VigLink

June Spotlight on the Merchants: Summer Edition

June 26, 2012

Each month we take a look at a few of our favorite VigLink merchants as part of our Spotlight on the Merchants series. In our June edition, we share a few of our favorite merchants for finding that perfect summer outfit, tune, or activity.

Each of these merchants is an eligible VigLink merchant, which means if you are a VigLink user and send traffic to any of these sites that results in a sale, you’ll get paid! When you are creating content centered around summer, consider linking to these merchants when you reference products and services.

NastyGal.com

For readers with an eye for Vintage, Nasty Gal has a great selection of vintage inspired swimwear and other summer essentials. When you are creating content around summer styles and fashion, be sure to include links to Nasty Gal’s fun summer items.

Newegg.com

When you are creating content around electronics or gadgets that can enhance your day by the pool or beach, Newegg has you covered. For readers who will be spending their summers poolside, Newegg offers portable speakers, mp3 players, and waterproof cameras, all at great prices.

Groupon.com

Groupon is your readers’ source for budget conscious summer fun: they offer exclusive deals for everything from international travel to summer snacks. When you are pulling together lists for summer deals or sharing tips for how to save money as the weather warms, consider featuring one or more Groupon deals in the mix.

iTunes.com

iTunes.com is a great place to link to when discussing the best summer music, movies, apps and more. When writing content about the music for your summer party, iTunes will always have a great selection of tunes that will suit your needs.

Zappos.com

While Zappos is certainly known for its infinite array of shoes, they also have an excellent selection of clothing, beauty products, accessories and more. When writing posts about the perfect pair of summer sandals, make sure to also include the the bathing suits and beach towels they also offer.

Tags: Merchants
Posted in Merchant Spotlight

VigLink Makes the Shortlist for LinkShare’s Innovative Publisher of the Year Award

June 14, 2012

LinkShare, one of the world’s most recognized names in affiliate marketing program management, has just announced their Golden Link Award Finalists for 2012 and we’re pleased to have been short listed for the Innovative Publisher of the Year award!

VigLink is not your average publisher — we are partnered with thousands of forums, blogs, social discovery sites and editorial sites focused on everything from coin collecting to Volkswagon cars. It provides us with a unique opportunity to help a network’s merchants reach highly-targeted audiences that it can be difficult to market to via traditional affiliate marketers.

For those interested, below is a little bit more detail on how we partnered more deeply with LinkShare and our innovative approach to increasing revenue for their merchant partners.

An Innovative Objective / An Innovative Approach

Our objective with LinkShare over the past 12 months has been two-fold:

Introduce publishers to the LinkShare network that would be unlikely to partner directly with the network on their own (due to technical or time limitations).
Ensure these publishers successfully promote LinkShare merchants and drive incremental revenue on behalf of the network.

Our strategy centered heavily around recruiting a very specific type of publisher, one that wasn’t already working with LinkShare, but could still be a value add to the network.

Publishers were typically non-affiliates, whose sites were focused on a niche topic and whose site format was either a blog or forum, rather than a traditional affiliate site. The long-tail strategy was implemented via the customer success, marketing, and business development teams at VigLink.

The results have been great so far: VigLink is on track to drive a 240% increase in the revenue we generate for LinkShare this year versus last year!

We can’t wait for the awards ceremony on June 26, 2012 in New York City to see who wins. Our CEO, Oliver Roup, along with our merchant relationship manager, Mika Uehara will be on hand to root on the other finalists in-person at the luncheon (and are looking forward to seeing and catching up with some of you in New York!).

Tags: Merchants
Posted in Merchant Best Practices, Merchant Spotlight, Re-Inventing Affiliate Marketing

May Spotlight on the Merchants: Mother’s Day Edition

May 1, 2012

Each month we take a look at a few of our favorite VigLink merchants as part of our Spotlight on the Merchants series. In our May edition, we share a few of our favorite merchants for finding that perfect Mother’s Day gift (Mother’s Day is May 15th).

Each of these merchants is an eligible VigLink merchant, which means if you are a VigLink user and send traffic to any of these sites that results in a sale, you’ll get paid! When you are creating content centered around Mother’s Day, consider linking to these merchants when you reference products and services.

SpaFinder.com

SpaFinder.com is your source for spa, travel, and wellness experiences worldwide. A perfect resource to find a great spa gift certificate for Mom this year.

Wine.com

For the Mothers that double as wine lovers, Wine.com offers a comprehensive selection of fine and bargain wines — and they ship across the United States!

Jewelry.com

With free shipping and free 30-day returns, Jewelry.com makes jewelry shopping for Moms, wives, and significant others low-risk and hassle free.

Shutterfly.com

Whether it be a perfect print, customized coffee mug, photo book, or tote, Shutterfly offers a world of ways to share your picture perfect memories as a gift that Mom is sure to love.

CoffeesofHawaii.com

For the coffee drinkers, CoffeesofHawaii.com offers a large selection of gourmet coffee beans. Readers will be sure to fine just the right selection for the Mom in their lives.

KitchenAndMuchMore.com

KitchenandMuchMore.com offers a full selection of kitchenware, gadgets — even kitchen storage and furniture. The perfect spot to find that perfect gift for the culinary whiz in your life.

Tags: Merchants
Posted in Merchant Spotlight

April Spotlight on the Merchants: Spring has Sprung

April 2, 2012

Each month, we take a look at a few of our favorite VigLink merchants as part of our Spotlight on the Merchants series. In our April edition, we share a few of our favorite merchants for sprucing up your garden and home for spring, as well as the best suppliers for outdoor gear for hiking, camping, and biking as the weather warms.

