I typically speak about 25-30 times per year at various shows around (and sometimes outside of) the United States.

However, there is usually a week or two reprieve between each obligation. Since each presentation is unique and takes some significant preparation time (preparation met with opportunity equals success), it’s probably best that most presentations are spread out over the course of weeks, not hours…

Not this time!

I’ve been very busy over the last few days preparing for three separate speaking engagements – all within a 36 hour time period that starts tomorrow morning.

(1) First, I’ll be testifying in front of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Education Committee at 10:00am. I was asked to testify about the impact a certain economic development initiative (called the Keystone Innovation Zone Program) has had on the tremendous growth of Pepperjam. This speaking opportunity is especially exciting for me since my background prior to and during my law school years was working for a U.S. Congressman and the House Financial Services Committee in Washington, D.C.

(2) After I present to the PA House Education Committee I am off to New York City to present a one-hour speech on the “Future of Affiliate Marketing” at the Electronic Retailer Association (ERA) LIVE Conference. I’m staying at the London with Pepperjam’s VP of Search Ken Mohn, Jr. and Director of Client Relations Trevor Brennan. My presentation is scheduled for 5:15pm so I’m hoping to get into the city with enough time to check in at the London, get a bite to eat, and get over to the ERA conference. After my presentation we are looking forward to networking a bit at the official ERA cocktail hour / party.

(3) Thursday evening I will deliver a speech at the Annual Great Valley Technology Alliance (GVTA) Business Plan Competition. I went to the event last year and there were about 500 people in attendance, including the finalists for the competition. The finalists (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) split over $125,000 in cash and prizes. Not to bad! I’m particularly excited to be part of this event, especially because I think these are the types of initiatives that really give budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to put their ideas on paper and to formulate a plan of attack in the form of a business plan.

So there it is – three (3) presentations in 36 hours…from Pennsylvania to New York to Pennsylvania. I sort of feel like a politician.

I am really looking forward to Thursday night around 7:00pm when it’s all over, even though I’m excited about being part of each event!

Brock Siegel (VP of Pepperjam Network), Aaron Baker (VP of Sales & Marketing), and I will be leaving Tuesday morning for New Orleans to attend the eCommerce Merchants Trade Association (ECMTA) Summit.

The event is being headed up by well-known internet marketing industry experts Cresta Pillsbury and JP Diaz – Cresta and JP formerly the faces of the internet marketing division of HackerSafe. Also involved in the planning of the ECMTA Summit is David Tomkins, e-commerce expert and founder of award winning shoe Web site – Gotham City Online.

I will speak on an affiliate marketing panel on Wednesday moderated by Cresta Pillsbury. I will be joined by JP Diaz.

Pepperjam will be sponsoring an invitation-only party Tuesday night after the intro cocktail party. Please contact aaron @ pepperjamsearch.com if you’d like to be considered for an invite.

In addition, during the conference Pepperjam Network and ECMTA will announce a marketing partnership to provide ECMTA members with exclusive discounts and access to Pepperjam Network. As part of the announcement, JP Diaz and Super Affiliate Management Services will provide ECMTA members that launch on Pepperjam Network with a professionally managed affiliate program.

If you’d like to learn more about the ECMTA please visit http://www.ecmta.org

eCommerce Merchants is a leading trade association of small and medium sized ecommerce businesses. The organization provides best practices guidance, technology & infrastructure advice and sourcing & supplies solutions to online merchants around the world who use the internet to sell or promote products and services. The organization works closely with the Professional eBay Sellers Alliance (www.gopesa.org).

Many folks in the Webmaster community are celebrating the recently announced merger of Webmaster-Talk.com and Earners Forum.

Among the many benefits users of both forums will receive because of the combined forces, the merger was announced in conjunction with a $25,000 Contest co-sponsored by Pepperjam Network!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the contest.

By now you’ve likely heard that Google announced that they intend to sell the search division of Performics. In addition to the proposed sale of the SEM division of Performics Google also announced that 300 employees from parent company DoubleClick will be laid off and that the other 1/2 of Performics (the Affiliate Network) will be integrated into Google.

