befuddled me?

Time to replace your affiliates4u buttons

befuddle — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:02:06 +0000

Now that affiliates4u, the hub of performance marketing, has had a long overdue redesign it is time to remove the “Back Me” buttons and messages from your affiliate blogs and replace them with the new buttons available at www.affiliates4u.com/buttons/

I’ve plugged mine in as seen here:

There’s a choice of black or white and subtle and bold and you’ll need to select one as your old button will link to a “Sorry, we couldn’t find that. We’re not sure what you were looking for” page.

Clicking the new buttons will take you to a submit page to the new ‘The Pool’. Here you specify a title and summary and it’s worth expanding on the 250 character limit summary as this is what will prompt people to read and potentially vote for your content.

In the new system you can’t see which supporters you have for your content, the voting is all anonymous, which takes away part of the appeal and fun of it. But it does mean you can “slap” a post and hide.

Scratch2Cash Affiliate Program – An Itch to Write Off!

befuddle — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:48:07 +0000

Scratch2Cash are an itch I have the pleasure of no longer doing business with. I received an email at the weekend from their Market Budget Analyst to invoice them for any money they owe me from 2009 for their accountants.

Knowing that I’d referred a $3,500 paying customer I logged into the NeoGames Partners account to check on my total commission. The Scratch2Cash email included the caveat:

“If the amount is less than 100 EUR, we are not obligated to pay, as disclosed on the affiliate agreement listed on the website. Any amount under the “Minimum Amount” (100 EUR) will be written off.“

I’ve never read anything so ridiculous. Now I owe lots of companies less than 100 Euros and I just can’t write that off.

“Fitness First, you know that £38.75 you want off me for the couple of times I enter your gym, well I’m writing that off!”

“British Telecom, you know that £39.47 I owe you just to have a landline, well I’m writing that off!”

When I questioned this via email , they replied that they were closing my account.

“Since you unfortunately were not able to bring us €100 or more of traffic, we will close your account.“

Imagine if a reputable affiliate network chose not to pay you because you’d only made one sale – but not only that, not give you the opportunity to make more sales so that you could reach their self imposed payment tier?

Affiliates, you have been warned. I’d write-off the Scratch2Cash affiliate program today.

Still have that itch? Don’t Apply Now!

Time to lose the comfort blanket?

befuddle — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:16:11 +0000

It’s that time of year where you do your reflecting on what you could have done previously and what you should be doing more of in the coming months. I’ve been reflecting and thinking every single day this year.

2009 has been a good year for my site ShopCodes, such that my accountant said to me before Christmas, “You need to lose your comfort blanket”. He was referring to my full time day-job.

To put it into context the turnover and profit, since Halloween passed by and the gift shoppers arrived, is exactly the same as what I earn as salary in my well paid day job.

For my business over 91% of my turnover is profit as I don’t withdraw a salary as a Director and the 9% goes on Internet and networking costs.

And with not withdrawing even much as dividends from the business, there’s enough in the rainy day pot for my accountant to say, “you can pay yourself a substantial salary for at least four years”.

And what if the business starts to suffer from more competition or other threats? “Start looking for work after two years”.

During early 2010 it’s all change in my full time job. Change of boss, job title and location. The office we’re moving to is on the same street I currently live. I’ve a fear that I’ll get cabin fever working, living (also exercising, drinking and gambling) in the same place.

But that’s also now the fear I have if I decide to leave my ‘comfort blanket’. I’ve never liked change and previously it was about financial security. Now, it’s about cabin fever.

So there’ll be more reflecting from me for a few months yet.

Video Highlights Google Love

befuddle — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:38:14 +0000

It may not get me extra traffic or indeed more commission but it does make my results stand out from yours.

If you search for “argos voucher codes” or some other combination like “argos promotion code” within Google, my ShopCodes Argos page is either bottom of page one or mid page two but what is striking is that the search engine has chosen to display an Argos video clip integrated into my results listing.

So even on page two, it stands out from the crowd. And if the result were say fourth on page one, those below would probably get ignored as your eye is drawn towards the image.

So merchants start making those videos available as I’ve a feeling a few more affiliates shall take my lead and display them.

I’ve Got The Taste and Want A Lot More

befuddle — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:36:41 +0000

Clutching a beer, I walked in a few minutes late to the ‘You want to Tweet What!?’ late afternoon standing-room-only sesssion to see Dom @TheHodge having a few people in stitches.

He then proceeded to project a collection of humorous tweets which seemed to be mainly from the legendary AlCarlton and a fair few from that Befuddle guy.

So I thought I’d mull over my live tweets from A4UExpo London 2009, which sadly aren’t that humorous but reflected what I was thinking at that time.

