TripleClicks – SFI new store grand opening

January 9, 2009 by John Dilbeck · 9 Comments
Filed under: Affiliate Marketing, Malls and Portals, Network Marketing, SFI Marketing Group, Squidoo Lenses 

As far back as July, 2008, or maybe even earlier, Gery Carson, President of SFI Marketing Group, announced a new ecommerce store. In mid-December, 2008, he announced the opening date of the store, January 5, 2009.

I’ve been waiting for that date, because I planned to make some commitments to marketing SFI based on what I saw when the store opened.

That date has come and gone, and I have a lot I want to say about all the changes. In fact, I have so much I want to say that I’m not going to be able to put all of it into one post, so I’ll be addressing the changes in several posts over the next few days. Today, I want to talk about the new TripleClicks store.

(Update August 2009: Affiliate links removed, as I no longer promote SFI Marketing Group.)

True to Gery’s word, the store opened on Monday, January 5, 2009. It opened a couple of hours late and there were some issues when it first went public, but by the end of the day most of those issues were ironed out and the store was performing pretty well.

Some of the problems people experienced were related to propagating the new domain through the Domain Name System (DNS), the world-wide database program that links domain names to specific IP addresses. Depending upon a variety of factors, it can take from a few minutes to a few days for a new domain to propagate worldwide. This is totally outside of a domain owner’s influence, so we just have to wait when a new domain goes public.

It’s been almost four days since the new TripleClicks store opened on Monday, and I’m seeing fewer people reporting problems with accessing the site, so I now feel comfortable talking about it and marketing the products in the store.

New TripleClicks lens on Squidoo

To start with, I just published a lens at Squidoo: SFI Marketing Group Store – TripleClicks. Come visit the lens and join in the duel and/or leave your comments. (That lens has been deleted.)

As always, I hope you’ll rate the lens and tell your friends about it.

Thanks!

SFI’s Veriuni line of products

As you may, or may not, know, SFI has a proprietary line of Veriuni products that include all-natural cleaners, dietary supplements, weight-loss products, personal grooming supplies, pet products, and probably some items I can’t think of right now.

The products you’ve come to love are available in the new store, but there is no Veriuni department. The products are shown in the departments in which they best fit. The cleaners are in Home & Garden; supplements and vitamins are in Health & Wellness; hand soaps, shampoo, and conditioners are in Personal Care; pet shampoos and supplements are in Pet Care, and so forth.

One way to find all the Veriuni products is to search for “Veriuni” on any page of the store.

You can find the Purjava products by searching for “Purjava” or “coffee.”

I’m getting better results by searching on just one word rather than a phrase. What’s your experience?

I am a real fan of the Veriuni line of all-natural, nontoxic cleaning supplies. These come in one quart or one gallon sizes and are concentrated cleaning products that you can dilute with water to obtain the correct solution for your cleaning needs.

For example, if you look at the price of a quart of Veriuni All-Purpose Cleaner, it may seem expensive to you, especially when you factor in the shipping costs. You have to remember, however, that after diluting the concentrate, you have actually purchased up to 32 gallons of cleaner. I think that makes the price much more acceptable, and that’s before you factor in all the benefits related to health and the environment.

New products

There are many new retail products in the store that we can promote.

For example, there are 53 new Dessert Essence beauty products available. Just go to the new TripleClicks store and search for “Desert Essence” to see the full list.

That’s another group of items SFI affiliates can promote and earn SVP and commissions on whenever a customer buys after following one of your affiliate links.

And, they’re even easy to promote. As an SFI affiliate, you’re already registered at the store, so just sign in with your SFI ID and password. When you do that, you’ll notice some changes. One of the most significant changes is when you look at a product’s page.

For example, look at the page for Baywood Lip Maximizing Formula, 3g. (Be sure you’re logged in.)

At the bottom of the page, affiliates will see a link for promoting the product, and your affiliate code is already built into the link. Additionally, you’ll find information related to SVP, CV, and the commission you’ll earn based on your rank as an affiliate, EA, or team leader. How much more convenient can that be? It’s one of the features I really like about the new store.

