Clarke's UK Affiliate Marketing Blog

• Business Cards are Dead!

  On Wednesday I was at the Bristol a4uexpo Road Show and had a really great time, it was like an event of old! However it was lacking a bit on Affiliate attendance so you can’t have it every way, however the people that did turn up and stayed the course until the early hours. I [...]

• BBC Removes Video and Apology is added to Article

  Last week the BBC published an article about spam and a video accompanying it unfairly shows one of my websites Free UK Stuff, while talking about spam. I am pleased to say that after publishing this blog post and having received a number of blog posts (see list at the bottom of this message), forum [...]

• BBC News experiment overloads brain cells of editors

  I found out last night that BBC News ran a story and video about spam that clearly shows my website Free UK Stuff and domain name and screen shots from the website and double opt-in email sign up system. What is unbelievable in this “experiment” conducted by McAfee is that they have totally no clue about [...]

• Sunshine on a Rainy Day!

  Nope this blog post is not a sad excuse to use a title based on a song, I will leave that to the king of song titles changes, Jason. Also I am not even trying to win one of the many holidays and prizes up for grabs via Sunshine.co.uk nice that they are and all. This [...]

• BETAing around the Bush!

  Why do so many Affiliate Companies have websites in Beta? It used to be the case that “beta” was the final stage before realising your software yet some of the betas are going on 2 years now, so what’s so badly wrong with the sites or software that they have to keep them in “beta” [...]

• Who’s account is it anyway?

  Today I was wondering how many Affiliates think the actions of users coming via their links have nothing to do with them. To illustrate what I was thinking let’s take 3 examples to show different sides to the story and how rightly or wrongly an Affiliate could be associated with delivering fraudulent transactions. The idea [...]

• Cash-back Crooks!!!

  Hey attention grabbing headlines. Love them or hate them you’re reading this are you not Well first of all cash-back site owners take a deep breath, I am not about to expose any of you as crooks, instead I felt it was about time I highlighted an ever increasing problem that has been generated [...]

• The great Discount Coupon Voucher debate!

  It’s been going on for months mostly because a couple of bad eggs have been cookie stuffing and so robbing real content Affiliates of the hard earned money the deserve but more recently (today) a Discount Codes Podcast discussing the subject was released over at the top Affiliate Blog (puts this one to shame) by [...]

• New Theme to Replace the Broken One!

  My Affiliate Marketing Blog has a new look . After breaking it last week during a security patch update David my designer at UK Internet Sites has come up with a new look. Not sure about the chair on the top-right hand side but it was my fault for saying, “just do a blog [...]

• My Wordpress Theme is Broken

  Hi all, I was updating my blog today to the latest security patch 2.3.2 and after upgrade for some reason my custom theme would no longer work (update worked on my other blogs with no problem). As the guy who designed it is no longer around I will have to make do with the standard [...]

• Blogs are the answer to increasing your site traffic

  Ok before I get every person trying to pedal there services jumping all over this article, blogs are not the only answer but they are the way forward and loads of Affiliates are seeing great results by using blogs in tandem with a “main” sites or indeed making your site from blog software, and the [...]

• Tumble Weed Rolling By

  Well I was never one for posting loads, indeed my average is something like 2 posts a month however since the A4u Expo I been so busy with so much stuff that simply have not found (or is that wanted to find) the time to update my blog. I am sure it’s not been a [...]

• I am an A4uAward Finalist

  I just found out that I am an A4uAward finalist in the category “Industry Champion Award 2007″, so thanks to everyone that voted for me it’s been totally un-expected and can’t help feeling a little chuffed that people have taken the time to vote for me. Full list of finalists in the Industry Champion Award 2007 [...]

• Affiliate Code of Conduct by Fraser

  Fraser posted an interesting article about a subject that has been long talked about but nothing has ever been done about either because what is currently in place is ok by most people, or no interest in the subject from the people that are effected most or simply lack of understanding why a reasonable, simple [...]

• Bristol A4U Event Photos

  Just a quick note to say I have uploaded my photos from the A4U Affiliate Event in Bristol at then end of last month to my Facebook profile. Have a read over the comments and leave some of your own If you have not already found and added me to your Facebook we are [...]

