Guest Blog Post by: Jennifer Crego

Social media is making the affiliate marketing industry a small world after all. Being responsible for the Affiliate Program for GiftTree.com, communicating with the affiliates in our program, as well as potential affiliates, is at the top of my priority list. Connecting with people within the affiliate marketing industry is key, and I have found social media helps me accomplish this.

Everyone is busy, often doing more with less these days. Affiliates are no exception. They are continuously hit from both sides, as shoppers and merchants vie for their attention. That’s why I network with affiliates where they are already spending their time – Twitter, LinkedIn, Affiliate Forums, and the growing Cost Per News Social Network.

These social sites help me connect without getting in the way. You have to admit, 140 characters forces a person to be succinct. I am able to suggest products, mention top performing links, and just simply check in. GiftTree has received rave reviews from affiliates who are thrilled that we communicate with them through Twitter. That tells me we’re on the right track.

Other social networks, like the Cost Per News Social Network allow me to meet new people who are in the industry. I can discuss a variety of affiliate marketing topics and learn from veterans who know the tried and true, along with new marketers who bring fresh ideas to the table.

I confess, I don’t utilize LinkedIn as much as I could. I use it a lot, but the network has so much to offer to those who take advantage, more than people generally realize. LinkedIn seems to be where everything comes together for me. It’s no surprise that many of the people I communicate with on other sites can also be found in my connections and in the same groups that I participate in.

So does affiliate marketing and social media mix? For GiftTree, and for me personally, the answer is a robust, “Yes!” I’d like to hear which social networking sites other people like to visit to connect with others in the affiliate marketing field.

Follow Jennifer Crego, Director of Business Development at GiftTree.com on Twitter. Follow GiftTree on Twitter.