If your interested please get in touch at the following email and we can discuss rates

I’ve also just finished my tax (yes the deadline was 31st jan) which is bit of weight off my shoulders, although it’s also a massive dent in my bank account! As it was for 08-09 which has been my best year the tax is hefty.

Just thought i’d post this quickly, anyone know what percentage of rent you can put against tax ?

What have I been doing

Well i’ve had exams this january and as this is my last year of Uni they count and so I’ve had a lot of revising to do. Christmas was really good, I escaped to the lake district and rented a nice cottage, the snow made it brilliant to get out and go on walks etc and totally chill without my laptop! Altho the new iphone did distract me a lot!

New year meant a look back at the previous year and look forward to this year, Where i’m hoping a lot of exciting projects are in the pipeline more said later.

I’ve literally just got back from a weekend in Barcelona with 4 of my uni mates and 2 who are over there doing a year abroad, this was a reason to go over to see them and also as I turned 21 yesterday meant I could celebrate turning the big 21 in a different city with some great mates and lots of drinks (including a pint with baileys in it, not v. nice see picture below followed by lots of shots)

The future

2010 im hoping will be a very good year for me. The end of 2009 has been slow in terms of revenue, due to not being able/having time to work on sites, I sold a few and have ploughed a lot of my money into buying generic domain names.

The idea is to build some large sites on them and get them highly ranked, then I aim to either keep them for a few years and keep building more or sell them and start something big! maybe become a merchant etc.

I’m currently looking into finding a flat with 2 mates who still have a year left of uni next year, thus i’ll be working on affiliate stuff full time for the first time ever, I may also look into getting some work experience or do some volunteering.

Anyway with some of the domains Ive bought im excited for the year to come. I should have my first site live on my favourite generic very soon and may just let you all see it

Anyway i’m writing this in the evening and ive had about 9 hours total sleep since friday so im knackered and think im going out tonight as well so I’ll stop writing now and set this to auto post tomorrow (or today when you read this). As i’ve said I’ll try and keep this blog updated again and not let it fall into silence! I’ll leave you with a few photos from my trip to barca!

I’ve been looking at the sites and domains I own and most are niche domains and sites with a few more generic ones, Now this is all well and good for making me some nice money but I’ve been thinking about going forward and trying to increase the value of sites I own or will own in the future. Therefore I’ve been buying a few domains at prices I’m not used to paying! Before the domains I’ve recently bought the most I’d paid for a domain was about £500, but I’ve been spending £xx,xxx on a single domain at a time, now this is big money for me, but I’m looking at them in terms of investments as well as new ventures.  There will always be risks when investing but I’ve weighed them up and believe that they will be (fingers crossed) good investments.

I’ve also bought domains which have the possibility of turning them into a non-affiliate business and becoming a merchant in a years time when I’ll have finished University.

Talking of University, I finished 2nd year this summer and now am going into my final year this september. I got a 2:1 in 2nd year and aim to keep that going third year while have crazy amounts of affiliate work too and of course while living the uni life (partying!)

If you own any generic domain names and are looking to sell them, get in touch with me

Also, i’m looking for people who may be interested in link swaps with some sites of mine. Including this site which features the latest range of outdoor shoes and other hiking boots.

I’ve also decided to head into sites which are my hobbies, such as my love for playing football has led me to purchase this football shirts website which aims to be the end all and be all of football shirt lovers, fingers crossed it will take off

Summing it up in one word I’d say …. amazing. I’m going to briefly sum the whole holiday up but I will no doubt miss many a story from it.

So me, Lee and the other Lee got a flight down from Manchester to Gatwick the night before so we didn’t have to have a crazily early start on the Monday, we stayed at the Hilton which was nice apart from the £20 breakfast, needless to say we didn’t take advantage of this. The evening at the Hilton we spent at wetherspoons having a meal and some drinks to start the holiday off, luckily didn’t feel too bad in the morning, we then all met at about 7am and got checked in. The flight was around 7/8 hours and time went quite fast after a few films!

We arrived and got a transfer to the hotel and this is the view from our balcony. We basically took over the hotel . We went out for a meal on the first night which although it took an age to get to us (was the fact that there was an extra 50 people in the place) it was good.

