ScottKalbach.com

AvantLink Product Ad Widget Sneak Peek

The last couple of weeks we’ve been doing some internal BETA testing on a new AvantLink affiliate network tool that we’re calling the Product Ad Widget (PAW). We’re still working on some last minute tweaks, but we should have a public BETA available this next week.

The Product Ad Widget is the next generation of the Product Display Builder and will eventually replace that tool. The sign-up/configuration interface for this tool makes heavy use of the Yahoo User Interface (YUI) which allows us to provide a fully ajax driven dynamic interface with some pretty cutting edge functionality.

The Product Ad Widget has three widget display options.

1. Product Display – This is the default html widget that can be integrated using JavaScript or using the server side language of your choice.
2. Content Match Ad Widget: This widget provides the same options as above, but products are returned based on a keyword analysis of the content on the calling website page.
3. Flash Widget: This is a carousel type flash widget that also has an integrated product search option.

Now for the sneak peek. Lets take a look at some screenshots. Click the images below to view a full size version.

1. In this first screenshot I did a search for “denali jacket mens” across all the merchants and then added five products in a one-off fashion to my selected products. I could have also clicked “Add all products” if I wanted all the results.

2. This screenshot shows the customize and preview options available for the default widget type. You can choose from a couple pre-designed templates and customize from there, select a no template wrapper style widget for a whole page style product display or design your own widget html.

3. Previewing our current widget configuration results by clicking the “Preview Widget” button.

4. Clicking on the “Save & Get Source” tab saves the widget configuration and presents you with the integration source code. In this case we provide a simple one line of JavaScript option as well as presenting some sample PHP and ASP code for those that would prefer to call the widget with server side code.

Below is the actual widget we created along with an example of a Flash carousel style widget.

Flash carousel style widget:

Change you can believe in?

Apparently the Democrats have taken the Bush administrations terrible financial bailout idea as a green light to indulge in their wildest government spending fantasies. Talk about fear mongering. They keep telling us this is the worst financial crisis since the great depression. So they had to rush through and pass a one trillion dollar bailout that our kids and grandkids will be paying off. If it was really as dire a situation as they are claiming, would the following insanely expensive pork earmarks be in this bill?

• $1 billion for Amtrak.
• $2 billion to help subsidize child care.
• $400 million for research into global warming.
• $2.4 billion for projects to demonstrate how carbon greenhouse gas can be safely removed from the atmosphere.
• $650 million for coupons to help consumers convert their TV sets from analog to digital, part of the digital TV conversion.
• $600 million to buy a new fleet of cars for federal employees and government departments.
• $75 million to fund programs to help people quit smoking.
• $21 million to re-sod the National Mall, which suffered heavy use during the Inauguration.
• $335 million for treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
• $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.
• $44 million to renovate the headquarters building of the Agriculture Department.
• $20 billion over five years for an expanded food stamp program.

And the list goes on… Porkulus list courtesy of Newsmax.com

So what exciting “changes” can we look forward to next? Well there’s the auto industry bailout, socialized health care, and probably an economic stimulus 2.0 when 1.0 doesn’t work. Debt, debt and more debt.

My Blog

Welcome to my blog. This blog will be my outlet for discussing my interests including the projects and businesses I’m involved with as well as my hobbies and the occasional political rant.

Here’s a little information about me.

First, the most important stuff. I have been happily married to my beautiful wife Jennifer for 10 years and have two wonderful sons, Lance and Nicholas. We live in Utah and fully enjoy the exceptional quality of life this state has to offer.

I am the CEO and Founder of AvantLink.com. AvantLink is a true performance based affiliate network that specializes in providing a full suite of ad tools for merchants and affiliates that you won’t find in most other networks. We focus on quality affiliates and merchants which gives us the ability to offer a high level of support and be a real partner for innovation.

I’m an avid mountain biker, hiker and snowboarder. When I’m not in the trenches building my business I’m usually out engaging in one of these activities with friends and/or family.

Scott Kalbach

skalbach -at- avantlink.com