Search affiliates: Meet your new frenemy – Google Instant

So, search tools that make things go faster are good, right? Wait. Before you answer that question – you’d better read up on Google Instant.

Google Instant will predict what searchers want to find while they are still typing their search and will bring results before the full terms are ever entered. What does this mean for all of those great long-tail search terms you’ve worked so hard to capture through your optimization efforts? It could be good – or bad.

Google Instant allows searchers to continually refine their search on the fly until the searcher gets the desired result. So it’s possible that long-tail terms will still be searched – but perhaps not as often as in the wonder years now know as BGI (Before Google Instant). For searchers, the benefit being touted is that Google Instant saves 2-5 seconds per search.

Users CAN deactivate Google Instant (at least for now). It is being rolled out now and should reach most U.S. Google users this week.
It’s too early to predict the overall effect of Google Instant on search engine optimization and search affiliates, but you would all be wise to be there now – testing and watching your analytics to see how the new search functionality is affecting your organic search results, site traffic, etc.

The Gallery Collection launches in Google Network

The Gallery Collection affiliate program is now live in the Google Affiliate Network under the management of Schaaf-PartnerCentric.

The Gallery Collection by Prudent Publishing is the leading business-to-business publisher of premium quality personalized Christmas cards, holiday cards, and All-Occasion greeting cards in the United States. Established in 1929 and still family owned, The Gallery Collection has earned its reputation by combining beautiful craftsmanship with outstanding customer service. From the creation of new greeting card designs all the way through the delivery of orders, exceptional quality is of utmost importance to us.

Available only from The Gallery Collection, our unique greeting cards feature lush, richly textured papers; brilliant shimmering foils; rich, glowing colors; and deep, sculpted embossing. Your greeting cards may be personalized with your company or personal name and message and will be delivered to you with unsurpassed quality and care.

The low, direct-from-the-publisher pricing includes your customized personal ink imprint and a large selection of memorable greetings. Also included at no additional cost are our matching deckle-edged envelopes made of recycled paper.

Affiliates earn 10% commission. For more information, and to sign up to become an affiliate of The Gallery Collection on the Google Affiliate Network, visit http://www.gallerycollection.com/affiliateprogram.htm.

Introducing the Catholic Match affiliate program

Attention affiliates – CatholicMatch.com is the number one online service for single Catholics, and it now has an affiliate program for you to join and promote. CatholicMatch.com has remained committed to providing an environment for community and friendship.

From its beginnings to now, CatholicMatch.com helps users to more easily form a relationship based on a commonality in faith, which God willing, can ultimately lead to a fulfilling marriage.

Click here to learn more about this new affiliate program in the CJ network and signup to become an affiliate today!

TRACFONE Wireless program live on CJ network

Schaaf-PartnerCentric is pleased to welcome new client TracFone Wireless and is now managing the affiliate program on the CJ network.

TRACFONE Wireless is the largest nationwide prepaid wireless service provider with more than 11 million subscribers. Affiliates will earn as much as a 22% commission on the sale of wireless phones, accessories and prepaid airtime (when purchased in conjunction with a phone).

Affiliates can learn more about the program and apply to join it here –
https://signup.cj.com/member/brandedPublisherSignUp.do?air_refmerchantid=1038777

Important Message from Scandia Down/Scandia Home

We are writing today on behalf of Hanover Direct, Inc., to inform you that Scandia Down / Scandia Home will be ending their affiliate program effective May 31, 2010, at 11:59 pm EDT. Scandia Down will continue to pay commissions per the current terms on sales placed through 5/31/10, after which you may remove your links to these sites.

You may still use affiliate@scandiadown.com to seek answers to your questions and concerns through 5/31.  Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Thank you and best wishes on behalf of Schaaf PartnerCentric, Hanover Direct and Scandia Down.

Karen & Chris

The Scandia Down Affiliate Team
affiliate@scandiadown.com

Important Message from The Company Store

 We are writing today on behalf of Hanover Direct, Inc., to inform you that The Company Store and Company Kids will be closing down their affiliate programs effective April 30, 2010, at 11:59 pm EDT. The Company Store and Company Kids will continue to pay commissions per the current terms on sales placed through 4/30/10 at 11:59 pm EDT, after which you may remove your links to these sites. 

You may still use affiliate@thecompanystore.com to seek answers to your questions and concerns through 4/30.  Feel free to contact us with any questions.

