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.

It’s not just soccer fans around the world who are interested in the FIFA World Cup, which is kicking off in South Africa on Friday, June 11. The huge global interest in the event also attracts cybercriminals who see it as a major opportunity to make money by selling fake tickets, attracting soccer fans to drive-by download websites (websites that download malware without the users knowledge) and carrying out phishing attacks camouflaged with a World Cup theme.

Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer at F-Secure, said, “I urge soccer fans everywhere to give cybercriminals the red card by refusing to be fooled by their dirty tricks. In addition to online vigilance against World Cup spam, scams and hoaxes, it’s also crucial to keep computers patched and up-to-date to avoid getting hit by drive-by downloads from dubious websites.”

World Cup tickets are hot property at the moment and desperate fans looking for last minute bargains make an ideal target group for online fraudsters. Unfortunately, many of the seemingly attractive ticket deals offered outside the official World Cup website, www.fifa.com, are bogus and fans end up losing their money.

A survey commissioned by F-Secure* conducted in Germany, Sweden and the UK asked how likely Internet users would be to click on a link promising information about cheap tickets for the World Cup. An average of 28 percent of respondents in the three countries were tempted to some degree, with about 8 percent of respondents saying they would be very likely to click on the link.

With World Cup fever taking over the planet, hundreds of millions of people are also visiting all kinds of websites that purport to give the latest results and breaking news from the tournament. In anticipation of all this web traffic, cybercriminals have been setting up bogus websites designed to appear near the top of search engine results for the World Cup, ready to infect visitors. Spam email about star player scandals, sensational sports news reports from South Africa and fraudulent World Cup tickets are also certain to multiply as the tournament gets under way.

Soccer fans should also be on the look-out for phishing attacks disguised as competitions or surprise lottery wins that attempt to steal their credit card numbers, online banking details, personal passwords, and other confidential information.

Mikko Hypponen’s top tips for staying safe online during the World Cup:

- Don’t believe the spam – you have not won a lottery for free tickets for the World Cup final.

- Only buy online tickets and merchandise from www.fifa.com and authorized vendors. More information is available on the FIFA website.

- Get your World Cup news from reputable websites.

- Use the free F-Secure Health Check (www.f-secure.com/healthcheck) and Online Scanner (http://ols.f-secure.com) to check if your computer is secure or get full protection with a free 30-day trial of F-Secure Internet Security 2010 (www.f-secure.com/is2010).

F-Secure’s free online Health Check and Online Scanner can pinpoint any security issues that need to be fixed so you can enjoy the World Cup to the full. Health Check lets you know if you are using the latest software versions – this way criminals cannot exploit vulnerabilities that exist in out-of-date programs. Online Scanner scans your computer for known malware. F-Secure is also offering a free 30-day trial of F-Secure Internet Security 2010, which provides comprehensive protection for your computer – perfect for the duration of the World Cup.

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 | twitter.com/fsecure | facebook.com/f-secure

Patrons can now lounge about California Tea House by uploading their personalized avatars, socializing live with fellow tea drinking enthusiasts and divulging in earthly conversations, all while earning Tea Token rewards for interactions, feedback and purchases. The Tea Token rewards program allows participants to redeem their earned Tea Tokens to purchase tea at the online tea store.

Visitors can also navigate throughout the site while jamming to original, lounge-style music, akin to a local cafe’s “open-mic” night. They can even tip their favorite artists with Tea Tokens to show their appreciation.

A few more features of interest: job-seekers can check the site’s “Opportunities” bulletin for openings at coffee and tea shops in a variety of positions around the nation; health buffs can read about the scientific links between individual types of tea and health; gypsys’ can learn about and exchange various home remedies utilizing tea.

“As a small business owner starting out, I want to be as personal to my clients as possible, by making them feel as cozy about the website as they would while visiting a cafe’,” says founder Ani Bailey.

