We've expanded our affiliate program! It now contains four exciting brands: OneTranslator.com, MobileCaller.com, CallingCards.com and CallingCard.com! For full details, visit callingcards.com/ap.
You can promote any of these sites from the same affiliate account (and if you're already an affiliate, you can get started right now), and track your performance by individual site or all together. Our graphic library is full of dozens of new banners for all of these brands, so you can be up and earning in no time. The commission is still the same - 10% on all successful sales, plus 10% residual commission on your customers for life.
OneTranslator is currently the only site of its kind with an affiliate program, so don't wait! If your site visitors could benefit from on-demand phone interpreters, you could be earning.... OneTranslator's customers include students, doctors and other medical staff, travel agents, professionals, and individuals from many other sectors.
Of course, if you're not interested in becoming an affiliate, you can check out OneTranslator for yourself and see how this service can help you break down the language barrier. I'm definitely looking forward to having OneTranslator with me on my next trip abroad.
If you have any questions about OneTranslator or our affiliate program, including co-branding, please feel free to drop me a note in the comments.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Calling Cards: The Perfect Gift
Some friends of mine are getting married in a few weeks, and I knew just what to get them (along with something off their registry, of course): a calling card! Since I knew they'd be honeymooning in Cancun, I got them a calling card with enough minutes to call home from Mexico at the best rate (I chose the World Access Card - no connection fee, 3.7 cents/minute, 1-minute billing increment). With the calling card, my friends can spend their hard-earned money on fun in the sun, not on calling mom and dad.
Calling cards are a really thoughtful gift for many occasions. Weddings and other big family events that demand a lot of phone time are good candidates, but so are housewarmings and going away parties (since the recipients will have lots of talking to do with old and new friends). Students and travelers always welcome calling cards, especially if they'll be going abroad, and if you shop carefully you can get much better rates online than the recipient would be able to find in his destination country. If you have friends or family who live in another country, consider tucking a calling card into your next birthday or holiday card - it will make staying in touch so much easier.
A calling card is an unexpected but useful gift that fits any lifestyle (no clutter, nothing to maintain), but is much more personal than a gift certificate or cash. Online, prepaid calling cards are also convenient, even for last-minute gifts, since they're delivered within minutes! What other occasions would be good for giving calling cards? Fall and winter holidays are right around the corner, after all....
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Free Calling Cards (365 Days a Year)
Every so often, the free calling card offer we developed for Montel viewers gets republicized on "deal" and coupon websites across the internet. You don't have to wait for your budget-conscious peers to drop you that link again - you can get a free 10 minute calling card any time just by visiting CallingCards.com. You can use your free card to call from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world, landline or cellular. You don't have to give us any credit card or other payment information - just some basics like name and email address to protect you from fraud.
As I've noted in recent posts, there are a lot of consumer concerns about prepaid calling cards, many of them well-founded. Our free card offer is our way of proving to you that we won't sell your information, misinform you about rates and fees, or offer poor call quality - we've been in this business for more than seven years, and we take our customers very seriously.
Keep our free calling card in mind when you're traveling, too! International students are also fans of our free calling card...sometimes 10 minutes is all it takes to get back in touch with friends and family.
As I've noted in recent posts, there are a lot of consumer concerns about prepaid calling cards, many of them well-founded. Our free card offer is our way of proving to you that we won't sell your information, misinform you about rates and fees, or offer poor call quality - we've been in this business for more than seven years, and we take our customers very seriously.
Keep our free calling card in mind when you're traveling, too! International students are also fans of our free calling card...sometimes 10 minutes is all it takes to get back in touch with friends and family.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Avoid Bad Calling Cards
I just read a CNet article about prepaid calling card scams that was written about seven years ago. I think the industry has cleaned up its act a lot, but there are still things consumers must do to make sure they're getting the best deal. (This is true of any purchase, so keep your eyes open the next time you buy anything!)
Here are some things you can do to make sure you're getting what you think you're paying for in a prepaid calling card:
1. Check for fees
A reputable calling card provider will always detail every tax, fee, and surcharge that goes along with each card. This information is usually on a card's profile page or in its details (not the most obvious locations), but it's worth finding. I gave a detailed breakdown of calling card fees a while ago.