• Affiliate Event in Bristol – Friday 20th July

  Well it’s getting closer, to the Summer Networking Event in Bristol. If you have not already booked your ticket for the event then you better rush on over to register as you only have until 12 noon on Wednesday the 19th July to say your coming, register here! I have not been to that many events [...]

• Positive and “constructive” Negative comment about each UK Network

  I am lead to believe that every UK Network is reading my blog, so I thought maybe I should let each of the ones I deal with as an Affiliate know a positive and a negative thing about them from my point of view. The negative will hopefully be seen as constructive as I really [...]

• Sylar from Heroes works in Affiliate Marketing

  I can keep quiet no longer, I and a number of other people know the true reason why Fraser from AffiliateBlog.co.uk is so knowledgeable about Affiliate Marketing. It is because he is cutting the skulls and taking all the Affiliate powers from the finest people in our industry. Here is the proof, Fraser is Sylar from [...]

• Day in the life of a A4U Moderator

  Today I handed down my first ever 5 day ban on the Affiliates4U Forum that quickly turned in to a life time ban. A member who is now busy claiming on several other forums that he is being harassed by the moderators at A4U and even comically claimed that he never got personal. So I [...]

• Back Me Baby, One More Time!

  Well I have added my back me button from Affiliates4u, and now that I have seen it in action I have a few things for Tom to do to for it to work even better ;). Now that I have added it, please feel free to back any of my posts to get them a [...]

• Affiliate Fat Camp

  Shortly I will be in Portugal and in about 24 hours Affiliate Fat Camp officially starts. However I hope it will be my first and last invite to “fat” camp, all going well I will look forward to “fit” camp the following year but hey it’s a bunch of Affiliates who are found of the [...]

• News can be a Source of Income

  This might be pretty much old hat to long time Affiliate Marketing Pros, but worth saying for new people that the News is a great way to cash in on what people are currently thinking about. I know as I have taken advantage of the news when doing my promotions for some time now, here [...]

• Euroffice Ink Selector

  The Euroffice Ink Selector content unit is now exclusively live on Paid On Results. I am very pleased how this has turned out, the one above is the 468 wide version but my favourite is the 600 wide one. I have written a post about this new content unit over at Affiliates4U, so save me repeating [...]

• My 1st Article at the New Affiliates4U.com Site

  This week seen Affiliates4u.com go live. This is the updated and much changed replacement for the A4U Forum. There have been lots of blogs talking about the new site already however I think I will hold off saying anything until it’s out of beta. However what I do want to say is yours truly is [...]

• In Your Facebook

  At the recommendation of a good friend and fellow Affiliate at the weekend I was told how handy Facebook was to network with fellow Affiliates, Merchants and Networks I deal with. Now bizarrely I had joined in March, signed up clicked a link to add someone as a friend and left (they wanted to build [...]

• Google Checkout – Who has been approved?

  Ok so we are two weeks on since the launch of Google Checkout UK and still not all the UK Networks have been approved. Here is the list as it stands. - Approved and Live on Google Checkout Vendor page. Advertising.com Affiliate Future Affiliate Window Commission Junction Paid On Results Tradedoubler - Approved for Google Checkout awaiting listing on Approved Vendor Page. Affilinet Buy.at DGM LinkShare PrimeQ Profitistic Webgains - In [...]

• TradeDoubler - No Response Team

  I started to notice a bunch of emails coming in from “TradeDoubler - Response Team UK” I thought isn’t that nice they now have a response team, so I hit reply on one of the emails to ask a question about the promotion only to find the email address the Response Team was using is [...]

• New Merchants 13th to 20th Apr 2007

  Weekly update of new Merchants (to 20th April 2007) that have went live across all the UK Networks. Affiliate Future Rafael Hotels Affiliate Window EIL Marks and Spencer Affilinet Lycos Buy.at Specsavers The Magazine Group DGM PlusNet Shakespeare Finance Paid On Results Reid Furniture PrimeQ Mosaic Holidays Profitistic MotoTyres UK and IE TravelRes UK Viagogo Zanox UK MotoTyres UK and IE TravelRes UK Viagogo I will soon be stopping this service on my blog due to UKAffiliateMarketing.com going live very soon [...]

