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Earl Netwal« Are you smarter than a turtle? | Home | Small changes – big differences »
Are you making these mistakes?
By admin | March 11, 2009
After the last post I had to go to the pet store and because it was requested in one comment got the turtles a bonus. Yep big spender that I am I sprung for a dollars worth of feeder fish (8). Still didn’t stop the bill for the other food and filter materials from being over $30 so you don’t get the wrong idea. These little guys do cost a bit to keep them teaching us. Why I created the blog they need to earn their keep.
As usually happens the turtles were just waiting for the fish and with in the first hour or two half were gone. The others got smart quickly that those big things would hurt them so stay away.
Now that it has been a few days another one has bit the dust or rather fed one of the turtles. The thing is that the turtles are not aggressive all the time, only when they are hungry. The small fish have quickly learned that they are totally ignored right after feeding time so they worry less then.
So the relationship has started between the turtles and the new fish. Now it worked because neither side has any choice they share the same tank.
Now one more story and then I’ll wrap it up and try to make sense.
Yesterday I got an email from a marketer that I have been following recommending a new list building course for free. Those are things I sign up for regularly just to see the process it is called market research.So I went to the squeeze page offering me an e-course on list building and filled it out.
Now the disconnect started. After filling in the form I was forwarded to a sales letter about video products. Not video squeeze pages but how to create and post videos. Nothing to do with list building and totally unrelated to what I raised my hand up and said I was interested.
Next step I clicked the verification link and noticed it was from an autoresponder that I know gets terrible delivery and should never be recommended to anyone serious about building a list but..
It does pay an above average commission. Disconnect number two. Now most new marketers (their target market would probably not know that) but to me it was another huge red flag.
Then I got redirected to another affiliate page having absolutely nothing to do with list building. Disconnect #3.
Finally I got the first email. It welcomed me and told me about the upcoming e-course and then listed 7 or 8 affiliate links none of which had to do with the topic I said I was interested in and to make it worse they were all set up with blogspot redirects. I did not mention it earlier but the person was also using a free service to host the original squeeze page.
Obviously this is not someone that is going to successfully teach anyone to build a list.
See unlike the fish though I as the subscriber can leave the tank and I did and your potential subscribers will too.
Now lets finally get to the point after all of this.
- You need to build a list – they got that part right
- You need to target the people with your gift and stay on message through out the process. If you don’t you will lose the trust of your subscriber before you even begin.
- You can and should monetize the process but keep the message consistent. Remember that when someone fills out your opt in form they qualified themselves as interested in that topic and looking to learn more about it. Don’t change the subject.
- Use a quality autoresponder that will actually get your email delivered. Delivery and not commission structure should be your primary criteria. The Turtles use and recommend AWeber.
- You really do need your own domain and web hosting. A domain costs you about $10 a year or less if you shop around. There are numerous web hosts the Turtles recommend Zoot Host where you can get hosting for less than $10 a month.
See the fish don’t have a choice but to adapt to the Turtle’s behavior or die. Your subscribers do have a choice and don’t have to stay if you mistreat them or lose their trust.
The Turtle Dad
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Disclaimer: Some of the links mentioned within this post or posts it may lead to are my affiliate links and in such case I will get compensated for recommending those products. However, I will never recommend something that I don’t personally believe in and I welcome your questions and feedback.
Topics: lessons, turtle dad tested | 6 Comments »
March 11th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Powerful stuff, Mike!
There’s another lesson there too – the little fish learn the ropes and alter their behavior, or get eaten. As you say, they learn to be more active AFTER the feeding frenzy.
This is a great analogy for newbie affiliates too – on big launches their ‘me too’ promos get eaten up by the big guys. Better to wait til the initial launch feeding-frenzy is over, then talk to their lists about the product and look for unique ways to promote the big JVs.
Amazing what you can learn from turtles!
Doug Champigny´s last blog post..The Advantages Of Affiliate Marketing
March 11th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Good points Mike. Its relatively easy to get subscribers with a good product or offer. The key is to keep them as active buyers. A consistent credible and ongoing relationship are needed to do that.
I’ve quite a few lists that came to me through various promotions. I try to keep in mind how I got them when I send messages. And even though I am fired up about a project or program, I increasingly find myself not mailing to everyone, but only the groups whose origins were most relevant.
I usually copy a past broadcast message from one of my lead lists, when I am sending out a new message and rely in its past distribution across all my lists to keep on topic.
I wish I knew a way to combine my 2 dozen or so lists into a few groups on aweber.
Earl Netwal´s last blog post..Marketing to your Target Market
March 11th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Good post Mike. Drawing analogies is always a great way of teaching and the one of the turtles and the fish is very good.
Lists are interesting animals in themselves. Unlike the fish, as marketers you need to GET noticed which only really comes about through interesting content in your mailings. People also need to remember a list is a win/win situation where you give as well as take.
Cheers,
March 11th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I agree with your other comments. There is nothing worse than being boon doggled with a squeeze page. Will cause me to delete as soon as I see what is going on. Must be getting some experience.
Andre Arnett´s last blog post..Well Mr Twitter, Where Do We Go From Here?
March 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Anther great post Mike! I see this all to often, unrelated products being offered simply because of a high/good commission structure.
BTW, I’m enjoying the Seesmic videos, it makes it very easy to digest the information.
Joel Osborne´s last blog post..7 Money Making Ideas for PLR Ebooks
March 12th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Mike,
Well explained how it should be done. The whole process must be well understood, balanced and optimized. Not an easy task, but with clear benefits.
Thanks
Fred
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