It's official. You can call all the kids from my high school days and tell them that I'm cooler than they are. And Google will back me up on it!
I checked Google today, and I am officially the Coolest Girl on the Planet. This is a title I've been striving for on and off for a few months.
I'm not gloating or braggin' here. This is all about using Google's own search algorithms to help you attain the top spot with your chosen keyword phrase.
In this case, I've done a little "web site optimizing" to help Google figure out just how cool I am.
All this started with a male ego contest a few years back. Dozens of Internet Marketers took up the challenge to become "the coolest guy on the planet" and well, I'm not a guy.
But I thought the phrase "coolest woman on the planet" didn't roll of the tongue as nicely, so I went with "girl" instead. Besides, I can think of many women far cooler than I am, and this was just an experiment anyway. Plus, I figured, "guy" and "girl" were more equivalent than "guy" and "woman". Although I suppose I could have gone with "gal".
But I digress.
So when you do a Google search, you'll find me. It's kind of nifty. Almost cool.
And I really didn't do that much work. Here are the things I did to boost my name into the top slot on Google:
I started using the keyword phrase as my name in all my blog posts.
I positioned a link at the bottom of the home page of my site for my 30-day guide to direct sales success, as well as my hand made candle company. I also changed my byline credit on the website design for Flint's only Downtown Dinner Theater website to read: "This site designed and maintained by the coolest girl in the world".
All those text links pointed right back to my lisamrobbin.com home page.
I didn't work on this non-stop for days, weeks, or even months. Basically, just when I remembered to do it.
And now, I can actually brag about being the coolest girl in the world.
I think Mom would be proud - or at least shaking her head in disbelief.
"Swordfish!" - Expectations, Critics and Movies
My friend, Mark, has a daily humor blog and email post, and at the bottom of his credits, he usually has some sort of clever "ism" that goes unnoticed by the majority of the public - after all, it's in the credits.
Well this morning, his ism was "SWORDFISH" and I didn't get it, so I emailed him back.
He told me to go watch "Get Smart" - and then it made perfect sense to me, as I hope it now does to you.
We conversed a bit about the film, and he had this to say:
"despite what *all* the critics said, it was a 90-minute laugh-a-scene hoot! I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in years. Bonnie could hardly catch her breath at times!!
Which put me in mind of this almost blog-worthy thought:
Why are critics' opinions often so different than my own experience? Then I realized that a critic goes into a movie theatre and says, 'entertain me.' It's almost a dare. I go into a movie theatre and say, 'I want to be entertained.' It's my fondest hope.
So it's the expectation level that makes all the difference. I'm expecting good things, the critic challenges everything he/she sees.
I bet that happens in church on Sunday morning a lot, too.
It was so deeply profound, and yet so simple. I HAD to share it with you.
From a marketing perspective, many times our critics (or we as critics) will challenge everything and expect nothing. Very often we get just that - nothing - in return. We feel deflated, disappointed, and our perspective is one that's just plain poopy.
But when we modify our outlook, change our mindset, and expect greatness - in whatever we are pursuing - very often we are pleasantly surprised, or at least pleased with the outcome.
Does that mean we lowered our standards? Not necessarily. It means we held a different kind of expectation.
What about YOUR expectations? What about YOUR perspective and mindset? Are you looking at your business, shaking your head as you meet all your negative expectations? Or are you setting your business into motion each day with the "fondest hope" of a positive outcome?
Do you dare yourself to succeed, or are you pushing forward with the expectant end result in mind - regardless of the swordfish in your way?
In Direct Sales: 5 Secrets to Fill Your Calendar Without Overcoming Ojections
With the grim economic outlook, some direct sales consultants are pulling out their hair trying to secure bookings and keep their calendar full. Some of the most experienced consultants are scrambling, buckling down, and "getting back to basics" in an effort to fortify their fading calendar.
