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.

The best way to reach a large number of people and get your message across on the internet today is through video but not just any video. It must be a video that captures and keeps your audienceʼs attention.

Video is considered by Google as a higher form of engagement than a simple blog or article and ranks higher in the ratings. Therefore you have a better shot at reaching more people if you do a video rather than a simple article. And the more people that watch your video, the higher you will rank on Google and the more likelihood people who are searching in your niche market will see a link to your video and watch it.

'Evolution of Dance' Example Viral Video

6 Key Elements of a Viral Video

So how do you make your video go viral so you rank as high as possible on Google?

1. Keep your video short and to the point.
2. Keep it simple and entertaining.
3. State the problem in your niche market you are going to help them solve right up front in the beginning of the video.
4. Give them useful information so that you move them from a place of no or little knowledge to a place of educated knowledge that puts them ahead in their industry.
5. Choose a title with key words – ones that captures your niche marketʼs attention and offers a solution to their problem.
6. Create a coordinated attack with link bait so that you rank on the first page of Google within 24 hours of posting your video.

Youʼre probably wondering what a coordinated attack is. Itʼs when you post your video on as many social networking sites as possible and get large numbers of people to link back to your video and share it all on the same day. The way to do that is to create link bait, something that causes people to click on your link to watch and share your video.

7 Steps to Create a Coordinated Attack

1. Post your Video on YouTube and other social networking videos sites such as Vimeo.
2. Post it on Blog sites, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.
3. Put a Call to Action in it asking people if they liked the video or found it useful to please share it with others.
4. Email it to your mailing list and ask them to share it with others.
5. Do online press releases with a link to your video.
6. Contact as many people as possible, especially people who have large email mailing lists and social networking audiences to post, email and blog about your video as well.
7. Offer link bait, such as an ethical bribe offering more knowledge, a free gift, or a chance to win a contest in order to get them to link back to your website and share your video.

When Google sees a large number of people linking to a video within a 24 hour period, it views that as a high form of engagement and moves the video quickly up in rankings.

Did you find this post helpful? Lend us a hand in getting the
word out by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
Let’s show Beth some love.

Beth Rosen is a film producer, #1 best selling author and business entrepreneur who offers various products, services, courses and private coaching designed to accelerate your path to success and happiness. She is currently offering a unique online movie-making course called The Back Door to Hollywood which teaches you how to make a professional movie/video, how to stand out from the crowd and how to create your own lucky break. For more information, please visit www.BethRosen.com.

There is a TON of valuable information in this post. All of the links open in a new window and the content will laser in on that topic. I invite you to spend some time here and really take advantage of this FREE platform I’ve developed just for you.

For those of you who are just getting started online, this post would be excellent for you to print out and keep by your computer as you
build your online platform (your website, social networks, leads – it is all-encompassing of your touch-points online). For those of you who think they are on a great track online, this may be a good post to see what has slipped between the cracks or what area you could build up for better results.

So let’s get started. Consider your online platform and online presence. Really think about the blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into building a website (whether you invested $10,000+ or started a free WordPress site), into starting a social networking account and trying to figure it out, into listening to webinars and teleseminars and reading blog posts on “how” to do it all. Next, I invite you read each question *slowly* and really analyze where you’re at with each of these items:

• Do you have a professionally designed logo that can make for good branding?
• Are you staying ‘up to date’ on what’s happening in your industry so you become the go-to authority for news?
• Do you post to your blog regularly (not once a month, but one a week or more?)
• Is your business brand consistent between all touch points online – from your LinkedIn profile to your Facebook cover to your email newsletter look and feel?
• Have you looked at your content in the past three months to see what, if anything was outdated material?
• Do you do what you say you are going to do online (release new products on time, follow through with your ideas, etc.)?
• When is the last time you did keyword research or competitor research?
• Have you reached out to anyone lately to discuss the concept of collaboration, so you can grow your business more quickly in new markets?
• Do you have a growth plan or goals to help grow your business (such as how many email subscribers you’ll get, how many Facebook friends, how many blog posts, how many emails will you send out to your list each month, etc.)?
• Have you stepped back to evaluate if your web team really IS good, or just the inexpensive solution who isn’t really getting you where you need to be?
• Does your website design help you or hurt you, and when is the last time you’ve evaluated areas for improvement?
• Do you have a solid free introductory product you can give away as incentive for people to sign up to your mailing list?
• And is that free introductory product branded and professionally designed and formatted?
• Do you have obvious social networking icons and feeds on your website so web visitors can connect with you?
• Does your tagline make sense and help you stand out from the noise? Is it easy to remember and does it make an impact?
• Do you have a list of keywords you are targeting with every piece of content you write, so you can start dominating search engines?
• Are you regularly adding products to your website that are for sale so people can get ‘the next best thing’ from you?
• How often are you adding a ‘call to action’ in everything you do (at the end of blog posts, in your email newsletters, in every contact point)?
• Are you organized with your business and do you treat it like a real business with scheduling and planning meetings?
• Do you thank your web visitors, email subscribers, social networking friends and clients for sticking with you?
• How often do you implement new ways to drive traffic to your website and blog?

