The Gnats and Fruit Flies of Social Commerce

I have written about this topic once before with a different and more straightforward take.  I called that post "Scam and Pyramid Marketing".   This time I want to frame things as irritating - like a gnat.

Gnats and Fruit Flies buzz around your head.  You swipe at them, but they persist.  They are annoyances that can drive you to distraction. They have no real value in the scheme of things.  They are simply pesky little undesirable critters.

For just about any non-traditional business model such as Affiliate Marketing, you can typically find a Google-ranked reference to such businesses as being a scam, a pyramid, or a cash gifting "scheme".  These "gnat" articles are sleazy and self-serving due to nearly 100% of the time their sole purpose is to trash the company cited and then tell you how great their opportunity is as an alternative.

It should go without saying that this is duplicitous and disingenuous, not to mention that most of these posts are written at about an eighth-grade level.

Then, there is the issue of "what to do about it".  It is not like any of these people offering their opinions have integrity.  Otherwise, they would not engage in this form of bait-and-switch marketing in the first place.  As well, these people are obviously desperate to have to resort to this type of marketing.  As such, there is really nothing to "go after" legally in terms of bringing a suit for slander.  It is simply not worth the time, energy, and expense to go after these sleazeballs.

As such, just like Gnats and Fruit Flies, we learn to live with them - annoying as they are - and being a huge disservice to the Social Commerce industry.

However, before I close let me simply say this.  If a transaction exists between two people and an override or administration fee is paid to a company for use of their platform, it is legal.  The fact that different packages exist at different prices points is irrelevant as long as a transaction takes place for something of value.  In our industry, this thing of value is typically a digital, eLearning product.  Again, the perceived value of these products is irrelevant - a point on which many of the gnats want to harp.

If anyone wants to argue the point of value, you would need to explain to me how joining Mar-a-Logo is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars as an initiation fee, and then $14K a year.  This is a matter of scale at any Country Club.  So let me ask, are Country Clubs widely known as scams?  Yes, you are paying for the pool, the tennis courts, the golf course, the clubhouse where you can throw a party.  But is it a scam because people choose to belong?  The answer is pretty obvious.

We sell access to digital information in a peer-to-peer business model.  It is no less legitimate than any act of commerce no matter what the gnats and fruit flies have to say about it.

Referral Line Compensation Explained

First, a little background to set the stage for what follows.

A contract is something that all parties agree to that governs the rights and duties of those involved.  A contract can stipulate anything, however, there is no contract unless there is an agreement between two parties.  It is a statement of expectations and “how things will work”.  The business platforms we affiliate with have contracts, also known as “Terms of Service”. You agree to these terms in participating in our business.

In the world of Affiliate and Online Marketing, there are many compensation models.  Among these are subscription, referral line, power leg, matrix, uni-level… and the list goes on.  (Most) all provide incentives for some type of leverage.  Leverage is defined in different ways:  1) overall volume, 2) individual transaction margin, and/or; 3) organization size.  Obviously, in many cases, these go hand-in-hand.

With eLearning courses, products are based on tiers of content complexity - from beginner content to more technical “how to” content across all facets of information.  Each tier of content has a different price point.

  

With one of the platforms we affiliate with, a referral sale is made to the Recruiter. The industry "nickname" for this is a One-Up,  This “one up” is simply a structured leverage component of the contract.  (It is how the contract works.  It is what is agreed to.)  In real terms, it is a one-time, secondary/referral payment to a Recruiter with recurring (but not contractually guaranteed) outcomes. 

These potential recurring payments are collected through a Line Structure with successive payments being made by individuals, not on the basis of automatic [time frame] payments like a subscription (this is why it is not guaranteed).  It is a leverage component that is built into the structure of the contract, however, it is effort-driven. If you want to ensure subsequent "powerline" payments you need to ensure the success of individuals who are in that line. As in all Social Commerce, you get paid by helping to ensure the success of people in your organization.

One last angle here. In money jargon, a Referral Line is a financial engineering component. Most all compensation models in the Social Commerce space (that are not one-time, straight percentage commissions) have some form or leverage component. What the compensation model being explained here does - is akin to compound interest (paying interest on interest). With a Referral LIne, instead of paying interest on interest, the component is people paying people at their participation level in a "Line". People at their given (investment) level are positioned structurally and contractually. This defines how the overall leverage of this "compensation structure" functions.

This is not a gift as some critics purport. It is a contractually stipulated, legally compliant payment governed by the compensation structure - again, a part of the contract which is agreed to by all parties.

Once this is understood, it is your "job" to drive success down the depth in multiple powerlines that will be available to you - based on your organizational growth (width) in recruiting Client/Partners that are front line (direct) to you. This combines with each second sale being "referred" to you; inherently creating new powerlines - creating leverage. You then work with the people in each line to your financial benefit as everyone in these lines pass up their second sale in the depth of that line. This can (and should) happen for many generations of depth - theoretically to infinity.

A Referral Line is a POWERFUL recurring income generator if worked to its potential. However, to maximize its financial potential, it needs to be combined with people who can competently replicate a process [across and down] a referral line structure.

When this takes place, a Referral Line compensation structure can yield significant results. This is why it was chosen to be in our portfolio of offers.

Moral and Philosophical Underpinning

We build groups of people who choose to collaborate to make money together.  Fundamentally, this is what we market and "sell".  The individual businesses and platforms we employ to fuel the economic engine do not really matter (given they are sound).  Essentially, they could be anything.  As such, we are not hawking a "biz opp", we are creating understanding about the benefits of "agreement" and of being in business together.