But the savvy consultants are still holding a consistent book of shows, with calendars that are full and steady. As a business coach, I work with consultants with many different companies, and the successful consultants are revealing their dirty little secrets to massive success - even during the economic slump we're facing today. At first blush, these "secrets" are common sense ideas that will make you roll your eyes into the back of your head. Before you get dizzy, however, ask yourself how well you are implementing these secrets.
1. Create a schedule and stick to it. Top consultants will tell you that they work when they want to, and fill their work calendar around their life calendar. This is a critical component for any successful consultant. You need to know WHEN you want to (and are able) to work. Mark it down and do your work when you're working. By scheduling and utilizing time that is set aside to work, you'll be a million miles ahead of the consultant that prays for bookings to fill the empty white space on her calendar. When you know your next two or three available work dates at a moment's notice, people take you and your business more seriously. And if you don't have a show planned on a day you have scheduled to work? Work anyway! Practice your demo, download a teleclass, read up on product knowledge or network. Do SOMETHING to grow your business.
2. Desperation stinks. Customers and clients can smell desperation a mile away. When you need shows, and start doing "Crazy Eddie" antics to get them, people stop taking you seriously. You don't see Bill Gates jumping up and down on begging people to buy Windows. Neither should you. This is where most consultants develop their fear of "being too pushy". You should ALWAYS present the opportunity to join, host, or buy, but once a client says no, and you've answered her questions, leave it alone. I can't count the number of recruits I've signed at a later date because I was patient and didn't sit on their doorstep waiting for them to join my opportunity. Attraction marketing (aka gravitational marketing) helps you create an identity, establish yourself as an expert in your field and draws interested, like-minded people into your circle of influence. They naturally gravitate to you and, ultimately, choose to do business with you - no desperation required.
3. Touch your business daily. While you can bet that Donald Trump isn't sitting in the office every day making deals, he is touching his business in SOME way every day. Be it a public appearance, speaking engagement, television episode, or contract closing, he's busy being an entrepreneur and making sure that his delegates are tending to business in his absence. Likewise, you as a consultant need to be making contact with your business on a daily basis. Your store is essentially "closed" any day you're not working. Working doesn't mean doing parties. It means preparing hostess packets, making coaching calls, holding recruiting interviews, doing customer care and follow up. You don't have to work all day everyday, but you should make a point of doing SOMETHING connected to your business that propels you and your company forward. By the way, YOU are the CEO of your own company as an independent Direct Sales consultant. Legitimate networking, travel and mastermind groups all count as toughing your business. Organizing your desk, socializing on the phone, cleaning your stapler and vacuuming the floor do NOT count.
4. Keep in touch. Regardless of the method, hostesses, customers and recruits want (and need) to hear from us. A Hostesses number one complaint is that their consultant didn't make enough contact with them. Most coaching programs recommend ten different times to contact a hostess before, during and after a party. Customers should be contacted at least once every two months - and preferred customers at least monthly. Attraction marketing pros use ezines, conference calls, and newsletters to keep in touch, en masse, with a personal feel. These lead generating, rapport building tools are only part of the arsenal that propel the big money earners to the top of their company rankings.
5. Be "REAL" and talk to everyone. This is not exactly the same as the old-school 3-foot rule, where you would talk to anyone that would listen about your "amazing, ground floor opportunity." Rather, this is an invitation to release inhibitions and strike up conversations with anyone and everyone about anything and everything. Be friendly. People like and gravitate toward friendly. Opening channels of communication help you to discover common interests, and open doors to natural conversations about booking, sales, and recruiting. When you are likable, and easy to talk with, people enjoy your presentations more. Enjoyable presentations lead to more bookings, more sales and more recruits - without having to beg for "just one more host" at any party.
As consultants around the globe are waking up to the power of the Internet, and the potential of automating contact with their prospects, more leaders are growing into powerful, marketing savvy machines. These attraction marketing whiz-bangs are raking in recruits, selling up a storm, and breaking booking records - without ever having to overcome a single objection, because people are seeking THEM out for their expertise and professionalism. They have become the hunted, instead of the hunter. Begin implementing these five secrets today and watch your business soar. Who knows? Maybe YOU'LL be the next top achiever at your company's National Conference.
