Posts Tagged "Prezzybox"
You’re Going To Need One Hell Of A Big Carrot!
Let’s presume you want to grab the attention and reward your hard working affiliates, yet at the same time, have them sell more of your goods or services.
Better still, how about motivating not only your top affiliates, but also the old, dormant affiliates – the ones who could suddenly turn out to be the NEXT BIG THING! How are YOU going to do it Mr Merchant?
The way you communicate your incentive, has to stand out from the 10’s of others we, as affiliates, receive on a daily basis. Be realistic as to who will be tempted by your incentive and who you are hoping to target in the first place.
A 2% increase in commissions is unlikely to tempt new or dormant affiliates, yet may gain extra exposure with existing, well performing ones.
In the past we’ve seen some merchants taking the decision to cull dormant affiliates when, in my opinion, opening up communication channels would have been mutually beneficial. I’m not suggesting every merchant should need to offer extravagant prizes or incentives, but a small cost (in money or time) could reap huge rewards.
One that recently caught my eye is being offered by DFDS Seaways. To promote their latest incentive, they aren’t relying on the usual email from a network, or a tweet or post on the A4U Forums grabbing my attention. They’ve actually gone and produced a video!
We also have the usual suspects who continually lead the way, ones that other merchants could learn a great deal from – and its not all about giving stuff away!
Prezzybox regularly offer great incentives and are this year planning on offering a “holiday or two” for their Christmas incentive and are open to other suggestions! As usual, they’re a step ahead most by already offering affiliates with the tools and seasonal support need for planning a Christmas site.
BuyAGift kick of their Q4 incentive that lasts for 3 months, meaning all affiliates have an opportunity of obtaining entry into the prize draw. With a possible jet set weekend to Monaco up for the offering, this is one most will want to win!
SunShine have in the past taken affiliates away to Barbados as part of Affiliate Futures annual networking event.
Red Letter Days have kicked off their Christmas Campaign, set to run for 3 months, with rewards for all affiliates at different tiers. Any affiliate that reaches a particular level is guaranteed a reward!
With such cracking incentives and rewards being offered already, it’ll be interesting to see what comes along in the next few weeks in order to tempt affiliates to promote one merchant over another. At this time of year, I’m greatful I’m an affiliate and not a merchant!
Read MoreA Massive Christmas Thank You
I thought it was about time I did a quick Christmas round up, to thank everyone who has sent cards, presents, festive well wishes and competition prizes over the past few weeks. Looking at the list it’s probably the best Crimbo so far 
COMPETITION PRIZES
- £200 Shopping Spree from Play.com
- £50 Voucher from IWoot
- Personalised Calendar From Prezzbox
- Naturally Gorgeous Book from Green People
UNEXPECTED (YET STILL WELCOME) GIFTS
- Newspaper, Football Book and Personalised Calendar from Gone Digging
- Selection eco friendly products from Gizoo
- Chocolate Hamper from Thorntons
- UEFA Champions League Tickets (Liverpool vs Marseille) from Vodafone
- Virginia Hayward Hamper from Webgains
- Virginia Hayward Hamper from Buy.At
All the above are very much appreciated. The gifts and competition prizes are fantastic and very much appreciated. I’m also glad to report that my Christmas website has generated more sales than ever before which has prompted me to start preparing for Valentines Day Presents!
Its also good to read about other affiliates who are reaping rewards from their efforts. George blogs over at Entrepreneur.co.uk and he’s tracking his success on a monthly basis. Although not yet reaching his targets, its good to see it heading in the right direction!
Read MoreThe Night Frostie Lost His Clicquot
After a cracking night at the A4U Awards, I awoke to vague memories of my name being read out asking me to go up on stage to accept something or other. I think it was some kind of thankyou/recognition thing, and along with Shane, Elaine, Kieron and Naomi, I was the happy recipient of a bottle of Veuve Clicquot 1996.
It was completely unexpected yet welcome all the same, but what was the score with the crazy lady who did an acceptance speech? After 5 minutes she was thanking her cat for not eating her goldfish or something!
Other award winners worthy of mention include Prezzybox for Best Use Of Creative and Best Merchant Innovation, Chris Clarkson from Sunshine.co.uk for Affiliate Manager of 2008 and Affiliate Window taking the most coverted title of Publisher’s Choice Of Network. A full list can be seen here and some official A4U photo’s have been uploaded to flickr.
