Snow Team
HERE’S THE LATEST
PopShops In Full Hiccup As Holidays Approach
Rakuten Switches Platforms
Affiliates using PopShops for their sites have been fighting what turns out to be a losing battle over the ShopBuilder platform. For months now, there have been complaints about display issues and the response has been minimal. The word was that ShopBuilder depended on an old “platform” and something new and better was in the works.
In the meantime, existing shops were missing products, images, and feed updates. The dashboard was getting more and more frustrating as affiliates tried cleaning up their pages. And the complaints were mounting.
Curate Introduced As The Cure
Curate has been on the scene for months and a network or two have signed up and promoted it as a great new shop building tool. But when Rakuten added it to PopShops, in beta, and asked affiliates to start using it, there was a problem. The new platform wasn’t ready for Prime Time either, much less a sparkly holiday shopping season.
So for some time now, Rakuten has continued to recommend Curate. Several affiliates have struggled to make it work, and relayed their feedback to no avail. The frustration mounted until a Facebook group was formed by affiliates to share ShopBuilder and Curate problems as the rush to Q4 began. The posts in the Facebook group indicate a total lack of support for ShopBuilder problems and a blind spot about problems with Curate. The tension builds.
Rakuten Announces End Date for ShopBuilder
About a week ago, PopShop users received notice that ShopBuilder was going to be shut down at the end of Q1. The replacement named was Curate, and a webinar was scheduled to show affiliates how to build Holiday showcases. Now there’s a bigger problem. It’s obvious that ShopBuilder support is no more and page issues that are about to ruin Christmas will not be fixed.
Curate is still in beta.
Affiliates Rally To Share Info and Questions for Rakuten
In the Facebook group, affiliates started sharing questions they wanted to ask during the webinar so that everyone could try and salvage their Holiday pages. The long-term goal of course was to figure out how to change hundreds, if not thousands, of pages over before the end of Q1 when the replacement tool wasn’t ready yet.
Other tool options were suggested. ShareASale Make-a-page, GoldenCan, Datafeedr, and others were mentioned so the group could discuss pros and cons.
The scheduled date for the Webinar came. And went. After a half dozen reminders in my email, I got one cancelling the session and another saying it was postponed. The reason? They wanted to demo setting up a shop and they couldn’t get it to work.
What’s The Solution?
Affiliates: will you switch your pages to a different tool? Have you found the right one yet? Will you change the page structure to something else entirely? Have you worked with datafeeds on your own without going through a 3rd party vendor like PopShops? All these questions have no business being needed in October! Everyone in the industry knows that Q4 is when you make your year if your site is consumer oriented. This is no time to have to rebuild pages, especially if you have to seek out and buy a new tool. Feel free to share your ideas or your needs in the comments; maybe we can figure this out together.
Share
TenseWatch.com Wooden Watches – Perfect Gift For Collectors
The new Hybrid! A stunning combination of wood, metal, and leather!
I’m happy to announce that TenseWatch.com is back on my list of awesome clients! Just in time for holiday gifting, too!
The TenseWatch.com Affiliate Program is available on AvantLink network – join now and take advantage of the high order values and great conversion! Details on the program are here.
This is the original wooden watch company (since 1971). The beauty and natural look of wooden watches means collectors and nature lovers are going to be your target. They love TenseWatch!
From their site:
Tense Watches designs high quality wooden watches. They are made from 100% recycled or reclaimed wood, and are powered by Miyota Watch Movements from Japan. Each watch is manufactured by hand in our workshop in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Our products are designed and built around our core beliefs in quality and craftsmanship. In 1957, Ken P. Lau started his profession as a clock designer. He pioneered experimentation with natural components, such as wood and stone. In 1968, Ken moved his focus to wristwatches, and in 1971 Tense Wooden Watches was founded. Even now, Ken brings his almost 50 years of experience as a crafter of timepieces to the workshop everyday.
Mini Yukon Watch is made from 100% recycled and reclaimed wood
JOIN NOW AT AVANTLINK
- If you have already joined AvantLink, simply log in and add TenseWatch to your existing account.
- If you are not in the AvantLink Affiliate Network, you can sign up through AvantLink.com
Contact Affiliate Manager Randy Norton with any questions.
10 Attributes of a Successful Affiliate Manager
Top 10 Attributes of a Successful Affiliate Manager
Want to know the top 10 characteristics or skills you need to look for when hiring your next (or first) Affiliate Manager?
Before I proceed you need to know affiliate management is about “relationships, relationships, relationships”. An effective affiliate manager needs to build strong positive relationships in order to recruit and retain the affiliates that are going to help make a difference in your affiliate program. It’s so important that actually the first 5 points in the list are relationship based.
