Brendon Burchard is right when he says people are uncomfortable talking about making money – especially off their message. They WANT to do it and NEED to do it, but they’re uncomfortable talking about it. I am too, but it’s natural and necessary. We need to put income in our pockets to sustain the message.

One way to “make money more quickly” online is with promotional partners. This can be an affiliate who registers to *sell your product for a commission*. A promotional partner can also be someone you joint venture with where you combine forces to sell a product or service – anyone that has an audience, that aligns with your message, that can help promote you. Collaboration is KEY and there are a few things you need to be educated about to make the most out of gaining these promo partners.

I’m laying out these insights below under the assumption that you are to do one of two things:

1. You have a product you want others to sell and once it’s ready, you’ll ask people to support you. (affiliate)
2. You have an IDEA for a product and you are going to invite someone to partner with you to make it a success. (jv partner, joint venture partner)

Insight #1 about Promotional Partners: Make the Product (or Idea) Count

You can’t just create a product in day then expect people with big email lists to want to promote it. I know that I will only ever tell my audience about something that I truly believe in and know would make a positive impact. Spend the time to make the product the best you can – insane value and professionally packaged. If you want to collaborate and build a product with a partner instead, then do your research and flush out your ideas first, THEN approach your desired jv partner. Show your promotional partners how badly you want this, and how much you deserve their help.

Insight #2 about Promotional Partners: Your Message must Align with Theirs

If my whole business is about generating income off of Google AdWords and you are offering meditation CDs, we are not in alignment with each other’s messages. You could approach me because I have a loyal and big email list to promote to, but I still wouldn’t promote you because your CDs don’t align with my message. It’s important to connect with industry leaders that can relate to what you are promoting. It must align naturally with their products and services and message.

Insight #3 about Promotional Partners: How to Ask?

This is the biggest question I get and the answer is mostly, “Just Ask!” … but there’s a touch more to it. First, know this will be a numbers game like anything else. You can’t target one person to help and if they say no, you give up. Make a list of 50 people that might align with your message and product (idea). Then do your due diligence and see the way they speak to their audience – what are their key points – how do they ask for the order with their audience (soft, hard, etc.). Then use that information to your benefit and create a strategy around it. Email the potential promo partner and follow this type of sequence:

• Compliment them and let them know why you are excited about what they’re doing
• Explain that the more you read and researched them, the more you felt in alignment with their message
• Briefly explain who you are and what your message is
• Unveil your product or product idea
• Ask for the order in a way that is mutually beneficial: “I think that if we work together we can get our message out there in a bigger way and help more people. Can we setup a time to discuss my ideas?”

The whole email should NOT be long. You’ll have to work on refining your message so it’s short, concise and to the point (not in a pitchy way but in a super genuine, want-to-help-the-world way).

Insight #4 about Promotional Partners: How Much Is Too Much?

We are all extremely busy. When you look at the people you target, expect them to be 2-5 times busier than you. They have been building their empire, they have dozens of products, tons of people contacting them all the time. They will not be excited to do MORE work just because you need help and have a nice message. You want to make it as EASY as possible for them to help you. For example, one key to success for an Amazon Bestseller Book Campaign is to write ALL marketing materials for the promotional partners so they just have to copy/paste on the book launch date. We write multiple emails, dozens of Facebook posts and Twitter tweets, etc. We want to make it super easy for people to share our message and then our chances for success increase!

Promotional partners IS the way to do business this year. I’m telling you… Promo partners and guest blogging (more to come later) should be a constant priority for you. Above Facebook – above it all. This is the way to MUCH faster results.

Your Challenge:

Start today by doing 1-hour of research online. Open an excel spreadsheet and start keeping a record of interesting websites that could be potential avenues for you. Look at how often the website owner is blogging, how active are they on social networks, are they consistently building their business, do they have great testimonials, etc. Just keep making record of all the websites that are in alignment with you and look to be doing things right. Then the next time you can carve out an hour (ahem, make this a priority) you’ll go back into each site and study the website owner even more to carve out their message and see what their interests are. You’ll basically just keep building your case until you’re ready to take action and ask for the order.

