming a Marketer and making money online. Sometimes it probably gets old listening to me ramble, and to be honest with you, a lot of what I do business wise is not discussed publicly on this blog. This blog is geared towards people wanting to get started online or have started and would like some direction rather than information and processes on successful affiliate program/product takeovers, forming corporations and establishing web development projects. That stuff is a bit more technical and a lot of the aspects of it are not to be shared publically.

So anyway, Eric Mitz starts following the CPA Marketing Series and Category here. Very quickly the guy puts the information into action and starts thinking outside the box. Just like that he bangs out a poll that generates what he says “was probably the easiest $650 I’ve ever made online.” I believe with CPA Polling the number is around $1500-$2000 in total. (If you could clarify this Eric, that would be great). It doesn’t stop here though. Let’s get into a little deeper on the psyche of a successful Entrepreneur. When I say successful, ask Eric where he was a few months ago then ask him where he’s at now. More importantly, (if he will indulge us) ask him where he’s heading. I already know.

A word first to readers, forum members and future publishers that Convert2Media CPA Network has officially launched. The Press Release is soon to come where you will be able to read the entire Official Release Package. For now, the network is live and the C2M team is thrilled. It has been quite a trip for us over the last couple of months. The thing about Convert2Media is that it’s ran by a succesful group of like-minded marketers who are experienced in Retail Affiliate Marketing, Lead Generation, Email And Pay Per Click. On top of that we bring a team of dedicated Managers who’s main focus is to build long-term, prosperous relationships between advertisers and affiliates.

A few things that Convert2Media is striving for is Advertiser and Affiliate transparency as well as dedicated managers devoted to tracking and payouts. As marketers we realize one of the most common problems is the lack of communication and straight answers coming from Affiliate Managers about offers, terms and payouts. With our dedicated team, we hope to set a new standard on advertising transparency on both sides of the “fence”.

There will be more to come in the following days, but if you are interested in becoming a publisher for Convert2Media you may feel free to signup and a manager will be in contact with you.

Popularity: 61% [?]

This is important. This is vital. Not taking this seriously is the exact same reason why people may gripe about the time it takes getting accepted to programs or not getting accepted at all. Time is money in this business. Treat network applications as if you were applying for another job. Does half-assing your resume increase your chances of banging out that new office with a view? No it dont. The same applies online. Take your business seriously so others will as well.

Personally being a Co-Network owner and not even launching live to public publishers I have deleted over 400 fraudulent applications in the last 24 hours. That’s just one day on a network that is nothing yet. I wonder how people like Market Leverage and Hydra feel? I can only imagine.

The theory that networks only glance at your applications is partly correct. How would you feel looking over 410 applications only to find out that 400 of them were not legitimate? That cuts your production time down and does not allow you to focus more time, energy and dedication to the people who are legitimate.

Here are some tips on getting accepted to Affiliate Networks:

1. Dont have a website, build one. It’s an instant red flag. Another red flag is if you dont have a website then using something like Google or Yahoo will get you denied pretty quick. Fact of the matter is that silly things like that are seen hundreds of times daily. Your best bet is to ALWAYS utilize the comment box located in applications. You better be telling why you dont have a site and what your intentions are.

Just another shout out to Market Leverage. If you’re wondering why I keep pimping them, it’s because of the way they treat people, affiliates, bloggers and whoever they generally meet. A perfect example of what a good company is all about.

Popularity: 67% [?]

I realize it is a little soon but we are just over a month away from another great conference. Ad Tech Miami runs June 3rd-4th at the Miami Beach Convention Center. I will be in attendance as well as the rest of the Convert2Media Team. Unfortunately we will not have a booth at this event but you should be able to recognize us pretty easily. :)

You can register for the Exhibit Hall and Keynotes for free. It doesn’t cost you a dime unless you wait to buy registration onsite.  If you are planning on attending this event and would like to meet up and talk shop, feel free to shoot me over an email and we will work out the details throughout May.

Popularity: 68% [?]

The age old question of being new to Affiliate Marketing, what should I set my goal at? The answer is usually around the $50-$100 a day range. That is conservative and generally speaking though. Affiliate Marketing is no different than anything else you may encounter in life. If you still working a job then just consider it a new one. There are going to be things that you have to learn and experience before you become a top dog around the work place. The same applies to sitting in your cozy little office with the coffee pot brewing, it is going to take some adapting and adjusting before you get comfortable.

Aside from the fact that there are a lot of things you will have to go thru and learn from, you also have to deal with learning pace. Everyone is different. Some people will go out and earn $500 in their first month. I’ve personally helped and seen it done. Others may take at least 6 months before making their first dollar. Uhh umm, Hello? That would be me. Some may even take more than a year.

In my opinion you need to start with something you know. I love gaming. More importantly I love gaming on the Xbox 360. Some of the first offers I ever ran were for Xbox 360’s and Xbox 360 games. On top of running CPA offers, I also sold xbox 360’s and equipment thru Amazon. Hell, I did not sell a lot but at least I was selling something. I knew enough about the niche that I could write about it without it being a strain. As a matter of fact, I knew the niche so well and being a member of the Halo Forums, General Gaming Forums and MLG PRO, I could relate and interpret the lingo used among gamers. Knowing this I could adjust my writing style to something that was actually INTERESTING to read for gamers. Knowing what you’re doing is a crucial component in Affiliate Marketing. Without knowing the ins and outs of your market, do you think shooting from the hip is going to be enough in that market to make a comfortable living? Maybe after a year or so when you have printed so much shit that you have so many rankings or ads running that people cant help but to come to your site. Now you have to deal with will they return or not?