Blimey not been here 2 mins and Novotel Excel have charged me £150 for extras. Best abuse the free bar!
7:02 PM Oct 12th

As Chris Clarkson said on Facebook, “Lol, your reputation preceeds you!”

#a4uexpo pre-party has changed with bar well closed and everyone in bed before 4am. I remember when …
4:00 AM Oct 13th

OK it was 4am on the night before the actual event, so I’ll let people off. I loved that I woke up at 8:50am with my phone in my hand and 8:00 typed into my phone alarm clock but I’d fell asleep before pressing done. I skipped breakfast, grabbed a large Mocha and shuffled into Dave Naylor’s SEO strategies talk.

@3wdl it’s all waffle
10:55 AM Oct 13th
Voucher code session at #a4uexpo full of facts but not heard anything new
11:03 AM Oct 13th

I’ve got a vested interest in voucher code discussion but I don’t think the content answered the question that was posed.

This session is just a subtle advert for AOL buyat. Got to get out. Where’s the beer? #a4uexpo
12:33 PM Oct 13th

I was set to attend the Affiliate Doctors panel but from experience wanted to go to more challenging sessions, so I made the last second decision to pop next door for ‘10 Things To Do Before You Thrive As Affiliates …’

Did that say ‘10 Things’ because the slide they presented said only ‘3 things’. As for my Twitter comment, to me, it was a network basically saying ‘use a network and by the way we know of a network…’

Class! Walk late into #a4uexpo Twitter presentation to see my funniest status updates being showcased
5:30 PM Oct 13th
JoannaButler @befuddle They were legendary! @thehodge has a great tweet collection!
5:34 PM Oct 13th from Tweetie in reply to befuddle

The Hodge was showcasing some of my funnier Tweets, here’s one of my earlier ones:

befuddle: “just completed the Bupa online health check whilst eating a Balti”

Bored at #a4uexpo party but Al Carlton’s mugging sounds fun
1:15 AM Oct 14th

The free Oxygen at the party wasn’t enough to keep me perked up so I logged onto Facebook to catch up on Al Carlton’s evening, to which he replied ‘Lol, I’m still turning it over in my head, it was just odd.’.

End up arguing with dozen 02 bouncers for an hour after #a4uexpo party ends. No blood spilled.
3:23 AM Oct 14th

I went to the bar to order five JD & Cokes and paid twenty quid and Gulshan shot another twenty quid forward. I took that back as we didn’t need ten but after a quick count on the fingers, worked out we needed eight, so may as well get ten and handed forward another £20. Still with me? Well the bar lady wasn’t and lost it.

The 02 club bar staff, management and security told us we owed them £20, then we owed them £1.26 and then that they’d returned the full £40. All of which they’d seen on their camera. The £20 they owed us (and not us them) was irrelevant but I’ll always defend my corner. But when you’ve got the biggest bouncers – and these were huge – circling you saying ’stop playing games’ you know it’s time to just shut up and let them share the twenty quid between themselves and all the cleaners that were witnessing.

lammo77 Last men standing at the #a4uexpo bar.. @jasonjbrockman @befuddle and @duncanp
4:11 AM Oct 14th

Another 4am finish!

This is the life. Teresa from Stream:20 giving me a back massage on a #a4uexpo beanbag
1:24 PM Oct 14th

You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

@Thehodge Grab their beer tokens
2:32 PM Oct 14th

In reply that it seemed that not many were planning to stick around for the closing party though plenty did.

@3wdl Where do pirates chat online? Twittaaarrr
3:13 PM Oct 14th

My effort to ‘win’ some rum and coke from the Affiliate Future stand during their pirate hour.

My Leeds Clarence Dock neighbour Gary Beal offering half hour SEO site review (worth £4k) for free #a4uexpo
4:10 PM Oct 14th
andybanksuk @befuddle Half hour SEO review worth £4k???? Are you sure you got the figure right?
5:00 PM Oct 14th in reply to befuddle

By this point I was lagging and after freshening up, was ready to party …

Vodka luge my face off
5:52 PM Oct 14th
jimbanks @befuddle can i get it on video ? I am sitting right by it.
5:56 PM Oct 14th in reply to befuddle
claireellison @befuddle dirty b@st@rd ;o)
6:15 PM Oct 14th in reply to befuddle

Vodka luge, every party should have one! Stick Sambuca in it and then you go do and say crazy stuff …

Befuddle loves Elissa Benson who I’ve just met #a4uexpo
10:15 PM Oct 14th
jimbanks @befuddle easy tiger!!
10:37 PM Oct 14th in reply to befuddle

One big France Telecom love in

messydesk With @befuddle and @KeithBond having a good last night at a4uexpo
10:42 PM Oct 14th

Thanks for the Spotify invite Keith and more importantly mentioning my Hong Kong interest to Ken. My .hk site project may finally come off the ground.

jimbanks @befuddle im on the train going home but have video of @judithlewis doing the vodka shot and a full frontal (of the ice that is)
10:51 PM Oct 14th in reply to befuddle

I fortunately managed to avoid starring on Jim’s YouTube’s page.

