The Internet is Not Just For Techies! - August
05, 2003
White Rock mother of four stays home and prospers on the Net with websites
for babies and pets
If you thought the Internet was just for techies, Arlene Martell, a mother
of four, who runs two profitable websites from her beautiful White Rock home
would like to talk to you.
In discussing her success as an affiliated publisher for several major U.S.
companies, the White Rock housewife is boldly predicting that e-commerce from
home will become a major new trend as many more companies will begin seeking
remote workers wishing to make extra money with their computers.
Arlene’s husband, James, who recently authored a training manual for
website owners, taught her the basic skills she needed to launch her first site
for babies. This site, which was launched only a few months ago, now brings
in an extra $1,000 U.S. into the family budget from sales made on behalf of
relevant merchant links she places on her sites so that visitors can easily
find them.
Arlene says, “these links are not banner ads, but simple text links that
drive qualified traffic to my affiliated merchants who pay me a commission for
every sale.”
She goes on to say, “many are not aware that large companies, such as
The Disney Store, A&E Television and even the Denver Broncos now pay lucrative
commissions for website referrals in a new industry called pay-for-performance
advertising, also known as affiliate programs.”
Industry experts agree that this pay-for-performance concept started with Amazon.com,
who in 1997 began compensating webmasters around the world for book sales by
setting a cookie on each visitor’s browser that identified the associated
publisher so that a commission could be paid if a sale were made.
This unique business relationship neatly solves the problem of driving eyeballs
to websites’ of merchandiser’s, because of the vast number of independent
publishers and webmasters worldwide, like Arlene, who will generate targeted
traffic on a pay-for-performance basis, thereby eliminating the high cost of
advertising.
Arlene says, “When I first got started I had a pretty good idea of how
well I could do because I had watched my husband, James, become very successful
as an affiliate for some major U.S. companies, such as American Express, DIRECTV
and Capital One Visa, but I was surprised at how quickly my site has taken off
and at how large some of my sales have been.” She goes on to say. “The
other day I had a $545 sale for a baby crib. And the best thing is that all
I did was provide a link through to the merchant who handled everything from
there.”
Many experts agree that as a consequence of converging factors such as, growing
consumer confidence in making online purchases, the need for many companies
to downsize brick and mortar operations and the emergence of commission networks
who act as go-betweens for merchants and affiliates, it has never been easier
or more profitable to retail online, or for moms with basic computer skills
to start a lucrative, web-based enterprise by representing some very well established
companies.
“My first attempt with affiliate programs was made easy because of Commission
Junction, out of Santa Barbara, CA, an industry leader in providing third
party functionality for affiliates and merchants by acting as a trusted third
party in managing the network, tracking and reporting on activity and handling
monthly commission payments,” Mrs. Martell says.
Arlene says, “ I’ve joined several baby and pet oriented affiliate
programs through the Commission Junction network of advertisers and their online
reporting and tracking functionality is second to none.”
“Commission Junction has exceeded our expectations as a cost-effective
marketing channel,” states Kari King, Affiliate Program Manager at eBay.com,”
We chose Commission Junction not only because they have an established network
of quality publishers, but because their service and technology are scalable
as our program grows.”
Mrs. Martell adds, “there is tremendous confidence in dealing with CJ
merchants, because CJ has demonstrated great efficiency in handling all of the
collection and processing required to ensure fair and timely commission payments.
And I can go online any time of the day to check my stats. I love that nearly
as much as getting checks in the mail, which come in almost every day for either
my husband, who has thirty commercial sites, or myself.
Arlene adds, “I love bringing in extra money so I can shop for the little
extras we need as a family and it really is great to be around my four kids,
Adam, Shelby, Justin and Victoria.”
“Plus, since James is also working from his office down the hall, we
can easily schedule impromptu family activities. For example, the other day,
our youngest, Victoria, arrived home to announce, we are going to the beach.
And, you know what, that’s what we did.” she said.
“After getting a taste of financial freedom with affiliate programs from
the comfort of my own home on my personal computer, and avoiding the stresses
of long commutes and stifling work environments, I would never work in a typical
office again, ” she said.
For a complete guide on how to start up affiliate web sites, check out the
The
Affiliate Marketers Handbook 2002 .
You may visit Arlene’s sites at:
1st-in-babies.com
or 1st-in-pets.com
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