The Performance/Affiliate Marketing Solution- Beyond 101

Today's tough economic times require more than a run-of-the-mill marketing approach. Savvy merchants know that growing their business requires connecting to their customers in innovative ways. That's exactly what affiliate marketing - an Internet-based tool for reaching prime customers - accomplishes.

The What.

Want to achieve outstanding marketplace results? Then tie rewards tightly to performance. That's the guiding principle behind affiliate marketing, which uses the Internet to link one or more affiliates (sometimes called "publishers") to a merchant and its services and products. The affiliate's job is simple: use its connections to drive more customers or visitors to the merchant's website.

What makes affiliate marketing so effective is that it's a performance-based concept. Affiliates are rewarded only when the traffic referred from their sites is converted to an actual sale or lead, and they remain responsible for underwriting and managing their own marketing efforts. With affiliate marketing, the merchant leverages its marketing investment by paying out only when transactions actually take place on their websites.

The Who.

A broader industry of organizations, aside from individual merchants and affiliates, are involved in affiliate marketing. While some merchants choose to manage the affiliates who promote their products and services, many expand their scope by using existing affiliate networks and outsourcing the management of their affiliate program - often referred to as OPM, or Outsourced Program Management - to companies specializing in this arena.

eAccountableOPM is one of those companies. eAccountableOPM provides its clients a multiple network strategy: match merchants with one or more major affiliate networks to assure the widest affiliate exposure and sales opportunities, and manage all facets of their affiliate program.

The How.

Affiliate marketing taps into traditional Internet marketing tools - such as search engine optimization, paid search engine and e-mail marketing, and display advertising - but it also uses powerful techniques such as publishing reviews of a partner's products and services. Another rapidly growing segment of affiliate publishing is coupon and loyalty sites. Coupon sites such as FlamingoWorld.com, CouponCart.com, and others now represent 25%-30% of all affiliate traffic and have strong visitor relationships. Loyalty sites such as MrRebates.com, Upromise, iGive, and others are similar to coupon sites except an affiliate shares its affiliate revenue with the member. Some loyalty sites require setup fees to access their member list.

Affiliate marketing networks are another powerful tool that can expand a merchant's marketing reach. Top affiliate marketing networks - regularly used by eAccountableOPM on behalf of its clients - include:

Commission Junction - Commission Junction (CJ) is arguably the largest affiliate network, encompassing about 2,800 merchants including Buy.com, Home Depot, Circuit City, Experian, Overstock.com, and Yahoo! Owned by ValueClick, Commission Junction powers almost 50% of the top 500 web retailers' affiliate marketing programs. A global leader in the online marketing channels of affiliate marketing and managed search, Commission Junction's corporate headquarters is located in Santa Barbara, California, but it also operates world-wide with offices in the UK, Germany, France and Sweden.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with Commission Junction and can pass through savings to our clients.

Google Affiliate Network (formerly Performics): Google Affiliate Network has its roots in the first full-service affiliate network, originally known as Performics in 1998 and acquired by DoubleClick in 2004. Today, it operates as Google Affiliate Network and delivers affiliate channel growth for advertisers and publishers. Google Affiliate Network is easy-to-use and connects advertisers and publishers who want to increase sales and drive leads through affiliate marketing. It also offers industry-leading advertiser and publisher services, network quality standards, conversion tracking, detailed reporting, automated payments to publishers, simple link and creative delivery tools, flexible commissions, and access to top brands on the web.

Google has also recently implemented Google Product Listing Ads through its Google Merchant Center (formerly Google Base) to better help merchants promote their products. Google Product Ads include more in-depth product information directly in the ad itself, such as product image, price, and merchant name. Working through the Google Merchant Center, merchants utilize Google as an affiliate - typically providing super affiliate payouts to ensure active participation. Google then automatically shows the most relevant product ads - sometimes displaying a product image - as a "Sponsored Link" in its search engine and creates long-tail bidding opportunities.

The results are dramatic: eAccountableOPM has seen almost immediate results for all of our clients who already have Google Merchant Center in place and have implemented this program.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with Google Affiliate Network and can pass through savings to our clients.

Linkshare - Since 1996, Linkshare has been a source of technology innovation and experience. Now Linkshare is a leading provider of full-service online marketing solutions, specializing in the areas of Search (SEM), Lead Generation, and Affiliate Marketing. Its clients include Fortune 500 and other prominent and emerging companies doing business online, including J.C. Penney, 1-800-Flowers.com, American Express, and Avon Products. LinkShare is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, Tampa, London and Tokyo.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with Linkshare and can pass through savings to our clients.

AvantLink Affiliate Network - AvantLink Affiliate Network provides a unique platform for its services and selective merchant screening. Affiliates have free access to industry-leading tools, including advanced reporting, daily updated datafeeds and industry- grade support. Its target advertisers are high-value merchants with substantial catalogs and high converting products or brand recognition. By partnering with AvantLink, merchants spend less time managing their programs and more time branding and building profitable relationships.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with AvantLink and can pass through savings to our clients.

ShareASale Affiliate Network: ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network based in Chicago that has provided award-winning technology and service since its launch in 2000. ShareASale services both affiliates and merchants, and currently has over 2,500 merchants plugged into its network. Affiliates use ShareASale to find products to promote and earn commission for referrals on those products and use their own website, blogs, PPC campaigns, SEO campaigns, RSS, and email. Merchants use ShareASale to implement, track, and manage their affiliate programs.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with ShareASale and can pass through savings to our clients.

Pepperjam Affiliate Network: Pepperjam is a pioneer in affiliate marketing. Pepperjam began an affiliate and has since successfully built one of the largest and recognizable full-service Internet marketing agencies in the United States. For nearly a decade, Pepperjam has managed and consulted with affiliates and merchants on how to build successful and sustainable affiliate marketing businesses. It provides advertisers and publishers with resources and education to make the most out of affiliate marketing, and empowers advertisers to build successful publisher relationships through exceptional communication technology and enhanced brand protection.

GSI Commerce, a leading e-commerce company, recently acquired Pepperjam. This acquisition represents a significant growth opportunity for eAccountableOPM and our clients. Likewise, the acquisition sends a strong signal to the Internet marketing industry regarding the importance of this affiliate channel.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with Pepperjam. With our existing and growing relationship, eAccountableOPM can pass through savings to our clients.

ROI Rocket - ROI Rocket (ROIR) is a boutique performance network with over 10,000 affiliates. ROIR is capable of doing both Cost-Per-Acquisition (or CPA, simple single priced offers) and Cost-Per-Sale actions like most of the tier-1 networks. ROIR also owns a number of sites and provides advertiser access if the match is appropriate.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with ROI Rocket and can pass through savings to our clients.

Buy.at - Buy.at specializes in driving growth for the world's leading brands through its unique expertise and innovation across its global affiliate network. Buy.at is committed to producing campaigns that add value to its clients' marketing strategies and drive maximum online results. Each client benefits from a package of industry-leading commercial and technical innovations, supported by a responsive service. Buy.at has offices in the UK and New York. Acceptance in Buy.at is by invitation only.

eAccountableOPM is a certified agency with Buy.at and can pass through savings to our clients.

The Why.

Connecting with customers is no easy feat in today's competitive marketplace. eAccountableOPM can help change that. By leveraging the power of strategic partnerships through the Internet-based affiliate marketing and extended affiliate networks, merchants can increase visibility and traffic, strengthen sales, and build their bottom-line.