Affiliate Marketing Press Release Service

Since 1997, I've been writing and distributing press releases. My first was about berber carpet for a Northwest Georgia carpet giant. I knew absolutely nothing about carpet at the time, but as a new account manager at a PR firm, I had to learn fast.

I've sent press releases for companies ranging from garbage can manufacturers to marine electronics resellers to a local gym grand opening in Largo, Florida. A well written press release distributed through the right channel can significantly drive quality traffic to a site. That is a proven fact.

I'm going to start writing press releases and sending them out for affiliate merchants launching their programs or sending out news that affiliates can use as content. These press releases would add validity to the program, old or new, especially if the content is picked up by media. And with PRWeb.com as my distribution partner, search engine optimization is a highly added benefit.

My charge for this service is $300 plus the costs from PRWeb.com. Typically this is a $500 total investment as I like to recommend the SEO Visibility option. After Day 1, 7, 14 and 28, I will submit a statistics summary to the client that includes total full-page reads, headline impressions and search engine hits.

There are four levels of press release distribution options through PRWeb, plus some upsell services that are well worth the investment.

STANDARD VISIBILITY - $80
* Your release on top sites like Yahoo! News and Google
* Permanent hosting on PRWeb.com
* Attach images and documents
* Track results with statistics on reads and impressions
* Two-day distribution

SOCIAL MEDIA VISIBILITY - $140
All the benefits of Standard Visibility, plus:
* Distribution on industry-specific Web sites and blogs
* Premium placement for enhanced search results
* Social bookmark links for increased distribution

SEO VISIBILITY - $200
All the benefits of Social Media Visibility, plus:
* Embedded news image
* SEO tools including anchor text for search optimized results
* 10 industry and 5 regional news feeds
* Advanced SEO statistics
* Next day distribution

MEDIA VISIBILITY - $360
SEO Visibility, plus:
* Guaranteed distribution through the Associated Press to top US newspapers and media outlets
* Add an embedded video to your press release
* Advanced analytics show you where your news is being read

Standard Podcast - Add $100.00
PRWeb Podcasts are the perfect multimedia complement for your PRWeb press release. The podcasts are 4-5 minute interviews conducted by phone with the PRWeb staff.

Extended Podcast - Add $200.00
This package takes the PRWeb Podcast to the next level -- an extended interview of 10-20 minutes for a more in-depth interview.

BusinessWire Distribution - Add $269.00
Amplify the distribution of your news with Business Wire. Business Wire provides simultaneous distribution to newspapers, radio and TV stations, trade journals and other regional publications. Online distribution includes a wide range of online outlets including Yahoo! Finance and MorningStar.com.

If you are interested in having a press release written and sent to thousands of journalists, bloggers and affiliates, contact me and let me know what options you would like added.

Greg Hoffman, Marketing Gorilla
akagorilla at gmail.com

Earn up to 14% by Joining the OnlineSports.com Affiliate Program

I picked up another affiliate program through Snow Consulting last week. This one is awesome. OnlineSports.com sells sports equipment, jerseys, jewelry, fan gear, gifts, and memorabilia with more than 100,000 products.

They have programs in both ShareASale and Commission Junction. Affiliates earn 10% by joining and can get bumps up to 14% based on performance. The return cookie is 60 days. They have GoldenCAN datafeed integration, Popshops Custom Storefronts and dynamic product showcase creator, all in SAS.

Join the SAS program. Click here

Join the CJ program. Click here

Earn up to 40% Commission by Joining the Strategic Profits Affiliate Program

Sometimes I post new affiliate programs on this blog because OPM's or Networks ask for extra publicity. Sometimes its because I know the Affiliate Manager and sometimes because its me. In this case, my buddy Chris Thompson, formerly of Boca Java Coffee, is heading up the newly launched affiliate program for Strategic Profits. I highly recommend you join this program. Chris is one of the best in the business and I know this program is going to skyrocket with him taking the lead.



Why Join?

• They pay between 25% and 40% commission on opt-in leads and customer sales
• Recurring Commissions
• Tier 2 Commissions
• Performance Incentives
• Great Support
• Real-time reporting
• Dedicated Affiliate Management
• 90-day Cookies
• Monthly Promotions

Start earning your commissions now, join the Strategic Profits Affiliate Program.