Today is the day though… it’s time to take action!

If you thought this article was helpful, I would love to hear your feedback and help me share it on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. If you are interested in writing for InsightfulDevelopment.com, click here to learn about out Guest Writing program.

I’ll let the quality and beauty speak for itself:

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* FREE product giveaway
* Donations to Charity based on sales
* Meet the artist, Sharon Ludwig

Outside of Tucson? Contact Sharon to place your Valentine’s Day gift order today.

Dates: February 4th & 5th
Times: 9am – 4pm
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Help us get the word out about these awesome products by clicking the share buttons and the top of bottom of this post! Thank you SO much in advance for your support!

But at the end of the day, the week, the month… does your value and expertise get transformed into a product your audience can buy? Are you consistently adding new products to continue having a stream of income to turn a profit in your business?

The nerve-wracking thing about the online world is that there are SO MANY DISTRACTIONS. You know you need to be on Facebook so you go spend a lot of time on Facebook (maybe too much? wink). You are getting pulled in every which direction with flashing lights and signs “pay attention to this!” .. “download and learn about this cool new widget you must have” .. “one time only to learn about x, y, z to fuel your business!”

There’s just so many distractions. But, at the end of the day you need to turn a profit. You must – otherwise this isn’t much of a “business” for you, right?

So my advice is to FOCUS on developing product and generating traffic back to your website. Today’s topic is on product development and a few key tips to make the idea turn into a reality.

Step 1 to Create a Product: Brainstorm.

Shut off the computer, take out a piece of paper and brainstorm your product idea until you are out of juice. I’ll do this a few times usually. If I have a product idea to create a home study course on how to maximize social media, I need to strongly consider all moving parts, all talking points, all visual aids, all examples, etc. I don’t make it a perfect process. I allow my mind to jump from idea to idea so that I just get it all out in a barnstorming frenzy!

Step 2 to Create a Product: Create the Outline.

Next, block out time for creating a product outline. You would block out time for a call with a potential client, right? So WHY NOT block out an hour to develop a product that could be worth more than ten or twenty clients? We must realize what our “money making” to-do’s are and make time for them. I would take out a clean piece of paper (or you can do this on your computer as long as you don’t take a detour to email or Facebook during this time – busted!). Then take out your brainstorming notes and rewrite them, separating your thoughts into categories. Then take your categories and organize them into a natural flow (A to Z) of this topic.

For example, if I was creating the home study course on how to maximize social media, I would start my outline with a category of “What is Social Media?” then a natural transition would be “Getting Started with Social Media and Account Setup” >> “How to Strategically Post Content and Gain Followers” >> “Turning Social Hour into a Marketing Channel” >> “Advanced Learning Tips for Advanced Users” (or something like that).

Once you have your main categories that is the foundation for your outline! Write quick points to cover beneath each category and now your outline is much more complete. This gives you the CONFIDENCE to keep going and finish the product.

Step 3 to Create a Product: Momentum is Key.

I know many, many entrepreneurs who have dozens of “half finished” products laying around. The excitement and incentive was strong in the beginning of the creative process, but half-way through it started to seem like a lot of work, or the business owner was running out of time. Putting it off one day turned into one week which turned into never. Think of product development like working out. You can’t just start, stop and expect to get the motivation back “next week”. You gotta keep going if you want to hit your goal!

I would suggest blocking of a realistic amount of time a few times a week. How about 1-hour, 3 times a week. If you can do more, great! But I think half the reason people don’t achieve their goals is because they set these crazy goals which creates a ton of pressure. People say I’m going to get this product done in 1 week! Even if it was one month that’s better than never finalizing the product because you got burnt out and quit. Take your time and get it done right. Create “block time” to keep the momentum up and get that sucker done!