Another befuddled #a4uexpo. Will return back to London soon, then next stops Vegas, Munich & Leeds
3:41 AM Oct 15th

Bed before 4am. Woo hoo! Joe Connor spotted that organiser Matt Wood was giving away free passes to Munich, I just thought they were beer mats. I’m off to Vegas in January with the likes of Kieron, Clarkson and Frostie then I look forward to seeing you all in Leeds for the third ThinkVisibility.

@befuddle Mucho love for Mr Befuddled at the a4u conference… less love for the vodka flu that has now set in
10:21 AM Oct 15th

After a night of champagne, Sambuca, Vodka and lots of JD I don’t know how I got to Kings Cross for my 10:35am train – but I did. And it allowed me time to catch up on my notes of the week, so I write …

I’ve got the taste and I want a lot more
11:34 AM Oct 15th

Befuddled Butler At Your Service

befuddle — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:54:42 +0000

You won’t find me in the official photographs but I was at the A4uAwards this week and sneaked my own camera in, after previously shaming others in their drunken states.

As soon as I posted a few pictures of me along with Joshna, Jess, Jo and Teresa onto Facebook, a close friend of mine said, ‘Ray you look like a butler??? class!!!’ instead of commenting on the pretty girls of affiliate marketing.

So, on that note, how can this Befuddled Butler help you for the next few days?

If you affiliate managers have one request of me, just one single thing that you’d like me to do, then please let me know.

I haven’t really updated my site since April and so I know there’s lots of requests and day-to-day nitty gritty tasks that just haven’t been tackled.

So, if there’s one single thing you’d like me to do between Saturday and midnight Tuesday then just let me know. I am moving home on Thursday and don’t even know when I’ll next have a broadband connection, so get in touch quick.

Resend that email that I’ve ignored and put the word butler in the message. I will action it!

Cheeky Theaky Caricature Awesome

befuddle — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:09:04 +0000

My life is often as entertaining and surreal as a comic strip, so it was only a matter of time I became a cartoon.

Having been impressed with the caricatures of others in the affiliate marketing industry including A4uawards Blog of the Year Award nominee John Lamerton and (slim looking) Kieron Donoghue at the new Affiliate Doctors site, I set about to get a shiny version of my own.

I started by contacting Web Design Ireland and designer Keith quickly pointed me in the right direction of Caricature King.

It is really easy to order a cartoon version of yourself there. You first pick one of the seven designers to do your version. It is helpful to browse each of their portfolios to get a design that suits your needs.

Mine was to have a recognisable image that I can use in this blog and as an icon across all different social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Affiliates4u and for blog comments via Gravatar.

You email Matt Eliason a set of images for the designer to work from and then select the type of image that you’d like designing. I wanted one that included a prop, specifically one holding a drink, typical of many networking pictures and wanted it to represent my ‘Cheeky Theaky’ style.

Matt is the International Coordinator and then emails back with further questions. I received these the next day because of the time zones. He asked what kind of clothes I wanted to be wearing and my suggestion of a cardigan got laughed away.

On May 7th I submitted my original photos and provided a link to my facebook profile in case more were required.

On May 13th I received a black and white outlined draft of how it would look, designed by Brian. I was then able to suggest changes but I was happy as it was after reviewing it with my house mate.

One week after the inital brief, on May 15th, I received two colour caricatures. One containing the full body shot with prop. The other image was a close up of the head.

As soon as I posted it as my Facebook profile pic, one close friend commented:

that pic is a double of you cheeky, fookin awesome!!!

What better testimonial can you get?

Amsterdam Paid for Itself 15 Times Over

befuddle — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:18:20 +0000

NOT many recognisable UK affiliates were in attendance at the a4uExpo and AAC conferences in Amsterdam. It’s not easy to get abroad for a week but I looked at it as an opportunity to do some more networking, learn some more skills and possibly do a bit of business in a fun city, despite the costs.

I travelled alone but knew approximately 20 people, either from meeting them at previous London A4uExpo’s, other local affiliate marketing events or from meeting facebook friends in person for the first time. Plenty were staying at the same Novotel hotel, which made socialising that much easier.

The majority of people stayed 3 nights for the affiliate marketing conference but I stayed 1 extra night to take in one day of AAC, as I’d been to previous CAP gambling conferences and they know how to party and put on a show.

