Bobbi’s article focuses on how affiliate marketers can use video in their campaigns to improve the quality of their sales pitch and ultimately grow their revenue stream. Filled with practical insights and pointers, affiliates will be able to easily incorporate the article’s wisdom into their marketing mix.

Read the full article here: http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/27143.asp

Do you use video in your campaigns? What software and techniques do you use to create them? Have your videos produced conversions? Drop us a comment and let’s discuss!

Case in point: This article by CT Moore (a well-respected digital nomad) is the kind of straight-no-chaser content ReveNews delivers on a weekly basis: http://www.revenews.com/ctmoore/5-reason-why-social-media-failed-you/

Moore’s post aptly addresses the major mistakes that lead to Social Media breakdown. He cuts through the hoopla and goes direct to the real rules of customer engagement in Social Media, along with what he thinks are the 5 primary causes for Social Media campaigns not living up to the hype. Read it, and you’ll definitely be able to add another notch to your Social Media belt. For real!

And while you’re at it… Become a Fan of RevenueWire

]]> http://blog.revenuewire.com/index.php/2010/04/e-commerce-101-say-it-to-my-facebook/feed/ 1 http://blog.revenuewire.com/index.php/2010/03/are-you-diggin-it/ http://blog.revenuewire.com/index.php/2010/03/are-you-diggin-it/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:58:34 +0000 admin http://blog.revenuewire.com/?p=1408 Read more →]]> Have you tried using Digg to advertise? There’s some recent buzz around the subject, and since we’re always looking for new ways to help affiliates make money, we thought we’d point you to this post on Linda Buquet’s great 5 Star Affiliates site http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/3797/digg-ads.html.

This is great material to get your engine running on the subject if you haven’t considered using Digg ads already. Or if you are currently using Digg to advertise, drop us your comments and let everybody know how it’s working out for you. Till later!

The Skinny

While it’s not perfectly obvious what these terms stand for, what is 100% clear is that the Web is changing faster than anyone can foresee, making it one of the single greatest new frontiers of human communication in human history, and “Web 2.0 and “Web 3.0″ are important parts of how we define and understand that process of change.

What’s Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 has been a reality for awhile now. Web 2.0 is defined by social networking and increased levels of engagement and user interaction with the Internet. In theory it’s more democratic, helpful, responsive, and useful than the original Web ever was. And it isn’t just a fancy academic term either. Over the years it’s put some meat on the bone.

In today’s online world there are clear examples to support the claim that Web 2.0 is in full effect. Take for example social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and other popular platforms. The existence of these are all strong proof that social structures and behaviors are permeating the once highly-mechanical and rudimentary framework that characterized the early days of the Internet.

When the term Web 2.0 burst onto the scene in the early two thousands, it meant little more than an idea about how the Internet would become more like our everyday lives, with higher levels of participation and interaction. Nowadays the term Web 2.0 encapsulates the culture of social media participation itself.

The War For Web Territory

Web 2.0 is generally considered the idealistic enemy of over-the-top, in-your-face banner ads and scrumbly marketing websites of all ilk around the globe. Think of Web 2.0 as an army of quality content and genuine human interaction tools battling bravely against all-out guerilla marketing and advertising in the war for control of the vast territory that is today’s Internet.

On the one side you have warriors of substantive, quality driven content and interaction who want to use the Internet to practice the freedoms of open communication and free sharing of information. (In some ways Google has become the Big Brother enforcer of this particular side of the argument.)

On the other side you have the online marketers and advertisers who want to lather the page with ads, offers, incentives, and branding that never ends.

What Does This Mean For Affiliate Marketers?

Not to say that affiliate marketers are on the way out by any means. There’s actually more opportunity for online business now than ever before. What it does mean, however, is that affiliate marketers who want long term success are going to have to adapt to the way they market to their prospects.

Gone are the days of clunky, grammar-handicapped, GIF-saturated sites and kinder-styled landing pages with bad electronic music bleeping in the background (much to our dismay!). The early days of Net style have already become the fodder for too many office jokes to count.

