Author Archive
What is the Stupidest thing you’ve ever done?
Posted by: | CommentsGreg Hoffman Consulting is hosting a contest for Stupid.com on it’s Never-Ending Contest thread in ABestWeb.com. We are giving affiliates a $100 bonus in their ShareASale account for giving us the stupidest thing they have ever done. We’ve already had an assortment of stupid things, both nerdy and non-nerdy. Are you ready to share your stupid story to get $100?
Click here to join the conversation.
Affiliate Commission Checks
Posted by: | CommentsAs an outsourced program manager (OPM) to nearly 20 affiliate programs, my team gets to help hundreds of affiliates cash their affiliate commission checks every month. It’s very rewarding to hear about affiliates earning their first commissions as we have with the Flirty Aprons and Polka Dot Design programs this year. Even if they only earn $100, it’s still a secondary source of income for many of them and that was their goal. I also love seeing affiliates earn performance incentives up to $5,000 because they are the best at what they do. But it never really hits you unless you are earning your own affiliate commissions and you feel part of the industry.
Chris and I don’t promote affiliate links on any of the programs we manage because we don’t cross that line. But we are still in the trenches as affiliates learning the best ways to promote programs. We dabble in SEO and SEM as a way to stay fresh and keep the creative juices flowing to help our affiliates. This industry of performance marketing is evolving and we don’t want to get left behind. That’s one reason why I’m taking on some of the programs in the middle of mobile marketing. I still say it’s where we are headed. The iphone and the Droid X are taking us whether we like it or not.
So don’t be surprised if you see affiliate links on here, they will be clearly marked in the tags. Like the one below… 
Meet Me at Affiliate Summit East 2010!
New Zero-Day “Shortcut Worm” Vulnerability Affects All Versions of Windows
Posted by: | CommentsThis press release is from my affiliate management client, F-Secure. Please read.
Microsoft published Security Advisory 2286198 on Friday of last week, confirming the existence of a critical vulnerability in all supported versions of Windows. The new zero-day vulnerability is easily exploitable via USB storage devices, network shares or remote WebDAV shares. All that is required for exploitation is for the contents of the USB device to be viewed in Windows Explorer. Specially crafted shortcut (.lnk) files are allowed to execute code when the shortcut’s icon is loaded to the GUI. An exploit targeting this vulnerability is currently in limited use and additional exploits are very likely in the coming weeks.
The shortcut vulnerability was discovered during investigation of the Stuxnet rootkit, which has been used in targeted attacks aimed at Siemens SCADA systems. Such systems are used for supervisory control and data acquisition in industrial facilities such as power plants. The shortcut file used in this case is detected as Exploit:W32/WormLink.A.
The situation is now more critical because a publicly available proof of concept was posted to several exploit database sites over the weekend. Proof of concept exploit code is now in-the-wild and F-Secure fully expects virus writers to utilize this method of attack in the near future.
Sean Sullivan, Security Advisor at F-Secure, said, “This shortcut worm is very dangerous and the seriousness of the situation will increase until Microsoft releases a fix. And because Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 is no longer supported, even the fix won’t fully resolve the issue. This is a major concern as F-Secure’s research shows that SP2 is still being used by many organizations.”
F-Secure strongly recommends that companies and organizations migrate to Windows XP Service Pack 3 as soon as possible, or implement Microsoft’s suggested workarounds.
Additionally, organizations need to create or review their USB device policy.
“This danger can be mitigated with best practices. If a company doesn’t have a security policy regarding USB devices, they’re at risk. Those that do have a policy should review it and make sure that it’s being followed. This is time critical as summer vacation season is approaching,” says Sullivan.
F-Secure Security Lab is continuing its research into the “shortcut worm” and the latest news will be available at our blog http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
F-Secure – Protecting the irreplaceable
While you concentrate on what is important to you, we make sure you are protected and safe online whether you are using a computer or a smartphone. We also backup and enable you to share your important files. Our services are available through over 200 operators around the world and trusted in millions of homes and businesses. Founded in 1988, F-Secure is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
f-secure.com I twitter.com/fsecure I facebook.com/f-secure
New Landing Pages for Solanova.com
Posted by: | CommentsToday we unveiled a new landing page with three separate domains pointing to it, all describing the benefits of our signature product, CoQ10.
Domains include:
WhyCoQ10.com
WhatisCoQ10.com
CoQ10Review.com
More new domains and dedicated landing pages are on the way so I will post them here as they are completed.