This agreement, at its core, has a moral and philosophical underpinning.  Without "agreement", a viable, long-term business will not exist.  No consensus, no shared values, and commitment... no long-term business.  Therefore, to re-state, we build consensus within groups of people who choose to be in business and make money together.  The asset you build is a group of competent, committed people who (ultimately) participate in monthly subscriptions, long-term -with you being the recipient/beneficiary.

To back up a step, morality is about something being "right or wrong".  As such, in regard to the morality of things, you must ask yourself if you agree with the premise of building groups of people who choose to collaborate to make money together?  This is our business model.  We educate and provide supports for people to engage in this process.  If you are not on board at this fundamental level, you are in the wrong place.

Along these same lines, philosophy can mean a lot of things.  For purposes here, let's say that philosophy simply means it is a "way" of thinking.  Again, it is the underpinning that is a foundation for common understanding and agreement.

These are important, baseline, fundamental concepts for you to grasp.  Our mission is long-term income, driven by a stable group of people with a common frame of reference who "buy into" a common set of beliefs and assumptions.

Your ability to articulate what is conveyed in this post will be a good predictor of the kind of group you will build and its long-term viability.

Squandering Existence

Let me start with a number of questions.

Who is accountable for your life?  Do you have anyone pushing you to excel?  Do you have your own standards that you strive to meet?

What benchmarks do you have that signify success?  Given that this blog is about home business and making money. are you satisfied with where you are with respect to your finances and earning potential?

Is any of this worth any thought?  Is it possible to be intentional and strategic about how you invest your time and resources, pursuant to stated objectives?

To squander is to waste foolishly.  If you are not "present" and intentional about what you want your life to be, you are squandering life (existence) and losing the potential of the moment.  Right now, you can make decisions that will propel your life in a more positive direction.  You simply need to do it.

These actions do not need to be massive.  They can be small and incremental, but need to be tied to some defined outcome and on a timeline - and in writing, because in essence, you are making a contract with yourself.

In other words, you need to put in writing what do you want to accomplish, and by when.  In a home business, this is defined by many things, but the bottom line is always the bottom line: how much money are you making, or more to the point, how profitable are you (income minus expenses)?  This is the end-point.

The starting point is getting after it.  It is a plan of action on a timeline.  Your mentor's job is to help you define this action plan.  It is not the same for everyone.  There is not a generic template that is one-size-fits-all.  Everything has to be customized to who you are and what you bring to the table.

If you are happy with your job and your wage or salary, this does not really apply to you.  Complacency and being "all set" is the way most people live their lives.  Many simply do not aspire to "be" and to "have" more.  This is perfectly fine for them.  No value judgments.  What we do is not for everyone.

In most of these cases, leaving an estate is not a consideration.  Having a Will is not on their radar.  Paying bills and staying afloat financially is how they play the game of life - without aspiration, without planning, and without any prospect of doing and having more.

The premise we work from is that people who join our Community do not fall into this category.  We attract people who are able and willing to put a plan in place and execute that plan.  This is done through a process of collaboration and mentorship and the process of learners becoming teachers.

It is a noble and worthy enterprise if done correctly, and done well.

Mentoring Fundamental #1: Asking, "How Can I Help?"

 I have written about this topic in other posts.  As such, I will be brief here.

Here is the lay of the land:

1. If you are in our Community, you are in a recruiting / organization-building business.
2. The real asset you build is people. These people are competent, and; committed to a common mission/vision regarding our business model.
3. You nurture competence through building relationships that are based on support and mentorship.  You build commitment through others' having success and thus sticking with our business.
4. Relationships involve communication, both formal (training) and informal (chatting).
5. The most fundamental act of communication is reaching out to someone and asking "How can I help?"

It is the responsibility of the enroller to structure the onboarding and continuing mentoring process.  This process has to be thoughtful and strategic.  In other words, there has to be a plan of when and what you will talk about as a business-building exercise.

Then, the rest is simply a function of asking, "How Can I Help?"

Costs of Doing Business Compared to Other Professions

I am officially "retired" but work about 25 hours a week at a Prometric Testing Center as a Test Center Administrator.   PTC is a worldwide organization that administers nearly 500 different tests across many professional disciplines.  

Some of these include the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) for physicians, NCARB is for Architects, ASE is Automotive Service Excellence.  Then we do the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)... all of the Praxis tests for teacher certifications.  We also do TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).  Massachusetts Insurance Licensing for Health, Life, P&C.  Certified Public Accountants need to take 4 tests...  FINRA licenses Stock Brokers (Securities Industry Essentials, Series 7... etc.)  And... many, many others.

Each of these tests costs money.  For example, to become a fully-fledged Architect, one is required to take 6 exams each costing $235 each, for a total of $1,410.

 A physician's total investment for the three tests they need to take is over $2K.  

Many foreign pharmacists wanting to practice in this country need to exhibit English proficiency and are required to take TOEFL.  This test has a few different variables (speaking, writing, listening) but costs in the ballpark of $250 every time.  Many need to take it multiple times and I know of one lovely Egyptian guy who has taken it about 15 times and can not pass the speaking section.  You do the math.

THESE ARE JUST THE EXAM FEES!  Then, there are the State Licensing Fees for many of the above which are an additional and (in many cases) an on-going annual or other periodic costs.

My point here is this:  to be in business or to function as a professional, costs money.  What we do is not unlike any of these other professions.  To start a business with us requires a  (typically small) investment that is much less money than many of the examples provided here.

