I've just never gotten the "knack" for being one of those really slick salespeople online or offline. Therefore, I have been thoroughly embracing the concepts of Web 2.0 marketing for quite some time to build my "Web 2.0 Empire." I would like to share with you some of what I had to learn the hard way through years of trial and error. Here is the official blueprint preview blog for "How To Build Your Web 2.0 Empire" and "Social Media Marketing Academy" where I would like to share exactly what I have used, and still use, to grow my online business from an idea to a full-time income able to support a single mom and her 12 year old boy.

How Do You Choose The Best Affiliate Product(s) So You Can Make Money? Be Careful What You Promote.

By sheree | May 28, 2008

Everywhere you look there’s another affiliate program to sign up for another “revolutionary new product” that claims it will give you the secret you need to:

Do yourself, your reputation, and your wallet a favor and do not just blindly fall for every claim you see.

What I mean is that you should test anything that you want to promote BEFORE you promote it. Furthermore, you should only promote products that you own and services that you actually use.

I constantly meet people who struggle with the process of choosing the “best affiliate product” to promote.” Even if you’re in the MLM network marketing industry, you need to be careful not to fall into this trap. People tell me all the time that they are promoting the “hottest new” products, programs, systems, MLMs, etc. but they can’t seem to make any money. There is a reason for that.

Realize how many information type products are out there or how many people are affiliated with the same “popular” services that you are. How are you going to make your promotions stand out?

Let me tell you what I have found to be the secret to both affiliate promotions and network marketing promotions…

Never PROMOTE anything. Rather than promote, just subtly recommend products and services within the context of good, informative content.

First of all, I NEVER promote anything that I do not personally use or own. Moreover, if it is an information product, I do not bother promoting it unless I can PROVE that I have actually learned something significant and useful.

For example, when I teach setting up a Wordpress hosted blog, I recommend Go Daddy for domain registration and Host Gator for hosting. It is obvious that I’m recommending something I personally use and have had positive experience with. It’s also something that is necessary for the task that I am teaching so it’s not a frivolous expense for my readers and students. In order to build a hosted Wordpress blog, you’ll first NEED to register a domain (so, I recommend the one I personally use) and second, you’ll NEED a hosting account (so, I recommend one that I personally use).

See how simple it is to choose your affiliate products?

I recommend these simply because I am a satisfied customer. I know that these services are both affordable and sufficient for what I am recommending they be used for. I am also teaching my readers and students HOW these products can be used. That’s it.

Now, as far as information products are concerned, I am VERY particular about what I subtly recommend. I used to, just like everyone does, just recommend what seemed to be the most popualr products of the day. That is a huge mistake. If you behave just like most every other marketer online, you’ll get the results of most (90%) of the marketers online who are trying to make money.

Nothing.

You cannot go by the savvy salesletter or the hype surrounding the products if you expect to have any long term success as an Internet marketer (and I’m using this as a general term here). The minute you start pushing fluff and hype to your readers and your list, you can kiss your chance at a loyal following goodbye.

How do you know what is good out there and what is crap?

Well, the night after I wrote this post (on paper first like I always do), I downloaded a free report from Scott Boulch called The Internet Marketing Cure. Be Sure to use that link and go get that free report. I love the way he explains how to clear out the junk from your email by attempting to contact the list owners.

I have always prided myself in my goal to always remain accessible to my readers, subscribers, students, or whoever wants to get in touch. This is an important part of where my success has come from. I am a real person, not a guru and I teach those that I lead these same principles.

Remember, your reputation is worth 1,000’s of times more than any promotional campaign and once it’s gone, you’ll pay hell to get it back, if you ever can.

I’ll use another example to illustrate the right way to promote an information product. I’ve bought tons of ebooks but, as an affiliate, I promote very very few.

One that I do promote, even though it’s not “the next big thing” is Web Design Mastery.

Why?

