Everybody in the SEO world knows that SMX West starts tomorrow but, while I'm definitely looking forward to seeing some familiar faces in Santa Clara, I'm currently in Las Vegas for Affiliate Summit.
"Why," you may ask, "are you attending Affiliate Summit, Scott? SEOmoz isn't involved in affiliate marketing..."
Well, it's Vegas and there's a huge party at Tao tonight and that should be reason enough, but wait, there's more!
Kris Jones and the brilliant team at Pepperjam recently launched Pepperjam Network, their new affiliate marketing program. We'd been contemplating launching an affiliate program for some time and when the Pepperjam guys invited us to be one of their early advertisers, we couldn't pass it up. They've really got a phenomenal system and we're in great company with an amazing roster of partners. If you're an affiliate publisher or advertiser, you really need to check it out.
With the launch of the new SEOmoz PRO (our overhaul of Premium) we feel our suite of tools, guides, Q&A, and more is really ready for prime-time and we're extremely excited to get the word out via an incredible group of affiliate marketers. We've completely overhauled the user interface for PRO, making it a much more intuitive product suite, streamlined the registration process, and focused in on enhancing and promoting the benefits of the system, all to make the product more valuable to our subscribers and a more attractive package for new customers and our affiliates.
What does this mean for you? Well, if you're a PRO subscriber, it means a better user experience and an invaluable new utility (to debut at SMX West). If you're not a PRO member, it hopefully means you'll take another look and see what you're missing out on. If you're a fan of PRO or SEOmoz, and you're interested in helping us market our product, it means you can become an SEOmoz Affiliate through Pepperjam and earn a generous commission for marketing a product you know and love. Our commission structure is designed to be extremely competitive with any other affiliate offering in our niche (you'll receive details upon signup). We've had a great response already and have some truly wonderful folks on-board with our program, and we'd love to have as many SEOmoz readers as are interested join in the effort. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send me a private message.
By: Scott Willoughby
Affiliate Summit Las Vegas: SEOmoz Launches Affiliate Program with Pepperjam
Online Advertising
The author's views are entirely his or her own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz.
Ok, a few things...
1. That sign up form design needs to go...
2. I can tell that an actual successful affiliate or someone with massive experience in affiliate marketing did not actually *look* at this... things you completely decided not to tell me:
a. a clear listing of the commission and the tiers
b. the action referral period (aka, how long does the cookie last)
c. contact information for the affiliate program manager in case I have questions BEFORE I sign up
d. what type of campaigns you allow (PPC, website, email, etc)
e. whether or not you offer real time reporting
f. what type of links/creatives are available
g. currency of payouts/commissions
3. >>> "Our program pays up to $50/conversion, depending on monthly volume, which I think you'll find to be very competitive"
I hope that whoever was advising you on affiliate payouts left you some bump room... because any super sales driving affiliate is going to expect higher than "traditional" marketers can earn (aka, when they blow past the tier that puts them at 50 a sale).
My two cents...
Coming from someone who damn well knows her affiliate marketing, this is some pretty valuable advice.
The signup form is not our design, it's Pepperjam's default, so I'll certainly pass your suggestions along. As to all of the other stuff, I'd love to chat with you in more detail about your suggestions as we are just taking our first steps into the affiliate marketplace.
FYI - All of the information mentioned by SugarRae is available once accepted as a Pepperjam Network (PJN) publisher.
In fact, not only can the publisher create a range of SEOmoz banners and text links, but also pepperjamADS.
pepperjamADS is an affiliate marketing widget that allows publishers to display advertisements for SEOmoz and other relevant PJN advertisers (such as Search-Engine Strategies, etc.) in the form of a contextual ad looking unit like AdSense. Here's a quick video tutorial creating an SEOmoz pepperjamADS unit - https://www.revver.com/video/629364/pepperjamads-video-tutorial/
Also, SEOmoz offers the 125x125 banner size, which is great for monetizing blog traffic. Moreover, SEOmoz leaves room to pay top publishers and bloggers a higher commission rate. In short, SEOmoz is an excellent affiliate program for bloggers.
I agree with the comments above about the registration page color. Powder blue is definitely not the default color as Scott mentions above - my guess is that someone chose that color to match the color in the SEOmoz logo, but the page falls short of being aesthetically pleasing. That page really should be white with black text instead of black with the powder blue text.
I'm not at liberty to post the various info that SugarRae suggests, but rest assured it's all available once you join PJN.
Best of luck!
Kris JonesPepperjam Network
Colors on the signup page have been fixed. Other info coming very shortly :)
Anytime Scott - you guys know that :)
Hola,
I clicked on the SeoMoz Affiliate link, and got blinded. I´m not familiar with Affiliate programs. But, I know a little bit about friendly-web-design, and this Affiliate form spooked me away.
