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	<title>Melanie Benson Strick &#124; Big Ideas for Thought Leaders Blog &#187; Marketing | Melanie Benson Strick | Big Ideas for Thought Leaders Blog</title>
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	<link>http://www.successconnections.com</link>
	<description>Melanie Benson Strick shares her secrets to having having a business and life that you love!</description>
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		<title>Infinity Business Model – Finding the Sweet Spot for Your Clients and Your Company (And Why the Business Funnel No Longer Works!)</title>
		<link>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/08/26/infinity-business-model-finding-sweet-spot-clients-company-business-funnel-longer-works/</link>
		<comments>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/08/26/infinity-business-model-finding-sweet-spot-clients-company-business-funnel-longer-works/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:02:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melanie Benson Strick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business model]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[product funnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sheri mcconnell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMART Women]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.successconnections.com/?p=1798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/08/26/infinity-business-model-finding-sweet-spot-clients-company-business-funnel-longer-works/"><img align="right" hspace="5" width="100" src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SMART-Infinity-Model-300x189.jpg" class="alignright wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="SMART Infinity Model" /></a>by Guest Expert, Sheri McConnell As you look at the map of the Infinity Business Model, you should take notice that your marketing is always in movement. Your marketing is also a combination of free strategies and activities and paid ones that your customers invest in, to expand and take big leaps. You should also [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>by Guest Expert, Sheri McConnell</p>
<p>As you look at the map of the Infinity Business Model, you should take notice that your marketing is always in movement. Your marketing is also a combination of free strategies and activities and paid ones that your customers invest in, to expand and take big leaps.</p>
<p>You should also notice with this model, there are no boundaries as far as where new leads can come from… they don’t always have to enter in through the “top of the funnel via a free give-away”.  In fact, many of your leads will come into the Infinity Business Model through many of the paid strategies and activities.  So remember, your job is to keep the energy moving in your business and to keep problem solving through free and paid forms of marketing and clients will be pulled in because the energy of the Infinity Model is absolutely magnetic!</p>
<p>Now let’s talk about the speed of the energy with this model.  You’ll notice there are bigger arrows and smaller arrows… for demonstration purposes the larger arrows represent faster movement.  Which brings us to my favorite place to be in the Infinity Business Model and that is the Sweet Spot!</p>
<p><strong>The Sweet Spot of the Infinity Business Model</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SMART-Infinity-Model.jpg"><img src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/SMART-Infinity-Model-300x189.jpg" alt="" title="SMART Infinity Model" width="300" height="189" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1800" /></a></p>
<p>As your clients or customers move energetically along the model by engaging in the free and paid options you offer, they begin to experience what I call the Sweet Spot of this model.  Here in the center of the map is where they take big leaps, they expand, they have breakthroughs, and the eventually become the leaders they were meant to be.</p>
<p>In my opinion, many people may have to cycle through the model many times learning new lessons and expanding before they are ready to lead.  The Sweet Spot represents growth nonetheless, and as you and I both know, ALL GROWTH IS GOOD.</p>
<p>Now, here is what you must be cautious about in the Sweet Spot. It moves fast, it can be overwhelming to grow so much so fast. So practice self care when you are in the Sweet Spot.  Entrepreneurs are challenged neurologically in a completely different way than non-entrepreneurs.  If you are tired from building and growing your business, that is normal.  Your energy output is in hyper speed as you move through the Sweet Spot over and over again.</p>
<p><strong>Ways to Play in the Infinity Business Model</strong></p>
<p>With this model, there is a real sense that through all your marketing activities you will have many chances to lead them into a relationship.  There is no need to push or pull, you only need to serve and teach through your marketing and focus on being graceful and positive as you help them problem solve.</p>
<p>With the outdated business funnel model, you needed to progress (push in a sense) them through higher and higher amounts for them to uplevel.  I am not saying that you still won’t have 20% of your clients experiencing your premium services or products to uplevel. You absolutely will.  And they will do this over and over again in the Sweet Spot.</p>