But the savvy consultants are still holding a consistent book of shows, with calendars that are full and steady. As a business coach, I work with consultants with many different companies, and the successful consultants are revealing their dirty little secrets to massive success - even during the economic slump we're facing today. At first blush, these "secrets" are common sense ideas that will make you roll your eyes into the back of your head. Before you get dizzy, however, ask yourself how well you are implementing these secrets.
1. Create a schedule and stick to it. Top consultants will tell you that they work when they want to, and fill their work calendar around their life calendar. This is a critical component for any successful consultant. You need to know WHEN you want to (and are able) to work. Mark it down and do your work when you're working. By scheduling and utilizing time that is set aside to work, you'll be a million miles ahead of the consultant that prays for bookings to fill the empty white space on her calendar. When you know your next two or three available work dates at a moment's notice, people take you and your business more seriously. And if you don't have a show planned on a day you have scheduled to work? Work anyway! Practice your demo, download a teleclass, read up on product knowledge or network. Do SOMETHING to grow your business.
2. Desperation stinks. Customers and clients can smell desperation a mile away. When you need shows, and start doing "Crazy Eddie" antics to get them, people stop taking you seriously. You don't see Bill Gates jumping up and down on begging people to buy Windows. Neither should you. This is where most consultants develop their fear of "being too pushy". You should ALWAYS present the opportunity to join, host, or buy, but once a client says no, and you've answered her questions, leave it alone. I can't count the number of recruits I've signed at a later date because I was patient and didn't sit on their doorstep waiting for them to join my opportunity. Attraction marketing (aka gravitational marketing) helps you create an identity, establish yourself as an expert in your field and draws interested, like-minded people into your circle of influence. They naturally gravitate to you and, ultimately, choose to do business with you - no desperation required.
3. Touch your business daily. While you can bet that Donald Trump isn't sitting in the office every day making deals, he is touching his business in SOME way every day. Be it a public appearance, speaking engagement, television episode, or contract closing, he's busy being an entrepreneur and making sure that his delegates are tending to business in his absence. Likewise, you as a consultant need to be making contact with your business on a daily basis. Your store is essentially "closed" any day you're not working. Working doesn't mean doing parties. It means preparing hostess packets, making coaching calls, holding recruiting interviews, doing customer care and follow up. You don't have to work all day everyday, but you should make a point of doing SOMETHING connected to your business that propels you and your company forward. By the way, YOU are the CEO of your own company as an independent Direct Sales consultant. Legitimate networking, travel and mastermind groups all count as toughing your business. Organizing your desk, socializing on the phone, cleaning your stapler and vacuuming the floor do NOT count.
4. Keep in touch. Regardless of the method, hostesses, customers and recruits want (and need) to hear from us. A Hostesses number one complaint is that their consultant didn't make enough contact with them. Most coaching programs recommend ten different times to contact a hostess before, during and after a party. Customers should be contacted at least once every two months - and preferred customers at least monthly. Attraction marketing pros use ezines, conference calls, and newsletters to keep in touch, en masse, with a personal feel. These lead generating, rapport building tools are only part of the arsenal that propel the big money earners to the top of their company rankings.
5. Be "REAL" and talk to everyone. This is not exactly the same as the old-school 3-foot rule, where you would talk to anyone that would listen about your "amazing, ground floor opportunity." Rather, this is an invitation to release inhibitions and strike up conversations with anyone and everyone about anything and everything. Be friendly. People like and gravitate toward friendly. Opening channels of communication help you to discover common interests, and open doors to natural conversations about booking, sales, and recruiting. When you are likable, and easy to talk with, people enjoy your presentations more. Enjoyable presentations lead to more bookings, more sales and more recruits - without having to beg for "just one more host" at any party.