I mentioned that there are new products. In the Personal Care department, alone, there are now 186 products we can promote. Part of those products are retail products and we earn SVP and commissions from sales of them. Some are products that are being sold by private sellers – people like you and me – and we earn SVP on sales of those products, but not commissions.

If you haven’t taken some time to look at the new SFI TripleClicks store, I urge you to take some time and study it.

If you’re an SFI affiliate, you now have lots of new ways to earn commissions. If you’re not, you can join SFI for free and get started.

International Affiliate Concerns

One of the biggest concerns for international affiliates (anyone who lives outside the United States) has been the high cost of shipping to other countries.

I don’t think this first release of the store has addressed that concern. If I’m wrong, please feel free to correct me.

On the Welcome to the new year and SFI 3.0! page, Gery Carson addresses this issue, by saying:

Special note on shipping costs: One of our key objectives with the new store was to reduce shipping costs (especially for international affiliates and customers). To achieve this goal, we completely overhauled our shipping programming and installed all new software and hardware in our shipping center. We expect that this will have a positive impact.

Additionally, with TC’s Private Seller Program (more on this in a moment), products will be available for shipment from all over the world. This will also help reduce shipping costs since the product can literally be coming from within your same country, region, or city.

The biggest impact item, however, will be our alliances with dropshipping companies that will ship to you from around the world. Unfortunately, we were not able to get this component completed in time for our launch today. But rest assured, this IS coming. Watch for updates on this topic.

I’m hoping that these changes, when they are introduced, will make it much easier for all of us to sell products worldwide.

The TripleClicks Private Seller Program

This is where the new store starts to get really interesting.

Although it is unfair to compare the brand new TripleClicks store to marketing behemoths such as eBay and Amazon, I think you should pay some serious attention to the Private Seller Program.

It’s true that the features related to this are very basic at this time and don’t have the bells and whistles we have come to expect from sites such as eBay, but you can sell your stuff on TripleClicks right now.

That’s right. Take the stuff you no longer want and sell it to someone else.

Most SFI affiliates were given three credits for listing items and additional credits can be purchased inexpensively.

Anyone can buy credits to sell their stuff on TripleClicks.

For example, you can purchase one TC Credit for $1.99 or a pack of 250 TC Credits for $47.50. There are other packages of credits, too.

This means that you can sell one item for only $1.99 or buy a pack of 250 credits and sell your items for only $0.19 each.

If you have a lot to sell, you can purchase the credits you need and earn SVP. You can become an EA by buying credits and selling your stuff. Or, if someone else buys credits from your link, you can earn both SVP and commissions. This has the potential for becoming a profitable income stream.

But, don’t buy more than you need! Credits expire one year from purchase and you don’t want a bunch of expired credits.

SFI has provided marketing materials to help you promote the TripleClicks store and the Private Seller Program.

Already, a number of items have been put up for sale by private sellers on the store and more are being added daily.

Although you don’t earn any commissions when people buy from a private seller, you can earn a commission by promoting the store in your local area when the people you refer purchase credits to sell their stuff. Depending upon how well you promote it, and how well SFI implements it, this can be a good way for international affiliates to build an income stream.

At the moment, however, there are some drawbacks to doing this, but Gery says they will be addressed soon.

For example, even on the advanced search page, there is no way to search geographically. In order to reduce shipping costs, it is important that sales can be made relatively locally, especially if we’re going to consider this an online garage sale.

This is being addressed. In a recent update, it was announced:

2:09 p.m. 1/7/09 – We are busy fixing a few things that “broke” during our transition (such as Standing Order management) to SFI 3.0. Everything is coming along VERY nicely. We’ll also soon have in place some of the items that were not operational at launch, such as the “On Sale” and “Top Sellers” menu tabs. We’ll also soon have several additions to the Advanced Search so that you can search geographically, by date entered in TC, and more. We appreciate your patience while we complete these components.

So, we need to exercise some patience and see how the store develops.

In the meantime, however, I feel comfortable promoting it and look forward to it being a big success.

