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Struggling?

The E-commerce world is changing almost by the minute lately. From Merchants having to pause programs because they cannot ship anything, to panic over budgets, commission rates slashed or set to zero.

While this is a very unusual set of circumstances we are all dealing with; there are some bright notes.

  • Some Merchants are stepping up and adding in bonuses
  • There are very profitable sectors with healthy affiliate programs
  • Now is a good time diversify your affiliate earning platforms
  • As a community, we are helping each other
  • Consumers are discovering this shopping from home thing is pretty cool.
  • Oh, and in about 7 months you better have a Baby site in place.. just saying

Commission Junction is making Network Consumer Trends Reports available – These are updated every Wednesday.
https://junction.cj.com/covid-19-network-consumer-trends-report

FMTC has partnered with Trackonomics to give daily updates on commissions changes in Affiliate Networks. You can sign up to subscribe to their email updates here: http://fmtc-7325025.hs-sites.com/affiliate-program-covid-19-updates

Rakuten Center has insights on current commerce and consumer behavior with specific global and category trends. this is updated weekly: https://rakutenadvertising.com/covid19/

Featured

Working from Home, A new reality for some of you :)

I have worked from home for 27 years..so after being thoroughly entertained by posts of those new to working from home I thought I would give you some tips and giggles.

  • The worst thing that can happen during your new office commute is you blow out a slipper in the hallway.
  • Loungewear..is the new uniform. Don’t call them jammies.
  • PC Gaming Headphones with their own mute function are your best friend!
  • Wireless headsets are MUST! especially if you have children. ( the look of shock when your sweet cherubs who are coloring on the wall see you get up from your desk to deal with them is priceless)
  • It is way too easy to just stay in your jammies..for days. Get dressed and prepared for home office work like you would for normal work..just skip the dress shoes and stick to slippers.
  • Team meetings fails on Zoom are a trending search lately. Don’t be one of those examples. Always mute yourself upon entering  ( both from your mic and the button in your conference screen to be safe. )No one wants to hear you arguing with your housemates.
  • Video IS optional place a sticky note over your camera, or disable it when entering a conference. If you are using your phone for conferencing disable the camera in the meeting settings. We really do not need to see video of you in the bathroom…please noooo. ( see Zoom meeting fails search)
  • Multiple Monitors are a must. If you are using a laptop you can add a monitor to your set up with a HDMI cable on most Macs and PC’s..you know that extra TV sitting around ..it works as a monitor too! 
  • Screen sharing meetings are pretty common now. For these make sure you are turning off all other applications so you can get the best frame rates on the video screen shares.
  • If you are the Presenter in a screen share – move any other applications to the opposite screen you are sharing- no one needs to see that private Skype pop into the screen share.
  • Working at home is a complete disruption of your schedule..specifically your eating schedule. Set timers for your breaks and lunch or you will find yourself skipping these and by the time we get back to going in the office you might have snacked yourself into a new
    size.
     
  • Get the best comfy chair you can- your body will thank you. When shopping for that new comfy office chair for home look at the ratings for both weight and hours of use. I love the Serta chairs – they are one of the few brands that have chairs designed for big and tall people.
  • Know your function keys..why you ask?..in case your new furry supervisor walks on your keyboard and suddenly your screen size has changed or you are typing in a different language. ( most common F11 pops you in full screen view  and the toolbar disappears)
  • Hydration is your friend, but it isn’t friendly with laptops and keyboards. Those travel cups are now your desktop coffee cup and all around drink cup. Think sippy cups for adults. I admit I or my furry supervisor cat- Shadow has helped to kill off several expensive mechanical keyboards and two laptops over the years.  

Got something to add?

Shadow, My supervisor
Shadow- supervising

From rented audiences to engaged communities: Why participation is the new moat for publishers

Mark Zohar, President and CEO, Viafoura

For more than a decade, digital publishers have had to make a trade-off regarding social media. Social platforms promised reach, scale and frictionless distribution. In exchange, publishers ceded control of audience relationships, data and, ultimately, trust. Today, that bargain is not working.

Social media is imperfect. Feeds are flooded with bots, synthetic engagement, misinformation and bad actors operating under inconsistent or nonexistent moderation standards. Platform incentives reward outrage and velocity over accuracy and context. For publishers — a group that relies on credibility — this environment doesn’t just feel misaligned. It actively undermines the trust on which journalism depends.

Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV.

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Why Google Display Ads Still Work and How to Use Them

Reaching an audience is just the start – what really matters is how they respond. 

Google Display advertising remains a key channel that, when used strategically, supports awareness, reinforces credibility and can contribute to revenue performance.

Even in 2026, display advertising is still a strong and effective channel. By targeting people based on their interests, browsing habits, past website visits, and demographics, it continues to drive real engagement for campaigns of all types.

What are Google Display Ads?

Google Display Ads are visual ads that appear across the Google Display Network. 

Instead of waiting for someone to type a search, these ads reach people while they are already browsing online. That could be while they are reading an article, watching a video, scrolling through an app, or checking their email. The Google Display Network reaches around 90% of global internet users, making it one of the largest advertising networks available.

What makes them so versatile is how they are targeted, because they don’t depend on specific keywords. Instead, they use signals like interests, browsing behaviour, previous website visits, and demographic information to decide who sees the ad. In other words, you can reach the right audiences even when they aren’t actively searching, which keeps your campaigns visible and creates more chances to convert.

In fact, display advertising spending was increased by 15.5% in 2023, showing the important role it still plays in campaigns.

Choosing the Right Format for Your Campaign Goals

Performance almost always depends on aligning ad format with campaign objectives.

For awareness initiatives, responsive display ads and standard banner placements help maximize reach and maintain consistent exposure across environments.

For promotional pushes or seasonal campaigns, visually strong creative formats can highlight specific offers and drive urgency.

The effectiveness of display advertising increases when format selection is intentional. Impressions, engagement, conversions, and long-term revenue each need slightly different creative and targeting approaches.

Creative Best Practices

Clear value proposition

Your messaging needs to communicate quickly and clearly. Users scroll fast, and effective display ads answer three core questions immediately:

  • What is being offered?
  • Why does it matter?
  • Why now?

If it’s clear, relevant, and shows why it matters right now, users are much more likely to click or take the next step.

Strong call-to-action

A direct call-to-action guides behaviour. CTAs with strong intent like “Shop Now” or “Get Started” are good examples.

Mobile friendly design

A large portion of display impressions occur on mobile devices. Readable text, simple layouts, fast-loading assets, and high-contrast visuals significantly impact click-through rates and downstream performance.

A/B testing 

Consistent testing separates stable campaigns from optimized ones. Testing variations in headlines, imagery, layouts, and calls-to-action helps identify which combinations resonate most effectively with specific audiences.

Common Pitfalls

Overly broad targeting

Broad audience settings may increase impressions but often reduce efficiency. Layered targeting strategies that incorporate audience interests, behavioral signals, and remarketing lists typically deliver stronger performance. 

Weak creative testing

Without intentional testing, it’s tough to tell whether results are coming from the audience you’re targeting, the message you’re using, or the way the ad looks.

Google Display Ads are still a valuable tool for reaching and engaging your audience. When your campaign goals, targeting and creative are aligned, display advertising goes beyond visibility and can encourage real engagement and measurable results.

Conclusion

The post Why Google Display Ads Still Work and How to Use Them appeared first on MaxBounty+.

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