Here’s great news on a Facebook event I’m actually happy to hear about… because it comes from a true leader in the social media space – Mari Smith.

If you’ve been trying to get social media to work for your business, you know that Mari Smith provides some of the best guidance there is for making sense of it all.

And as entrepreneurs and small businesses owners, we are all interested in getting better at Facebook marketing and relationship marketing in a big way!

So, I’m VERY excited to tell you what’s in store for you on Tuesday January 31st. Mari’s going to be leading one of her informative, FREE webinars — The New Relationship Marketing – FREE Webinar Series! — on Facebook Marketing for 2012 — and you’re invited!

This will be a lively and informative webinar about how to grow a raving fanbase on the world’s #1 social network — Facebook.

With all the recent changes over at Facebook, sometimes it’s tough to stay ahead and use the world’s largest social network to guarantee consistent visibility, engagement and growth for your business. That’s why Mari’s offering this free webinar, to get you up to speed on Facebook Marketing right at the start of the year. It’s all about the best ways to develop your Fanbase audience so that they REALLY connect with you. And when they join in and respond, they’re ready to buy from you, too!

Register right away to save your seat on Mari’s first big Facebook event of 2012 before it fills up (because if her previous webinars are any indication, I really think the seats on this one will be overflowing too!) I’ve already signed up, so let’s both start this year off with a big boost to our Facebook marketing for 2012!

The New Relationship Marketing – FREE Webinar Series!

I hope to see you on the webinar!

Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!

Cheers,

The latest issue of Revenue Performance Magazine includes a list of the Top 20 Affiliate Marketing Networks.

More than 5,000 people participated in the Blue Book survey including advertisers, agencies and affiliates.

If you didn’t make it to Affiliate Summit West 2012 and / or haven’t got a copy of the latest issue of Revenue Performance Magazine, you can check out the list here.

Have thoughts on the list? Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!

Cheers,

After having my sites offline for over a week, I’m happy to return and share some reasonably good news that pertains to the Affiliate Nexus Tax.

Thanks to Amazon and other retailers in California, new legislation was passed that repeals the tax temporarily.

The retailers must lobby for a federal tax solution to be implemented by July 2012, or the Nexus tax will resume in September 2012.

So… like I said, it’s reasonably good news.

You can get your Amazon links back out there for the upcoming holidays, OR go for the Skimlinks alternative, which lets you promote Amazon through a 3rd-party.

To read more about the current situation in California, please read California Legislature Passes Legislation: 1 Year Reprieve of Affiliate Nexus Tax on the PMA site.

Shortly after California governor Jerry Brown signed the budget which includes the affiliate nexus tax, Amazon affiliates in that state received the following email from Amazon:

Hello,
For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of California residents. Unfortunately, a potential new law that may be signed by Governor Brown compels us to terminate this program for California-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers – including but not limited to those referred by California-based marketing affiliates like you – even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.

We oppose this bill because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It is supported by big-box retailers, most of which are based outside California, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that we must take this action.

As a result, we will terminate contracts with all California residents that are participants in the Amazon Associates Program as of the date (if any) that the California law becomes effective. We will send a follow-up notice to you confirming the termination date if the California law is enacted. In the event that the California law does not become effective before September 30, 2011, we withdraw this notice. As of the termination date, California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned on or before the termination date will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of California. If you are not currently a resident of California, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here. And if you relocate to another state in the near future please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.

To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to California residents and will not affect their ability to purchase from Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.

We have enjoyed working with you and other California-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to California residents. We are also working on alternative ways to help California residents monetize their websites and we will be sure to contact you when these become available.

Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team

Affiliates in the following states are now affected by the affiliate nexus tax:

1. California
2. Colorado
3. Illinois
4. North Carolina
5. Rhode Island
6. Connecticut

The Performance Marketing Association advises California publishers and out-of-state advertisers to consult a tax or legal professional regarding this issue.

Are you a California publisher? Thoughts? Comments? What are your plans?

Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!

Cheers,

Due to a VERY unfortunate circumstance that befell the owner of this company, I can no longer recommend this product.

For alternative suggestions, please read about my “Recommended Hosting Services” and their associated reviews.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Cheers,

I can’t believe this. Just got this email from my Green Smoke merchant…

Dear Green Smoke Affiliate,

On Tuesday, January 25, the New York State Assembly Health Committee is scheduled to discuss proposed bill A01468, which would outlaw the sales of electronic cigarettes in New York State. We are strongly against a statewide ban, as we believe that consumers should have the free choice to purchase and use e-cigarettes, as long as they are used responsibly by adults above the legal smoking age.

