5 Cardinal Rules to Growing Your Business on Sta.rtup.biz
What the heck is Web 2.0 and Social Networks anyways?
Well Web 2.0 actually is a phrase that was coined in 2004 referring to a second generation of Internet-based services that were being birthed at the time--such as the social networking site Myspace and Facebook --that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users.
For sure many people have different definitions of exactly what Web 2.0 means to them. But for the sake of this discussion I'm defining Web 2.0 as -- the paradigm shift that takes place when an individual quits looking out for their own good and instead starts looking out for the good of the network (including their prospects) they belong too.
Let me give an example of what I mean:
Web 1.0 Example -- A marketer needing sales sends totally unsolicited e-mails to a group of prospects he has no prior relationship with. In the process he makes a few sales but ends up totally alienating himself with 99.5% of the list. As a result that marketer trades any chance of future growth away in exchange for a few quick sales.
Web 2.0 Example -- That same marketer needing sales sends an email to the members of his network stating he is available for brainstorming that evening in the social network he shares with them. In doing so 25 members of his network join him in the sharing of ideas on how they can assist the other members of the network with their services. In doing so the marketer learns 7 of the 25 members of the network have an immediate need for his service. As a result that marketer earns a few sales but builds a platform in which he can continue growing his business far into the future. Plus he sets up a new joint venture with another member of the network making him untold amounts of money in the future.
I can share a million different examples but what everything boils down to is this -- in order to achieve maximum success in life you will need a very large network of individuals watching your back. In order to build this network you will have to interact with others in a way that shows them the value of being involved in your network. Which means you will at first have to give out more than you take in.
But don't worry! Making money in a Web 2.0 environment is extremely easy!
Web 2.0 Rule #1 -- Build your network in the precise presence of your prospects
Sounds like simple advice but don't you dare discount it. You simply can't afford to if you're looking to make good money on the Internet. Too many people are building their businesses away from where their prospects are. Which always leads to failure.
The old Web 1.0 way to reach prospects included expensive websites, even more expensive search engine optimization or pay per clicks. I know this because I have sold those same services to clients for the last dozen years. So I know Web 1.0 unlike anybody else.
But those days are gone forever. Now I only recommend one tool. And that's a free Sta.rtup.biz account.
Sound awesome? It most certainly is.
The good news is Sta.rtup.biz is absolutely free to set up an account with them. And it's free to maintain as well. But best of all is that their network is full of like minded people looking for people just like you to network with.
After only a few short months in existence the network is already generating over a million page views a month. Do you know how many people it takes to generate that kind of traffic?
Building your network on Sta.rtup.biz just makes sense!
Web 2.0 Rule #2 -- Build an opt-in list to be able to effortlessly communicate with your prospects.
Because an opt-in mailing list is always the nucleus of any successful marketing venture it is absolutely essential that you start building your own opt-in list as soon as you possibly can if you have any intention of becoming a full-time marketer.
Unless of course you aren't interested in effortlessly networking with future buyers of your product or service.
You might also not be interested in reaching your own magic e-number.
What you don't know what your magic e-number is?
Your magic e-number is determined by how many prospects you have to get opted-in to your list before you start grossing $1 Million in sales a year.
For some it was 10,000 prospects. Others it was 50,000.
Of course it depends on how much you make per commission. And how much energy you have in doing what it would take to gross a million a year. But the point is there is an actual number that once you hit it you will be financially set the rest of your life.
Sound incredible?
It isn't. Ask anyone worth their salt in Internet Marketing if they have an opt-in email list. Then ask them how instrumental that opt-in list was to their success.
So until you have an opt-in list of your own you are taking yourself out of the game without ever having had the chance to get in to the game.
Don't slight yourself. Life is too darn short as it is.
Web 2.0 Rule #3-- Implement An Automated And Relentless Follow Up System
Let's start by roughly defining what an AUTOMATED FOLLOW UP SYSTEM is and how it benefits you as a marketer.
Basically it's an online software program that will enable you to automate your follow up process with the prospects that visit your site. It is certainly a vital component of any automated marketing system. If not the most vital.