<p>What I’ve come to know is that building and growing a successful business is about so much more than what we’ve been taught up until now with previous business models.</p>
<p>Remember, with all your followers, customers, and clients moving along this model faster and faster, they will create a magnetic attraction and begin to pull more and more people in.  The Infinity Business Model accurately represents how successful businesses grow.  Because there is literally magnetic energy happening in your business, you begin work less and make more.</p>
<p><strong>80/20 Rule Applied to the Infinity Business Model</strong></p>
<p>With the outdated Business Funnel Model, you spent your time trying to get everyone through the hierarchical 80% to be the 20% high level client.  In the Infinity Business Model it is not about getting them to higher priced services and products at all, it is about having them create success for themselves so they cycle back through the Sweet Spot over and over again.</p>
<p>So you can visualize that the center of the map (the Sweet Spot) is the 20% and your clients and customers successes or love for your company in general will begin to magnetize business to you.</p>
<p>So for the first time ever, the 80/20 rule is about the customer being successful and how that makes you and your company successful instead of the other way around.  The funnel essentially was really focused on the company.</p>
<p><strong>Last Thoughts About the Infinity Business Model</strong></p>
<p>   &#8211;  Creating a magnetic, energy filled business is more fun and less work.</p>
<p>   &#8211;  Marketing can be simple and still be more effective in overall business success.  Yes, this does mean more profits.  Remember, money is power. The POWER to create more positive change if you have the intention to do so.</p>
<p>   &#8211;  It is normal if some people move extremely slow around the Infinity Business Model (even stop off for a decade at Starbucks!) and then get going again.  </p>
<p>  &#8211;  Remember you have a WHY, a purpose that drives you and you will be here for the long-term.  I consistently have women from my very first company (the National Association of Women Writers) that I owned from 2001 – 2010 resurface and engage over and over again.</p>
<p>  &#8211;  Your team will speed up the energy along the Infinity Business Model. Wow. Think about it.</p>
<p>  &#8211;  And lastly, part of the Sweet Spot’s sweetness is creating leaders.  You get to be a leader to more leaders.  That means we all begin to shift into a businesses with a higher vibration and much bigger WHYS!</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<br />
Sheri McConnell is the CEO of the Smart Women’s Institute of Entrepreneurial Learning (formerly the National Assn of Women Writers-2001). You can visit Sheri, access her free article archive, and grab lots of free stuff at http://www.smartwomeninstitute.com. Sheri lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband, their four children, a weenie dog, and three hermit crabs.</p>
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		<title>10 Quick Tips to Increase the Conversion Rate of your Website</title>
		<link>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/07/22/10-quick-tips-increase-conversion-rate-website/</link>
		<comments>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/07/22/10-quick-tips-increase-conversion-rate-website/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:02:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melanie Benson Strick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[melanie benson strick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nicole Munoz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website conversion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.successconnections.com/?p=1751</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As thought leader, one of our most difficult tasks can be to create marketing materials that attract in the people we serve. Often I spend a significant amoutn of time helping entrepreneurs learn how to make their pretty websites more functional. So I thought Id&#8217; turn to one of the experts to help you learn [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As thought leader, one of our most difficult tasks can be to create marketing materials that attract in the people we serve. Often I spend a significant amoutn of time helping entrepreneurs learn how to make their pretty websites more functional. So I thought Id&#8217; turn to one of the experts to help you learn how to get yoru website to perform better.</p>
<h5>Guest Article by Nicole Munoz, StartRankingNow.com</h5>
<p>Want to see how to quickly improve the conversion rate of your site?   The easiest way to see if your site is measuring up with your  competitors is to take some screen shots of specific features that are  on your site and on your competitor’s sites and to paste them all  together into a word doc side by side.  You can then easily see what  others are doing in your same market and get the creative juices flowing  to do what they are doing even better!</p>
<p>1. Do a Google search for your top keyword and open new tabs or windows for the top 10 sites.</p>
<p>2. Open up Microsoft Word or other similar program.</p>
<p>3. Take screen shots or use SnagIt and copy the different sections of  your site and the your competitor’s sites and paste them into your Word  doc.</p>
