Amy Jordan

intent.ly Live! 2025: Building a career that transcends affiliate marketing

Amy Jordan — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:53:06 +0000

Our third edition of intent.ly Live! included an insightful panel session packed full of practical advice on how to build a career beyond affiliate marketing. intent.ly’s Client Success Director Katy Scott was joined by two seasoned ecommerce pros who started out in affiliate marketing – Nicholas Caulfield, Senior Director of Growth & Operations at Expedia and Michelle Corp, Ecommerce Director at Lily’s Kitchen. Here’s a round-up of some of their top tips.

1. Start Where You Are and Stay Curious

While it often seems that few people start their careers with affiliate marketing in mind, those who find themselves in the industry discover a space full of opportunity and creativity. For many, it can become a launchpad for broader growth and lasting success.

Whether you come from journalism, advertising, or data, affiliate marketing gives you a crash course in how digital ecosystems work. What matters most is curiosity – seeing affiliate not just as a job, but as a training ground for commercial thinking, partnership building, and problem-solving.

2. Transferable Skills That Transcend Affiliate

Affiliate marketing is a microcosm of modern marketing: fast-paced, data-driven, and relentlessly collaborative. The panelists highlighted key skills that continue to serve them well in their senior ecommerce roles today:

Adaptability and resilience: Every quarter brings new tools, rules, and partners. Learning to stay calm under change builds long-term career stamina.
Relationship management and influence: Negotiating with partners teaches empathy, communication, and persuasion – critical in any senior leadership or cross-functional role.
Commercial thinking: Understanding how revenue flows, what drives ROI, and how incentives align gives affiliate professionals a rare strategic edge.
Data storytelling: Turning metrics into meaning is a skill honed in client presentations – and essential when talking to executives.
Preparation and research: Whether writing a partner brief or pitching internally, those who do their homework build trust and credibility.

“Account Managers have the pressure of maintaining relationships. As you develop, you learn how to influence people and your relationships.” – Nicholas

3. Future-Proofing Your Skillset

The digital landscape shifts fast, but so can you. The panelists shared practical ways to stay sharp:

Stay connected to industry news: Follow key publications like Hello Partner, The Drum, Econsultancy and eMarketer, as well as category-specific outlets like Skift, for the travel sector.
Learn from others’ work: Save great slide decks or campaign ideas you see and revisit them for inspiration.
Audit your own learning gaps: Build skills in data analysis, AI, or strategic storytelling – areas that bridge creativity and technology.
Keep asking “so what?” Data alone doesn’t impress a CMO – insight does. Always link your work to impact. Nicholas suggests always asking yourself, “How do I show insights that they are not already aware of?”
Utilise useful toolbar add-ons: Enhance your output and insights with tools such as BuiltWith, Datalayer, Hunter, Meta and Similarweb.

4. Taking the Leap: Pivoting Beyond Affiliate

If you’re ready to take on a new challenge in strategy, trading, brand marketing, or other leadership roles, the same principles apply:

Prepare – and pitch your value: Nicholas moved into strategy by spotting a gap and building a business case for the new role.
Expect resistance: People may question your move – use that as fuel, not discouragement.
Be ready to fail and learn fast: You won’t know everything in a new discipline, and that’s okay. Growth comes from discomfort.
Communicate expectations: When you do land that new role, set out a 90-day plan for how you’ll add value and make it visible to your peers and leaders.

5. Re-define Success Beyond Titles

Career growth isn’t just about salary or job titles. The panelists underlined the importance of aligning work with personal values – integrity, kindness, teamwork, and continuous learning.

“I have my personal goals which are layered on top of my core values. These are the main concepts that drive how I feel about myself and other people.” For Michelle, these guiding values serve as key markers that help her define what success truly means, where she wants to go in her career, and what she hopes to achieve.

Similarly, Nicholas urged us to reflect on our personal ‘lifelines’. “What are the three to five things that have shaped your career? I think people go through different measures of success as you progress through your career and as you progress through life.” He emphasised how our motivations are never static: “You go through ‘S’ curves – you complete one, adapt, and then begin another.”

Finally, Michelle noted, “Good things don’t come from your comfort zone.” Measure progress not just by promotions, but by mastery, autonomy, and purpose – and allow those priorities to evolve over time.

6. Mentorship and Continuous Learning

Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal. Seek out people who challenge you, inspire you, or have the job you aspire to next. The panel offered these tips for finding and making the most of mentors:

Look beyond your line manager – choose someone two steps ahead of you if you can.
Be specific about what you want to learn and how often you’d like to meet.
Treat every interaction – from interviews to networking chats – as a learning opportunity.
Remember feedback is a gift: Ask for it, apply it, and grow from it.

7. Final Advice: Take Risks, Prepare, and Stay Human

When asked for their final words on building a successful career in affiliate marketing and beyond, Nicholas and Michelle agreed on these key actions:

Take smart risks: The best career moves often look risky from the outside.
Do the prep: Know your audience, do your research, and show your thinking.
Stay authentic: Bring your personality and values into every conversation.
Keep learning: The most successful marketers stay endlessly curious.

Affiliate marketing builds commercially minded, adaptable, relationship-driven professionals – skills that translate far beyond the channel. Whether you stay in the space or step into new territories, those foundations will carry you forward.

Thanks again to Nick, Michelle and all our clients and partners for joining us at intent.ly Live! – you can read more insights from the day on our journal, including:

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post intent.ly Live! 2025: Building a career that transcends affiliate marketing appeared first on intent.ly.

Press Release: intent.ly expands CRO suite with SmartChoice

Amy Jordan — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:18:50 +0000

intent.ly expands CRO suite with SmartChoice, a generative AI-powered product recommendation guide

London, UK – 13 August 2025

intent.ly, the performance-based conversion optimisation platform, has launched a brand new generative AI-powered product recommendation guide, in partnership with Help Me Choose A.I. This powerful new solution helps online shoppers make faster, more confident purchase decisions.

