Affiliate Marketing is a whole different world
February 25, 2008 by Tris Hussey
Filed under Business
Halfway through the day here and I’m in my post-lunch glaze. I haven’t attended any sessions since Jason’s keynote. Why? Well unlike my usual conference fare, I’m not into these sessions. Wandering through the exhibits I was just struck by how we just don’t see this whole, huge side of Internet marketing. 
Sure we talk about advertising, but not to the level these folks do. Deb Schultz and I have been talking about it in the b5media-sponsored Bloghaus (which is nice and quiet with lots of key tapping going on), it’s almost like it gives us the creeps.
But should it?
Are we just being high and mighty? Oh we’re Web 2.0, we really “get” the Internet. I’m not so sure. I think Jason is on the mark that these folks are really savvy, but just not aiming high enough. What if affiliate marketers put the energy towards more of the social media aspects of the Net?
I think this is going to be the focus of our panel tomorrow. We’re seeing how more and more how affiliate marketers now only need to talk with your customers but among your customers (Deb Schultz just said that in the Bloghaus).
Unfortunately Chris Brogan isn’t going to be able to make it tomorrow and I haven’t seen Justine yet.
Ah, but now … the famous domain auction!
Tris, I think you hit the nail on the head from the affiliate marketer’s POV. I too have noticved after talking to one of the marketers, I have no idea what they do and how they see us. I think if you can marry the two ideas, you will have opened some eyes at the Summit. Represent bro.
Tris, your session was very interesting from an affiliate’s point of view (well, mine at least). It was particularly interesting to see the disconnect between how we see you guys and how you as “outsiders” see us (evidenced more in Jason’s keynote than your session mind you).
The questions coming from the audience during your session seemed to expect you to be able to present “how to join the conversation” packaged up in a nice, simple formula.
Our industry seems to want these formulas to follow and yours seems to be a much less structured one.
I agree that many people in our business aim too low. It will be interesting to see how the people that can marry the two successfully will fare over the coming months and years.
Thanks for helping to widen our horizons a bit.
Oh, and it’s nice to see a fellow Canadian at the show – evidenced by your pronouncing it neesh rather than nich with a hard -ch ;-)
Thanks Jim. Fighting the good fight.
John, you should have come up and said hi! You know it isn’t just affiliate marketers who want the “magic formula”–businesses large and small want it too. Like most new media, we’re just now getting some proven best practices. So wanting to know “okay, fine, but how do I make this work right away” isn’t an uncommon question. But I think social media is like school, you can read the book or the Cliff/Cole’s Notes version. Okay you might pass the test, but the Cliff/Cole’s Notes doesn’t have the experience or richness of the complete work.
So, which is better in the long term?