Affiliate Resources Archives ⋆ Affiliate Marketing Blog

The Unskippable Handbook For Dealing with JERKS, IDIOTS & TERRIBLE People

February 19, 2020 by Shawn Collins

The Unskippable Handbook For Dealing with JERKS, IDIOTS & TERRIBLE People by Jim Kukral and Lisa Picarille was written in a fun, conversational style and I read it in one sitting, which is a rarity for me.

The whole time I was enjoying the hell out of it and laughing to myself.

It’s for anybody who has to deal with jerks, idiots, and terrible people… so all of us.

I am hesitant to call it a self-help book because that feels a little hokey to me, but it really is. And it’s a tone that was enjoyable, rather than preachy.

There is some profanity, but I’d say it’s an amount that is entertaining, and not distracting. The only thing that put me off a little bit was the frequent lack of an Oxford comma, but I was able to get past that because of the fun content.

Affiliate Summit – The Family We Chose

February 3, 2020 by Shawn Collins

We just celebrated the 50th Affiliate Summit event over 17 years and I am still trying to process all of this.

Back when we started all of this in 2003, I don’t think Missy and I could have imagined what it would become. We just wanted a place for the industry to get together to learn and network. Also, we thought most of the conferences out there were lame, so we wanted to create something that didn’t suck.

Missy and I were conference friends for a couple of years before Affiliate Summit, but still, we didn’t know each other that well, and we didn’t have any money or knowledge of running events.

But we believed in it and we were sure we could create something useful, fun, and different.

Along the way, we met more and more amazing people in the space. Over time I recognized that these people weren’t just colleagues, they were friends… and family.

Our family, that we discovered at Affiliate Summit, would often remark that attending was like going to a family reunion, but one where we got to pick the family.

I felt the same, but I never had my heart swell up with love as I did at Affiliate Summit West 2020 when so many people came together to recognize Missy and me. Two different events with so many awesome people and drinks and cake and awards and pictures and cards and videos and hugs. I was so overwhelmed that I was speechless.

Affiliate Summit is such a family that it’s where my brother came and introduced me to his wife Victoria for the first time and they’ve been to lots of Easts and Wests.

It was amazing and I’m still on a high from it.

Deb Carney, Warren Corpus, Angel Djambazov, Liz Fogg, Bhavik Modi, and everyone else who made those days so special – I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was amazing and perfect.

And so great to end it all with drinks at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill – something that started small in the days we were doing Affiliate Summit at Bally’s (2006 maybe?) and grew to a grand goodbye party for all of us.

Poet Rod McKuen once wrote…

We come into the world alone. We go away the same. We’re meant to spend the interlude between in closeness or so we tell ourselves. But it’s a long way from the morning to the evening.

That reminds me of all of us – so many of us were living in places where other people didn’t get us. Then we’d get together and all speak the same language. We made sense to each other and we liked being with one another. We didn’t just share the latest tips and tricks. We shared our lives.

This was supposed to be a business thing, but yet I would always be so excited to see everybody and I had this sad feeling in my heart when it would end each time.

That closeness we all shared was just a couple of times a year, but when it happened it sure was awesome. Thanks to all y’all for all of these years, and cheers to the times ahead.

Hustle Porn Will Ruin You

January 22, 2020 by Shawn Collins

I was hanging out with relatives over Christmas and the topic of leisure time came up. Some of them went on about how they were too busy for TV and movies and even friends. Those were indulgences that got in the way of work.

I get it. That was me once upon a time. I was convinced that time not working was time wasted. I was wrong, misguided, and a sucker for the whole hustle porn ethos.

And while hustle porn has porn in the name, it’s not a sexual term. It’s basically the fetishizing of people in tech who overwork. Their lives are all about work and nothing else. That’s not exciting or interesting. And it’s damn sure not something to aspire to.

But people eat it up on social media. The Instagram pictures of early cars to the airport, long days in meetings and on phone calls and speaking engagements, and then red eyes back home in time to rinse and repeat.