Because I purchased Web Design Mastery back when I was starting out online as a serious marketer. I didn’t even know what HTML meant or have the slightest idea how to even begin to publish my own web pages. Now, I have many websites and other content all over the Internet, all of that possible because of the foundation in website design and HTML I got from Web Design Mastery.

I’m not even going to sit here and try to sell anyone on this product, the proof is in what I have created since using the course. If you look at Sheree “The Social Media Butterfly” Motiska on MySpace, you can see a partial list of my websites, blogs, profiles, and other web content. This is why I have no problem linking to this product, and others that I personally use that have been proven to myself to deliver what they promise, from my own content.

Also notice that in this post, there are several chances for me to directly insert affiliate links. Notice that I do not do that, I only link to a review and a piece of teaching material.

I’ll save my affiliate links for my relevant content and stick with the subtlety that I know works. Otherwise, this whole post would be hypocritical.


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Is Russell Bruson For Real Or Is Affiliate Evolution Just Another Bunch Of Useless Crap Like Everything Else?

By sheree | May 28, 2008

I just got done listening to the 1st part of Affiliate Evolution by Russell Brunsten. An hour and 4 minutes! I still have 5 more MP3s to go through from just one $10 purchase (the price IS going up, but still!).

This guy is a marketing genius.

I took 6 pages of notes from just the first audio. Now, I already know exactly how I’m going to package and market my upcoming “Social Media Marketing Academy” and “Web 2.0 Empire” coaching and products. And no, it’s not another coaching program. It’s ME telling YOU how to do exactly what I do to make money from home. That’s it. No fancy “theory” that I read from a book and never implemented in my own business.

It’s all about the sales funnel, according to Affiliate Evolution, and Russel leaves nothing out. He explains, in just the first audio, exactly how he sets up his own business and sales funnel.

The craziest part about it is that I’ve known Russel for quite a long time and I had previously just thought of him as another ‘guru” (appologies Russel), just giving pieces to a vague puzzle and never quite putting them together.

What changed my mind were his live broadcasts immediately prior to the launch of Affiliate Evolution. Sadly, I was only able to attend one out of I think it was 4 or 5 broadcasts. I just didn’t have time with what’s been going on in my own life and business.

But, just from that 1 broadcast, I was so impressed by the amount of actual useful content that he provided that I was already sold when the launch finally came. At that point, I didn’t even know the price yet, I just knew I was buying it.

I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered the “early bird” price of only $10. And, everyone who knows me, knows how picky I am about what I personally endorse. I put my full recommendation on Affiliate Evolution, after only hearing the first audio. I learned more from that 1 hour and 4 minutes than I have learned in the past who knows how many crappy ebooks I’ve bought.

See, I buy A LOT of products because I like to see what’s out there because my goal is to provide something fresh instead of more rehashed obscurity. I know that’s a bold statement, but that is what I plan to do. I could’ve already put out who knows how many ebooks already, but instead I’m holding out for something really amazing. Just ask my students.

My only mistake was that I didn’t (on this rare occasion) take advantage of the OTO (one-time-offer). I’ll be calling Russel to see if I can get a second chance on that. Maybe if I ask nicely…

This guy is the real deal.

He’s not teaching you, as an affiliate, how to sell HIS products. He’s teaching you how to use affiliate marketing as a tool in building a REAL BUSINESS.

In closing, let me leave you with a little formula from Affiliate Evolution.

A Business ≠ A Product Only

A Business = How Can You CONTINUE Providing Value To Your Customers On Many Levels?


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Well, There Were Some Of Them Anyway.

By sheree | May 6, 2008

The previous posts are gone but at least a few were saved. Now to the blogroll!


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Just A Quick Bit (I Swear) Of Exciting News. Social Media Marketing Acadamy…

By sheree | May 6, 2008

By Sheree | March 1, 2008

A really quick (no, really! I know, my posts have been dragging on lately. Sorry.) “news” update about the “Web 2.0 Empire Blueprint” course that’s been in the works for a long time.