A big thankyou to Matt, Chris and Claire (and the rest of Existem) for organising such a wonderful evening. To have NMA there covering the awards speaks volume as to how much our industry has grown (that reminds me, I must get my free subscription sorted…) and already people are looking forward to the A4UExpo in October. Existem have extended the A4U £100 discount until end of June – so for those who haven’t yet booked a place, pop along now and get a 1/3 off your official registration.
After the Awards took place, many of us moved to the Oxygen bar, where I was approached by someone asking if I was, or had seen, “Chris xxxxx”. After a few beers and the loud music, I didn’t think they were looking for me, so said no. Transpires the person did say my name, yet I told them I wasn’t me! 
Apologies if that was you – please do give me a shout on the forums where I wont be so rude 
Oh and if anyone does stumble across a bottle of Veuve Clicquot 1996, would you be so good as to pop it in the post to me?
Meet The REAL Merchants – Zak Edwards (Prezzybox) – #1 of #8
Following on from the successful series of interviews Kirsty ran with affiliates, and the reciprocal interview with the Haggis Muncher herself, I’ve interviewed a further 8 people in the industry and will be releasing them over the coming days.
The interviewees are from the 4 corners of the industry so as to provide a proportional representation of the industry, a better understanding of affiliates, agencies, merchants and networks and get to know some of the individuals behind the scenes a little better.
The first of the interviewees with Zak Edwards from the mighty Prezzybox (available on POR and Affiliate Window)…
How did you first hear about Affiliate Marketing?
To be honest I can’t quite remember (and no, I wasn’t drunk!). I think I’d approached a gent about linking to Prezzybox from their site. He said “of course I will, what affiliate network are you with” and it went from there.
The first network I spoke to were Affinity Ark I think (or Affiliate Button) and was given my first lesson by Julie Wood of AWIN fame.
What has been your career track and did it help your prepare for your current role?
Basically I did a degree in Law and Politics, then went to work for my Dad as a Sales Rep (selling Car Parts and Accessories). Whilst working for my Dad, I was sent to do an MBA to help add some structure to the company. During which time my old man chuffin flogged the company and I was duly the ultimatum by the new owners that I either a) could come back to work or b) I had to return my company car within the week. Charmin!
So, after I’d successfully sued them for Constructive Dismissal I thought right – “I don’t fancy working for anyone anymore, I’ll set up my own business”. That was just as the .com bubble was bursting. Great timing!!!
Would you ever consider moving over to the dark side and becoming an affiliate yourself one day?
Chuffin hell yesiree! I wished I’d have become an affiliate in 2000 rather than a merchant, I’m sure that I’d have been in a much better position than I am now.
In all seriousness what appeals to me about an Affiliate is that you are providing a service. Consequently you don’t handle two of the biggest problem areas in any retail business, namely customers and stock.
Stock can be a real headache for any business of any size. For example, we sell Paddling Pools. Because of the nature of the product you have to order these early in the Year. Last year, because of the heat wave in April, we ordered container-loads of Paddling Pools whilst rubbing our hands together in anticipation of “coining it in” after we sell all these pools. After the wettest Summer in human history, we’ve still got 75% of them and are having our rear ends firmly kicked on a regular basis by our warehouse who have to keep finding a place to house all these overstocked pools!!
Sat in a pub with your friends, how would you describe an average affiliate?
Ha ha – I see what you’re trying to do Mr Frost. You want me to come out with something derogatory involving the words Grubby or Pollutant.
No comment.
What aspects of the day to day running of Prezzybox are you personally responsible for?
To be honest Affiliate Marketing only takes up about 10% of my time at Prezzybox. The rest of the time I’m in charge of strategic direction and operations. So, basically I work on pushing through strategic changes and direction for the site.
What are the biggest changes you have seen since being involved in the industry?
Blimey. That’s a toughie.
I think the Affiliate Industry has really grown up (if that makes sense). When I first entered the Affiliate Arena (circa 2000) there was a handful of clever people making money – and some of them lots of it - from their bedrooms. It seemed to me that it was a fragmented cottage industry. Now, with the introduction of the Forum, the Expo and the expansion of the bigger networks, I feel the Affiliate Sector has really come of age in the last 2-3 years.
In an ideal world with no boundaries, what issue would you address first in the affiliate marketing world?
