7 Steps 2 Success

Every week I connect with dozens of network marketers online, most of them still struggling to achieve the success they desire.  One of the most common questions I get asked goes something like this:

 

"I'm trying to get my business off the ground, but I'm on a very limited budget. I need to make money fast. What are the best low-cost marketing strategies!?"

 

And you know what, that is a real good question.

 

If you are on a limited budget, you will have to approach your business from a slightly different perspective...but it’s very doable.

 

One of the worst things you could do is go out and spend every last dollar you have on buying leads, PPC campaigns, postcards, banners, or co-ops.  Because if you spend your $500 on leads, PPC, fliers, business cards, or a postcard campaign, you might get a few prospects, but if you don't sponsor any of them, you're back to square one. There's no way to LEVERAGE the results. Also, you've violated a very important rule:  “Get proficient in one marketing technique at a time.  Don’t become a user of all, master of none."

 

What you want to do is invest your funds into "high leverage" skills and simple activities, which you can use over and over again to quickly and easily produce more leads any time you want... for FREE.

 

Okay, you’re not only on a budget, you don’t have a lot of time.  In the beginning, I had the same situation.  That’s when I came up with my 7-Step Plan and it goes like this:

1. Write a blog
2. Write an article
3. Write an ad
4. Write a capture page
5. Write an email
6. Write an update/message
7. Write comments

Here’s an example of using all seven steps for a (fictitious) vacation package:

Blog: Planning a vacation?  Talk about information, horror stories about bad vacations, name facts and figures, compare that to how it can be done right, suggest they fill out form.

 

Article: Very much like the blog but without mentioning personal links or particular companies.  On the signature, write “Planning a vacation? For customized itineraries suited to your needs, go to (capture page),” and “For more articles on how to arrange the ideal vacation, go to (your blog).”

 

Ad: Headline it with “Planning a vacation? Tell us what you need.  We can help.” Then send them to the capture page for FREE information. Ads can be classified ads, flyers, drop cards, business cards, post its, Solo Ads, Traffic Exchange…anywhere you can find to place it for free.  As long as you can put your message and link on it, it’s an ad.

 

Capture Page: Planning a vacation?  Tell us what you need.  We can help.”  Direct them to fill out the form, telling what they need, assure them you’ll do all the rest.

 

Email: Write subject line:  Planning a vacation?  Body text:  Dear (name), Are you planning a vacation now or in the future?  We’ll design a package based on your needs.  Simply go to (capture page link) and fill out the form.  Our travel agents are trained to design the best and most economical vacation designed specifically for you.  See article at (link) or visit our website (link).  Ideal vacations are our specialty.  (signature, all those links again and a PHONE NUMBER)

 

Social Network Update: Planning a vacation?  We specialize in customized vacations designed according to your needs (link).

 

Comments: Find blogs and Forums that have high traffic (use Alexa.com to check on how much traffic they get).  Search your topic and leave comments signing them with your name and blog or article link.

 

All of the above would be one campaign.  Cost?  Nothing.  It’s all time.

The beauty of this one is that your articles and letters, once done, are done.  In other words, it is not work you have to do over and over.  I know you'll have questions like where to publish your articles (EzineArticles.com) and how do I do that and, and, and....but all I'm putting here right now is the seven steps.

 

If you have only a little time and NO money, this is the plan for you.  When you start getting leads YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL THEM.  But that's in another blog.

As you get the hang of the 7 steps, there will be other things to consider but let’s keep this simple for now.   If you were going to market online in the past, you had to be a certified search engine expert, or a wizard at pay-per-click with deep pockets full of cash in order to get enough traffic.  Well thanks to new sites like MySpace, FaceBook, YouTube, CraigsList, Pressmania, StumbleUpon, Ebay, (the list goes on and on) you don't have to spend big bucks to tap into this massive flood of FREE traffic.

 

I mean why pay for leads and advertising when you can get them for free!?

And the best part is that you don't even need to be a computer expert to start using these simple tactics TODAY...

 

Now, if you don’t even have a Facebook account, you’ve got some work to do to get started on your online marketing.  Go on over to the free library at www.CherylCurrie.com/download-ebooks and find Facebook 101.  You will need to subscribe to get the password.  Once you've got it set up, start getting some friends and Followers on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.  Later you can expand out to even more social networks.

 

Don't just make friends with anyone unless you like getting swamped with spam.  Use Jim Chao’s 12 steps outlined in his talk at:  http://jimchao.net/ttofb/

Find your target audience with key words at “SocialOomph”

If you don't know how to use SocialOomph, go here: http://www.cherylcurrie.com/how-to-use-socialoomph

 

For full, no-charge training, go to http://www.cherylcurrie.com