<p>Areas to check:</p>
<p><strong>1. Top Navigation bar.</strong> Check to see if you have too much white  space.  What things are above the fold on your competitor’s sites that  you don’t have above the fold.  Do you have an 800 number?  Do you have a  top navigation link map that links to the top sections on your site? Do  you have an awesome Logo that your customers can identify with? Do you  have a search box?</p>
<p><strong>2. USP. </strong> No that is not UPS.  USP is the Unique Selling Proposition.   The unique selling proposition are the reasons why your customers  should buy from you instead of at your competitor’s sites.  First  research and see if your competitors have a USP.  If they do, then write  down their USP.  Look to find as many other sites in your market as  possible and create a master list of all the USPs that you can find that  apply to your market.  Once you have a list, then see which ones you  can also offer and which ones you can one up them on and offer a better  proposition.  Low price is NOT a good USP.  You never want to compete on  price.  Think of what values you can add to your product or service  that will make you stand out from the competition.</p>
<p><strong>3. Guide the Site Visitor. </strong> When someone goes to your site, where are  they guided to click?  Is the process confusing?  There should be a  clear call to action.  As you look at other sites, check out where your  eyes are drawn to.  Look at what action you are compelled to take on  other sites and then see how you can improve the call to action on your  site to guide your customers through the sales funnel.</p>
<p><strong>4. Live Chat.</strong> If you don’t offer live chat, why not?  If you are  selling to hundreds of customers and your phone lines are constantly  jammed up, having live chat will literally save sales!</p>
<p><strong>5. Call to Action.</strong> What is your call to action?  Is it clear to your  customers?  If your call to action is to call a phone number, then that  phone number should be on each page four, six, eight or even ten  times!  If your call to action is to click the Order Now button, then  make sure your Order button is bright and easy to find.</p>
<p><strong>6. Borrow authority. </strong>Having credit cards, BBB, and Security Seals is  known to improve conversion rates.  Make sure your seals are above the  fold and if possible in the top banner.  Shipping logos such as by  Fedex, UPS, or USPS are also good to have.  Compare your site with the  other top 10 sites and see what seals they have posted on their site  above the fold and be sure to do the same!</p>
<p><strong>7. Collect emails. </strong> Add a webform to collect emails on your site.   When analyzing the top 10 sites see what their web forms look like.   Check to see what words they are using.  Look at if they are offering a  freebie in exchange for email addresses or maybe a discount or coupon  code.  After you start to build your database, be sure to follow up and  send out weekly emails!</p>
<p><strong>8. Testimonials. </strong>As soon as possible, add customer testimonials to  your site.  Be sure to check out the new FTC regs and be absolutely sure  to follow all the rules.  Having testimonials throughout the site  especially close to where your customers see the Buy Now button, is a  great way to increase conversion.</p>
<p><strong>9. Professional graphics and advertising.</strong> Who says the professional  ads on the right side nav of your site has to link out to someone else’s  site?  Use professional looking ads on the right side nav of your site  to link to other sections of your site!</p>
<p><strong>10.  Last but not least, be sure to have analytics installed. </strong> Google  webmaster tools and Google analytics are a must.  Crazyegg.com is also  ideal for seeing exactly where your customers are clicking.  If you have  a link on your home page that is not being clicked on, then you need to  get rid of that link or change it in some way so that it does get  clicked on.  Links are the doors on your site that open to other  sections.  If no one is going through those doors, then you need to  either move the doors somewhere else or do something to call attention  to them!</p>
<p>Enjoyed this article?  Have another tip to improve the conversion rate of websites?  Let us know by leaving a comment below!</p>
<p>Nicole Munoz, SEO Pro faculty member and founder of StartRankingNow.com, is a mother of 7 living in Puebla, Mexcico. Nicole learned how to create an online business in order to bring in a little extra income as her husband built a mission in Puebla but soon realized that her expertise in SEO and online marketing was a sought-after resource. Today Nicole teaches small business owners how to get found online. Get access to her my interview with Nicole on 5<strong> Stealth Traffic Strategies on a Shoe String Budget <a href="http://www.extrraordinaryresultsacademy.com/training">here</a>.</strong></p>
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		<title>Are You Marketing Your Coaching To Seekers?</title>
