Bling! Shiny and Attractive – But Where Does it Take You?
You give away your power. With all the hype and “bling” that can be found online, it's so easy to get caught up in it, and see it as something that's going to make your business successful, and make you tons of money.
But then it doesn't do that. It seems that in the end all you've done is send all YOUR traffic to someone else through their affiliate program, and your business is still where it was, or worse, because you've neglected it in favor of promoting someone else. Or maybe what they've taught you doesn't work for your business, because you're not in the same position as they are with their business. They have a bigger list, more reach, more money to invest, or they're more well-known. You get the picture.
Too often people put others on a pedestal, thinking they can do no wrong, and that what they teach is the best thing since sliced bread. So often though, it ends up just being something that's bright, shiny and attractive… with no substance behind it, or benefit for the customer.
Now, we're not saying that affiliate programs are terrible, or that you shouldn't purchase online training from other people… it's just that you need to ensure that what you are buying into will work for you. Make sure it won't lead you down a path that takes you farther away from your own success. And understand… these people are not better than you, they have just reached a different level in their business and have some things that they can teach you.
So… when an attractive offer comes by, check it out before you buy. Understand exactly what they are going to teach you and determine if it's something that will benefit you. Are they doing what you want to do? Or have they gone a totally different path?
Signing up for other people's affiliate programs and promoting them is great, and can make you some money in the process. Just understand that you may be sending the traffic that you spent time and money in attracting to someone else. Only you can determine if that is something you and your business can handle. Just think about it before you jump in.
So yes, things can appear brilliant and amazingly beneficial to you at first glance (the “bling” factor), just make sure you use your magnifying glass to determine if there is substance behind that shiny facade.
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2011-02-01 @ 5:17 am
Well say guys. Where were you a year and half ago. I’ve been guilty of more than once leaping before looking. Fortunately today I’m too old and feeble to leap very often. I certainly take more time reading these days. Thanks for a well stated post.
2011-02-02 @ 6:25 pm
Nelson,
We’ve all been there at one time or another 🙂
Thanks!
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-02-01 @ 8:55 pm
Hey Lorna and Pat,
It was a pleasure reading your post. I could not agree more. As a matter of fact I have gone one step further. If I don’t have time on my hands, I do not even look at the opportunities. I will finish what I am doing first. I know that there will always be opportunities that may have the potential for more money, but only if you follow them through all the way until the end. And if I jump ship for the next opportunity now, there is a good likelihood that I will do it again for the next opportunity and the next and so forth.
I have found that in order to be successful you have to believe in what you are doing and you do need to finish before starting something new. That is why I don’t even look at other opportunities until I am ready for it, as opposed to when the next opportunity presents itself to me.
2011-02-02 @ 6:27 pm
Karin,
Great plan. Following through is one definite key to success.
Thanks!
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-02-01 @ 11:05 pm
Hey there my coolest friends;
I just wanted to stop by and check out what you’ve been up to and man did I stumble on a gem of valuable content. You’ve hit the nail on the head for sure; and I couldn’t agree with you more. As a matter of fact I just wrote an article on my blog saying something very similar to what you’ve written here.
I believe the biggest secret tool those that are successful have in their bag is the products or information “they” create. It’s with the creation of information that they gain the leverage and authority of being looked at as an expert or authority.
So my thought is you should have your own product or products first; before you spend all that time and energy driving traffic to someone else’s product or service. Creating info products is not hard and can often be done in as little as 24 hours.
Thanks so much Pat & Lorna for delivering such great content; I look forward to your upcoming posts
2011-02-02 @ 6:29 pm
Joe,
Oh yes, we do agree. We too believe the key is to have your own products. You want to attract people to you, and have the traffic you’ve worked so hard to get, buying into what you’ve got rather than what others have created.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-02-01 @ 11:06 pm
hey guys!
We must be on the same wavelength this week! I express many of these similar thoughts in an article over on our blog. I think it’s a conversation that has got to get out in the open! People are overwhelmed and many are not willing to admit their lack of online success because the gurus have them thinking they would be ashamed to admit it. Your points are very correct, that the distraction is leading people down a path AWAY from success instead of toward it in some cases.
