Best of the Web owes much of its success to affiliates, each of whom plays a part in reinforcing the BOTW brand across the web, particularly within the Internet marketing community. As a result, every so often we like to express our appreciation to those savvy BOTW Resellers by giving them the opportunity to showcase their competitive marketing skills for the chance to win big prizes. In the past, winners of BOTW Reseller Contests have been the recipients of HDTVs and iPads with all the latest features.

The Program
For those few BOTW fans out there who are unfamiliar with the Reseller Program, it provides webmasters and marketers alike with a way to earn money through referrals to the Web Directory while promoting their own websites. You can join the reseller ranks for free, either by upgrading an existing BOTW account or creating one, and immediately start earning 25% commission on all sales.

The Contest
We’re now holding a Reseller Contest that requires that competitive edge and creativity that we know all of our affiliates possess, but can be won without maxing out on referred customers. Here’s how:

Create a video of yourself recommending Best of the Web to potential customers and, once finished, email it with the subject “Reseller Video Contest” to contest@bestoftheweb.com. All affiliates who submit a recommendation video before July 31 will automatically receive a $25 Amazon gift card. The overall winner* will be awarded a $500 American Express gift card.

The winning video will then be displayed on prominent pages of the BOTW Directory**, and therefore all submissions should have a focused message while being both creative and authentic. Video submissions will be accepted throughout July, and the grand prize winner will be announced at the beginning of August, so don’t delay – start creating today!

The Details
Video submissions should be roughly 60 seconds long, and must be submitted by July 31 to be eligible for the prize. If you’re having trouble finding a focus for your recommendation (because with 60 seconds of camera time, you’ll need to choose a talking point) – here are a few suggestions:

• Consider the benefits of having a listing in the Web Directory or Local Directory.
• Explain why you submit to Best of the Web for your business or for clients.
• Talk about your experiences with Best of the Web.

If you’re still struggling for ideas, find your inspiration by taking a look around the BOTW Directory. While you’re there, read over our Reseller Terms of Service, as they were recently updated.

*The winning video will be selected solely at the discretion of Best of the Web. All decisions are final.

**We reserve the right to use, edit, and display any parts of, or whole video submissions in any ways and for all chosen purposes deemed appropriate by and relating to Best of the Web.

Social Media: The final next frontier. Perhaps you are already so accustomed to seeing sharing and liking options online that they have long since faded into the background of your favorite websites. When you step outside of simply clicking a button on a page, however, you’ll find that sharing and connecting with your favorite businesses through social media has many benefits. If your Facebook news feed has morphed into a chaotic influx of fan page advertisements and status updates, fear not. We have no intention of spamming you. Instead, we’d like to provide you with a few reasons why the BOTW page should be one of your top Facebook Likes, and why it’s worth sharing.

Share Your Listing
You now have the ability to “like” any given category in the Web Directory. For instance, the Bob Dylan category is liked by a handful of users. What does this mean for your listing or sponsorship? Aside from being able to express appreciation for your niche, liking a category will automatically post a link to it on your Facebook Wall. Therefore by clicking the Like button at the top of the category where your listing or sponsorship is located, it is instantly shared with your entire Facebook network.

You can also mark your approval of a category through Google’s +1 button. This will store the category, in a sense bookmarking it, in your Google account and share it as a recommendation when your contacts search related items through the mainstream search engine. The combination of having reliable directory listings with social media sharing capabilities creates the opportunity to potentially reach thousands of viewers.

Promo, please!
We get countless emails every day asking where to find announcements about upcoming or currently active promotions. Aside from right here, the answer is Facebook. By liking our Facebook page, it will not only appear in your news feed the moment a new promotion is announced, but you’ll also be made privy to opportunities to win coupons and other prizes every week.

Once you like BOTW on Facebook, stay tuned for updates and the opportunity to participate in the Trivia Challenges. You can win a Trivia Challenge, and the monetary prize that comes with it, by being the first BOTW fan to post the correct answer to the day’s challenge. Prizes range from coupons on BOTW directory submissions, Amazon gift cards, and prizes from other select partners. Any fan can win a coupon one time per week, and is eligible to win a gift card once every month.

Vacation with BOTW & Win
If you’re a true fan of Best of the Web, you probably have a t-shirt or a mug from one of the many conferences and gatherings over the years. Now that gear can win you money through the “Guess Where BOTW’s Been” contest. Simply take a photo with your BOTW gear set in an *exotic location and email it to contest@bestoftheweb.com. Anyone who participates by sending a picture will automatically win a $25 Amazon gift card. If your photo is later posted on the page under the “Guess Where BOTW’s Been” contest, you’ll win an additional $100 Amazon gift card.

These are just a few ways to get the most out of the social media being implemented through the Web Directory. So, go ahead, click “Like” on our sidebar widget. Whether you’re looking for additional attention for your newly added listing or sponsorship, or are looking for an available coupon to help cut the cost of your next submission, getting involved through Facebook can only help your cause.

*Exotic locations do not have to be tropical; however, locations must be identifiable through a landmark or other prominent feature. Those who submit via email must include their full name, contact information, and the name of the location pictured. Emailed photo submissions will be accepted through August 2011.