Archive for September, 2008

Christian Affiliate Program Directory - Sign up for yours today

Sep 30, 2008 Christian Affiliate Programs

I am stoked to announce that the Christian Affiliate Program Directory ebook is coming together nicely.  We have over 25 submissions from programs that would like to be included and I am in the process of reviewing the applications now.  I’d anticipate that we’ll have the ebook ready to ship in about 7-10 days.  With some help from the man upstairs and some friends, we’ll have it ready to distribute at the Illuminate Conference late next week.

I also plan to add some content on how to get started as an affiliate and some best practices to help you make an impact and avoid the pitfalls that I have encountered.

I wanted to thank all of the people who follow this blog regularly, I wanted to offer you the chance to receive a copy as well.   If you would like a copy of the Christian Affiliate Program Directory, please complete the sign up form at http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2d6sgzwfldwiikw/a0124fm53bx5n/questions

In exchange for what I think will be a helpful resource that will save you time and potential embarassment if you promote some of the bad actors, all I ask is that we can update you by email with news on new Christian programs or promotions from existing merchants from time to time.  I promise you we won’t abuse your permission.

God Bless,

Wade

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CAM Blog Podcast with Jim Kukral on Failure

Sep 30, 2008 Motivation and Success

Jim Kukral - serial entreprenuer and multiple time failureJim opened this podcast conversation with a great question… “What if this podcast … failed?”

I responded that it wouldn’t be the first time that happened.

A few weeks back I saw a video or post on Jim’s site talking failure and how it’s actually a fact of life in the business world.   We’re humans after all and according to one of the beliefs that most all of us here subscribe to, there has only ever been one perfect Man - and that man is not your or me.  As good as your intentions are, or your planning is, we’re all going to fail at some point, and usually multiple times.

Jim is a serial entrepreneur, so he fails more than most , and so I thought it would be awesome to have a chat with him on Failure and how to get past it. I sometimes swear that Jim comes up with some of his ventures with a dartboard or something.  Some of his ideas pan out really well and some don’t and get dropped to focus on what is working and other new ideas.

Jim and I discussed some business failures we have been involved in including companies we’ve been with that have tanked completely,  struggles we’ve had and how we’ve overcome Failure in our own business and personal lives.   The bottom line is this.  If you let Failure or the fear of it control you or paralyze you, you will never meet the potential that God gave you.

There is an element of risk involved in any business venture, mission venture, church plant, etc and the way I see it, the real failure is when you let fear of failure get in the way of taking that leap of faith that would put you in position to do awesome things in your life for your family, your business or your ministry.

We also talked about our run in last week with formal Apple head and current Venture Capitalist Guy Kawasaki and his stories of his failures that inspired us… and made some of our failures look pretty minimal.  Guy incidentally was one of the best Keynote speakers I have ever seen.  If you get the chance, see him.   He killed me when he was being intro’d by PR Wiz Steve Rubel and he countered Steve’s assertion that Guy was one of the world’s leading evangelists.   Guy corrected him saying “Jesus was pretty impressive… Billy Graham has done some cool stuff as well.”

The chat is a little goofy - but that’s Jim and I.   We hope you enjoy it and take inspiration from stories of our failures by realizing that it happens to everyone.  It’s learning from Failure and “getting back on the horse.” that differentiates the people who lead big lives from the folks that sit in the background with minimal impact.

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Inspirational and funny video for the morning

Sep 30, 2008 Faith in Culture

I’m not sure how many of the rest of you are like me who either walk around with those darn catchy FreeCreditReport.com jingles in your head.  They are on TV 85 times a day during prime time and it’s gotten to the point where my kids and youth group kids sing it without thinking.   Tim Hawkin did an awesome parody cover with a Christian theme that I enjoyed and it brightened up my (as of yet) caffeine free morning.

Enjoy.

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Presentation from GodBlogCon

Sep 26, 2008 Christian Networking Events

I have had a few requests to post my PowerPoint deck from the GodBlogCon presentation that I made.  You can download it below:

supporting-your-blog1

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Podcast with Alejandro Reyes - talking Illuminate Conference

Sep 25, 2008 Christian Marketing Events

I had the chance to chat with one of my favorite guys online this morning - Alejandro Reyes.

Alejandro and I chatted about an event that he has coming up here in about 2 weeks called the Illuminate Conference, that is taking place at the San Francisco Marriot October 10-12, 2008.   Illuminate is a different kind of Internet Marketing Conference in that the intent is openly Faith-based.  Attendees will have the chance to learn from and work with some amazing people in the online marketing business.   Speakers at Illuminate include:

  • Joel Comm
  • Jeff Mills (The Minister of Marketing)
  • Alejandro Reyes
  • Jermaine Griggs
  • Jason Stanly Marshall
  • Paul Counts
  • Monika Oganda
  • Ruddy Ortiz
  • Eric Farewell
  • Dr. Mike Woo Ming
  • Sanyika Calloway Boyce
  • Gary Zelesky
  • and me, Wade Tonkin!

All of the speakers share a passion for Christ and a passion for empowering attendees to build their businesses to allow them to support their families, churches and ministries the way they would like to.

I’d like to invite everyone to attend and will make a special offer - anyone who purchases their Illuminate registration through my link will get an hour of time with me to pick my brain on how you can make more money online through affiliate marketing promoting Christian offers that you can be proud to work with.

All attendees of the show will also recieve a copy of my new ebook the Christian Affiliate Program Directory - an excellent resource for beginning affiliate marketers, or experienced marketers who are looking to devote more energy to working with Christian merchants.