Design sense and social savvy are now key factors in building successful campaigns that CONNECT to the users emotions and interactive sensibilities. Afffiliate marketers in a Web 2.0 world have to offer real value (i.e., original content) to their consumers, not just cheap short-term solutions.

Luckily, in the end it seems Nature manages to strike a balance between the two forces of quality vs. profit, and what you get is a charging juggernaut called Web 3.0.

What’s Web 3.0

Web 3.0 is a term that’s recently entered the digital conversation. Essentially it’s the next projected future destination of the online environment; what’s anticipated to be a continued move toward greater social integration of social media channels – one that allows users higher levels of inclusiveness, all-in-one usability, and the interlinking of various online personas into a single cohesive identity.

Web 3.0 also means a stronger sense of online community with lots of cool new tools to use. It means an environment where advertisers are more in synch with the consumer. So if effective advertising truly is the skilled dissemination of information, then Web 3.0 is the raddest thing to be ONLINE.

Online users and consumers want just a few simple things, whether it’s Web 3.0 or Web 250.0. They want to find what they’re looking for, get solutions to whatever problems they’re having quickly, easy access to helpful information, and a chance to experience adventures into the world of online fascination and inspiration (this is shaping up to be primarily online video sharing).

New internet uses don’t mind spending money, as long as it’s justified. They don’t just want you to sell them something, they also want you to entertain them and add value to their lives while you’re doing it (BTW – That’s where quality content becomes so critical).

That means there’s a ton of fierce competition online, and those who differentiate themselves by providing the very best content will be better positioned to capture sales in the world of Web 3.0. More integrated, more responsive, and more socially savvy than ever before.

Here are a few of the choices available to affiliate marketers today to usher their business into the future:

• Blogs
• Micro-blogs
• Social networking sites
• Social bookmarking sites
• Article marketing
• RSS/Atom feeds
• Forum participation 
• Submitting reviews to other sites
• YouTube videos
• Photo-sharing sites
• Pay-per-click advertising on search engines
• Online stores
• Free autoresponder ezines
• Local directories

Start looking into some of these strategies and test out how they might help you gain the competitive edge of 3.0. Until next time, the Internet is a community of the brightest minds, so market to them that way!

Here’s a great article on the subject in Forbes, written by Edelman Digital’s Director of Insights Steve Rubel. Rubel’s slant is that the days of dominant corporate URLs might well be on the way out. Many companies are moving away from their traditionally square and stuffy home sites, electing to invest more money and effort into building powerhouse social media strategies instead.

Rubel goes on to warn, however, that this attempt to get “hip and cool” could backfire if companies aren’t careful. In trying to make the transition from white collar to collared Ts, companies run the risk of appearing fake – something all affiliates should avoid at all costs in their PPC ads, social media writing, and sales creative!

You can read Rubel’s full article here http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/07/facebook-twitter-social-networking-marketing-cmo-network-steve-rubel.html

In general, it seems the world is moving away from a corporate model of communication that’s remote and hierarchical toward one that’s more socially democratic and “human savvy”. By that we mean communication that speaks to people in the same way they relate to each other in their every day social situations, and not as they relate to remote ideas like “brand” or “Incorporated.”

That’s why Facebook has been so incredibly popular. It’s about seeing and interacting with actual people, not just veils of copy and graphic design. It has an added tactile element.

Even though social media is a great new frontier it has some drawbacks, too. One of the pitfalls in Social Media Marketing is that in a “virtual social experience” there’s the risk of misunderstandings and faux-pas. Smart marketers can mitigate these kinds of blunders by developing well thought out strategies (a.k.a., online etiquette & manners) and thus maximize the opportunity for revenue growth though their various social media channels.

So what else should affiliates be thinking about?