Acting as a virtual store assistant, intent.ly’s SmartChoice uses data feeds and intelligent questioning to deliver personalised product recommendations. By guiding shoppers to the right products faster, it reduces choice overload and basket abandonment – ultimately increasing conversion rates and average order values for retailers.

This move strengthens intent.ly’s commitment to driving value for brands and optimising experiences for consumers. intent.ly SmartChoice is a natural fit for intent.ly, complementing existing CRO solutions such as website overlays, in-page campaigns, email remarketing, brand partnerships and voucher code analytics.

“This compelling solution opens the door to new verticals and markets, unlocking both fresh business opportunities and accelerated growth for our existing clients,” said Ennis Al-Saiegh, Founder and CEO of intent.ly. “With Help Me Choose A.I.’s generative AI power, speed, and simple set up, combined with our global scale and expert managed service, this partnership is perfectly positioned to deliver real-world impact.”

Al Ryrie, Founder and CEO of Help Me Choose A.I, whose impressive client base already includes Canon and HP, will work closely with intent.ly to continue innovating the product for the affiliate sector.

“Joining forces with intent.ly gives us the platform to scale with brands working in the affiliate space – and to drive further optimisations that will benefit those brands and their customers,” said Al Ryrie.

intent.ly SmartChoice is available now, with dedicated support and onboarding provided by intent.ly’s existing team of CRO experts.

For more information, visit intent.ly/smart-choice

— ENDS —-

About intent.ly:

intent.ly is an award-winning shopper journey optimisation platform empowering online retailers to engage and convert shoppers. Personalised engagement tools – website overlays, in-page campaigns, email remarketing, brand partnerships and voucher code analytics – enable brands to achieve a wide range of ecommerce KPIs.

Media contact:
Amy Jordan
Marketing Manager
amy.jordan@intent.ly

About Help Me Choose A.I.

Help Me Choose A.I. is a zero-party data and product recommendation platform founded in 2017. Seamless to deploy and fully customisable, Help Me Choose A.I. boosts conversions, increases customer satisfaction, and drives long-term loyalty.

Back to journal to read more

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Press Release: intent.ly expands CRO suite with SmartChoice appeared first on intent.ly.

Rory Sutherland at Awin Global ThinkTank: A mind-bending closing keynote on psychology, perception, and peculiar bees

Amy Jordan — Fri, 30 May 2025 10:40:34 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered what behavioural economics, honeybees, petrol stations, warm cookies, and Winston Churchill have in common, Rory Sutherland just connected the dots in a keynote that defied logic – and then explained why defying logic might just be the secret to business success.

Awin Global ThinkTank 2025 wrapped with a suitably explosive finale, courtesy of the inimitable Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK. Sutherland is a natural storyteller on stage, engaging the audience with real business examples and anecdotes of behavioral economics and consumer psychology at play.

Data is not your friend (if you use it like everyone else)

Sutherland kicked off by questioning our devotion to data. Yes, it helps you benchmark. But when everyone is optimising the same metrics in the same way, we all become disturbingly alike. “The most innovative businesses,” he noted, “are those who’ve escaped the comparison trap.” You can’t stand out if you’re just trying to blend in more efficiently than the next guy.

Cue the bees

He recounted how 20% of bees ignore the waggle dance (their version of Google Maps) and buzz off at random. Inefficient? Hardly. These rebel bees are vital for discovering new pollen sources. Without them, hives get stuck in local maxima – overfed on yesterday’s flowers and starving tomorrow.

Takeaway? You need a little madness in the method. Randomness isn’t inefficiency – it’s optionality. Every organisation needs its metaphorical rogue bee.

Small psychological shifts = massive business gains

Forget moonshots. Sutherland prefers “moonhops” – small psychological changes that yield massive results. He cited the now-legendary $300 million UX win where an online retailer simply let people checkout as guests. Boom. Millions earned. Why? Because friction, no matter how minor, is the silent killer of conversions.

In that spirit, he lauded DoubleTree’s free cookies. A trivial cost, yet deeply memorable because they’re unexpected. No one waxes nostalgic about a £1,000 minibar but everyone remembers that gooey chocolate chip welcome.

Reverse benchmarking: be weird where others are boring

Instead of copying the market leader, ask what everyone’s overlooking and go hard in that direction. Fancy hotels offer standard perks like robes and minibars – so stand out with something unexpected, like the “departure lounge” one major brand introduced: a space where checked-out guests can sip espresso, catch up on emails, and unwind before heading to the airport. “Surprise is ten times more powerful than expectation,” Sutherland said, channelling his inner retail Yoda.

This philosophy turned the once-ignored London Overground into a Tube line in disguise. Same trains, same tracks – but with better signage and a lick of orange paint, Londoners suddenly noticed it existed. Ridership soared. Infrastructure rebranded, not rebuilt.

Framing is everything

Marketers don’t need to change the world – just how people see it. He gave the glorious example of Ronald Reagan, whose age threatened his re-election until he turned the concern into comedy: “I won’t exploit my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” One line reframed an entire campaign.

Even more magical? The Italian restaurant that couldn’t get anyone to sit in the basement until they rebranded it as “The Capri Lounge” and pretended it was always fully booked. Voilà – suddenly it was the most in-demand spot in town.

Embrace the illogical

The closing argument? We need fewer management consultants and more magicians. Logic scales incrementally. Psychology leaps exponentially. “Marketing,” Sutherland declared, “is the science of knowing what economics is wrong about.” Amen.

It was equal parts sermon and stand-up – slightly eccentric yet scientific, unapologetically human, and the perfect palate cleanser after a data-heavy event. As Rory closed to thunderous applause, one truth echoed louder than any KPI:

In a world obsessed with doing things right, sometimes the greatest advantage is doing the right thing weirdly.

Now, who’s up for installing a cookie oven in reception?

