Last week I posted about how mushy-gushy I feel about Johnny B. Truant, Internet snarkmeister and tech genius. And the post got the most comments ever (so far!) for a blog post, which was completely awesome and surprising.
And then after I’d given him all this link love, he came out with an affiliate program for his blog-setup service (which costs $39 now that the free introductory offer is done, and which is still a fantastic deal if you’re looking for a WordPress blog). Which made me go “D’oh!” but which I promptly joined so that I could change all the links in my previous post to affiliate links, and sprinkle some into a new post (hint: you’re reading it right now!).
And then Johnny won my heart (again!) by taking a comment I wrote on his post about why he’s switching to AWeber and essentially making it a guest post on his blog (go read it if you want to know how you can import your mailing list into AWeber without making the people on it opt-in again). Which was completely awesome and surprising.
And reminded me that merely giving helpful information, with no expectation of reward, is the single best thing I can do to be remarkable (which, paradoxically enough, will then generate interest, clients, and things like accidental guest-posts on a fantastic blog). Which is what I try to do with every post. Head-spinning, I know.
And then he posted (over his guest column on IttyBiz) about how he’d made just shy of three thousand dollars in five weeks using Naomi’s Online Business School, which was completely awesome and surprising. Except that I shouldn’t have been surprised, given the rockin’ combination of Naomi and Johnny. And yes, that link to OBS is another affiliate link.
Yes, fun. Having fun is a Serious Business Practice here. You better believe it!
Related posts:
Posted by Wendy Cholbi, your friendly neighborhood swim-goggle-wearing technology-to-English translator
Fun! woot! \o/
Business Trees, woot! \0/
Web Creation Workshop starting today, woot! \o/
PS. Is it weird to comment on our own blog, lol?
I think we’re mutually on to something. I don’t think the key to success is altruism, which would mean you get nothing… but I do think that the key is to find ways for everyone to benefit. So for instance, I’m able to offer these setups so cheap because of the affiliate commission I get. It essentially subsidizes the purchase.
So I’m trying to use that everywhere. How can I help? People ask me what I use for X and Y because I’m out there talking about it. I tell them what I use (what I REALLY use) and provide an affiliate link when I can. They benefit. I benefit. The vendor benefits.
I have also given a crapload of free advice, with no affiliate tie-in. But the bonus? People keep coming back. And later, they often do buy.
What comes around goes around.
Johnny B. Truant’s last blog post..The first tutorial. Soon… soon…
Johnny, I really like your distinction between altruism and mutual benefit. It’s a helpful reminder to me that there IS something between altruism and, oh, let’s say complete selfish greed (Gordon Gekko, anyone? No, I’m not talking about the Geico lizard. Does that date me? Oh well!).
That’s why I really loved your post on IttyBiz, the way you hit on the “look, I really want to help YOU make money” angle on “become my affiliate.”
Mynde, weirdness is what it’s all about, girlfriend! \o/
Well, obviously, I want affiliate sales because *I* want to make money, too. But here’s the thing: I really, really, really want my affiliates to make money. If I make a sale and it’s not an affiliate sale, I get an extra $19.50. But honestly, when I see those sales, I’m disappointed.
Why?
Because while I may “lose” $19.50 if it’s an affiliate sale, it’s actually more like I INVESTED $19.50 in winning over a salesperson. If affiliates see that they can actually make money, they’ll go nuts trying to make themselves… and me… more.
It’s partially for this reason that I’m really trying to win over the first-time affiliate – the person who’s seen this done but has never tried it. I want to make it real for them, so that they’ll do it again.
And again, everyone wins.
Johnny B. Truant’s last blog post..The first tutorial. Soon… soon…