It took me a while to understand that. Back in the late ’90s when I was getting into affiliate marketing, I was hungry to make a name for myself, learn everything I could, and put in whatever time and effort it took to achieve it.

Early on I didn’t brag about it or tout it to anybody. I just worked like crazy. Back then I was living in New Jersey and commuting three hours round trip to New York City each day to my first affiliate marketing job at Medsite.com.

At the same time, I was working on my first affiliate site, Velocity NYC, which was a guide to things to do in NYC with affiliate links to related books on Amazon. I was also working on a site called BabyLounge where I created online birth announcements with a few paid options, plus I monetized those pages with affiliate links. An extension of the baby theme that I also promoted from the site was a baby naming software I private labeled and sold through ClickBank.

There were a bunch of other affiliate sites then, and they were all hand-coded in HTML.

A friend who was a ticket broker asked me to create a website for him, and I ran that for years, too. It was frequently updated with new events and it had a bunch of satellite sites for things like the first George W. Bush Presidential Inauguration. In addition to the web work, I was running PPC for him with constant adjustments.

All of the stuff outside of my 12-hour workdays also had to fit in after my Saturday and Sunday morning job as the sports editor for NJ.com (the web version of the Newark Star-Ledger newspaper). I would do that each weekend day from 6 AM to around 10 AM.

By 2000 I was running the affiliate program for ClubMom.com and I was also writing weekly columns for ClickZ.com, and occasionally for other publications on affiliate marketing. That got me noticed by Que Publishing, who offered me a book deal (Successful Affiliate Marketing for Merchants). The catch was that I had a few months to write hundreds of pages. I got it done.

But around that time I noticed cracks in my non-stop work life. It was a Sunday and I had enough. I felt miserable and overwhelmed and dissatisfied. I guess it wasn’t a full-blown nervous breakdown, but it was a breakdown. Or maybe an anxiety attack.

This would happen again from time to time as we started up Affiliate Summit while working a full-time job, managing other affiliate programs on the side, running affiliate sites, and doing a good amount of consulting on affiliate marketing.

We didn’t make any money on Affiliate Summit for the first 18 months or so, and I worked full-time as an outsourced affiliate manager for a bunch of companies for the first five years of Affiliate Summit to make ends meet.

Have a look at this cringey hustle porn video I made in those days titled “Day in the Life of an Affiliate Marketer” – I made this without a hint of irony. I was proud and impressed with myself.

I barely slept, I didn’t take vacations, I didn’t really do much of anything but work. I had no balance. I didn’t find that balance until moving to Austin in 2010. It was the best decision ever to relocate and embrace downtime, the outdoors, vacations, fun, and more sleep.

And a lot fewer hours of work daily. The result – I didn’t have any drop in productivity. I was so busy being busy that I didn’t have time for anything else all that time. But that busy was a mirage, a waste, and a lie. It can lead to ruin and burnout.

Replace rise and grind with rise and shine and you’ll be doing yourself a big favor.

The Things I Use to Podcast in 2019

November 20, 2019 by Shawn Collins

I started podcasting in 2006 with a show called Affiliate Thing that was co-hosted by Lisa Picarille.

We started out on a service called BlogTalkRadio, and the first episode was an interview with Lily Shen, who was then the senior manager of eBay’s U.S. Affiliate Program.

After we stumbled through a dozen episodes on that platform we moved on to WebmasterRadio, where we co-hosted the show for a year or so.

At that point, I decided it would be nice to host and own the shows, so GeekCast.fm was started as a division of Affiliate Summit. We made it available as a place for any business podcast to get free hosting and promotion. Affiliate Thing went on for a bunch of years there.

Since then I’ve hosted a handful of podcasts solo, and the latest is This is Affiliate Marketing, which I started in 2016 to interview people who have some kind of tie to affiliate marketing. But I didn’t want to interview them about affiliate marketing, because those podcasts are boring to me at this point. Instead, I go through their social media and ask them questions about themselves.