- Friendly Disposition – In order to really establish a strong relationship with not only fellow team members but affiliates as well, the individual needs to be someone that has a friendly disposition and easy to talk to.
- Polished written and oral skills – In building a strong relationship with any affiliate, or anybody for that matter, the individual must be able to both listen effectively and respond intellectually.
- Able to work within a team environment effectively – The individual has to be a team player and be able to thrive within your corporate environment.
- Punctual response time – Super important. Not responding quickly is telling that affiliate that their time and effort is not important to them and you will lose them.
- Retail or ecommerce experience – The manager needs to be able to read a situation, decide what the issue (or opportunity is) and then develop ideas to move forward.
- Work ethic and organizational skills – Strong work ethic and ability to manage one’s projects wisely is essential when dealing with a vast portfolio of differing affiliates, multiple company projects and other various tasks.
- Strong quantitative skills and analytic skills – The ability to scan over a sheet of numbers and pick underperformers, over performers, anomalies, etc is both a learned and genetic attribute that the individual needs to have in their skill set.
- Comprehensive knowledge of affiliate marketing techniques – It’s imperative the individual is familiar with the phrases and terminology of affiliate marketing and the different techniques used by successful affiliates.
- Hands on experience with various Affiliate Marketing platforms –Yes it’s important to know how to upload banners, accept affiliates, create newsletters etc within any of the major networks but they are built quite similar so please don’t make this a make or break point when hiring an affiliate manager.
- Business or Economics Degree – I’ve seen just as many without a degree excel in time management and business “smarts” as those that have one and vice versa.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article and I hope it helps you to narrow down the next candidate to fill your affiliate marketing needs.
Hope you’re having a great day,
Randy Norton
rnorton@snow-consulting.com
These Are Not Just Great Shoes! Custom Options Available At FSJ Shoes!
New Client Announcement: FSJ Shoes in ShareASale
I just love shoes and shoe shopping, especially all the really cool heels and high fashion shoes. Which is why I am so excited to tell you about our new client FSJ Shoes. FSJ has been in the shoe industry since 1998, crafting quality women’s shoes. They even offer customization services: you can change the heel size or the materials used to have a “one of a kind” shoe. This is perfect for weddings when the bridal party has to match!
FSJ offers quality women’s shoes at reasonable prices so you can earn a healthy commission on all sales. Sites that will be a great fit with FSJ Shoes are : Fashion, Wedding, and special event.
Grab more information here regarding the FSJ Shoesaffiliate program.
- JOIN NOW AT SHAREASALE
- If you have already joined the ShareASale network, simply log in and add FSJ Shoes to your existing account.
- If you are not in the ShareaSale network, you can sign up through the FSJ Shoes application.
Get Social
AIM: AffiliateWerks
GTalk: Ginette.Degner
Skype: Ginette.Degner
HauteFlair is Available in Shareasale – Join Now
HauteFlair is Available in Shareasale
HauteFlair means luxury in lingerie. You’ll find one of the largest selections of brand-name, luxurious intimates, loungewear, swimwear, and sportswear anywhere online. HauteFlair brings 7,000+ top designer selections in a complete and dazzling display of beautiful intimates.
Grab more information here regarding the HauteFlair affiliate program.
JOIN NOW AT SHAREASALE
- If you have already joined the ShareASale network, simply log in and add HauteFlair to your existing account.
- If you are not in the ShareaSale network, you can sign up through the HauteFlair application.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out to Lessie Purpera via email.
Join the MouthMonsters Program in ShareASale
Keeping the mouths of your little monsters fresh and clean is always a chore or battle. MouthMonsters brings a new tool to the table when it comes to oral hygiene and bright smiles. With the fresh taste of mint or strawberry, oil pulling from MouthMonsters gives your child a natural way to whiten his or her teeth and leave them with a fresh smile!
We are excited here at Snow Consulting to be managing this program on the ShareASale platform. We enjoy working with brands and products that we believe in and MouthMonsters is a great new member of our managed program.
If you’re interested in health products, kid’s health, natural lifestyle or unique oral care I invite you to apply for the affiliate program. I would love to chat with you about any ideas you have for promoting this great product! Join us in brightening smiles across the globe!
JOIN THE MOUTHMONSTERS AFFILIATE PROGRAM AT SHAREASALE:
- If you have already joined the ShareASale network, simply log in and add MouthMonsters to your existing account.
- If you are not in the ShareASale network, you can sign up through the MouthMonsters application.