I guess Pepper Jam knows their business, specially since SeoMoz is partnering with them. But, this form ´no me gusta´.
Saludos
I agree. The sign up page makes me feel like I was punched in the eyball.
Also that doesn't appear to be a secure site and you are requiring TaxID/SSN.
What? Just 'cause it's black and blue? :)
BTW, I fixed the link, it now directs to a secure version of the signup page.
Thanks! That makes me feel much better.
I had the same "OUCH" & "commission?" opinion of the Affiliate sign-up.
But a quick overview of the PRO tools lead to a "WOW! This is worth it!"
I had planned on attending SMX until heading to Urgent Care today and will look forward to perusing the new layout and learning about the new stuff. Hoping SEOmoz video tapes/uploads the debut and blogs about it for those of us not at the show.
Hope you're feeling all right! It's unfortunate that we won't get a chance to meet you at SMX West--hopefully we'll see you at an upcoming event.
>>> is available once accepted as a Pepperjam Network (PJN)
I get that - but as I said, I want to see the details beforehand. Transparency is soemthing I expect... especially since I am the one with the "upper hand" in the situation. You need to convince me to become an affiliate - not have it setup so that if I'm lucky enough to be accepted after spending ten minutes filling out your application and giving out my EIN THEN you'll actually give me the details.
As for the page design - based on the design of PepperJam's backend, I think seomoz's page is simply one on a list of things that needs to redesigned on that site (no offense).
https://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/badtext.htm says it all...
I have better than perfect vision and I was squinting to read pepperjam's "thank you" page after signing up for the seomoz program.
Lastly, when I filled out seomoz's application, I got pretty quick notice I had been accepted into the pepperjam network, with one flaw - you guys only accepted me to pepperjam and didn't auto put me into seomoz's program. I had to go find seomoz AGAIN once I logged in and then apply (and considering applying to their program was the only reason I was signing up for pepperjam, it was annoying to have to seek them out and click "apply" once I had already filled out the seomoz branded form).
As for the five pepperjam ads available for the seomoz program - that's great - if I could actually 1. access them or 2. knew what they were. When you click "more details" on the generate links screen, the only links that show are for text ads or banners.
Also, e on the list above was not addressed once I was signed up.
>>>In short, SEOmoz is an excellent affiliate program for bloggers.
I don't think anyone is debating that, but no one needs a sales pitch during the response adressing concerns. If you speak with the folks at seomoz, they'll happily tell you I'm one of their biggest fans, always hit them with hard constructive criticism when they do new things and pretty much tell it like it is without padded buffers.
SugarRae,
Thanks for your comments.
RE: 125x125 banners. Our design team went ahead and uploaded two static banners for you and others. If you want more please contact Scott.
RE: Having to sign-up for the program twice. I've sent your comment about the sign-up process to our development team. That shouldn't be happening and we are sorry.
RE: Design of Pepperjam Network. We appreciate your opinion. We wanted to do something different and black has always been our company color. Aggressive - yes - I know. 95% of people using Pepperjam enjoy the design and we respect the other 5% who don't like it based on the whole white on black Web Design phenomenon.
RE: pepperjamADS - In my previous comment I offered a link to a video tutorial of how to create pepperjamADS for SEOmoz - https://www.revver.com/video/629364/pepperjamads-video-tutorial/ - I also mention that pepperjamADS is an affiliate marketing widget that allows affiliates to display advertisements for SEOmoz and other relevant PJN advertisers in the form of a contextual ad looking unit like AdSense. Also, I blogged in detail about pepperjamADS here - https://www.pepperjamnetwork.com/blog/2008/01/21/learn-more-about-pepperjamads-with-a-video-tutorial/
RE: Real-Time Reporting. Yes, SEOmoz passes order info to Pepperjam Network in real-time and it is immediately passed to the affiliate all within a few seconds.
RE: Sales Pitch - I apologize if my comments sounded like a sales pitch - I was merely trying to help out Scott who is new to the affiliate marketing business.
Finally, I've spoken with Scott and I understand he is in the process of creating an internal SEOmoz Affiliate Program page that will outline all of the things you mentioned.
I sincerely appreciate your feedback and we look forward to working with you.
Please let me know if I missed any of your questions.
Thanks for that info, Kris. I appreciate you taking the time to come on here and respond to comments/critiques of the program.
You guys have been nothing short of awesome about helping out with any issues that arise.
I look forward to Seomoz affiliate program... Tht's because I am also in affiliate marketing.
