I got an email from Noble Samurai yesterday morning--the developers of Market Samurai.  They were inviting me into their brand-new affiliate program, which actually goes "live" on Monday.  Guess what?  Only licensed owners of the software are being invited to participate in the affiliate program.  I interrupted some other projects and pounced.

Why did I pounce? 

1.  Because I love this software.  I'm the freebie queen.  The frugal diva...but this software was worth every penny of the $97 I spent.  I'll never forget sitting in a coffee shop with a general contractor and making a preliminary list of keywords for him in 15 minutes as he looked over my shoulder.  It made me look smart and professional (which of course is quite nice in and of itself), but the real benefit of that little interlude was that the GC went around telling his subcons that I have magic Google tools. 

2.  Because I know good research tools when I see them.  I may be a newbie Web marketer, but I am a dyed-in-the-wool researcher.  I cut my research teeth in the reference room of my undergrad library.  I had this one professor who made us do research scavenger hunts.  Codices, concordances, specialized encyclopedias, periodical guides...you name it.  In the pre-internet days, I could dish up whatever I needed from a reference-room smorgasbord.  And when I first used Google back in '99, I ran over to my buddy the local reference librarian and said, "Set this as your homepage.  It's like a Vulcan mind-meld."   Market Samurai is not a world-changer of the Google variety, but it is the best of its class (IMHO).  I have already gotten four peers/clients to purchase it--with no affiliate program to benefit from.  Now it's time to try and put a few coins in the piggy bank. 

3.  Because I like feeling special.  I like the fact that Noble Samurai is doing their affiliate program this way.  I SHOULD get rewarded for actually owning and using the software.  For having sat through hours of the Dojo training (love that they call their training center the Dojo!) with a cool Aussie trainer.  (I think he was Maori, which made in my low-diversity world made it even cooler.)

So I took some pains to set up what I hope is a decent Squidoo lens review.  I've submitted to feed directories and am currently awaiting indexing. It's a little long, but I think most people looking for reviews expect some meat, don't you?  (Do give feedback if you think it's TOO long.) 

 I'll probably try to make the most of the newness of the program by setting up at least one more lens with a good keyword URL.  And then, I know, I know promote that little sucker to death.  (I admit, that's the hardest part for me. The tedium of repurposing the article over and over again.  Blaaaaaahhhh.  But I'll nurture my little Squid baby...strengthen its dear little suction cups, exercise its little tentacles.  So it will grow up to be a great big Samurai Squid and make Mamasan proud.