Supporting Bird Clubs Part 1: Online Help

I've just checked my order at Pets.com. It's been shipped, and I expect to receive it within a few days. Although the order is new toys for my adopted rat, Shakespeare, my order helped an affiliated bird club.

One thing that most bird clubs lack is support. In the world of clubs, not just bird clubs, a few members seem to do all the work, while the rest seem to "benefit." This doesn't mean that everyone in the club is lazy. Far from it, most club members want to help; they just don't know how.

For clubs with webpages, one of the easiest ways for its members to help is through affiliations. Usually done through major retailers, such as Pets.com or Amazon.com, affiliations mean that every time someone links to the retailer through either a specific product link or a general link, the club receives a portion of the sales. Many online malls also exist, such as Shop2give.com, which hosts several retailers that all provide a portion of the sale back to the affiliated organization.

"I spend all day on a computer, why would I want to do so at home?" "I don't like the idea of giving my credit card number out over the Internet." "What if I want my product instantly?"

The above objections are just a sample of the ones I hear when I discuss online shopping and affiliation programs with my coworkers. Following are the reasons why you should.

1. "I spend all day on a computer, why would I want to go home and sit in front of a computer?"

Depending on the type of job, the reply here could be as simple as the fact that the time spent at home is for a worthwhile purpose, to the fact that if someone uses a computer for e-mail and other household tasks, the few minutes it takes to shop online will not be any different, then sitting through a television commercial.

2. "I don't like giving out my credit card number online."

First, shop only at national, recognized, retailers. If a site is worth shopping, then it will offer you a secure server to do the "business" part of your transaction. Look for an unbroken key or lock in the lower corner of your browser. Amazon.com, along with other retailers, also offer a refund of the $50 that you will be liable for, should someone pirate your credit card numbers. Another way to have piece of mind is to keep a card with a low limit, for example $200, that is used strictly for online shopping. That way if something happens, the damage can be controlled.

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