More from Awin Global ThinkTank 2025:

Dr Karen Nelson-Field: Marketers need to stop counting eyeballs and start earning them

Scott Galloway at Awin Global ThinkTank 2025: Vulgar, vital, and very much on point

Lily Ray at Awin Global ThinkTank: SEO is dead, long live SEO

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Rory Sutherland at Awin Global ThinkTank: A mind-bending closing keynote on psychology, perception, and peculiar bees appeared first on intent.ly.

Lily Ray at Awin Global ThinkTank: SEO is dead, long live SEO

Amy Jordan — Tue, 27 May 2025 15:15:31 +0000

If you thought SEO was just a quiet backroom discipline where nerds fiddle with metadata and whisper sweet nothings to Google’s algorithms, think again. Lily Ray – SEO expert by day, DJ and drummer by night – opened day two of Awin Global ThinkTank last week with her eye-opening predictions in light of Google’s recent unveiling of AI Mode.

Buckle up, my digital comrades. This ride gets bumpy.

The cycle of SEO doom (and gloom)

Ray kicked things off with a look back, and she’s seen every trick in the SEO book over her 15-year career: from keyword-stuffing and doorway pages to shady link-building tactics. She cleverly dubbed this predictable boom-and-bust loop the “SEO Goldrush” – a cycle in which clever SEOs find a new trick, share it at conferences like this, everyone copies it, Google notices, punishes it, and the whole thing begins anew.

The spam that ate the internet

Ray didn’t mince words when discussing what Google really thinks of SEO. Spoiler alert: it’s not always flattering. From spam updates to the famously brutal Helpful Content Update, Google has been in an all-out war against what it calls “content written for search engines.” That means thin affiliate pages, AI-generated fluff, and those dreaded “Best Running Shoes for Hamsters” lists that clutter SERPs.

If your strategy involved churning out 300 AI-powered articles about angel numbers and riddles, congrats – you’re probably already in Google’s sin bin.

Parasite SEO and the coupon catastrophe

In what might be the most gothic chapter of the modern SEO saga, Ray unpacked the phenomenon of “Parasite SEO.” We’re talking about high-authority publishers renting out their reputations to guest posters and promo code suppliers – most of it driven by third-party affiliate partnerships. The result? A wave of coupon content and product reviews that were neither transparent nor user-focused.

Google’s response? Swift and merciless. Entire swaths of content were de-indexed overnight, leaving many affiliate marketers holding nothing but broken links and broken dreams.

AI Mode and the rise of the machines

Then Ray dropped the mic on Google’s latest rollouts: AI Overviews and AI Mode. These new features are designed to keep users on Google by summarising top results into a neat AI-generated blob of information – meaning fewer clicks for publishers, and potentially the slow death of organic traffic.

The future of search might not even involve websites at all, since AI Mode results are more likely to link back to Google Business Profiles or other search results rather than your homepage.

So, what’s a marketer to do?

Despite the doomscroll-worthy vibe, Ray’s message wasn’t all despair. She pointed to bright spots – brands like TripAdvisor and product review pages that survived the purge by showcasing real-life testing and reviews of products. So her prescription? Go human or go home.

Optimise for AI summarisation, not just keywords: Structure content with clear, concise answers to common questions, and use headings like “Pros & Cons,” or “What to Know Before Buying”.
Invest in original research: Surveys, proprietary data, and genuine experience are gold.
Publish real product experiences: Especially important for affiliate and review content, include original photography, video reviews, and first-person narratives.
Get visual and social: Use YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit and podcasts, and publish transcriptions. Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT eat this stuff up.
Think multimodal: Repurpose content across video, Q&A, social posts, and infographics. Control your narrative and keep content consistent and up to date everywhere.
Think in “snackable citations”: Pull key ideas from long-form assets into tweet threads, carousels, and short clips that can be individually embedded and referenced.
Build and maintain authoritative author profiles with online footprints: LLMs tend to trust and cite people, not just brands.
Measure visibility in LLMs: Tools like Profound and ZipTie.dev can show how often you’re cited, and the sentiment around it.

By adapting your strategy to how AI models ingest and output information, you’re not just playing the new SEO game – you’re helping write the rules.

The verdict

Ray’s keynote was a whirlwind tour through the tectonic shifts rattling the SEO industry. Her tone? Sassy, savvy, and at times sentimental. “Focus on the things search engines can’t take away from us,” she urged. Like actual expertise, meaningful content, and authenticity.

Follow Ray on LinkedIn for more takes and advice to get ahead of these seismic SEO shifts.

(We also really enjoyed her DJ set at the Bon Voyage Beach Party that evening!)

More from Awin Global ThinkTank 2025:

Dr Karen Nelson-Field: Marketers need to stop counting eyeballs and start earning them

Scott Galloway at Awin Global ThinkTank 2025: Vulgar, vital, and very much on point

Rory Sutherland at Awin Global ThinkTank: A mind-bending closing keynote on psychology, perception, and peculiar bees

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Lily Ray at Awin Global ThinkTank: SEO is dead, long live SEO appeared first on intent.ly.

Dr Karen Nelson-Field at Awin Global ThinkTank 2025: Marketers need to stop counting eyeballs and start earning them

Amy Jordan — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:02:12 +0000

Dr Karen Nelson-Field closed the first day of Awin Global ThinkTank (apparently after enjoying four Portuguese custard tarts – being from Australia, she doesn’t get to Portugal often!). She walked on stage armed with a fresh book manuscript, and a righteous mission to save marketing and media measurement from itself.

Attention, please (no, really, please.)

Karen’s central thesis was crystal clear: time in view is not attention. And yet, most digital ad metrics are based on the former while pretending to measure the latter. “You think you’re buying eyeballs,” she quipped, “but what you’re really getting is a magic trick – and not a very good one.”

Cue the magician metaphor that anchored the whole session: marketers and magicians have the same job – to control attention and shape perception – but marketers are playing on a stage that’s noisy, unpredictable and under constant attack from toddlers, TikTok, and WhatsApp notifications.