***Please, Don’t Miss The P.S.***

As I’ve said before, there has always been a plan to create “my dream product” for you. A product(s) that has, if you really get down to it, been in the makings for almost 3 years now. I just wasn’t sure of a time frame and the scope of the project.

I am very pleased to announce the birth of…

Drum roll, please…

The Social Media Marketing Academy!

After a very eye-opening chat with my newest “Web 2.0 Empire” student, I had a nice long mastermind session with little old me.

I promised that this wouldn’t be long, so here’s the deal.

I just bought 5 domains for the membership/other goodies adventure.
Here’s my vision:

What do you think guys?

I’m so excited. Please, feel free to give me feedback. I made this for YOU, not me. Remember, I was once a clueless newbie with dreams of making my living online too. All I want is to see my blood, sweat, and tears become something great. I want to “Teach Others What I Learned The Hard Way.”

Bless You All, None Of This Would Even Matter Without You Guys.

Sheree

P.S. Don’t forget, I still have room for a few more Social Media Marketing Academy scholarships. If you’re really ready to get down, dig in, get your hands dirty, and finally build that successful business you’ve been dreaming about, LET”S DO IT! My scholarship “case studies” get it all for free. Lifetime membership to the subscription portion as well.

Contact Me For An Interview


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The Give And Take Of Internet Marketing

By sheree | May 6, 2008

By Sheree | March 1, 2008

I just got an e mail that one of my subscribers had tried to call me when I was “incapacitated” by the flu that I had for the past week and 1/2 and a few other subscribers email me from time to time as well.

This is what I want. I WANT to interact with people who read what I write.

If you’ve noticed, I’m not the type to pummel you with a never ending parade of promotional emails after you’ve opted in to receive my newsletter. I will admit, the newsletter needs work. As you know, I’m in the process of consolidating things and trying to get a feel for where my readers are at, what you need, so that I can provide something of value for you.

If you’re serious about building a business online, I know that you probably have tons of other newsletters in your inbox, read a bunch of other blogs, see websites galore all the time. In order to build your business, you also need to build your knowledge and skill set. If you’re anything like me you have newsletters, blog subscriptions, and bookmarks on topics like:

You get the idea. I could go on and on. The point is, if you expect to have any real/ lasting success online, you need to educate yourself on these things and stay current on industry news.

Don’t Panic!!!

For my newbies, you don’t need to learn everything at once. However, every day that you go to work in your home office, you need to make it a point to at least learn, or continue your research, on something. Take your time, research thoroughly, (there is plenty of “hokey” advice out there so make sure you’re learning from people who know what they’re talking about. The links in my blogroll here-they’re categorized for you too-are all sound resources.) and don’t be afraid to ask for help!

I’ve said this many times before and I’ll say it again…

I remember what it was like to be a “newbie’ and not know which end was up. Believe me, I understand why many people end up giving up. The only reason I didn’t was because I was pretty much out of options. You can see my story on MySpace, if you want to know why I do what I do.

Please, feel free to contact me anytime (within reason, let’s say, 10am-12midnight, EST.-I’m a night owl) if you’re stuck, frustrated, whatever.

I HATE seeing newbies with great work ethic and dreams of having their own business constantly targeted online with claims of “magic pills,” “quick fixes,” or “business in a box” type of crap.

Just because you want to better yourself does not mean that you should get ripped-off first!

I feel very strongly about this, as you can see, so PLEASE, know that I really mean it when I say you can contact me if you need help, can’t understand something, aren’t sure if something you’re considering is legitimate or not, or you simply just need someone to talk to or some encouragement. I know how hard it can be in the beginning. If I can get someone who deserves success (like you!) past the point of wanting to give up, that’s all the reward I could ever want.

Notice one of my (poor, neglected, yet well meaning) blog’s title’s is “The Newbie Advocate?” I don’t take that moniker lightly!

Now, I know how shady the Internet can be. Don’t worry, I’m not extending my hand to you only to pull a “bait-and-switch” on you and try to sell you something or get you to join my opportunity.