Anyhow, the way I’ve recorded, edited, and published podcasts have changed a lot over time, and I figured I’d share what I’m using currently for anybody looking to start their own podcast.

So here’s what I use…

Recording the Podcast

I use Ringr to record the podcasts – this platform enables my guests to call in either from a phone or their computer. Ringr is a paid service and they have a few levels to choose from – this has been the most reliable tool for recording that I have used over the years, and when there is a glitch they have a responsive support team.

As far as the microphone, I have the Logitech Stereo Headset H110, which is less than $15 on Amazon and I’ve used the same one without any issues for over 5 years.

Editing the Podcast

My podcast editing is done with a free software program called Audacity. It’s an easy, intuitive program, and if you have any trouble there are plenty of videos on YouTube to help you along the way.

In order to give my podcasts a more professional flair I wanted to have an intro and outro done by somebody else, so I went to Fiverr and got some quality sound files for cheap to open and close the podcast.

Hosting the Podcast

I learned about Libsyn as a podcast hosting service years ago at Social Media Marketing World, and I’ve been very happy with the service. They have packages starting at $5/month and in addition to the hosting you also get stats on your podcasts, and the service enables you to easily distribute to the main podcasting apps and platforms.

Also, they provide code for a variety of players so you can put your show up on a blog post, website, etc. And they offer the option of using your own domain to point to a page where they have all of your podcast archives.

That’s it – it’s pretty easy to get up and running, and then all you need is original content and consistency to build your podcast audience.

When You Talk, Does Anybody Listen?

October 23, 2019 by Shawn Collins

I thought I was good for a long time. Over ten years. But as the days went by, I realized I wasn’t.

One of the biggest catalysts in my entrepreneur journey was also my greatest burden… the memories of working in New York City on 9/11.

I didn’t die. I was only really scared that day, so I had a hard time accepting that it brought me pain and sadness and anxiety. It made me feel guilty. When I brought up what happened that day it seemed to make people uncomfortable. I got that, and it also made me wary of mentioning it. So I bottled it up.

It was around six years ago that I finally got to a point where I thought I needed some help. It was my first visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and I was overcome. I felt really irritable and claustrophobic.

It really bothered me how jovial some people were in what I thought should be a very solemn place. And then I saw a bunch of people mugging for the camera in front of a destroyed fire truck. I had to get out of there.

I verbalized to myself shortly after that I was going to find somebody to talk to about it. I went to Yelp to look up therapists who dealt with PTSD.

My choice was a psychotherapist because I just wanted someone to talk to about things vs. a psychiatrist, who could also prescribe medications.

It felt so good to have somebody to talk to about things I felt like nobody wanted to hear, or I wasn’t comfortable talking about. As I worked through lingering 9/11 feelings, I also began to talk to a lot about work and the toll it took on me.

That whole entrepreneurial story that people idealize, but that can be isolating and scary more often. The failures and self-doubt, while putting on a brave face, and the tricky balance of being an entrepreneur with healthy relationships and outlets.

As I spoke to a therapist about personal and professional struggles, I found it beneficial in a number of ways.

First, there was having a safe and private place to talk about sensitive issues. No judgment, nobody taking offense. It was a foreign feeling to have somebody just listen and share their perspective without their feelings or biases intruding.

Second, it was an avenue to discuss how to improve sleep, nutrition, and physical activity patterns. These new, healthy behaviors and habits all had quick impacts on my physical and mental well-being.

Third, my relationships became more satisfying with an understanding of the need for better communication and fewer assumptions.

Finally, I became more mindful, less stressed, and more relaxed. I always heard the phrase “stop and smell the roses,” and I finally started doing it.

Our toughest struggles are just that – they are ours and the toughest things we are dealing with. Don’t worry about measuring them against others or worrying yourself about the stigma of getting some help. We all need somebody who will listen.