Your impact on the web IS what you make of it. Those are just a few questions you can ask yourself from time to time to make sure you are BUILDING. Starting an online business is not the easiest task in the world. You are competing with billions of web pages out there. But, there is more than enough room in the sea for us all to profit.

The trick is knowing what to do next to continue building your online platform. Stay focused. Don’t lose the momentum. If you need help with your direction or with implementing tasks, feel free to contact me and let’s have a loose conversation about it. The key is to get help from people who know what they are talking about – and that becomes obvious when someone writes about those topics and gives away the farm just to help others. I’m not tooting my own horn here so much as just teaching how to identify the right kind of person to help you with your business.

If you thought this post was of value, please SHARE this post with others on your social networks. My goal is simple: Helping Others. As many as I can get my hands on.

Thank you for spreading the light!

Do I think it is a “must” to be on Google+? Yes.

Do I think it is worth your time to learn it and love it? Yes.

I believe this social network will be a major player (and already is for some). I find myself resistant only because I don’t love how you gain friends. It’s just different, not bad. With Facebook, you can click a button and send a “friend request” and the other person accepts – now you are connected. They can see your posts and you can see theirs.

Google+ is setup more like Twitter in that you can follow me, but I won’t automatically follow you or anything. I do get a notification that you’ve added me to your “Circle” (a Circle allows you to separate your friends into different lists such as ‘co-workers, family, friends’). From there, I can choose to add you to my Circle. I guess this seems less official and fun to me. But, no reason to not get on Google+.

This post is my announcement that I’m on a mission to understand the in’s and out’s of Google+ and learn to fall in love with it. Maybe you’ll join me? Look, it’s essential if you want to keep making progress online and keep getting more exposure. Or, another way to think about it (and the better way) is this is another avenue to get your message out to more people – as many people as possible.

Ok, so I’ve started doing more research. I want to see what many different people say about their Google+ experience and how to like it and use it. Below I’ve compiled a few resources for you that I think are worth looking at or listening to.

• Mari Smith, What’s So Exciting About Google+
• Marketing Professor, 40 Google Plus Tips for Newbies
• Google+ Statistics (for fun)

If you have an opinion about Google+ I really am dying to hear it. I’ve got to know many perspectives to know Google+ like the back of my hand.

What do you love?
What do you hate?
What do you wish was different?

Please write a comment below and let me know what you think. THEN go to the right sidebar and you’ll find a Google+ widget with a big blue “Add to Circles” button – click that button and let’s get paired up on Google+.

(Bear with the Lady Gaga part! This must be watched all the way through!)

We all have a sphere of influence online. This goes from your website, to your social networks and off to someone else’s Facebook page when content is shared. It goes from your blog posts out into Google’s search engine, then back to someone else’s website who re-posted your content on their site.

Your influence and impact on the web truly is what you make of it.

Each day that you get up and have the “good intention” to write a blog post… Every time that you commit to working on that product that will further build out your online platform… and with each call you take to a prospective client or a potential collaborative partner… it truly is what you make of it, isn’t it?

So what are you going to make of your web sphere? How will you show up online? What will you leave behind? What movement will you start?

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! 

But don’t leave the post yet – this very well could be the reminder you need. Look, word of mouth IS the most POWERFUL form of advertising. It’s free. It’s can spread like wild fire. AND the leads you get are easy to close!

Why? People TRUST what their friends and family tell them. If my best friend says I have to go see x movie… I most likely will. If my sister says I should not go to x restaurant, I won’t. It’s that simple.

If you offer a great product or service, your customers will advertise FOR YOU. I truly believe you can build a sustainable business just by being great at the service you provide. No need to spend thousands on Google AdWords, no need to print tons of business cards or print ads – nada. Sure, you can do some supporting advertising if you like. But this age – this Information Age – makes it easier than ever before to save money on all advertising costs just by being great!

Just today, I was dealing with a big issue my client was faced with – she was not receiving order notifications from her shopping cart. Loooong story short, I contacted HostGator (her website hosting company) via Live Chat (which I love!).

