Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
For over two decades, Jo “Kiwigirl” Merlone has mastered the digital media game with her experience as an adult industry webmaster, affiliate and consulting business owner.
My approach to marketing has always been one of transparency, as nothing sells better than honesty and dedication.
Once payment processor MobiusPay got a real taste of her expertise from the KiwiSourcing company she founded, they ended up recruiting her to be their marketer extraordinaire.
Now, she earns client trust through transparency and collaborative teamwork, helping folks meet their needs in the ever-changing landscape of this highly competitive biz.
To learn more about her career and ambitions, XBIZ sat down with Merlone, for this Woman of the Month profile.
XBIZ: Tell us about your initial forays into the adult industry as a webmaster and affiliate in the late 90s.
Merlone: I first got my start in the biz in early 1998 when dial up was still a thing. It was pure chance that we discovered the industry and built a website to explore the opportunities of making money for other companies by promoting their content as an affiliate on our TGP (thumbnail gallery post).
XBIZ: What lessons from those first 10 years proved vital in shaping the consulting company you later founded in 2008?
Merlone: This is a loaded question difficult to sum up in a few words. When launching my consulting business KiwiSourcing, it was derived from people looking for solutions to an array of problems and service needs that my connections and experience could provide.
It’s always been my instinct to help others, but it became apparent that I could do so and make a business out of it, as there was a demand for such a resource within the industry.
XBIZ: How did you become involved with MobiusPay?
Merlone: MobiusPay was a previous client of my consulting business KiwiSourcing, where I assisted with tradeshow sponsorships and advertising, but as time progressed I got more involved and became interested in all that the billing industry and MobiusPay had to offer, with new opportunities that intrigued me.
XBIZ: Describe your primary role for the payment solution provider and how your responsibilities have evolved over time.
Merlone: While my title with MobiusPay is Marketer Extraordinaire, where I primarily manage aspects of online marketing and advertising, I’ve also branched into aspects of the business where I’m learning more about the overall procedure of the payment processing industry and have discovered that this ever-evolving business is quite fascinating and constantly requires ongoing education.
XBIZ: What is your approach to marketing, especially in today’s ever-shifting digital media landscape?
Merlone: My approach to marketing has always been one of transparency, as nothing sells better than honesty and dedication. And when working with companies who share the same mindset, it makes marketing a damn sight easier.
This perspective is one which I am grateful to share with MobiusPay. Regardless of digital changes, marketing a company that has integrity sells.
XBIZ: Give us your elevator pitch for why a potential client should consider using MobiusPay.
Merlone: MobiusPay is a payment processing and merchant service provider that caters to both online and offline businesses of any size. We pride ourselves on providing a boutique style service where our clients are of utmost importance as no two businesses are the same.
Processing in 36 currencies globally, able to manage risk management and dedicated to providing superior service, MobiusPay is the solution to all your business processing needs while putting money back in your pocket.
XBIZ: How do you interface with the rest of the MobiusPay team, on a daily and weekly basis?
Merlone: While I’m fortunate to work remotely, I communicate daily with my colleagues via instant messaging and video calls, which closes the gap of me working outside the office.
XBIZ: What’s new in the payment processing space, tech-wise, that MobiusPay is harnessing to be cutting-edge?
Merlone: While it’s not new, it’s certainly under-utilized, and that’s chargeback prevention services. Since I started with MobiusPay, I can tell you from first-hand experience that the notifications are generated and delivered in real time, and the process of addressing these notifications is quick and easy. It’s definitely a good tool to have in any merchant’s toolbox that I highly recommend all merchants utilize.
XBIZ: Share your main goals for MobiusPay in 2019 and beyond.
Merlone: My goals for 2019 and beyond consist of ongoing education, exploration of new opportunities and learning new skill sets that expand beyond marketing. I am excited about what the future holds and can honestly say that I couldn’t be happier with my decision to accept the position I was offered by MobiusPay.