This is great news for PPC affiliates. No restrictions on these domains! Text links are available in ShareASale and Commission Junction.
Affiliate Management Case Study – Flirty Aprons
Posted by: | CommentsAffiliates Love Promoting Flirty Aprons During Holiday Gift Seasons
Provo, UT (PRWEB) July 16, 2010
When looking for the next growth opportunity online, the owners of Flirty Aprons decided it was time to launch an affiliate marketing program and hired Greg Hoffman Consulting to handle the project. Since last Fall, the wildly popular ecommerce site has seen a solid 30% growth through affiliate traffic.
Flirty Aprons first launched on the ShareASale network at the beginning of the Holiday season in early November, 2009. The affiliate management strategy was to recruit as many affiliates as possible and get them active quickly so as to capitalize on the holiday rush. Several weeks later, they launched another program on Commission Junction. Sales started immediately for affiliates in both networks and Flirty Aprons finished November with more than 100 sales combined at 4.5% conversion.
“Our total holiday sales in 2009 were fantastic but Mother’s Day 2010 trumped even those amazing figures,” said Joseph Hansen, CEO of Flirty Aprons. “We knew our sales were historically higher around Mother’s Day (than other non-holiday months) but they were really over the top this year. The affiliate channel helped us grow tremendously by adding thousands of new customers.”
Melea Johnson, owner of www.freebies2deals.com, was one of Flirty Aprons top performing affiliates this year.
“Mom’s love a cute and fun product, but they also love a great price,” she said. “And, that is exactly what Flirty Aprons is all about.”
Affiliate marketing isn’t usually this easy for merchants but Hansen and his team worked hard on fine tuning conversions on each product page and made the sales process very simple for customers, according to Greg Hoffman, President of Greg Hoffman Consulting. “Their aprons are unique gifts for mom, priced well and fun for affiliates to promote,” he added.
To combat seasonality, Hoffman is working with Flirty Aprons to come up with powerful affiliate-based promotions to keep the traffic coming. Through a combination of special sales, coupons and deals along with individual communication and intense recruiting of affiliates, Hoffman is preparing the program to be one of the hottest products for Cyber Monday 2010 and Mother’s Day 2011.
Flirty Aprons can be found on the ShareASale, Commission Junction and Pepperjam networks. The program pays 15% with a 60-day cookie. The program conversion rate ranges between 3% – 7% and the typical Earnings Per Click (EPC) is around $30. The datafeed is updated regularly and is available in Popshops and other popular tools for affiliates.
Flirty Aprons was founded by two married couples: Joseph and Heather Hansen, and Spencer and Jamie Taylor. When the owners initially met they discovered they each had a strong passion for business. They knew that their partnership would be enriched with a variety of skills that would allow them to create a successful and enjoyable business. Their products include aprons for women, children and men.
Greg Hoffman Consulting is an outsourced program management agency with merchants in the top affiliate networks. The GHC team consists of two experienced affiliate managers and a recruiter. Visit www.greghoffmanconsulting.com to learn more about our style of affiliate management.
Twitter for Beginners Seminar – $20
Posted by: | CommentsI’m passing this along from a local Twitter connection – Josh Stanley
Josh is co-hosting a webinar called Twitter for Beginners next week!
This webinar series is best attended by…
Entrepreneurs world wide that are “NEW” to Twitter!
Business Owners who are frustrated with their results in Twitter!
People who have a general interest in proven methods for CONVERTING people out of the world of Twitter and into their world!
Here are the particulars…
When:
Wednesday July 21st & Thursday July 22nd at 8pm (EDT)
2 – 1 hour shows!
Where:
Neworld Web… Our safe and secure online interface where you can attend webinars without the use of a phone line! All you need to attend is a PC (sorry Mac) High speed internet and speakers!
Who:
Michael Fletcher from Neworld Coaching has teamed up with Josh Stanley (TWITTER EXPERT!)
What:
2 part webinar series where you will learn…
How to create a professional profile on Twitter
How to brand yourself as the Expert in your “niche”
How to develop a targeted following of endless people!
How to “Tweet” and how NOT to “Tweet” (now THAT is an important question!)
How to “Work Once” on Twitter by using automation!
How to convert people by using a very simple strategy!