The Making of a Quality Conference Speaker Proposal

October 8, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Speaking at a conference can benefit you in a lot of ways, and there are dos and don’ts when it comes to submitting a speaker proposal. You only have one opportunity to make your case for speaking, so make the most of it.

Pay attention to the details and invest time in a quality speaker proposal.

Don’t rush through it.

Typos, lack of clarity in your writing, and failing to follow the instructions send a very clear message that this is not a priority for you.

I’m guessing you don’t want to send that message since you’re bothering to read this.

Based on the thousands of speaker proposals I’ve seen over the years, I’ve compiled the following on what to do to improve your chances of being selected.

Read the Guidelines and Follow Them

This should be basic advice – so basic that it doesn’t need to be included here.

However, every time we put out a call for speakers, I see lots of talented, successful people turn in proposals that show they’ve paid no attention to the guidelines.

If there are character or word constraints, be sure to follow them.

It’s that simple.

Failure to follow simple instructions can disqualify a good session, so read the guidelines like they matter… because they do.

Check Your Schedule

Are you sure you do not have a conflict on your schedule with the conference day(s)?

Check and double-check your schedule to see if you have any other obligations.

If you realize you have to cancel after being accepted to speak, it could hurt your credibility and cause trouble for the conference organizers.

Adhere to the Deadline

There is inevitably a deadline to turn in a speaker proposal. If you want to speak at a given conference, make it a priority to get the proposal in on time.

Lots of successive dates hinge on that deadline, and if that doesn’t work for your schedule, so be it.

But your failure to meet the deadline is just that – your failure.

Don’t Be Lazy

When you are submitting your speaker proposal, provide the requested information in full.

Don’t cut corners with comments like “I will provide this later,” because there will likely not be a later.

Exhibiting such arrogance, that you think the conference wants you to speak so bad that they’ll accept your incomplete submission, may well result in your submission being declined.

Proofread!

There seems to be a theme here about attention to detail, right? Right.

Run spellcheck, read through your material for clarity, and have somebody else look it over before you send it.

People with typos on their resumes don’t get hired.

Don’t Be Too Broad

Are you one of those people who hopes to give a 30,000-foot view of your chosen topic?

If so, stop with the buzzwords and focus on a topic.

The big picture can be nice for a keynote, but if you’re interested in giving a presentation at a breakout session, broad is bad. People want specifics.

Sell the Topic

Your speaker proposal should focus on the benefits, takeaways, etc. of your proposed session.

Don’t talk about yourself. That is the function of your bio.

Review Past Agendas

One of the best ways to get a feel for the type of content that is typically featured at a conference is to review the past agendas.

Then, come up with a new, unique, interesting topic that draws some inspiration from past, recurring themes.

Don’t Recycle

It’s really nice to recycle paper, plastic, and grass clippings, but don’t recycle content.

Nobody wants your greatest hits from the past few years. Respect your audience and propose new, quality content.

Focus on Clarity

Be clear about what you want to cover in your presentation. It should be something you can sum up in a sentence.

A string of buzzwords is annoying to read, has little meaning, and will likely help to put your proposal in the reject pile.

Have You Attended the Conference?

While there are certainly first timers speaking frequently at conferences, it is in your best interest to first attend conferences where you hope to speak at beforehand.

Know the conference culture and types of attendees, so you’re not going into it blind.

Find Out What They Want

Do your homework as to which sessions have been most popular in the past, so you know what attendees like.

Also, read blog posts on the past conferences to gain insight.

Don’t ask the organizers what they want – they want quality, original content.

Know Your Limits

It can be tough to carry an hour-long session by yourself.

Are you ready? If not, try proposing for a shorter time slot, or submit a proposal for a panel.

Running a long session shouldn’t be your first step. It’s really helpful to get some experience by speaking at meet-ups and other smaller, professional get-togethers.

OK, now you’re ready to submit that killer speaking proposal.

