In recent months, Twitter has received a lot of buzz, with large companies and celebrities alike beginning to use the application to its full potential. As a social tool, its increased popularity has created a lot of news (and noise) for our minds to gather and absorb.

For the marketer though, the question is; how can we capitalize on the popularity and capabilities of Twitter for our marketing needs?

There is an abundance of content on Twitter just waiting to be deciphered and used for our own specific needs. Fortunately, a surplus of new Twitter applications are being produced daily; designed to take advantage and manipulate Twitter’s limitless capabilities.

Let’s examine some of the powerful websites and applications.

search.twitter.com
Search.twitter.com (formerly known as summize.com) is a search engine for Twitter.com. This search engine is almost as popular as Google itself. Using this platform you can easily find conversations mentioning specific keywords or terms related to your business or interests. Having this option enables quick and easy targeting of groups or individuals for your marketing purposes.

TwitScoop.com
TwitScoop.com is an advanced system that allows you to see real-time trends in conversations as they occur. You can also view the history of a niche or keyword phrase during a 6-hour, 24-hour, and even 3-day time frame; allowing you to measure the trend’s credibility.

Monitter.com
Monitter is similar to TwitScoop in that it displays real-time conversation containing your keyword or phrase, however, it does not show trends. Its benefit resides in the fact that a user can have multiple windows open displaying conversations simultaneously.

TweetDeck.com
TweetDeck is an all-in-one desktop platform which houses all your friends, replies, direct messages, and even a separate window for Twitscoop. You can also monitor multiple keywords, group specific followers, and look up a person’s profile without ever leaving your desktop. One drawback is the 10-column limitation.
With a cornucopia of Twitter application tools now available, Twitter Marketing has been simplified and offers a straight-forward way to increase website and business traffic. Additionally, as the internet becomes more and more social, Twitter can be used to help balance everything out.

Ian Fernando is the Founder of IANternet Media LLC and Blogger/Affiliate Marketer at IanFernando.com.

Download the entire FeedFront issue 6 here – http://feedfront.com/feedfront-issue6.pdf
FeedFront issue 6 articles can be found here as well: http://feedfront.com/archives/article00date/2009/06

There are a number of things you should look for when deciding which networks to promote. Here are six areas I consider before putting energy into a new network.

1. Reputation
How often is the network spoken about on the Internet? Are the media and blogs portraying the network negatively or positively? Why? Reputation and brand are very important. Reputation is an indicator of how they operate and perform. All networks say they have the best of whatever they may claim but how truthful is it really?

2. Ask About Tracking and Reporting
Which tracking software does the network use? Is it an in-house system or third party software? Do they have a backup system? How do they generate and create subID reports? Also, ensure that the network software is secure and updated on a regular basis.

3. Request a Temporary Account Prior to Joining
Before joining a network, ask for a temporary login or account. This gives you a chance to view the interface and explore offers, payouts, and more importantly to test reporting/tracking. You do not want to join a network and find out they do not have the offers you want to promote. Even worse that their tracking and reporting system are not recording everything accurately.

4. Diversity of Offers
How wide of a range of offers do they have? How concentrated are they? Some networks are solely on particular niches, such as UK offers, credit loans, and insurance. Others may have a wide variety of items to promote, from infant diapers to fashion and clothing. There are also networks who cater to a little of everything but do not have a huge list of offers in each niche. You will need to ask yourself what type of offers you want to run.

5. Talk to the Managers
Is the affiliate manager friendly when you speak to them? Are you able to small talk while on the phone? How many people did you talk to after signing up? You want to talk and get the feel from the affiliate manager or team members of the network. Accessibility is also important – are you able to reach representatives from the network via email, phone, IM, Twitter, etc.? Access and responsiveness will give you a sense of security and comfort when promoting an offer via the network.

6. What are the Methods of Payment?
Check to see how you will be paid: PayPal, wire transfer, check, etc. If by check, how is it delivered? How often are you paid? Weekly, bi-weekly, daily? What is the quota for such payments? Can you get direct deposits? Inquire about the fees for the direct deposits, if any. And if you are located outside of the United States, do they securely ship checks or direct deposit internationally?

Take these steps to perform due diligence on a network, and you will limit risks and headaches down the road.

Ian Fernando is the Founder of IANternet Media LLC and Blogger/Affiliate Marketer at IanFernando.com.

Download the entire FeedFront issue 4 here – http://feedfront.com/feedfront-issue4.pdf
FeedFront issue 4 articles can be found here as well: http://feedfront.com/archives/category/issue-4/

Going to Affiliate Summit can be very hectic. You plan your schedule ahead of time and when you arrive you do not even look at your calendar or time of events anymore.

It seems you have just thrown it out your window. You wanted to attend all these sessions, meet up with specific networks, have private lunches but it seems you are just lost with all the hysteria these types of events bring.

Every time I attend Affiliate Summit, I get lost in time and my appointments. There are ways to help control time as if you controlled it.

As you know, time is money and we are all limited on time, but what if we can just use every minute and make it very productive and reach our goals?

Earning the respect of time can be hard but also can be very simple. We just need to learn how to control ourselves and not time.

There are many ways to benefit from our day to day routine at the conventions we attend.

1. Make Appointments Prior to any Convention
This puts your mind in a state of ease. You already know who you want to talk to, so schedule appointments with them. Regardless if they are merchants, affiliates, networks, or beer handlers. Make it a point to meet up with them ahead of time. This way you do not waste time trying to chase them around.

2. Get a List of the Sessions You Want to Attend
Attending these conventions can put a strain on your mind, especially if sessions overlap one another. Look who is speaking and if the speakers interest you, then attend the sessions. Write it down and add it to your calendar. This stops the research when you are at the convention or at the hotel room.

3. Take Breaks
Breaks are important…take them! Get yourself situated by sitting down and taking a deep breath. Do not even bother looking at your tasks. Do not bind your mind with your current task, just sit and relax.

4. Update Your To-Do List
To stay up to date with every new event you receive at the events, make sure you update your calendar and task lists. This stops cross contamination of other appointments and other prior agendas you may have created.

5. Apply the 80/20 Rule
Identify 20% of your meetings and tasks which will contribute to 80% of your outcome later on. Review your agendas, look at the sessions, and reschedule less important meetings. Make sure you have a good list of agendas in which you will benefit in the long run.

Time management should not take control over you. It should be beneficial to you at all times. Remember you can say ‘no thank you’ to smaller meetings.

Satisfying every need will just get you into trouble and even some time wasted. Remember to take a break and breathe once and a while.

Ian Fernando is the Founder of IANternet Media LLC and Blogger/Affiliate Marketer at IanFernando.com.

Download the entire FeedFront issue 3 here – http://feedfront.com/feedfront-issue3.pdf
FeedFront issue 3 articles can be found here as well: http://feedfront.com/archives/category/issue-3/