2. In 1999, as many of the dot-coms crashed, a new form of
consumer marketing was taking hold on the Internet. Web
marketers, hungry to drive sales on e-commerce sites,
launched affiliate networks that represented leading
advertisers such as BMG, Blockbuster, NetFlix, Discover
Card and hundreds of others in what is known as "affiliate
marketing."
3. As affiliate networks grew, they provided savvy marketers
with the opportunity to earn big commissions by
generating sales for advertisers through the marketing of
free gift sites online.
4. Part of the appeal of this type of marketing lies in its
simplicity: It lets anyone with a presence on the Web
promote and sell goods online and get paid a commission
by the advertiser for sales generated. This opportunity
affords nearly limitless venues for promotion and
marketing, access to an instant sales force of thousands
and no out-of-pocket media costs for advertisers.
5. One example is NetFree Direct LLC, which owns and
operates the rewards site NetFreeCity.com. Through the
site, consumers obtain gifts such as $300 gas cards
redeemable at gas stations nationwide, PlayStation and
other game consoles, flat-screen TVs, computers, digital
cameras and other popular electronics by opting into the
company's Web site and completing advertisers' surveys,
subscriptions and free trial offers.
6. Since NetFree Direct's inception, NetFreeCity.com has
delivered thousands of customers to hundreds of well-
known brands. NetFreeCity.com connects consumers with
marketers through advertising campaigns including Web,
search engine and e-mail programs, plus traditional
marketing channels such as print, radio, direct mail and
direct-response television marketing.
7. Advertisers sponsor Net FreeCity.com by offering
commissions for each sale. The company is essentially
hired by advertisers to drive Web traffic to their sites.
Rather than paying for advertising to persuade people to
log on to clients' sites, NetFree provides special online
offers and incentives, such as the free gas card and other
popular rewards.