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Madison Alley: The M&A outlook this year is better than you’d think

Lingering economic worries that haven’t quite disappeared — due to rising interest rates and continued inflation — aren’t having a huge effect on the appetite for mergers and acquisitions in the digital marketing space, according to new research being released tomorrow by Madison Alley.
The research also found less negativity in the forecasted ad spending in the balance of 2023 than one would expect in challenging economic times.
Digiday was given an early look at the research being issued by Madison Alley, an M&A advisory firm, which spoke to a blend of 18 private equity investors, 25 independent agency CEOs and operators, and 23 holding company- or PE-backed agencies to generate its findings. Of the agency folk surveyed, 57% were full-service agency execs, 19% apiece were in digital transformation or performance marking, and 5% were in creative or brand design.
In top-line findings of M&A activity, half of the survey respondents expect to be more acquisitive in 2023 than they were last year, while 65% said they expect deal flow will be at least as strong if not more so this year over last.
Part of the reason for that possible uptick in acquisitions is that buyers expect valuations to decrease this year — likely the result of the economic headwinds that continue to blow. Just over one-third of buyer respondents (36%) expect marketing services valuations to decrease, while 35% of sellers believe valuations will stay the same.
“The market is tougher” at the moment, said Andreas Roell, managing director at Madison Alley, who oversaw the research. “As a result of that, one could probably find better deals now than they were able to do before, because we came off pretty high peaks [in 2022]. There’s a little bit of a value driven approach, at least on the intent side. But this is the interesting part: the valuations have not come down dramatically. So, it continues to remain in my mind a seller’s market, if you have a quality asset.”
Michael Seidler, Madison Alley’s founder and CEO, added that a significant amount of the M&A activity is concentrated in that middle area of the agency world — independents that are looking to grow by buying smaller shops around them. But holding companies are also looking to acquire smaller specialists (for example, WPP has been buying small groups from sonic branding specialist Amp to social influencer marketing agency Obviously) to boost newer tech options.
“There’s been a number of parties that have reached out to us and that we’re also engaged on a number of these strategic buy-side fronts, where they really do need, digital creative capabilities, or performance marketing capabilities, or other aspects,” said Seidler. “We believe these are good conditions for them to be acquiring. It’s a little bit less competitive. It’s not to say that there aren’t as many buyers, but the buyers are a bit more judicious or selective on what they’re acquiring.”
Sanja Partalo, co-founder and managing partner of S4S Ventures, a VC firm that invests in the space, said she is also “on the optimistic team” of expecting a pickup in M&A activity this year. Partalo noted that investors now can feel the economic floor beneath them and have the confidence to make smart acquisitions. She expects to see acquisitions of specialists in influencer marketing, and creator marketing, as well as in performance media and affiliate marketing spaces.
“Some of the holding companies don’t have existing influencer operations or creator-driven expertise, so they’re now going out and buying it,” said Partalo, who added that affiliate marketing knowledge is also scant among major agencies, but is vital to successfully implementing influencer and social campaigns.
The survey also addressed the health of the ad marketplace heading into second half 2023. The good news is that 50% of respondents said marketing budgets in 2023 will stay the same, but almost one-third (31%) expect them to decrease, leaving just under one in five (19%) expecting marketing budgets to rise. When asked about their largest clients, the percent of respondents expecting the same spend rose to 56%, while those expecting an increase grew to 24%.
“Starting at the end of Q1, budgets of advertisers were starting to open up again,” said Roell. “And forecasts around Q3 and Q4 of this year, appear to be very strong from an advertiser side.” Roell added that alongside that shift, there’s a shift back toward branding-related upper-funnel spending, another indicator the second half of 2023 could improve for the ad marketplace.
“When things get a little bit tougher, there is a stronger tendency towards moving down the funnel into performance, marketing,” he said. “Now we’re starting to hear budgets go back up a bit more into awareness and branding again, towards the later part of this year.”
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Cyber Monday 2023: The best extended deals from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Apple and more
As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, Localish will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below*
There is still time for Cyber Monday savings. If you didn’t have time to pick stuff up on Cyber Monday, don’t worry as many of your favorite brands still have extended Cyber Monday sales. Here is every major brand’s extended Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2023 sales that you need to know. Check out best Cyber Monday deals under $100 and best Cyber Monday deals on Amazon.
Deals from top retailers
Amazon’s Cyber Monday event has ended, but there’s still time for holiday shopping with sales up to 71% on all things tech, household appliances and more.

This is your last chance to get the Apple Airpods 2nd Gen for under $100.

The most powerful Beats headphones yet, the Studio Pro is on sale for more than 50%.

Hisense 58-Inch ULED 4K Smart Fire TV
The crisp Hisense TV is on sale for 41% off.
Walmart’s Cyber Monday Deals is live until supplies last, with massive sales on items from Dyson, Sony, Apple and more.

PlayStation 5 Spider-Man 2 Bundle
The PS5 bundle comes with the hit Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 disc for 10% off.

The Xbox Series S bundle comes with an additional Xbox controller and a 3-month Game Pass subscription.