		<link>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/05/05/marketing-coaching-seekers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/05/05/marketing-coaching-seekers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 15:19:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melanie Benson Strick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coaching business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[niche]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[niche market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prosperous Coach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rhonda Hess]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[target market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tribe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.successconnections.com/articles/?p=1017</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/05/05/marketing-coaching-seekers/"><img align="right" hspace="5" width="100" src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/seekers-150x150.png" class="alignright wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="seekers" /></a>By Guest Blogger, Rhonda Hess Coaches are getting smarter. I’m meeting more coaches who know that the typical approach to marketing a coaching business doesn’t work well. They truly want great results, so they are using better strategies much earlier than I did in my coaching career. And it’s working for them. That indicates the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By Guest Blogger, Rhonda Hess</p>
<p>Coaches are getting smarter. I’m meeting more coaches who know that the typical approach to marketing a coaching business doesn’t work well. They truly want great results, so they are using better strategies much earlier than I did in my coaching career. And it’s working for them.<br />
That indicates the field of coaching is attracting more business oriented folks. And that means that more coaches will succeed, which makes me happy.</p>
<p>Success in coaching comes from a combination of persistence, belief in self, genuine interest in people, and serving a market that will go the distance — a market full of people who are motivated to buy services for their personal and professional growth. I call them Seekers.<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/seekers.png"><img src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/seekers-150x150.png" alt="" title="seekers" width="150" height="150" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1018" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Are You Connecting with Seekers?</strong></p>
<p>Recently a coach told me about her deep passion for coaching a certain group — moms. But, despite consistent hard work trying to attract enough of them, it’s not working. Prospects smile and show enthusiasm, a few enroll, but they only stay for a few months. So now this coach is ready to choose a more viable market. After all, why stay attached to a market that’s not abundantly fruitful, both in income and coaching experiences?<br />
Here’s the thing. No matter how much you love the idea of coaching a certain group, if they aren’t seekers — not willing to invest — not much income will flow into your coaching business. It’s a hard fact to swallow. That old saying about leading a horse to water… Well, you can lead someone to coaching, but no matter how much you think they need it, if they won’t invest in the solutions you are offering, you won’t have enough clients.</p>
<p>Moms are an example of a coaching market that, for most coaches, won’t go the distance. Why? Because a mom’s focus is so steadfastly on their kids. Offer them something for their kids, they’ll consider investing. But they aren’t likely to invest in support for themselves. . . at least not about issues related to being a mom.</p>
<p>I ask coaches who are also moms this question: Would you buy coaching to help you be a better mom, to have more balance, or to help you raise your kids? Most say NO. However, now that they are a coach and growing a business, they will invest in a mentor coach to help them earn a better living. And guess what — they will bring to that coaching table many of the issues that arise with being a mom. So… moms aren’t into buying coaching services, but mompreneurs are. Hmm. That’s interesting, isn’t it?</p>
<p>There are many enticing markets out there — like moms — that tempt coaches, but that don’t result in a sustainable business. You know that you’re targeting one of those if you are persistently getting in front of them and speaking their language, but it’s not resulting in a thriving coaching business.</p>
<p><strong>What Makes a Market Viable?</strong></p>
<p>Viable markets pass ALL of these tests. They are:</p>
<p>•	<strong>Accessible. </strong>These folks gather in groups. They meet, they hang out together online, they read the same publications. AND they will talk to you.</p>
<p>•	<strong>Narrow. </strong>The market is specific and unique, small enough that you can leverage your marketing efforts. It’s a lot easier to repeatedly connect with people in a small market than a large one. Which means you build trust, credibility and a leads list much faster. Plus, you have less competition.</p>
<p>•	<strong>Seekers. </strong>They are motivated to invest in their personal and professional development.<br />
Looking at the difference between the market of moms and the market of mompreneurs, what can we learn about choosing a viable market?</p>
<p>1.	Sometimes the coaching clients you most want to work with are contained within markets you might never have considered. Maybe you’ve felt that you aren’t qualified to work with a business market. But the ironic thing is that you work with people in business markets every day that you coach. You just aren’t thinking of it that way. And yet, if you could get over that fear, you could tap a more viable market and serve them well with the skill sets you already possess.</p>
