Press Releases

LinkShare Launches #tweetshop Twitter Tool

London -- October 29, 2009 --

LinkShare, a leading affiliate network, today announced the LinkShare TweetShop Tool that enables anyone with a Twitter following to monetise their Twitter feeds, and easily turn customised tweets into an effective shopping tool. Generally available to publishers in its network, this innovation further demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating applications that are Easy, Fast and Open – easy-to-use, fast-to-market, and open across channels – and is the latest feature in LinkShare’s Bento Box, a showcase of new tools and applications. 

More than 50 million live Twitter accounts exist today , showing a 6.7 per cent jump from August to September to 58.4 million worldwide visitors. These numbers represent a massive demographic with huge market potential that is largely untapped as few companies today have successfully created ways to monetise Twitter feeds.

A recent LinkShare survey, which looked at the use of ads on social networks, highlighted that adverts placed on social networking sites should be targeted or will not receive high consumer interaction. LinkShare’s TweetShop Tool solves this problem by creating an online hub where consumers can find the best buys and share them with their friends.

Additionally, Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates identified that nearly half of all “value hunters” – a newly identified market segment – are searching online for the best deals and promotions. Since this growing segment of online shoppers purchase something online once a week or more , they represent a growing consumer base that will be using tools like Twitter to find new products, search for deals, and satisfy their everyday retail needs.

“With the holidays around the corner and seasonal online shopping on the rise, the LinkShare TweetShop Tool comes at an opportune time for publishers to share more online and take advantage of increased interest among online shoppers,” said Liane Dietrich, MD, LinkShare. “In the advent of the Twitter-adoption explosion, this new tool brings a host of new possibilities to our affiliate network that is easy, fun and effective at driving revenue.”

With the LinkShare TweetShop Tool, publishers can easily customise tweets through the user interface which automatically creates a shortened URL that directs an online shopper to the landing page for the recommended object of affection. Through three easy steps, publishers can turn their Twitter stream into a new revenue channel.

1. Pick the item to tweet about.
2. Point out the cool-factor.
3. Post as an updated tweet without the hassle of having to both find the webpage of the item and shorten the URL to fit into the tweet.

As we embark on new eras of promoting shopping through social networking, LinkShare offers some common sense guidelines for use of this new tool:

• Avoid tweeting false or unsubstantiated product claims
• Never create a fake/spam twitter account just to post new advertisements
• Clearly and conspicuously disclose any connections with the advertiser and/or the affiliate network
• Be creative! If it is an ad, it should sound like one, but go beyond a product pitch
• Don’t abuse it. Daunted followers will stop following you and this will undermine your credibility you have built up in your online community

To check out the buzz on this new LinkShare TweetShop Tool, hear what industry experts have to say and add to the conversation, search and / or tweet on the following hashtag: #TweetShop.

Additional Resources

• Check out our LinkShare UK Blog
• Follow us on Twitter @LinkShareUKBlog
• Tweetshop Demo

About LinkShare UK

LinkShare is a leading provider of full-service online marketing solutions specialising in the areas of Affiliate Marketing, Search (SEM) and Lead Generation. As the online marketing industry continues to evolve at a fast pace, advertisers and publishers are turning to LinkShare for technology innovation, experience and a passion for driving results.

Launched in late 2006, LinkShare is one of the UK’s fastest growing affiliate marketing networks, with a unique network of quality publishers. LinkShare has partnered with some of the UK’s leading brands from the retail and travel sectors such as AVON, British Airways, Coast, French Connection, Goldsmiths, House of Fraser, Karen Millen, LEGO, Liberty, Radisson, Speedo and Uniqlo.
LinkShare is dedicated to bringing future technology to today’s market and to enabling both advertisers and publishers to create tracking links through new channels and with new rich media options. Uniquely in the affiliate market, LinkShare’s patented tracking technology has never relied on pixels or cookies to track transactions.

Superior service combined with technology innovation allows advertisers and publishers to acquire and retain new customers, increase revenue and drive results. Advertisers can increase their online sales by leveraging LinkShare's massive performance marketing network along with expert consultative services and patented technology.

LinkShare was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, London and Tokyo.  LinkShare is a division of Rakuten, Inc.

Press Contact

Annette Leach/Chloe Wilkinson
Hotwire PR
linkshare@hotwirepr.com
020 7608 2500

Penny Mather
Marketing Manager – LinkShare
pmather@linkshare.com
020 7031 0958