Step 4 to Create a Product: Make it Professional.

Nothing is worse than when someone hypes up a product and it looks like the creator made it in Microsoft Word in 30 minutes. People want real value so they can make better progress, faster. The best thing you can do to make even more of a profit and to provide a better product for your audience is to get your product professionally formatted and designed. For example, if you create an eBook, you can add a neat font, headings, a cover page that is beautifully designed and more. When someone buys your product and sees that you took this one extra step, they will be more likely to share it with their friends (which you want!) and come back as a repeat customer.

Make this year all about “getting stuff done” and making a profit. You have a message to get out to the world. That message was given only to you through your experiences so that you can help others. We all learn in different ways and there are people in the world RIGHT NOW that are standing by waiting for your message and product. It’s true. So all you gotta do is take action and get ‘er done!

If you thought this article was helpful, I would love to hear your feedback and help me share it on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. If you are interested in writing for InsightfulDevelopment.com, click here to learn about out Guest Writing program.

www.SocialBookmarkingIcons.com

This website has what sure feels like an unending supply of icons for your website or blog. ANY style you can think of, any color scheme – it’s all here for the taking.

You can simply select the icons you want and then add ‘em into your sidebar. Check out the super cool icons I have on my top right sidebar. 

Just be aware of the ‘terms of use’ for the icons. Some designers ask for a link for credit (and that’s fair).

Here are some example of the designs available:

I invite you to share this post with others so they too can check out the motherload. It’s awesome!!

Facebook now gave us an 850px X 315px Cover (or header) that sits at the top of our Facebook profile pages! (hint hint – I can design this for you!) The new Facebook cover is a HUGE amount of space to promote you, your business and your services – it’s SO exciting!

This is an example of what the Facebook timeline looks like:
(Click to zoom)

You’ll notice on my Facebook cover banner, I added my website URL, free eBook incentive for people that come to my website, social networking icons, photo, tagline, logo, etc. This is an incredible space to use for showcasing your products and services.

Here are examples of recent Facebook cover designs I have completed for clients: (Click to zoom)

To compare, check out the previous banner space and design work I achieved with the old layout, in this post titled, “Custom Facebook Fan Page Profile Pictures” These profile images are used on fan pages still.

Get YOUR Facebook Cover Banner Header Designed:

I can design you a beautiful, functional and converting cover banner to ensure you are making the very most out of the new Facebook timeline experience.

If you are confident you’d like to start now, please click the button below to submit your order for only $97.

click to order

(ps) IF you’re a previous client who ordered the previous sized Facebook banner, all ya need to do is contact me saying you want to convert your old banner to the updated size, and you get a special price (almost half off!).

As soon as your order is placed I will contact you right away with instructions of what I would need to start your cover banner design. I will show you a comp draft and we can make edits until you have the design you are proud of.

Make it a great day!

“I just started reading your ebook – Online Evolutions – and I wanted to let you know that it is truly inspirational! You talk about many of the same principles that I applied to my sales regime and daily routine early in my career. I must say that I needed a “refresher course”. Keep writing and offering up principles to live by!”  — Joyce K

“Thanks Amber! I got the hard copy of the (Online Evolutions) book in the mail yesterday. Thanks for your note. You are so great! I am excited! Thanks again! You rock!!!! “  — Sarah

I’ve been asked throughout this year, “When’s the next volume coming??” Thank you all for your patience as I could get this formatted and prepped for you. Today I can announce, “IT’S HERE!”

I had a ton of fun putting together Online Evolutions, Volume 2. I got so inspired I even started Volume 3 already!

So What is Online Evolutions 2 Anyway?

If You – Or Someone You Know – Wants to…

• How to create an eBook or product that sells or can go viral
• 21 tips to improve online efforts for better results
• Learn about eCommerce and selling products online, effectively
• Get over anxiety of not knowing what to do next or how to do it
• Learn key design and social media strategies every website owner should know

…Then Online Evolutions 2 has become one of the most important purchases you can make today.