My flight from Leeds cost £90 and I did have the misfortune of having my £850 laptop stolen on my return from my locked hold luggage. This was after checking in at Schipol and picking my bag up after a 2 hour flight delay.

With the hotel costing 670 Euros and 1 beer the equivalent of £8 a pint, one could have looked at it as a very expensive jaunt.

However, Befuddle had an interesting and profitable time …

400 Euros Won

Prior to leaving I bought some business cards with the Paris Hilton cartoon lookalike that adorns my drunk celebrity site Befuddle.co.uk. The plan was to have a card that caught the eye and would win if drawn from a bowl.

Well Market-Ace.com had such a draw and I was given 400 Euros in cash on the last day of the a4uEXpo. It’s still in my wallet and so I came back to the UK with more money that I went with (to Amsterdam!) Result!

a4uAwards Ticket Offered

During the week I was provided with opportunities to attend the black-tie a4uAwards dinner in London. I shall be attending as guests of Red Letter Days.

Taken to Dinner

The network Linkshare UK kindly invited me out to dinner one evening at the excellent Groucho’s and it’s nice gestures like this that make the event memorable and their network more personable. It was also a pleasure to drink and relax with the kind people of Affiliate Future, Existem AM, dgmPro and party hard with Stream20.

£15,000 Commission Deal Sealed

It wasn’t all drinking, dancing and smoking. I had to do some work so I set up a few meetings with merchants who I make significant sums with. I went through the stats with one merchant and they offered to DOUBLE my commission level. That 20 minute meeting would equate to an extra £15k a year based on current traffic and referrals. That £800 hotel and travel cost seems such an investment now.

Bit of Sunshine

Whilst in the Dam I found out via Twitter that I was one of the lucky winners for the Affiliate Future trip to Barbados. I think I may have to detox my body before then. It was a nice 21 degrees outside too though I saw little of it.

New Friends

This event was never about the money but I thought I’d highlight that you just never know what may come your way with a bit of networking. I have got lots to follow up over the coming days indeed weeks. As well as the business deals I want to implement as many of the tips I learned at the conferences that I stayed awake for.

It was also good to be able to attend an event in a country alone and be able to socialise with people across the affiliate industry who are now friends. That is priceless.

Befuddle backs the best in a4uawards

befuddle — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:59:05 +0000

My votes are in for the a4uAwards 2009. I think my relationships with networks has changed a lot over the past 12 months, particularly as I operate in a sector that is always under the microscope.

Some agencies, networks and individuals are going out of their way to work closely with me and ShopCodes and these are reflected in my votes below. There are others who I easily could have picked but likewise there are some who I’ve lost respect for.

Publisher’s Choice Of Network 2009

Webgains

The first network I log into each day. Always improving their already fantastic interface with very proactive and friendly communicative staff.

Publisher’s Choice Of Account Manager 2009

Jess Nathan of dgm

Jess really pushes me to promote dgm programmes on a network that I typically ignore and she goes out of her way to help when there’s technical issues.

Publisher’s Choice Of Affiliate Manager 2009

Jim Kinloch of Signature Gifts

Pro-active in awarding Exclusive codes across the brands with good seasonal promotions. Generous with incentives.

Affiliate Management Agency of 2009

Existem AM

Proactive in delivering voucher codes, best sellers and seasonal offers for all their merchants. Most importantly they are the most approachable and best communicators.

Affiliate Marketing Blog Of 2009
Existem AM @ http://www.existem-am.com/blog/

Hugely resourceful blog for all their merchants containing voucher codes, content units, best sellers and promotions. I get the content pushed straight to my inbox via affiliates4u.

Milestone Reached. Now Off to Pub!

befuddle — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:18:55 +0000

Two weeks ago I reported that I ‘reached a significant financial milestone.’

Well, after spending some money and allowing two weeks to pass, I’ve now got the joy of reaching that milestone again! How good is that?

Please don’t sue me. I’ve got a nice Friday glow and the sun is shining. Enjoy your weekend! I certainly will be after a horrible four days.

Thanks for Kirsty for interviewing me a month ago. You can read the full piece here and some related Twitter responses are below.

KeithBond @befuddle first time i’ve heard Leeds Building Society called a significant financial milestone, well done though, now you can walk to work

BFG9000 @befuddle celebrate with loads of beer & a trip to the casino – then when you wake up try to get back to that same milestone

swifty7 @befuddle pat yourself on the back, and head for the next milestone!

loquax @befuddle go and spend your £5 on sweets? ;o) LOL

venturian @befuddle spend it!

Ok then, you’ve twisted my arm! I shall.