You can get pretty innovative on the follow-up messages and place them in a series of email messages that build one on top of another. That way you build your credibility up pretty rapidly with all the prospects who opt-in to your list.
So when a prospect opts-in to your mailing list the auto responder will start following up and conversing with your prospect so to speak on your behalf.
Which in turn will help you build rapport with your prospects. Which is always a very good thing for a marketer to do.
Experts have shown that it often takes 7 or more ad exposures before prospective customers actually make a purchase!
If you are to stand any chance at succeeding you are going to need to stay in constant e-mail contact with every single one of your prospects!
With an auto responder, your opt-in prospects will automatically receive your message the essential seven or more times over a period of days, weeks, and months when they request information from you.
I can't stress enough just how important it is to have an auto responder for your business. It may be possible to succeed without one, but why try?
I’d consider such a task on par with trying to learn to play the piano with your thumbs cut off!
Web 2.0 Rule #4—Confine Your Marketing Efforts To Your Opt-in List
One of the biggest mistakes I see amateur marketers make in social network environments is the fact they try to jam their web link down the throats of anybody and everybody they come into contact with.
They do this because they are usually desperate for sales and know no other way in which to market their business.
But if you confine your marketing efforts to those people who have opted in to your list you will go along ways towards building a strong foundation for your network.
Web 2.0 Rule #5—Maintain Daily Activity On Your Social Network
Remember the early bird always gets the worm. I see a lot of people attempting to grow networks without putting any elbow grease in to make it happen. So quit being lazy and log in to Sta.rtup.biz daily and meet and greet the new people who are signing up daily.
Success will be yours if you do!
Well Web 2.0 actually is a phrase that was coined in 2004 referring to a second generation of Internet-based services that were being birthed at the time--such as the social networking site Myspace and Facebook --that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users.
For sure many people have different definitions of exactly what Web 2.0 means to them. But for the sake of this discussion I'm defining Web 2.0 as -- the paradigm shift that takes place when an individual quits looking out for their own good and instead starts looking out for the good of the network (including their prospects) they belong too.
Let me give an example of what I mean:
Web 1.0 Example -- A marketer needing sales sends totally unsolicited e-mails to a group of prospects he has no prior relationship with. In the process he makes a few sales but ends up totally alienating himself with 99.5% of the list. As a result that marketer trades any chance of future growth away in exchange for a few quick sales.
Web 2.0 Example -- That same marketer needing sales sends an email to the members of his network stating he is available for brainstorming that evening in the social network he shares with them. In doing so 25 members of his network join him in the sharing of ideas on how they can assist the other members of the network with their services. In doing so the marketer learns 7 of the 25 members of the network have an immediate need for his service. As a result that marketer earns a few sales but builds a platform in which he can continue growing his business far into the future. Plus he sets up a new joint venture with another member of the network making him untold amounts of money in the future.
I can share a million different examples but what everything boils down to is this -- in order to achieve maximum success in life you will need a very large network of individuals watching your back. In order to build this network you will have to interact with others in a way that shows them the value of being involved in your network. Which means you will at first have to give out more than you take in.
But don't worry! Making money in a Web 2.0 environment is extremely easy!
Web 2.0 Rule #1 -- Build your network in the precise presence of your prospects
Sounds like simple advice but don't you dare discount it. You simply can't afford to if you're looking to make good money on the Internet. Too many people are building their businesses away from where their prospects are. Which always leads to failure.
The old Web 1.0 way to reach prospects included expensive websites, even more expensive search engine optimization or pay per clicks. I know this because I have sold those same services to clients for the last dozen years. So I know Web 1.0 unlike anybody else.
But those days are gone forever. Now I only recommend one tool. And that's a free Sta.rtup.biz account.
Sound awesome? It most certainly is.
The good news is Sta.rtup.biz is absolutely free to set up an account with them. And it's free to maintain as well. But best of all is that their network is full of like minded people looking for people just like you to network with.
After only a few short months in existence the network is already generating over a million page views a month. Do you know how many people it takes to generate that kind of traffic?
Building your network on Sta.rtup.biz just makes sense!
