LinkShare offers advertising tax resource page

LinkShare has just launched a new information page to keep affiliates and merchants informed about advertising tax issues as they arise state by state.

Visit the page at http://www.linkshare.com/internet_tax/. This page breaks the laws down by state and is a great supplement to information being shared by the Performance Marketing Association.

Previously we reported that Commission Junction is also offering an advertising tax information page at http://www.cj.com/news/internet_tax.html.

CJ launches publisher training program

We received the following news from our friends at Commission Junction this week:

Commission Junction is proud to announce the launch of our Keys to the CJ Marketplace Publisher training program. We have offered training to Advertisers for quite some time, but now there is a publisher series.

The program consists of a series of recorded sessions that publishers can access anytime from www.cj.com/keys/publisher. What does this mean for you, our agency clients? Well, a more knowledgeable publisher base means better results for you and your advertiser clients, which means more sales and more revenue! Be sure to let your publishers know about the training in your next newsletter communication.

And don’t forget about yourself. We continue to offer free, live online seminars for agencies and advertisers. The seminar descriptions, dates, and times can be found at www.cj.com/keys/advertiser. Utilize the training to educate yourself or any new team members.

Moms find a lot to LOVE about N-fini shapewear

Before/After picture from theMommyDiariesBlog.com

Women LOVE N-fini because our shapewear has come to their rescue – shaping their bodies without sacrificing comfort. Moms – especially new moms – are big fans of the way our shapewear enables them to fit into their old wardrobe. Plus-size women love the way our shapewear gives them an amazing silhouette. Brides love the way our shapewear turns a gown into a showpiece.

For the month of March, we’re offering special spring savings. Women get $25 cash back on any purchase they make on N-fini.com in the month of March.

We’re sure women who haven’t tried N-fini shapewear are going to love it so much that they’ll want to throw away their old shapewear and undergarments. That’s why we’re offering the Look Divine, Replace and Refine contest. Women who share their love of N-fini with us in photos or video will have a chance to win a $500 gift certificate good for one day of pampering at a local spa.

Here’s what Mommy Bloggers and other women are saying about N-fini:

MommyGoggles.com (@mommygoggles): “I think every woman in the world needs shapewear! What is nice about N-Fini is the way it is made.”

Splendicity.com (@splendicity): If you have a special strapless dress or clingy sweater that you haven’t been wearing because of a certain troubling body part, N-Fini may just have the right undergarment to get you ready to wear it today!

blissfullydomestic.com: N-fini shapewear shorts “compress the heck out of my jiggly parts while still being COMFY!”

intimateguide.com: “The weave offers nice shaping and minimizes some of my problem areas without feeling like I am wearing an iron corset.”

thebridalwishlist.com: “We all could use a little support to make our look flawless. N-fini shapewear is here to help. The line offers ultra-flattering styles.”

jleighdesignz.com: “It’s great for when you dress up but its awesome for everyday wear! You can still wear it with your everyday jeans and a shirt and feel more confident when it helps smooth out the “muffin top” we all hate.”

everythingupclose.com: “The first item I tried on was the Double V-neck Tank. It has quickly become one of my favorite items in my closet and I will admit, I wear it every chance I get! This is definitely the best piece of shapewear I have ever owned!”

frugalandfabulous.org: “Before this, I had never worn shapewear before – but I am definitely a new fan! No matter what your size, shapers can help you feel and look your best. I loved that it was slimming – not restraining – and that it made me just feel great! And it was comfortable!”

inomommy.com: “From the thigh, buttocks and waist to the torso, chest and upper arm, N-fini has a shapewear solution for every problem area of the body, providing for the utmost lift, shape, support and comfort for its wearer.”

thriftyandchicmom.com: “I wore my new N-Fini shapewear to church last week and I had great results. My clothes looked fabulous and no rolling or visible seams!”

If you’re a Mommy blogger who would like to review our shapewear, contact us at N-fini today, and be sure to ask us about how you can share our special Spring Savings with your readers.

Affliate marketing and ethics: No oxymoron here

Our friend Linda Buquet at 5StarAffiliatePrograms.com has shared a story this week that just goes to show that affiliate marketing is a tight-knit industry capable of policing itself and taking care of its own.

She shared this post by Eric Nagel that tells the tale of one merchant’s apparent attempt to cheat affiliates out of a contest-related bonus and the affiliate who uncovered the issue.