Thanks Pat & Lorna
Laura Morris
(refer to my article below as it pertains to this subject)
2011-02-02 @ 6:33 pm
Laura,
We totally agree… and it’s too bad that sometimes the path people show us as the way to success looks so promising, yet turns out to be a path in the wrong direction in disguise.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-02-01 @ 11:06 pm
Hey my new cool couple 🙂
I agree. We do need to check before we recommend. Some people would recommend things just because a company has an affiliate program. I have several programs and company that I appreciate very much, so I recommend them in different occasion.
When it comes to the question of: “Do I want the prospect to buy from me or from my affiliate” a question that at times I will ask myself (if they are visiting on my blog for example) it all depends. Sometimes I want them to go and benefit from whoever I am recommending because I don’t have their product or service. And if I want to keep my prospects/clients close, I would not mention both (affiliate and my service or product) in the same breath. So it all comes down to what is important to you/us the business owners and then where we choose to guide our people to.
So thanks for bringing it up 😉
Sigal Zoldan
http://blog.sigalzoldan.com
2011-02-02 @ 6:34 pm
Sigal,
Very well said… there are times when affiliate programs are helpful and will be seen as such by our customers.
Thanks!
~ Pat and Lorna
2011-02-03 @ 8:15 pm
P&L,
Thanks for these great thoughts of yours. I’ve been having similar ones lately myself. I’m not one of the “big boys” and not in their types of businesses. Yet, I know there is much to learn from their approaches, and that’s my learning curve, to figure out how to integrate it. I’ve learned so much, I’m thinking of next positioning myself to share my knowledge of blogging and social networking with fellow therapists who could use the support.
Thanks again,
Adam
2011-02-04 @ 6:12 pm
When it’s all said and done, don’t we learn best from our mistakes. We all make them. I’ve spent some “wasted” money with other people, but the lessons learned about what works for me and what doesn’t always felt worth the money to me. You can only evaluate something so much from the outside. Once you take the plunge and get into, then and only then can you see clearly whether it was worth the money. If it wasn’t, take the money or just cut your losses and learn from the experience.
2011-02-13 @ 7:47 am
Being attracted or should I say distracted by shiny things is one of the biggest problems in any business. You need to focus on your core. It something does not directly relate to your core, as fare as I am concerned it should probably be avoided. Bling as a quick fix almost never works.
2011-06-14 @ 10:17 pm
Hi Pat and Lorna,
This article is full of practical, accurate advise. It is so easy to fall for the “bling.” Every day we are bombarded with offers for courses, books, tapes, kits, and a multitude of network marketing resources. It is wise and sound advise, “when an attractive offer comes by, check it out before you buy.” It really is that simple but ignored because of impulse buying.
I used to do that many years ago. Now it is easier to bypass, or if it is something that may work for me, I will seriously consider it after doing some research. For example there was a course I was really impressed with and there was a timeline to “hurry and sign up offer,” yada, yada, yada. (Every course is offered again in the future, that is how the money is made!)
Anyway, I checked it out and found out I had many other alternative choices (they make it sound like their offer is the only one and you have to get in now!). I am grateful I skipped it because the “right” one came along after spending some time researching my alternatives. If I had jumped on too soon, I would have missed out on a much better opportunity.
Also, affiliate programs vary. Some are great and they can be a means to generate income. However, it is absolutely critical that thorough research is done before choosing an affiliate program. I’ve experienced my share of misjudgement!
Thank you for this excellent article. And remember, you are the “Coolest Couple!”
Raena Lynn
2011-06-20 @ 9:20 pm
Raena,
Oh, it is so true. We’re pretty sure we have all purchased something that ended up not living up to the hype or had made its way to the bookshelf… never to be looked at again. It’s a good thing most of us get over that “must buy now” concept and do our due diligence. So glad you’re making the most of your opportunities!
Thanks!
~ Pat and Lorna