• Google Checkout UK - is commission being tracked?

  Google Checkout UK hit the streets last Friday with many early adopter Merchants jumping on the bandwagon. Some of them even wrote to Affiliates to let them know that because they where first, Google was offering all customers who bought goods via the Google checkout system £10 off any order over £30. What a cracking [...]

• New Merchants 23rd Mar to 13th Apr 2007

  As I was away on Holiday for a couple of weeks this is a bit of a bumper update covering 3 weeks of new Merchants (to 13th April 2007) of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks. Advertising.com Additions Brochure Request Littlewoods Brochure Request Ramblers Association Affiliate Future 888Bootcamp Altec Consumer Info Emergency Abroad Flirty or Dirty Hotetur Hotels LoveHoney Makoosh Primepoker Rapid Home Sale sapphire villas Select [...]

• Grand National Betting

  With the Grand National coming up this weekend there is the normal flurry of activity around bookie sites. I have my own Grand National Betting site and normally rely on my email lists from UK Competitions and Free UK Stuff to bring in a coupe of quid, as I have never really spent any time [...]

• New Merchants 16th Mar to 23rd Mar 2007

  Here is this weeks list (to 23rd March 2007) of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks. Advertising.com Acuvue BCA books Test and Vote Volkswagen Jetta Affiliate Future Devicewire EyeExperts La Manga Affiliate Window Direct TVs Don Arts eshopmegastore Loan-line Majestic Wine Rebelio Robert Dyas Buy.at UK Online Commission Junction MacWarehouse As I will be going to the A4U Amsterdam Trip next week I will not be doing a new Merchant update and may [...]

• New Merchants 9th Mar to 16th Mar 2007

  Here is this weeks list (to 16th March 2007) of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks. Affiliate Future Affiliate Manager Book Hotetur Switch Homes Wine and co Buy.at Cruise Thomas Cook Kitchen Science Laskys National Magazines Teleflorist DGM Debt Advisory Line PrimeQ Mosaic Holidays Webgains Pocado UK Dating

• UK Affiliates set sail for Amsterdam!

  A4U Events in conjunction with DFDS Seaways and sponsors Tradedoubler have an excellent event lined up for the 28th of March. If you thinking about going (what is there to think about), get your skates on and sign up today at http://www.a4uevents.com/register.php it’s truly a special event as during the day you will be mixing [...]

• A4U - Blogging Opportunities

  An interesting development over on the A4U Forum today, they are looking for ‘resident bloggers’ who are experts within their field to contribute to the new portal on a regular basis who are committed to at least one submission per month. Basically a free way to get your voice heard in the biggest Affiliate Community in [...]

• New Merchants 2nd to 9th Mar 2007

    Here is this weeks list (to 9th March 2007) of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks. Affiliate Future Auto Europe Fabstuff Memory Bits Affiliate Window Panda Software The Body Shop Buy.at Petplan DGM Old English Inns Webgains Bingo Bliss Zanox Lensway UK

• ASOS - Affiliates Infested with grubs!

  As Posted on the A4U Forum a quote from this weeks NewMediaAge. Next year we’ll reintroduce affiliate marketing but as it should be, as opposed to affiliates as they were,” said Nick Robertson, ASOS CEO. “[There'll be] no silly commissions being paid to grubby little people in grubby studios growing income at our expense, getting in [...]

• Affiliate Fraudsters

  I could do an article on Merchant Fraudsters also and I will do one day, but today it’s a short article about Affiliate Fraudsters. I will write a few more posts on this subject as time goes on but for just now I will ask some questions that I already know the answer for. Why is [...]