Politics and Affiliate Marketing Revisited

Last summer, Shawn Collins raised the issue of politics and affiliate marketing - whether the two should mix and how well it would work if they did. Apparently the RNC had a Commission Junction program for several years but it was left on auto-pilot and floundered without proper management.

I'm not here to talk politics. This would work for McCain, Obama and Nader, but the Libertarian Candidate, Bob Barr (someone I have met and talked with at length), is my guy this year so I'm using him as an example.

While I was perusing the Barr Blog this morning, I noticed they had a page for widgets and banners. They are already half way there!!! All they need is to join a network and hire an affiliate manager. The links below could easily be used to track donations and email sign ups from affiliate sites. Shawn says the RNC gave affiliates 30% of the donations, capped at $30, with 45 return days. How much is a voter email worth to a political candidate? $.15, $.50, $1.00???

The market already exists. There are thousands of sites dedicated to each political party and millions more with completely different themes but I'm sure they would be happy to promote their favorite candidate and receive an affiliate commission at the same time.

So let's think about this from the third party stance. Continue to beg sites to post widgets or banners for free and raise about $100,000 a week online, or start an affiliate program, sign up thousands of affiliates within the first week and potentially reach hundreds of thousands of voters with a convenient little widget asking them for money or their email. Seems like affiliate marketing should be part of the mix already.

Now who will be the first to capitalize on this idea? There are four months left. It's worth it for one of the candidates to at least try it.

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Earn at least 15% With the ShockCoffee.com Affiliate Program

ShockCoffee.com is the newest merchant in my stable of managed programs.

We've already increased the commission from 10% to 15% and private commissions are available to Full or Premier Affiliates in Share A Sale.

Within the next week or so, we'll have a coupon available and new banners and text links will be added as well.

I've managed a coffee affiliate program in the past, Cafe Belmondo, but this is a completely different type of product and program. At this point, it's not based on a coffee continuity model. Your customers won't be getting a free coffee pot and have to commit to a coffee club forever. They will be buying ShockCoffee merchandise because the product is Unique and GOOD!!!

The coffee energy drink niche is wide open for affiliates and I promise to reward affiliates for creative promotions and strong performance.

Sign up for the ShockCoffee.com Affiliate Program.

Creative retooling strategies for job hunters - Greg Hoffman Interview on Bankrate.com

I would like to thank Carole Moore for interviewing me for the job strategy article on Bankrate.com and Peter Shankman's HelpAReporter.com site for introducing me to Carole. I want to let all of you readers know that I recently landed contracts with two top internet marketing agencies, Paulson Management Group and Snow Consulting. I'm working as a 1099 employee for both and business is booming. The sky is the limit for what I truly love doing - affiliate marketing. But most importantly, the bills will be getting paid again. Thank God!

The affiliate programs I am currently managing include DirectLegal.com and Box.net for PMG, and eBeanStalk.com for Snow. Affiliate marketing allows me to use my PR skills from the last 10 years to promote affiliate programs from reputable online retailers to thousands of publishers that are interested in strong revenue share programs. I am also able to use my journalism skills from the early days to articulately communicate with the publishers on a daily basis through email, blogs and forums.

Here is the job strategy interview on page 2 of of the Bankrate.com article:

Greg Hoffman, 38
Tampa, Fla., resident Greg Hoffman has spent the past decade in public relations and marketing. He lost his job at the end of January. "I wasn't prepared for it at all," Hoffman says.

Search strategy:
Hoffman loves what he does and doesn't want to do anything else. "Everyone's told me to find a different line of work, but I'm going to hold out for (a while) before I sign up to become a postman," Hoffman says.

Hoffman is directing his job search efforts mostly online. He's posted his resume online. He's networking and has been known to deliver his resume in person with a box of doughnuts or a pizza attached to it. He knows that the secretary or receptionist often holds the key to getting in the door.

Coping status:
Anxious. Hoffman says he can keep it together financially for a little while, but money's tight. His home is in preforeclosure and he's behind on his child support. Hoffman has applied for retail jobs, but no one will hire him. "They tell me I am overqualified and think I'll jump ship within a month or two," he says.

What's right:
Hoffman's using online social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to make new connections.

