In an effort to reestablish itself as a major online presence and continue to reappear from Google’s heavy shadow, Yahoo Inc. is in acquisitions mode and ready to dive headfirst into online entertainment.  The company looks to build 100 new sites focused on the hottest brands in entertainment.  Paris Hilton?  Perhaps…but for starters, Yahoo Inc. hopes to attract advertisers with popular shows like “The Office”, “Lost” and products including Nintendo’s Wii.    

Meanwhile Google shares continue to rise (peaking at $500 per this past Tuesday…the highest since the company went public in 2004) and maintains its 45% market hold.   As the two companies grow though, their identities have begun to diverge.  Where Yahoo and Google once vied to be everything to everyone, Yahoo’s going back to its roots - the internet.

For example, last November Yahoo, banking off of Nintendo’s Wii buzz, launched the site wii.yahoo.com that included videos, pictures, blogs, articles, basically all things Wii that lead to more than 1.2 unique viewers.  Yahoo plans to attract similar audiences for its other entertainment-based sites by making the homepages look like television (clean, attractive - not chalk full of ads and content seen on most homepages.) 

Google and Yahoo both contain products galore, however, the Google brandname is so dominant it can get away with it.  Yahoo’s focused efforts though may provide the boost it needs to further define its presence.

Money’s always a sensitive subject.  But let’s face it - it’s business and in most cases, the basis for doing business.  Like many commission based businesses though, affiliate marketing must establish its price point on a different set of criteria.  Any affiliate business plan should include a carefully planned amount and commission structure that either includes a flat rate or percentage based payment program. 

Oftentimes vendors will heavily influence both the amount and way in which money is paid.  Industry standards are used as well to set rates.  Affiliate marketing software is another common way of determining and obtaining payment.  Or…payments can be detremined by vendor and affiliate - a mutually exclusive agreement that benifits both and pertains to that individual relationship.

Fortunately sample contracts exists for affiliate/vendor relationships.  A Google search (ry searching ‘pay per view sample contract’ or similar) will result in several free online templates.  Whatever format you chose,  it’s important to allow industry standards to dictate monetary decisions. 

One laptop per child - that’s the name of the program instituted in Libya and Thailand.  XO is the name of the computer.  Not a typical PC, but a laptop with a black screen and hand pulled battery.  The product, which was designed at MIT as an educational tool for children with an intended focus away from the typical desktop used at work. 

Jargon, icons, and cursors aside, the XO is an Picasso to Micrsoft’s desktop that permeates cubicle spaces and home offices worldwide.  Users (in most cases children) have access to music, friends sites, and an overall online community.  The software isn’t available on the market yet, but is set for release this summer.  First reports indicate the laptop will retail for approximately $400 in most markets.  The wireless computer is Linux- based, DVD ready with available USB ports.

Go to www.laptop.org for mor information.  The non-profit company has it’s sites and hearts set on providing laptops to underpriveleged children worldwide. 

January 2nd…a new month, year, Tuesday, whatever you want to call it, it’s time for renewal and resolution.  Whether you resolve to shed a few pounds, defy the norm and cancel your gym membership and gain a few pounds, be sure you don’t forget to include your affiliate marketing biz when making your plans. 

While affiliate guru Shawn Collins includes the addtion of a few affiliate summits to his 2007 calendar as part of his list of resolutions, there are less grandiose yet effective manuevers one can make to boost business.  For example:

1. Test the international market

2. Get Creative

3. Add to your staff

4. Try video blogging

5. Hop on the holiday online retail train (over $32 million was spent this hoiday season!

And those are just a few. Reading blogs, newsletters, books and any content available is valuable as well.  The horizon looks good too.  Google keeps growing as does Affilate Summit attendance, blogging, and overall online activity.