The Role of Instant Pay Offers

This post pre-supposes that you are open to a portfolio approach to generating income with a range of diversified products and services.  This will not appeal to anyone with tunnel vision who thinks their product or opportunity is "their business".

In contrast, "your business" is the group of competent, committed people who agree with and participate in the same business strategy you ascribe to.  As such, the businesses themselves can be anything.  Your business is a cohesive group of people who share the same values and principles in a community of support and interdependence that is built on relationships.  That being said...

The natural market for what we do is the universe of people who are already familiar with Social Commerce.  Call it what you will... the global way to describe it is building organizations and sales teams through marketing and networking.  This includes the Multi-Level Marketing Industry, Affiliate Marketing, Network Marketing, Home Business Entrepreneurship... again, call it what you will.

A niche within this Sea of Opportunity is in the Affiliate Marketing space with Cash-Now offers.  These programs are described with the following:

 

Cash-Now (Instant Pay) offers are a hedge against business models that are inherently slow-growth due to their compensation structures.  I write about this in a recent post, "MLM Myopia and a Call for Wider Vision".  I will not repeat myself here.

The important thing to note is that Cash-Now Offers are complementary in an overall Home Business structure.  They are a "pitch" for a cash infusion, as opposed to a "proposal" that is described in #2 in the graphic above:  Subscription Income.

As stated in the subtitle of the graphic: "simple to understand and implement... 100% payout, instantly, person to person."

Very simply, I encourage you to spend some time looking at the graphic above and "connecting the dots" in your head.  If you do not currently have a "cash-now" offer in your portfolio, you will note it is #1 (or the first step) we recommend. 

We are glad to share these platforms with you.

MLM Myopia and a Call for Wider Vision

The Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) business model is difficult to make work.  The success rate attests to this.  Or, conversely, the failure rate in the 90%+ range attests to this.

Regardless, many people intrepidly espouse their love of 1) the product or service, and/or; 2) their aspiration for time and financial freedom.  The inherent “rub” is simply a repeat of the first sentence:  it is difficult to make work (and) many starve-out due to lack of success – which translates to lack of organizational growth... and in turn means no profitability or income.

There is a way to fix this problem.  First, let’s compare and contrast the MLM business model with Affiliate Marketing where there are immediate payout, "cash now" offers.

As most know from the name of the industry, MLMs have many levels.  Typically, there is an up-front incentive bump like fast-start-bonuses for recruiting new enrollees, and then in the following month, percentages kick in for whatever rare gemstone, precious metal, or quasi corporate “rank” an MLM company ascribes to.  For example, precious metals would start you out a "rank" of  Bronze, then Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  Gemstones are typically Emerald, Ruby, Diamond... etc.

With each of these “rank advances”, the MLM team member gets increasingly larger portions of the pie, based on organizational size or business volume.  (And) typically this comes with a personal monthly volume requirement (subscription) to remain “active” in the compensation plan.  Yes, this monthly commitment is an elaborate subscription... which is great (everyone loves subscriptions) if you one can make the overall business model work.

Juxtapose this to Affiliate Marketing where there are many platforms with “cash now” components and pay 100% (and) with additional leverage features enabling/incentivizing organizational growth.  The MLM “fast start” bump is somewhat analogous to this in that it is an initial cash infusion to your business.  However, in the subsequent months, there is a huge difference in getting (say) 7-10% on your first level as a Bronze, then adding 3-5% when you reach Silver... etc. (sweeping generalization is acknowledged given other incentives in MLMs). In contrast, however, with Affiliate Marketing, the 100%’s keep coming to infinity if one is astute in driving organizational growth.

Based on many, many Affiliate Platforms, this “cash now” feature can sustain and support any MLM slow-growth curve.  As such, with a diversified portfolio of offerings, one can combine their MLM love-of-products with Affiliate Marketing cash infusion programs.  In doing so, you create a sustainable business growth trajectory for your MLM.  Said differently, you create an insurance policy so that you don't "starve out" of an MLM business.

Now, if you have "made it" in your MLM, congratulations!  Take this as advice for those you recruit in the future.  It simply makes sense for the 90%+  In addition, many of the moderately priced, mid-tier Affiliate Offers serve as lead generation tools for (the often) more expensive MLM  initial investment starting points.

So, to close, let me state the premise here clearly:  in a portfolio approach to income, MLM Businesses can (and many times should) be complemented with Affiliate “cash now” offers to sustain the growth curve of the MLM (and) to act as a lead source for any offer in your portfolio.

Hope this helps and makes sense.

Task Management is a Function of Time Management

 Fancy title... for not-so-complicated an idea.  This deals with To-Do lists and your schedule.  

To-do lists are tasks, e.g., stuff you need to get done that is written down somewhere.  Your schedule is the same.  It is a written accounting of how your time is and will be spent/invested.  Combining these is a "work plan":  when you plan on doing what.

Making a commitment to this kind of structure is a BIG change for many (most?) people.  It requires engagement and focus.  First, you need to "spell out" the plan and then execute your plan.  It requires forethought.  It requires projecting into the future. It requires discipline.  Otherwise, you are operating by the seat-of-your-pants.

Now, let me circle back to the title of this post.  Task Management is a Function of Time Management.  In other words, everything starts with your calendar (no matter how you keep it:  online, a calendar book, or weekly planner).  Task and time management are inextricably tied, but ultimately you need to carve out the time to bang out what is on your To-Do list.  Everything has a time component.  Having articulated what you need to get done; you then need to commit the time to do it.  There is nothing more critical to your success.

What and when.  

