It seems like about twice a year I get all juiced up on Robitussin and Wal-Fed (not sure why the names of the Walgreen’s versions of brand-name cold remedies make me giggle) and write a blog. Directions for taking these medicines clearly state that I should not operate heavy machinery. However, they need to update the packaging with warnings about the dangers of the simultaneous use of a keyboard and cold meds.

Because I’m feeling a bit under the weather and sort of scattered, this entry is part housekeeping, part hodgepodge and totally random. So here are some things on my mind right now:

*A new study from WebSideStory finds almost identical conversion rates for both organic and paid search. The study tracked the traffic and conversion data from 20 business-to-consumer e-commerce sites during the first eight months of 2006, finding that paid search had a median order conversion rate of 3.4 percent, compared to 3.13 percent for organic search.

*According to the latest figures from the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. online advertising revenues for the first six months of 2006 were approximately $7.9 billion, a 37 percent increase over the first half of 2005. In addition, Internet advertising revenues totaled nearly $4.1 billion for the second quarter of 2006, representing a 36 percent increase over the same period in 2005 and a 5.5 percent increase over the first quarter of 2006.

*Revenue is a sponsor of the Bay Area Affiliate Managers Coalition gathering on Thursday night here in San Francisco. It’s a dinner to celebrate group’s six-year anniversary. If you’re local to the San Francico Bay Area and can’t make the dinner be sure to check out the group, which was
founded to facilitate regional interaction among online advertisers on issues pertaining to affiliate marketing. The group of more than 90 members meets bi-monthly to network and share insights about the affiliate space.

Also our magazine is giving away two prizes: $1,000 towards advertising in Revenue and $2,000 towards advertising in Revenue. Good luck!

*I hear ShareASale CEO Brian Littleton will be in SF and may stop by the event for a drink. I’ll be there and going double fisted that night – Kleenex in one hand, Purell hand sanitizer in the other. Living on the edge, huh?

*Speaking of SAS…the affiliate network is sponsoring a discussion forum event called Think Tank in Las Vegas in early November. It’s a group of about 30 affiliates and affiliate managers gathering for an in depth discussion and some presentations on pressing issues facing the industry. Because when I think of Vegas, I think of elevated intellectual discussions that yield, revolutionary and industry changing ideas.

*You can let us know what you think by taking our survey. It’s on the home page and awaiting your responses. I can’t wait to find out more about you.

As for me, I’m on the Affiliate Summit Advisory Board with other, far more fascinating industry folks.

lisap@revenuetoday.com.