As consultants around the globe are waking up to the power of the Internet, and the potential of automating contact with their prospects, more leaders are growing into powerful, marketing savvy machines. These attraction marketing whiz-bangs are raking in recruits, selling up a storm, and breaking booking records - without ever having to overcome a single objection, because people are seeking THEM out for their expertise and professionalism. They have become the hunted, instead of the hunter. Begin implementing these five secrets today and watch your business soar. Who knows? Maybe YOU'LL be the next top achiever at your company's National Conference.
Going, Going, GONE!
- or -
What I learned about death and auctions
Many of you know my mom died in early March. It was very unexpected. She died in her sleep the night we buried her father. Grandpa's death was very expected - almost anticipated. Not so with mom.
So it's take a bit of time to clean out, clean up and otherwise cull through her house full of collections: ball cards, office supplies, santa clauses, Coca-Cola memorabilia...
Mom was a collector of things.
So after the fam all went through and picked out their bits of mom to keep, there was still PLENTY left to go around. My aunt suggested contacting an auctioneer to come and purchase the remains of the estate and make it easy on everyone.
I got took. My mom is probably rolling over in her grave right now - she's probably doing back flips - just waiting to come back to haunt me.
Mom had several new appliances, an industrial sewing machine and a massive collection of sports cards - not to mention depression glass, and other items that would easily have sold at auction.
The guy offered me $500 for the entire house. And like a shmuck, I took it. Of course, I called my sister first, but she agreed, and so I sold the contents - or at least what he wanted to take - for $500.
He offered me $450 for her car. I took that, too.
Now, I know I probably could have done better had I tried listing the stuff on ebay. I could have gotten $500 for the ball cards alone - probably.
The thing is, I've been dealing with this estate, the house, and vandals breaking into it for 2 months now, and I just want it to be over.
And the auctioneer saw me coming a mile away.
I realize, of course, that the guy has to make a profit - but there were antique dressers, chairs, and other items - not to mention old holiday ornaments, clay marbles, dolls, etc that were in that house, and $500 just feels insulting.
But he knew I was over a barrel. We had to clear the contents of the house because the mortgage company is taking the home back.
Why am I bearing my vein like this today?
Because this is a GREAT example of bad business. This is an experience that will be talked about for months not just by me, but also by my family. They ALL knew I got fleeced.
The money we raised is going to pay for mom's headstone at her gravesite. He knew it, and he didn't care.
"It's just business" some people would say, and that's why I only feel a little insulted.
Because I DID agree to accept his terms. I COULD have said no.
But emotion got the better of me and I just wanted to be done with the whole fiasco so I could get back to grieving and put my life in order now that Mom's gone.
This is a GREAT example of how you can play on a prospects emotions and fears to negotiate terms that are more favorable for you.
But how much BETTER this situation could have turned out had he simply been honest and said "How much do you need for your mom's head stone?"
A small bit of kindness would have gone a LONG way to making me feel better about the amount of money he was offering.
Instead, his father berated the $500 offer, saying that he didn't even see THAT much value in the home - which even I know is a classic sales tactic designed to con the prospect into thinking they're getting a great deal.
Honestly, I didn't expect to get a WHOLE lot more than $500, but their attitude was poor at best.
And needless to say, I've warned all my friends and neighbors about this auction house. I would NEVER do business with them again.
So yeah, they got the quick estate auction, and they made a substantial amount of coin off it, but in the end they've lost a lifetime of business that COULD have been theirs from my family, my friends and me.
Let that be a lesson to you.
What I learned about death and auctions
Many of you know my mom died in early March. It was very unexpected. She died in her sleep the night we buried her father. Grandpa's death was very expected - almost anticipated. Not so with mom.
So it's take a bit of time to clean out, clean up and otherwise cull through her house full of collections: ball cards, office supplies, santa clauses, Coca-Cola memorabilia...
Mom was a collector of things.
So after the fam all went through and picked out their bits of mom to keep, there was still PLENTY left to go around. My aunt suggested contacting an auctioneer to come and purchase the remains of the estate and make it easy on everyone.
I got took. My mom is probably rolling over in her grave right now - she's probably doing back flips - just waiting to come back to haunt me.