Ani Bailey has been passionate about tea ever since she was a child. Her interest in starting a tea company brush-fired when she visited the Moorish tea houses (teterias) of Spain while studying abroad. Bailey became fascinated by the incredible variety and decadent flavors of loose leaf tea and herbal blends at the teterias that she knew it was time to act.

Prior to establishing her tea brand, Ani Bailey first debuted her tea collection at local California farmers’ markets where her custom teas were welcomed with open arms.

California Tea House is highly selective in its collection of world wide gourmet loose leaf tea, blooming tea and herbal tea blends, thereby currently carrying only 34 types of loose leaf teas. CTH prides itself in presenting its teas through environmentally conscious means by utilizing biodegradable peanuts, recyclable bags and offering promotions to charitable organizations.

What especially makes California Tea House stand out from the competition is its superior quality teas, competitive prices and that it provides free shipping on every order within the US.

Join the California Tea House Affiliate Program on ShareASale and earn top commissions.

And My Mother Danced With Chesty Puller by Bruce Hoffman is the story of a young Marine’s adventure during the Vietnam War, sometimes humorous, sometimes hair-raising.

Drawn into the Marine Corps by World War II stories from family members and the ultimate dream of serving as an Embassy Marine in an exotic land, Hoffman enlisted in 1964. Over the next few years he struggles to get into the fight in Vietnam but mostly finds himself stuck “in the rear with the beer”. After volunteering three times for Vietnam he’s finally able to transfer to Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron VMO-2, and fly as an Aerial Gunner in UH-1E Huey Helicopters.

“My first kill and the loss of fellow Marines left lasting memories but so did the adventures at other duty stations along the way,” Hoffman said. “I wanted to highlight the adventure part rather than focus on the combat. From the feedback I’m hearing, my readers appreciate being reminded of the little details about their service that made the experience less painful.”

Hoffman shares stories about boot camp where he writes, “Parris Island, the first place the Marine Corps tried to kill me.” He also goes in-depth into being stationed at the Marine Corps Air Stations in Beaufort, SC and Cherry Point, NC. It was the Beaufort station where he turns down a part-time job as a shotgun rider for a bootlegger. Then off to war training at Camp Pendleton, CA followed by the endless tales of booze and brothels in Okinawa. He was able to find a few girlfriends in the Carolina’s, Okinawa, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The one life lesson Hoffman says he wants to pass along to future Marines who read this book was taught to him by a Major at his first duty station in Beaufort. “Be careful who you make friends with.” the Major warned him. “You become who your friends are, if you pick Marines who get in trouble, you will get into trouble, if you pick good Marines as your friends, you will become a good Marine. Pick your friends in this Marine Corps very carefully.” Hoffman says this is a life lesson he still carries to this day and has served him well throughout his life.

The book title refers to a story told by his parents that during a 1st Marine Division reunion in Chicago, his mother danced with the legendary Marine Corps General Chesty Puller. He writes, ” I told your father I’m going to go over and ask General Puller to dance, he is just sitting there, he needs to get up and enjoy himself…While we were dancing, I pointed to your father and said that’s my husband, he served with you and has great respect for you. After the dance the General led me over and he shook your father’s hand and told your father, “Thank you for being with me.” Your father tells that story more than I do now.”

Bruce Hoffman returned to Tampa and retired as a captain with the Sheriff’s Office, after twenty-seven years. He worked for a federal agency in Washington, DC, was security chief for the Tampa Port Authority after 9-11-01, and later owned an investigative business. He is retired and lives in Dahlonega, Georgia. To purchase the book, please visit http://www.mymarineyears.com.

Zipit USA, Inc, sells Zip It bags and Zip It purses on Amazon.com, as well as on the Zipit official online store. The webstore was launched on May 2009, along with a Zip-it offering on Amazon.com and has, within a few months, leaped to the top of Amazon sellers list. For the past few months, many of the Zipit products have been ranked in the top 100 of their respective categories and of those Zip It Dinky has continually maintained the No. 1 spot.