Your stage is a scroll

Her point? Magicians work on stages. You work on screens. And on screens, people scroll. Fast. So fast, in fact, that Karen’s research showed most digital ads get less than 1.5 seconds of actual human attention – if you’re lucky. Some formats fare even worse. Research shows that we scroll a huge 1,121% faster on the web than on TikTok – and you know we all scroll fast on TikTok…

She likened our current metrics obsession – time in view, impressions, duration – as an industrial-scale sleight of hand. We’re measuring “ads served” and pretending they mean “ads seen.” But in truth, 75% of non-fraudulent impressions get zero actual human engagement. That’s not brand exposure. That’s digital tumbleweed.

The branding magician’s toolkit

So, how do we escape the illusion? Karen handed marketers a wand – or at least a cheat sheet:

Brand early and often: If your logo doesn’t show up until second five, chances are your audience already swiped to a dog doing backflips.
Use distinctive assets: Think meerkats, golden arches, the M&M crew. Your brand should be recognisable in 1.5 seconds or less.
Leverage emotion: A well-placed laugh, tear, or “aww” moment helps ads stick in the memory (but only if they remember who it was from).
Don’t rely on creative alone: Even award-winning ads can underperform if the platform they run on doesn’t give them enough airtime to breathe.
And her most brutal insight? Great creative still drowns in a bad media buy. If your ad performs beautifully on YouTube but tanks on TikTok, it’s not your team – it’s the platform. Attention is platform-dependent, not just content-driven.

Performance marketing, you’re not off the hook

And for those smug performance marketers hiding in the back? Karen had receipts. She warned that ignoring attention means leaving money on the table – that real attention doesn’t just boost brand lift, it drives cheaper clicks, stronger ROI, and better long-term performance. It’s not just a branding problem. It’s your problem too.

Final thoughts: pay attention to attention

Dr Karen Nelson-Field’s talk was less of a keynote and more of a public service announcement. A nerdy, no-nonsense takedown of everything broken in ad measurement – served with a smile and a sugar crash.

Her final message? “Magicians master where the audience looks. That’s your job now.” In an age of scrolling, swiping, and skipping, attention isn’t a given – it’s earned. And if you’re not earning it, you’re paying for the illusion of impact while your competitors cash in on reality.

More from Awin Global ThinkTank 2025:

Scott Galloway: Vulgar, vital, and very much on point

Lily Ray at Awin Global ThinkTank: SEO is dead, long live SEO

Rory Sutherland at Awin Global ThinkTank: A mind-bending closing keynote on psychology, perception, and peculiar bees

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Dr Karen Nelson-Field at Awin Global ThinkTank 2025: Marketers need to stop counting eyeballs and start earning them appeared first on intent.ly.

How to use overlays for upselling and cross-selling

Amy Jordan — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:47:31 +0000

Website overlays can be powerful tools for increasing average order value (AOVs) through upselling and cross-selling. When implemented strategically, they can enhance the customer experience while boosting your bottom line.

Here’s how to effectively use overlays for these purposes:

1. Timing is crucial: Present upsell or cross-sell overlays at the right moment in the shopper journey. For example, show them after they add an item to their cart or during the checkout process.

2. Relevance is key: Ensure the products you’re suggesting are complementary, or closely related to the shopper’s current selection or browsing history. Use data analytics to inform your recommendations.

3. Highlight the value: Clearly communicate the benefits of the additional spend. This could be to qualify for free shipping, to make a saving on a bundle package, or offer enhanced functionality.

4. Use social proof: Incorporate customer reviews or ratings for the suggested products to build trust and encourage purchase.

5. Personalise recommendations: Utilise customer data to tailor suggestions based on past purchases or browsing behaviour.

6. Create urgency: Use limited-time offers, countdown timers or low-stock notifications to prompt quicker decision-making.

7. Keep it simple: Don’t overwhelm customers with too many options. Stick to one or two highly relevant suggestions, at the right time in their journey.

8. Offer bundle deals: Create attractive packages that combine the original product with complementary items at a discounted price.

9. Test and optimise: Continuously A/B test different overlay designs, copy, timing and offers to improve performance.

10. Consider post-purchase overlays: Use thank you page overlays to suggest additional items or accessories for the item just bought.

By following these strategies, you can create overlay experiences that not only drive additional sales but also enhance the overall shopping experience for your customers. Remember, the goal is to provide value and convenience, not to push unwanted products. When done right, upselling and cross-selling overlays can significantly boost your average order value while maintaining customer satisfaction.

Whether your goal is to increase sales, boost AOVs, acquire new customers, manage inventory, or all of the above, our intelligent technology and technicians (including CRO experts and designers) can help you achieve them – book a demo to or download our case studies to learn more.

Back to journal to read more

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post How to use overlays for upselling and cross-selling appeared first on intent.ly.

Key dates for your 2025 marketing calendar

Amy Jordan — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:31:06 +0000

Targeted, relevant and timely campaigns maximise shopper engagement and conversion, helping you achieve a range of KPIs. Here are some key dates for your marketing calendar to kick off 2025 – we hope it inspires you to get ahead and start planning for success now.

Whether your goal is to acquire new customers, boost conversion rates and AOVs, reduce cart abandonment, manage inventory or traffic shape – effective campaign planning and working with the right tech partners will help ensure you achieve them.

