Exclusive CTTM Interview!
We sat down with Bonnie Corso, CEO and founder of ClicktotheMagic, on July 31, 2002 to talk with her about her background, her program, and rewards programs in general. Here is the text of that interview.
You are the CEO of Click to the Magic, a rewards program that's fairly new, debuting in 2001, is that correct?
Yes, and I am happy to have my site, although, unfortunately, I’m a little late getting into the game. Many sites have gone the way of the dinosaur. This just means I will have to try a little harder to bring quality offers to my members. I am always trying to invent new ideas to attract members as well as merchants but mostly to keep the site fresh and fun for everyone.
Can you tell us a little about your background? Did you use rewards programs before developing your own?
Yes, I did. I am known as a Senior Business Analyst and ERP consultant in the professional world. I am a faithful rewards member to many sites both small and large. These sites were a great help in providing many wonderful advantages to my family as well as a major factor in how I could afford the holidays.
What made you decide to start your own rewards program?
I always wanted a rewards site but never had the time in my personal life to get one up and running. I was fortunate enough last year to work a contract that ended a bit sooner than expected, but it allowed me to fully devote time into creating CttM. I had done the math on how other rewards sites worked and felt it would be a great challenge to create one of my own. There are a lot of rewards programs out there.
What do you think makes ClickToTheMagic unique?
CttM is based on a “Magical Vacation”. It is implied but not directly related to the place where you will find the mouse. I have been a part of a great group that provides ideas on saving money when going to vacation in Florida and California. Many of the rewards would be used towards this type of vacation. I feel that this is greatly useful to my members as many of them are using rewards sites to help pay for a vacation that most would not be able to afford. To provide as many options and rewards for these areas, my members are able to help cut the costs of their vacation and several of my members have been able to provide a full week to their destination totally cost free just from their online rewards sites. I am a WAHM and I encourage other WAHM’s (Work At Home Mom’s) to offer their sites on CttM as well. I am creating a special section to WAHM’s.
What are some of the aspects of the program that your diehard users most enjoy?
They love the daily clicks. This is the easiest way to earn just by visiting and brings visitors back each day. CttM offers many other features such as shopping online, trying out offers and signing up for other features. My members are wonderful and I love hearing from them about what they like and how CttM could be used to their advantage. Also, another factor I am most proud of is my personal interaction with my members. I personally answer all emails and love to get to know who my members are. I have met many great people through my site and feel like I am putting so much of myself into CttM, that my members can really get to know me. On CttM’s home page, I often use this to communicate with my members and let them know what is going on with the site and I keep them up to date with progress. Many sites do not offer this as this is so mechanical.
Do you feel your program has some weaknesses? What are they and what are you doing to address them?
One thing I am in the process of changing is that since the site was created as a package, it is quite similar to a few other sites out there. I have been working on a new look and many new features.
We've seen a lot of rewards programs come and go. Freeride just recently pulled the plug. What processes do you have in place to make sure your program continues to succeed?
As it has been explained to me, everyone knows the Mouse. This alone is what drives me to be a better site. I wouldn’t say I have any processes in place, but I do look at what other sites are doing and what has been done and use this information to make CttM a better site. I often visit bulletin boards on the Internet to find what people are saying and use this information to tweak what needs to be done. It’s all about the members and what they want! I am always looking for new things to add and I am currently in the process of adding a few new major features that I feel my members will love and use. I hope to have them up and running in the coming weeks.
Look into your crystal ball for us, if you will, please, Bonnie. What changes do you see in the rewards program landscape in say, the next 2 years?
I would like to see a comeback as the market improves. I do feel that it will be the smaller sites that are more personally involved with their members that will survive. Larger sites are so impersonal that they to not take the time to provide quality support or offers to its members. Many others are still trying to make it in the rewards field, but ideally it will come down to the sites that provide the best offers, the best features and of course, the best customer service to its members. CttM fully expects to be around in the coming years and will be bringing many new features to our members.
Do you have any changes in store for us in the coming months at Click to the Magic?
I could tell you, but that would ruin the surprises for everyone else! I can say to look for the New Magic in the coming weeks. CttM will be going through many new changes and as in keeping in line with that Wonderful World of Magic, there will be much to discover! Many new features will be added and Tinkerbelle will be introducing many new friends.
What would you say to someone who was considering joining your program?
I encourage everyone to give CttM a chance. The more guests we have, the better we can make our site. Although we are still small and still working on some of the bugs, we are always growing and doing what we can to make CttM a better site and fun for everyone of all ages. CttM is a family-oriented site and we do whatever it takes to provide quality and family-oriented, safe offers. (Although, I would like to add, that we are not responsible for the actions of our sponsors.) As always, CttM provides 100% privacy to our members and as stated in our site, we never sell our members information.
Thank you for your time and your candor. We wish you continued success with Click to the Magic.
Thank you!