Web 2.0 Rule #2 -- Build an opt-in list to be able to effortlessly communicate with your prospects.
Because an opt-in mailing list is always the nucleus of any successful marketing venture it is absolutely essential that you start building your own opt-in list as soon as you possibly can if you have any intention of becoming a full-time marketer.
Unless of course you aren't interested in effortlessly networking with future buyers of your product or service.
You might also not be interested in reaching your own magic e-number.
What you don't know what your magic e-number is?
Your magic e-number is determined by how many prospects you have to get opted-in to your list before you start grossing $1 Million in sales a year.
For some it was 10,000 prospects. Others it was 50,000.
Of course it depends on how much you make per commission. And how much energy you have in doing what it would take to gross a million a year. But the point is there is an actual number that once you hit it you will be financially set the rest of your life.
Sound incredible?
It isn't. Ask anyone worth their salt in Internet Marketing if they have an opt-in email list. Then ask them how instrumental that opt-in list was to their success.
So until you have an opt-in list of your own you are taking yourself out of the game without ever having had the chance to get in to the game.
Don't slight yourself. Life is too darn short as it is.
Web 2.0 Rule #3-- Implement An Automated And Relentless Follow Up System
Let's start by roughly defining what an AUTOMATED FOLLOW UP SYSTEM is and how it benefits you as a marketer.
Basically it's an online software program that will enable you to automate your follow up process with the prospects that visit your site. It is certainly a vital component of any automated marketing system. If not the most vital.
You can get pretty innovative on the follow-up messages and place them in a series of email messages that build one on top of another. That way you build your credibility up pretty rapidly with all the prospects who opt-in to your list.
So when a prospect opts-in to your mailing list the auto responder will start following up and conversing with your prospect so to speak on your behalf.
Which in turn will help you build rapport with your prospects. Which is always a very good thing for a marketer to do.
Experts have shown that it often takes 7 or more ad exposures before prospective customers actually make a purchase!
If you are to stand any chance at succeeding you are going to need to stay in constant e-mail contact with every single one of your prospects!
With an auto responder, your opt-in prospects will automatically receive your message the essential seven or more times over a period of days, weeks, and months when they request information from you.
I can't stress enough just how important it is to have an auto responder for your business. It may be possible to succeed without one, but why try?
I’d consider such a task on par with trying to learn to play the piano with your thumbs cut off!
Web 2.0 Rule #4—Confine Your Marketing Efforts To Your Opt-in List
One of the biggest mistakes I see amateur marketers make in social network environments is the fact they try to jam their web link down the throats of anybody and everybody they come into contact with.
They do this because they are usually desperate for sales and know no other way in which to market their business.
But if you confine your marketing efforts to those people who have opted in to your list you will go along ways towards building a strong foundation for your network.
Web 2.0 Rule #5—Maintain Daily Activity On Your Social Network
Remember the early bird always gets the worm. I see a lot of people attempting to grow networks without putting any elbow grease in to make it happen. So quit being lazy and log in to Sta.rtup.biz daily and meet and greet the new people who are signing up daily.
Success will be yours if you do!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Matt LaClear on -
Go ahead and post your link on this thread after you have made your changes and then tell us what you changed and why!
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Permalink Reply by Ken Harthun on -
Matt,
I just printed this out and worked it over with my highlighter. I have to say this is some of the best advice I've gotten since I started getting into IM last year. Thanks for sharing it. Had I been doing the things you say here all along, I'd be a lot closer to my goal of a full time IM business--and my magic e-number. I know this applies to any social network, so I'll be implementing these rules in my other networks as well.
I do have a question on rule #2. We're always talking about "The List;" does "The List" actually consist of an aggregate of smaller lists with specific targeted subscribers, or do we somehow just compile one big list?
Thanks again for the excellent advice.
Ken
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Permalink Reply by Matt LaClear on
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Great question regard building an opt-in list Ken. I personally like to create a broad generic list for a niche and then break it down into smaller specific lists.
For example when I first joined this network in August 2008 I had a sneaky suspicion that the members were interested in learning how to get web traffic over to their website. But I had no evidence to back this suspicion up.