If you use a digital calendar, you can contract with yourself.  Set "events" with reminders for your business time.  Google Calendar has everything you need to keep organized, complete with task lists.

Once you have your first weekly schedule hammered out, it should pretty closely repeat.  If (for now) you work a full-time job, these hours are roughly accounted for.  Meal prep and eating, shower and getting ready for work, Doctor's appointments are all standards.

Then, when you are managing a growing business (which is the goal here) there will be company meetings and masterminds, creating personal and marketing resources (and all of the learning that is necessary to make this happen), teaching and supporting those you work with, engaging with people on social media (if you choose to do so), yadda, yadda...  There is and will be a ton To-Do.  The more granular and precise you can be, the better.

Again, what and when.

Who's Hurting? ...as a Marketing Strategy

Right now, in December of 2020, in Rhode Island where I live, we just entered a two-week shutdown due to Covid 19.  Our hospitals are full and just down the street, they have opened a facility to house more Covid patients, the first 7 were today - in a barracks-style warehouse.  These people are sick, however, there are many more people who are hurting due to job loss, financial strain, and even hunger.

There is a world of hurt.  Restaurants are closing.  Servers and cooks have been laid off.  Just about every night on the news there is a new story with a restaurant owner talking about how they are struggling to keep their heads above water and make it through these dark times.

We can help.  We can propose an alternative that may have not been considered.  This can be done locally.  It can be done nationally.

A few weeks ago, Disney laid off thousands.  Can you go on LinkedIn and do a search for people who worked at Disney and are "looking for" or "seeking" new work?

Winter is coming.  In the northern climates, landscapers are all going to be laid off in a few weeks.

You get the idea.  Google "companies that are laying off employees due to coronavirus"  or simply see this list.  You will find many more resources like this.  Go LinkedIn and connect.

Musicians who play venues are not working.

The airline industry has been cut way back.

The bottom line here is this (depending on who you are listening to):  over the past 9 months, millions and millions of people have been laid off.  For many of these, their benefits have, or are about to run out.

All of this is made even more relevant if you have some direct experience with any of these.  See my post on Affinity Affiliate Marketing for a frame of reference on this.

Again, we can help.  See it as a noble mission, because it is.  We can help by educating people that building a group of interdependent people who share the same skills and competencies as a very viable and real way to create income.

One last time.  We can help.

Affinity Affiliate Marketing

When I was in college, my undergrad degree was in Human Communication.  Many people in this field go on to be Counselors.  A word I learned was 'homophily".  It means perceived similarity.  For instance, in general, tall, skinny people will be most likely to be attracted to tall skinny people.  People of similar socioeconomic backgrounds tend to be drawn to each other... people who play tennis...  have read the same books...  Any perceived similarities are predictors of attraction.

So, what does this have to do with Affinity Affiliate Marketing?  The question is, "To whom are you
homophilous?"  Aka, who do you have something in common with?  For example, I have had my Life and Health Insurance Licenses twice in my life. I can disclose this and "fully" empathize with people who are struggling to sell these insurance products.  In this industry, there are as many people "starving out" as coming into the industry with wide eyes and eager optimism. But for those struggling, we have something in common, which is a point of "affinity" and I can relate to their pain.

As a retiree, my first part-time job was at Lowe's.  I learned a lot about their organization and the values that drive their decision-making.  There are Lowe's Groups on FB where I can reach out to people and share my experience and (eventually) ask if "they are open to having a look"...  I can go into any Lowe's and talk to anyone about their jobs and their frustrations...

Another example.  I worked in Higher Education for a good portion of my career.  I can relate to the College Community "ethos".  I understand students.  I "get" how Adjunct Faculty get screwed.  I appreciate how Universities are more corporations than schools.  I can talk to people about all of these things.

More examples without explanations:  I grew up in the Lutheran Church.  I was an Ocean Lifeguard for 14 years.  I have sold windows and patio rooms in-home to homeowners.  I managed large Custodial Groups.  Then, there is all of my online experience in blogging, creating funnels, and autoresponder campaigns...

THE QUESTION IS:  What have you done in your life that is the basis of some level of homophily, affinity, or attraction?  "Who" do you have "what" in common with?  Once you have this defined for yourself, make a plan to get "what you have" in front of them... PRECEDED BY BUILDING AFFINITY for you around your common frame of reference.

The assumption here is that you have an Affiliate Offer to propose.  As such, this is Affinity Affiliate Marketing.

Hope it helps.

On Being a Digital Franchise Broker

To get to the definition of a Digital Franchise Broker (DFB) let's start with the word Broker.  Everyone understands what Stock Brokers do. They evaluate and recommend stocks and establish relationships with clients to manage a portfolio of "paper" assets based on the performance and value of corporations or commodities.  

Stock Brokers need to be licensed and certified by the Securities Industry to transact business.  You may have heard of all the tests:  the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), then on to Series 7, Series 66... there are many, many more credentials that people need to test (and pay) for - to become certified in different areas of expertise.  Ultimately, when credentialed and making money, a portion of their earnings are funneled up-the-organization (or) these profits are 'baked in" based on their commission structure.

Insurance and Real Estate Brokers are much the same.  They too have tests and certifications to pay for - and need to pass.  However, typically Brokers recruit agents who work under them. Agents contribute a portion of their earnings to the Broker for the privilege of their affiliation with an established agency.  (This is over-simplified simply to make a point:  whether Stock, Real Estate, or Insurance, each has a tiered structure, and the "organization" shares in the profits.)