In Social Media spheres, too much salesmanship will turn people off. Nobody can deny there’s a basic human aversion to being hammered with advertisements while you’re trying to hold a meaningful conversation with friends, and the same rules apply to social media sites. There’s a time and a place for responsible advertising, a line that shouldn’t be crossed if you want to gain the attention and respect of your audience. If you’re sensitive to that boundary then your advertising will hit the bulls-eye a lot more often.

Take for example contextual advertising on Facebook. Those ads that pop-up in the right nav based on key information you’ve put in your profile walk the delicate line between too-hard-a-sell and bang on make-money-like-rain. The challenge for today’s social media marketer is to know how to walk that line with skill… Not always an easy task!

Why? The line isn’t static. It changes based on the demographic you’re marketing to. Some demographics might be more likely to be offended by crazy, in-your-face ads. On the flip side, if you’re ads aren’t arresting enough, then the ROI won’t justify the budget. The line between “cool” and “cool” is also determined by the affiliates ability to gauge what sort of language their prospects use. These are just some of the considerations you’ll want to make as an affiliate marketer using social media to promote products and services.

Developing an effective Social Media presence and persona should be on every affiliate’s hit list in 2010. When you’re designing, testing, implementing and maintaing your social media campaigns, remember: Being natural, approachable, genuine, and TARGETED is the new credo when marketing online!

What’s your take? We’d love to hear what you think.

What Are Sponsored Tweets?

Sponsored tweets are a new trend of advertising on Twitter. Various platforms that connect advertisers with Tweeters have popped up like crazy. These services allow advertisers to create sponsored conversations on Twitter, and Tweeters to earn money for “spreading the word.”

If you’re looking to monetize social media, then sponsored tweets is definitely where the industry is at right now. The sheer volume of Twitter users means a virtually unlimited revenue stream, and there’s a mob of hungry advertisers chomping at the bit to leverage the followers of the most popular tweeters.

Tell Me More!

Here’s a great in-depth article (at PBS.org) about how to make the most of sponsored tweets http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/10/8-tips-to-make-sponsored-tweets-work289.html. Be sure to read it, it’s cutting-edge stuff. The article also talks about the different services/platforms you can use to monetize your tweets, how they work, and how you can protect your neck while using them.

What’s The Controversy Surrounding Sponsored Tweets?

There’s some inherent controversy around the idea of marketers capitalizing on a free social media service, similar to the issues that arose around Facebook advertising. It’s primarily an ethical argument that will likely get derailed by the power of the gravy train. The reality is that sponsored tweets are here to stay, so affiliate marketers who want to stay competitive should be seriously considering it as a new addition to their online marketing mix.

What Kind of Revenue Can Sponsored Tweets Generate?

On the low end of the scale some users report making between 10$-20$ per tweet and up. Not too shabby. On the blow-your-mind side of the scale, Internet money master ShoeMoney announced he earned $15,000 from sponsored ads on his Twitter account last month alone. That’s some serious clip. Lesson? Sponsored tweets definitely can’t be ignored.

Our Recommendation?

Do some more research on the different platforms you can use, and then make sponsored tweets part of your affiliate marketing mix. It’s where the future’s at!

**Note: If you’re getting confused by the lingo, the term sponsored tweets is both a larger subject matter concerning the monetization of Twitter, and also the name of a specific platform serving this niche (SponsoredTweets).

The key to viral marketing is infectiousness. Whether it’s something shocking, humorous, or emotionally compelling, viral marketing techniques reach out and grab the attention of the audience with a raw human appeal that instantly makes them to want to share it with others. Good viral has such tremendous emotional power of attraction or WOW FACTOR it becomes a phenomenon in and of itself; one that replicates itself over and over in peoples’ minds, much like the meme theorized by evolutionary theorist Richard Dawkins.

As a larger and larger audience gets drawn into the excitement, enthusiasm and pure entertainment value of your viral piece, your message subliminally gains momentum and sweeps more and more people up into the eye of the storm, all the while hooking them into whatever product or service you’re selling.