So this is what I did:
Step 1) I offered an eBook to the members that taught several different ways they could drive traffic to their site. I offered the eBook for free and the only thing members had to do to get it was to opt-in to my list.
Step 2) Once I saw how many opt-ins were pouring in I knew I was correct with what the members were looking for. Only thing is I had no idea on what specifically regarding web traffic they were interested in. So I came up with several new giveaways and I set up separate lists for each. Specifically they covered: a) seo tactics, b) article writing, c) traffic exchanges, d) link exchanges, e) banner exchanges, f) pay per clicks and g) social network marketing. I then set up giveaway campaigns for all 7 eBooks by emailing the offers to the list I gathered in step 1. What I found was that the majority of the members were interested only in the social marketing tips eBook.
Step 3) I then went and purchased eBooks with Master resale rights that covered each of the other 6 ways to gathering web traffic and emailed offers to the corresponding sublists I had generated. Once I saw they were converting I simply created a follow up campaign on each of the lists. That way those that were interested in article writing to get traffic were only receiving solicitations to purchase the eBook on article writing.
Step 4) I switched my overall efforts on the network to gear specifically towards helping others learn to market via the social networks. Which is something I knew for a fact they wanted. The rest was history.
So yeah I support building a main list and then building smaller sublists from that main list. The way you do it is by offering additional giveaway offers.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Spetch on -
Solid article Matt, I have been wondering why so many marketers are using the 2.0 term in their copy? That explanation sums it up exactly for me! Thanks!
Thanks for the welcome also,
& "Hi" to every one else !
Jeff
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Permalink Reply by Matt LaClear on
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Welcome to sup.biz Jeff! Glad to have you here man!!
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Bennett on -
Hey Matt, thanks so much for sharing this here. I really appreciate the distinction between 1.0 and 2.0 as I never really understood it except that it was an upgrade of some kind. These five tips will be helpful to me in the future. Again, thanks so much for taking the time to share this. Much appreciated!
Take Care,
Elizabeth
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Permalink Reply by Matt LaClear on
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Glad I could be of help Elizabeth!
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Permalink Reply by Richard Durkee on -
Thanks for the post, it was awesome.
Truth is, I know I've broken at least one of those rules, maybe 2.
Seems these rules are a great place to start.
Richie
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Permalink Reply by Matt LaClear on
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Ha Richie...you have no idea how many times I broke all those rules myself! But I stayed with it and eventually worked out how to market successfully. What did I learn in the process? These 5 tips!
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Permalink Reply by Richard Durkee on
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Perfect, I know I'll be following them to the letter.
Love the super tip on listbuilding, I copied it into my daily one-note book I keep.
You explain everything so it's easy to understand.
***** 5 Stars in my book
Thanks Again
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Permalink Reply by Jay Rossi on -
Hi Matt,
Thank you so much for giving me guidance as what to do when starting out. You know I had all my wires crossed as I had absolutely no idea of what Internet Marketing was really about.
You've really opened my eyes to the reality of it all. Especially the way I introduce myself. Loading a photograph was not on my mind at all. Telling a story about my life and not giving a "sales pitch" really blew me away.
Why has no one else ever told me about this since my initial thoughts about Internet Marketing was that it was only about selling. Then you came along and just reversed this for me and changed my mindset.
This goes against everything I heard. Perhaps now I may start getting people to start taking notice of who I am. This is the best advice I've heard in a long time. Thank you Matt for all the help you've given me in getting my business on the right footing.
Are you going to teach this dog new tricks? Can't wait.
Cheers,
Jay Rossi
Please follow me on www.twitter.com/JayRossi
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Permalink Reply by Helen Fritzie on -
Thanks again for all the info. Matt! You are right that being newbies you want to get
your business out there everywhere and everytime you are on or in the Social Networks.
In my case, it is not because I don't want to interact with people, it is you just don't
have a lot of time to get the info. out! I have "listened" to your podcasts and am trying
to do better and especially since starting the Apprentice Program.
Thanks for your help and will have to work on the picture for my Profile, but just don't have one
to download right now!
Have a great day!
Helen
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