I’m just a regular, single Mommy, who learned about this “newbie targeting” slimeball tactic the hard way. It is simply “my calling” to offer what I have learned, the hard way, with no strings attached. It’s all in the name of my personal fight against “guru tyranny.”

Had it all ended with my saving only 1 single poor, defenseless “newbie” from the evil clutches of the “build your own business, overnight, without even turning on your computer” Internet marketing “guru-wannabees,” my efforts would have been well worth it.

Whew, I get rather emotional when I rant about this subject!

If you only knew how much time and money I wasted in the beginning when all I wanted was a legitimate, honest business built from hard work and perseverance, you’d understand why I choose to help as many people as I can.

So, you getting the picture? Seriously, give me a call, send an email, whatever if you need help with:

Again, I’ll never claim to be “the only expert you’ll ever need.” As I said before, when you choose to start your own business, you begin a continuous quest for knowledge and skills. EVERYONE, I don’t care who they are, has room to get better as a marketer/business person.

But, this is my full-time gig (overtime, actually) and I’ve spent many and many an hour researching, testing, practicing, and just basically strengthening my overall skill set as an Internet marketer. I simply want to…

Teach Others What I Learned The Hard Way.

I am both a network marketer AND an affiliate marketer (no matter what you’ve heard, you CAN do both! One funds your business as you grow and the other provides you the opportunity to create a long-term-and if you work hard- VERY LARGE residual income. It’s called a “funded proposal” and EVERY network marketer, in my opinion, should be learning how to implement this strategy.

If I can help make it so that even 1 less person quits before they’ve had a chance to gain momentum, either out of frustration or due to lack of results from all the hard work, I’ll be satisfied. This happens all the time. People end up quitting when they could’ve been great for reasons like:

I could keep going on about the many reasons, many of them avoidable, that people quit before they are able to achieve any success online. What it boils down to is that I want to see you succeed.

All you have to do is ask and I will tell you what you need to know. If I don’t have the answer you need (I’ll never claim to be “all knowing”) I will point you in the right direction so that you can find it.

I have no problem listening to your “opportunity pitch” if you want to practice or if you’re not sure about an opportunity you’re considering. One warning though,

I will tell it to you like it is. I do not sugercoat things.

Because I offer free leads generation to network marketers, I talk to people in so many different MLM companies. That’s good for me because I am able to get a much bigger picture of the industry as a whole this way. ***Check out “I Spy With My Little Eye, Something That Will Help Me Get Rich!”***

Once more, I hope that you know that I am truly all ears if you need someone to practice on presenting your opportunity (I’ll hit you with every possible objection/excuse you’ll ever hear-remember, I ask a million questions)  or aren’t sure about the “shady factor” in an opportunity you’re considering, or any of the topics I mentioned above.

You see, I am a loyal believer and participant of “attraction marketing.” I do not present my opportunity unless I am asked to. Translation: I won’t tell you that your “pending” or current opportunity is bunk so that I can slither in and sell you on mine.

As you can see by what I teach at “How To Build Your Web 2.0 Empire,” that’s not my style. So if you’re looking for tips on how to be an aggressive, pushy marketer, you’ve come to the wrong girl.

I teach my “students” how to attract their leads to THEM so that they’re open to whatever it is that’s being presented. My “leads” in any shape or form (social network friends, subscribers, leads directly from my leads capture page) don’t hear about my opportunity until they’re good and ready (and willing) to hear about it.

I have found, from personal experience, that this approach yields far better results than “salesy” techniques (at least for me anyway, and I’m surely not the only non-salesperson building a business online).

In closing, feel free to become one of “my students.” Since I don’t wear a “guru crown,” my advice and teachings are free for anyone who is serious about gaining more knowledge and skill. Perhaps one day in the future, I’ll ask you for your success story or maybe a short testimonial, but that’s all I would ever ask of you.