Mom had several new appliances, an industrial sewing machine and a massive collection of sports cards - not to mention depression glass, and other items that would easily have sold at auction.
The guy offered me $500 for the entire house. And like a shmuck, I took it. Of course, I called my sister first, but she agreed, and so I sold the contents - or at least what he wanted to take - for $500.
He offered me $450 for her car. I took that, too.
Now, I know I probably could have done better had I tried listing the stuff on ebay. I could have gotten $500 for the ball cards alone - probably.
The thing is, I've been dealing with this estate, the house, and vandals breaking into it for 2 months now, and I just want it to be over.
And the auctioneer saw me coming a mile away.
I realize, of course, that the guy has to make a profit - but there were antique dressers, chairs, and other items - not to mention old holiday ornaments, clay marbles, dolls, etc that were in that house, and $500 just feels insulting.
But he knew I was over a barrel. We had to clear the contents of the house because the mortgage company is taking the home back.
Why am I bearing my vein like this today?
Because this is a GREAT example of bad business. This is an experience that will be talked about for months not just by me, but also by my family. They ALL knew I got fleeced.
The money we raised is going to pay for mom's headstone at her gravesite. He knew it, and he didn't care.
"It's just business" some people would say, and that's why I only feel a little insulted.
Because I DID agree to accept his terms. I COULD have said no.
But emotion got the better of me and I just wanted to be done with the whole fiasco so I could get back to grieving and put my life in order now that Mom's gone.
This is a GREAT example of how you can play on a prospects emotions and fears to negotiate terms that are more favorable for you.
But how much BETTER this situation could have turned out had he simply been honest and said "How much do you need for your mom's head stone?"
A small bit of kindness would have gone a LONG way to making me feel better about the amount of money he was offering.
Instead, his father berated the $500 offer, saying that he didn't even see THAT much value in the home - which even I know is a classic sales tactic designed to con the prospect into thinking they're getting a great deal.
Honestly, I didn't expect to get a WHOLE lot more than $500, but their attitude was poor at best.
And needless to say, I've warned all my friends and neighbors about this auction house. I would NEVER do business with them again.
So yeah, they got the quick estate auction, and they made a substantial amount of coin off it, but in the end they've lost a lifetime of business that COULD have been theirs from my family, my friends and me.
Let that be a lesson to you.
"The Gurus" Are NOT My Friends
...or what I learned from the so-called internet marketing gurus.
Warning: I'm naming names, and taking no prisoners in this missive, so take it for what it's worth. I'd be glad to hear your comments.
On with the post...
A fellow blogger recently made a post about the latest trend in big ticket "guru" product launches.
You know the kind.
"Starting in 2 weeks, you only have three days to pony up $10k for my exclusive product launch, and after that it's too late to ever learn all the secrets to exploding your income online."
*yawn*
Then, each day your in-box is pounded with JV/partner/affiliate promotions for the same launch:
"Use my link and I'll give you an extra bonus"
"Oooh! Oooh! Pick me, and I'll give you one of my products FREE!"
"No wait! Pick ME and I'll give you my shirt, my first born, a new car, and a bunch of other stuff that's really cool I swear."
At least Frank Kern is honest. He says things like "Here's my link. But if you're not ready for this, don't use it. Let someone else spend their money, it'll always come back in some other form." But then he adds that sales teaser: "But do you really want to miss out?"
What we have here is a classic example of finding a niche and filling it.
Only in this case, the niche is people with "shiny object syndrome".
We get so caught up in trying to grow our business using the latest internet marketing tactics that we float from one new product to another, without ever fully implementing the strategies we learned in the last product we purchased. We're stuck on having "the latest and greatest" so that we're not left out in the cold. Heaven forbid we might miss out on a couple of dollars, when in reality, we're probably "dropping dollars to pick up dimes" as my momma would say.
The solution to our problem? Mad guru disease.
And as long as the gurus are raking in the cash, they'll keep serving the market. Why not? It's lucrative for everyone who owns a "company store". Selling picks and shovels to the internet marketing miners.