How to pump it up:
"It's a mistake to think you can always find a job in the same industry or the same occupation, because the job market works like most other markets -- supply and demand. Expand what you are offering," Neece says. Hoffman should look at his experience as a newspaper reporter as a marketable skill. He might also consider temporary employment.

What is affiliate marketing - a guide for my friends at Red Bear Radio

My friends at Red Bear Radio are looking for ways to monetize their forum - www.redbearradio.com. The online dj's use the Stickam webcam service to entertain a loyal and growing audience. To help pay for better services and offset some of their costs, I am proposing they try affiliate marketing.

What is affiliate marketing they asked? Wikipedia says: Affiliate marketing is a web-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's marketing efforts.

The Red Bear Radio Forum is considered an affiliate, or a publisher. I'm going to tell them to join several networks and start deciding what products or services they think their community members would most likely purchase in the next three months. In the network they will join advertisers, or merchants, such as iTunes, which pays 5% on all purchases from its links and is a great fit for this project. Or maybe their audience will buy some coffee, cigars or ringtones. Who knows? They just have to test test test the links.

After an affiliate gets accepted, they find the links they like, copy and paste them in the html template and then encourage their audience to buy the offers. Easy enough. For a starter, like Red Bear Radio, it won't make them rich, but after a few months, it should help them pay a few bills.

Earn 15% in the DirectLegal.com Affiliate Program

DirectLegal.com offers exciting opportunities to earn a generous income through your website simply by linking to us through Commission Junction. By referring our expert copyright and trademark services to your site visitors, customers or subscriber list, you can quickly and easily add a new profit center to your business while introducing these important and valuable services.

As an affiliate of DirectLegal.com you can earn 15% commission with a generous 90 day Cookie for copyright or trademark service sales! You are welcome to market our DirectLegal Web Or DirectLegal Music Trademark or Copyright services with this affiliate program, our average order value is $99.00

DIRECTLEGAL.COM AFFILIATE COMMISSIONS
15% On Every Sale

COOKIE DURATION
90 day(s)

PAID SEARCH BIDDING
NO Brand or Trademark bidding please

DIRECTLEGAL.COM PRODUCTS CATEGORIES INCLUDE
DirectLegal Web
DirectLegal Music

Click here to join

Your PMG affiliate Manager is Greg Hoffman - (that's me)
Greg@PaulsonManagementGroup.com

Get Ready - DirectLegal.com Affiliate Program is right around the corner

The DirectLegal.com affiliate program announcement is coming. We are launching through Commission Junction this week.

I'll post the affiliate sign up page, a robust PPC keyword list and sample creative asap. I'm getting excited about this one. Look for a video too.

Please Join the Box.net affiliate program - access important files anywhere...

Box.net is an online file storage platform that enables users to share access and store important files online anytime, anywhere.

Users can access or share their files from any computer or mobile device (no software required), so any files stored on the service can be retrieved or shared anywhere. Box.net currently has over 1.5 million registered users.

The Box.net affiliate program is professionally managed by Paulson Management Group, Inc.

As an affiliate, you'll be paid for any legitimate users that sign up for our 14-day trial, at a rate of $15 per sign-up.

Our 7-Day EPC is $12.48

Sign up for Box.net today.

Please Join the eBeanStalk.com Affiliate Program - Expert Selected Developmental Toys

SHAREASALE Exclusive Merchant

As the Affiliate Manager for this program, I would like to invite you to join the eBeanStalk.com affiliate program, which sells expert-selected developmental toys.

The 7-day EPC is $10.32 and the affiliate commission is 10%. We offer new coupons for affiliates every month and currently have a free shipping offer for orders above $65.


Run Down of Program Benefits:

* 10% Commission on Every Sale!
* 120 Day Return Cookie
* Ongoing Coupons and Promotions
* New and Fresh Creative - Lots of Sizes
* Full Product Datafeed Over 450 Products
* Variety of Widgets
* Proudly Parasite Free
* Monthly Cash Prizes
* Monthly Newsletter
* Dedicated Program Management

Join eBeanStalk.com Now

Addendum:: I just added a bonus for all new affiliates. $5 bonus for your first sale. Another $12 for your second sale...Go Sell Some Toys!!!

How do Affiliate Marketers and/or Outsourced Program Managers Manage their money?