2. Check the billing increment
There are some notes about the billing increment in the article that's linked from #1, but here's the bottom line: big billing increments can eat away your minutes if you're not careful. If you buy a 100 minute card with a 10-minute billing increment and use it to make 10 calls that last 20 seconds each, your card will be used up. 10 calls x 10-minutes each = 100 minutes. But, you say, I only talked for 3 minutes and 20 seconds, not 100 minutes! Remember: the billing increment is the unit in which you will be billed, so if it's 10 minutes, anything up to 10 minutes will be billed as 10 minutes, and any calls from 10 minutes and 1 second to 20 minutes will be billed as 20 minutes, and so on.
3. Make sure you can contact the company
And that there's a customer service number for your card. Our contact information is readily available on our website, and each calling card comes with a customer service number that's printed near the top of the purchase receipt. If you can't find contact information for any company, why would you consider purchasing from them, for calling cards or anything else?
This was inspired by the Prepaid Calling Cards section of the How Stuff Works coverage of long distance scams. It's a good article, and definitely worth checking out. Some more notes, based on their information:
Here are some things you can do to make sure you're getting what you think you're paying for in a prepaid calling card:
1. Check for fees
A reputable calling card provider will always detail every tax, fee, and surcharge that goes along with each card. This information is usually on a card's profile page or in its details (not the most obvious locations), but it's worth finding. I gave a detailed breakdown of calling card fees a while ago.
2. Check the billing increment
There are some notes about the billing increment in the article that's linked from #1, but here's the bottom line: big billing increments can eat away your minutes if you're not careful. If you buy a 100 minute card with a 10-minute billing increment and use it to make 10 calls that last 20 seconds each, your card will be used up. 10 calls x 10-minutes each = 100 minutes. But, you say, I only talked for 3 minutes and 20 seconds, not 100 minutes! Remember: the billing increment is the unit in which you will be billed, so if it's 10 minutes, anything up to 10 minutes will be billed as 10 minutes, and any calls from 10 minutes and 1 second to 20 minutes will be billed as 20 minutes, and so on.
3. Make sure you can contact the company
And that there's a customer service number for your card. Our contact information is readily available on our website, and each calling card comes with a customer service number that's printed near the top of the purchase receipt. If you can't find contact information for any company, why would you consider purchasing from them, for calling cards or anything else?
This was inspired by the Prepaid Calling Cards section of the How Stuff Works coverage of long distance scams. It's a good article, and definitely worth checking out. Some more notes, based on their information:
- CallingCards.com has been around for more than 7 years, and we won't be going anywhere any time soon. We are one of the premiere providers of online calling cards.
- We fully disclose any fees that might be associated with our calling cards, and we do our absolute best to ensure that card information is accurate across our huge inventory.
- We deliver all of our cards online, and we have a variety of measures in place to protect you against fraud at many levels. You won't ever have to worry that you will be billed for a card you don't receive, or that you won't receive a working PIN number.
- There are some things over which we have no control, like pay phone and cell phone surcharges. These are determined by the carrier, not by us.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Avoid Calling Card Fraud
Many people worry about calling card fraud and scam calling cards that change your long distance service or max out your credit card with hidden fees. Rest assured that none of the cards from CallingCards.com will ever play any tricks on you (and since all of our cards are prepaid, you will never face any surprise charges). Here are some tips for avoiding other kinds of calling card fraud:
Look out for "Shoulder Surfing"
Experienced phone card thieves can steal your information by watching from an adjacent payphone while you make your call. If you have to call from a payphone, do your best to cover the keypad with your hand or body. (This is a good idea when you're using an ATM, too - don't let anyone watch you enter your pin.)
Ask for real credentials if someone calls about your card.
Generally, the only time we will contact you by phone is to verify your first purchase (another way we protect you against fraud). If someone calls you and claims to be from the phone company, our calling card company, or any other company and asks for your calling card information, ask for their employee information and then ask to speak to a supervisor. You should never have to give your calling card information to anyone else.
Keep track of your card using our Online Account Management tools.
Unauthorized users can get your calling card information through many forms of theft and fraud, and even from dumpsters (some hotels record it as part of the number dialed, then dispose of it with the rest of the phone reports). If you are careful with your email and account passwords, you should be fine. Just to be safe, log into your calling card account every week to make sure that no unauthorized calls have been made. If you find suspicious charges, be sure to discontinue auto-recharge right away to prevent additional charges.