A tech support agent responded to my chat request immediately. He was fast, so polite, helpful and instantly put me at ease. I knew he was looking into it. Within a couple of minutes he said to me “I think I can fix this”. Relief! And he did just that – quickly, without hassel, without trying to upsell me, without pestering me. Oh my goodness!

So, I’m feeling overjoyed and relaxed, and what do I decide to do? Go to Facebook and tell the world how GREAT HostGator is! And the kicker (!) is a great friend and business contact of mine, Mark Crowley, writes a comment saying he absolutely agrees about HostGator, then says, ” Plus, when Amber Ludwig recommends it – just go do it!” Ha!

My point is, people can’t help but spread news about their experiences – good AND bad. I write this post today to strongly encourage you to evaluate your client interactions. It is so important to treat your clients like GOLD. Not only because they’ve just invested in you and put their trust in you, but also because people talk. What do you want people to say about you and how you handle yourself?

Plus, if you haven’t looked at it from this angle, you have a responsibility to the person who referred you! It is their reputation on the line. When a client says, “You’ve gotta talk to Amber,” then I better deliver! (I would anyway, but you get the point). Please share this article with others – you never know who’s business you could help turn around! 

Simon Leung had used the little image boxes at the top of his Facebook Profile Page to spell out the URL to his website, added branding, and now has a big “Facebook Marketing Banner” that shows a constant call to action! Bravo.

Then today, I saw another one:

Ah ha… I started to catch on. Maybe this isn’t brand spankin’ new, but it’s new enough that I’m just now catching on and I try to always stay current.

With a quick Google Search I see there are lots of free Banner-Builder sites out there you can use to achieve this Facebook Marketing Banner idea. It’s great! Most though have pre-made banners with a catchy (or not) phrase or template design. boo.

So where to go for a custom-designed Facebook Banner (like Simon’s)?

With a little direction on design, I can create the marketing banner for you that will be an extension of your brand, have a solid call to action, and compliment your Custom-Designed Facebook Profile Image to the left. The small design fee is only $40 and we can have the images ready for you within 1-2 business days. To get started, click the button below:

When you get the idea to write one of these short books (usually 6-12 pages in length), puuullllease consider all that “stuff” beyond writing the words. In my opinion, to write a solid eBook you’ll want to:

1. Create an outline so you stay on topic. Think of it like a mini-book. There should be a beginning (intro), middle (meat of your content), and end (closing with call to action).
2. Edit your eBook. You want to comb through your pages a few times to make sure you don’t have typos. Remember this is a *reflection* of how you want to come across to these readers as a first impression.
3. Format your eBook. Create headings and subheadings, add images, create good spacing between lines and paragraphs, indent your content. This is all the initial foundation of designing your eBook.
4. Design your eBook, or get it designed by a professional. It is important to add life to your eBook. If your eBook goes viral, think of all that exposure you can get – it’s better than a billboard! But it’s amazing how many people just type words on a Word doc and say “it’s ready, come buy it or signup for it!” It is worth the time and resources to invest in a beautiful eBook that shows your dedication and quality of work.

There are many “types” of designs for eBooks. You have a standard design like you see to the right. This is common and effective.

I personally like to add more to it than that! See below for a few pages from an eBook I recently designed and formatted for a wonderful author named Angela Alexander. She has an AMAZING story and message to share with the world. Angela’s message is centered around how she turned her pain into power, and grief into peace after a horrific car accident that forever changed her family.

Many people have asked me, “Angela how were you able to turn your pain into power and grief into peace?” In my book, “Miracles Action” I go into great detail about my personal journey with a strong focus on how I got through to the other side.

For this powerful book I wanted to share five pivotal points in uncovering your peace, all based on my book. I also reveal my thought-provoking reflections, decisions and actions. My purpose and intentions are to help you also turn your pain into power and grief into peace.

  

  

 
I think if you spend the time and resources to build it the right way, they will come (yes, quoting Field of Dreams – LOVE that movie!!). After Angela was sent this eBook after formatting and design she said,

“AMBER! Tears are flowing! This is soooo beautiful. I just have to absorb it. Thank you so very much. I’m so proud to be associated with you and this project. You’re right this e-book is much bigger than FFYD and should be for sale. Love, Angela” – www.MiraclesInAction.com

Anytime you can evoke that reaction from a client, you know you’re on the right track and it feels soooo good. Angela is a true angel and someone you should look into.

This is what I mean about spending the extra time to do things the right way. When people see that design they will really FEEL her message. If you have a cheesy design (or no design at all) you won’t be transferring the message in a way that people will feel they want to share with others.

Today I encourage you to take a look at your marketing materials, website, eBooks, business cards even and ask yourself, “Is this the feeling I want to people to feel when they see ‘me’ for the first time?”