What we do in marketing Digital Franchises is essentially the same.  We are a part of a larger "decentralized" organizational structure.  And, like these other kinds of Brokers, we curate, recommend, and support products.  Our products are digital in the Internet Marketing and eLearning spaces.  Ultimately, we teach people to develop a portfolio of online businesses, recommend them to potential clients, and establish a relationship that teaches how to replicate this process; thus, creating a network of shared skills and competencies that pertain to all Brokers.

Now, taking this one step deeper, there are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of Marketing Tools and eLearning platforms that have an Affiliate Program attached.  Each has all of the same dynamics as a franchise. These mini-franchises (each) inherently represent a money-earning opportunity with some form of financial leverage component as a part of "how the money works".  You buy into a business that has established systems, no different than McDonald's or a National Gym Chain...  as a DFB, you purchase the rights to operate on  "platforms" on which you market their product or service.

Our role is to pick winners and losers and recommend winners based on the justification of cost, ease of implementation, a program's ownership (and history in the industry).  Then there are variables like the mechanics of the compensation plan, the level of support the community provides (and) whether the business has a long-term vision that will keep it in business for years to come.

Obviously, there are many more important things that can be run through the wringer when digging around and doing due diligence.  However, these would all be near the top of the list.

At the end of the day, as a Digital Franchise Broker, we choose and recommend platforms to become affiliated with based on these criteria mentioned.  There are no $250 tests that you need to pass.  Then if you fail, take it again (and again) for $250 until you do pass... even to get started in the business.  There are, however, fees to get started as a Digital Franchise Broker.

Compared to conventional Brokerages as described here, the path to profitability is greatly accelerated and you are "the boss" from Day 1 with "soft" accountability from your mentor... (meaning) if you do not perform, you do not lose your gig.  Let me say, however, that effective organizations have factored-in accountability and business metrics that serve as guideposts for success (but I digress).

Education as a DFB is inherently On-The-Job training through direct mentorship and community support.  The "cost" is only your Affiliate License Fee in addition to whatever financial leverage components there are in different platforms' compensation plans.

Your job is to find people to whom this makes sense.  You can market individual programs with no bigger vision than a quick buck or you can lay out a proposed course of action, simply beginning with an introductory program/platform... then build a portfolio of businesses that will appeal to different kinds of buyers and/or business partners.  Out of this pool of people, some will self-select and see the big picture and "Go Pro".  Many will not, but they will have benefitted from being exposed to one of the fastest and (easier?) ways to earn extra income in existence today.

Make sense?  Let's go!

Marketing to MLM's

First, allow me to clarify the segment of the industry we are in.  We are Affiliate Marketers. We deal predominantly with digital tools and/or eLearning products.  We affili(8) with affili(et) offers and earn a large percentage of a one time sale for a product or service.  This is how Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy run their Affiliate programs although they are not as generous and lucrative as what we do.  In our case, this one time sale is integrated with a leverage component that enables organizational growth and earning money from a team that uses a powerline or subscription... or whatever structure the affiliate offer is paired with.

Multi-level Marketing on the other hand, in most cases, is a physical-product-based offer and is almost completely dependent on large organizations given the multi-tiered structure(s) that provide a much smaller percentage throughout all of the different "layers/levels" of their compensation structure.  

As an analogy, think of it this way.  A person who has an interest in physical fitness gets licensed to be a Fitness Trainer.  They then open their own cross fit gym, and charge $160 a month to belong to his or her gym.  This is a rough analogy to Affiliate Marketing with a subscription offer involved.  It is one person, marketing one thing and reaping the majority (or a significant portion) of the profit from that one thing.  They sell a  member subscription to cross-fit training.

On the other hand, there are the Planet and LA Fitness Centers.  Edge.  Gold's...  These franchises all have layers of bureaucracy that get fed a percentage of profits.  Corporate sites have General Managers, Assistant Managers at the Club level, that report to District and Regional Directors.  These report to Corporate VP's/  This is more analogous to an MLM.  

The point:  MLM and Affiliate business models are completely different.  They both (in many cases) involve building Networks if a leverage component is involved.  Therefore, inherently, both can be termed "Network Marketing".  This can be debated, but nonetheless makes the point that if leveraged income is involved, building a Network of some kind and scale is a part of the model.

With that out of the way... here is just one marketing method that is a step by step plan to target people who are making anywhere from 2-10% on their organization. Your job is to let them know what you know.  They "should"be receptive to other ways to monetize people.  They stand to earn significantly more from a much smaller group of people:  Here is how to do it:

1. Google, "Top 100 MLM Companies List"
2. From this list, choose a company, or a few companies to target.
3. Go to these companies' websites and learn about what they offer and especially focus on their compensation models so you can engage in an informed conversation.  Learn if the company prohibits marketing other offers.  Some still do and some people obey this ridiculousness.
4. Go to Linkedin and plug in the company (plus) the word "seeking" or "looking".  I recommend familiarlizing yourself with Max Steingart's YouTube channel for coaching on this method.  You will find a ton of useful, practical information at no cost, other than your time to learn it.
5. From these results, view people's profiles on different Social Media if you are so inclined.  See how engaged they are.  Lurk on them to see if they are active on FB, Instagram, Twitter... If you have the opportunity, comment on something they have posted and then follow-up and tell them you have done so.  Ultimately, the goal here is to be informed about whether, in your opinion, the person is worth contacting.  Many are not, but you can always "take a shot" and find a diamond-in-the-rough.
6. When you have done this bit of homework, reach out to people and say... (this can be said 1000 different ways with different emphasis on any number of variables)...
7. "I am interested in learning more about the level of success you are having with your company."  (or) "I would love to hear about your company and what you are doing to grow your business."  The idea here is to get them talking... specifically, talking about themselves. You will come up with better approaches based on your background and personality.
8. Another approach is to straightforwardly ask, "What are you doing to monetize people who say "no" to your primary offer?  (or) "If people say "no" to your primary offer, you are leaving money on the table if you do not follow-up with another offer.  I have some options.  Let's talk".
9. Engage in a conversation that leads to finding out their pain points.  DO NOT immediately "pitch" your offer, but build a relationship and a fundamental level of trust by expressing genuine interest in what they are doing and what is going on in their life (and) not necessarily their business.
10. Reciprocate and disclose the same levels of information that they tell you.  This builds rapport and trust.  However, be vague and say things like, "I work within the Networking and Social Commerce industry to build relationships and partner with people where it makes sense for both of us."
11. After this has taken place, ask, "Have you thought about re-monetizing the people in your current organization?"  Then, "teaching them to do the same to create an additional source of income?"
    