Another toughie!
If I could only address one issue, then I would introduce an Affiliate/Merchant Middle man. Kind of like some arbitration council. Basically if frustrates me when merchants get flamed on the forum. Don’t get me wrong sometimes they totally deserve it, but other times it is totally unwarranted. We’ve been flamed publicly before on the forum and it was a) totally unfounded and b) the affiliate hadn’t even had the decency to approach me about the issue first.
So, I’d introduce some form of Judge Judy to arbitrate.
In fact, I reckon we could have Judge Jules. She’d do a job!
How reliant is the internet on Google and is it a good thing?
Massively! A huge % of our sales come directly, or indirectly (through affiliates) are driven by Google. It actually scares me. If Google were to up sticks and leave overnight there would be a lot of poor people wondering round aimlessly with no work to do.
It makes me laugh actually, when people slag off Google. Especially some of the PPC affiliates. I find a strange sense of irony that they’re banging on about how much they dislike Google, then make most of their money through (Google) AdWords.
In 3 years time, how do you think the industry would have developed?
No idea. You think about it, 3 years ago there was no facebook, no myspace, relatively little broadband compared to now…. A lot can happen in 3 years.
However, for the sake of this interview to have a modicum a sensibility I shall try to answer…
I think Affiliate Marketing will have grown into 2 distinct camps – namely “corporate affiliates” and “hobbyist affiliates”. A number of decent sized Affiliate business’s have sprung up in the last few years – be there focus on PPC, SEO or whatever it may be – and I think this trend will continue.
I also think affiliates will have to be more adventurous and ingenious to make a dollar. There’s a lot of hypothesising that Google at some point “may” do away with affiliates as we know them and become an Affiliate themselves in their bid for World domination. If this happens then Affiliates will need to think of ways in which to work smarter. I’m sure both camps – the corporate affiliates and the hobbyist affiliates will do this.
Complete this sentence in no more than 25 words;
At the next A4U Expo I would….
put Zak Edwards presentation on at a different time to Lee “I’m so popular” McCoys Social Networking presentation in a bid to get more than one man and his dog to show up! (I’m not bitter – honest!).
To be honest I think the Expo was fantastic last time. Maybe more varied entertainment on the night would be my only addition.
Now its time for some quick fire either or….
Wembley or Twickneham
Wemb-er-ly every-time. I’m not a fan of Egg Chasing. I mean, how can it be a GOOD thing to kick a ball out of play and to only be allowed to pass it backwards???
Risotto or Roghan Josh
Never had either, but I’ll go for Risotto.
Hardcore or Winebar
Hardcore. Or for that matter any other form of building material.
Bill or Sergey
Who?
Burn It or Recycle It
Well – if you’re talking paper – recycle. If we’re talking cardboard – burn it.
2 Wheels or 4 Wheels
3 – the Reliant Robin hails from Tamworth where Prezzybox are housed.
Hotel with Spa or Backpacking
Hotel. Although when I see you I’ll tell you about my trip to Tea in the Park years ago. It’s a classic.
XBox or PlayStation
Currently PS2 although I’m thinking of getting a PS3. Any good?
Sun or Snow
Preferably both. Just come back from a skiing holiday where it was baking hot.
Frank Sinatra or Snoop Snoopity Doggity Dog
The snizzle bizzle.
At this point I expected the interview to end!
The word document that contained the questions I asked Zak, also had a list of names which I hoped to interview in the future. Zak, however, thought it was a continuation of the Either Or round of questions and has kindly answered as follows (it will also give you an idea of who I am hoping to interview in this series).
Agency – Sean (MVi) / Fiona (Eq8tr)
No idea. Both sound like smashing chappies.
Network – Hero (Webgains) / Mark (Existem)
Well Marks my Hero, so I’ll say both.
Merchant – Zak (Prezzybox) / Graham (BuyAGift)
Graham. Zak’s a buffoon.
Affiliate – Shane (Targeted Media) / John (Big Idea Media)
Woah – battle of the big guns!!! How come you’ve picked 2 middle aged, slightly balding and a little on the portly sized men for me to pick from??
Surely a simpler question to answer would have been:
Networks – the girls from AWIN topless mud wrestling with Carol from POR. Who’d win?
Again. No comment.
Thanks Zak!
Read MoreSocial Stuff
