Web Affiliate Marketing Blog

You won’t believe how the title of this post still sends shivers down my spine, even though 19 years have passed since I left school!

That time of year has come again, where I’ve stupidly agreed to take part in a physical activity that my body is quite clearly not in shape for. On 16th May, I will be taking part in the Bupa Great Manchester 10k Run for the second time, however before then, I need to shed 30lbs (just over 2 stone). Come 16th February I will be saying goodbye to Chocolate, Burgers and such like, and alcohol…. ok the latter is unlikely to happen!

As usual, I’m raising money and this year have opted for The Stroke Association as my chosen charity. In the past I’ve raised, thanks to your kind donations, over £4,000 for some great causes and hope that once again, I will beat my initial £500 target.

About The Stroke Association

Every year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

Sponsoring Me

You can sponsor me in a number of ways, all being online;

• simply donate out of the goodness of your heart at JustGiving.com
• sponsor my blog and instead of paying me, donate at JustGiving.com
• pay me to wear your branded t-shirt / shorts / trainers / cap etc
• get extra exposure on my websites in return for donations

By offering additional opportunities in terms of sponsorship, extra website exposure etc, I hope to get a few more merchants and networks sponsoring me this year (tax write-offs).

Spread The Word

I’d appreciate any assistance in getting the word out, whether it be links back here or my JustGiving page.

Of course if you want to use Twitter, then just click here to tweet, and I’ll even write the message for you;
RT @ChrisEFrost: Running for Charity again. Affiliate networks and merchants if you donate I will give you extra exposure http://tr.im/NtCe

OK, so Christmas is once again fast approaching, and most affiliates who have planned correctly, have most things in place for their Christmas websites. Once again, this year I will be offering merchants the chance of taking up tenancy on pages of my Top Christmas Gifts website.

Last year, I offered the sponsorship opportunities in November and all space were snapped up extremely quickly. This year, in line with better planning, I’ve decided to open the opportunity as early as possible meaning everything can be in place before the visitors start arriving in the 1000′s.

I’ve put together an overview document that should help explain and answer all your questions such as pricing, what’s on offer, last years statistics etc. I am in the process of passing this information around networks, and already am in discussions with a number of merchants wanting to reserve places. Please note it is offered purely on a first come first served basis.

The PDF Document is password protected, so if you’re a merchant or network that wants access;

• drop me a line on LinkedIn
• DM me on Twitter
• or email me

Click here to download it in ZIP format.
Click here to download it in RAR format.

… and if you’re Zak from Prezzybox I’ll print it out and post it to you :)

These are just nuts!

GymCompany, a merchant on the Webgains affiliate network, sent out an email the other day introducing 5Fingers, or Gloves For Your Feet as their alternatively known.

Apparently the typical human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments – I never was any good at Biology! Anyway, with all these bits and pieces making up a foot, no wonder some “experts” say putting a shoe on is like putting a cast on. I suspect it doesn’t really allow movement as nature intended especially steel toe capped boots!

So the people at Primal Lifestyle (who also make Bamboo tshirts… erm… righty!), developed this footware as an alternative, and a freaky looking one at that! There are different types of the shoes trainers footwear available for regular everyday wear to proper exercising version. The one above, Sprint, as the name suggests, is actually designed for Running among other things.

Imagine the looks you would get from people, while out running in these! Completely crazy to look at, but I guess the theory kind of makes sense and more importantly I want a pair and may even do the London 10k in them!

My London 10k Run (for Diabetes UK) is getting closer and closer and the so called exercise regime has really kicked in. I’m now down to only 3 cakes, 2 pies and only 1 Big Mac per day :)

OK, seriously the running and cycling are now a daily habit and going well, however I have a very serious problem. It’s not my knee, that will be strapped up on the day, but more important than that – my iPod chooooons!

I’ve almost finalised my playlist and have arranged a really crap song at the 1 hour mark – so I MUST finish before that kicks in. The problem I have is with the earphones!

The standard earphones that come with the iPod are now falling out every 30 seconds which is frustrating and distracting as hell especially when you’re running for close to an hour. I much prefer ‘in the ear’ type of things rather than the big over the head style.

When deciding on a pair of headphones I’ve got to remember that although a set of Etymotic ER6 Isolator iPod earphones would be nice, at over £100 it’s a bit expensive for something that will be covered in sweat, dropped and dragged along roads within a matter of days!

I also don’t want to be carrying any unnecessary weight with me, as I have enough of my own to lug around. Therefore the Soundlab A073 headphones, weighing it at a whopping 300g are out of the question… thats the equivalent of a bag of 10 doughnuts hanging off your ears!

If you still haven’t sponsored me but wish to do so, you can online with JustGiving. Please, at the very least, have a read of my sponsorship page. I promise it will open your eyes to the suffering endured by those with the disease. The truth is that even a donation of £1 will make a difference, so skip your Skinny Latte today and donate!

Does anyone have any suggestions on a cheapish, reliable set of earphones that will stay in my ear during a 10k run?

Suggestions thus far:

• Michelle has suggested Coosh which look ideal, but don’t seem to be stocked in the UK!
• Jason & Scott both recommended the alien looking Sennheiser MX75 Sport Line

Firstly, it’s not EXACTLY free but you won’t be paying me a penny, instead you will be helping my nominated chairty :)

As many of you know, over the past couple of years, I’ve taken part (and completed) a number of 10k races and with thanks to family, friends and affiliate contacts I’ve managed to raise;

• £2521 in 2006 for Cancer Research
• £903 in 2007 for MacMillan Nurses
• £0 in 2008 (although I did run, just didn’t fund raise but helped Helen @ DGM around ;) )

For 2009, while many of you put your feet up, I’ll be spending my May Bank Holiday (25th May) in running shoes, pounding the streets, taking part in the London Bupa 10,000, this time raising money for Diabetes UK.

I have family, friends and work colleagues (in and out of Affiliate Marketing) affected by Diabetes and it’s one of those diseases where people accept and get on with their lives without complaining or muttering a word. I have total respect for those that have to inject themselves on a daily basis, as giving blood once every 4 months, is the maximum I can handle!

So Whats On Offer?

I’m willing to give any merchant or network extra exposure in return for a couple of pounds sponsorship. There is no limit, you decided how much you wish to donate, just add it to my dedicated sponsorship page here.

Sponsorship availability is as follows;

• 120 x 300 banner in my bi-weekly newsletter to circa 30,000 members.
  • Maximum of 3 merchants in each edition.
  • Sent out on Thursdays (incase you want to tie in a particular promotion)
• 2 weeks Page Peel exposure on site that attracts circa 100,000 uniques per month
  • Runs Friday to Friday. Teaser image | Reveal image
• 250 x 250 banner exposure on site that attracts circa 100,000 uniques per month
  • Runs Friday to Friday

Take a look at my Google online calendar, decide what advertising option you want and select a date. Once you are happy, drop me a line with the details and I will book you in… at which point you can then make a donation :)

I hope to raise £1000, but for time being I’ve set the target at £500… I can always bump it up later.