Section 1 of the bill only bans e-cigarette sales to minors, a step which Green Smoke strongly supports. It is Section 2 of the bill that purports to ban all electronic cigarette sales until the FDA has approved it as a smoking cessation devise. As a Green Smoke customer, we encourage you to contact the New York Assembly Health Committee members and State Senators to express your opposition to Section 2 of the proposed bill.

Visit the CASAA website at http://www.casaa.org/CTA/article.asp?articleID=114&l=a&p= for further details about the proposed bill and for a pre-written letter template to easily send to your Assemblymen. The Assembly meeting is set to take place on Tuesday, January 25 at 12:00 noon. As snail mail would not reach recipients on time, please email, fax or, for maximum effectiveness, call committee members before this time.

Thank you for your attention and continued use of Green Smoke products,

Green Smoke, Inc.

Unbelievable that they gave so little time to respond. However if you are an affiliate AND/or a smoker please respond as Green Smoke has requested.

Their product is great!

Nominations are being accepted for the six Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards through November 30, 2010.

These awards recognize exceptional performance in affiliate marketing in the following categories:

• Affiliate of the Year
• Affiliate Manager of the Year
• Exceptional Merchant
• Affiliate Marketing Advocate
• Best Blogger
• Affiliate Marketing Legend

Submit your nominations at http://www.affiliatesummit.com/pinnacle-award-nomination/.

The Pinnacle Awards will be presented on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Affiliate Summit West 2011, at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

Last week I offered a complimentary gold pass to Affiliate Summit to NPT readers (hey! it literally pays to read my blog and newsletter!) who clicked the “Like” button on my Facebook page and today is the day that I announce the winner.

But before I do so, I have a couple of things to share…

I’ll be running another Affiliate Summit Gold Pass opportunity this week just for Rosalind Gardner’s Academy members.

Too, here’s a little more information about the Affiliate Summit conference:

Early bird pricing for Affiliate Summit West 2011, taking place January 9-11, 2011 in Las Vegas, ends October 15, 2010.

The keynote speakers will be Drew Eric Whitman and Brian Solis.

The Early Bird registration rates for the Silver Pass ($99), Gold Pass ($279), Platinum Pass ($879), and Diamond Pass ($1,879) are going up after October 15, 2010.

Starting October 16, the rates to register for Affiliate Summit will be Silver Pass ($249), Gold Pass ($549), Platinum Pass ($1,249), and Diamond Pass ($2,249).

So, if you are planning to go… you have just a few more days to enjoy some great savings on those passes.

YES, I’ll be there – wouldn’t miss it! I will be presenting at the Ask the Experts session on Monday January 10th and I really hope to see you there.

Now back to our contest winnner…

Congratulations to Donna Lynn Starling from Niceville, Florida!!

I can’t wait to meet you!

Cheers,

P.S. Likewise, if you are interested in BlogWorld Expo which runs October 14 through 16 at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas (I LOVE the Mandalay Bay), they’ve got a great last minute deal running now:

Register now for BlogWorld and save 15% on Thursday, Weekend or Full Access Passes.

I have a complimentary Gold Pass to give away for Affiliate Summit West 2011. Want it?

Just click the LIKE button on my Facebook page (or right over there on the sidebar) by October 11th for a chance to be considered for the pass.

The winner will be selected at random by an unbiased third party (wherever Jasper the dog puts his big wet nose on the computer screen first). The winner will be notified through their Facebook profile.

… and here’s yet another opportunity…

Shawn and Missy are also sponsoring up to fifty (50) “Pay it Forward Scholarships” to affiliates in the affiliate marketing industry.

The goal of the scholarships is to make the education and networking experience of Affiliate Summit available to affiliates who might not otherwise be able to attend.

Read this post to find out how to apply.

Thinking of playing some blackhat games like “cookie stuffing”? Think again. It’s a criminal activity that could land you in jail.

Back in August 2008, eBay filed a civil suit against 4 affiliates, alleging fraud, racketeering activity, wire fraud and unauthorized access of eBay’s servers.

Following an investigation by the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Department, 2 indictments were handed down against two of the affiliates, on June 24, 2010. They were charged with wire fraud and criminal forfeiture. The affiliates appeared before the court on July 22, 2010 and plead not guilty. They were released on $100,000 property bonds and had to surrender their passports.

Sound scarey?

Well, it gets worse. The maximum penalties they can face if found guilty is:

• Imprisonment of 20 years
• Maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain/loss (whichever is greater)
• 3 years of supervised release
• $100 special assessment (per count)

To find out who the affiliates are and other particulars about this case, read Kellie Stevens report on this matter over at Revenews