Sell Your Stuff

So, what do you have stashed away in your closet or garage that you no longer want? Sell it on TripleClicks.

I’m going to have to dig around and find something to sell so I can test it.

A few years ago, I had an eBay store and made some pretty good money selling my Steel Roses That Never Wilt. If I were still able to do the blacksmithing I love, I’d start selling my roses on TripleClicks. Unfortunately, I injured my left hand and can’t do any smithing right now, but I’m hoping I’ll get better.

If you make handmade arts and crafts, you may want to consider listing some of them on TripleClicks to see how it works for you.

There is a lot more to say about the changes at SFI and the new TripleClicks store, but I’m going to stop here. I’ll have more to say in later posts.

What’s your opinion?

So, what do you think?

Are you more or less interested in SFI now that you know a bit about the new store?

I look forward to discussing it with you.

Act on your dream!

JD

(Update August 2009: Affiliate links removed, as I no longer promote SFI Marketing Group.)

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Promote Your CafePress store on Squidoo

December 22, 2008 by John Dilbeck · 19 Comments
Filed under: Affiliate Marketing, CafePress, Marketing, Poll, Squidoo Lenses, Squidoo Marketing 

I was just updating my Promote Your CafePress Store lens on Squidoo and started wondering why someone would add a link to their shop, but would neglect to reload the page and vote for their own shop so it would rise closer to the top of the list.

What would be a valid reason for this behavior?

Could it be a basic lack of understanding of how the Squidoo Plexo modules work? On most of my lenses with a Plexo module, I have it set to add the link right away and send me an email message. When I get time, I go through those messages and look at what has been added to my lenses. If something is off-topic, I delete it.

Usually, I click on the link to see what was added. If I like it, I’ll click the up-arrow on my lens and vote for it.

The more up-votes, the higher the link will appear in that list.

Now, I’ve been remiss in looking through the CafePress shops in this lens, but I’m going to rectify that omission in the next few days by visiting those shops and voting for the ones I like.

I made some changes to the lens this evening. Instead of showing just the top 25 lenses (based on vote count), the lens is now showing all of them. I also removed the option to vote down a store in the list.

Still, I wonder why someone would build a store at CafePress, want to sell their merchandise, would add a link to their store on my lens, but would neglect the simple act of voting for their store and asking their friends to do the same.

Lack of understanding? Being too scattered in what they’re doing? Lazy?

I’m not going to make that mistake.

If you visit my Promote Your CafePress Store lens, I hope you’ll take the time to click the up-arrow next to my store, John Dilbeck – Shirts, Mugs, and Hats : CafePress.com. Currently, it’s at the top of the list with only two votes! Hopefully, after writing about it, my store will stay at the top of the list, or at least near the top.

If it doesn’t, that’s okay, too. I created the list with the anticipation that CafePress shop owners would list their store, and ask their friends to vote for it. I’m hoping other visitors to the lens will look at the stores in the list and vote for their favorites. Maybe the best stores will rise to the top, eventually.

Helping my friends promote their shops

Originally, I created the lens because I had friends with CafePress shops who were not selling their merchandise. Some of them had some high-quality designs, so the lack of sales must have been due to the lack of proper marketing.

Now, I know that one link on a lens will not create an overwhelming rush of customers to your store with their credit cards outstretched as they join in a mad frenzy of shopping, but it is a start.

Promote your shop

Have you taken that first step? If you have a CafePress shop, have you added a link to your store on this lens? Don’t forget to reload the page and vote for your shop.

Have you promoted your shop anywhere online? How are you attracting visitors to your shop so they’ll buy products with your designs?

Squidoo Marketing Community

A few months ago, I started the Squidoo Marketing Community so my fellow lensmasters could share ideas, help each other, and do a better job of marketing using their Squidoo lenses. There’s even a CafePress Shops group there so we can focus on discussing ways to promote our CafePress designs.

CafePress Affiliate Marketing Program

Did you know that CafePress has an affiliate marketing program managed through CommissionJunction.com? They do, and it pays pretty good commissions.