Recordings of both shows for you to download and keep for your reference anytime
Workbooks with Action Steps to help you progress
Follow up help available from either Josh, his crew or Michael and his Neworld Crew
How (much)?: ONLY $20.00
Register Now at Neworld Coaching
New Banners for F-Secure Affiliates
Posted by: | CommentsWe added some new teaser banners last week for F-Secure since the Internet Security 2011 version from F-Secure is going to be released soon. We have some big plans for this promotion so make sure you have joined the program in Commission Junction.
Here are the new banners:
Buy Lobster Like a Real Mainer
Posted by: | CommentsThis is from my client, LobsterAnywhere.com on ShareASale. This program is earning huge commissions for affiliates. Join today and use this content below to attract some customers.
Buying lobster can be a little intimidating. Here are a few tips for landlubbers and first time lobster shoppers. Follow these simple suggestions for picking out the perfect lobster for cooking at home. Better yet, have live lobsters (all-sizes), lobster tails or a complete lobster dinner shipped to your from www.lobsteranywhere.com.
Buy Lobster at a Busy Spot
Whether you are buying lobster at a seafood store or lobster pound, make sure it’s busy and has lots of turnover. We are not talking about the supermarket! Lots of customers and traffic mean the lobsters are coming in and going out—a good sign the lobsters are fresh.
Buy Maine Lobster
Maine lobster (Homarus americanus) is also known as the American lobster, the Massachusetts lobster, the Canadian lobster or the North Atlantic lobster. Maine lobsters are caught off the Atlantic coast of the northern United States and Canada. It is the lobster with two claws, one large and one small. The lobster with no claws is called the Spiny lobster (commonly called rock lobster). The spiny lobster is found in the waters off Florida, Southern California, and Mexico. The meat is firmer, stringier and not quite as sweet as that of the Maine lobster. You’ll usually find these lobsters in the form of frozen tails. Always try and buy cold-water Atlantic lobster tails. You will pay a little more, but it will be worth it. Fresh lobster tails are available in a variety of sizes direct from www.lobsteranywhere.com
Buy Fresh, Lively Lobster
A good sign of a healthy lobster is one that it is active—even mad! A healthy lobster should raise their claws, and flap their tail when pulled out of water. Feisty lobsters are always fresh lobsters. Lobsters whose claws droop when picked up and appear sluggish have spent some time either out of water or in a lobster tank. Check the lobster for two long antennae. Lobsters with missing or chewed antennae have also spent time in storage.
You also do not want to buy a lobster with a cracked shell or claw.
Buy Hard-Shell Lobster
The shell of a lobster is a good indicator of how much meat it contains. Hard-shell lobsters are packed with more meat than soft-shell ones. They are also stronger and can survive shipping. The only way to tell is to squeeze their bodies for shell hardness. Pick it up firmly from the back of the body (carapace), not the claws, and gently squeeze the body section. The soft shell lobster will yield to pressure, while the hard shell will be firm. Be careful you can easily crush or crack the shell of a soft-shell lobster. A lobster with a firm or even rock hard shell is the keeper. Hard shell lobsters are available year-round from http://www.lobsteranywhere.com/, however, in the summer and autumn months the warmer waters of the North Atlantic affect the overall supply and price. Generally, hard-shell lobsters are reasonably priced from Mother’s Day through the Fourth of July.
Buy a Male or Female Lobster?
You can identify a male or female lobster by checking the underside of the tail. The first pair of swimmerets on a male lobster are hard, whereas on a female lobster, they are soft and feathery. There is really no taste difference. If you are looking for larger tails, you’ll want a female lobster. The female lobster carry unfertilized eggs or roe in the tail. Some consider the lobster roe a delicacy like caviar. Note when cooked the “coral” or roe will turn a bright red. They will be black when the lobster is uncooked.
About LobsterAnywhere.com
For over ten years, LobsterAnywhere.com has shipped live lobster, lobster tails, and fresh seafood gifts coast-to-coast. Test the waters and search for a coupon from one of our great affiliates!
eHarmony Success Story
Posted by: | CommentsSave 20% on a 6-month eHarmony subscription! (coupon code: CJPROMOAAV, Exp. 9/30/2010)
Have you heard the story on how I met my wife? Here is the post on the old blog, but I will repost here as well.
Update: We were married February 6.
Originally posted 9/28/09
You may or may not know this but over the summer, I got engaged! Her name is Jen Williams and we met on eHarmony last year. Our official match date was 11/27/08.
