Sunshine Rewards Tricia Meyer an interview.  I meet Tricia Meyer at ASW and she is a very nice lady.

Tell me about your Sunshine Rewards?

My company is MeyerTech, LLC, and we own a number of different internet properties. Our largest website is the coupon and cashback site SunshineRewards.com. We are family owned and operated and send out hundreds of thousands of dollars in rewards each year to our members, who earn points through shopping, taking surveys, and completing various offers.

What was your first blog?

My first blog was HelpingMomsConnect.com. When I launched it in 2004, I did not know anything at all about affiliate marketing and was working full-time as a lawyer. The site allowed me to learn the ins and outs of affiliate marketing before I started relying on it for an income.

What is the biggest tip you would give to a newbie blogger?

Write about something you enjoy. It’s easy to get caught up in what you think will make money rather than what you genuinely like writing about. If you want to make a living at it, it needs to be a combination of both. Also, do not be afraid to try out a few different blogs and see what works for you over time.

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Advertisers drive me crazy when they switch networks. They have no idea how long it takes to swap out links and banners across many sites.

What do bloggers do that you wish they wouldn’t?

I wish that bloggers would not judge each other on how they monetize. We all do it differently and as long as it is ethical, we should be free to make money in the ways that work best for our sites.

Where do you see growth in the blogging field? 

The biggest growth in blogging right now seems to be using the blogging platform as a CMS such that the lines are blurred between genuine “blogs” and other ecommerce sites.

What new ideas are advertisers coming up with to take advantage of new trends?

Honestly, I think many of the advertisers are leaving it up to the publishers to help them come up with new advertising ideas.

What do you do to improve the world?

I try to spread information whenever I can and be the person who connects the problems with the solutions. On a local level, I volunteer heavily in my children’s school. On a larger level, I use my blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to educate about causes in which I believe.

What do you do that is green?

I try to use as little paper as possible for everything that I do. We have moved to sending out a number of “e-rewards” at Sunshine Rewards to cut down on printing and mailing. We’re teaching the parents in our community to get information online so that we do not need to continuously send home flyers and paper newsletters.

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

I’m hopelessly optimistic. My mom always says that I go through life wearing “rose-colored glasses.” I prefer to think that I just see the best in every situation and have faith that everything happens for a reason and will work out the way that it is supposed to. We just don’t always understand in the present.

What’s your favourite book?

Harry Potter. I guess that’s really seven favorites! I never would have taken myself for a Harry Potter fan, but when I read them I was mesmerized. Between the use of Latin terminology (in which I have a degree), the strong storylines, and the mystical world in which I could get lost, I couldn’t put the books down until I finished them all.

What is on your iPod?

Part of my iPod is my exercise mix that includes a lot of pop music and dance music to inspire me when I run. Another part is kids’ music that my girls listen to when they borrow it. The rest is a combination of movies and Biography TV shows that I use to entertain myself on airplanes.  

What are your contact details (email, company, blog, facebook, myspace, forums, etc)?

Email address: [email protected].

Company: http://www.sunshinerewards.com  

Personal Blog: http://www.tricia.me.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sunshinetricia

What events do you go to?

I regularly attend Affiliate Summit and am starting to get involved in local business meetups.

How do you prefer to communicate?

Because of my kids, I like to communicate mainly via email. If you need something quick, you can usually catch me on Twitter.

Who would you recommend, and why?

http://blog.affiliatetip.com/ (Shawn Collins is an amazing resource in affiliate marketing and all around fun guy)

http://chrisbrogan.com (Chris Brogan is intelligent and interesting and most of all real)

http://www.jangro.com (Scott Jango knows affiliate marketing better than just about anyone and is a great resource for what is new)

http://www.lisapicarille.com/ (Lisa Picarille sees the business from both an outsider’s perspective and an insider’s perspective at the same time)

What is one thing people can do for you?

People can take an honest look at Sunshine Rewards and if they like it, tell a friend. In our business, it’s hard to advertise because the idea of the site seems too good to be true. I need people who have used it and believe in it to tell others about it. If you look at it and do not like it, tell me why so that I can find a way to fix that.