12. Then, at some point, you provide the links to your funnel.  Notice:  this is Step 12.
13. Hopefully, your funnel has an autoresponder drip series attached, and of course, there is no substitute for following up by phone, chat, or videoconference.
14. Realize, very few people will say: "What a great idea!  Where do I sign?"  Relationships take time (and) over time you build trust.

There are thousands if not millions of MLMer's who are starving for an Affiliate Offer.  Here is the truth put very simply:  no one has ever explained the difference between the MLM and Affiliate business models to them.  This fact alone is a huge opportunity.  Your job, with this method, is to excavate the people who are:

1. Struggling to get to "the next level" and could use what you offer to get there,
2. Doing OK, but are open to an accelerant, or;
3. Open to lead generating offer, especially if your offer is relatively "low ticket", or;
4. Open to "jumping ship" to a better business model.

I am always interested in hearing your comments and insights.  Please feel free to post replies.

Pitches and Proposals

This post is about business strategy and the role of "pitching" things versus "making a proposal" about a much larger proposition.  Both play a role.  However, it is important for you to understand the difference between pitching-an-opportunity (whether it be a product, service, or tool) and making a proposal-for-life- transformation and having the sophistication to understand how each fits into your overall business strategy.

So as an analogy, let's talk baseball.  Everyone knows what a pitch is. A pitcher throws a ball to a catcher.  It is a single act, repeated over and over during the game.  It is a single, solitary, isolated "thing" that is just one part of the overall strategy of the game.

A proposal, on the other hand, is more like the game plan.  On offense, what will the batting order be?  Who is best to lead off, and who is best to bat clean-up?  Do you plan to steal bases, or hit and run?  Are there situations where you will bunt?  In the field, where do you position players based on the hitters' tendencies?  You get the idea.  The point here is that everything starts with a pitch, but everything around it is the proposal of how to best win the game.

It is the same in business.  A "pitch" is an offer.  It is something someone can buy or "buy into" conceptually.  It is a 90 mile an hour fastball and the batter will hit it or, they won't.  Some hit foul balls.  The same pitches are thrown at different batters.  In business, we do the same.  The question is, what are you pitching to attract interest or to generate cash flow?  Business is about making money.  You have to pitch.  It is an offer in front of eyeballs.

Then a ball is struck in-play and a million things happen all at the same time.  Nine people react and each has a different role.  This is analogous to the "proposal"... and by extension, this repeats itself for 9 innings.

When we talk about a Home Business Strategy, it inherently has to include both "pitching stuff" and the larger context of how these pitches fit into your overall proposal.  We pitch to gain interest, to gain customers and business partners.  There does not necessarily need to be a relationship at this point.  It is simply transactional.  I have this "thing or idea" and you buy it.

(From baseball to sailing...)  At this juncture, you have someone's attention.  The key is to transition a percentage of these people to the "vision" of a larger proposal.  What do you offer that can serve as an anchor that someone can moor to that is reasonable and safe?  What do you propose as a Business Strategy that is a safe harbor surrounded by land and calm water?  How well-articulated is this strategy?  Is it a part of the brand of who you are and how you represent yourself to the market?

Or conversely, maybe you are completely comfortable with simply being a vendor, no different than selling a candy bar or a pair of blue jeans?  If so, simply acknowledge that this is who you are and let your customers know what they can expect from you.  In my opinion, if this is you, you will not be well-suited as a business partner especially if a part of your business model is to build an organization of interdependent people in a community setting.

So, to bring this full circle, my point in writing this post was to highlight the difference between pitching and proposals, to refine your level of (understanding-and-sophistication) regarding the role of each, and how they are related in conducting your business.

Meet Jeff the Genius, Master of Tenacity

This is a tale of perseverance and courage in the face of mountains of obstacles. It tells the story of relentless commitment to a vision, being squashed like a bug and somehow reassembling all of your parts and only to come back bigger, better, and stronger.

Among many things, Jeff Long, the CEO of Textbot.ai is an artist - a classically trained singer.  He has all the markings of creative people.  Emotional.  Impetuous.  Brilliant.  His lived experience in breathing life into the Textbot platform has been a tale of triumph and tragedy, then triumph and tragedy...  In this evolution, he shared both the intimate details of the devil on his shoulder and the better angels that came to his rescue.  I did not always agree with or appreciate his level of disclosure, but now in retrospect, I see it as a necessary means of catharsis to deal with the stresses and pressures that he carried through the ordeal of surviving through Abundance Network and giving birth to TextBot.