It’s nice to have further proof that while affiliate marketing is in fact an ethical industry and that, when one of the fold strays from the path, there’s always someone standing by to make things right.

N-fini launches women’s shapewear affiliate program

N-fini promotion

The new site features the entire line of N-fini™ shapewear for women. N-fini™ has earned rave reviews in such media outlets as Casual Living, Women’s Wear Daily (known in the industry as WWD), Splendicity.com, The Capital Fashionista blog and The Lingerie Post.

“We spent two years designing our shapewear using hundreds of models and the latest technology to ensure that our shapewear offers women the comfort, confidence and sophistication they deserve,” said N-fini™ creator and 20-year industry veteran Martha Istefanidis. “Our shapewear is the best fit for every woman whether they be brides, working women or new mothers. We also have great body shapers in plus sizes.”

In conjunction with the site launch, N-fini™ is running a special campaign to give women the opportunity to get rid of their old, uncomfortable undergarments and experience the comfort of modern shapewear by N-fini™. Through the month of March, women will get $25 cash back on any purchases made on N-fini.com in March 2010 as part of a special promotion called Look Divine, Replace and Refine with N-fini™ shapewear.

“I want women to experience first-hand how life-changing quality shapewear can be, so our Look Divine campaign encourages women to throw away their old undergarments and buy N-fini shapewear,” Istefanidis said. “To ease the transition, we’re offering cash back on all purchases. That’s how confident I am that women will never look back once they try the shapewear we’ve created. For women who share their stories, photos or video of the experience, we’ll also be entering their names into a drawing for a grand prize – a spa visit for a day of pampering worth $500.”

Since it hit the market in August 2007, N-fini™ has earned high praise from fashion industry insiders and influential fashion bloggers. As Bridezilla.com recently noted, “I recently tried out N-fini ShapeWear and concluded it’s the perfect splurge. These body shaper by N-Finis are astonishingly comfortable and streamline your figure under that little red dress. I tested the Cami Dress Shaper at a cocktail party and it didn’t roll up once. It’s a miracle of science! It took at least five pounds off my body in minutes and I felt like I was wearing a pair of pjs.”

To join the N-fini.com affiliate program on the Commission Junction platform, visit http://www.n-fini.com/affiliate-sugn-up-s/214.htm

About N-fini™
N-fini™ Shape Creator and Owner Martha Istefanidis is a garment business veteran with more than 20 years in the business. She launched the first N-fini™ line, N-fini™ Playwear, in 2001, and in August 2007 added N-fini™ Shape, becoming an overnight success and already rivaling top shapewear competitors. Realizing there was a need in the marketplace for truly functional undergarments, Martha made it her mission to identify the customer’s needs and wants in her approach to the design and creation of N-fini™ Shape, spending two years developing and testing the line on women of different ages, shapes, and lifestyles. For more information, visit http://www.n-fini.com.

Podcast features chat with Revenews Managing Editor

Angel Djambazov joins us on a special edition of the Affiliate Marketing Insider podcast at noon Pacific (3 p.m. Eastern) Thursday. To tune in, visit WebmasterRadio.fm.

Angel will be sharing his insights into affiliate marketing industry based on his own experience and his interview series with industry leaders. Hear what Angel has to say about affiliate program management, the fight against the advertising tax and the future of the industry.

Angel worked as a journalist – edited several newspapers – before joining the Internet marketing space. While working at OnlineShoes he earned the Affiliate Manager of the Year (2006) award at the Affiliate Summit, and In-house Manager of the Year (2006) award by ABestWeb. Today Angel is the outsourced affiliate program manager for Jones Soda and leads the marketing efforts of PopShops.com, which was awarded Best Affiliate Tool (2007) award by ABestWeb.

As Managing Editor for Revenews.com, he writes about issues facing the affiliate marketing industry.

Amazon is dropping Colorado affiliates

Amazon.com notified thousands of Colorado affiliates over the course of the last weekend that it is severing its relationship with them in response to the advertising tax that went into effect March 1 in that state.

The Performance Marketing Association led our industry’s fight against HB 1193, and all involved considered it a victory when language that specifically targeted affiliates was removed from the bill. However, the law requires all online retailers who do not collect sales tax to put a notice in the Colorado customer’s invoice notifying them they are by law obligated to pay sales tax in the state for their purchase. It also requires retailers to submit a yearly list of customers and purchasing data to support Colorado’s enforcement ability.