Illianne
Still no mention on the affiliate payouts, or do we need to take a melon's worth of dollars as gospel?
Our program pays up to $50/conversion, depending on monthly volume, which I think you'll find to be very competitive compared to offers from other companies in our industry.
Thank you for the information! Tempting indeed!
This past summit was my first. I never knew how big of an industry it was and how crafty you have to be. Cant wait to contribute.
Oh yeah, and a 125x125 that doesn't glow in and out obnoxiously would be appreciated :) ... 95% of the time, if I can't find some attractive - non animated banners (while some people like them, some of us don't) - I pass.
Affiliate smilliate, I want to know what the three soooper secret new features in premium are gonna be!
-OT
Very cool Scott! Glad to see SEOmoz jumping on the Affiliate bandwagon. Too bad I didn't bump into at Tao last night (but I swear I literally bumped into everyone else, that place was PACKED!). Hope to see you on the floor today.
BTW - Wise choice on choosing Pepperjam as your network. I listened to Mike Jones (their COO) on Saturday at Affiliate Classroom Live, and I was very impressed with how they built their platform. They had the experience as affiliates of dozens of companies, and took the best ideas from each program to build their own.
Seomoz affiliate program..sounds interesting. I really look forward to it...
My avaristic, greedy nature demands that I ask: exactly what kind of commission are we talking here? :P
I'm glad to see an affiliate program in seomoz, but the most important thing you must include in affiliate registration page i think is commission.
Also i don't like the combination of colors, it's too dark!
I signed into PepperJam. Looks like $50 per sign-up.
awesome, and congratulations on the aff launch! sites with seo traff should be able to drive sales no problem, the site sells itself!
Hey I would like to share this strange affiliate request that I have recieved today for my website RedAlkemi.
This is what the request mail says -
" Hi, We've seen your website at https://www.redalkemi.com/articles/link-popularity.php and we love it!We see that your traffic rank is 82604 and your link popularity is 251. Also, you have been online since 3/12/2005. With that kind of traffic, we will pay you up to $4,800/month to advertise our links on your website.
If you're interested, read our terms from this page: https://www.contactthem.ws/hit.php?s=10&p=2&w=103844
Sincerely, Barry Crewse The ContactThem Network "
Contactthem claims to pay us upto 28,800$ per month in next 6 months just for placing their links on my website"
I don't think they will pay even a single dime to anyone but I am quite sure that because it's so much luring (& viral worthy), tons of greedy webmasters will link to it and the lazy ones won't care to remove their link from their website even after being fooled around. And that's what I think this website is eyeing. Or is there any thing more to it?
I even wonder how Google reacts to such sudden linkbacks to a website?
PS: I am not relating seomoz affiliate program to this crap scheme. I am only sharing this weired looking link program with all other seomozers to see what every one has to say about it.
There is always a * on statements like that. Here is what this * says.
" *These figures of earnings are examples to help you understand the earning potential - You can make more or less. There are no guarantees of income. *You are NOT paid per click, per impressions or for the period of time our banner is exposed on your website; you are paid per sale generated. You receive a sales commission when members join our paid membership upon your referral or your sub-affiliates'. Recurring monthly commissions are subject to members' renewals. By default, 2 levels of commissions are paid; to access levels 3 to 10, you need to meet each level qualifications. Please take time to consult the qualifications for each level inside the affiliate area that explains everything in details."
If i'm reading it correctly it seems that to get past level 2 you have to download their software and pay to use it. I'm not flush for time today, so I didn't get a chance to really go through it. Maybe Sarah Bird will chirp in with her on target analysis.
It doesn't seem like contactthem.com is a direct scam, but certainly not as good as it seems.
Absolutely..!! It's too good to believe !
Scott - maybe you can edit this post with the information about our affiliate payouts (I don't even know what they are!) :)
One meeeeelion dollars!
Is that per sign-up?
COUNT ME IN!
Franchising on the way??
Love the tools and the organization of material.
Just a few things.
1) On the affiliate program, it mentions no specifics on commission pecentages, how they are paid out, etc. Does that come after you sign up?
2) On the tools interface, I like the icons and descriptions, but I miss the usability of having everything above the fold in a compact space, as opposed to a scrolling page which is cumbersome.
Would you consider doing something like this, either in lieu of the scrolling page, or as an opion at the top? Everything is nice and compact and you could use Ajax for popup descriptors for those new to the tools.
3) It would be nice to have the discount store in a separate folder or tab.
Thanks.
hi, this is a great blog. lots and lots of information. great to know about the launch of new product as this seems to be a more attractive pacakage for customers and affiliates.