Now, at the time of this writing, my exposure to Jeff has been about 12 months (give or take).  For the longest time, I had a "wait-and-see" posture given the flops, drops, and stumbles that in many cases were beyond Jeff's control.  However, each time he re-invented.  He adapted.  He championed his own cause and vision with excruciating detail of his struggle and with total candor and transparency.  The platform has undergone transition after transition and with each successive iteration, it has come back improved and more sophisticated.

At one point this caused me to ask, "What kind of leader does this?"  Frankly, I thought it was kind of crazy to share deeply intimate and personal thoughts that were informing his professional decisions.  In retrospect, I was in no position to judge.  Lesser men would have wilted and dissolved into dust.  Jeff steadfastly focused on his vision.  He did and said what he thought he had to do at the moment to maintain his sanity and simply moved forward, day by day.

The result, through these many iterations, is TextBot, his "child" of sorts that has been born with all the markings of pregnancy:  morning sickness, back pain, swelling... that interpret as a hostile user base, vendor partners that said "no thanks" blowing holes in the ship, perfecting and finalizing the compensation...  It has been quite the ride.

Ultimately, through it all, there is this "platform" that is a thing of beauty.  It is a refined and sophisticated money machine that is state-the-art technically that at the same time, makes it super user-friendly.   It combines phones and funnels with people interacting with a Texting Robot that navigates to videos that explain the product and the business.  As well, there is a constant effort to refine and add value to the entire business model.

The point I want to make in writing this is that this was not always so.  It exists due to the sheer will of a man, his soul, and his vision.  As the title of this post states, Genius, Master of Tenacity.  Jeff and his team deserve truckloads of credit for creating a resource that is easily understood, simple to implement, and can complement any primary source of income due to it (foremost) being a marketing tool that is made all the more compelling by being a robust money-making platform.

If you are not using TextBot as a marketer or as an aspiring money earner, you should at a minimum understand it.  It will open your eyes to a new world of possibility and creativity that simply did not exist a year ago.  I encourage you to learn about it if you are not already using it.  Once you understand its potential, it is hard to ignore it as part of your marketing arsenal.

Thanks, Jeff.  The swords that were thrust your way and the bullets that whizzed by are now just faint reminders. These were not able to kill the Noble Intent of the execution of your vision.

Congratulations.

 

 

Business Builder or Money Hustler?

 Let me start by asking a question.  Is there is a place in the Home Business Industry for people who simply want to make a buck?  These people may have no interest in the big picture stuff with a long-term orientation.  Additionally, they may have tried "figuring out" things in the past and simply have given up on their ability or aptitude to make things work.  So instead, they can (and are more than willing to) pitch "this or that" with a very short-term strategy of simply hustling to make money.  Full stop.  No relationship.  Everything is a sales transaction. Once you have bought, you are on your own.  No different than going to the grocery store and buying a potato.

We all know these people exist, consciously or by default.  Again, asking, if there is a financial incentive for the (purchaser) and you are an Affiliate selling a tool or re-marketing other peoples' products, where does the responsibility lie for teaching the purchaser how to make sales?  Is it with the product creator?  Or, is it with the seller?  It has to be with the seller, right?

So, this begs another (related) question.  What happens to the (purchaser) of an Affiliate-Marketed product if the seller/referrer is simply a money hustler?  Are they doing a "service to the masses" by exposing the opportunity to more people?  Or, are they doing a disservice by selling something with no expectation that any level of training and support as a part of the deal?  In both scenarios, what are the implications?

If a money hustler is upfront and discloses that they are merely a vendor for something and there are no strings attached post-sale, then this is simply one way of doing business.  It is imprudent in my view, but again, this is how many choose to go about things. It becomes a "one-off", a side deal that inherently devalues the transaction. After all, you can buy the aforementioned potato anywhere.

On the other hand, does the Home Business Industry have generally agreed to norms and a Code of Ethics about how referrals and sponsorship should take place?  This is especially true if there is an inherent dynamic of a financial incentive.  Once a seller (refers) something, and there is a financial incentive for the purchaser, is there a "duty" from the seller to teach, share strategies, and support the purchaser?  I think there is such a duty.

So this comes full circle back to the title of this post:  Business Builder or Money Hustler?  Can you build a long-term stable business and pepper it with "one-offs"?  I suppose it is possible, but again I ask, is it prudent?  As such, it is my contention that anyone you enroll in anything with a financial incentive as part of the "pitch" is owed a certain duty of care based on their level of need and experience.  This can be through systems and sharing resources, or it can be done through personal mentorship which typically would include both.

Otherwise, if you are merely schlepping a product to make a buck, you may benefit yourself but you are doing a disservice to those enrolled.  There are others in the industry who would provide a higher level of service and care, especially for those needing guidance and direction and left to flail.

The Semantic Soup of Sponsorship

I had a short exchange with an Opinion Leader on Social Media recently.  We are involved with the same platform that is both a tool and an income opportunity.  His thought was, "Your referrer owes you nothing but their referral code, anything more is a bonus".  I took him to task and here's why. 

In my mind, this is a distinction without a difference if you split the hairs of the referrer, sponsor, enroller, upline...  Semantically, they all connote the same thing.  The person I was "arguing" with was attempting to make the case that given that we market a "tool", it is no different than Aweber (an autoresponder "tool") and the Affiliate Program for Aweber does not require selling your soul to the person you enroll for (in this case, for this program) $100.  Or, as he said it, "they don't own you for $100".

I disagree to the extent that everyone deserves a shot at profitability.  In the "opportunity" portion of this tool, there is a $100 investment to get started.  The first sale goes to you (the person enrolled, which is break-even), the second sale goes to your sponsor, and all subsequent sales go to you.  In other words, you need to make three sales to be in profit... which happens with your third sale.