JANUARY	FEBRUARY	MARCH
New Year's Day (1)	Super Bowl Final (9, US)	St. David's Day (1, Wales)
Martin Luther King Jr Day (20, US)	Valentine's Day (14)	Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day (4)
Blue Monday (20)	Presidents' Day (17, US)	Ash Wednesday (5)
Burns Night (25, Scotland)	Family Day (17, Canada)	World Book Day (6)
Australia Day (26)	London Fashion Week (20)	International Women's Day (8)
Chinese New Year (29)	Ramadan starts (28)	Holi Festival (14, India)
		St. Patrick's Day (17)
		Eid (30)
		Mothering Sunday (30, UK)

APRIL	MAY	JUNE
Qingming Festival (4, China)	Labour Day/May Day (1)	Pride Month
Good Friday (18)	Cinco De Mayo (5, Mexico)	Republic Day (2, Italy)
Easter Sunday (20)	Bank Holiday (5, UK)	Whit Monday (9)
Easter Monday (21)	WWII Victory Day (8, France)	Flag Day (14, US)
St. George's Day (23, England)	Mother's Day (11, US, Australia)	Father's Day (15)
Anzac Day (25)	Hot Sales (14 TBC, Mexico)	Wimbledon Championships starts (30)
	FA Cup Final (17)
	Victoria Day (19, Canada)
	RHS Chelsea Flower Show (20)
	Mother's Day (25, France)
	Bank Holiday (26, UK)
	Gloucester Cheese Rolling (26, UK)
	Memorial Day (26, US)

JULY	AUGUST	SEPTEMBER
Canada Day (1)	Assumption of Mary (15, Italy)	Labor Day (1, US)
Independence Day (4, US)	Bank Holiday (25, UK)	Back to School (1, UK)
Amazon Prime Day (8-11)	Qixi Festival / Valentine's Day (29, China)	Father's Day (7, Australia)
Independence Day (9, Argentina)		Independence Day (16, Mexico)
Bastille Day (14, France)		Oktoberfest starts (20, Germany)
Independence Day (20, Colombia)		Fairtrade Fortnight starts (22)

OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Black History Month	World Vegan Day (1)	Cyber Monday (1)
Golden Week (1-7, China)	Day of the Dead (2)	Green Monday (8, US)
Mid-Autumn Festival (6, China)	Melbourne Cup Day (4, Australia)	Couple's Day / Double 12 (12, China)
National Day of Spain (12)	Remembrance Sunday (9)	Super Saturday (20)
Thanksgiving (13, Canada)	Singles' Day (11, China)	Last Next Day Delivery (23)
Diwali (20)	Remembrance Day (UK) / Veterans Day (US) Armistice Day (France) (11)	Christmas Eve (24)
Halloween (31)	El Buen Fin (21, Mexico)	Christmas Day (25)
	Thanksgiving (27, US)	Boxing Day (26)
	Black Friday (28)	New Year's Eve (31)
	Small Business Saturday (29)
	St. Andrew's Day (30, Scotland)

Contact your intent.ly Client Success Manager to discuss your campaigns, or request a demo to learn more about how we can help you to engage and convert more shoppers, achieving a wide range of KPIs.

Back to journal to read more

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Key dates for your 2025 marketing calendar appeared first on intent.ly.

Key Marketing dates to help boost conversions through the end of 2024

Amy Jordan — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:22:39 +0000

To achieve all your ecommerce goals by the end of Q4, targeted, relevant campaigns are crucial for engaging shoppers and driving conversions. The rest of November and December offer major opportunities to connect with your audience and achieve KPIs such as acquiring new customers, boosting average order values (AOVs), reducing cart abandonment, managing inventory, and optimising traffic.

Here’s a quick guide to the remaining key November and December dates and how to plan impactful campaigns that drive results this holiday season:

November

El Buen Fin (15 Nov, Mexico): This shopping holiday, offering discounts and deals for four days the weekend before Mexican Revolution Day, is expected to attract 82% of Mexican consumers for year-end purchases, with promotions as the main incentive.
Thanksgiving Weekend (28 Nov-1 Dec, US): This period sets the stage for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Launch teaser campaigns or early access events to build anticipation and engagement.
Black Friday (29 Nov): Black Friday remains one of the busiest shopping days. Focus on high-conversion offers, limited-time discounts, or bundle deals to maximise AOV and conversions.
Small Business Saturday (30 Nov)
St. Andrew’s Day (30 Nov, Scotland)

December

Cyber Monday (2 Dec): Many shoppers wait until Cyber Monday to make online purchases. Consider running digital exclusives, loyalty rewards, and cross-selling promotions to drive traffic and reduce cart abandonment.
Green Monday (9 Dec, US)
Couple’s Day / Double 12 (12 Dec, Asia): An opportunity to engage with Chinese shoppers following the Singles’ Day shopping frenzy and a second chance for brands to capitalise on the year-end shopping mood – with flash sales, loyalty rewards and targeted promotions.
Super Saturday (21)
Last delivery dates (last next day delivery for Christmas, 23 Dec)
Christmas Eve (24 Dec)
Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Boxing Day (26 Dec)
New Year’s Eve (31 Dec)

Back to journal to read more

Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Key Marketing dates to help boost conversions through the end of 2024 appeared first on intent.ly.

How to create non-intrusive overlays that convert

Amy Jordan — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:54:19 +0000

Overlays can be powerful conversion tools when they seamlessly enhance the shopper journey – the key to success lies in creating non-intrusive overlays that engage users without disrupting their browsing experience.

Here are 10 tips to drive optimal results:

1. Timing is everything: Avoid bombarding visitors with overlays the moment they land on your site. Instead, use time-delayed triggers or wait until users have engaged with your content. Exit-intent overlays can be particularly effective, appearing only when a user is about to leave.

2. Relevance is crucial: Ensure your overlay content is highly relevant to the page the user is viewing or their browsing history. Personalised, context-aware overlays are more likely to be perceived as helpful rather than intrusive, and drive the desired result.

3. Easy dismissal: Always provide a clear, easily accessible way to close the overlay. Avoid using deceptive or guilt-inducing language for the close option. Respect the user’s choice to opt out.

4. Mobile optimisation: On mobile devices, screen real estate is limited. Design overlays that are easy to read and interact with on smaller screens, and consider using less intrusive formats like bottom banners.

5. Frequency capping: Limit how often a user sees your overlays. Implement a system that remembers when a user has dismissed an overlay and doesn’t show it again for a set period.