 Thank you and best wishes on behalf of Schaaf PartnerCentric, Hanover Direct, The Company Store and Company Kids.

 Karen & Chris

 The Company Store and Company Kids Affiliate Team
 affiliate@thecompanystore.com

California residents pay no sales tax on MarineDepot.com

MarineDepot.com is offering no sales tax for California residents when they use code NOCALTAX. The offer is good through June 15, 2010.
Affiliates may use the following CJ text Linkto promote this special offer: 10773294

Are you promoting MarineDepot.com?
We’ve combined two top-tier pet websites, MarineDepot.com and PetStore.com, into one powerful program. You can choose to promote only PetStore, only MarineDepot, or you can choose to promote both! MarineDepot.com is an industry leader in saltwater and freshwater aquarium supply sales and carries 7,000 popular and hard-to-find items. PetStore.com is a full-service online pet shop that carries 25,000 products for dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, birds, small animals and ponds/water gardens.
Learn more and sign up now to promote Pet Store/ Marine Depot!

Contact the affiliate program management team at Schaaf-PartnerCentric with any questions you may have about the MarineDepot.com affiliate program. We’re here to help.

eBay gives affiliates opportunity to sell iPad

eBay has mobilized to be at the forefront of pre-order sales for Apple’s new iPad, creating a great opportunity for affiliates who promote the new gadget on the auction site.

Indeed, outside of Apple stores, the only other place consumers will be able to purchase Apple’s new iPad will likely be on eBay.com, which gives eBay affiliates an excellent opportunity to promote this in-demand device. It is estimated by AAPL Sanity Board that about 152,000 iPads were sold in the first day of their pre-order availability on March 12.

While not surprisingly demand has tapered off somewhat since that initial flood of orders, an estimated 1,000 iPads continue to be pre-ordered every hour. That means iPad sales still have great potential for eBay affiliates, who have have another advantage in that iPhone keyword search phrases are some of the best converting in the eBay cell phone and cell phone accessory categories.

A paid search campiaign being undertaken by eBay is intended to drive customers and clicks to eBay.com for the pre-sale debut of Apple’s latest gadget. Ads on the major search engines entice customers to “Get ready for the iPad. Join millions and become an eBay user today! – www.eBay.com.” Consumers who click on the paid search ads are directed to eBay’s iPad landing page at http://ipad.eBay.com.

From http://ipad.eBay.com, consumers can watch the iPad launch video, learn more about the new device, read product specifications and product reviews.

eBay made a similar push for such in-demand gadgets at the Playstation and Wii consoles and the Apple iPhone.

To create links, eBay affiliates may use the link generator tool with either the custom url or item id options. Use the link generator tool as the anchor text with this link: https://publisher.ebaypartnernetwork.com/PublisherToolsLinkGenPage

To learn more about becoming an eBay affiliate, visit us online at http://www.affiliates.partnercentric.com/ebay/.

Learn more about how to succeed as an eBay affiliate by reading the eBay Partner Network blog at http://www.ebaypartnernetworkblog.com/en/.

Program Update: Change in the MyFax and my1voice Affiliate Program Management

Effective March 16, 2010, the MyFax and my1voice Affiliate Program will no longer be managed by PartnerCentric. Please don’t worry though; this change will not harm your efforts to promote MyFax and my1voice. You will not have to update any of your links and can still expect to receive the same great level of attention and support.

All of the MyFax and my1voice terms are remaining the same on Commission Junction. You will still earn the same commission rate and will still be paid promptly each month. The only difference is that PartnerCentric will no longer be managing the program. These activities are being taken back in-house, where we are sure you will continue to receive the same great attention to detail and support that have made MyFax and my1voice the successful program it is today.

Please continue to use the affiliates@protus.com email address to seek answers to your questions and inquires. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

CJ hosting PayPerCall demo next Tuesday

PartnerCentric has several merchants who are using Commission Junction’s PayPerCall platform. If you want to learn more about CJ PayPerCall and how it works – you should register today to attend the webinar at 11 a.m. Pacific next Tuesday.

CJ PayPerCall enables merchants to manage call-based campaigns and reward affiliates for driving high-quality calls.

The demo lasts 30 minutes and explains how CJ PayPerCall works. A live Q&A session will take place at the end of the demo, so bring your questions.