Each of these merchants is an eligible VigLink merchant, which means if you are a VigLink user and send traffic to any of these sites that results in a sale, you’ll get paid! When you are creating content centered around themes like home & garden, outdoor gear, and basketball season, consider linking to these merchants when you reference products and services.

Garden.com

Garden.com “celebrates outdoor living” — and helps your readers get their yards, patios, and other outdoor living areas ready for summer barbecues, new gardens and warm spring nights.

HomeDepot.com

HomeDepot.com features great deals on patio furniture and other outdoor gear, but also everything your readers need to spruce up the house for springtime — building materials, flooring, lighting, paint and more. Help your readers get their homes ready for spring with HomeDepot.

Moosejaw.com

Moosejaw.com carries high-quality outdoor wear from brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Marmot and Black Diamond — all at great prices. If your site discusses clothing in some capacity, this site will be a great resource to link to.

BackCountry.com

BackCountry.com is a one-stop-shop for both men’s and women’s outdoor gear — and many of the products can be found at outlet prices here. The site is another great resource to link to when building spring-themed content centered around outdoor gear.

SportsMemorabilia.com

Basketball season will be in full swing all through April — help your readers stock up on their favorite NBA teams’ jerseys and other gear at SportsMemorabilia.com.

Golfsmith.com

April not only features several major PGA tournaments, it’s also the time of the year that many casual golfers hit the green again. If your readers will be tuning into the tournament, or taking their clubs out during April, consider leveraging Golfsmith.com as a resource for golf apparel, accessories, and gear. The online store features, clubs, shoes, balls, bags and more.

Posted in Merchant Spotlight

March Spotlight on the Merchants: Get Ready for Spring Break & March Madness

March 1, 2012

Each month, we take a look at a few of our favorite VigLink merchants as part of our Spotlight on the Merchants series. In our March edition, we share a few of our favorite spring break suppliers, as well as gear for March Madness and summer concert season.

Each of these merchants is an eligible VigLink merchant, which means if you are a VigLink user and send traffic to any of these sites that results in a sale, you’ll get paid! When you are creating content centered around themes like Spring Break and March Madness, consider linking to these merchants when you reference products and services.

GlassesUSA.com

For those of us that wear glasses or contacts, the right pair of prescription sunglasses can be difficult to find. GlassesUSA makes it easy to find just the right pair — right in time for a spring getaway.

Travelocity.com

If your readers, like us, are starting to get tired of the cold weather, consider sharing some of Travelocity’s amazing deals on your site — and help visitors plan just the right escape to warmer weather!

RealCyclist.com

As the weather warms up, your readers will be looking for ways to get outside more often. A bike can be an inexpensive / easy way to get ready for summer. Help your readers find just the right one this March using RealCyclist.com.

IrvsLugguage.com

When you’re sharing or creating content around spring break and summer travel, it makes sense to include an option for luggage. Irv’s Luggage offers a low-price guarantee, free shipping, and carries all the major luggage brands including Tumi, The North Face, and Samsonite.

TicketNetwork.com

The spring and summer concert season is almost upon us! As your readers begin to fill up their calendars, help them find great seats at all their favorite shows using TicketNetwork.

eCampus.com

Help your readers score their favorite sweatshirt, t-shirt, or cap from their favorite university at eCampus. Choose from 100+ schools and hundreds of items — just in time for March Madness!

Posted in Content Monetization, Merchant Spotlight, Publisher Best Practices, Re-Inventing Affiliate Marketing

February Spotlight on the Merchants: Valentine’s Day Gifts & Taxes Made Easier

February 1, 2012

Each month, we take a look at a few of our favorite VigLink merchants as part of our Spotlight on the Merchants series. In our inaugural edition, we share our favorite sources for Valentine’s Day gifts and a few resources your readers might be turning to this month for help with their taxes!

Each of these merchants is an eligible VigLink merchant, which means if you are a VigLink user and send traffic to any of these sites that results in a sale, you’ll get paid! When you are creating content centered around Valentine’s Day or Tax Season (both hugely popular with consumers this month), we suggest you keep this list top of mind.

My M&Ms (mymms.com)

Choose from over 25 custom colors and an endless combination of customized print options to make a batch of M & M’s that are truly your own.

A great idea to share with those readers buying for the chocolate lover in their life!

Jewelry.com (jewelry.com)

For high-quality well-priced jewelry, look no further than this “gem” of a site. A great Valentine’s Day gift idea!

American Greetings (americangreetings.com)

American Greetings offers Valentine’s cards, e-cards, and beautiful stationary in a single stop. Help your readers check every Valentine off their list in a single stop!

FTD.com (ftd.com)

Flowers are another easy gift for loved ones this Valentine’s Day. FTD can deliver a bouquet of fresh flowers to almost any part of the world — at an extremely reasonable price.

Hotels.com (hotels.com)

For readers that are thinking of going away the weekend before or after Valentine’s Day — help them get the best deal on a hotel with Hotels.com (up to 50% off!).

GiftBaskets.com (giftbaskets.com)

GiftBaskets.com offers special arrangements of food, wine, chocolate and other goodies for absolutely all occasions. Including, of course, Valentine’s Day.

Turbo Tax (turbotax.com)

Americans spend a collective 7.6 billion hours and $140 billion each year preparing to file their taxes. As a result, it’s a safe bet that taxes — and how to complete them efficiently, while saving money — will be a top concern for readers.