Get a blog, damn it.

[3wdl]

From my blog, which you really should read.

http://www.exwebjunkie.com/2007/01/1...-blog-damn-it/

Are you an Affiliate Manager, A merchant or a Network? If yes, do you have a blog? If not, why the hell not. Seriously – I’m still surprised at the lack of blogs from people in the industry. They are free, they are easy to setup and take hardly anytime to post on. You can replicate your e-mail newsletters, your forum postings, etc. You can talk about upcoming events or you could just talk rubbish. So here is my offer, be it to Affiliate Managers, Networks, Merchants, or whoever. I have an affiliate marketing related domain name that I do not use. If you would like a blog, I will set you up a wordpress install FOR FREE. That’s it – no catches, just give me a few hours after your request to set it up and it will be done. I won’t put ads on it, I’m not trying to monetise it – it’s a genuine offer. I don’t expect a rush of people, but if it convinces just one or two more of you to start posting regularly then the world will be a better place.

[UKOffer]

Might take you up on that mate, as you know I have a blog but its on Blogger. Now, while it is easy to create new posts and edit them it looks very basic and there aren't any cool plugins/widgets available.

So if you fancy giving me an idiots guide to Wordpress then I will repay you in beer next time we meet

P.S. I know that you are trying to get new people to blog and not existing bloggers but I could do with the help!

P.P.S. Given the size of the affiliate industry in the UK it is very surprising how few affiliate related blogs there are out there. There's not even any network ones, come on guys, when will we see the first UK affiliate network blog?

[3wdl]

Would happily help you get your blog set of Wordpress Kieron - give me a shout when you're back from Vegas (git) and i'll sort it out for you.

[KevinEdwards]

Hi,

When I was at dgm I wanted to run a blog but there was so much else to do I didn't really have the time.

From a network's perspective it would be diffcult. As a 'mediator' essentially between two sets of people it can be difficult to strike the right tone, whilst making the blog useful but not bland...

I still think there's a way through, but it would need careful consideration by any network I think.

[3wdl]

Originally Posted by KevinEdwards From a network's perspective it would be diffcult. As a 'mediator' essentially between two sets of people it can be difficult to strike the right tone, whilst making the blog useful but not bland...

Why? Blogs don't have to be opinionated. They are an extra form of communication - they can have the same function as newsletters if you wish, announcing program updates / changes and additional incentives.

By email gets bogged down with Spam - I hardly ever read the network updates because of this, whereas I have a feed reader which I read many times a day.

I would have thought Affiliate Window (with it's forward thinking) would be one of the first networks to do something like this tbh.

[KevinEdwards]

Sure - I appreciate that but surely it becomes a glorified newsletter?

Personally I'd like to be involved in something people would like to interact with rather than a steady stream of programme information that can be gleaned elsewhere.

[skywalker]

Totally Agree with you James - a blog is just another nice chronological avenue for the dispersal of information (whether you're a singular entity or a corporate).

So hey if you're a Network why not write/blog about your Merchants (New and Old). And seeing you can stop ppl adding/commenting on your threads/blogs - there is no fear of unwanted comments

[3wdl]

Originally Posted by KevinEdwards Sure - I appreciate that but surely it becomes a glorified newsletter? Personally I'd like to be involved in something people would like to interact with rather than a steady stream of programme information that can be gleaned elsewhere.

LOL - First of all you say it's difficult for a network to do, so I point to the fact that it doesn't need to be something that is opinionated (seeing your viewpoint) and then you say you want one opinionated



Can't win! But seriously - A network blog can have many functions - yes, some of them may be a glorified newsletter. Here's an example:

http://www.stminveraffiliates.com/blog/?p=37

Hard to fit in all that information in a newsletter, don't you think?

But it can just as easily display an article written by one of the experts at the network - tags and categories make this easy to do after all

[KevinEdwards]

Hi James,

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you - I guess it's also a question of time, I'd obviously want it to be maintained and so the necessary resource has to be there to do that on a continuous basis.

I'm still keen on the idea so perhaps will discuss with the team soon and see what we can come up with...

[getvisible]

Sure - I appreciate that but surely it becomes a glorified newsletter? Personally I'd like to be involved in something people would like to interact with rather than a steady stream of programme information that can be gleaned elsewhere.

No!

Blogs are not just glorified newsletters.

For example at:
http://www.leemccoy.co.uk/2007/01/better-2007.html

I/we can see a summary of what people think will happen this year (just like a poll on this site.

then

http://www.exwebjunkie.com/2007/01/1...e-stats-so-far
stimulated some debate and improved our knowledge of domain name strategy

at

http://www.leemccoy.co.uk/2007/01/di...marketing.html

I made a new contact, Andre.

Blogs are not just for informing, they're about learning and expanding your social/business circle.

For me, I'd rather read a merchant/network blog than a newsletter which get's lost in the 1000, other emails I get a day!