The fan-favorite Bissell Vac-and-Steam All-in-one is on sale for nearly $100 off.
Home Depot is offering Cyber Monday deals online and in stores now through 11/29, with up to 60% off on home appliances.
Best home products deals
Gordon Ramsay’s favorite cookware brand is offering 50% off their excellent pan and pot sets for Cyber Monday 2023.

HexClad 12-piece Cookware Set
At 40% off, you could have Gordon Ramsey’s favorite 12-piece cookware set for the lowest price ever.
Dyson deals are the best, with many of its revolutionary hair products and vacuums now on sale for up to 50%.

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson’s revolutionary Supersonic Hair Dryer is on sale for the first time this year – grab this excellent product for 25% off.
West Elm is giving 70% off on many of its best luxury furniture for extended Cyber Monday sales.

Roar & Rabbit Geo Inlay Nightstand
This beautiful nightstand is going for 30% off at West Elm.
Solo Stove is the best fire pit retailer on the market, so get their warmth for up to 40% off.
Secure some holiday warmth with the table top Mesa fire pit for 22% off.
Tech and entertainment
Take advantage of Hulu’s amazing Black Friday deal for a limited time! Subscribe to the Hulu (With Ads) plan for 99 per month for one year, current regular monthly price after. Get this deal now by clicking here. Ends 11/28/23. Eligibility restrictions and terms apply.
Best jewelry, clothing and fashion deals
Crocs’ Cyber Week sale are hosting sales up to 50%.
The Classic Clog is a classic for a reason at 25% off.
UNIQLO is having its only sale of the year, with amazing Cyber Week deals for your online shopping experience.
Nordstrom has Cyber Monday deals until midnight tonight, offering up to 82% off across all categories like Nike, UGG, Calvin Klein, Tory Burch and more.
The popular athleisure wear company has a number of great extended Cyber Monday finds, especially in their “We Made Too Much” page for the holiday shopping season.
Best haircare and cosmetics deals
Find deals from Ulta, Sephora and more.
Ulta’s Cyber Monday sales are now live and ends Tuesday November 28th, with up to 50% select beauty products.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of Hulu and this ABC station.
* By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave Localish.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these products with you, Localish is not endorsing these products. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.
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16 Common Blogging Mistakes
Common blogging mistakes often derail even the most dedicated bloggers. From neglecting SEO strategies to ignoring audience engagement, these errors …
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How to Make Money with Custom GPTs and ChatGPT

The new GPT store on ChatGPT is expected to be launched by OpenAI in December, there aere a number of other ways that you can make money with Custom GPTs and ChatGPT as well as the new store. In the dynamic and ever-changing digital world we inhabit, the emergence of Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs), such as ChatGPT, signifies a major leap in the field of artificial intelligence. These sophisticated AI models are rapidly transitioning from being mere technological marvels to valuable assets in the business arena.
Entrepreneurs and forward-thinking innovators are now at the forefront, actively seeking out and experimenting with inventive and effective ways to harness the financial potential of these tools. This article aims to explore and elucidate a variety of practical and groundbreaking strategies. These strategies are not only innovative but also highly effective in tapping into the revenue-generating capabilities of custom GPTs and ChatGPT. We aim to provide a deeper understanding and fresh perspectives, moving beyond traditional methods and applications, thereby opening up new avenues for leveraging these advanced AI technologies in the commercial sphere.
1. Merchandise Sales Powered by GPTs
One of the most direct ways to monetize GPTs is through merchandise sales. For instance, imagine a custom GPT named ‘Sticker WHZ’ designed to create unique sticker designs based on user inputs. Such AI-powered creativity can be a game-changer in the custom merchandise sector. By integrating with platforms like Teespring, the entire process from creation to distribution can be streamlined, offering a novel avenue for e-commerce.
2. Tip Jars: A Simple Yet Effective Model
Tip jars represent a straightforward monetization method. A custom GPT, like ‘Grimoire GPT’, aimed at enhancing specific skills such as engineering, can include a feature allowing satisfied users to leave tips. Digital platforms like ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ and Patreon make it easy to set up and manage these donations, providing a steady income stream for creators and developers.
3. Consultation Calls Facilitated by GPTs
GPTs can serve as powerful lead generators for professional services. For example, a ‘GPT Idea Evaluator’ could offer initial assessments or advice, leading interested users to personalized, paid consultation calls. This approach not only monetizes the GPT service but also leverages its capabilities to enhance a consulting business. Scheduling and payment collection can be efficiently managed through tools like Calendly.
4. Affiliate Marketing: GPTs as Product Recommenders
Affiliate marketing, a well-established online revenue model, can be innovatively integrated with GPTs. These AI systems can be programmed to recommend products or services, embedding affiliate links within their responses. This method adapts well to a variety of niches, including physical goods and online courses, and can be a subtle yet effective monetization strategy.
5. Sponsorships Tailored for GPT Content
Similar to traditional digital content monetization, GPTs can feature sponsored links or product mentions in their outputs. This approach mirrors the sponsorship models seen in digital platforms like YouTube or newsletters, providing an opportunity for businesses to reach audiences through AI-generated content.
Summary
Filed Under: Guides
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