What if someone has stolen your prepaid calling card?
As with cash and most gift cards, it is your responsibility to safeguard your calling card. If you discover that your card has been compromised, you will be liable for any unauthorized charges, so be sure that auto-recharge isn't on. You may wish to open a new account, change your password and email password, and check your other online accounts, especially if you don't know how your information was stolen.
Remember:
Look out for "Shoulder Surfing"
Experienced phone card thieves can steal your information by watching from an adjacent payphone while you make your call. If you have to call from a payphone, do your best to cover the keypad with your hand or body. (This is a good idea when you're using an ATM, too - don't let anyone watch you enter your pin.)
Ask for real credentials if someone calls about your card.
Generally, the only time we will contact you by phone is to verify your first purchase (another way we protect you against fraud). If someone calls you and claims to be from the phone company, our calling card company, or any other company and asks for your calling card information, ask for their employee information and then ask to speak to a supervisor. You should never have to give your calling card information to anyone else.
Keep track of your card using our Online Account Management tools.
Unauthorized users can get your calling card information through many forms of theft and fraud, and even from dumpsters (some hotels record it as part of the number dialed, then dispose of it with the rest of the phone reports). If you are careful with your email and account passwords, you should be fine. Just to be safe, log into your calling card account every week to make sure that no unauthorized calls have been made. If you find suspicious charges, be sure to discontinue auto-recharge right away to prevent additional charges.
What if someone has stolen your prepaid calling card?
As with cash and most gift cards, it is your responsibility to safeguard your calling card. If you discover that your card has been compromised, you will be liable for any unauthorized charges, so be sure that auto-recharge isn't on. You may wish to open a new account, change your password and email password, and check your other online accounts, especially if you don't know how your information was stolen.
Remember:
- Keep your calling card information in a safe place
- Don't share your calling card information with anyone
- Change all of your passwords frequently to prevent unauthorized account access
- Watch all of your accounts for suspicious activity
- Be careful with all personal information, especially credit information
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
5 Tips for Calling Card Affiliates
We have many satisfied affiliates who work with us through our c2 affiliate programs, as well as through our private label options. Here are 5 tips that can help boost your calling card affiliate results:
1. Customize the "calling from" country to match your target audience.
Did you know that you can set the "calling from" country in your search box to display the country of your choice? If you know that most of your site traffic is from China, or that you are writing specifically to appeal to people in Turkey, this can help boost your conversions because your visitors will already be halfway done with their purchase!
2. Promote your site!
There are lots of calling card customers out there, so if they're not buying from you, it could just be because they don't know about your site. Make a quick post to let your visitors/readers know why you have chosen to offer them inexpensive, high quality calling cards along with the rest of your site's offerings.
3. Promote the free card offer!
Each new customer can receive a free 10 minute card to call anywhere in the world, so make sure your visitors are aware! Who doesn't want a free long distance call?
4. Avoid technical problems.
Make sure you have set up your links correctly, or you won't be able to track (and won't get credit for) your sales. Detailed linking instructions can be found in the marketing tools section of your affiliate account.
5. Consider a Co-Brand
Co-Brand sites feature your logo and choice of site theme - it's like having your own calling card site, but setup takes only a few minutes. If you already have a strong site brand that your visitors trust, you might want to create a co-brand site.
1. Customize the "calling from" country to match your target audience.
Did you know that you can set the "calling from" country in your search box to display the country of your choice? If you know that most of your site traffic is from China, or that you are writing specifically to appeal to people in Turkey, this can help boost your conversions because your visitors will already be halfway done with their purchase!
2. Promote your site!
There are lots of calling card customers out there, so if they're not buying from you, it could just be because they don't know about your site. Make a quick post to let your visitors/readers know why you have chosen to offer them inexpensive, high quality calling cards along with the rest of your site's offerings.
3. Promote the free card offer!
Each new customer can receive a free 10 minute card to call anywhere in the world, so make sure your visitors are aware! Who doesn't want a free long distance call?
