Affiliate Marketing Training Kicks Off for Affiliate Program Managers

New York, NY (September 21, 2004) -- Affiliates are not happy with
most affiliate marketing programs, which are largely staffed by
"unresponsive, uninterested, and uninformed affiliate program
managers," according to the AffStat 2004 Report
(http://www.affstat.com).

Wayne Porter, President of event sponsor ReveNews.com concurs, "I
think affiliate managers need formal education to work through a
variety of complex issues."

While affiliate marketing is still a relatively new channel in online
marketing, the majority of big players in e-commerce understand the
power of affiliate marketing, as evidenced by the preponderance of
affiliate programs in the Internet Retailer Top 300 Retail Web Sites
(http://www.internetretailer.com/top300/top300sheet.htm).

However, while there are many thousands of affiliate programs, there
is a shortage of well versed, experienced affiliate managers.

Two affiliate managers who have been involved in the affiliate
marketing space since the 1990s, Beth Kirsch and Shawn Collins, have
recognized the need for education among affiliate managers.

They are running the first Affiliate Manager Boot Camp over the
weekend of November 6 (noon) - November 7 (4 pm) in the Pocono
Mountains (Bushkill, PA).

"The purpose of Affiliate Manager Boot Camp is to provide an intensive
workshop for a maximum of ten affiliate managers," according to
organizer, Beth Kirsch. "We will be providing them with a personalized
experience that will positively affect their bottom line."

The Boot Camp will span two days and consist of content sessions on a
variety of topics, breakout discussions, Q&A, informal networking, and
one-on-one assistance for optimizing affiliate programs.

The cost to attend Affiliate Manager Boot Camp will be $1,000 and
includes:

- Registration and materials
- Private accommodations at the Pocmont Resort & Conference Center
- Lunch and Dinner on November 6
- Breakfast and Lunch on November 7
- Free Wi-Fi access
- Energy food and drinks available all the time
- Participation in a private affiliate manager forum with attendees
and organizers after the Boot Camp
- Creation of a personalized action plan

"The Affiliate Manager Boot Camp will basically be MTV's Real World
meets affiliate marketing. We're bringing together a diverse group of
affiliate managers to work and learn together," commented organizer,
Shawn Collins. "After the event, they will have established a close
group of colleagues, plus they'll have an action plan ready for
implementation."

The curriculum for the event will cover issues such as creating
projections for affiliate program performance, choosing and leveraging
the best affiliate solution provider, recruiting affiliates, writing
affiliate communications, and avoiding affiliate program pitfalls.

More information about the Affiliate Manager Boot Camp can be found
at: http://www.affiliatemanagerbootcamp.com/

About Shawn Collins Consulting
Shawn is experienced with the interfaces of all of the affiliate
solution providers, having been an affiliate since 1997, and an
affiliate manager since 1998. When you outsource your affiliate
program management to Shawn Collins Consulting, Shawn will personally
maintain the relationship with the affiliates. The communications,
customer service, and all other interactions with affiliates will
never be delegated. As Director of Affiliate Marketing for ClubMom,
where he launched the affiliate program in March 2000, he's built one
of the premier per lead affiliate programs. In this role at ClubMom,
he was also a 'super affiliate' as he handled more than 120 affiliate
relationships with brands such as Barnes & Noble.com, Dell, and the
Gap. His book, "Successful Affiliate Marketing for Merchants" is the
best selling book in the space, and it is considered to be required
reading by affiliate managers.

Contact:

Shawn Collins
Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Collins Consulting
908-522-0056
scollins@affiliatemanager.net
AIM: affiliateconsult


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