<p>2.	Only some people are willing to seek professional support for their challenges. Coaches should look for markets that have tangible problems to solve and that are likely to seek professional support.<br />
If you’re serious about your success and unimpressed with the results your marketing has brought so far, it’s probably not about you — it’s about the market you’re targeting.</p>
<p>It’s time for a strategy that has a proven track record. Target a market that meets all three viability tests, and watch your coaching business take off!</p>
<p>Want some professional support with that? Sign up for the <a href="http://prosperouscoach.com/dap/a/?a=134&#038;p=www.idealcoachingmarket.com">Champion Your Ideal Coaching Market</a> workshop. In five easy steps and just eight weeks, you will have a more viable target market, know exactly what makes them tick and how to speak their language, and have identified coaching programs that they will invest in.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Rhonda-Hess.jpg"><img src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Rhonda-Hess-144x150.jpg" alt="" title="Rhonda Hess" width="144" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1019" /></a>Rhonda Hess is an internationally recognized business mentor and the Founder of Prosperous Coach®. Rhonda has a gift for helping coaches choose and champion a highly profitable niche so they can coach more, market less and blow the lid off their income. </p>
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		<title>Has the Affiliate Marketing Bubble Burst?</title>
		<link>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/03/08/affiliate-marketing-bubble-burst/</link>
		<comments>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/03/08/affiliate-marketing-bubble-burst/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melanie Benson Strick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[affiliate marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurial success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[joint venture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.successconnections.com/articles/?p=897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2011/03/08/affiliate-marketing-bubble-burst/"><img align="right" hspace="5" width="100" src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Burst-Bubble-150x150.jpg" class="alignright wp-post-image tfe" alt="Burst Bubble" title="Burst Bubble" /></a>My friend was almost in tears expressing her disappointment in her last launch. Having spent hours and hours lining up some very powerful people who were excited to promote her special holiday sale, she had her heart set on a $50k month. But as the days went by she noticed a crushing reality. Some of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My friend was almost in tears expressing her disappointment in her last launch. Having spent hours and hours lining up some very powerful people who were excited to promote her special holiday sale, she had her heart set on a $50k month.</p>
<p>But as the days went by she noticed a crushing reality. Some of her big fish promoters weren’t sending out their emails (and a couple of them were close friends. Ouch.)</p>
<p><img src="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Burst-Bubble-150x150.jpg" alt="Burst Bubble" title="Burst Bubble" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-900" />With a few phone calls her ecstatic affiliate bubble began to burst. She heard the all too familiar reality of affiliate marketing:</p>
<p><em>“Oh I’m sorry I just didn’t up having time.”</p>
<p>“It wasn’t clear so we didn’t mail for you.”</p>
<p>“Your promotion ended up colliding with mine.”</em></p>
<p>Or the worse feedback of all….</p>
<p><em>No reply. Nothing. Nada. Zippo. No email to say I’m sorry I can’t. No phone call to apologize for not honoring the commitment.</em></p>
<p>As I empathetically looked at my friend across the table I squeezed her hand and said, “Darlin, you just came face to face with the reality of affiliate marketing. People often don’t follow through on what they commit to.”</p>
<p>I’ve heard this story multiple times in the last few months from many big players in our industry who counted on a certain level of results from friends and colleagues who committed to support but didn’t follow through.<br />
Its heart wrenching. But the reality is the affiliate marketing bubble has burst. What used to be one of the fastest and most profitable ways to increase your sales to new markets is now more of a burden than a help.</p>
<p>Overall, people are just getting protective of their communities they have worked so hard to build. No one wants to &#8220;burn out their list&#8221; and we certainly don&#8217;t want to promote an offering we don&#8217;t know first hand will work. Gone are the days of &#8220;you mail for me and I&#8217;ll mail for you &#8212; no questions asked.&#8221; But there is a bigger problem at hand that has to be addressed. </p>
<p><strong>People are making commitments they don&#8217;t keep. And the alarming thing is they don&#8217;t get why it&#8217;s bad.</strong></p>
<p>Here is what I&#8217;ve noticed happening with failed affiliate marketing promotions…</p>
<p>1.	Marketers often lose control of their commitments because they don’t have a marketing calendar (been there, done that one.)</p>
