If you’re like me and didn’t make it over to London for Ad:Tech and the first-ever Affiliate Summit London then you’re probably dying to know what’s been happening in the UK this week.

I haven’t heard or read a lot of updates. Even Affiliate Summit co-founder Shawn Collins, who is a prolific blogger and poster, hasn’t had any entries on either event. And I’ve only seen a scant few updates via twitter and on Facebook. Shawn and his co-founder, Missy Ward, must be crazy busy setting up the show, which takes place today.

This week’s Affiliate Thing was all about the ladies. Stephanie Agresta, a 12-year veteran of the affiliate marketing space, who recently merged her consulting business to become one of the founders of the Conversation Group, stood in as co-host for Shawn Collins. Thanks Stephanie. You did a great job.

Shawn was busy co-hosting (with Missy Ward) the first-ever (sold old!) Affiliate Summit London. Stephanie and I talked about the glut of online marketing trade shows, events and conferences this fall. Stephanie is on a panel at BlogWorld Expo that will focus on affiliate strategies (from both a publisher and merchant perspective) in a Web 2.0 world. Meanwhile, I’m moderating a panel at Online Market World about e-commerce innovation and if there is a silver bullet for online marketers.

Today’s Wall St. Journal has an article about what Jay Berkowitz, CEO of Ten Golden Rules, an Internet marketing agency based in Boca Raton, Fla., is reading and listening to. Guess what? Jay apparently is a fan of the Affiliate Thing podcast hosted by Shawn Collins and myself. Check out what else has captured Jay’s attention.

I’ll be hosting the Affiliate Thing solo this week (and have a very special surprise guest) as Shawn Collins heads to jolly ole England for the first ever Affiliate Summit UK this week.

I know it is the busiest time of year for online marketers. The holiday season is upon us and everything is shifting into high gear. In addition to focusing on your core business efforts there are also many worthwhile shows and events going on this time of year. The next two and half months are chock-a-block with great conferences that provide a myriad of opportunities for learning and networking.

Ad:Tech London is next week, Then there’s the first ever Affiliate Summit London. In early October there is Online Market World Conference & Expo in San Francisco. I’ll be moderating a general session panel called “Searching for the Silver Bullet”. The esteemed panel will include Scot Wingo, CEO of ChannelAdvisor; Mary O’Brien, President of PPC Summit; Jim Sterne, Principal of Target Marketing; and Matt Boyd, SVP of ValueClick Media. It should be a good one.

Apple has disappointed me once again. Yesterday a colleague was checking out the new Apple wireless Bluetooth keyboard he just received in the mail. I hadn’t seen the keyboard before nor had I heard anything about it. But wow. I was like Homer Simpson when he sees a donut or a beer. Must Have Keyboard.

I stopped paying much attention to Apple many years ago when I was no longer covering the company after eight years of following their every move. I also stopped using a Mac long ago. Last week, my mom also finally ditched the PowerBook I bought her way back in the dark ages (1995) and got herself a Dell desktop machine. My only real interest in Apple is related to the iPod. We have four at my house. I don’t even have the iPhone lust that seems so prevalent – even with non-Apple types.

It was my only my second time attending CJU, but there were many in attendance that were seasoned veterans of the event. This was Commission Junction’s 9th annual conference and each year it’s gotten bigger and bigger. In fact, CJ execs said the event has pretty much maxed out the lovely accommodations at the Fess Parker Hotel and Resort. I hope CJ finds a way to get around the capacity issue and continue to hold CJU in beautiful Santa Barbara.

Much of the discussions at the show and at the bar (or after hours) centered on improved communications. CJ executives seemed really intent on fostering better relations between publishers and merchants as well as between both of those parties and the network. CJ’s Rebecca Madigan’s talk was fantastic and very eye opening. I also thought nearly each time Kerri Pollard took the stage the messages emanating from the company seemed more real and sincere, which may go a long way towards more openness.

So much to talk about from the CJU event, but so little time to write it all down. I’m tired from all the great networking so, I’ll try and keep it short and sweet.

Day one CJU: The keynote (Greg Smith, COO, Neo@Ogilvy North America) was good but a little old school for me. Too many references to TV and old agency talk. For me, it was not geared enough towards affiliates and there was very little understanding of PPC affiliates.

There are so many loose ends to tie up before taking for Commission Junction University. I’m driving down toward Santa Barbara tomorrow and we are planning lots of stops along the way so I expect to arrive on Saturday. That should be when the affiliate fun starts.

Over the course of three days there are all kinds of events planned but the ones I’m looking forward to the most include a bowling party sponsored by Yahoo, the Affiliate Dinner cocktail get together, CJ’s Horizon Awards and of course, the sessions on Monday and Tuesday.

With the long weekend behind me now I can focus on the long weekend ahead of me.
That’s because I’m taking Friday off to drive down to Santa Barbara for CJU, which kicks off on Sunday.

I’m not sure which part of the trip I’m more excited about - the gorgeous drive down the California coast or the actual Commission Junction event. I’ve done this trip a handful of times and had memorable experiences each and every time.