Online Evolutions 2 is a 67-page collection of my top training articles and includes an impressive lineup of do-it-myself strategies that can give you the progress you’re wanting to boost your online status!

What if I need more convincing?

Online Evolutions, Volume 2 is really only for those of you who already know my work, the value I provide and don’t need convincing. However, you can download Online Evolutions 1 for FREE in the right sidebar to get a taste of the value. Then I am confident you will come back to look at Volume 2 as it holds 67 PAGES of more, more, more value.

Oh ya, almost forgot, I have a SPECIAL surprise for you…

I don’t know what got into me as I was finalizing this eBook, haha, but I got a wild itch to throw in a special surprise to those of you who have purchased the downloadable eBook OR the hard copy version. The catch is, you have to READ the book in order to get the surprise! Somewhere in one of the 67 pages I have a section blocked off a small section that has a link. This link will lead you to a special surprise that will absolutely make an impact on the way you look at your website and the way it performs for you. That’s all I can say!

So, what are the options to get  your hands on Online Evolutions 2?

Option 1.  You can get the Instant-Download eBook version for only $29.97

Option 2. You can get a printed, signed, hard copy version for $39.97 and get the eBook free while you wait a couple days for me to ship the book to you.

Once you get your copy, please let me know your thoughts. All I want to do is provide value to you and make your life easier. I know we are in an Information Age where you are bombarded with hundreds of “To-dos” and “Must-dos”. My goal is to tell you what is actually important and how to execute easily and without spending gobs of money. We must all pool together and help support each other toward success. From me to you – enjoy what I have prepared for you! 

Facebook Success Summit 2011 is a special online conference designed to help you master Facebook marketing (brought to you by Social Media Examiner). Join…

• Guy Kawasaki (author, Enchantment),
• Mari Smith (co-author, Facebook Marketing),
• Dave Kerpen (author, Likeable Social Media),
• Paul Dunay (co-author, Facebook Marketing for Dummies),
• Jesse Stay (author, Facebook Application Development for Dummies),
• Robert Scoble (co-author, Naked Conversations),
• Michael Stelzner (founder, Social Media Examiner),
• experts from Intuit, PETCO, Applebees and Intel;
• Jay Baer (co-author, The Now Revolution),
• Chris Treadaway (co-author, Facebook Marketing),
• Amy Porterfield (co-author, Facebook Marketing All-In-One for Dummies) and
• Andrea Vahl (co-author, Facebook Marketing All-In-One for Dummies)

…just to name a few.

Then I saw this video (which I pasted in here just so you could see the same Facebook tips that I thought were pretty solid):

Ok, I was intrigued and still am! I heard they’ve already sold 450 seats to the Facebook Success Summit 2011. I wanted to reach out to you guys to see if you are planning on attending or what your thoughts are. Please send me a comment or share a post with me on Facebook or Google+ about it.

I read that the Facebook Success Summit 2011 is the web’s largest online Facebook marketing conference so I’m thinking it’s a slam dunk. You don’t even have to leave home to attend (major plus – no air fare, no hotel). We all know that Facebook is THE place to be in terms of social networking. (I’ve been doing LOTS of research on Google+ this week too, so I’ll keep you posted soon on what I’ve found – you will want to get an account, I do know that much.) Maybe I’ll see you there!

I talk to clients left and right, all who are panicked with this knowing they are losing potential clients. It’s as if they are dying for hydration in their business, the water spigot is gushing water (the potential of doing well online) and they are stammering to get a drop of leads here and a drop there. Sound familiar?

I have GREAT NEWS for you today. You don’t have to get overwhelmed then make a quick decision and hire the first company that says “I can get you to the top of Google!” You can hire a hundred of those companies and they can dump a ton of leads in your lap – but if your legs (your foundation) are not strong enough to hold the weight, you’ll collapse and all of your efforts will be wasted.