6. Seamless design: Create overlays that complement your site’s design and wider marketing campaigns rather than clash with them. A cohesive look feels less disruptive to the user experience.

7. Consider size and positioning: Overlays shouldn’t take up too much screen space or distract from the main content. Play around with the size and shapes of overlays to maximise engagement. They don’t have to be front and centre – consider side or bottom banners, or animations to capture attention.

8. Value-first approach: Offer something of genuine value in your overlay, such as a discount code or other incentive like free shipping. The message could also remind them how to qualify for these offers, such as spend x amount to unlock the incentive. When users perceive benefit, they’re less likely to feel intruded upon.

9. Performance optimisation: Ensure your overlays load quickly and don’t slow down your site. Sluggish overlays can frustrate users and negatively impact their browsing experience. Clear CTAs will keep users on the desired shopper journey.

10. Continuous testing: Regularly A/B test different aspects of your overlays as outlined above, including timing, design, and messaging. Use the data to refine your approach and find the sweet spot between conversion and user experience.

By following these guidelines, you can create overlays that effectively convert without alienating your audience. Remember, the goal is to enhance the user experience, not hinder it. When done right, non-intrusive overlays can be a powerful tool in your conversion optimisation arsenal.

intent.ly’s team of CRO experts, designers and intelligent tech tools make all of this easier than ever – book a demo today to see how we can help your brand convert more traffic.

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post How to create non-intrusive overlays that convert appeared first on intent.ly.

PRESS RELEASE: intent.ly announces game-changing global integration with CJ’s Universal Tag

Amy Jordan — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:41:01 +0000

intent.ly announces game-changing global integration with CJ’s Universal Tag, providing agile, performance-based conversion solutions for CJ clients

London, UK – 3 October 2024

intent.ly, the performance-based conversion optimisation platform, is excited to announce its strategic integration with the CJ Universal Tag, a breakthrough development designed to simplify and accelerate technology enablement for brands across CJ’s global network.

This seamless integration eliminates the need for brands to implement complex technical solutions, allowing them to benefit from intent.ly’s cutting-edge conversion technology with ease. By leveraging the CJ Universal Tag, CJ clients can now integrate intent.ly’s platform in record time, giving brands faster access to intent.ly’s high-impact, conversion-driven insights and solutions.

Key benefits of the integration include:

Ease of Implementation: With the CJ Universal Tag, clients can integrate intent.ly’s services without a complicated technical setup, dramatically reducing the time, effort and internal exchanges normally associated with onsite technology partners.
Enhanced Performance: Brands can quickly activate intent.ly’s technology to optimise conversion rates, boost engagement, improve customer experiences, and drive higher ROI across their conversion optimisation efforts.
Speed of Deployment: The rapid integration process allows more CJ clients to access intent.ly’s services more seamlessly, unlocking faster revenue growth than any other affiliate partner.

“As a technology partner operating within the affiliate space, strategic partnerships are key to our success,” said Ennis Al-Saiegh, CEO at intent.ly. “By integrating with CJ’s Universal Tag, we are removing barriers and helping CJ clients tap into low-risk, performance-based conversion solutions faster than ever before, complete with global reach.”

“Like CJ, we’re committed to driving value for brands and optimising experiences for consumers, and our innovative tech solutions will continue to evolve to meet their needs.”

This powerful partnership underscores the importance of collaboration with strategic technology providers in driving performance-based partnerships forward. With the intent.ly and CJ Universal Tag integration, brands can now scale and optimise their campaigns with unmatched speed and precision.

Linda O’Connell, Senior Vice President, CJ UK & Ireland commented: “We’re excited to strengthen our partnership with intent.ly through their integration to our CJ Universal Tag. This collaboration allows CJ clients to effortlessly implement intent.ly’s cutting-edge conversion optimisation solutions without the need for any extra development work. This integration reflects our dedication to simplifying technology enablement for our clients while driving stronger conversion rates and better customer experiences.”

CJ brands looking to enable intent.ly via the Universal Tag can do so through their Advertiser Account in Salesforce. Set up instructions can be found here.

— ENDS —-

About intent.ly:

intent.ly is an award-winning shopper journey optimisation platform empowering online retailers to engage and convert shoppers. Personalised engagement tools – website overlays, email remarketing and voucher code analytics – enable brands to achieve a wide range of ecommerce KPIs.

Media contact:
Amy Jordan
Marketing Manager
amy.jordan@intent.ly

About CJ Affiliate:

CJ Affiliate is the world’s leading affiliate marketing network, providing best-in-class solutions to optimise and grow brand partnerships.

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post PRESS RELEASE: intent.ly announces game-changing global integration with CJ’s Universal Tag appeared first on intent.ly.

The psychology behind effective overlay design

Amy Jordan — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:11:38 +0000

Effective overlay design goes beyond aesthetics; it taps into the core principles of human psychology to capture attention, engage users, and drive desired actions. Understanding these psychological triggers can significantly enhance the impact of your website overlays.

Visual hierarchy: The human brain processes visual information in a specific order. Effective overlays use size, colour, and positioning to guide the user’s eye to the most critical elements first. Large, bold headlines grab attention, while strategically placed call-to-action buttons direct user flow.

Colour psychology: Colours evoke emotions and associations. For example, red can create urgency, blue instils trust, and green often signifies growth or financial themes. Choosing colours that align with your message and brand can subconsciously influence user perception and behaviour.

Scarcity and urgency: People are motivated by the fear of missing out (FOMO). Overlays that highlight limited-time offers or dwindling stock tap into this psychology, encouraging quick decision-making and action.

Social proof: Humans are inherently social creatures who look to others for guidance. Incorporating elements like user reviews, testimonials, or usage statistics in overlays can boost credibility and encourage action through social validation.

Reciprocity: When users receive something of value (like free content or a discount), they feel compelled to reciprocate. Overlays offering genuine value before asking for something in return can be highly effective.