4. Avoid technical problems.
Make sure you have set up your links correctly, or you won't be able to track (and won't get credit for) your sales. Detailed linking instructions can be found in the marketing tools section of your affiliate account.
5. Consider a Co-Brand
Co-Brand sites feature your logo and choice of site theme - it's like having your own calling card site, but setup takes only a few minutes. If you already have a strong site brand that your visitors trust, you might want to create a co-brand site.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Three Life-Saving Uses of Phone Interpreters
If you or someone you know will be in a country where you aren't fluent in the native language, consider bringing along a prepaid interpreter card from OneTranslator.com. These cards provide pay-as-you-go interpretation between English and a number of other languages, and keeping one in your wallet might just save your life.
Use #1: Medical Emergencies
If you are sick or injured in a foreign country (including America, if you don't speak much English), you need to make sure you get the right treatment. If your illness or injury is critical, every second can count! Bringing a prepaid interpreter card with you is a good way to make sure that you will understand what's going on, and that your doctors and nurses will be able to understand you. Cards work from any phone, so you can use a hospital phone or a cell phone to connect to an interpreter.
Use #2: Transportation and Taxis
Airplanes, trains, buses, and taxis can be difficult enough to navigate without a language barrier, but what happens when you need to change a flight and you don't share a language with the service agent? Or if your luggage is lost in a foreign country? What if you need an emergency taxi but don't speak fluently enough to tell the driver where to go? OneTranslator's services are perfect for any of these situations; once you get an interpreter on the phone, you'll be back on the road in no time.
Use #3: Public Emergencies, Disasters, and Other Unforeseen Events
Even something as small as a power outage can be frightening if you don't speak the language well enough to know what's going on. What about a flood, fire, or earthquake? What if a political rally is taking place and you are questioned by the police -- in a foreign language? Just connect to a OneTranslator interpreter and communicate with confidence. Once when I was traveling, I encountered a complete transportation strike; bus and taxi services were shut down, but I was 3 miles from my hotel in an unfamiliar city, late at night. If I had been carrying a OneTranslator card, it might not have taken me 3 hours to find my way back to my hotel with bits of misunderstood directions from helpful strangers!
OneTranslator outshines pocket translation tools or books in emergency situations because it provides you with instant access to a fluent speaker of your needed language. You don't have to worry about your accent or vocabulary, and you definitely don't have to hunt for the words you need (or try to talk through hand gestures). If you will be in a situation where a language barrier could arise, bring a OneTranslator card along to keep your travel worry-free.
Use #1: Medical Emergencies
If you are sick or injured in a foreign country (including America, if you don't speak much English), you need to make sure you get the right treatment. If your illness or injury is critical, every second can count! Bringing a prepaid interpreter card with you is a good way to make sure that you will understand what's going on, and that your doctors and nurses will be able to understand you. Cards work from any phone, so you can use a hospital phone or a cell phone to connect to an interpreter.
Use #2: Transportation and Taxis
Airplanes, trains, buses, and taxis can be difficult enough to navigate without a language barrier, but what happens when you need to change a flight and you don't share a language with the service agent? Or if your luggage is lost in a foreign country? What if you need an emergency taxi but don't speak fluently enough to tell the driver where to go? OneTranslator's services are perfect for any of these situations; once you get an interpreter on the phone, you'll be back on the road in no time.
Use #3: Public Emergencies, Disasters, and Other Unforeseen Events
Even something as small as a power outage can be frightening if you don't speak the language well enough to know what's going on. What about a flood, fire, or earthquake? What if a political rally is taking place and you are questioned by the police -- in a foreign language? Just connect to a OneTranslator interpreter and communicate with confidence. Once when I was traveling, I encountered a complete transportation strike; bus and taxi services were shut down, but I was 3 miles from my hotel in an unfamiliar city, late at night. If I had been carrying a OneTranslator card, it might not have taken me 3 hours to find my way back to my hotel with bits of misunderstood directions from helpful strangers!
OneTranslator outshines pocket translation tools or books in emergency situations because it provides you with instant access to a fluent speaker of your needed language. You don't have to worry about your accent or vocabulary, and you definitely don't have to hunt for the words you need (or try to talk through hand gestures). If you will be in a situation where a language barrier could arise, bring a OneTranslator card along to keep your travel worry-free.
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