by Team Surfmyads - Published on February 8th, 2024
At Surfmyads.com, Inc., we've just finished an exciting Q4, our busiest time yet. But there's no slowing down for us. The beauty of our sector lies in the fact that each quarter brings its own set of priorities, excitement, and expectations. This dynamic nature is what makes our industry (affiliate marketing) both enjoyable and endlessly engaging for our team members.
So, what's the transition like from Q4 to Q1?
Well, for starters, each quarter brings its unique shopping trends and events. We follow a seasonal shopping calendar. Q4 means Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Holiday Shopping. Now, in Q1, we gear up for another significant shopping event: Valentine's Day. This occasion sees a surge in transactions across categories like flowers, chocolates, and gifting, with retailers like Teleflora, From You Flowers, 1800 Flowers, SendFlowers, and others like Disney, Fossil, Personalization Mall, L'Occitane, Bose, Michael Kors, Kiwico, LoveHoney rolling out strong coupons, vouchers, and discount codes. Not to mention, jewelry retailers like Zales, Reeds, Ross-Simons, and Kay Jewelers offer the best coupon codes. And let's not forget about the significant rise in deals for kitchenware items from vitamix, kitchenaid, greenpan, zwilling etc. perhaps a nod to those shopping for moms and loved ones.
With 17 years of data, Surfmyads.com, Inc. is no stranger to these seasonal shifts. Our ongoing AI project, supported by years of coupon and promotion data, keeps us ahead of the curve. While the stores and coupons may change, the shopping trends remain consistent. Beyond Valentine's Day, Q1 sees increased activity in categories like travel, health (gym, weight loss, diet supplements, vitamins), and dating.
Speaking of travel, while Q4 is known for its busy travel season, Q1 holds its own with a surge in bookings driven by business seminars, conferences, and early summer travel planning. This presents an exciting opportunity for travel agencies to roll out attractive deals and coupons, and we're here for it, partnering with brands like Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Vrbo, FlightHub, Cheapoair, Flight Catchers, Luxury Escapes, Cheap Caribbean, Southwest Vacations, Hertz, Best Western, Expedia Canada, Evenia Hotel to bring our savvy travelers the best deals.
As the new year rolls in, individuals shift their focus to personal goals, including health and wellness. This trend shines a spotlight on brands like eharmony, match.com, Dr. Berg, Professional Supplement Center, Total Gym, Weight Watchers, Currentbody, as people strive to prioritize self-care and meaningful connections.
Meanwhile, Software companies usually release upgraded versions towards the end of each year, prompting many businesses to update their applications with the latest releases, leading to a high amount of coupons from brands like norton, mcafee, Turbotax, H&R block, Autodesk, Trendmicro, Taxslayer, Avast, Malwarebytes, etc.
Behind the scenes, our teams are hard at work, Based on our data and established procedures, each department swiftly adjusts its priorities in Q1.
Affiliate Account Team:
The Affiliate Account Team refreshes its partner list, focusing on new seasonal opportunities while ensuring ongoing partner satisfaction from Q4.
Coupon Optimization Team:
As the new year begins, we notice a significant uptick in expiring coupons from the previous year, many of which have a December 31, 2023 expiration date. During the final two weeks of Q4, our team dedicates a good amount of time to reviewing and renewing these coupons for the upcoming year. Additionally, we analyze the flow of new coupon traffic for Q1, generating reports that inform the affiliate account team's decisions regarding which stores to prioritize and what types of coupons and deals to seek based on market competitiveness. This collaborative effort ensures that we maintain robust offerings across categories such as Travel, Gifts, Software, Health, Dating, Jewelry, Flowers, and Chocolate, in close coordination with our Affiliate Account Team.
Marketing Team:
This team collaborates with both the Affiliate Account Team and the Coupon Optimization Team to prepare all marketing materials for the affiliate program. They ensure the availability of compelling offers, prioritize the most converting deals, and compile a list of key affiliate partners for Q1. Their efforts support successful weekly email newsletter campaigns, as well as social media advertising and search engine marketing strategies. As a result, all relevant categories receive heightened exposure across various platforms.
The Marketing Team collaborates with both teams to prepare compelling marketing materials and campaigns that highlight the strongest offers and partnerships for Q1.
At Surfmyads.com, Inc., we believe in starting the new year strong. Our preparations kick off well before the calendar turns because we understand that laying a solid foundation sets the tone for success. As we navigate through Q1, our goal remains unchanged: to keep the momentum going strong, quarter after quarter.