In the past month or so I have signed up for about 3 affiliate networks so far. Here is my experience with each:

MaxBounty.com -

This is probably the best Affiliate Network I have delt with so far. My affiliate manager’s name is Adam Dufresne, and I have to say that this guy really does his job. I know they are mass mailed for the most part, but he gives information on specific campaigns almost every other day. I should also add that when I initially talked to him on the phone, he was the most enthusiastic affiliate manager I have spoken with.

NeverBlueAds -

I can’t say that I have had a great experience with this network so far. Everything started out nice when I was approved almost immediately and received a call within hours of signing up. However, since I am new to affiliate marketing, I was hoping for a little bit of help. I know that affiliate managers are busy people, but if I have a question that is plaguing me, and only they can answer it, I don’t like to be answered with generic e-mail. When I ask for some information, I want you to at least write me something personal back. Don’t cut and paste something you e-mail to everyone. I’m not stupid, so I don’t appreciate the non-effort. (hah, sorry for the rant)

All I’m trying to say here is this… I have worked in customer service before and can smell effort very easily.

CXDigital -

I just signed up with this network yesterday… wait a minute, I actually signed up about two weeks ago, but for some reason had to call to get approved. Like I said, I filled out the application two weeks ago, was not approved right away, but received an e-mail requesting more information. So I e-mailed them back with the required info, and then waited, and waited, and waited some more. I shot about two more e-mails at them before actually calling yesterday. The lady on the line was very friendly and fixed whatever had caused a problem with my application. After speaking with her I was able to log in within minutes.

Azoogle -

So far, it has also been about two weeks since I have heard from this network.  I sent my app, received an e-mail for some extra info on domain ownership info, and then never heard anything back from this network.  I have sent them close to 4-5 e-mails so far requesting at least a reply, but none yet.  I even called them and left a message with my name, age, weight, height, serial number, etc… (no operator), but even that doesn’t prompt a return call.   I would probably have given up by now, but I really want to work with this network, so I figure I will keep trying and calling.  My only two guess as to why Azoogle hasn’t accepted me are these:

1. They declined me and thought it would be hilarious to not send me a decline e-mail.  Instead they are running an experiment to see how many attempts I will make.
2. They just plain don’t care to add me on as an affiliate.

Today I was looking for Adobe Acrobat Reader and found a nice surprise.  Adobe automatically check marks Adobe Media Player to be downloaded along with Adobe Acrobat Reader, and truthfully I’m used to unchecking all these extras that go along with the program you are looking for.   I figured this time that I would  try out the ‘extra’ that Adobe thought I should try.  After all, I haven’t had any problem with bad software from the company before.

Program features:

Adobe Media Player offers a wide range of free video and even some in HD.   I’ve really only looked around in the “Science & Technology” section, but there are many others to surf through:

• Opinion
• Lifestyle
• News
• World
• Entertainment
• Politics
• Education
• Music
• Arts & Culture
• Hobbies
• Comedy
• Government
• Cartoons & Animation

I’m really impressed that these videos are free.  Although, I assume that Adobe should of course be one of the first to offer free high quality videos (competition for TV networks).
Well, that’s all for now.  I just so happened to find a set of MacGuyver episodes that need watching…

Seeing as how I just got into affiliate marketing a month or two back, I was very excited when i found out about Affiliate Summit.  Of course, I wasn’t able to go because short notice.  This led me to looking for videos back when the event had ended, but no luck at the time…  Today I found out that Affiliate Summit allows you to watch the presentations (for free).  All you have to do is register your e-mail and confirm it.  Videos for Affiliate Summit

Here is a sample SWF for you to look at Dan. Click on it to play the movie.
With the embed tag:
And here is the same movie with the object tag:

Every couple of months I read a post about someone selling their blog for X amount of dollars, and every time I lose a little bit of interest in those blogs.  The only blogs that I ever see posting this are the “make money online blogs.”

Why Make Money Online Blogs?

My guess is they can use it as publicity for the actual sale.  If you think about it, most of these blogs are very popular in some circles.  When they post something such as a potential sale, information spreads quickly, and soon everyone is talking about it.

I personally don’t like to buy into the hype.  It was interesting with the first couple sales, but after I saw what the new authors did with the blogs, I just stopped visiting any sold blogs.

I don’t think you can sell a blog and still retain the long-time readers.  That is unless you have a staff of writers that will stay on with the new owner.  I visit certain blogs on a daily basis because I connect with the author.  He/she gives me something that I can’t find anywhere else.  So handing over the reigns to a different author and assuming that I won’t have a problem with it is a little misjudged on the seller’s part.