Dr. Julie Gurner on Negatives of Perfectionism, Hot Dogs, and Dog Dogs

September 30, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Dr. Julie Gurner, Executive Performance Coach, podcast host, and angel investor joined me to chat on my podcast, This is Affiliate Marketing with Shawn Collins.

I wanted to learn more about the real Julie, so I asked her a variety of questions I figured she had not been asked in previous interviews.

Topics included…

A seeing-eye dog statue
Negatives associated with perfectionism
Speaking French
Entrepreneurs and relationships
Hot dogs
Being awesome
Adopting an older street dog

Links from this episode

I Ran a Background Check on Myself

September 17, 2019 by Shawn Collins

I saw an ad online somewhere about background checks through BeenVerified, and I was curious what would be there in my own background check.

Well, I had a good idea of what would be in there.

I was surprised when I got results, and also there were some items in there that were for another guy who shares my name.

One area that seemed funny to me was their list of possible aliases for me. Some were logical with including my middle name or initial, but then others were odd like Mickey Collins. That was one of my past dogs, but I never went by that name.

My list of previous phone numbers goes fairly far back – not as far back as my childhood home phone or my college number, but some records around 20 years old. I didn’t recognize some, but with lots of house phones and Google Voice over the years I’m not sure if they were errors or forgotten memories.

The email addresses include emails I had as far back as the mid to late 90s, including a couple on AOL.

My list of past addresses went far back, but there were some addresses in places I’ve never lived. I gave a thumbs down on those items where it says “Is this accurate?”. I am not sure if that eventually removes it from the record.

I am not sure why they provide a list of current and past neighbors, but that was interesting to me, because I didn’t know most of the names, so it probably wouldn’t benefit anybody knowing they currently or in the past lived near me.

The part that surprised me was the “Criminal & Traffic” section. I’ve had a handful of moving violations in my life and figured those would turn up, but they didn’t. Not sure what traffic infractions make the cut.

But I was surprised by an arrest that came as I result of a frat prank when I was in college. It was a misdemeanor and at the time I was told it would clear my record if I fulfilled the terms in my PBJ (probation before judgment). Well, I completed it and was off the hook, but apparently clearing the record doesn’t include the initial arrest. Doh!

My jobs and education have mostly good information, but a lot of the items are repeated in the list. I don’t know how they sourced this information, but it’s a bit of a mess.

They were spot on for my educational background – maybe that’s pulled from LinkedIn? Social media & websites were very partial for my sites, but they included lots of my social accounts.

When I got down to the assets there were properties and vehicles I’ve never owned, but they had my information, too.

Overall it was a neat process to see what others see in my background check.

Chris Park on Rugby, Why He Likes the Mets, and KISS Mini Golf

September 13, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Christopher Park, Senior Affiliate Manager at JEBCommerce, joined me to chat on my podcast, This is Affiliate Marketing with Shawn Collins.

I wanted to learn more about the real Chris, so I asked him a variety of questions I figured he had not been asked in previous interviews.

Topics included…

How he ended up in marketing after studying English, economics, and religious studies
Riding on a mobile bar
Which pro sports teams he likes
Playing guitar with a Neil Diamond tribute band
Playing rugby in college
Serving on the city council

Links from this episode

Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable by Jim Kukral

September 4, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Old school digital marketer Jim Kukral has written a new book, “Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable“, and you should take a look at it.

Jim discusses how to make an impact in today’s distracted world to make the most of your life and work.

If you’ve read any of Jim’s previous books, you already know the conversational tone that he writes in; but for anybody new to Kukral’s work, you’re in for a treat with his style.

He writes a different kind of business book. I’ve got a big collection of business books, and many are a chore to get through with the heavy use of buzzwords and overly complicated descriptions or processes.

You won’t get that with Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable, and that makes the advice so much easier to digest and implement.

Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable provides you with practical ideas, no-nonsense approaches, and honest advice to make your business or self unskippable.

In addition to this new book, Jim has also co-written a book with Lisa Picarille titled The Unskippable Handbook For Dealing with JERKS, IDIOTS & TERRIBLE People.

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