The second day we went on what was one of my favourite days. The Catamaran, as soon as we got onto it the bar was open and the music started. We then stopped at some places including snorkeling with turtles which was incredible. We also stopped on a really nice beach which turned into fruit fight with little fruits that came off the trees on there.

The 3rd day was also one of my favourite days which was the rum ball rally sponsored by LoveitLarge. The rally involved about 12 jeeps and teams of 4 in each and we had to go around the island doing what we wanted and trying to get the best photos possible, we had some fun/random times, we went offroad on the car up a massive hill, we asked for directions from a local women who didn’t have a clue, she asked us to follow but we did a quick turn in the road and speed off, only to meet her at the next cross roads which was bit akward!

We also had the joy of seeing this monkey, bit worse for wear! but we also went to a animal reserve and saw some which were in better shape, as well as parrots, snakes, tortoises (all getting it on) caymans, geckos and loads more.

The rally was a lot of fun, and everyone had different stories of what they got up. This took up most of the day so we all got back tired, but of course we didn’t stay in (didnt once really)

Below is a photo of our team, named team dead monkey, or team shiner.

Of course most the evenings were spent drinking, rum and coke and banks were the choice drinks ! We often ended up in a maxi taxi (see my facebook for a video) and at harbour lights which was $50 BBD around £18 for all you can drink … which always ended up in messy times!

Barbados is an amazing place and the locals are all so nice, they will just chat to you and always are chilled and happy! if only people in the UK were all like they were there!

The beaches there were incredible, white sands and blue sea. Here are two contrasting beaches we visited.

The holiday was a mix of having lots and lots of laughs,  drinking, relaxing, sunbathing, doing things wouldn’t normally do and all this with some amazing people! As others have said definitely made some friends for life from this holiday!

we also met dwight yorke on the last night

Highlights: Boatyard, rumball rally, catamaran, crane beach, harbour lights, maxi taxi’s, the radio, meeting all the amazing people.

Lowlights: Plane journey home (although it did involve a highlight in itself)

Im going to try my hardest to get onto this trip again next year! so so so so good. So massive thanks to Affiliate Future (James, Alex and Jess), Triviala for the ticket, and everyone who made it an unforgettable holiday!

More photos below (wish I could put all 250+ of mine up, as well as hundreds of other peoples too)

Incentives can vary through out merchants in the UK, and I’d thought I’d mention some incentives both good and bad.

First, the Good

AffiliateFuture’s Barbados competition this year and the past 3 years has been one of the best incentives/competitions for UK affiliates that has ever been around (as far as im aware). The chance to win a trip to Barbados is such as great prize and thus I entered it, even set up a small travel site and I know many others did. The great thing with this incentive is that there were many ways to win, not just from delivering the most sales etc! I was lucky enough to win a place on the trip which I cannot wait for! There will be no need for tanning products when im away there i tell you that!

As you may have seen a few posts earlier I posted about All Up and On, and there little competition asking to review items on there site and which you would have for the prices of £50, £100 and £200! Now this is pretty innovative as it interests everyone! I blogged about it and won the stainless steel drinks party tub! Shall be great in the summer (if only I could fit it in my bag to barbados!) This is a cracking incentive and hope to see more of these!

Now, the bad

I’m not really going to name names (much) as I feel its a tad unfair to pick certain merchants out, but the merchants who don’t do any incentives always disheartens me! especially if I send them a fair amount of sales.  I know you will be rewarded in commission but an added incentive can really mean people send many many times more. A quick example a mobile phone merchant put me on tiers, from base rate of £35 for a particular offer, up to £50 when I hit 70 sales, I did 72 that month in comparison to the month before where I got about 20! massive incentive!

On the other hand Ive started to push sales for a gambling merchant on AF, at £60 a pop commission it isn’t too bad, and they have an incentive! great I hear you shout, well unfortunately in my eyes its a poor incentive. For 50 sales a month I get a bonus of …. £70 ! So for sending 50 players I only get the equivalent of  1.167 extra person’s signing up! Now I thought gambling merchants were nice and generous seeing as they make so much ! obviously not!

Anyway, whats key if your a merchant is …. have an incentive to win something or tiers to increase commission ! Us affiliates LOVE them !

P.s UK networks, take some tips from AffiliateFuture on incentives and competitions

The first sum: £50

The black Bin Bin – a designer waster paper.