Video Is The Heart & Soul of Viral Marketing

Video is hands down the most engaging, effective, and undeniably infectious form of viral marketing on the planet. It’s no secret that if you want to make a major splash, video is the way to go. In fact these days it might be the ONLY way to go. Hello, YouTube anyone?

If you’re an affiliate, YouTube is a great place to make, post and market a viral video. You can set up your own page, list your affiliate marketing site’s URL, and stealthily plant other key information.

Things start to really get fun when you actually get down to creating your viral video. The common misperception among businessmen and women is that you need to spend millions to make a wicked vid. Truth is that most of the best viral, totally awesome and original videos are done by amateurs. Hello “Chocolate Rain” anyone? Check it out, that bizarre and beautiful homespun croon has banked over 47 million hits!

Consider the possibilities. Since your videos will ultimately be embedded on social media sites and linked to in emails, tons of people will get funneled to your YouTube channel. When they get there, they’ll be prepped for the message and ready to visit your landing page for whatever it is you’ve got to pitch.

Ebooks: A Distant Second To Video, But Still Cooler Than Going To School

There are a slew of free programs out there that allow you to build your own ebooks. The key point again, as with viral video, is to have a magnetic topic to cover in your book. Please. Save the world from yet more boring content. Pick a subject with some flash, an original point-of-view, or some never-explored insight that will enrich the reader’s mind. Do some research on your target audience and write about a dense nugget of opinion that could spark a healthy controversy, enliven the discussion, enlighten and entertain, or delve into some cutting-edge area in the lives of the people who buy your product or service.

Word of mouth about a hot new ebook can catch fire just as fast and gloriously as a viral video, it just doesn’t happen as often. However if you strike oil on a topic that’s on point, you could be in for a groundswell of traffic to your landing pages and websites, and an ample spike in conversions.

There’s one caveat here. Make sure to refer readers to your landing page in your ebook! Put the link where they can see it. The more people that download your ebook and associate you with its stellar content, the more people will buy your affiliate wares.

Silly Rabbit, Widgets Are For Affiliates…

What the smack is a widget? Someone help me out. “Well Bob, they’re these wonderful little marvels of modern technology called mini-applications. They’re totally self-contained and can easily be dragged and dropped onto your websites, blogs and other online spaces.” Why thank you Reginald. And by the way. You better remember that definition of widget folks, because widgets are insane. In terms of affiliate marketing of course. They’re indeed blowing up as I write this.

Why? You can create widgets that highlight the products you sell. When you’re done creating them you can put those widgets on your social networking profiles. Members who see your widget and like it can then easily pass it along to others.

Lesson learned. Support your local widget makers!

Now Bust Your Creative Gut

For some final tips on viral content, we suggest taking a few minutes to descramble your brain onto the page. Come up with some fresh ways to go viral with your campaigns. Go ahead, be an internet maverick. It pays!

Here a few starters to get the fires of inspiration up and burning:
A. Make custom electronic post cards or gift cards and promote them on your website, social networking profile or other cyber real estate.  Embed a link to your landing page URL on the cards so that the consumer can click through.

B. You gotta spend money to make money. So hire a freelancer to design a simple digital game for your exclusive use. Think Brickbreaker, Sudoku or Word Mole for the Crackberry. Super easy and very catchy. Have the designer sew marketing elements into the fabric of the app. That way when users play the game they’ll be getting super-targeted ads directly to their face!

That’s it for this article. Over and out affiliates – keep your neckties loose and your campaigns rolling!

Take a look at the new Video Targeting tool here http://google.com/videotargeting/aw/browseContents?pli=1

Video Targeting will give advertisers more control over their ad campaigns by allowing them to select specific YouTube partner content they’d like to target. It will also help them find videos relevant to their campaign and target audience.

Advertisers can use Video Targeting to search for videos based on keywords, viewer demographics (such as age and gender), interest-based categories, or a combination of the three. If they already have a specific video in mind, they can find that piece of content quickly and easily using the new tool.

Video Targeting options provide extra control and better brand safety for online advertisers and will ultimately lead to the production of more useful and relevant ads on YouTube.