Part 1

I must admit I love my job as a marketing assistant here at TOS--the projects, deadlines, and feeling of a job well done are unparalleled.

However, TOS took on a work in progress (in computer skills—or lack thereof) when they hired me. Yeah, I can email, work with Word and Excel, and IM, but the other stuff is WAY over my head.

I have to confess that, one, learning new things on the computer intimidates me—I didn’t even have one when I was in college; (Did I just show my age?) two, I am just now learning what HTML means; (I just shudder when I hear that word—even thinking about entering all those codes is overwhelming.) and three, I am soooo not a salesperson. (I am so uncomfortable selling stuff that when my son sells Boy Scout popcorn, I normally buy what he HAS to sell and that’s all we do!)

Let’s not even talk about my blog, because it is nothing short of pathetic. I know the information I post is useful to others (if I could get people on my site—sadly I have had one comment and no friends!), but I can’t figure out how to put in all the pictures and cool stuff I see on other sites.

Now, isn’t it funny how God will always push you to do things out of your comfort zone? Just when you think you have a grip on things . . .

 Fast forward life to this week—I was just given the job of “affiliate program director”—sounds pretty cool, I thought! I suppose my boss had faith in me that I could do the job, but did she know about my serious lack of computer skills? As I got ready for this new-found duty, I nervously thought, “Great, buuuut, what exactly is an affiliate?”

I started researching on the Internet and even went to the library and checked books out on affiliates. It was overwhelming—I couldn’t believe all you could do as an affiliate and how complex it all seemed. Thank goodness I read TOS' Affiliate FAQ page. I finally understood what an affiliate was when I read:

“An affiliate is an independent organization or person, who is willing to promote a product or a service, in exchange for a commission should that product be purchased, or lead generated, as a result of their online promotional efforts.”

Whoever wrote this definition was obviously more educated in this stuff than I was. However, the word commission caught my eye . . . so I read through the other questions and answers and found out:

 1-The program was free. (This is my family’s homeschooling motto!)

2-All you needed was a valid website and an email. (I have a blog and email!)

3-I can get paid monthly from sales on TOS products, referring a friend to the program, and even some of my friends’ sales. (With the holidays coming this would be a great help to our family!)

4-TOS sends out newsletters with new sales, text, and picture IDs to all affiliates. (All I do is just cut and paste!)

After reading a few more of the FAQs, I realized that I could make a commission on TOS items that I personally use, enjoy, and already promote to my friends and family. Normally when I found a TOS item I liked or a sale they were having, I always emailed my friends about it. The affiliate program would give me the chance to earn money on something I was already doing!

At this point I thought, “Not only will I take on the job of affiliate program director, but I am going to take on the new mission to become an affiliate myself. Goooo, Supermom!”

But then I read…..

"Q. What kind of computer or technical skill is needed to be an affiliate?

A. Affiliates will need to be somewhat familiar with HTML, so that they can correctly copy and paste the linking code from ShareASale and place it within a web page or within the body of an email message."

HMMMM—well, I already confessed that I was NOT any good with HTML, so I started to get a bit intimidated. But my type-A personality was not about to give up on the new mission. After all, if I was promoting this program to others, I certainly had to figure it out myself . . .

Coming soon . . . Part 2 of Confessions of a (Computer-Illiterate) Marketing Assistant

Are you interested in becoming an affiliate? TOS is offering an incentive for you to join—any new affiliate in the month of October can get any TOS E-Book valued at $12.50 or less for FREE after one month of participation! Join TOS’ affiliate program here, and then email me at callin@thehomeschoolmagazine.com with your name, website or blog address, ShareASale ID, and which TOS E-Book you would like. One month after you sign up, the store will send you the E-Book for free!

Cheryl Allin serves as a marketing assistant for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. She and husband Gregg stay busy homeschooling their two children in North Carolina and are always on the lookout for educational materials and opportunities supporting their faith and the “free or almost free” philosophy they have adopted. Check out their blog at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/cherylallin/php.

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