Objectively, in our industry, in more cases than not, this does not happen.  People are left to flail with knowing there are (metaphorical) buttons-to-push, but they have no idea where to find the buttons, then what to push, and in what order - to spit out their first $100.  All the while, there is this "referrer" who seemingly has all the answers to the "button" issues you face given their experience in the industry, or at least having experience with the product you just purchased from them.

To say you are "'owed nothing" is High Treason to the industry.  He attempted to draw a difference between referring and sponsoring.  Again, in an income opportunity, this is semantic soup if there is a profit incentive.  You are "owed" guidance and mentorship.  If the "sponsor" does not reach out and provide it, you stand a better-than-average chance of failing if you are brand new to the industry and have no experience.

Then ultimately, all of this contributes to the blind leading the blind and business opportunities devolving into "one of those things" that didn't work for the majority, so then it atrophies and eventually dies a slow and painful death... like, (as we know) so many of these businesses do.

In a business of "helping people", owing nothing to people you enroll simply does not make sense.  You are "owed" at minimum, a map to navigate "the buttons".  You are "owed" at minimum a phone call, a text series, an autoresponder training series that guides, encourages, and supports... and this can (and does) go much deeper in our Community.

Obviously, I could not disagree more with this "leader" and find it shameful that he has assumed the mantle he has - as a spokesperson for this tool and opportunity.  It sends the wrong message and is antithetical to decent human beings offering training and support to help and enable (in some cases) desperate people who are looking for "a way" to transition from where they are to where they want to be.

All of this being said, see yesterday's post, "The Art of Sponsoring Successful People".

The Art of Prospecting Successful People

No need to re-invent the wheel on this one.  Total attribution goes to Ray Higdon.  

I simply think this is so important to understand (and he does such a good job of explaining it) that I want to include it here;

There is a video on this page as well as the article:  https://rayhigdon.com/the-art-of-prospecting-successful-people/

Good stuff.  Take notes with the objective of integrating into how you view and manage your business.

Epitaph

There is a pretty well-known leadership training exercise named, "Epitaph".  It focuses on what you would want to be inscribed on your tombstone.  It uncovers the legacy you leave to the world that constitutes the fruits of your labor and leadership?

This is a forward-looking, yet retrospective exercise about the meaning of your life.  Again, what will you have left to the world?  How will you be thought of when you are gone?  How many people will come to your funeral?  Will you be missed, and why?

Now, rewind the reel of this future movie to the present.  What are you doing to fashion and groom your Epitaph?  What choices are you making now?  Right now, this very minute you are choosing to read this, however when you get to the end of this post, then what?

Being conscious and fully engaged "in the moment" is the subject of many Existential Philosophers.  Have you thought about the meaning you bring to others' lives?  What can you do to have an impact?  Or, are you happy with the way things are - and the status quo is "all good"?

Do you have the initiative and discipline to do more to consciously take control to do and be more?  This is fundamentally a character issue and it is your responsibility to act, or not.

Your future is in the balance.  

If this seems harsh, it is meant as a stark wake-up call.  Get up and get after it.  Our Community is here to help with the process, the priorities, and the specifics to make it happen.  It is never too late to earn or redeem the mantle of a "life that mattered".

Influencers, Influence and Trust

 A big part of what determines our success is our ability to influence others.  The way we position ourselves in the vast ocean of "opportunities" to make money is central to how we are perceived. This positioning has a direct bearing on our ability to influence and be trusted.

So, what is this positioning?  It is many things, however, it starts with education that is honest and reliable in terms of explaining the unvarnished truth about "what it takes" to be successful in managing a home business.  Then, mentorship and a long-term frame of reference have to be near the top of the list.  Lifestyle adaptation and time management.  And, so much more that is talked about in this Community.

Most think of "influencers" as people with huge audiences (email lists or social platform followers) who in turn (given their mass exposure) have the ability to have an influence on this audience.  You have the opportunity (and challenge) to do the same - and at the same time continually reinforce the "positioning" mentioned in the previous paragraph.  It is your brand: truthful, reliable, real, viable...

To get everything off of the ground, this begs the question of your personal "circle of influence" and how you grow and monetize it. This personal circle is people with whom you have natural similarities and rapport, NOT your family and friends.  With this in mind, do you really need to become a "brand" that stands for something?  Or, is it sufficient just to be affiliated with products, services, platforms, and opportunities where this credibility and influence is "baked in the cake" based off of the inertia and success of whatever you promote?

Well, either scenario is plausible.  However, the more control you have over your own narrative (your own brand), inherently, the more value you are in a position to offer.  This offered-value is the key metric of the amount of money you stand to make.

How?  If you are a credible and reliable source of information - you build trust with your audience.  Your influence is predicated on the recommendations you provide in terms of resources to use, the people you recommend listening to, and ultimately the income platforms you recommend being associated with.

The key point here is that whether you realize it or not, you are an influencer from Day 1.  Your role is to move people along in an information acquisition process and during this process supply counsel and support as followers and subscribers are gathering what they need to know to make a purchase (or involvement) decision.  The whole time you are building and maintaining a posture of being worthy of someone trusting you with their money, their time, and ultimately in many cases, their future.

You must be an influencer who builds (and is worthy of) trust and this trust is earned through every micro-move you make, every day, every hour... to the point of being worthy of emulation as a "standard" and effective role model.

There are no shortcuts.  It all has to be earned.  Purposefully.  Strategically.  Daily,