Leadpile’s Blog

Twitter has become a phenomenon. People connect to each other, following each other, and I guess create a different type of network. Even at a point where Evan Williams doesn’t know exactly how to monetize it, he is improving the core of the platform. Slowly, but surely, it’s becoming one of the new “things to do” online. From the networking perspective, Twitter is offering an amazing opportunity for companies out there to keep their readers informed with what is going on at the current moment. Apparently, even the journalists can make some extra money by releasing the news to their subscribers before the article shows in the paper. Of course the subscribers should pay a membership fee.

Leadpile will most likely use Twitter as well, keeping our clients informed with what is going on in the office. We can update the clients on new offers, increase in payouts, or the addition of new buyers in a certain verticals.

If you are using the Twitter, please follow our messages … Just search for vp_leadpile on Twitter, and you will find me.

Leadpile Lead Exchange is happy to be a part of another great way to network.  The eComXpo is a great place to find new affiliates and companies out there, right at your fingertips.  There are virtual booths, a networking lounge, presentations and even an ability to exchange business cards.  If you are not a part of the eComXpo craze, take a look and see how to become a part of this modern innovative way to network from your computer.

That special day for “lovebirds” is approaching, and the many dating sites out there are competing to get some love matches for the big day.  According to DMNews, single consumers are shopping for love on the web. DMNews also states, “The US online dating market will reach $932 million in 2011, and European online dating will double by the same time, according to JupiterResearch. The beginning of the year is one of the busiest times for this market.” So is this true, singles have new resolutions and now are looking for that “cupid” online?
The statistics seem to show that those surfing the net for love, and those that actually click on advertisements/offers increased at the end of January/beginning of February. Based on this information, generating dating leads might be something we work a little faster to get into here at Leadpile Lead Exchange. It seems most of those lead buyers that are looking for dating leads, are looking for personal information about the consumer. This is something we are already capturing to a degree, so maybe this is something we start drumming up some business for.

Cupid + Leadpile Lead Exchange = Match?

As many of you already know, LinkedIn is a great source for networking.  I was looking over the site and came across and very good article about the benefits of LinkedIn.  I thought I would share this information with the Leadpile readers.  According to LinkedIn blog, there are 10 potential benefits to using LinkedIn:

1. Increase your visibility
2. Improve your connectability
3. Improve your Google PageRank
4. Enhance your search engine results
5. Perform blind, “reverse,”

and company reference checks
6. Increase the relevancy of your job search
7. Make your interview go smoother
8. Gauge the health of a company
9. Gauge the health of an industry
10. Track startups

Leadpile Lead Exchange and myself included, utilize LinkedIn as a great source to network with other companies. If this is not something you are already doing, I strongly suggest taking a look and seeing all the benefits of using this great site. We would love to hear from you on LinkedIn.

If you want to access your LinkedIn on the go.

In recent news, another state has implemented regulations regarding payday lending locations. An ordinance was passed in Springfield City, IL requiring a minimum distance between payday loan stores.  It appears some legislators are also looking to try and get some regulations implemented about the maximum interst rate allowed on the loans.  This is something that is already in place in several states around the US.  Leadpile Lead Exchange will keep an eye on this, because we are working a lot with the payday loan industry and always want to keep updated on any new news going on.

I have to share some information that I obtained from the Affiliate Summit Vegas.  In a informative pamphlet given out by Davis & Gilbert LLP, they point out some helpful tips that affiliates should pay attention to.

1.  Know your stats- make sure you receive sufficient feedback and reporting on your accounts.

2.  Know what is being done with your data- use data in a ethical legal way according to all privacy laws.

3.  Any new partnerships, always get the agreement in writing- anyone doing business for you or with you, make sure agreements are in writing for you to always refer back to.

4.  Have a game plan for 1 year, 5 years down the road- where do you want your company to be in the near future or even years down the road?  Have a plan.

5.  Know what you are agreeing to – if you are signing up with a new affiliate or starting a new offer, make sure you know all the ins and outs of what you just agreed to.

6.  Have insurance- corporations need to make sure they are adequately insured (ie- errors and omissions, liability and possibly some other applicable types of insurance).

7.  Know what your employees are doing with your systems and data- monitor what is happening in your business with your own employees and partners. The more involved you are in all aspects of your business, the more you will know what is going on. Proactive NOT reactive!

8.  Corporate housekeeping-keep all that you are doing as a company organized.

9.  Monitor internal and external business practices regularly

10. Have good ethics- those affiliates that do things “right” will have a long successful affiliate marketing partnerships.  Those that choose to try and “beat” the system will be short lived.