• New Merchants 23rd Feb to 2nd Mar 2007

  Here is this weeks list of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks. Afform Disney Book Club Garlik Affiliate Future Amber Magic Casino Splendido Cresta Holidays Haversley Overseas Properties Whitesmoke Buy.at HQ Hair HQ Man Leisure Direction O2 Superdrug Tradex LinkShare UK Alibris UK OMG Loan-Arranger PrimeQ CX London Post-a-Rose Webgains 14clubs.com Bigpoint Course Monster Get Me A Quiz

• New Merchants 16th to 23rd Feb 2007

  Here is this weeks list of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks. Advertising.com Plum Offers Volkswagen Jetta Affiliate Future Books Direct PCIQ PrizeBug Affiliate Window Eshopmegastore.com Jersey Plants Direct QuickRooms The Body Shop Buy.at Kingolotto Ipsos Pipex Broadband LinkShare UK Bidz L’Occitane Lego Webgains Design My World World First Do I get to use my building blocks joke about the Lego program again? No, oh well

• New Merchants 9th to 16th Feb 2007

    Here is this weeks list of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks, as ever if I have missed any then please drop me a line, thanks. Affiliate Marketing (AM) Interparcel Affiliate Window Austrian Airlines Leo Mobile Affili.net Debenhams Buy.at Direct Line Mortgages Webgains Beautiful Homes Celldorado UK A lot less new merchants to pick from this week!

• Not all Commission is Equal!

  What’s this I hear you cry, something else for me to factor in when I pick a Merchant that is selling basically the same product as another Merchant, well sadly yes. It will also be something that you won’t really know is going on without really digging deep, as sadly the information is not always [...]

• New Merchants 2nd to 9th Feb 2007

  Here is this weeks list of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks, as ever if I have missed any then please drop me a line, thanks. Advertising.com Wales Tourism Campaign Affiliate Future Clover Signs TalkingTrip Alura White Orangemobileshop Ferry Cheap Leo Mobile Affiliate Window HiFiBitZ Lunarpages Web Hosting Northern Tool Times Online Dating Wedding Delights Affili.net Glasses Direct Afform Quiz For Money Ipsos Research Buy.at Casino Swiss Golden Palace Goldshield Healthcare Van Insurance Virgin Media DGM Virgin Media Linkshare UK Boden Charles [...]

• New Merchants 26th Jan to 2nd Feb 2007

  Here is this weeks list of Merchants that have went live across all the UK Networks, if I have missed any then please drop me a line and explain where I can find out about your Networks new Merchants, thanks. Affiliate Future Casino For Me Eurocredit Just Socca Lollipop Animation Maximuscle Affiliate Window Homebits Buy.at Brora Picture Loans uSwitch Commission Junction Probability Gaming Linkshare UK Bidz.com UK Cath Kidston Fleurop UK Pure Collection Online Media [...]

• Next Generation of Content Units

  Today Paid On Results launched a new website at http://www.contentunits.com/ to showcase the new range of next generation content units developed exclusively in-house for Affiliates and Merchants for Paid On Results. The site allows you to experience the huge range of different option available, and lets you test out different sizes, styles and ways to view [...]

• Astrobingo Winners Ticker

  Today the Astrobingo Winners Ticker was made live by Paid On Results, designed for the exclusive use by Paid On Results Affiliates when promoting Astrobingo. The idea for this came about a good while ago, but due to the workload faced by the technical department in getting the new Merchant Interface live and the upgrade [...]

• Local Cookies Explained

  Many years ago I wrote the first ever full explanation about what a “local cookie” is and how it can help Merchants on or considering using multiple networks. It’s been featured on many Affiliate forums and is the de-facto explanation in plan English as I can manage with a subject that is technical. Over the [...]

• New Merchants 19th Jan to 26th Jan 2007

  I thought I would try out listing the new Merchants that went live across all the Networks this past week running 19th Jan to 26th Jan. I am not yet sure if this will be a permanent feature as a good bit of work was involved in getting this information but I hope you find [...]

• UK Affiliate Census Report

  I just got an email in this evening giving me the link to download the UK Affiliate Census Report undertaken by E-Consultancy and Affiliate Program Advice. 1,536 Affiliates took part (I was one of them) so it should be a good guide as to what’s going on in the UK Affiliate Marketing space and if [...]

• Welcome!

  Welcome to Affiliate Marketing Blog. My name is Clarke Duncan many of you will know my by my A4U Forum username Supercod. I have been involved in Affiliate Marketing since 1997 so I have been doing this a while now and hope I have picked up a thing or two over the years. I have been [...]