Amazon’s action is part of a growing merchant reaction to the new law. Oriental Trading Company, Hammacher Schlemmer, Terry’s Village and GiftBaskets.com have all terminated relationships with Colorado affiliates.

Amazon’s decision came with the following announcement;

“We and many others strongly opposed this legislation, known as HB 10-1193, but it was enacted anyway. Regrettably, as a result of the new law, we have decided to stop advertising through Associates based in Colorado. We plan to continue to sell to Colorado residents, however, and will advertise through other channels, including through Associates based in other states.”

To stay informed about the advertising tax being fought in several states, visit the Performance Marketing Association.

National Pet Pharmacy offers spring coupons

National Pet Pharmacy offers hundreds of pet prescription and veterinary pet food diet items. For spring National Pet Pharmacy is offering several coupons that our affiliates can use to promote the brand to their customers.

- Save $5 off any order totalling $40 or more at NationalPetPharmacy.com. Use code SAVE540. Offer expires March 31, 2010.
- Save $10 off on orders totalling $85 or more at National Pet Pharmacy. Use code SAVE1085. Offer expires March 31, 2010.
- Free shipping on 650 select products at National Pet Pharmacy. No code necessary for this on-going promotion. National Pet Pharmacy has a large selection of veterinary diet products.

Are you an affiliate?
Apply today to join the National Pet Pharmacy affiliate program and start earning 12% commission on all sales that you drive to the site.

Since its inception in 2001, National Pet Pharmacy has focused its efforts on the sale of a wide variety of health and wellness products for pets including flea and tick medication, heartworm medication, and all natural food. With more than 137 Brands of food, 740 Pet Prescription Items, 5 brands of Veterinary diets and 7,000 additional items, National Pet Pharmacy is the only online pet store that offers customers a complete line of products!

Advertising Tax update: Time to be heard, Maryland!

The advertising tax debate has come to Maryland, and it’s time for affiliate marketers to get involved by joining the Maryland Google Group.

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will hear SB 824 at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17. If the bill passes, the Performance Marketing Association estimates that more than 100 advertisers will terminate their affiliate program relationships with Maryland publishers.

It is critical to the cause that Maryland affiliates add their voices to this important debate. The PMA will be coordinating a targeted grassroots campaign and needs help from all Maryland affiliate marketers. Please register today with the Performance Marketing Association.

The advertising tax is being fought in several states. Stay informed and join the cause in your state:

Cautiously optimistic in Illinois …

Bill still in play in California ….

Placeholder bills introduced in Georgia …

Affiliates turned out to testify as bill was debated at a hearing March 4 in Illinois …

Bill has been introduced to repeal the ad tax in Rhode Island …

Bill tabled, will die next week, in Virginia ..

Offer year-long savings with PetFoodDirect.com coupons

Pet Food Direct is offering a series of coupons that will last for the rest of 2010! Attention affiliates – you may pass these great savings along to YOUR customers today.

- Take 15% off Auto Ship every time you shop at PetFoodDirect.com! Also save 15% on ALL Pet Treats at PetFoodDirect.com. No code needed. Offer lasts all year and expires on Dec. 31, 2010.
- Save 25% on ALL supplements and vitamins at PetFoodDirect.com. Use code PERTRTS3. Offer expires Dec. 31, 2010.
- Get $10 off $100 purchase at PetFoodDirect.com. Use code PER25SUP1. Offer expires Dec. 31, 2010.
- Save $5 on any order totalling $45 or more at PetFoodDirect.com. Use code PER10OFF2. Offer expires Dec. 31, 2010.
- Hot Category! Buy Veterinary Diet Pet Food at PetFoodDirect.com – 650 Free Shipping Products in the Flea and Tick Department at PetFoodDirect.com! No code necessary. Ongoing.

Are you a PetFoodDirect affiliate?
If you’re not promoting PetFoodDirect.com, apply today to become an affiliate here. PetFoodDirect specializes in meeting the needs of pet owners. We carry more than 13,000 products for dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, birds, small animals and fish all delivered to your customers’ doors! With more than 550 brands to choose from, your customers are sure to find the dog food, cat food, or other pet supplies they’re looking for! And don’t forget the well-deserved treats and toys!