Choice architecture: Too many options can lead to decision paralysis. Effective overlays present clear, limited choices to guide users towards a desired action without overwhelming them.

Pattern-interrupts: The human brain is wired to notice changes in its environment. Overlays that appear at unexpected moments (such as when a shopper is showing exit-intent) capitalise on this, grabbing attention when users might otherwise disengage.

Cognitive load: Simple, clean designs reduce cognitive load, making it easier for users to process information and take action. Effective overlays avoid clutter and present information in easily digestible chunks.

Personalisation: People respond positively to personalised experiences. Overlays that use visitor data to tailor content or offers can significantly increase engagement and conversion rates. Dynamic baskets overlays are great for reminding users to complete the purchase – especially when combined with personalised incentives.

By leveraging these psychological principles in overlay design, marketers can create more compelling, user-friendly experiences that resonate with shoppers on a subconscious level, ultimately boosting engagement and conversion rates.

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post The psychology behind effective overlay design appeared first on intent.ly.

Key Dates For Your 2024 H2 Marketing Calendar

Amy Jordan — Tue, 21 May 2024 08:58:56 +0000

Targeted, relevant and timely campaigns maximise shopper engagement and conversion, helping you achieve a range of KPIs. Here are some key dates for the second half of the year leading up to peak – to inspire you to get ahead and start planning now.

Whether your goal is to acquire new customers, boost conversion rates and AOVs, reduce cart abandonment, manage inventory or traffic shape – effective campaign planning and working with the right tech partners will help ensure you achieve them.

Here are some key dates for your marketing calendar for the rest of 2024, to get you thinking about creative campaigns we can help you with in the run up to the all-important peak season.

JULY	AUGUST	SEPTEMBER
Wimbledon Championships starts (1)	Qixi Festival / Valentine's Day (10, China)	Father's Day (1, Australia)
Canada Day (1)	Assumption of Mary (15, Italy)	Labor Day (2, US)
Amazon Prime Day (TBC)	Bank Holiday (26, UK)	Back to School (2, UK)
Independence Day (4, US)		Fairtrade Fortnight starts (9)
Independence Day (9, Argentina)		Independence Day (16, Mexico)
Bastille Day (14, France)		Mid-Autumn Festival (17, China)
Independence Day (20, Colombia)		Oktoberfest starts (21, Germany)

OCTOBER	NOVEMBER	DECEMBER
Black History Month	Diwali (1)	Cyber Monday (2)
Golden Week (1-7, China)	Day of the Dead (1)	Green Monday (9, US)
National Day of Spain (12)	World Vegan Day (1)	Couple's Day (12, China)
Thanksgiving (14, Canada)	Melbourne Cup Day (5, Australia)	Super Saturday (21)
Halloween (31)	Remembrance Sunday (10)	Last Next Day Delivery (23)
	Singles' Day (11, China)	Christmas Eve (24)
	Remembrance Day (UK) / Veterans Day (US) Armistice Day (France) (11)	Christmas Day (25)
	El Buen Fin (15, Mexico)	Boxing Day (26)
	Thanksgiving (28, US)	New Year's Eve (31)
	Black Friday (29)
	Small Business Saturday (30)
	St. Andrew's Day (30, Scotland)

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Key Dates For Your 2024 H2 Marketing Calendar appeared first on intent.ly.

Website Overlays: Convert More Customers This Mother’s Day 2024

Amy Jordan — Sun, 05 May 2024 15:59:15 +0000

As we approach Mother’s Day in the UK*, we explore four ways to use website overlays to increase conversion rates during this peak traffic period.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest periods of the year for some online retailers, presenting a huge opportunity to take advantage of increased traffic and buying pressure. With spending in the UK of £1.28 billion in 2023 (Statista, 2024) and $36 billion in the US (Statista, 2023), effective Mother’s Day marketing campaigns can have a significant impact on revenue.

With over one third of spending taking place online, brands must create personalised buyer journeys that improve experience and retention, as well as boost conversion rates to maximise sales and campaign ROI.

Here we explore four ways that website overlays can be part of this strategy.

1. Purchase or Exit Intent Overlays

Relevant overlays can be used to promote Mother’s Day special offers, such as discounts, packages and gift cards, or provide helpful information like gift ideas and shipping deadlines.

Not only do they encourage users to purchase, but when used effectively they can also enhance the user experience by reducing user touchpoints.

In 2023, the most popular campaigns run across a variety of our retail clients were ‘multi CTA campaigns’ – helping guide browsers to popular categories, turning them into satisfied shoppers!

It’s vital that the timing and triggers of these overlays offer personalised messages, at the right time. Providing value or reminders right before a user leaves your site can help keep them on the buyer journey. Overlays can help with traffic shaping too – redirecting users to higher converting pages.

2. Basket Abandonment

Increased traffic means increased levels of basket abandonment – even outside of peak times, 76% of customers with an item in their basket are likely to abandon before completion (Barilliance, 2021 survey of over 400 online stores).

Populating an overlay with basket contents when an exit event is detected – placing it ‘front-and-centre’ with appropriate messaging or incentives – can keep them on site to the point of conversion. Personalised abandonment emails can remind buyers to return and complete their purchase to close the loop.

3. Upsell Opportunities

With increased traffic and buying pressure comes the opportunity to recommend complementary products and increase average order values. You could prompt users to add chocolates or a greetings card to their order, or to bundle gifts together for a discount.

Overlays can also be used to collect email addresses in order to send reminders of Mother’s Day offers or future campaigns, and to suggest other products they might be interested in.

4. Out of Stock Alternatives

If your Mother’s Day range includes popular products that users could find elsewhere, then overlays can be used to offer alternatives to out of stock items to ensure you never miss a sale.

Typically our activity increases CR by over 3% on all campaigns the week before Mother’s Day – with Mother’s Day specific campaigns achieving an average CR of 11%.