<p>2.	Fast paced entrepreneurs experience shifts in their own promotion schedules &#8212; and now they have to focus on their own offer.</p>
<p>3.	The person didn’t just know how to say no so it was easier to “go unconscious” and do nothing. (This is typically the style of someone who always wants you to promote for them but they rarely give anything back.)</p>
<p>4.	Once the entrepreneur fully understood your offer or marketing sequence they realized you are actually competitors and it feels too awkward to tell you to your face that they can’t email a competitive offer.</p>
<p>5.	Your process was confusing, too complex or overwhelming so they gave up trying to figure out what to do.</p>
<p>Personally I’ve experienced all of it…both sides! I’ve felt completely defeated by why my partners didn’t follow through on the commitment to support our program. I’ve had launches I committed to help then realized that it was not going to work (for all the reasons above).</p>
<p>But here is the difference…</p>
<p><em><strong>I frickin let people know if I can’t do what I committed to do!</strong></em></p>
<p>I’d like to introduce the idea that we have “Marketing Partner Etiquette.”  In order for this whole model to not collapse so it can continue to be a powerful way we can all play together, here are 5 Etiquette Rules for Affiliate Marketing Success.</p>
<p><strong>1.	Speak Your Truth.</strong> Be willing to tell someone no if you don’t have the time or it’s a conflicting offer. </p>
<p><strong>2.	Take responsibility.</strong> Let’s all take leap on integrity and own responsibility for following through on a commitment. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If something big happens that keeps you from doing so, communicate it. </p>
<p><strong>3.	Communicate early and often</strong>. This is for the promoter….don’t expect your partners to jump on board (or promote on time) if you don’t tell them in advance what the schedule is. Provide clear, easy to follow, plug-and-play instructions. Anything less will keep people from jumping on bard.</p>
<p><strong>4.	Use a tracking system. </strong>If you are not using technology to track your affiliate behavior then it’s going to get messy. And someone isn’t going to get paid properly. So make sure you use a system like InfusionSoft, 1ShoppingCart or Commission Junction to track and manage affiliate sales.</p>
<p><strong>5.	Pay on Time.</strong> Last but not least…if you are asking people to support your promotion then PLEASE pay them properly and on time. Not doing this will get you blacklisted and people will not want to play with you. </p>
<p>So what do you say….ready to step up our ability to impact more people through affiliate marketing? Any other “Affiliate Etiquette Rules” you’d like to add?</p>
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		<title>The Secret Spark Your Prospects Crave and Bank Account Needs</title>
		<link>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2010/04/06/secret-spark-prospects-crave-bank-account/</link>
		<comments>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2010/04/06/secret-spark-prospects-crave-bank-account/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:37:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melanie Benson Strick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barbara DeAngelis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Assaraf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaking technique]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teleseminar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.successconnections.com/articles/?p=576</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many years ago I was speaking at a conference in Sedona Arizona. I was so jazzed to be in this line up – Barbara DeAngeles and John Assaraf were among the many amazing speakers who I was sharing the stage with. But things happened – the schedule got pushed back and I saw a few [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many years ago I was speaking at a conference in Sedona Arizona. I was so jazzed to be in this line up – Barbara DeAngeles and John Assaraf were among the many amazing speakers who I was sharing the stage with.</p>
<p>But things happened – the schedule got pushed back and I saw a few people give presentations just like mine. I got in my head and panicked.</p>
<p>Finally, 90 minutes behind schedule on the last day of the conference I gave my presentation.</p>
<p>I sucked.</p>
<p>Why? <em>Because my spark diminished </em>and people got a watered down version of my talk that had no energy, I was not engaging and I lacked confidence.</p>
<p>Now let’s contrast that with another event.</p>
<p>My topic was unique. My credibility at this event was top-notch. Before I ever got on stage most of the other speakers were picking my brain. The conference promoters positioned me as a leader in my field (which I am.) I took the stage with confidence, authenticity and a magnetic energy that the audience resonated with because I was connected to them and their needs. I had a ton of sales with amazing clients that I couldn’t wait to work with.</p>
<p>The difference was <strong>I gave free reign to my secret sauce – my spark.</strong></p>
<p>We all have it but most of us don’t know how to unleash it.</p>
<p>And it’s the juice that must be front and center any and all times we converse or connect with our prospects and clients.</p>