Don't get me wrong. There's a lot to be learned here. As a Network Marketer, I came online to grow my business using tools and strategies I learned from the Internet. I have created a successful niche and career for myself selling those same picks and shovels to network marketing miners.
You've heard it said before "sell the dream, not the deal." And on it goes in the wild wild Web.
It's painful and shameful to admit, but I'm a recovering "shine-ob-ite" myself.
I think I was subscribed to something like 40 different mailing lists - probably more, but I lost count.
When I went away for 4 days and came home to over 1400 unread messages in my inbox, it hit me. Look at how much time I was WASTING reading the same jv promotion from 10 different self-proclaimed gurus. Somewhere along the line, because of a product purchase, I was subscribed to 5 different lists for Russ Brunson - and yeah, I got multiple emails almost every day when there was a product launch he was eager to cash in on. Daegan Smith was emailing me daily - sometimes 2 or 3 times daily!
So, I got VERY selective. My time is more valuable to me now.
But more importantly, it taught me a lesson. As I was culling my inbox I counted MAYBE 20 value added messages that weren't blatant affiliate/jv promotions. Those subscriptions, I kept. Guys like Mark Joyner, Chris Haddad, Jeffrey Gitomer, Alexandria Brown, and a handful of others. I'm down to about 10 subscriptions now that I read regularly - and a handful more that I archive immediately and only review when I'm looking for sales letter or marketing ideas.
It really got me to thinking about MY newsletter, my mailing lists, and what I was sending them. Was I over promoting and under-delivering? I serve a network marketing community where every penny (and second) is precious. To waste the time (or money) of a stay-at-home soccer mom of 4 that's trying to keep "the ends" together, juggle multiple family schedules, and have a little free time for her family is ludicrous!
Frankly, I would have trouble sleeping at night if I pulled this same kind of shenanigans. Call me nuts, but I'd feel guilty sending out that much email to my list!
Add to that these ultra pricey events, and you can see why people are pulling their hair out! For guys like Russ Brunson, Mike Filsaime (and now even Mike Dillard), there's a bigger push to promote these events because HALF (or more) of the ticket price is being paid out in commissions to affiliates!
The commission on three sales on products like the Guru Mastermind would pay your house payment - for a year.
Ghastly, to say the least.
But I'm not ANTI-affiliate marketing. I'm not Anti-Internet Marketing. I'm not even ANTI-guru. I participate in affiliate programs, I sell products and offers to my list. But I also believe in providing substantial value for the return on investment.
My live teleclasses are free. My weekly newsletter is free - with at least one substantial article - not a sales pitch. And you can even call me on the phone from time to time and actually talk with me - not some automated system.
Now, my list isn't huge, only about 1700 people, but I've personally communicated to nearly every one of them. I've built relationships with my readers and am proud of the speed at which my list has grown in only 4 months.
The secret is no secret. Build relationships, be friendly, and stop selling everything that isn't nailed down to your list.
I was reading somewhere that Mike Filsaime was complaining that conversions are down even though his list is massive. Go figure!
Jeffrey Gitomer says that you need to be friendly in sales (and all of life is sales, folks). People want to do business with their friends.
But you're NOT my friend just because (insert big name guru here) gave you a hot tip about his latest product launch and you're going to get me a discount on it (and you'll collect a tidy little sum to boot).
Ugh.
Focus. Mark Joyner talks about that. See your target. Stay focused on your target without distraction, and hit it until you hit it.
If only those shiny little gurus would stop moving into my field of view....
Warning: I'm naming names, and taking no prisoners in this missive, so take it for what it's worth. I'd be glad to hear your comments.
On with the post...
A fellow blogger recently made a post about the latest trend in big ticket "guru" product launches.
You know the kind.
"Starting in 2 weeks, you only have three days to pony up $10k for my exclusive product launch, and after that it's too late to ever learn all the secrets to exploding your income online."
*yawn*
Then, each day your in-box is pounded with JV/partner/affiliate promotions for the same launch:
"Use my link and I'll give you an extra bonus"
"Oooh! Oooh! Pick me, and I'll give you one of my products FREE!"
