I’ve been getting peppered (no pun intended) with phone calls from the local media over today’s news that Wilkes-Barre, PA based web design builder Solid Cactus was acquired by Web.com.

First off, I’d like to congratulate Joe Palko, Scott Sanfilippo, and the entire Solid Cactus team on this great success and opportunity!

I believe this is a perfect fit, especially considering both companies focus on providing e-commerce solutions to the same types of companies – small and medium sized internet businesses. The combo of these two companies means better service to their respective clients.

Solid Cactus has an incredible story – what started out as an idea in the mid 1990’s by Joe and Scott to sell ferret (yeah the animal) supplies online resulted in the creation of a leading pet products website called FerretStore.com – Ferret Store was acquired about 18 months or so ago by Drs. Fosters and Smith. Joe and Scott took a chance on the internet before people even knew that it would change the world. How is that for visionary? Dealing in e-commerce in the mid 90’s – that’s awesome!!!

Along the way Joe (and Scott) realized that there was a need to provide web design services to companies just like his – small to medium sized online retailers – he took that idea, partnered with Yahoo Small Business, started hiring employees from local colleges and universities, acquired a company along the way, and built Solid Cactus from a web design firm building out niche sites for Neeps (the name of Joe and Scott’s pet supplies business) to a nationally known, industry leading web design firm. In fact, within a short few years Joe and Scott took Solid Cactus from a competitive regional web designer to the nation’s leading developer for the Yahoo Store Platform.

All of this happened in Northeastern, Pennsylvania by two locally grown and educated entrepreneurs!

My hat is off today to Joe and Scott – it goes to show you what hard work, persistence, and some willingness to break the rules can get you.

As I mentioned above I believe Web.com and Solid Cactus are a perfect fit. In short, both companies will end up more successful, will employ more employees, and will ultimately make more money as the result of the other. With Solid Cactus you have years upon years of development experience coupled with an extraordinary work force. With Web.com you have a proven company with a focus on the same types of strengths that Solid Cactus offers.

Northeastern, PA is an e-commerce and internet marketing force. I kind of like the sound of…a little bit of Silicon Valley in the Wyoming Valley.

With companies like Web.com, Solid Cactus, Pepperjam, Amazon, igourmet.com, BabyAge, Vintage Tub, Baby Age, Dog.com, and many others calling the greater Wilkes Barre area home…..the future is very bright.

I wish the entire Solid Cactus team the absolute best!

Congrats guys!

Over the previous 12-18 months there have been several historical and destructive legislative decisions that have challenged the current and future viability of the affiliate marketing industry.

As I’ve (and Pepperjam Network) already discussed publicly numerous times the State of New York passed legislation that requires online businesses based anywhere in the United States to pay taxes to the State of New York based on a broad legal interpretation of “presence” defined through affiliates who reside and conduct business (affiliate marketing) in the State of New York. In short, Pepperjam believes this interpretation of the law is overly broad, is not fair to both affiliates and merchants, and should be overturned (aka, we are against it).

Most recently other states are following or threatening to follow suit with New York. As a result, affiliates, affiliate networks, and thousands of online businesses have reason to be concerned.

This is a very serious situation and there has never been a more important time for the affiliate industry to join together to fight New York and any other state that attempts to pass legislation that puts the future of the affiliate marketing industry (and online commerce) in jeopardy.

It’s with the above message in mind that Pepperjam Network has pledged $5,000 to the Performance Marketing Alliance (PMA) with hopes that PMA will provide the (one) voice that we need to represent us (the affiliate industry) during this important time.

As a former affiliate marketer, affiliate manager, and as President & CEO of one of the fastest growing and most celebrated affiliate marketing companies in the world I strongly encourage you to follow our lead and pledge money to PMA to help fight existing legislation and stand as one voice for our industry moving forward.

I imagine you have questions about why Pepperjam Network has selected PMA and what went into our decision making process – Feel free to post any questions you have to this post and we’ll be happy to provide a response.

Finally, I’d like to let you know that Pepperjam continues to be on the front lines of affiliate marketing innovation, while also making sure that the entire industry survives and thrives for many years to come.

Pepperjam Network conducted extensive due diligence over a several month period, met with PMA board members and representatives, as well as non-PMA members that currently have leading voices within the affiliate marketing space, and we’ve concluded that PMA is the organization we need right now to help our industry come together at this most important time.

Learn more about the Performance Marketing Alliance at www.performancemarketingalliance.com

I am honored to announce that I will deliver the annual Allan P. Kirby Center Lecture in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Wilkes University.

Past speakers include Jerry Greenfield – cofounder of Ben & Jerry’s, award-winning consumer journalist John Stossel, known for his contrarian reports and Give Me a Break segments on ABC’s 20/20, and the “Juice guy” Tom Scott from Nantucket Nectars.

The lecture will take place Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 7:30pm. The location is the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes Barre, PA.

If you reside within the state of Pennsylvania or will be in the area stop by and hear me talk about the Pepperjam Story, the Kris Jones Story, and my view on how businesses, students, and everyday people can leverage the internet to make more money, stay connected, and improve the world.

See you there!