For anyone who is still skeptical regarding my “intentions,” a true network marketer (or anyone else who strives for success) knows that…

True Leadership Comes From Freely Giving Whatever It Is You Have To Offer, In A Truly Selfless Way, And By Doing So You Are Thereby Rising Up New Leaders.My Most Treasured Milestones In My Own Path To Success Come From Those That I Have Had, And Will Have Had, The Pleasure Of Helping Achieve Their Own Success Milestones Along The Way.

You can also read more about my struggles on MySpace and “What Kind Of Upline Are You?” That should clear up any confusion as to why I want to help you.

Before you know it, you’ll be ready to offer your own expertise (if you’re not already) and you’ll be more than happy to do it if you are the true leader that I know you are capable of becoming.

Remember:

“No one will ever care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Because I have been blessed to learn what I have learned (albeit the hard way), this is my way of giving back. It’s about gratitude and karma. So, there it is, an open invitation to contact me.


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Web 2.0 Marketing: Quick Fix or Long Term Success Blueprint?

By sheree | May 6, 2008

By Sheree | February 22, 2008

No matter what you’ve heard or how many sales pitches you’ve been bombarded with in your MySpace inbox, you must understand that the key to a successful social media marketing campaign is value and subtlety.

Aggressive advertisement has no place in the social communities online. You must be careful to avoid creating an atmosphere on your profiles, and elsewhere, that resembles a company billboard or online storefront.

Instead of attempting to make direct sales or trying to sneak in an opportunity pitch to a mass audience, create a combination that brings you results.

Social media marketing=leads generation+backlink building+connections and relationships+personal branding

Try to adopt a forward thinking mindset when it comes to your business as opposed to short terms results that may lead to disaster.

I read a great blog post recently that compared network marketing to the dating scene. Leading your prospecting campaign with a full fledged sales pitch complete with comp plan jargon that most of your audience couldn’t care less about is like meeting an attractive person you’d like to get to know and saying:

“Hi, I’m _________. How about you sleep with me, now that we’re acquainted.

Presenting a prospect with a life changing decision, like committing to a home business, without building a rapport is exactly the same. Never forget this frequently quoted, yet apparently misunderstood bit of knowledge:

“People join people, not opportunities.”

Cliche or not, it’s the real truth. Network marketing companies, comp plans, marketing “systems,” and “revolutionary products,” are a dime a dozen at this time in history. Most of your prospects have, at some time or another, either been prospected by an MLM or been involved in one. What they’re really seeking, whether consciously or not, is (in this order):

  1. A real person they can relate to and see themselves working with in the future.
  2. A sponsor that is willing and able to provide support and leadership to get them started on the right track.
  3. Training included. I see so many “MLM training programs” it disturbs me. It is your duty as an upline leader to train future leaders within your organization. When they succeed, you succeed. They are not there to create a target market for tapes and seminars you can point them to to line your own pockets.
  4. A simple to follow marketing plan they can use to generate income, not just further expense that goes on and on. In a nutshell, can you show them how to do this?
  5. Great products or services that they can use, enjoy, and feel good about recommending.
  6. Less important to them is the stuff that so many marketers focus on like sales brochures, duplicated websites, powerpoint presentations, and all the other shiny toys that take the focus off what really matters.

You must stop trying to find the “quick fix” and start thinking like a real business developer. Would you rather make a quick buck at the cost of burning your bridges or create a lasting impression that builds loyalty and continual success?

Once you decide to commit, in a genuine and heartfelt manner, to helping other people succeed, you are opening the flood gates to unlimited success for yourself.

I’ll end this with another of my favorite phrases heard in the network marketing world:

“People never care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

To Your Success,

Sheree


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Guess What? I Found My Blog Somehow.

By sheree | May 6, 2008

OK, so you know how I lost this blog, right? I had to start all over again? Well, I happened upon “related links” up on the very top of my Firefox toolbar and there it was, cached somehow from a time before it’s death!

Hooray!!!

So, I’m just going to start pasting it all back on, right now. Blogroll’s there and everything. I’m so happy!