"No wait! Pick ME and I'll give you my shirt, my first born, a new car, and a bunch of other stuff that's really cool I swear."
At least Frank Kern is honest. He says things like "Here's my link. But if you're not ready for this, don't use it. Let someone else spend their money, it'll always come back in some other form." But then he adds that sales teaser: "But do you really want to miss out?"
What we have here is a classic example of finding a niche and filling it.
Only in this case, the niche is people with "shiny object syndrome".
We get so caught up in trying to grow our business using the latest internet marketing tactics that we float from one new product to another, without ever fully implementing the strategies we learned in the last product we purchased. We're stuck on having "the latest and greatest" so that we're not left out in the cold. Heaven forbid we might miss out on a couple of dollars, when in reality, we're probably "dropping dollars to pick up dimes" as my momma would say.
The solution to our problem? Mad guru disease.
And as long as the gurus are raking in the cash, they'll keep serving the market. Why not? It's lucrative for everyone who owns a "company store". Selling picks and shovels to the internet marketing miners.
Don't get me wrong. There's a lot to be learned here. As a Network Marketer, I came online to grow my business using tools and strategies I learned from the Internet. I have created a successful niche and career for myself selling those same picks and shovels to network marketing miners.
You've heard it said before "sell the dream, not the deal." And on it goes in the wild wild Web.
It's painful and shameful to admit, but I'm a recovering "shine-ob-ite" myself.
I think I was subscribed to something like 40 different mailing lists - probably more, but I lost count.
When I went away for 4 days and came home to over 1400 unread messages in my inbox, it hit me. Look at how much time I was WASTING reading the same jv promotion from 10 different self-proclaimed gurus. Somewhere along the line, because of a product purchase, I was subscribed to 5 different lists for Russ Brunson - and yeah, I got multiple emails almost every day when there was a product launch he was eager to cash in on. Daegan Smith was emailing me daily - sometimes 2 or 3 times daily!
So, I got VERY selective. My time is more valuable to me now.
But more importantly, it taught me a lesson. As I was culling my inbox I counted MAYBE 20 value added messages that weren't blatant affiliate/jv promotions. Those subscriptions, I kept. Guys like Mark Joyner, Chris Haddad, Jeffrey Gitomer, Alexandria Brown, and a handful of others. I'm down to about 10 subscriptions now that I read regularly - and a handful more that I archive immediately and only review when I'm looking for sales letter or marketing ideas.
It really got me to thinking about MY newsletter, my mailing lists, and what I was sending them. Was I over promoting and under-delivering? I serve a network marketing community where every penny (and second) is precious. To waste the time (or money) of a stay-at-home soccer mom of 4 that's trying to keep "the ends" together, juggle multiple family schedules, and have a little free time for her family is ludicrous!
Frankly, I would have trouble sleeping at night if I pulled this same kind of shenanigans. Call me nuts, but I'd feel guilty sending out that much email to my list!
Add to that these ultra pricey events, and you can see why people are pulling their hair out! For guys like Russ Brunson, Mike Filsaime (and now even Mike Dillard), there's a bigger push to promote these events because HALF (or more) of the ticket price is being paid out in commissions to affiliates!
The commission on three sales on products like the Guru Mastermind would pay your house payment - for a year.
Ghastly, to say the least.
But I'm not ANTI-affiliate marketing. I'm not Anti-Internet Marketing. I'm not even ANTI-guru. I participate in affiliate programs, I sell products and offers to my list. But I also believe in providing substantial value for the return on investment.
My live teleclasses are free. My weekly newsletter is free - with at least one substantial article - not a sales pitch. And you can even call me on the phone from time to time and actually talk with me - not some automated system.
Now, my list isn't huge, only about 1700 people, but I've personally communicated to nearly every one of them. I've built relationships with my readers and am proud of the speed at which my list has grown in only 4 months.
