GTO Management

Today on the podcast, I was joined by guest host Ian Larsen of IanLarsen.com to chat with Gary Marcoccia of the AvantLink affiliate network.

Here at GTO we’ve recently launched the C28.com affiliate program on AvantLink and we’ve been really impressed with the tools that they provide to both affiliates and merchants. Gary and Ian and I chatted on the history of AvantLink - as they have roots as both affiliates and affiliate managers, which I think contributes the the practicality of the AvantLink tool and some of the cool datafeed handling tools that AvantLink offers.

We talked in detail about a few features in particular, the Affiliate Link Encoder (ALE) which allows bloggers, webmasters and forum operators to put affiliate tracking in place for any AvantLink merchant without having to actually login to the affiliate UI or so any special coding. Once the ALE javascript is in place, the affiliate tracking is put in place on the broswer side of the equation. Gary told a great story of an affiliate who operated an Outdoor Sports focused online forum. Using the ALE script, he was able to place affiliate tracking on many of the links that both he and his forum members placed over several years of content… all with a quick copy and paste. Talk about easy money. This feature is the blogger or review affiliates dream.

We also chatted about AvantLink and their on-board support of video creative and some of the cool things that they do with RSS syndication and tying affiliates to referrals from feeds that they host from merchants. This is really cool stuff - effectively, AvantLink has provided affiliates with a "long tail" creative.

In addition to some of the big tools that AvantLink provides, they have also put some little things into the mix that are pretty cool. For instance - as a merchant, you can subscribe to RSS feeds that give you transaction info and affiliate application information. They also provide FireFox and Thunderbird extensions that scroll program stats at the bottom of your screen so you are never out of touch with your affiliate program data.

Ian chimed in with his experience as an affiliate and applauded the flexibility of the AvantLink datafeed tools and the accessibility of support and development to get what you need as an affiliate. Gary applauded the affiliates out there for driving innovation.

We had a great time chatting and I look forward to speaking with Gary again. If you are a retail merchant with a product catalog and you are looking for a really powerful, but reasonable priced affiliate network with some awesome tools included - check out AvantLink.

Enjoy the podcast!

We have been doing a lot of thinking and research on the topic of the New York decision to hold non - New York based merchants who have affiliates doing business in New York accountable for collecting state sales tax.   We’ve been speaking with lawyers, other affiliate managers, industry colleages, our clients and each other on this.

We don’t by any means claim to know all the answers in this - no one does until the Amazon and Overstock lawsuits are decided or settled with clarification of the law.  We encourage all of our clients to meet with counsel with understanding of the New York law and it’s details to make the decision that is best for them.

If the client has no objections, we’re recommending that our clients incorporate language suggested by Deb Carney  on ABestWeb to add this language or something similar to their affiliate agreements:

If Affiliate is based in New York State or has office(s) located within
New York State, Merchant will only allow Affiliate to promote Merchant
brand(s) and/or web site(s) via Affiliate’s web site. Affiliate may not
promote Merchant through any other marketing channel, that targets NYS
residents, including, but not limited to: paid search marketing, e-mail
marketing, offline marketing, (including flyers and physical
newsletters), lead generation, mobile marketing or telemarketing.

New York State affiliates CAN use these methods to market their *own
website*, as long as the ad copy, email, etc does NOT mention the
Merchant directly.

We feel that the affiliates from the State of New York really are pawns in this game and we stand by them and their right to earn a living through affiliate marketing.  Unfortunately, this language may put a crimp in some of their efforts for a time, but we’d rather change the way that we work together a bit than have to lose them altogether.   We’re adding this language to the Agreement’s of our clients C28 and Geoff and Drew’s Cookies, as well as any other retail merchants we work with until this issue is clarified.

Happy Selling!

Wade Tonkin

Karen and I had the chance to chat with Brian Littleton of Shareasale on a few topics. Most importantly, we spent some time chatting about the New York Affiliate Tax issues.

Some of the main points:

• Sales totals from New York Affiliates that require merchants to report and pay tax
• Fact that orders need to be shipped to New York addresses to qualify and the challenge this present to affiliate networks
• Some of the steps that Shareasale has taken to familitate merchant compliance without compromising affiliate privacy
• Some good advice from Brian on where to get guidance on this. Merchants should consult with their accountant and someone familiar with New York law if New York affiliates are a substantial piece of the their mix or may be in the future to come up with a sound policy
• We reviewed some of the actions that we’ve been seeing merchants take due to the law including Overstock and Amazon filing suit.
• Affiliate shock on receiving action notices from merchants making compliance decisions.

We also chatted a bit on what is happening at Shareasale (technical innovation) and chatted about Brian’s tendancy to end up at a piano at industry events and availability of piano bars near the Affiliate Summit hotel.

Enjoy!

As I mentioned a week or so ago, I’m participating in the 3Day Breast Cancer walk in Seattle this coming September.

As part of our group fundraising efforts, I’d like to let you know about a great way to get your program some easy exposure.

For a $1,000 donation, Team Affiliate Marketing will wear your logo on our Team Shirts during the entire 60 mile walk. Your logo will also be featured on the AffiliateMarketersGiveBack.com website. We’ve already received our first three $1,000 donations from the wonderful Haiko de Poel (founder of ABestWeb.com), Affiliate Summit, and ShareASale. Thanks so much folks!

We’ll be taking lots of pictures and video during the walk and blogging them like mad, so you’re certain to get lots of coverage.

To register for this sponsorship, simply go to www.60-milewalk.com to make the donation. Once you receive your email confirmation, simply send it over to our lovely team captain Missy Ward at missyward at affiliatesummit dot com, along with your high-res logo.

If you are unable to take us up on the T-shirt Sponsorship, please think about making a contribution in any amount. Every dollar counts.

Thanks so much for your support!
~Karen

It’s official! I have formally registered to walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Seattle in September. I’ll be part of the team “Affiliate Marketers Worldwide” with Missy Ward, Jen Goode, and Irene and Tiffany Spaulding. The 3-Day is a sixty mile walk over the course of three days and the net proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and National Philanthropic Trust which in turn funds important breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.

Why am I willing to put myself through such a grueling walk? Although my immediate family has been fortunate in avoiding this particular disease, I have many friends that have battled breast cancer hard and valiantly. Some have joyously won their battles. Some regretfully have not. So in honor of these amazing women who have blessed my life, I will walk in support and in remembrance.

My current fundraising goal for the 3-Day Walk is $2,200. If you are able to, please sponsor me. I would deeply appreciate it!

Thanks,
Karen