“Our goal is to create an exceptional customer experience, both in terms of our product design, as well as customer service”, says Ronen Amit, founder and head of the Zipit online business. “We decided to adopt an attentive and determined customer service policy and Amazon.com’s recognition, along with our customers’ enthusiasm has confirmed our decision.”

In a letter to Zipit, Peter Faricy, Amazon VP and General Manager, congratulates Zipit for its “outstanding performance” and “exceptional shopping experience”.

Zipit sells a simple, yet surprising, new type of bags – the zipper bags. Colorful and inspiring, Zipit bags and Zipit purses come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They have to be seen in order to really appreciate the simplicity and creativity of the whole idea.

“We have learned a lot from our first holiday season and we are committed to apply what we have learned and improve our customers’ experience wherever possible,” adds Mr. Amit.

Zipit USA, Inc. is the online business extension of Zipit Ltd. and during 2009, Zipit USA launched the Zip It official online store, as well as a Reseller Program.

Zipit Ltd is the international manufacturing, marketing and sales organization and brand name of Zipit, the Original Zipper Bag. The patented Zipit bags are available in four product lines: Classic Zipit, bags in various sizes and models; Students Zipit, pencil cases, laptop bags, binder bags, etc.; Kids Zipit, fun carry-alls with a wide selection of Velcro patches and cool color cases; and the Special Edition Zipit:, eco bags and souvenir items. Zipit Bags are sold in over 35 countries through a network of authorized distributors, to retail stores, mall carts and catalogs, and through the Zipit official online store.

Press release on PRWeb, March 24.

Join the Zipit affiliate program and earn 15% commission on all sales.

DPro4.com features various products with total data protection for desktops, mini computers, laptops, towers, gaming and workstations. Components include backup technologies for images, files, software and power. As an example, the Portables Edition of DPro4 contains the following:

• ECO-Friendly 350VA UPS (Outlets: 3-UPS ,3-Surge Only, 2-ECO, Tel/DSL)
• 500gb Power Saving External USB Drive
• 50gb Secure On-Line “Cloud” Backup for 1 Year
• Disk Imaging “Green” Application
• Installation Support and Assistance with (1) Data Loss Event Included
• 1 Year product Warranty

“DPro4 products were specifically chosen because they use less energy for storage and they offer customers secure solutions for backup and system recovery in any situation,” said Michael Lyness, owner of ONS Technologies. “We offer the total package for data protection which includes outstanding customer support and that’s what makes DPro4 unique.”
According to a national Harris Interactive survey of 597 computer users:

• Nearly three out of five personal computer users have lost an electronic file they thought they had sufficiently stored
• One in four users frequently back up digital files, even when 85 percent of computer users say they are very concerned about losing important digital data
• 82 percent keep a hard copy of important documents they’ve also saved electronically
• Thirty-seven percent of the survey’s respondents admitted to backing up their files less than once per month
• Nine percent admitted they have never backed up their files
• More than 22 percent said backing up information is on their to-do list, but they seldom do it

“You can spend days trying to piece together your operating system, programs, files, and images after a hardware crash or you can take advantage of the DPro4 remote support system and be up and running in 1 to 2 hours with zero loss,” said Lyness. “I’ve seen too many customers lose important documents and personal photos because they didn’t have continuous data backup or system recovery options.”

ONS Technologies has been providing technology services to Northeast Georgia and the surrounding area since the year 2000. We are dedicated to serving our customers honestly and in a timely manner. As a vendor hardware repair technician, Michael Lyness, owner of ONS Technologies, found that 9 of 10 people with Hard Drive or system malfunctions lost ALL of their data and replacing the hardware was not the major issue. THE issue was the time it took the customer to reinstall the OS, and the time it took to reinstall the programs they had been using (IF they had the original CD’s and License Codes). Visit http:www.DPro4.com for more information.