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An Experiential SMX West Review

Ever been in a busy room full of people and felt as if you and they were not really there? The sensation falls between an out of body experience and an unfortunate brain-full of high dosage pain relievers.

Standing with a small group of old-time search marketers on the trade-show floor at Search Marketing Expo (SMXWest) in Santa Clara at the beginning of this week, we all noted how the vibe of the show was sort of like that. Long used to feeling like ghosts in the machine, this month’s pilgrimage to the Valley made many of us feel like spiritless specters. It took a couple of days for the conference spirit to catch its first wind. Unfortunately, the conference was only three days long.
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Searchonomics – Dealing with a Depression

About a year ago, several search marketing commentators, myself included, suggested that the (worsening) economic conditions would pose less a problem for the search marketing sector than other sectors and might, in fact, provoke greater redirection of ad-spend towards search.

At the time, the assumption was simple to make. Every business needs to advertise, especially when business is slightly down. Since search marketing provides inexpensive yet highly effective and traceable advertising options, clients should be beating paths to the doors of search and Internet marketing companies.

In most respects, the assumption has held true. While we read of major layoffs in the traditional advertising sector almost every day now, relatively few layoffs have occurred in the search engine marketing sector. Many SEO, PPC and SEM shops are busier than ever. In one extremely important respect however, what feels like a safe assumption is in reality somewhat shaky.
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An affiliate convention in Denver, June 21st – 23rd

WebmasterRadio.FM is pleased to announce that we have launched a new Affiliate Convention to service the needs of those in the Affiliate Marketplace. We feel the performance marketing industry is rife with business that needs to be fostered along with the educational growth of its participants.

For anyone who knows us, knows that we have long had a hand in the affiliate marketing space. Most do not realize that we have been as involved as we were. To those ends, I had an idea to create a new trade show series after having spent a year working to those ends and just not quite so happy as I would be…if the project were solely in the hands of WMR.

The genesis of this plan was one that formed rapidly, as we knew there was a demand for our event. If you’ve never been to an affiliate convention programmed by WebmasterRadio.FM, than you’ll quickly discover how we differentiate ourselves from other conferences in the affiliate marketing space by focusing on the people who make the industry run, the actual affiliate marketers. Recognizing the cold realities of our current economic conditions, we wanted to present a low-cost, high-value show. In order to make an affiliate convention in Denver economically feasible for attendees, we decided to make admittance to the convention free for anyone who can prove they are a working affiliate marketer, which we take care of with a quick and painless phone call.

The offer of free admittance should remove a big barrier to entry for many affiliate marketers. Conventions give attendees a leg-up in an economy that is making many marketers feel unsure. The contacts, education and networking give us a chance to shore up our business ideas and relationships.

At AffCon2010 you will find value, benefit, education, and enormous networking opportunities in a beautiful setting. Focused entirely on affiliate marketing, the Affiliate Convention will feature keynote speakers Joel Comm, Jeremy “Shoemoney” Shoemaker followed by a line-up Heather Paulson, Jeannine Crooks, Tim Ash, Anita Edge and many more. Our goal is to provide a convention built around the needs and interests of the grassroots of this expansive industry, the actual affiliate marketers.

Over the coming weeks, the convention website, www.AffCon2010.com will continue fill out. We will be introducing a number of social media tools for delegates, speakers, attendees and organizers to use to communicate and help build a better affiliate convention.

WebmasterRadio.FM has consistently stood for the strength of the online marketing community. Together with our partners, WebmasterRadio.FM is proud to take a leading role in bringing the affiliate marketing community closer together by presenting the most inclusive experience possible. If you work in or around the affiliate marketing industry, AffCon2010 is for you.

Letters of advice to a guy named Jeff R.

I get a number of letters from listeners but this one was written with a passion that sort of stood out from the rest. It started a short series of correspondence.

In early December 08, I received a message via Facebook from a Webcology listener named Jeff R. He lives in La Verne California which is a bedroom community of Los Angeles.

I ended up writing a lengthy reply. Earlier today, he wrote me back and again, I responded with a lengthy reply. I also asked his permission to use the letters in a blog post. I think there are a lot of techies like Jeff out there who are seeking similar advice.
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Economy Hitting SEM Sector

Those among us who seek comfort in the thought the search and Internet marketing is somehow immune to greater economic conditions are waking up to a rude set of realities this week as lay-offs, firings and account terminations sweep across the search marketing landscape. From the major networks like Google and Yahoo! to individual search marketing firms, the economy is causing sudden career carnage. While I am not going to name any names or make any assumptions about individual workers or companies, the defining trend I am seeing is one of poor planning in the past eighteen months and even poorer coping mechanisms in the face of two months of fear.

The economy is Darwinist. It doesn’t care who survives and thrives or who withers and dies. There is little to no emotion found near the bottom line. Some companies were prepared, others were not. Its as drop-dead simple as that. Isn’t it?

Moving forward into a desperately uncertain future, what will become of the search and Internet marketing industry? Will we even recognize the industry two years from now? Over the next few weeks, several of our shows will examine the economic conditions facing the industry as we transition into the new year. Stay tuned…

What will this economy do to affiliate marketing?

Today at Noon (Special Time) on Affiliate Marketing Insider, Linda Woods interviews Jonathan Levine of Linkshare about the health of e-commerce companies doing affiliate programs during this time of economic instability.

Linkshare is considered the worlds largest pay for performance affiliate marketing network and is indicative of where the industry at a large is heading.

Linda and Jonathan will discuss how the economy will affect affiliate marketing, where the industry is headed, and how it will affect you.