Every Q4, ShareASalers team up to create a new blog. This extra-curricular activity allows us to experience firsthand the hard work and challenges Merchants and Affiliates go through in the fourth quarter.

With each project, we strive to master something new – from content development and wordpress themes to API capabilities and PHP scripts. The project is always humbling, but brings to light the importance of a maintaining a quality product, developing new technologies and providing friendly customer service.

At ShareASale, we call this the “wow” factor. Our mission is to help our clients in such a way, that when they get off the phone or read an email, their reaction is “wow”. That same philosophy is usually the goal behind a successful blog post – “wow”.

Now, with that smooth transition, I would like to share the three blog posts that “wow’ed” me in 2013.

1: Art of Manliness

The Art of Manliness is a great blog for both men and women alike. It’s a husband and wife duo who continually put out useful, interesting content. Predictably, my favorite post this year was “How to Follow up After Meetings Someone in Person”. As the sales manager for ShareASale, I found this post incredibly relevant, timely and helpful!

2: LifeHacker.com

I was first introduced to LifeHacker with the post on converting an old-fashioned phone into a VOIP through Google Voice and a device called Obihai (NOTE: It works and is awesome.  If my house phone rings, so does my cellphone thanks to this other article by LifeHacker).  However, as wonderful as those posts have been, LifeHacker introduced me to a wonderfully horrible new hobby:  Home Automation!  After reading the post, my curiosity peaked and I got a little “addicted” (just ask some of the other people on my team).

3: IFTTT.COM: 

After being introduced to the glorious world of home automation, I discovered that it was possible to take it a step further (albeit a slightly unnecessary step).  IFTTT.com is a site that allows its users to automate things ranging from social media posts to emails to the lights in my house.  On a regular basis, IFTTT is updating their flexibility, range, and adaptability.  Users sync their various accounts (Facebook, Google, Twitter, SmartThings – see above, etc.), then certain rules/recipes can be setup.

IFTTT stands for If This, Then This.  For example, “If ShareASale releases an awesome blog post on Nick Marchese’s favorite blog posts of 2013, THEN post it on LinkedIn”. IFTTT.com has a great blog.  It regularly shares information about its product, offers innovative ideas, and never seems to SPAM with excessive updates, etc.

EXTRA CREDIT, READ ALL ABOUT IT!

TheArtOfManliness.com: 

Other than the posts and blogs above, one in particular from TheArtOfManliness.com stands out as a fun project: 

I was very anxious to try this out!  Unfortunately, I had an incredibly difficult time finding a phone book.  Do you have one?  If so, I am impressed!  Because I could not find a phone book, I had to grab the closest thing to it that I could find (See below).  As you will see, the project worked moderately well for me, but I do not think I followed the instructions to a “T”