I was on eHarmony after my divorce several years ago but I wasn’t ready for a serious commitment. When my children relocated from Florida to the metro-Atlanta area in the fall of 2008, I started looking at relocating and wanted to get serious about finding the right match once I moved. During the Thanksgiving Weekend, I signed up for eHarmony again and filled out my detailed profile. This time I knew in my head the kind of person I was looking for in Atlanta. I had a checklist. I won’t embarass her with the details here but I will tell you that my search was over on day one. Jen was the only person I went to open communication with and as soon as we started talking on the phone, I cancelled my eHarmony subscription. When you know, you know.
Jen had been on eHarmony for a while and was about to give it a break. I think my persistence and overall confidence that we should be together helped her decide that she was done looking as well.
We were an incredible match from the beginning. We talked for hours every night for the next two weeks. We met one night in mid December at a Taco Mac in Alpharetta. There was an instant attraction. Sometime during the date she excused herself and went to the ladies room. On her way back, she leaned into the booth and kissed me. I was floored. I was in love.
I Got Lucky. In January, I was fixated on XM Elvis Radio. One night I heard the song, I Got Lucky, a 1962 recording from the movie Kid Galahad. For some reason, every lyric of that song hit me with truth. I really did get lucky when I found Jen. And I have cherished her everyday since then. Needless to say we have a theme song.
I moved to Roswell in March and the courtship was on… We are getting married on June 12, 2010 in Roswell, Georgia. Her two boys and my son and daughter will be a family that day. For now, we are spending lots of time together and loving every minute of it.
It’s time for you to join eHarmony. You know who you are.
Save 17% on a 12 month subscription at eHarmony! (coupon code: CJPROMOBBT Expiration Date 9/30/10)
F-Secure Offers Enhanced Protection for Android Platform
Posted by: | CommentsF-Secure announced today the availability of F-Secure Mobile Security 6 on the Android platform. Operators can now offer consumers and businesses a full range of F-Secure protection for smartphones on the Android, Symbian and Windows platforms, as well as data security services for PCs and Macs.
Patrik Sallner, VP, of F-Secure’s Mobile Business Unit, said, “F-Secure Mobile Security is the world’s leading smartphone security solution and we are very pleased to make it available for Android alongside other popular mobile platforms. This means our operator partners can now provide their customers with comprehensive IT security covering both smartphones and computers.”
F-Secure Mobile Security 6 provides complete security for smartphones, protecting against malicious software and safeguarding confidential data even if the phone is lost or stolen. Its innovative Browsing Protection makes Internet use and mobile financial transactions safer than ever for smartphone users.
Sallner said, “Today’s smartphones are designed for surfing the web and financial transactions such as online banking and shopping. In our recent survey* we found that over a third of users surf the web with their smartphones and just over ten percent use them for online banking. F-Secure’s advanced technology provides peace of mind for smartphone users so they can enjoy their devices to the fullest without worrying that sensitive information may fall into the wrong hands.”
Browsing Protection identifies which websites are safe to enter and blocks harmful sites that try to spread malware or steal confidential information, such as banking details. The Anti-Theft feature makes it possible to remotely lock the phone or erase data on the phone if it is lost or stolen. It can also inform you of the new number if the SIM card is changed and can show you the phone’s location, so you can track down who has your smartphone. F-Secure Mobile Security 6 also protects smartphones against malicious software, including spying tools, viruses and trojans. Frequent automatic updates, immediate reaction times and fast cures during new and emerging threats are guaranteed by the F-Secure Labs, which operate 24 hours a day worldwide. F-Secure is a pioneer in mobile security and has already been protecting mobile devices for a full ten years.
F-Secure Mobile Security 6 is now available for Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms through the F-Secure eStore http://www.f-secure.com/en_US/products/mobile/mobile-security/. A free seven-day trial version of Mobile Security is available at: https://shop.f-secure.com/cgi-bin/dlreg/ml=EN?ID=FSMAVTB&desid=MOBILE&APX=SITE-EN
F-Secure – Protecting the irreplaceable
While you concentrate on what is important to you, we make sure you are protected and safe online whether you are using a computer or a smartphone. We also backup and enable you to share your important files. Our services are available through over 200 operators around the world and trusted in millions of homes and businesses. Founded in 1988, F-Secure is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
f-secure.com I twitter.com/fsecure I facebook.com/f-secure
* The survey was carried out by independent third party Zoomerang in May 2010 across 1,439 Internet users in the United States, Germany, UK, Finland, Sweden, Poland and Malaysia. There were approximately 200 persons surveyed per country.