The secret is no secret. Build relationships, be friendly, and stop selling everything that isn't nailed down to your list.
I was reading somewhere that Mike Filsaime was complaining that conversions are down even though his list is massive. Go figure!
Jeffrey Gitomer says that you need to be friendly in sales (and all of life is sales, folks). People want to do business with their friends.
But you're NOT my friend just because (insert big name guru here) gave you a hot tip about his latest product launch and you're going to get me a discount on it (and you'll collect a tidy little sum to boot).
Ugh.
Focus. Mark Joyner talks about that. See your target. Stay focused on your target without distraction, and hit it until you hit it.
If only those shiny little gurus would stop moving into my field of view....
Touching All the Bases Revisited
There are times in your life when you're faced with the challenge:
Do the right thing, and risk losing out on something you really want.
--OR--
Do nothing, and earn your heart's desire.
These girls are simply amazing - and a lesson to all of us.
Yes, I cried when I watched this video. That's why I'm sharing it with you. But also, because it's the right thing to do.
So let me pose this to you:
How often have you overlooked something because it was more inconvenient to do the right thing ans report it?
What do your children see when you don't think they're looking?
How is your sleep at night? Restful? Wakeful?
This was a ball game that MAYBE 100 people got to see. What do you do when no one is looking?
This was a powerful lesson to me. And I guess I'm on a quasi-mission to share that power with others.
Character is built in the moments when we think little and act foolishly. It's also built in the moments when we think hard and act courageously.
This video was shared with me by my upline. Why do you think she did that? Her message to me was "this is so inspiring" - but it's so much more than that.
It's an example of how business should be run EVERY day - even when people aren't looking.
Are you touching all the bases in your business? Are you looking at what needs to be done - and not just putting out fires, doing the minimum, or something worse?
Are you so concerned about this month's quota and winning that award, that you overlook the fact that your client truly CAN'T afford to make a purchase at this time? Do you see them as more than just a stepping stone to what's next?
In our community, the mayor has decided to throw his hat into the ring for Governor.
Heaven forbid. The only good thing that I think would come of it, is that he wouldn't be our mayor anymore.
He's a classic example of someone that doesn't touch all the bases - out for himself, his own benefits and gains - he's a convicted criminal, which only adds insult to injury!
And I think about how he must conduct his business, and what he's like when no one's looking. And I pray on a daily basis that I'll NEVER turn out like that.
What about you?
Do the right thing, and risk losing out on something you really want.
--OR--
Do nothing, and earn your heart's desire.
These girls are simply amazing - and a lesson to all of us.
Yes, I cried when I watched this video. That's why I'm sharing it with you. But also, because it's the right thing to do.
So let me pose this to you:
How often have you overlooked something because it was more inconvenient to do the right thing ans report it?
What do your children see when you don't think they're looking?
How is your sleep at night? Restful? Wakeful?
This was a ball game that MAYBE 100 people got to see. What do you do when no one is looking?
This was a powerful lesson to me. And I guess I'm on a quasi-mission to share that power with others.
Character is built in the moments when we think little and act foolishly. It's also built in the moments when we think hard and act courageously.
This video was shared with me by my upline. Why do you think she did that? Her message to me was "this is so inspiring" - but it's so much more than that.
It's an example of how business should be run EVERY day - even when people aren't looking.
Are you touching all the bases in your business? Are you looking at what needs to be done - and not just putting out fires, doing the minimum, or something worse?
Are you so concerned about this month's quota and winning that award, that you overlook the fact that your client truly CAN'T afford to make a purchase at this time? Do you see them as more than just a stepping stone to what's next?
In our community, the mayor has decided to throw his hat into the ring for Governor.
Heaven forbid. The only good thing that I think would come of it, is that he wouldn't be our mayor anymore.
He's a classic example of someone that doesn't touch all the bases - out for himself, his own benefits and gains - he's a convicted criminal, which only adds insult to injury!
And I think about how he must conduct his business, and what he's like when no one's looking. And I pray on a daily basis that I'll NEVER turn out like that.
What about you?
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