Announcing The Modern Accessory Affiliate Program
Card Holder Stone Case for S6 Edge /Edge Plus from Modern Accessory
There’s hardly anything more fun than getting a new phone, right? Unless it’s rounding up all the cool accessories that go with it!
Modern Accessory Has The Accessories You Want!
It’s going to be easy and fun to promote Modern Accessory on your site or blog. They have beautiful leather cases like the one on the right. They also have fun and quirky things, too.
The program is available in ShareASale network and Randy Norton is managing the program.
JOIN TODAY!
- If you have already joined the ShareASale network, simply log in and add ModernAccessory to your existing account
- If you are not in the ShareASale network, you can sign up through the ModernAccessory application
We look forward to partnering with you. Please let us know if you have any questions prior to joining. We are here to help. We look forward to seeing you generate high commission checks.
Contact Affiliate Manager: Randy Norton
Join the LolliCouture Program in ShareASale
We are happy to announce that Snow Consulting is now managing the LolliCouture Affiliate Program LolliCouture.com. LolliCouture.com is an internet based fashion company that started with the vision of providing the latest fashion, competitive prices, and superb customer service. A top fashion destination for the hottest trends in apparel, footwear, swimwear, costumes, handbags, and fashion accessories! Providing the best price and exceptional customer service!
You’ll find all the program details here.
Tanya Smith is managing the program; feel free to reach out with any of your questions.
JOIN NOW AT SHAREASALE
- If you have already joined the ShareASale network, simply log in and add LolliCouture to your existing account.
- If you are not in the ShareASale network, you can sign up through the LolliCouture application.
Join the ZooShoo program in PepperJam Network
We are happy to announce that Snow Consulting is now managing the ZooShoo Affiliate Program. ZooShoo.com researches the hottest products and unique styles in the industry; they have things you won’t find anywhere else! And then the competitive pricing and “lightning-fast” shipping will have you coming back over and over again!
You’ll find all the program details here.
Randy Norton is managing the program; feel free to reach out with any of your questions.
JOIN NOW AT PEPPERJAM NETWORK
- Join the ZooShoo program in Pepperjam Network
Get to know the Snow Team: meet Jed Duffield
Tanya Smith interviewed Jed Duffield for this first in a series of “Get to know the Snow team” features.
I work with the coolest people! Recently I had the privilege of chatting with Jed Duffield, the newest member of the Snow Consulting team! I asked him a number of questions so we would better know how he ticks!
Can you briefly describe yourself? Married to Stacey, and I am a new parent to a baby girl(Lexi Lee) and loving it. I love web marketing, SEO and Social Media and value relationships above all. I have 1 Black Lab/Border Collie named Maggie. When I asked if he had any hidden talents, he replied -> Listener and Peacemaker. (Those are pretty good hidden talents, I would say.)
Can you tell me who inspired you? Abraham Lincoln How? As an 8th grader we studied the Civil War in depth and it opened my eyes to the tremendous responsibilities and weight that a single man carried. He preserved the Union and paid the ultimate sacrifice. I was a deeply moved by his steadfastness and the Emancipation Proclamation.
What did you want to be when you grew up? FBI Analyst – this makes sense, as he wanted to make a difference in the world.
Jed is a proud self professed nerd, take a look at his answers.. Gotta love it:)
* Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones Movie? Book? Skeletons on the Zahara
* Currently reading? A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
* Last movie in a theater? Star Wars: The Force Awakens
* Travel wish list: London to explore the history, Greece to lounge, Monaco for the Grand Prix week and Egypt for the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum.
* What are your hobbies? Fantasy Sports, Console and PC Gaming, Golf and Trail Blazer Games
I asked many questions but when I asked this question, What were you doing 15 years ago?
This was Jed’s answer…I was spending a year in Botswana helping to start a School and working with Youth Programs. His response definitely surprised me!
More questions about traveling: Your favorite mode of travel? First Class on Virgin America, Travel wish list? London to explore the history, Greece to lounge, Monaco for the Grand Prix week and Egypt for the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum.
Some work related questions – no surprise to some of his answers!
* When did you start in the internet marketing/ affiliate marketing industry? 2008
* If you asked your friends, spouse or parents to describe what you do could they? My wife could definitely. She’s had to hear about it for the last 8 years.
* How often do you get asked if you do porn after you give anyone the “what I do” spiel? Rarely anymore. I think people are understanding the internet is so much more than that, finally.
* What would be your dream job? Is this a trick question?
* If you were starting over in the industry, what would you do differently? Spent more time early on building connections and relationships in the industry.
It’s been a pleasure discovering what pushes and inspires Jed thus far, but becoming a new Dad would make for a very interesting second interview!