Itay Paz

Tell me about your Affilicon?

Affilicon www.affilicon.com  is a company who was founded with a clear mission to become a bridge for advertisers and publishers worldwide by organizing a series of international conferences and exhibition related to affiliate marketing. Being affiliates for the last 10 years and spending most of my time traveling to the US in order to get updated about online marketing emphasized the void in the international market and we decided to fill the gap.

What is new in affiliate marketing events?

We have decided to take a risk and explore new markets. While Europe is no brainer we are planning to have conferences and exhibitions in Mumbai and Beijing, where 1000s of active affiliates are active but they and affiliates programs as well as affiliate networks never had a chance to meet.

What was your biggest challenge getting into affiliate marketing events?

Well, it is very tough like in any new business. You need to develop brand before people will commit to come, attend and exhibit. We had to prove that we can get the right content ( with the right presenters) we had to demonstrate that we can gather 100s of people for an event and we had to demonstrate that we know how to organize. I feel that we crossed this point. Our past events were excellent and our future ones will be even better. We always say that the enemy of good is the better.

What are the main things merchants do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Merchants are our strategic partners. The event is planned to bring them together in the same place with the affiliates who are their bold system. None of these 2 parties cannot live without the other. Don’t get me wrong! It’s a win-win situation and there is not tension or conflict between the two ( beside day to day business related issues).

What are the main things affiliates do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Affiliates , in general, are a group of entrepreneurs, innovative, smart people. You cannot success and you would not enter this market if you do not have these 3 ingredients. I love them, otherwise I would do something different.

Where do you see growth in the affiliate marketing events?

We see the growth coming from two directions. One- internal growth at each location (we experience 50% growth from first to second event in the same location) and we expect to explore and get new places to hold our events in years to come. We see a clear trend where niche markets events fold into our general purpose one.

What do you do to improve the world?

Hmmm, tricky question. The internet is, in my mind, the second industrial revolution. It eliminates a lot of traditional jobs. However, it creates millions of new jobs. Our events are aimed in educating and improving the performance of these new created jobs. We understand this responsibility and do not save any effort in getting the best people and the best merchants. We believe that we have a pivotal job here. The better we do, the better people will perform.

What do you do that is green?

Green, in our world has two connotations. One is being ethical. The internet, being a young and uncontrolled industry can be misused. We do our most to educate for moral and ethical activity.
As part of the Internet community we are paperless, we get many processes to be done electronically and we save gas. Most of the affiliates work from home!

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

I love kids! I have two and I don’t get to see them enough. Kids get you to be more relaxed, warm and forgiving. And maybe another one… I never hold grudge… even if I am mad at someone, it goes after a few hours…

What is on your iPod?

I love seeing movies. Thanks god I have enough flights, and long ones to see many of them. so no iPod for me (yet)…waiting for iPhone 4G 😉

What’s your favourite book?

The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
http://www.amazon.com/Goal-Process-Ongoing-Improvement/dp/0884271781

What are your contact details (email, company, blog, facebook, myspace, forums etc) ?

Website: www.affilicon.com
Tel: +44-(0)7624-317768/+972-54-7229919
Email: Itay @affilicon.com
Skype: itaypaz77
MSN Instant Messenger: itaypaz77 @hotmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/itaypaz
Become my Facebook Friend
Affilicon FB Group
My Linkedin

What events do you go to?

I try to go to all events, I like to reach to people, know new ones, network, learn on new technologies, so you can find me in all of them

Who would recommend you and why?

I get a lot of awesome feedback from many international affiliates, merchants and affiliate network. We clearly fill a void in the international market and people do appreciate it.
http://blog.mediatrust.com/2009/06/dissecting-affilicon/

Who would you recommend and why?

I would recommend the big US guys (MediaTrust, ebay, amazon, CJ and alike) to be more proactive within the international market. We give them a fantastic vehicle to recruit top notch affiliates.

What one thing can people do to help you?

My philosophy is helping people without looking for a return, something like a good Karma. It is working well so I am leaving other people to decide themselves what they can do… but support is always welcomed!

Thank you Affilicon Founder Itay Paz