Google has opened its television ad program to all marketers. The company has been testing the TV Ads platform, which uses an auction model, since June of 2007. The analytics include how many seconds consumers were tuned into an ad (per impression) and how many consumers watched from start to finish. The program allows businesses to reach upwards of 13 million Dish Network households from 94 different cable networks.

Marketers can target nationally, market-by-market or can stay local. Additionally, ads can be targeted to specific dayparts, specific programming or even to a specific area of content such as the health segment within a news program. The ads are launched from Google AdWords accounts. Google is offering to pay up to $2,000 in costs for the creation of television-friendly ads. The ads are created in Google’s Ad Creation Marketplace, but the ad campaigns must begin by June 30, 2008. Also, marketers have to spend a minimum of $2,000/week for four consecutive weeks.

The latest GeekCast is up. It’s a long one. Be warned.

Also, there are some folks that are looking to game Twitter. It was bound to happen. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t ruin my favorite and most useful Web 2.0 application.

If you’re an upstanding affiliate struggling to become profitable check out a new project from super affiliate Jeremy Palmer of QuitYourDayJob.com. It’s called the BlackInkProject and is a series of 20 sessions (live Webinars and podcasts) over an eight week period that can be downloaded for free. Free. Who doesn’t love free stuff?

And if you’re feeling lucky and you’re an affiliate of hosting company 1&1 Internet you might be eligible to win some big prizes. In honor of the company’s 20th anniversary, affiliates can enter a contest to win up to $300 per sale and then be entered into a drawing to win some great prizes including a six nights, seven day trip to a resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. You night also snag a big screen TV or a new laptop.

On Saturday, Microsoft withdrew its two month old bid to takeover Yahoo. The crux of the pullout was that Microsoft was only willing to pay $31 per share and Yahoo’s board of directors contended that the company was worth at least $35 per share.

The failure of a deal to go through puts Microsoft in a position of still searching for a way to more effectively compete with search giant Google in both search and online advertising. Industry watchers say that Google is likely to continue to expand its reach as Microsoft plots a new course to catch up.

Wall St. didn’t look favorably on Yahoo’s decision not to budge on share price. Yahoo stock fell to more than $6 to about $22 per share in after hours trading over the weekend. If that drop holds, it would be the largest in history for Yahoo, which sold shares to the public in 1996.

Check out other coverage:
Bloomberg

Reuters

Associated Press

Cnet

The panel I was on (The Changing Landscape of Affiliate Marketing: Bloggers, Social Media, & Online Merchants ) was bright and early on Wednesday morning and went very well. I’ll confess that despite the impressive lineup of panelist (Sam Harrelson of Sam Harrelson Consulting, Stephanie Argesta of Stephanie Agresta Consulting, and Cam Balzer, the director of search strategies at Performics), I thought the 8:30 start time would deter people from attending. But to my surprise, our big room was crowded and the attendees were awake and lively.

The panel was a free flowing discussion of how social media impacts affiliate marketing – the challenges, the benefits and the potential obstacles.

One clear thing from the panel - all the speakers are big fans of Twitter and encouraged everyone to join Twitter. Truthfully, it was like a Twitter love fest up there on stage. In fact, Marc Levin (dogballs.com and formerly of Yahoo) our moderator, was at times showing his live Twitter stream on the screen.

We also talked about the evolving role of the networks in the affiliate equation. Cam Balzer, vice president of search at Performics, talked about the value and scale provided by the networks. I took the position that in a maturing industry the role of a middleman (which the network is) can often be challenged from both ends (in this case merchants and publishers). And that if the networks are not able to keep up with implementing changes and leveraging the latest technologies, others will step in and fill in the gap. For me, that’s great news. That sort of market pressure (hopefully) keeps the networks on their toes while the competition (or serious threat of it) means that publishers can expect innovations and that if there is a gap or a problem – some third party provide is going to step up to the plate with a solution.

We also talked about examples of merchants doing very well at leveraging social media. JetBlue, Southwest airlines, Jones Soda, H.R. Block were applauded for their extensive efforts to join the conversation and engage their customers on a variety of social media including Twitter and Facebook.

There was much more discussed and some great questions from the audience, but I have to run out to catch day four of the show.

At the gala event, the 2008 Limelight Awards were doled out to honor talented visual and technology designers and strategic thinkers who demonstrate excellence in interactive marketing.

Several awards were handed out under the categories of Interactive Campaigns, Interactive Ads, Search Optimization/Search Strategy, Websites, Best of Show, People Choice, and Industry Achievement.

The Best Affiliate Marketing Campaign honors went to Moosejaw, a program managed by outsource program management company Schaaf Consulting. Congratulations to Brook and Forest Schaaf and their entire team.

Check out the full list of winners.

If you’re attending the show, please come check out this panel on Tuesday at 8:30am in room 2022: The Changing Landscape of Affiliate Marketing: Bloggers, Social Media, & Online Merchants. I’m on the panel along with Sam Harrelson (Sam Harrelson Consulting), Cam Balzer (DoubleClick/Performics), Stephanie Agresta (Stephanie Agresta Consulting) and Marc Levin (dogballsblog.com). I know it’s early but I plan on being fully caffeinated and rarin’ to go.

I also try and get my real work done in advance knowing that I’ll be out of pocket for three days. That means prepping the weekly newsletter, having some blogs ready to roll out, changing my voicemail, letting my fellow podcasters know I won’t be available for our weekly shows, and wrapping up lots of little things so that coworkers aren’t stalled in their efforts waiting for my contributions.

And since Ad:Tech is in my own backyard, I also try and make sure that all my personal stuff is well out of the way. I don’t need the added distraction of picking up items at the cleaners and remembering to buy dog food.

