One of the frustrating myths about internet marketing is that it is easy, takes no work, and can turn the web into your “personal ATM machine dispensing cash on demand”.
There is another myth though that comes up every so often that is related, but subtly different, and so attractive that people really really want to believe it.
We know the rewards are there but really you have to put in some effort. Preferably you would also stick to one proven system rather than dodge between each new, shiny, flavor of the month.
Some would have you believe though that all your effort needs to go into creating your offering. Create your product, course, service, or tool and the rest almost happens magically.
- Create your product
- Product Launch
- ???
- Profit!
It’s the product launch equivalent of “build it and they will come”.
“Create a good enough product and people will promote for you as an affiliate!” they say.
The truth is without a vital element, nobody will promote for you and you will get zero affiliates.
What is this vital element?
Put yourself in the affiliates shoes. Or even your friends, contacts, peers. You have choices for what to blog about or email today. Unless someone is calling in a favor you are going to go with the sure thing, right? The proven, credible, converting and valuable offer.
That missing element is, of course, Authority.
Establish your credibility so you are not some random person off the internet with something to sell, but the go-to person in your niche!
- Grow your own audience so you can do an internal launch and not need launch partners.
- Get killer testimonials and case studies so your offering is proven.
- With the results of that internal launch you can go to promotion partners and affiliates with proof, hard numbers.
- Affiliates will see the buzz being generated and come to you and want in!
If all you have is a product, even a really good product, then you are going to be shopping it around looking desperate. People do not want to risk their own trust, respect and credibility on your unproven, unknown offer, even if the commission is really good. They want to promote HOT products.
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When you have a hot product that has shown it is a proven seller then you can get no end of people wanting to be an affiliate. Try to do that when no-one has heard of you or your offer and you will struggle and have the door slammed in your face and the phone hung up on you.
It’s a strange fact that people who do not need any help are the people who get the most offers. Consider it like bank loans and credit, when you don’t need them your mail box fills with offers, when you really need a loan nobody will speak to you! The more desperate you are, the less likely you are to get one.
One of my friends and mentors in the business, Sean D’Souza does very well without anyone promoting for him at all. His courses are constantly sold out, and are not cheap either. With no affiliates he can launch and sell out a product or course with ease. He is self-reliant, with no advertising, no JVs, no forum marketing, he doesn’t rely even on Google. He keeps all the profits he makes.
The last time I launched the Authority Blogger course it sold out after just four emails from me with no affiliates involved. Other than a couple of re-tweets (thanks!) all the traffic has come from my blog posts and emails.
Start building your platform today. Promote yourself, establish your profile, and build offerings people really want. If you do that, not only do you answer to only yourself, but you can pick and choose who you want to promote for you.