<p>If you lose it…you lose your connection to the magic people say yes to with you. Whether you are hosting a preview call, creating videos of your message, writing a blog post or speaking from stage, your spark is what people say YES to.</p>
<p>So how do you find and unleash this secret spark?</p>
<p><strong>First it starts with passion. </strong></p>
<p>What are you most passionate about? People FEEL your passion come through you when you are in alignment with it. If you are not connected to your message or are trying to be someone else in your approach, your passion will diminish.</p>
<p>When you are passionate about your message your confidence soars and you become so compelling that people just naturally gravitate to you. </p>
<p><strong>Second is connection.</strong> </p>
<p>Do you really feel connected to your program and the people you will serve? Trust me, people know if you don’t. It feels off to them. Or they will become skeptical that what you are sharing as an opportunity will really work. Your connection is experienced through your energy, your words, your intonation and your enthusiasm.</p>
<p>There are a lot of ways to find this connection. One tip is to really get clear about what you do to solve other people’s problems. When people feel that you get them, the connection grows and they’ll want more of you.</p>
<p><strong>Third is technique.</strong></p>
<p>Having the right technique is where many of us get stuck. Technique is the flow and system behind educating your prospects and helping them overcome their resistances to saying yes. Mastering technique is everything from knowing how to talk to the different learning styles to how to make your offer to having a way to ramp up your energy to keep people engaged.<br />
<strong></p>
<p>So what is your secret spark? </strong>That thing that you do that compels people to want more from you? Or d<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/teleseminarsystem">o you need some help finding your spark</a>? I’d love to hear in the comments below.</p>
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		<title>Leveraging Your Way to Six Figures with Teleseminars</title>
		<link>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2009/12/09/leveraging-figures-teleseminars/</link>
		<comments>http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2009/12/09/leveraging-figures-teleseminars/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:48:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Melanie Benson Strick</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bob Jenkins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bob The Teacher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[melanie benson strick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success connections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teleclass Strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teleseminar Strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.successconnections.com/articles/?p=376</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.successconnections.com/articles/2009/12/09/leveraging-figures-teleseminars/"><img align="right" hspace="5" width="100" src="http://www.successconnectionezine.com/image/bobjenkins.jpg" class="alignright wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="" /></a>Join me on December 16th, 2009, at 4 pm PT as I interview Bob Jenkins, also known as &#8216;Bob The Teacher.&#8217; Have you hosted teleclasses but didn&#8217;t get great results? What if you could regularly achieve five and six figure paydays by teaching what you do best from your phone? Bob Jenkins is going to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Join me on <strong>December 16th, 2009, at 4 pm PT</strong> as I interview Bob Jenkins,<br />
also known as &#8216;<strong>Bob The Teacher</strong>.&#8217;</p>
<p><strong><img src="http://www.successconnectionezine.com/image/bobjenkins.jpg" width="125" height="131" hspace="5" align="left" />Have you hosted teleclasses but didn&#8217;t get great results? </strong>What if you could regularly achieve five and six figure paydays by teaching what you do best from your phone?</p>
<p><strong>Bob Jenkins</strong> is going to share how he has built his thriving internet-based business with some simple but <strong>highly effective secret techniques for teleclasses.</strong></p>
<p><strong>We&#8217;ll cover things like:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>What NOT to do in a teleclass (knowing this can save your butt big time!)</li>
<li>How a small turn out can be turned into a huge opportunity</li>
<li>The resources you&#8217;ll need to monetize and leverage online trainings</li>
<li>Bob&#8217;s secret weapon for getting a HUGE teleclass turn out (hint: it also helped him get his six figure boost)</li>
</ul>
<p>This call is <strong>FR*EE for all Extraordinary Results Academy </strong>(formerly UWSC) members. Members can join us live for Q&amp;A too! </p>
<p>Not a member? Join our trial for just $9.95. Previous UWSC members can re-join today here!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.extraordinaryresultsacademy.com/"><strong>Click here to JOIN NOW to access this call!</strong></a></p>
<p>To your success,</p>
<p>Melanie Benson Strick<br />
  Million Dollar Success Coach</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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