The anonymous survey has in the past helped to define trends, observe demographics and identify solutions for difficulties within the industry.  It’s a great chance for publishers to have their say and potentially make a difference to the industry; after all, they are at the heart of performance marketing.

The traditional affiliate industry is evolving with more of a focus on performance; with this in mind the survey has been updated to encompass some of the industry’s latest trends.  The 2013 survey covers subjects such as incrementally, future technologies, attribution, tenancy and hybrid models. The survey is also now available in seven languages to gain as wide a dataset as possible; it’s distributed in English, Italian, Spanish, German, French, Danish and Swedish.

What’s more, on completion of the survey, all participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 16GB Black 10.1, well worth fifteen minutes.

Make sure you have your say here.

Mark Warner, established in 1974, joined the CJ network last July to enhance the brand’s online offering. And after a successful first year, they’re keen to work with a selection of different affiliate models to mature the programme further.  As with the rise and ever-growing importance of content, the merchant is keen to speak to travel content sites and bloggers to build a buzz about the brand.

With up to 9% commission on both summer and ski package holidays and extended cookie length of 45 days, not to mention trips away to reward top publishers, the Mark Warner programme is a great one to be a part of.

Please visit the Mark Warner affiliate page: http://www.markwarner.co.uk/affiliates or sign up here: https://signup.cj.com/member/brandedPublisherSignUp.do?air_refmerchantid=3671919

As key publisher, Quidco, hit the 3million member mark last month, we caught up with them to find out exactly how effective the model is and the evidence was all in the numbers.

With a colossal fan base of 124k on Facebook and 100k members joining each month, Quidco is effectively a brand in its own right. The loyalty of their membership base is highlighted by the engagement of their members, that almost a third of users set themselves a target to reach before withdrawing their cashback.

The demographics of the membership base should be enough to reverse any negative perceptions of the model, as Quidco’s most active users are 85% more likely to earn over £40k, are between the ages of 35 and 44, and are more likely to have mortgage than rent.  Therefore, such an affluent customer base pushes the average order value up to almost £100.

Mel Smith, Head of Client Development at Quidco, commented, “We’re so pleased to celebrate the three million member mark, and what this means for the industry we’re in. Anyone who is dubious about the cashback model just needs to look at its overall stance within the £814million performance marketing industry. As a brand we offer more than just cashback. We’re about finding what fits with an advertiser and coming up with a programme which encompasses a number of services.”

If you want to learn more about what Quidco can do, get in touch with Emmanuel Ogidan on eogidan@cj.com.

On the night we were thrilled to pick up the award for Best in Retail with Argos, which showcased the team’s wide variety of stellar work they have achieved with the hugely successful online store. We were also delighted to be highly commended for Best use of Email with SaleCycle and Laura Ashley, as well as for the Best Managed Affiliate Programme with Argos.

We were proud to be successful as well as platinum sponsor at this year’s Performance Marketing Awards – especially now at a time when the growth of the performance marketing industry is receiving the recognition it has long deserved.

The IAB’s performance marketing study is testament to this growth, revealing that advertisers in the UK spent £814million on performance marketing last year.  With that in mind I think it’s definitely a time to celebrate some of the successes within the industry, which is why these awards are so important to the future growth of our market.

The foundations of the performance space lie in direct response and measurability, but the landscape is becoming ever-more innovative and diverse, this was reflected in the wide variety of award entries received this year.  It was great to see more faces in the crowd and more businesses vying for every award; it was a tribute to the success and growth of the industry.

The company, which is well-known for producing unique and targeted conferences and expos aimed at industry professionals, runs the popular A4u news website and also creates detailed reports and surveys related to the performance marketing sector.

In keeping with the fast moving and expanding performance marketing industry;  whereby online marketing and advertising techniques, or specific actions, result in retailers and affiliates/publishers receiving payment, the Bristol-based firm has revamped and upped its offering by launching PerformanceIN.com.

With its experienced and growing team of journalists focused on global performance marketing news, the site devotes new sections specifically to the key disciplines of performance marketing.

As well as the main news and feature sections, there are now eight dedicated areas aimed at those hunting for specific news on affiliate, mobile, social, search, display, email, lead generation and analytics.

There are also separate sections for infographics, case studies, surveys, reports and more. Users can also change their ‘region’ to view news from the UK, Europe, the US or globally.

Breaking News & Much More

Designed to be a one-stop hub for all performance marketing news, managing director at PerformanceIN.com, Sarah Parsonage, said the rebrand is a crucial part of the company’s development.

“Performance marketing should be at the heart of any digital marketing strategy. Given the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PwC’s report on the £9 billion revenue generating sector, there is no denying that the thriving performance marketing industry is continuing to grow at a rapid pace,” Parsonage said.

With thousands of our website visitors coming from more and more countries across the globe to check out our news portal, combined with the expanding industry, we felt it was the perfect time to launch PerformanceIN.com.”

As well as breaking news, the new site also features opinion pieces from some of the industry’s key international performance marketing players, profiles, exclusive interviews and gives easy access to its renowned performance marketing forum – which started back in 1999.

Performance Marketing Event Leaders

In addition to covering global performance marketing news and having a 14-year heritage of affiliate and performance marketing, the company is also known for its prestigious conferences, events and glittering award ceremonies.

The business has held more than 15 conferences in London, Amsterdam, Munich and Barcelona, as well as six Performance Marketing Awards ceremonies, more than 20 networking events, and this year it also launched into the US – with its Performance Marketing Insights: New York event.