You must make your website strong, sturdy and ready for success BEFORE you invest in high-powered marketing!

This is exactly why Marty and I sat down, took our combined 17 years of Internet Marketing and Website experience, and created a website evaluation checklist – training web owners like you to learn the aspects of your website that could be costing you leads!

Today I wanted to share a few more of these goodies as a free take-away. I’ve compiled an 11 PAGE demo of our eGuide as a gift to get you on your way. If you like what you see, I’d like to invite you to please send me an email and share your thoughts. I truly love to help support people in getting success in their business, so I’d be curious which tips you implemented and how it helped your business!

Enjoy and make it a productive day!

Topics include everything from Business Planning to Website, Layout and Formatting, to eCommerce and SEO tactics – all of which combine to grant you more online results. All you need to do is LEARN what Google looks at and why, what is a turn off to your visitor, and what holes are costing you money in your website and business planning.

We must never expect to throw up a site and call it a day. The Truth is… If you want great RESULTS, you must learn and execute what WORKS.

Today I wanted to share a few of these goodies to give you an idea of what you could be missing on your website right now. For some, you will carry on your day and research ways to buy leads. For others, you’ll catch on to the idea that you can create your own great results without spending a dime!

• My website looks the same on all versions of Firefox as well as Internet Explorer:

  Believe it or not, one design can look completely different in depending on which Internet browser you are using to view the website (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, etc.). Each browser will read your website’s HTML code a little differently. Your web developer should have checked your website in all browsers *and* all versions of each browser, but that doesn’t mean they did. You can download multiple Internet browsers onto your personal computer and visit your website in each. Here are ways to check:

  • Internet Explorer (versions 6, 7 and 8): http://ipinfo.info/netrenderer/ — This is an online program that produces a screenshot of any given page on your website. You select which version you want to check. You can also download Internet Explorer 8 here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx

  • Firefox (versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5): http://www.mozilla.com/Firefox/ — You can download Firefox here. Firefox automatically updates your browser when new versions come out.
  • Safari (version 4): http://www.browsrcamp.com/ — You can check your website in Safari at that URL, or download Safari here http://www.apple.com/safari/
  • Google Chrome: You can download Google Chrome here http://www.google.com/chrome
  • Opera (version 10): You can download Opera here http://www.opera.com/
• My website proves I am there to help people, not just to sell them

  Visitors are naturally skeptical when they come to your website. Constantly work to achieve that immediate trust and comfort with your audience. 60% of the online population over 14 refuse to buy online due to trust issues. Trust can be hard to build and easy to lose, but with the following tips you can overcome this hurdle. Adding a blog to your website is a great way to overcome this objection since that is free valuable content your visitors can learn and grow from. The use of stories can paint a picture for your audience. When you are writing copy, focus on the benefits, not the cost. Showcasing testimonials can help prove you are about more than making money. Offering part of the product or service upfront for free is a great sign of trust. Have a guarantee on your product or service that leaves the visitor thinking “if this guarantee is that strong, it must be worth it.”

• Every page of my website gets people to take action by at least one of the following:
  • Calling me for more information

  • Signing up to receive something free
  • Subscribing to a newsletter
  • Making an online purchase
  • Visiting another page of my website
  • Posting a comment to my blog
  • Sharing their experience or story, if applicable
• I have tested my site with an online Heat Map (ie. www.Feng-Gui.com)

  Wouldn’t it be great to know what your visitors look at on your website? and what they don’t? With Heat Maps you can track what areas of your website visitors find more interesting. The image on the right is a heat map of a Google search results page. The red spot indicates the most activity on the page. From this map, you can easily tell where your visitors attention goes to and make website changes accordingly.

• I test that my forms are all working properly once a month

  Sometimes a glitch will occur in your hosting account and change the permission settings on your contact forms. You always want to make sure your visitors can reach you if they try. So just check your forms once a month by filling out a form and seeing what happens.