Several months ago, I asked Shawn Collins how to handle affiliate checks and taxes. Now my question is more complex, but related. How do 1099 employees, affiliates and outsourced program managers, handle income overall?

I have a good idea of what I'll be doing over the next few months, but I'm looking for suggestions from those that have perfected their finances. Please add your comments below.

Shawn turns over his affiliate checks to an accountant. I looked into that option and chose not to spend $2,000 a year. I don't know what he pays, but the quote I received scared me into trying to figure it out myself. I'll be hiring an accountant, just not on a monthly basis.

On Shawn's post, an accountant, Chad Bordeaux , added his comments: "when setting money aside for your taxes, be sure to set enough aside for your Federal Income Tax (based on your effective tax rate, your “self-employment tax” (15.3%), and any applicable state and local taxes. Depending upon where you live and your income level, this could be anywhere from 20% to 50% of your income when all added up."

Once I hire an accountant and find out exactly what percentages I need to set aside, I'll be paying quarterly taxes diligently. Which leads me to come up with a cash flow strategy. A few weeks ago, my friend Denise O'Berry, sent me a copy of her new book, Small Business Cash Flow, and I've found it to be a great resource. It's the how to book I was seeking. Denise was the first person to introduce me to affiliate marketing five years ago and she gives some very relevant affiliate cash flow business models in her book.



The other thing I've done to work on my finances is to sign up with Quicken Online. They have a 30-day free trial for online services and only $2.99 a month after the trial. I can sign on and bring up my checking, savings and paypal accounts and have bill reminders sent to my gmail and phone. It gives me an instant view of my finances anytime from any computer.




I certainly do not have all the answers, so any help is appreciated. I'm looking forward to a long, healthy, profitable career as an affiliate and an outsourced project manager. Like I said, some of you have the perfect 1099 business model and your comments will help all of us.

Greg Hoffman (me) Joins Paulson Management Group

The word has gotten out. It's official. I am very very happy and honored to announce that I will be working as an affiliate manager with Heather Paulson and her crew at Paulson Management Group.

Paulson Management Group, Inc. is a full service multi-channel e-marketing management and consulting agency. The agency is able to provide outsourced affiliate program management, paid search engine management, and (SEO) search engine optimization and management services. We also provide website design and landing page design.

I have to admit I didn't use any gimmicks, as Shawn Collins asked me earlier this evening on Twitter. No donuts, no pizza, no shameless bribes. I was just lucky enough to be available at the right time.

I'm ready to hit the ground running and help Paulson Management Group any way possible. So look for some videos from me next week. Heather has assembled a great group of experts and we will be delivering excellent services to all the new clients we bring in over the next few months. I can't wait.

LinkConnector Launches an Affiliate Marketing Program for PhotoWorks

LinkConnector announces the launch of PhotoWorks, an Internet Retailer Top 500 Merchant, in its Affiliate Marketing Network.

Cary, NC (PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- LinkConnector (http://www.linkconnector.com/), a leading Affiliate Marketing Network with progressive solutions for merchants and affiliates, announced today the launch of the PhotoWorks' affiliate marketing campaign. PhotoWorks, American Greetings' online personal photo publishing company and photography community, has teamed up with LinkConnector to offer affiliates an opportunity to ramp up their revenue stream while benefiting from many of the unique advantages of the LinkConnector Network.

Read the entire press release at PRWEB.

Now Accepting PR Pitches for Internet Marketing Related Companies

Hey PR Person! Do you have a press release that you positively have to get out in the next 24 hours??? If you use BusinessWire, Vocus/PRWeb, PRNewswire, ereleases or any other press release distribution service, send me your news...

I'm looking to offer free posts for products or services on legitimate ecommerce sites, especially anything in the search or affiliate marketing industries. I already post anything Affiliate Classroom releases, here is an example: Employers Can Post Open Affiliate Manager Positions for Free with Affiliate Classroom

So hit me with your PR Pitches. I look forward to being swamped with emails.

Contact Greg Hoffman

Searching for Fantasy Sports Affiliate Programs

Last year, I joined the CDM Sports affiliate program, just as it died. I never received my commission and they haven't updated the affiliate page since March 07. I did some searching on Google and ABestWeb this week but all I could find was the HeySportsFans affiliate program.

