12 Comments

FatWallet Storms to Fast Company Top 50

Mar 9, 2006
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There are affiliates and then there are affiliates. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim Storm several years ago (although it doesn’t seem that long ago) back when his business was a small start-up like my own. At the time he had only a couple of employees and a boatload of ideas. We spent the late night hours talking strategy and shop.

Ever since that meeting, at every industry event we almost always make it a ritual to have a 2 a.m. chat. I don’t know why I keep meeting up with Tim in the wee hours of the morning but like any conference that is where the real business gets done.

Tim has achieved incredible success. Starting with a small forum and growing it into a community powerhouse. Ask him his secret? He will tell you he was a bit lucky and it’s all about community. Surely community has played a key role in his success, not to mention a well mixed strategy of discount shopping, cashback incentives and loyal users who are in reality fans. Fandom so strong that Tim hardly needs an ad budget- his customers are his advocates.

These achievements do not go unnoticed. Recently FatWallet made the Fast Company Readers Choice 50. You can read the details here. Kudos to Tim Storm and his phenomenal growth.

Perhaps even Google could take lessons from Tim Storm or perhaps Storm is taking lessons from Google. Read this piece to see the perks FatWallet employees enjoy.

About Wayne Porter

Wayne Porter is one of the original founders of ReveNews.com, and served as the CEO and founder of XBlock Systems a specialized research firm on greynets and malware research before being acquired by unified communications security leader, Factime Security Labs. His work includes serving as a panlist at the Federal Trade Commission to shape legislation on software and the creation of two patent-pending technologies for corporate networks. Wayne is a frequent speaker at e-commerce & business events including CJU, ASW and RSA and frequently cited in the press. He has been designated a Microsoft Security MVP three times and is recognized on Google’s Responsible Security Disclosure page- in addition to receiving the first Summit Legend Award. Wayne currently works as a Security Consultant on Social Media and operates a consultancy on digital worlds. His hobbies include reading science fiction, playing chess, fishing, writing, collecting shiny digital gadgets, playing racquetball and studying memetic engineering. He maintains a personal weblog at WaynePorter.com detailing his explorations in security, web 2.0, and virtual worlds.
You can follow Wayne on Twitter: @wporter.

Filed under: Affiliate Marketing
  • http://www.fatwallet.com Tim Storm

    Thanks for the props Wayne – To clarify, I was not selected to the Fast50, but the "Fast Company Readers Choice 50".

    I was humbled to have been nominated, and enjoyed hearing what those that work for FatWallet have to say about what WE have created. FatWallet is what it is today because of a team effort.

    For the record, the first time we met was in 2001 on one of the upper decks of the affiliateforce cruise. Not to get all brokeback about it, but I am glad we had that chance to meet, and look forward to each and every time the opportunity comes around.

  • http://www.revenews.com/wayneporter/ Wayne Porter

    Thanks for the clarification Tim. Your props are well deserved.

    However I still cannot puzzle out the cryptic message your left in my Friendster account. I really wish i knew what piece of advice i dispensed that was so valuable….I could use it. :P

  • http://www.revenews.com Jim Kukral

    Congrats Tim, you deserve it. I'm still waiting for you to hire me as your caddy.

    The brokeback comment was hilarious.

  • http://www.fatwallet.com Tim Storm

    Thanks Jim – I don't need a caddy, i need someone to find the ball for me (or more lessons!) Look me up if you're in the area, I'd like to hit some with you! We'll see who comes out on top (yet another brokeback reference, and I haven't even seen the movie).

    Wayne – the comment in your friendster account – I was referring to that very same cruise ship – I knew what Fatwallet was doing, but you really opened my eyes to much of what goes on in the affiliate space. I truly do try to improve what we do, I don't pay that much attention to what other folks are doing, probably because if we did what everyone else was doing, would it be remarkable?

  • http://blog.spywareguide.com Wayne Porter

    Yeah well we plan on auctioning off those brokeback tee-shirts on ebay…i doubt they fetch the 100k jake and company got for their charity but every bit helps….

    errr was that the year I spotted you with the I Hate Wayne Porter tees…or the following year. I don't know. The pranks tend to blend in together after so many.

    This year I am guessing we will see Brook Schaff dressed up like Paula Abdul like that baseball dude.

  • http://www.fatwallet.com Tim Storm

    No, the "IHW" Tee came after that year…

  • http://www.revenews.com/wayneporter/ Wayne Porter

    Ahhh ok eye opening is good and I agree. The most successful never follow they lead. Perhaps that is one of the problems online marketers face. I see alot of following but few who create truly new and innovative ideas. There are hundreds of shopping sites and the majority of them lack individuality and flair let alone content.

    I have alot of ideas on how affiliates could improve or innovate- take cell shopping for example- sure it is early but the time to prepare for that is now. (I am)

    best,
    Wayne

  • Beth Kirsch

    Tim!

    Congrats! It's nice to see good things happen to good people.

    Cheers,

    Beth

  • http://blog.spywareguide.com Wayne Porter

    I agree but it is equally as entertaining to see bad things happen to bad people. :P

  • http://www.goodbazaar.com Anna

    Tim:

    Congratulations. I still remember the call from you six years ago to buy out one of our websites.

    Anna

  • http://www.mport.com Sandy Gautam

    Congratulations to you Tim and the entire FatWallet Team!

    I was contacted most recently by James McIlroy, in order to join our MPORT Revenue Share Affiliate Marketing Network. We are eager to get FatWallet actively promoting our various offers in order to meet and exceed business goals and objectives.

    It is our pleasure to have been contacted by your team. We look forward to building a strong relationship with your team and working together to achieve a fruitful outcome.

    I will be sure to follow up with James accordingly.

    Regards,

    Sandy Gautam
    Senior Account Executive
    MPORT

  • http://www.petertdavis.net/164-a-forum-makes-the-fast-50/ Peter T Davis

    A Forum makes the Fast 50

    FatWallet, a site I’ve visited from time to time, has made the Fast 50. Certainly gives owners of smaller forums a goal to aspire to. Not that I’ll ever get there, mind you.
    Kudos to Revenews.com for pointing this out.

    …