Affiliate Marketing Fanatics 20: Fly, Fat A**, Fly (But not on Southwest)
Wednesday
Feb 17, 2010
Affiliate Marketing Fanatics – A couple of hyper-caffeinated affiliate marketers (Mike Buechele) and (Trisha Lyn Fawver) talk about all things Affiliate Marketing. From blogging to branding, social media to search, video and more!
We’re a little late this week but got going relatively quick. We chat a bit about social media and taxes in this episode, and have a good time doing it. I think we were keeping Mike warm with our banter! The episode comes in at a chunky, too-fat-to-fly 32:30. In in this episode we discuss:
- Google Buzz is a Buzz Kill
- Audience Conference 2010 is now open for registration. This year’s theme is Comedy.
- Kevin Smith’s Social Media battle with Southwest Airlines
- SModcast – Listen to 107: Go F— Yourself, Southwest Airlines and 106: Thinicism
- YouTube Videos of Kevin’s Final Words
- Southwest Airline’s Blog: Not So Silent Bob and My Conversation with Kevin Smith
- Follow hashtag #noadtax on Twitter for updates on the fights against the advertising tax in multiple states
- More information on the tax issues going on in various states can be found at:
- Performance Marketing Association: California Affiliates – It’s Time To Get Involved
- PMA: Vermont Affiliates – Your Urgent Help is Needed
- PMA: You Can Help Fight the Advertising Tax
- Affiliate Advocacy: Tension Mounts in Maryland
- AA: Illinois Internet Sales Tax Bill Surfaces
- AA: Virginia Gains Momentum and Double Threat
- Stephanie Lichtenstein’s blog: Top Ten Things On My Mind This Month
- EDIT: The Sacramento and San Diego trips we talk about were canceled late tonight. The CA bill will be heard in the morning and we may make a trip on Monday for the house hearing. Stay tuned!
Want to catch up with us & ask questions for the next show? Find us on Twitter: @MikeBuechele & @TrishaLyn. Or leave us a comment!
Affiliate Marketing Fanatics 19: It’s a Search Tool!
Wednesday
Feb 3, 2010
Affiliate Marketing Fanatics – A couple of hyper-caffeinated affiliate marketers (Mike Buechele) and (Trisha Lyn Fawver) talk about all things Affiliate Marketing. From blogging to branding, social media to search, video and more!
In this all-too-RARE episode, we reunite and make lots of fun of ourselves for being inconsistent in our scheduling and shows. We discuss some things that are kind of old and some things that are brand-spanking new. It happens. Incidentally, I realize I said the name Richard Attenborough when we were joking around and I was trying to reference those classic nature shows from our childhood with the stoic British actor describing gazelles running across the Serengeti. Not sure what the actor’s name actually was, but I know now that it wasn’t Sir Attenborough. Oh well, despite that, episode 19 comes in at a cheetah like speed of 39 minutes.
Also, I just fixed the audio problem where it cut off about 33 minutes in. Sorry, should be all good now! In this episode we discuss:
- My new gig with For Me To Coupon.
- The Advertising Tax hits Colorado. Read more about it here:
- Fox 31 KDVR News: Online sales tax bill moves through House
- Examiner.com: Are state representatives going to put work-at-home moms out of business overnight? (by Jen Goode!)
- Performance Marketing Association: Colorado House Passes Bill that Threatens to Devastate Affiliates (by Lisa Picarille!)
- The launch of Impact Radius – more of an exchange than a network.
- Seesmic Look. Seriously, what is this? We decided – it’s a search tool!
- 1938 Media starts 1938 Business & teams up with some heavy hitters to produce this year’s Audience Conference.
- Shout outs went to the losers of the Affiliate of the Year Pinnacle Award, Kim Rowley and Eric Nagel!
Want to catch up with us & ask questions for the next show? Find us on Twitter: @MikeBuechele & @TrishaLyn. Or leave us a comment!
ASE09 Session: Advertising Tax Impact (Trisha’s Take)
Monday
Aug 10, 2009
As you noticed, Dominic already posted his notes on the session, but here’s mine! Session Description: Discussion on the Advertising Tax by industry leaders that have played a key role in organizing industry advocates and educating legislators on the impact of state tax nexus legislation. The panel consisted of:
- Brian Littleton, President / CEO, ShareASale.com (Twitter @Brianlittleton) (Moderator)
- Karen Garcia, Partner, GTO Management (Twitter @karengarcia)
- Beth Kirsch, Volunteer, Performance Marketing Alliance (Twitter @bethkirsch)
- Melanie Seery, President, Affiliate Voice (Twitter @mellies)
I thought it was well done. Unfortunately there weren’t nearly as many people there as should have been. Hopefully they’ll read this and know that they need to get informed before their business is blindsided with these tax issues.
Bullet Point Review!
- The use tax system really doesn’t work right now, hence why states are looking to tax online retailers.
- All this involves Nexus.
- If you make a commission on a sale, you’re affected. Period.
- There’s a lot of misinformation out there – we’re trying to inform reporters enough to make them care about what’s really happening.
- There’s a different between an affiliate company and affiliates, which is somewhat difficult to properly explain to legislators.
- This is putting thousands of individuals out of business.
- We need to keep politics out of it – it’s not a Democrat or a Republican thing.
- SSTP (streamline sales tax project) not going to save us.
- It’s GOING to happen – don’t think you’re safe.
- This year it’s been introduced in 9 states – stopped in 7 of 9 (not RI or NC)
- Be sure to work with like minded people to get things done.
- It helps to have an internal advocate who knows the system’s ins & outs (a lobbyist or lobbying organization).
- The viral-ness worked well to defeat the bills.
- The CA bill would have passed had we not shown up, so it makes a BIG difference to stand up and help and make your voice heard.
- When talking to legislators, there are a few things to remember:
- The term “affiliate” is very confusing, but they understand advertising and small business owner.
- Don’t say you’re going to move out of state – if you do, you’re no longer their problem, so they don’t care.
- Keep your analogies simple – don’t get too technical or use jargon they won’t understand (CPA, PPC, SEO, etc).
- There are ways around it in New York
- First you have to meet the minimum sales threshold, so if you don’t make that you’re not affected.
- You can rebut the nexus.
- They haven’t yet found a way to rebut the nexus in Rhode Island and it’s too early to tell for North Carolina.
- Merchants can just charge tax to keep affiliates – but it is something they have to start working on NOW in the back end to avoid being blindsided.
- Affiliates need to prepare your business for it and keep lines of communication open.
- Solutions: retain a sales and use tax attorney and understand the law as best you can.
- DO NOT: incorporate your business in another state, use a false address, follow advice of someone who’s unlicensed, follow advice of a lawyer for another party, or try to circumvent the law. Working within the law is your best option.
- Being shady brings a bad name to the industry – your rep and the industries rep is under scrutiny
There was no time for a Q&A session because of all the awesome information they jam packed into that session. It was really great and I’m still just sad to see that more people weren’t there.
Please help by spreading the word about what’s being referred to as the Advertising Tax! And for your pleasure, here’s the presentation:
