It’s always good, crucial I think, to read what other people think about your panel.  I usually think it has gone well, but always hard to know if you’ve hit the mark.  In my wrap up post, I focused on us not being able to give the “magic formula” for people.  Joe Tech got some good stuff out of the talk:
This panel helped me to think not only about what I should be doing as a blogger, but perhaps a couple things I should not be doing (maybe I should stumble my posts less, eh, Tris?). It was a rewarding …read more

Until this week I had never ridden a Segway.  Well, thanks to Shawn, now I have.  They are cool, but getting on them the first time is a little tough.  Shawn’s video doesn’t have me doing turns in reverse, but man it was fun:

Now, I wonder if could get one here in Victoria.  Man would that be fun…

Back home now from Affiliate Summit and I’m still processing what I learned.  Some of our pre-conceived notions are correct.  There are some affiliate marketers who are just out for the quick buck and don’t care about how it’s done, however I feel that they are in the minority of folks.
I also know now that we of the social media/Web 2.0 crowd can learn a lot from affiliate marketers, and they from us.  In many ways we’re after some of the same things (traffic and a living), and like Jason said in his keynote these folks are smart and creative. …read more

Media coverage on the Internet, and print, is always a hot topic.  How do you handle an advertiser who wants coverage after buying a full-page ad?
Some of the comments so far are great.  Send us a case study, make sure it’s of value to my readers, is it newsworthy.
Andrew Wee mentioned that in smaller publications there is the blurred boundary between editorial and ad sales.
Jim Kukral … bloggers and journalists need content just a press release is the incorrect way to do it.  Giving us more content (images, charts, quotes, etc) and we’re more likely to write/blog about it.  Taking …read more

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 …read more

Even though there is no WiFi in the conference hall, I could not pass up live blogging Jason’s keynote.  Sam Harrelson is also live blogging…he has WiFi cause he’s staying here at the Rio.
We’re second row centre in the “blogger row” … sweet eh?  Steph Agresta is the “hostess with the mostest” and keeping us all organized.
As I said earlier this morning, Jim Kukral is opening for Jason Calacanis…
Jason is a lightning rod in tech… ya think?
Playing Bad to the bone fitting, eh?
“Affiliate marketing is bullsh*t… thank you.  Just kidding.”
Spam and overzealous marketers ruined the Internet back in the day.  …read more

Good morning from Vegas.  I posted some things I wrote on the plane last night, but now, blogging starts in earnest.
Jason Calacanis is doing the keynote this morning, and Jim Kukral is intro-ing him.  Jim did an awesome job intro-ing Mark Cuban, so I’m expecting great things!
Now the one thing not to expect is live blogging.  I’ve been told that there is only WiFi here in the Bloghaus (refreshments provided by b5media, btw) and in the lunch room.  I guess there have been problems with people live streaming the sessions.  Pity, because I was going to use CoverItLive to live …read more

Like Marshall did with his coverage of DEMO recently, I’ve used aideRSS to make a “best of” feed for Affiliate Summit West 2008.  Right now it just has my feed, some general searches are coming soon (they are queued right now).  As I find bloggers who are covering ASW08 I’ll add them directly (yes Steph, I’m adding you in a moment).
Steph is already in Vegas, I however am still in Vancouver. Hmm, looking like boarding might get going soon….
But you have to see these pics I took today.  Yes, they really were on the ferry to the Mainland…

Next week I’ll be at the Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas.  Yeah, no I won’t be gambling.  I would like to ride that roller coaster on the top of the building though.  Regardless I’m on what is going to be a kick-butt panel talking about social media to affiliate marketers.
How kick butt?  Check out who is on it from Steph’s post yesterday:
In other news…it’s time for Affiliate Summit! I’ll be arriving in Vegas this Saturday, and excited about the Social Media Panel, which I will be on with the following Twitterati: Sam Harrelson (moderator), Deborah Schultz, Chris Brogan, Tris Hussey, …read more