Recently, Microsoft pulled its latest line of hipster-esque, socially inclined mobile phones from the shelves, making the Kin one of the shortest-lived models in the history of cell phones. Tepid reviews and flaccid sales brought the Kin to an untimely demise—but it probably didn’t have to be that way. Many users and reviewers had unrealistic expectations about the Kin, and it’s because of what Microsoft failed to mention in their marketing campaign.

The Kin Isn’t a Smartphone

In this high tech mobile market, competitors have to shine in one of two areas: affordability or functionality. The Kin did so in neither department. For one, both Kin phones cost about as much an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry, with a sticker price creeping into the triple digits and a compulsory data plan that makes TCO pretty high. But in spite of costing about as much as a Motorola Cliq or Black ... Read more »

Affiliate marketers are typically on the forefront of effective Internet promotion strategies, but there is one facet that remains relatively uncharted territory: video. Nationwide brands and other major advertisers have already launched aggressive efforts to reach customers via YouTube, Metacafe, MySpace video and other video channels, but according to a survey by AffStat, only 1 in 3 affiliate marketers currently use video as part of their strategy.

What does this mean to aspiring affiliate marketers?

For one, it means less competition in this highly advantageous space. Video content gives marketers an elevated visibility within search results, especially since major search engines are moving towards inclusion of more multimedia results. Google, for example, often boosts video results to the top of the page as a way to offer more diverse content than simple t ... Read more »