So overlays can be a powerful tool for retail brands looking to increase sales from their Mother’s Day campaigns.

Promoting special offers, recommending products and using countdowns to create a sense of urgency can all help to increase conversion and customer loyalty. By preparing your abandonment strategy now, you will convert more customers quickly during this peak traffic period.

Designs should match your brand and campaign theme, offer something of value with a clear call to action – and be engaged at the most effective moments to boost your sales this Mother’s Day.

Contact us to book a demo today.

*In the UK, Mother’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday 10th March 2024. Many other countries celebrate on the second Sunday in May (May 12th 2024) including the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, most of Europe, New Zealand and South Africa.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2023 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

The post Website Overlays: Convert More Customers This Mother’s Day 2024 appeared first on intent.ly.

Heuristics Series Part 6: Price Anchoring

Amy Jordan — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 14:18:25 +0000

In the field of heuristics, anchoring refers to your brain’s tendency to heavily rely on the first piece of information offered to you when making decisions. Our final blog in the series explores how to leverage price anchoring as a marketing tactic.

This heuristics blog series has covered scarcity, complementarity, value perception, relevancy and social bias – all powerful purchase motivators.

Price Anchoring

Anchoring refers to a priming effect whereby an initial number acts as a reference point, sub-consciously influencing subsequent judgements or decisions. Much research exists on this cognitive bias in areas such as purchasing, probability estimates and even legal judgements (Furnham & Boo, 2011).

Price anchoring is a psychological tactic that involves presenting a higher price first, to create an ‘anchor’ that influences value perception and guides purchasing decisions.

For example, when the iPad was first released they were reportedly due to sell at $999, whereas in reality they sold for $499. In the mind of the consumer, that’s an instant 50% price cut for the same item, making them much more likely to purchase.

Research has shown that the easier a discount is to understand, the more effective it is. For example, ‘£3 off £15 spend’ is proven to be more effective than ‘20% off’ – a shopper is more likely to engage with a deal when they can instantly understand the value.

In ecommerce, price anchoring can be used in a number of ways, including:

Tiered pricing structures – presenting multiple options allows for easy comparison, and by strategically positioning a mid-range option as “best value” (and a reasonable compromise) can lead customers to purchase, regardless of original budget.
Showcase premium products first – when high value items are listed first or on the homepage, the stage is set for subsequent products to be perceived as more reasonably priced.
Targeted offers via website overlays or email remarketing – intelligent offers, shown at the right time, can target shoppers mostly likely to engage by guiding them through the purchase funnel with incentives, such as:
- Increase average order values with bundle deals, or extra discounts when spend thresholds are reached. For example, you’ve seen the price of one new tyre when you’re offered discounts for buying 2 or 4 (which you might reasonably need in the near future) – therefore reducing the cost of each item, improving the value perception in your mind. You buy more tyres than you originally intended!
- Shift seasonal stock lines by guiding shoppers to sales pages.

By strategically employing the price anchoring heuristic, ecommerce marketers can influence purchasing decisions and maximize value perception. However, it’s crucial that brands use consistent pricing and anchoring tactics ethically and transparently to build trust with their customers.

And that completes our heuristics blog series. If you missed the previous blogs, we’ve covered scarcity, complementarity, value perception, relevancy and social bias.

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

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Heuristics Series Part 5: Social Bias

Amy Jordan — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:19:27 +0000

Our heuristics blog series continues, with a focus on social bias – and how compelling marketing strategies can tap into the psychology of the ‘bandwagon effect’ to drive sales and shape trends.

We started this series last year on the mental shortcuts that help simplify decision-making, and how they can be used to understand and influence shopper behaviour. So far we’ve covered
scarcity, complementarity, value perception and relevancy – all powerful purchase motivators.

Social Bias

Social bias is often known as the ‘bandwagon effect’ or ‘herd mentality’, both of which refer to the tendency of consumers to mirror the actions or beliefs of others. This can be due to a desire to ‘fit in’ and be part of a community, but it also helps speed up our decision making when we trust the opinions and choices of others.

A well-known Nielsen survey found that 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family above other forms of advertising, and that 70% trust online customer reviews – so word of mouth can be very powerful indeed.

Social bias also triggers FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) – where we might see products trending and ask ourselves “What’s that and why do people have it? And why don’t I have it?”.

Big brand examples of this phenomenon include Apple’s iconic white earbuds in the eye-catching silhouette ad campaigns. The campaign tapped into the emotions of young, tech-savvy consumers who wanted to look and feel this good, and be seen as ‘cool’ by their peers.

There are numerous ways that marketers can harness these feelings to motivate consumers to jump on the bandwagon before it leaves without them, such as:

Endorsements from influencers, celebrities or satisfied customers
Social proof in the form of customer reviews and ratings
Real-time information on the number of items bought, booked or viewed to date
Showcase items in high demand, to create a sense of urgency and exclusivity

eCommerce marketers can leverage these strategies on their websites in a number of ways, such as:

Using overlays that push shoppers to popular pages, best sellers or flash sales
Incorporate real-time sales/views or customer ratings within basket contents overlays or email retargeting campaigns
Target regional shoppers with products currently popular in their area – and use localised testimonials or ratings to build credibility
Collect, disclose and amplify reviews & testimonials
Use referral programs

Marketers must take an omni-channel approach to these strategies, as social media platforms and the rise of influencers amplify the bandwagon effect like never before. Authenticity is another consideration, so displaying a range of reviews could build trust and help consumers discern what’s truly best for them.

The bandwagon effect is clearly a powerful purchase motivator, and compelling marketing strategies can tap into this psychology to drive sales and shape trends.

Our next blog in this heuristics series will focus on price anchoring. If you missed the previous blogs, we’ve covered scarcity, complementarity, value perception and relevancy so far.

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Amy Jordan

Amy is intent.ly’s marketing manager, and she has 15 years’ experience working in marketing for global events and technology.

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