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Jumping on the "Next Big
Opportunity" Bandwagon
© 2003 By Angela Wu
How many times have you received email inviting you to join a brand-new opportunity -- one that's "sure"
to be a success? Often times, we're told that we can strike it
big if we join an opportunity early:
-
We can be one of the first to promote the opportunity
to our lists. The market isn't yet saturated
with others promoting the same thing, and we can
"brand" potential customers with our affiliate or
distributor link.
-
We can refer others to the program, build a large
"downline" (before they join under
someone else's referral), and earn a percentage of the sales
they produce. This is sometimes touted as being an
easy way to make more money with no extra work.
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Kartchner Caverns State Park opened in 1999. This stunning limestone cave system is one of the top in the world. Visit Sunny Southwest this cold winter |
New opportunities can certainly have a special allure.
However, not all of them will be successful - you could be joining the next big loser. Promoting something early
runs the risk of promoting something that's going to be a waste of your time and effort. Worse, it could trigger
the question of your credibility if you endorse the wrong product.
Before you join the "next big opportunity",
consider:
- When was the product released? This is important because it gives you an idea of how much time
it's been "tested". For instance, a piece
of software should be tested extensively on a variety of
different computer systems before you can say it really
"works". Or "The Foolproof Guide to Housetraining
Your Puppy In 10 Days" needs time to be put into
practice. Over time, more information will become
available about what customers like and dislike about the product.
- How do -you- like the product? If you're going to endorse a product, make sure it's worthy of
your recommendation. First-hand knowledge of the
product will also help you in your promotional efforts
since you'll be able to tell people some of its uses
and benefits.
- What attitude does the company have towards customer
service? Regardless of how great the sales copy
is, or how high the conversion rate, if customer
service is sub-par, there will be a higher-than-normal percentage of disgruntled customers and a
higher rate of returns and chargebacks. Those come
directly back out of your commissions! You also don't
want to tarnish your reputation by associating yourself
with a company that treats its customers poorly.
BEAT the Cold Winter of 2007 ARIZONA'S NEWEST WONDER
Kartchner Caverns State Park opened in 1999. This stunning limestone cave system is one of the top in the world. Visit Sunny Southwest this cold winter |
- What incentives does the opportunity offer if you join?
What percentage are you offered on sales made
by your sub-affiliates or downline? Do you also earn a commission on back-end sales? Will you continue
to receive recurring commissions for subscription-based products and services? Do you also receive
back-end and recurring commissions from sales made by
your sub-affiliates or downline?
Keep in mind that the simple act of recruiting
others isn't necessarily a sure way to higher profits.
It's not so important *how many* people you refer; what matters more is how many GOOD people you refer.
It's more beneficial to recruit one super-affiliate
that steadily produces sales, then to recruit 1000
people who never earn a single thin dime.
- How does the company track sales and commissions,
and when do you get paid? Are there minimum
commissions required before they cut you a cheque? Do they
require you to earn a certain number of direct sales in
a given time period before they'll pay you for
both your own commissions and those due to you
through your referrals?
- Is there a good record of payment to affiliates? All too often we hear about the next great
opportunity where people join in swarms. They market aggressively
and some even make a decent amount of money --
in theory. Weeks, then months, drag by when the
promised payment never materializes. It's a waste of
your time and effort to promote an opportunity that
doesn't pay out -- not to mention the blow to your
credibility if the people you refer also don't get paid. Look
for an opportunity that has a solid history of making
payments accurately and on time.
The "fast profits" mentality of the internet encourages
people to want to join a new opportunity early so that they don't miss out on the "next big thing". But
sitting back and carefully evaluating an opportunity before jumping on the bandwagon gives you the chance to see
how things initially play out. Good opportunities don't disappear overnight; they'll still be available tomorrow,
next week, or next month.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical guide to marketing a business on a beginner's budget. This
guide offers loads of instantly useable tips and links, in
a down-to-earth style that even marketing
"newbies" can understand! A helpful Online Business Dictionary is
included too... visit: http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
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