As a shop owner, I welcome sales by affiliates and I’m happy to provide part of my profits to them for any sales they make.

As an affiliate, I’m happy to accept a commission for helping to sell someone else’s items through my marketing efforts.

As you may know, my CafePress shop is located at Shirts-Mugs-Hats.com and I welcome anyone who would like to purchase my designs and/or any affiliates who would like to earn a commission by marketing my designs to your readers.

Do you have a CafePress shop?

What are you doing to promote it?

If you don’t have one, did you know that you can open your own shop for free?

An even better deal is opening your shop and upgrading it to a premium shop. You’ll be able to do much more with it. Considering all that CafePress provides, the low monthly fee for a premium shop is a real bargain.

How satisfied are you with your CafePress store?

I know everyone isn’t as satisfied with CafePress as I am.

So, what’s your experience?

What do you think?

Tell us about your CafePress shop and what you are doing to promote it.

I’m interested in your experiences with CafePress, learning more about your shops and the designs you sell, and how you’re marketing your products via CafePress.

How can we work together to help each other increase our sales and make more profits from our CafePress stores?

Act on your dream!

JD

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New U.S. and International Merchants Join Maxmalls

May 3, 2008 by John Dilbeck · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Malls and Portals, SFI Marketing Group 

This week, we welcome e-commerce giant Buy.com for the U.S. and Canada, as well as office product merchant Staples for UK affiliates, and others to MaxMalls.com:

(Update August 2009: Affiliate link removed, as I no longer promote SFI Marketing Group.)

Ancestry.com Australia – Gain access to an historical record collection reflecting Australia’s multicultural heritage, and explore family history using a wide variety of Australian and international records.

Buy.com – A leading e-commerce company with 2 million+ products, from computer hardware and software to electronics, books, DVDs, CDs, sports goods, games, toys, home and outdoor products, and more!

Buy.com Canada – A leading e-commerce company with 2 million+ products, from computer hardware and software to electronics, books, DVDs, CDs, sports goods, games, toys, home and outdoor products, and more!

eDiets.com – The premier online diet, fitness, and healthy living destination; 20+ customizable popular diet and fitness plans with innovative motivational and support tools.

Staples UK – Enjoy guaranteed low prices on more than 7,500 products for the home or business office; something for every customer’s budget and preference.

XM Satellite Radio – Access 170+ digital channels from coast to coast, including 69 commercial-free music channels and exclusive live concerts, premier sports, talk, and more; 21 channels of traffic and weather info.

In addition to these major name brands, SFI’s MaxMalls.com shopping portal also features retail giant Wal-Mart, online mega-store Amazon.com, major music source iTunes, and many, many more!

Best of all, you don’t pay anything extra by shopping your favorite stores via MaxMalls.com!

Act on your dream!

JD

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Have you heard of MaxMalls.com?

January 9, 2008 by John Dilbeck · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Affiliate Marketing, Malls and Portals, SFI Marketing Group 

In December, 2007, SFI Marketing Group introduced MaxMalls.com.

In essence, SFI has joined the affiliate program of many of the top-ranked and most-liked stores on the Internet and has built a simple portal to all of these stores.

In addition to the convenience of starting at MaxMalls.com to go to your favorite stores – or a store you’ve never browsed – you’ll be helping children in impoverished countries around the world.

How?

SFI will donate a portion of every MaxMalls sale to the nonprofit organization, Save The Children.

Their goal is to have thousands of major, name-brand stores in MaxMalls.

Please note that going to any of the stores in MaxMalls is exactly like going to the store directly and you will pay the exact same amount for your purchases, too.

The only real differences for shoppers is that there are many stores conveniently located in one place and you can be happy that a portion of each of your purchases, if you start at MaxMalls.com, will be donated to Save The Children.

Not bad for just a couple of extra clicks when you start shopping.

Act on your dream!

JD

I earn, you earn, WeAllEarn.com. ™

(Update August 2009: Affiliate link removed, as I no longer promote SFI Marketing Group.)

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