SOHO HO & TLA

SOHO! HO!

If you live in Vancouver, or will be in the Vancouver area on December 19th, then join me and Stephen Fung at the SOHO 2006 Year End Wrap-up Reception. This is the most fun event you can have while making business contacts. Last year’s party was attended by over 250 people.

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 19th
Time: 5pm – 9pm
Location: Azure Lounge, Plaza of Nations, 101A-770 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6B 5E7
Directions: Map

I hope to see many people there. It will be a lot of fun.

Another Text Link Sold

Today I got an email from Text Link Ads. It seems they have sold another text link for me. This time the link says Tax Calculator and it’s from H&R Block. This sales bring my total Sponsored Links to five. Three more sales and I’ll be sold out. If you’re looking to buy a link, better get a move on before I’m sold out!

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I had another look at the Text Link Ads Calculator and I now understand why TLA has been able to sell links on my blog so easily. According to the calculator, one link on John Chow dot Com is worth $800 per month. TLA has been selling my links for $200 per month. I guess advertisers see this as a bargain when compared to the value the text link calculator splits out. I get the feeling the calculator inflates all link value so advertisers feel they’re getting a deal.

I have been very pleased with Text Link Ads. I really like their flat price per month and the fact that they pay you right after the month is over. What I don’t like about Text Link Ads is their 50% commission. I find that very high. I’m going to email them and get a better rate. Just because a network says their share of revenue is 50% doesn’t mean you have to accept it. If they want you bad enough they will deal. This is something to keep in mind as your site grows. In the beginning, there is not much negotiating room but once you start producing results, even Google will bend over backwards for you – something that this blogger just found out.