Adding to the stress of this year’s Ad:Tech is the fact that our company is moving to a new office this week. While, I stopped in on Friday to help with the massive packing up effort, I won’t be there as my colleagues settle into our cool new digs. And naturally, there are always so many logistics associated with moving – our new phone system is being set up, our corporate Exchange server was moved over the weekend (I’m still not positive that I’m getting all my emails), and a thousand other little details. I’m sure my co-workers will manage to iron out everything – even without my presence.

I’m hoping that by the time the Giants take the field at AT&T Park tonight and I am fully ensconced in a swanky suite courtesy of the good folks at KowaBunga – beer and Sheboygan in hand – I’ll forget about all the nagging little details and relax before the show starts on Tuesday.

Although Ad:Tech has grown to huge proportions and can be overwhelming while I’m in the thick of it, I just need to remind myself that after each show I always return to the office filled with new ideas, armed with a mountain of great connections, and totally jazzed about a new technology, innovation or trend that is emerging. That makes all the craziness along with the preparation (and worrying) well worth my while in the long run.

Let the games begin!

According to Lauren Freedman, president of the e-tailing group, “On all fronts we see a ’split personality’ as some merchants aggressively pursue business online and across channels while others, with resource constraints, strive to do more with less,” she says. “Merchants are making the choices that are most germane to their categories and their customers via a laser focus on critical elements where strong results and the greatest ROI can be achieved.”

Here are some suggestions from the e-tailing group for merchants that are looking to maximize their online efforts.

1. Deploy tactical strategies; from search to content, integrating tools that elevate the user experience, enabling your customers to make the right choices smartly.

2. Tailor shopping to your category, while differentiating your site to achieve a competitive advantage.

3. Tweak the feature-sets on your site, streamlining onsite merchandising and the shopping cart to deliver a “simple, efficient, and effective” experience.

4. Target customers, leveraging analytics and data-driven insights to deliver relevant cross-sells and emails.

5. Track shopper behavior to wisely build a relationship and keep them coming back via well edited assortments and timely communication.

6. Test results consistently to be sure you are achieving desired ROI and branding goals.

7. Ensure a “total experience” that gives consumers confidence to buy - including the right assortment, ample product information and inspiring merchandising.

Read the entire survey.

Gary Vaynerchuk is just a bundle of warm fuzzies wrapped in ball of sunshine topped with a heaping helping of positive energy. I have no idea how he stays so upbeat but I’m trying to take a cue from him. I think we all could benefit from his outlook.

Talk about the power of social media. Gary Vee declared Thursday April 3, 2008 to be Good People Day and encouraged everyone to celebrate the good people in their lives rather than worry about counting online hits, Diggs, VC money and other supposed signs of success.

If you don’t know Gary you should. Follow him on Twitter. Check out his videos on WineLibraryTV.com; watch him on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

He is the definition of good people. I’m skeptical, cynical and often cranky, and I wanted to think that this guy had a shtick. He must kick puppies when no one is looking. Or so I thought. But after meeting him at Affiliate Summit West in Las Vegas (he’ll be the keynote speaker at ASW09) and spending some time hanging out with him, it’s clear he’s the real deal. He is always positive and that rubs off on people and inspires them – including Moi. .

So, today on Good People Day, I want to thank Gary for helping me put things in perspective. And while I’m feeling grateful, thankful, inspired and positive, I want to acknowledge all the good people (and canines) in my life. Huge love to all my friends, family, co-workers, and all the folks I am blessed enough to interact with for my job. I won’t list everyone. I think you all know who you are. And if you don’t, then I’m falling down on the job. In the future I’ll do better at letting you know that I appreciate you.

Meanwhile, here is a brief list of Good People that have been profiled in Revenue. It was a pleasure to get to know them on a deeper level and share their personal stories with our readers.

Kim Rowley
Billy Kay
Judi Moore
Colin McDougall
Anne Fognano
Pedro Sostre
Jeremy Palmer
Scott Hazard

There are so many more people on the list for the future issues of the magazine. I want to get to you all. Happy Good People Day 08!

So, while everyone else is busy perpetrating trickery on this day, I’m simply going to pass on something worthwhile. It’s a 20 percent discount to attend Ad:Tech San Francisco later this month. No tom foolery here. Just 20 percent off the registration cost of going to Ad:Tech when you use this code (BRSFRV). I promise that you won’t get Rick Rolled or Jangrolled or see some flash message that says “gotcha!” Instead, you will get to attend a great conference and save some money.

By the way, if you attend the show, come by the Revenue Booth and say hello or pick up a copy of the magazine in the media bins.

If you’re not using Twitter you’re missing out. Okay, I’ve given my Twitter conversion speech before and blogged about how useful it can be – even in odd situations.

Lately, there has been lots of talk about how the early adopters of Web 2.0 and technology love Twitter, but that’s preaching to the choir. Most of America still has no clue what Twitter is and trying to explain it to them often falls on deaf ears or ends in frustration. Sorry, Mom.

There are many Twitter converts and then there’s Gary Vaynerchuk, who recently pondered whether Twitter is poised to eat Facebook’s lunch. Gary is using Twitter more effectively than anyone I can think of.

Here’s my request to you: Please, just give Twitter a try for 21 straight days. Common wisdom says it takes at least 21 days to form a habit – any habit, like working out or changing your eating habits. This means that you have to do something at least 21 times before it begins to become part of your everyday routine.

What are you waiting for? Let the tweeting begin. I’ll be happy to be among your first followers. Them three weeks from now, let know if you’re hooked.