I did find one promising program on CJ. I wasn't aware USA Today was offering a bounty on new customers for its Sports Weekly. I've been reading it since the first edition of Baseball Weekly came out, many years ago.





But why don't the major fantasy sports companies use affiliate or CPA to find new customers? CDM was supposed to pay out $6 per new customer. That's not great, but its something. I would think that this is an opportunity for Fanball.com or CBS Sports, ESPN, RotoWorld or even Yahoo to find new customers.

Media General Announces Agreement to Acquire Coupon and Shopping Site DealTaker.com

Neal, Congrats buddy!

RICHMOND, Va. – Media General (NYSE: MEG) announced today that it has signed an agreement with NARAE Enterprises, Inc. of Plano, Texas, to acquire DealTaker.com (www.DealTaker.com), an online social shopping portal that offers consumers a broad array of bargain hunting, posting and comparison opportunities. The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2008, is expected to be slightly accretive to Media General’s 2008 earnings. Terms were not disclosed.

DealTaker.com was founded in 2004 and has more than 100,000 registered members as well as relationships with 1,500 affiliated retail businesses. The Web site provides coupons, rebates and bargains, many of them exclusive to DealTaker.com. It currently has more than 400,000 unique visitors per month and offers a number of active community forums where users and moderators share bargain and deal-oriented shopping opportunities in an efficient and trusted environment. In addition, the site offers a proprietary price search engine that compares more than 15 million products.

“This acquisition marks another meaningful step in our acceleration of Media General’s revenue and audience growth by expanding our portfolio of interactive advertising and marketing solutions. DealTaker.com is profitable and has strong margins,” said Kirk Read, president of Media General’s Interactive Media Division. “DealTaker.com has a performance-based revenue model and quality relationships with brand-loyal users, national retailers and top-level affiliate marketing companies. It will add a platform for community-based commerce to our local sites and will provide non-traditional online revenue for Media General.”

“We’re excited to join the Media General family and believe this relationship will immediately drive growth for our business in new and innovative ways,” said Neal Rapoport, founder of DealTaker.com. “Combining forces with Media General’s stable of newspaper, broadcast and online businesses adds immediate and long-term value for our affiliates and business.”

Why spend thousands on a sophisticated website?

Just doing a little web hosting industry research. I think it's time to put together a few affiliate sites for some of my favorite advertisers like Boca Java. Website Pros looks like it has what I'm looking for.

Affiliate Commissions and Uncle Sam

I certainly want to thank Shawn Collins for answering my question today about commissions and taxes. I've owned my own Public Relations business in the past and I understand how quarterly taxes are paid. But that was pumping all the money into a business, and usually large retainers at that.

These checks I'm getting from Linkshare are small but are starting to add up. I also have checks on the way from Azoogle and CJ so I just need a system to keep track of them before I cash them and use the proceeds at my favorite local Mexican or Cuban restaurants. I don't want to wake up at the end of the year and realize that I crossed the $600 threshold with one network, but not another.

So thanks, Shawn, I will work with my accountant and let her deal with it.

Back to the life as an affiliate

The donuts only lasted so long at Kowabunga. Once my affiliate industry idle, Rachel Honoway, left the company to return home and work for Affiliate Classroom, it was only a matter of time before politics got me.

So it's back to being an affiliate for me. I've cleaned up my CJ and Performics accounts and started working with Azoogle on a daily basis. If you know me, Linkshare is a given. They are the best built affiliate network out there, in my opinion. I'll also kindly ask my friends back at Kowabunga to allow me to start a new account for Microsoft adCenter so I can use my videos and posts to start making commissions instead of recruiting affiliates.

I was also approved this week to join the new Pepperjam affiliate network so I'll see what Kris can offer me. And I'll check out Share-A-Sale to see what programs I can match up with my sites. So, Brian Littleton - expect a phone call today...

Besides Rachel, my other favorite industry gurus are still out there and I'll keep taking their advice and see I can come out on top again. Thanks Sam Harrelson, Jim Kukral and Shawn Collins. Let's see, who else - Zac Johnson - keep kicking butt with the adCenter offer. Barry Boone - glad you are feeling better. Lisa Caraffi, affiliate manager extraordinaire - keep your chin up. You have a great job and they will reward you for your hard work.