Vinny Lingham's Blog - Latest Comments in Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Vinny Lingham — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 23:20:39 -0000

Hi Rhianna

Your comment was stuck in moderation, not sure why. I approved it and changed your email address to your Gmail one.

Sorry about that!
V

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Rhianna — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 20:12:12 -0000

Somehow a post that I spent a good deal of time on has been withdrawn (perhaps because a different e-mail was used but the same name appears in both).
It's too bad that the post is gone because I found an interesting article in The Register that would correlate with my previous post :D

Check out
Data Analysis Isn't Dead by David Norfolk
http://tinyurl.com/qqx7s

The main point is that the large numbers might be predictive of general trends, but to focus on a specific hit data analysis comes in handy ;-)

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Rhianna — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:24:31 -0000

"#Rhianna said,

September 25, 2006 at 11:11 pm
I hope you keep the commentator’s e-mail addresses private ;-)
By mistake I registered my main one with my last post (and not the secondary gmail I usually use)."

What happened to the post? I used "Cabbage Patch Dolls" as an illustration.
Gee, I post and then the post is erased as if I were a persona non grata? :(

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Rhianna — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:11:55 -0000

I hope you keep the commentator's e-mail addresses private ;-)

By mistake I registered my main one with my last post (and not the secondary gmail I usually use).

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Rhianna — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:03:58 -0000

"Ceterus paribus" -- alright, thanks for the Latin phrase lessson (I knew I was reading the right blog :-) )

Vinny you said: "Typically, ceterus paribus (all things remaining equal), seasonal trends are typically very large numbers, and large numbers tend to behave very well and can be used as a predictive measure."

Yes, large numbers can be predictive -- but can the large numbers predict a specific hit in the affiliate marketing market?

What's going to be the number one money making toy for this upcoming holiday season? Can your quantity of data predict this or does it take more of an integrative analysis which would include weighted options/characteristics?
If you tell me the "Cabbage Patch Doll" and I invest money in a PPC campaign, I will be annoyed if it doesn't come true -- *LOL* What other smilies work with your blog comments?

David, do you have an interesting blog? I might visit and comment :-)

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Vinny Lingham — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:13:29 -0000

Hi Rhianna - thanks for your approach and comments - it's very much appreciated!

Hi David - I can definitely confirm that Rhianna does not work for incuBeta or any related parties. In fact, she has only recently started posting on this blog.

To answer Rhianna's question:
If the vendors are supposed to “follow” the money, where do they turn for trend specifics? Just because “season X” or “holiday X” is coming doesn’t necessarily mean that the flow will follow last “season X’s” patterns — or does it?

Typically, ceterus paribus (all things remaining equal), seasonal trends are typically very large numbers, and large numbers tend to behave very well and can be used as a predictive measure.

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Rhianna — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:00:33 -0000

David said:

"September 25, 2006 at 4:02 pm

Does Rhianna work for you?"

No, I recently "discovered" (stumbled upon) Vinny's blog and now I am a big fan of his blog :-)

I have no other incentive except that I like to interact (engage in the exchange of ideas) with intelligent bloggers.

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

David — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 10:02:20 -0000

Does Rhianna work for you?

Re: Super Affiliates in Highly Competitive Markets - Pubcon Boston 2006

Rhianna — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 20:31:05 -0000

Hi Vinny,

Thanks for the great write-up of the Boston Conference (PubCon).

Thanks also for the link to Oron as I may not be totally familiar yet with all the big players in SEO (but I'm learning a great deal from your blog).

Here's a question:
If the vendors are supposed to "follow" the money, where do they turn for trend specifics? Just because "season X" or "holiday X" is coming doesn't necessarily mean that the flow will follow last "season X's" patterns -- or does it?

Your list of "real customer trait values" is a handy one for all marketers (vendores & affiliates) to keep in mind.

It is not just the sales amount! -- True! This should also be kept in mind by affiliates/publishers who are being bombarded at the moment by businesses that either want to sell/contract sales comparison scripts.
A comparative price script can enhance a publisher's site if it is placed strategically -- an affiliate needs to keep in mind that any business contract that claims 25% of the sales for using a price comparison script is affecting the affiliate's profit margin per sale.
Vendors need to keep in mind that prices are elements that create the broad picture but prices are not the only elements.
I am not sure what is meant by "cross and up sales" -- I would guess it means if a marketing promotion was meant to sell Purple Widgets, the focus might be on Purple Widgets but couple of blue and red ones might be sold simultaneously due to the entire promotion
"Understand the customer lifetie value" is equally important for the product vendor and for the affiliate (if the affiliate desires repeat visits -- the affiliate needs to offer something special on the affiliate site)

I enjoyed all of your analysis -- thanks! :-)