Think Partnership's KowaBunga! Selected by Leading Internet Advertising Company to Manage Accreditation and Referrals for New Custom-Tailored Affiliate Marketing Program
Wednesday, 06 September 2006
Think Partnership's (AMEX: THK) KowaBunga! Technologies subsidiary has been hired by Yahoo! Search Marketing to provide software and to manage the referral tracking of Yahoo! Search Marketing's enhanced "Ambassador Program." This specialized affiliate program has generated a unique affiliate channel that is yielding new Yahoo! Search Marketing advertisers from accredited referral partners.
KowaBunga! has customized its My Affiliate Program (MYAP) software to accommodate this affiliate channel. The technology has been deployed to train and accredit affiliates, track their referred sales and handle payments. Furthermore, KowaBunga! provides referral program support and pays the affiliates for Yahoo! Search Marketing.
The Ambassador Program is Yahoo! Search Marketing's premiere affiliate channel designed to market its paid search advertising services through the search marketing industry's key influencers (agencies and search engine marketers) who earn commissions for generating new advertisers for Yahoo! Search Marketing's services.
Focusing on first tier marketing partners, Yahoo! Search Marketing's Ambassador Program requires participants to become accredited before participating. The result is qualified, high-quality referral partners who have knowledge and expertise of Yahoo! Search Marketing's sponsored search products and services. Extensive training materials are provided by Yahoo! prior to testing for accreditation and hosted within the MYAP interface. Traditional affiliate programs are different, since webmasters simply apply to promote a merchant, without an accreditation process.
Upon passing the test and other qualifications, Ambassadors earn a highly coveted distinction: They are recognized as "Ambassadors" by Yahoo! Search Marketing and they are authorized to display this designation on their websites via the exclusive "Yahoo! Search Marketing Ambassador" logo. Once accredited, they may earn commissions for acquiring new advertisers for Yahoo! Search Marketing using the marketing material provided to Ambassadors.
"Yahoo! has been a thought-leader since their inception and the extension of their Ambassador Program is yet another example of their ongoing innovation. This unique approach to affiliate marketing provides Yahoo! Search Marketing with highly qualified marketing partners within a brand-conscious channel," remarked Rachel Honoway, vice president of marketing for Think Partnership.
Think Partnership's MYAP was completely customized to facilitate the application and testing process, the deployment of marketing creative, the tracking and reporting of resulting sales for Yahoo!, and all affiliate channel management requirements. The flexibility of the MYAP platform allowed Yahoo! Search Marketing to easily implement reports, tools and links that fit the affiliate strategy that they developed.
Beyond the technology, KowaBunga!'s services department assists with managing the implementation of the program, including affiliate communications and payments to affiliates.