Becoming the best affiliate you can become is very important in building your business.  Leadpile Lead Exchange is very concerned about how it conducts business and making sure it maintains the highest standards.  Like any other affiliates, if there is room for improvement we are always open to getting feedback from our partners and clients.  Have some additional tips…. We would love to hear them.

According to Hitwise.com, in the last month of 2008 Google accounted for 72.07% of US searches. I know, this is no surprise, but the part that caught my eye was what categories people were searching.

This article breaks down the subject matters that consumers searched for on Google, and I was a little surprised financial related searches were so far down on the list.

Of the people who searched on GOOGLE, here is what categories they searched:

Health and Medical   44.45%

Travel  36.24%

Shopping and Classifieds  25.81%

News and Media  20.54%

Entertainment  24.83%

Business and Finance  19.19%

Sports  13.33%

Online Video  33.69%

Social Networking 17.87%

Leadpile Lead Exchange deals a lot with financial lead types so this is a little surprising to me.  People searching for a payday loan, new car, debt help and other finanicial assistance I would have thought would have more people looking versus the “travel”?  Are people traveling these days and trying to find deals still?  Maybe it is time to promote our vacation offer.

A recent post by the Payday Pundit brings light to an interesting article in the Omaha World Herald.  This article draws a comparison between the payday loan fees and the health care industry.  According to the Herald, “A study of payday loans in the Omaha area concluded that more than $19 million in excessive fees were not spent in other ways last year, with the health-care industry bearing the brunt of the lost dollars.”  The article also goes on to say payday loans should not be banned because the alternatives are even worse for those states that have payday loans outlawed.   I am confused?  Do they want to keep payday loans or get rid of them?

Leadpile Lead Exchange is always looking for news going on with different states in the payday loan industry, however I am a little unclear if this is a article to promote payday loans or an article against payday loans?  How do you see it?

Okay I have to go a little off the normal lead generation talk and say “hats off” to the Arizona Cardinals!   They have won the NFC playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25.  We have gone through many many years of hurtful losses, however that has FINALLY changed for our AZ Cardinals.  Fans all over have been saying “SHOCK THE WORLD”, and that is surely what is happening right now.  Leadpile Lead Exchange will be rooting on their hometown Arizona Cardinals!  ANYTHING is possible, if you believe in it!

GO CARDINALS!

DMNews offers some helpful suggestions on maintaining your pay per click campaign (PPC) on a strict budget.
1.  Distribute your efforts- Utilize all search engines for advertising, not just Google
2.  Use Negative keywords
4.  Choose when your ads are “live” wisely
5.  Geo target
6.  Analyze your reports regularly

When starting out not everyone has all the knowledge and money to do advertising effectively.  Therefore, researching and trying to listen to other expert’s advice is probably the best way to roll out a new PPC campaign.  Many publishers I deal with at Leadpile Lead Exchange have an ability to have a large ROI, but not if they are not running their PPC campaign effectively.  No matter what network you are doing lead generation in, utilize the search engines reporting AND your affiliate manager to help you fine turn the pay per click campaign.  REMEMBER:  A successfull PPC is also beneficial to the network you are doing lead generation with.  Therfore, it is in the best interest of both sides to make the PPC campaign work effectively.

Thank you to all the affiliates that stopped by our Meet Market booth on Sunday!  We look forward to working with some of you in the near future.  Overall the Affiliate Summit was great turnout.   The only challenge I saw was the need for some more meeting rooms.  Meeting with current or potential new clients is one main reason for attending the summit, and I have to say finding a room to meet in was sometimes a little more difficult.  The other thing I noticed was that Vegas was just not Vegas.  The streets were more vacant and the casinos were certainly filled with less people.  Has the economy hit Vegas????? Overall a great show!  Thanks Affiliate Summit staff.

According to emarketer.com, 2009 is going to be the year of spending advertising dollars on online video.

US marketers responded on how they plan to spend their 2009 online marketing budgets.

Of the people surveyed, here is who plans on spending their budgets on what:

1.  Online video  (66.8%)

2.  Social media   (41.6%)

3.  Search    (34.1%)

4.  Podcasts/webcasts (32%)

5.  Rich media  (30.5%)

6.  Banner ads   (22.8%)

7.  Mobile  (17.4%)

8.  Other   (6.8%)

This shows that more than two-thirds of respondents said they would focus their budgets on online video in 2009. According to the article, “eMarketer estimates that spending on online video advertising will grow to $4.6 billion in 2013, representing a more than sevenfold increase from the $587 million spent on the format in 2008.”  Therefore, if you are not planning on doing any online video with your marketing campaigns, you might want to at least entertain the idea.  Leadpile Lead exchange is utilizing online video to educate the public on Leadpile. Take a look in YouTube and see for yourself. How will you try and utilize online video to help promote your company?  Time to start thinking about that.