Again, we have compiled 100 of these kind of tips. We didn’t spend loads of time creating this document just for you to get overwhelmed and not take action. In fact, just the opposite. The “The Extended Do-It-Yourself Website Evaluation Checklist” is designed for all of you small business owners who need to update your website and start getting better results, but are overwhelmed by what to do next.

I just want you to be inspired to get great results! The web doesn’t have to be a scary place. It can be AMAZING once you have a strong foundation to support your success. So don’t wait, and get started today!

Chances are you had a busy year. And in the midst of reading countless blog posts, Facebook updates, and Twitter feeds, it’s just possible that you may have missed a few things. If that’s the case, here are 10 of the essential Top One Report articles that we published this year that you may have missed out on, which would be a shame. So here’s your second chance:

Tips for Writing Your Ebook

Of all the ways to make money online, writing a well-thought-out, well-researched, and relevant ebook can be one of the best ways to start earning some income on the side. Here are some things for you to consider as you endeavor to create and write your own ebook…

Unlock Your Site’s Potential with Split Testing

So you’ve got your website up and running, complete with some key products and ads and maybe even a sales page. So now what, you just sit back and wait for the sales to roll in, right? Well, in your rush to get online, you may have overlooked the importance of a key task that just might be the single most vital thing you do as a marketer: split testing…

Why You Should Network Like It’s 1999

As online marketers, we put a lot of stock in social networking, and rightfully so. There really is no better way to get the word out about your business, its mission, and your brand and to build valuable relationships that will create opportunities and help your business grow. Or is there?

Top 7 Online Business Resources

If you have an online business and are looking to increase traffic to your website and therefore sales, there are some things you should be doing on a regular basis. Call them your daily or weekly online calisthenics. You should be posting articles on other sites, building your list and reaching out to them with pertinent deals and updates, staying active on forums in your niche, taking advantage of the press release resources out there, using Twitter, and making sure your email signature reflects what you are trying to accomplish. Here are our favorite resources for doing all of the above…

Get the Most Out of Your Analytics

In the early days of the Internet, commercialism had not made its entrance and no one was thinking about tracking traffic, much less analyzing it. Nearly a decade later, we had progressed to tracking visitors in the form of “hits,” which did not tell you effectively even how many individual people actually visited your site. Now after nearly another decade, we find ourselves in a virtual analytical paradise comprised of numbers and data…

Six WordPress Plugins You Must Have

WordPress is by far the most popular content management system on the Web right now. Every day new plugins are being developed, improved, or added. Plugins are a way for you to add additional functionality to your blog according to your needs. I will be discussing some of the most beneficial plugins that you should install on your WordPress site…

Mobile Web Optimization

One thing is becoming increasingly clear: mobile web browsing is quickly catching up to and surpassing desktop browsing. With more people having access to mobile-enabled cell phones than computers, the number of mobile devices browsing the web is increasing at an enormous rate…

Examine Your Site’s Focus

It’s hard to adequately stress the importance of focus and purpose on your website. Since you are reading the Top One Report, we’re going to assume that you have a website, or lots of websites, or are at the very least planning to have a website. We look at a lot of sites here at InfoMedia in our work with entrepreneurs like you…

9 Questions for Healthy Traffic

Traffic, traffic, traffic. It’s the holy grail of our business and most marketers will try everything they can to attract new visitors to their site…

A Blueprint for Web Design

A 2006 study found that viewers made subconscious decisions about the quality and credibility of web pages in just 1/20th of a second. In this blink of an eye, viewers did not have enough time to read text or even recognize photos, but instead were reacting only to the site’s layout. Even when the participants had more time to look at the site, the research found that they only attempted to reinforce this initial conclusion…

Re-posted from Joel Comm’s Top One Report Website
10 Articles You May Have Missed in 2010