Logan Thompson

ShareASale ThinkTank 2009 – Amazing Event

Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by Logan in Conferences

Sunday night I got back from ShareASale Think 2009 at the Pelican Hill resort in Newport Beach, CA and I’m already missing the weather.  When you are in sunny California, with some amazing people and an incredible resort, it’s an adjustment coming back to real life, while processing the weekend.

I flew into Orange County on Friday morning, got my Nissan Versa rental car (should have gotten something nicer), and headed to the Pelican Hill resort.  I felt a little out of place in my rental when the valet parked my my little compact car next to a few Range Rovers, a few Mercedes, a Bentley and a Labroghini Gallardo.  Later I came to find out the Bentley is what the resort used as a shuttle, so I guess you could say it was a high class place.

The venue was just beautiful with the worlds largest circular swimming pool, a room so nice I was afraid to get it dirty, a view of the golf course and the ocean.  Top notch.

Friday I hung out with Ian Fernando and we got stuck in Santa Monica, so by the time we got to the welcome reception, most people had already left.  We still got to chat with a few people and I got to bed at a decent hour to get ready for Saturday, which was the bulk of the event.

After eating a nice breakfast outside, everyone headed into the ballrooom for 4 mini sessions, that was more of a get to know some of the merchants that were there.  They included panels that focused on:

Demographic: Women
Demographic: Men
Demographic: Education and Life Experience
Demographic: Home and Office

Although some merchants were a little more interesting discussing the subjects as the others, it was a good format and a very interesting session.  There are definitely some great merchants on the ShareASale network.

After the sessions there was a lunch, which included tables with different merchants, program management companies, and vendors.  It was a relaxed atmosphere and the lunch included the best mac & cheese I’ve ever had in my life.  I think everyone at our table went back for seconds.  I made some good contacts at lunch and had some good conversations including the Facebook team that was there.

After lunch you could meet one on one with different merchants in private cabanas that were located around the pool.  I met with Matt McWilliams of Legacy Learning who I had chatted with online before but had never met in person.  He runs a great program over there.  I also met with a few other merchants that I plan on working with, so overall it was a very productive cabana time.  After the cabana time, I headed to my room and did a little work on my balcony.

Saturday was a free night, so Ian Fernando,  Jason Rubacky of ShareASale, and I went out to dinner at one of the restaurants at the resort.  We tried to have them pick us up in the Bentley, but it was gone at a wedding so we got picked up in a Mercedes van that looked like Jon & Kate Gosselin’s van.  That was definitely the best meal of the weekend, with bread that tasted like a pretzel, and lamb that was so good.  Props to Jason for taking us out.

After dinner the 3 of us met up with the Facebook team and hung out.  Jason bought the most expensive bottle of Grey Goose vodka I’ve ever seen like a true baller, and had a good night.  They are some fun dudes.

Sunday morning was another great breakfast, eating outside and overlooking the golf course and ocean.  I think I could get used to that.  After breakfast everyone got together for a “Thinks We Need To Fix” session which was an open discussion on how ShareASale could improve.  This is something most companies do a poor job at.  Find out from your users how you could be better, and more people will be loyal to you.

After the session, I drove to the University of California and ate at In N Out for the second time in my life.  I have to admit it was better than the first time, but I don’t understand why it has all of the hype it has.  It tasted like a good burger, but nothing that special.  After being filled with grease I headed to the airport and ended my journey.

I just want to thank Brian Littleton, Jason Rubacky, and the entire ShareASale team for putting on the best affiliate marketing event around.  It blew away my expectations by a mile, and although I haven’t done much with ShareASale, I am definitely going to be a loyal ShareASale affiliate from now on.  They are such a great company and really care about their affiliate and merchants and what they think.

If you’re not a ShareASale affiliate, I definitely suggest you sign up.  They have over 3000 merchants on their network, so you definitely will find some great people to work with.

Tags: shareasale