“Performance marketing is bigger than ever right now and shows no sign of slowing down – and today’s launch of PerformanceIN.com reflects this,” Parsonage added.

Long-standing CJ merchant, Laura Ashley, has released their new fashion collection just in time to brighten up your wardrobe. With floral patterns, geometric prints, splashes of colour, as well as pastels, the four different styles suit a number of occasions; we’ll certainly be having a browse for the summertime.

Laura Ashley boasts over ten years of experience within the affiliate channel, and their programme is one of CJ’s most mature.  They partner with a range of publisher models, which all benefit from average order values of £250 with a commission of 6%. They’re particularly keen to get involved with content sites to build relationships and increase awareness of the products they sell, with fashion being one of their main focuses. As a veteran of the industry their programme is well invested, complete with a creative interface and a dynamic data feed.

What’s more, for one month only they are opening negotiations with publishers to increase CPA to a massive 10% for all women’s fashion items and the new range of men’s shirts.  If you’re interested in getting involved with this scheme or want to discuss signing up to the Laura Ashley programme, I’m the Account Manager for the programme so please drop me a line on ahalilovic@cj.com.  Or alternatively, we’re always on the end of the phone or Twitter.

In the meantime, be sure to take a look at the collection today!  Here are our favourites:

The New Wave collection – ethnic inspired chevrons and geo prints, in grey, black and blues infused with a splash of apricot.  I’m a massive fan of the Grey Geo Print Cotton Sleeveless Dress, perfect for the odd BBQ or trips away. But I am also very keen on those geo-printed trousers!

The Sherbet Collection – softer shades with charcoals and silver-greys, gives a more contemporary look.  This collection features more girly floral prints, which are right on trend for the summer season.

But gents there’s no need to feel left out, there’s a new collection of shirts for you too. With over 60 years of design heritage, Laura Ashley are branching into menswear and have unveiled “Man at LA” which features a collection of 14 shirts all made in Italy.  The range has a sharp tailored look with a range of stripe, check and plain designs, but all feature something unique.

We’ve got some good news if you’re interested in attending.  CJ has an exclusive voucher giving 20% off to those who purchase tickets online.  Simply use CJ13 when registering for your ticket via this link.

Make sure you take a look at what CJ has got planned for the two-day event, and we’ll see you there!

In 2012 we highlighted our dedication to innovation in affiliate marketing with our shortlist of awards.  Innovation is pertinent to grow advertisers’ programmes and increase publishers’ involvement to ensure both parties reap the rewards from their efforts. We’re therefore thrilled to announce our hard work has paid off, as we’ve left our mark on the Performance Marketing Awards shortlist and are up for a total of ten awards.

The night is promised to be full of glamour and brilliance; taking place on the 7^th May at the Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane and being presented by comedian Josh Widdacombe, we’re getting very excited. For more information about the event, check out the PMA website.

Here’s what we are in the running for:

• Network Innovation
• Advertiser Support
• Publisher’s Choice of Network
• Best use of Mobile with Paddy Power
• Best use of Email with Laura Ashley & SaleCycle
• Best Managed Affiliate Programme with Argos
• Best in Retail Advertiser with Argos
• Best in Travel & Leisure Advertiser with TUI
• Best Account Manager – Adela Halilovic, Commission Junction
• Best Account Manager – Kelly Magrath, ValueClick Media

Fingers crossed!

Whether you’re an advertiser who is just venturing into the world of affiliates, or you’re a publisher looking to monetise or expand your website, we would love to speak to you.

Measurement is probably a key word for the affiliate industry…but it’s not all that simple! We receive a lot of questions about how the industry works; how different publishers earn commission, how advertisers should structure their programmes, what, why and how to develop a presence in the affiliate market.  To help, and to try and answer a few of those questions, we pulled together a guide to affiliate marketing.The affiliate world is huge and there’s so much opportunity around for brands and websites to increase profits, revenue and awareness.  The best thing is that you reap what you sow – it’s such a cliché but it really is applicable here.  An industry based on performance means publishers are paid what they generate, and advertisers are happy to invest as the rewards can be easily measured.

It covers all the basics, from what affiliate marketing is (in a concise, easy to understand diagram) to how publisher payments works.  There’s even a glossary to guide you through some of the jargon infested nuances of this industry. Just click the picture below to download and see it in all of its glory.

We’re also always on the end of the phone, twitter or email if you want to speak to a member of the team directly.

As the online world is ever changing, new laws are emerging to coincide with new developments, especially when we’re talking about data.  Last year saw major changes to the online performance marketing industry, as cookie laws changed to protect consumers from being hounded with adverts.

It’s our job to ensure we’re protecting both advertisers and publishers on our network, which in turn protects the general public.

One of our key publishers, shopping basket abandonment experts Ve Interactive, are constantly innovating to ensure their clients’ programmes are adhering evolving data protection and privacy laws.

This month they have released innovative new software, VeCompliance, which ensures consumers are fully aware of the ‘opt-in’ process. The consumers can give the ‘okay’ by clicking a button which appears once they mouse-over and before they enter their details into the fields.

“Ve Interactive always ensures that our clients’ remarketing and re-engagement programs actively adhere to all data protection and privacy laws,” explains Co-Founder David J Brown. “If you want your remarketing communications to be legal, it is essential therefore to make sure that your data capturing complies with all applicable laws in all territories concerning the protection of personal data.”

It’s always great for us at CJ to work with and shout about pioneering technology overcoming challenges in our industry; this is just one example of the great work our partners and clients have developed.

To find out more, or to start working with Ve Interactive, contact your CJ account manager for further details.