Check out the chat Alejandro and I had on Illuminate Conference 2008.

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Sign me up for Illuminate Conference 2008 - if you sign up by the end of September, you will save $300 on your registration fee and pay just $197

For a real treat and a kick start to your business, sign up at the VIP level ($497 this month)  and you will be included in a private dinner with the speakers on Saturday night and receive a DVD/CD  set featuring the sessions from the Illuminate 2008 -  VIP Tickets are going fast - if you are interested you can sign up now and enjoy small group access to some great Christian marketers.

Register now for Illuminate Conference 2008

If you have a list or a site or a blog that appeals to Christian internet marketers or folks who would like to learn to make money online, the Illuminate Conference does offer an affiliate marketing program.  You can earn 25% of registration revenue that you refer by joining the affiliate program - if you are interested, please contact me.

God Bless and see you in San Francisco.

Wade

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Last call for submissions for Christian Affiliate Program Directory eBook

Sep 24, 2008 Site Announcements

Hi,

If you have a Christian affiliate program that you would like to see included in my upcoming Christian Affiliate Program Directory ebook,  and you haven’t submitted your profile, time is running out fast.

I would like to get to the actual data import and formating of the book this weekend, so I will be closing down the submissions Friday night at midnight Pacific.

I want to be listed - please take me to the submission form!

If you have any questions, please email me through the site form, or call me at 360.540.0730

God Bless,

Wade

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Coming soon Christian Affiliate Marketing Today on Ustream

Sep 23, 2008 CAMBlog Videocast

After much prodding from Jim Kukral and Alejandro Reyes, I picked up a web cam last night and will be starting to do a Ustream show at least weekly focusing on educating and motivating Christian affiliates as well as matching them up with offers that they should be working with.

Keep your eyes peeled for announcements on scheduled shows and follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/camblog for impromptu shows and Q & A Sessions

God Bless,

Wade

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GodBogCon wrap up

Sep 23, 2008 Uncategorized

Last weekend, I headed to Las Vegas for GodBlogCon held in conjunction with the BlogWorldExpo.   I have to compliment the GodBlogCon team on a job well done as everything went really smoothly and the entire (100% student and volunteer) crew did a wonderful job at keeping things running on time and making sure everyone felt welcome.

I have to say I had one disconcerting moment when I was repeatedly called “Mr. Tonkin” by the extremely respectful and well meaning staff who clearly were not aware that “Mr. Tonkin” is in  fact my dad - who is some 28 years my senior - but we’ll let that pass.

I presented on “How to Support your Christian Blog… while staying Saved” and I think it went really well - I got lots of excellent questions and I hope everyone enjoyed it and found it useful in their blogging ministries.

I also got the chance to chat with some awesome folks from the secular side of blogging and online marketing that confirmed that the affiliate marketing model is alive and well.  Blogging studs like ProBlogger (Darren Rowse), CopyBlogger (Brian Clark) and John Chow all confirmed that affiliate marketing is a strong part of their money making mix on their sites along with Paid Sponsorships.  Chow even revealed that Affiliate revenue would soon outpace sponsor revenue on his site as he has recurring revenue arrangements with many of his merchant partners that compound earnings monthly.

I even got some great video with Darren talking about how he got his start in blogging as a “GodBlogger” with an assist and inspiration from “The Tall Skinny Kiwi“  Andrew Jones - who keynoted the GodBlogCon this year.  Will post that shortly.

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Blogging live from BlogWorld - GodBlogCon

Sep 20, 2008 Uncategorized

I am in Vegas to speak tomorrow at GodBlogCon - If you are in town, come see me at 11:00 am.

In the meantime, I am sitting in on a ton of different sessions from different tracks including blog monetization with a lot of my affiliate marketing peeps as well as sports blogging (www.skagitradio.com baby) and GodBlogCon.

I’ll try to share cool tips I pick up along the way - watch for quick notes on the right column viat Twitter or follow me at @camblog

God Bless,

Wade

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Death to Banner Farms!

Sep 11, 2008 Affiliate Rant

Okay all you newbie affiliates and prospective affiliates out there.  Here is some cold reality for you:

If your affiliate marketing business plan involves launching a site where you just slap up banners with no content - quit.  Now.  Please.  Just quit.

Here is the deal.  No content equals NO TRAFFIC equals no value at all to merchants and hence no chance for any results on your end.   I don’t even care if you just plan to send friends there.   Newsflash - they most likely won’t shop on your banner farm.  There is just no compelling reason to do so.

If you want to get started in affiliate marketing and don’t have a lot of web skills, I recommend getting started in one of a couple ways.

1.  Blogging - get your self a blog - use Blogger or Free Wordpress if you must.   I’d recommend making a commitment to the project and getting a domain of your own as I am prejudiced against affiliates who apply for programs with a XXX.blogger.com or xxx.wordpress.com address.   Why - because it doesn’t show any commitment to being a successful marketer.   Get yourself a “brand” and work that brand through your web address.

2. Check out Squidoo - Squidoo allows you to build out niche pages on the topic of your choice.   They can do nicely in search and you can get traffic from the network until you learn how to market yourself and drive traffic.

Please… Please… Please… bring something to the table.   Share your point of view.  Write about products and companies you like.   Learn something new and blog on the process and what you learn.   Just please bring something unique to the table.

You don’t in any way have to be an SEO genius or a stud programmer anymore.    You just need to have something to say.

God Bless,

Wade

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