Shawn Collins has been a great contributer to the internet marketing world. He co-founded affiliate summit, and runs a very helpful blog, blog.affiliatetip.com. Thanks to Mr. Collins for taking the time out to do the interview!
You currently have many projects going online, do you have a favorite?
[Shawn Collins] As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a writer. So I see blogging as something of a passion project. I enjoy writing every day on affiliate marketing and other subjects.
Why did you decided to start Affiliate Summit?
[Shawn Collins] There was an existing conference called Affiliate Force, but I thought there were a lot of aspects that could be improved. I offered my suggestions to the guy running Affiliate Force, and he wasn’t interested in what I had to say. Soon after, I approached my current partner, Missy Ward, and we began devising Affiliate Summit.
Affiliate Summit has seen great success. Any big plans for the future?
[Shawn Collins] In addition to the big east and west Affiliate Summit shows, we are going to start putting on single day niche events around the U.S. (i.e. social media and affiliate marketing or video and affiliate marketing).
Why type of internet marketing got you started in the industry?
[Shawn Collins] I didn’t have any marketing background when I got started. In early 1997, I started up as an affiliate for Amazon, and later that year I managed to get a job as an affiliate manager for an online medical bookstore. It was on the job training and I’ve learned every day since then.
What effect do you think blogging has had on affiliate marketing?
[Shawn Collins] Blogs has been a blessing and a curse for affiliate marketing. The blog as a publishing platform has made it easier for aspiring affiliates to get into the business and make money without any technical skills. However, the automation enabled by blogs has led to extensive content theft, spam blogs, comment spam, etc.
Do you have any blogs you read on a daily basis?
[Shawn Collins] Off the top of my head, I regularly read 45n5.com, calacanis.com, CostPerNews.com, JimKukral.com, ReveNews.com, Search Engine Land, and Seth Godin’s Blog.
Any personal plans/goals you have coming into the new year?
[Shawn Collins] I actually just blogged about that a couple days ago: http://blog.affiliatetip.com/archives/new-years-resolutions-from-affiliate-summit/
Thanks to Shawn Collins again for doing the interview! Everyone go and check out blog.affiliatetip.com, tons of useful information there!
Affiliate Summit West is coming up and I wish I could go, however I am only 18 so going to Vegas would not be much fun for me. I will however be attending Affiliate Summit East in Boston this August! Is anyone else going?
Popularity: 30% [?]