I’m not entirely sure how Google intends to integrate the Performics Affiliate Marketing business into “existing Google operations,” but it’s my guess that there is major disappointment from many Performics clients who were sold on a “full-service,” “integrated” (i.e. search / affiliate) online marketing service that Performics will no longer be able to deliver.

Some of you will remember that I predicted right after the initial announcement of the Google / DoubleClick acquisition, that Google would likely dissolve or sell Performics.

Aside from the disappointment that is likely being registered by existing Performics clients, another potential outcome from Google’s announcement is that ValueClick (VCLK, parent company of affiliate network Commission Junction) becomes the likely suitor (acquirer) of the SEM division of Performics. In fact, according to ClickZ ValueClick has already expressed an interest in acquiring Performics.

To me it would make sense for VCLK to make this acquisition, especially because (no surprise here) I believe a full-service, integrated approach to online marketing is the most efficent approach – the full-service model is what we’ve pioneered and have been providing to clients at Pepperjam for years. In fact, aside from Performics and without the acquistion of Performics by Commission Junction, Pepperjam is the only other major full-service, integrated online marketing agency with an affiliate network option. I like how this sounds, but knowing CJ as well as I do, this is not likely to last long.

Think about it. In light of the recent fallout between Pepperjam and Commission because we launched a competing affiliate network technology, I don’t think CJ is gonna want Pepperjam to be the only real alternative (i.e. full service model with a network) to Performics. I imagine the stage would be set for some fierce competition between Commission Junction and Pepperjam if indeed ValueClick purchases Performics.

Either way, it’s my guess that Pepperjam stands to benefit significantly from the break-up of Performics since currently we remain the last man standing.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

Pepperjam Network Announces 175 New Affiliate Program Launches in First Quarter 2008

WILKES-BARRE, Pa., April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — Pepperjam, the fastest growing full-service internet marketing agency in the United States, announced today that Pepperjam Network, the company’s much talked about next generation affiliate marketing network launched 175 new affiliate programs during the first quarter of 2008, including New Line Cinema, Sesame Street, LifeLock, BabyPhat, Rocawear, RealtyTrac, Jelly Belly, Teleflora, Video Professor, NetShops, VistaPrint, and Playboy Store, among others.

“We are absolutely thrilled by the overwhelming support we have received for Pepperjam Network from both the advertiser and publisher community. We are being told by advertisers and publishers alike that our proprietary technology is revolutionary and that it has successfully addressed many of the shortcomings of other affiliate networks, including poor communication tools and lack of affiliate transparency. With Pepperjam Network, we empower advertisers with communication tools such as Pepperjam Chat, along with full and unfettered affiliate transparency,” said Kristopher B. Jones, President & CEO of Pepperjam.

“The launch of Pepperjam Network represents a paradigm shift in affiliate marketing. The Big Three Affiliate Networks are being challenged by more innovative and nimble companies such as Pepperjam Network that are able to provide next generation technology along with an unparalleled level of personal attention and service. Pepperjam Network has officially changed the face of affiliate marketing forever and advertisers are jumping aboard quickly because of our advanced tools and high level of customer service,” said Michael Jones, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Pepperjam.

To learn more about becoming a Pepperjam Network advertiser or publisher please visit www.pepperjamnetwork.com

About Pepperjam Network:

Pepperjam Network is a next generation affiliate marketing network that provides advertisers and publishers with industry leading pay-for-performance tracking, reporting, communication, and payment solutions. Pepperjam Network is a division of Pepperjam, a full-service internet marketing agency recognized by Inc. Magazine for the last two consecutive years as one of the fastest growing businesses in the United States. Learn more at www.pepperjamnetwork.com

About Pepperjam:

Pepperjam offers a full range of professional marketing management services in the areas of pay-per-click, search-engine optimization, affiliate marketing, and online media planning and buying. Since 1999 Pepperjam has developed a reputation for being one of the most innovative, aggressive, and effective internet marketing agencies in the business. Learn more at www.pepperjam.com