Why this ? Well firstly it’s looks make it stand out rather than one of those standard boring looking bins. Secondly as a student I tend to make a lot of mess and often have to empty my bin more often than i’d like too so one that looks good would make that  a lot more fun, and finally the biggest selling point . . . it would match my clothes in my room (all crumpled).

Available here The bin is available for only £36 inc VAT at the below link, giving me a bit of pocket change from the £5o. Oh and its available in 3 colors.

The second sum: £100

The define stainless steel party tub

Well this comes under budget at £60 so £40 left for alcohol to fill it of course. Now obviously as a student it would more likely have some cans of lager, cheap wine and vodka in it, but this thing of beauty would make them look a (enter expensive name of wine/champagne here)!

Available Here Only £60 inc VAT (not available in black but of course not its snazy stainless steel)

and now for

…

The final sum: £200

The Fatboy Original Beanbag

Well what can you say it just looks emmensely comfortable and I could see myself watching tv on it, playing my xbox on it, doing uni work on it, sleeping on it, recovering from a drinking session on it and more! I want it!!!

Available here for £149.00 inc VAT (oh and did you notice I do kind of like the colour black thus why all the photos are in black but this is available in a variety of colours too)

So in essence I’d have a lovely bin, a cracking party tub and somewhere to recover after using the party drink tub in the morning afterwards! Remember its all available here All Up And On and for all you affiliates you can promote it via AffiliateWindow.

Sunshine are known for there innovative ideas to get affiliates working with them and to get existing affiliates to push more sales to them. This time they are offering 6 places to barbados. Yep you read it right not just 1 or 2 but 6 places.

Now some of you will be reading this thinking “I’m a newbie I don’t make many sales I’ve not got a chance” well your wrong! The 6 ways of entering are all varied so everyone has a chance. From making one single sale to get you in with a chance to coming up with an innovative way of marketing them theres something for everyone.

To find out all the various methods of entering and more > http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/affiliate-future/102708-affiliate-future-barbados-trip-6-places-6-chances-win-sunshine-co-uk.html

I’m not going to lie and say I do loads of travel … infact I do very very little, but things like this make me want to start doing it again! My site Discount Hotels suddenly popped to number 1 in Msn search a couple of days ago which saw me get the odd sale or two and has made me think of developing this site more and more.

Now a great way I will be promoting sunshine is Niche! Please please please if your a newbie don’t set up a site that sells holidays everywhere. Start small. Focus on maybe Holidays in a town in a certain island, or just the island generally, you’ll have a much better chance of succeeding.

What kind of stuff do sunshine offer affiliates ?

Well they offer various methods all of which can be seen here > http://www.sunshine.co.uk/affiliates/ (the best affiliate portal for a merchant I’ve ever seen!)

What kind of commission shall I get ?

7% commission on accommodation and transfer sales. Oh and that chance to win a trip to Barbados!

Where do I sign up ?

Sunshine is available through AffiliateFuture. Sign up here

How long do I have ?

All the competition incentives finish on 30th April 2009.

So get promoting for your chance of a free holiday this summer as well as the chance to earn lots of commission too! (p.s your welcome to use the graphic at the top of this page to spread the word about this competition. Full size version can be found here)

Been busy with:
1. Affiliate Stuff
2. Tax (Got new accountant and so having to do accounts better and VAT stuff)
3. Uni work, now in 2nd year its starting get busier!
4. Going out, drinking, and general stuff with the gf.

Anyway, just to let you all know there is a Manchester Affiliate Meet up on Thursday the 19th from 5pm onwards at Kro Piccadilly

It’ll be a nice chance for a few drinks and informal chat. Mainly affiliates I believe, some agency staff, maybe some networks and merchants who knows

Thread on A4u about it > http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/affiliate-marketing-events/102557-manchester-get2gether-thursday-19th-march.html

Another discussing it here > http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/affiliate-marketing-lounge/100058-affiliate-events-up-north.html

So if your around that kind of time in Manchester come along!

A week or so back she PM’d me over at A4UForums asking if i’d like a follow up and of course I was more than happy to. To read to this click the link below.

The follow up can be found here: http://www.affiliatestuff.co.uk/affiliate-people/meet-the-real-affiliates-where-are-they-now-max-bramwell/

Hope you enjoy it