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Keeping Track Of Your Blogs

By sheree | May 3, 2008

Besides Feedburner for keeping track of the number of RSS subscribers you have, there are 3 really great tools for keeping track of who is visiting your blogs. These 3 tools allow you to add a profile, add your blogs (and in the case of Yohoo’s My Blog Log, your other sites), and then add a widget to your sidebar which actually shows pictures of your latest visitors.

Not only are these great tracking tools, but since you can see who the actual readers are, it’s a great way to connect with your readers. When you see someone new on your widget, go over and say hello to them.

This is what social media marketing is all about.

Without further ado, here are the 3 tools for keeping tabs on your blog stats and connecting with your readers:

The only reason I don’t have widgets all over the side of this blog is because, since the blog was accidentally erased, I’ve decided to use this blog as my example for everything I need to teach in “The Social Media Marketing Academy.”


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UStream.TV

By sheree | April 30, 2008

So, I’m back here at my blog even though it is incredibly sad to look at if after it’s untimely death. Shake it off, Sheree, SHAKE IT OFF…

Anyway, I have just set up my channel at Ustream.tv. Apparently I can record and imbed my webinars using this service. I really hope so because I need to be able to do it.

You can also add:

Sheree “The Social Media Butterfly” Motiska


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My Poor Dead Web 2.0 Empire Blog

By sheree | April 21, 2008

Well, this is the first post since the untimely death of the original blog that was here.  The only thing I can do is make it even better than before, and perhaps, less cluttered.

So, now there’s even a whole NETWORK of these social media marketing sites, including a forum, so be sure to check out the about page to check out the links to the rest of the Web 2.0 Empire.

Anyway, I’ll get over the death of the blog and, as I said, make it better than before. In the meantime, The Social Media Marketing Academy and the creation of the Web 2.0 Empire courses is in full-swing right now. I have 6 awesome students who will be discussing the case study, in public, with me at The Social Media Marketing Butterfly Blog.

The reason that these sites and blogs are so slow in the making is because I’m using them as examples for screen capture videos on some basic stuff that I think every home business owner should know how to do. For example, we started with the Basic Building Blocks Of A Web 2.0 Empire and then I created videos on my web 2.0 Empire You Tube Channel for my students as well as the rest of the world to see.

Of course, my students and  my video network marketing affiliates get the whole she-bang, but I am letting some of it out so that you can see what’s to come. Also, my subscribers are getting a few extras that the public is not.


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  • Recent Posts

  • Confused About Social Media Marketing

    Are you excited about the big fat boost of Internet exposure for your home business that a Web 2.0 marketing campaign can offer?

    But...

    Confused by conflicting strategies or just information overload?  Or maybe you're not sure where to start, stuck due to technical uncertainty, or think it all seems like it would be a time consuming nightmare to pull off.

    Though social media platforms are not a replacement for a few of the core elements of a good Internet business plan, they are a very powerful and worthwhile addition to your marketing toolbox. The great part is, you do not have to sacrifice 100 hours a week to achieve results either.

    In response to all of the hype and misguidance I've been seeing on the subject lately, I've been working on a comprehensive, detailed, step-by-step video/PDF product called "How To Build Your Web 2.0 Empire: The Complete Blueprint" for debut when I feel it's ready.  But right now, you can be one of the first people to get a sneak peek at this plan FREE!

    When you sign up right here, you will receive, in  easy to digest, step-by-step pieces a detailed plan of action to get your web 2.0 marketing campaign underway immediately and continue at a natural, realistic pace.

    All of my subscribers are automatically entered to be 1 of 5 people to receive the very 1st copies of the "How To Build Your Web 2.0 Empire: The Complete Blueprint" social media marketing course the minute it's ready.

    Just fill out your information below (don't worry, I HATE spam too and your email is safe with me) to start getting your free guide to web 2.0 marketing and start your personal branding campaign today. 

    Name:
    Email:
    The one social media platform Id like to learn more about is:
    Do you have a website or blog yet: