Branded Internet Marketing Systems, Why I said, No
May 19, 2010 by faithbarnard
Filed under All Posts, Internet Marketing
On the surface branded online marketing systems look fabulous. The success of network marketing is based on simple systems that allow people to duplicate quickly to build long term residual income. When I first looked at the branded online marketing systems I was intrigued and very interested in test driving one of these systems.
I enrolled onto several people’s mailing lists with one of the most popular systems and discovered I as started receiving peoples auto responder emails and checking out landing pages, videos etc. that they all looked the same and what was apparent up front was the majority of the marketing was about the system and why you needed it.
I’m not saying the system had no merit however the longer I checked it out the less enamored I was with their branded system.
The clincher was when one of the people I was following and whose mailing list I was on, network marketing company decided to let go of their network marketing business model, this gentleman needed to find a new company and fast. Just like any good marketer he put his list to good use, at least for his agenda which was to hit my email box 4-5 times a day with promotions for his new company.
Fortunately for me I not only did not enroll into his marketing system, I had the good sense not to go into my current organization of associates in terms of introducing to them to this marketing system. If I had I would have had to do damage control.
Building a solid team takes time and introducing distractions is not conducive to to creating focus and building a thriving team.
The video tells the story.
Popularity: 15% [?]
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Hi Faith
Thanks for the article and video. You make some valid points on where Network Marketing is going in the future. I too am on a bunch of “marketers” email lists and get bombarded with offers. These are a massive distraction so every few months or so I make sure to unsubscribe to all the lists that are just trying to sell to me and not build up a relationship by genuinely helping me help my business.
Sam@Restasis´s last [type] ..how-much-is-restasis
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I agree with you that it is adequate to use simple systems rather than using a branded system because branded system will be costly ans some are not reliable to use, Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Faith,
Great job, it’s like saying no to drugs, don’t get addicted to the rush. It’s about branding yourself and building relationships.
Walter Wachs´s last [type] ..The Most Powerful Secrets To Your Lifestyle…
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faithbarnard Reply:
June 16th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Yes, it is like saying no to drugs. Purchasing a new program is only helpful if you use it and apply it to your life and your marketing. I agree it is about branding and building relationships. You summed it up. At the end of the day it is about connecting. Thanks.
Faith
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Hi Faith,
I appreciate your post. I am a member of one of these systems and I’m considering getting out. It was good for me at first because I did not know a thing and didn’t know how to find any answers. I now have a blog and would rather send people to my blog.
Everything they teach can be found elsewhere without their system, but I did not even know where to look.
One theory behind the system is that so many people already have a MLM business, but need online training. So it is easier to get people to join your system than your opportunity. Then there are about 16 affiliate programs to promote so there is income until someone actually does join your primary business.
So from this point of view there is good training for a “newbie”.
But, any in depth training on blogging, PPC, SEO, etc. is introduced by someone with a course that they charge extra for and you don’t have to be a member of the system to buy the course.
Bottom line, I’m getting tired of paying the $47 per month charge.
One correction I would make to your post – the person that sponsors you in the system does not have access to your list, so your list would not get their emails.
Sorry this comment is so long, but I guess I felt like I knew a lot about the subject!
Virginia
P.S. How is Jonathan Budd’s new program different from the others?
Virginia Sproul´s last [type] ..The MLM Deadly Curse; Why Are You Losing Money In MLM?
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Hi Faith,
As usual, you have posted a provocative entry. At the end of the day, what all of this comes down to is education. People who are new to online marketing need a place to start, and a system can provide a terrific point of entry.
However, s system is only as good as the person who uses it. And, just like we move up from elementary school to middle school to high school and beyond, so must we do that with our online education. I agree that branding ourselves is the most important priority when working online. Pre-packaged systems are useful for a certain amount of time, but…eventually, creating your own system that is all about you and your value will take you the distance. In other words, you have to graduate.
I believe in systems, but they need to be researched and understood for what they are: tools to get a larger goal accomplished.
Thank you for your candor and wisdom!
Mary Lou
Mary Lou Kayser´s last [type] ..Predictably Irrational: The Keys to Your Success May Be the Opposite of What You Think
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Great post Faith! Like you stated above,”branding yourself is the key.”
You touched on a lot of key points…….and will be sure to share your
post with my friends!
Thanks,
Antoine Grant
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Bang on Faith, Wendy, and Kenny.
You are your Brand – people need to be attracted to you. Branded systems are about duplication, and with duplication you lose your identity. If you have no unique identity, how can you reasonably expect to attract prospects who are looking for leaders and teachers?
And then there is the other reality you so aptly covered – the company comes second. If your identity is your company (opportunity), what happens if it goes away? You lose your identity and you are lost.
You are much better off learning to brand yourself and teaching others to do the same, then you will be the leader they are looking for and you will protect yourself from any risk of losing your company or your branded website.
My 2 cents.
Patch
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Faith, What you describe, id exactly what happened to me.
Like some of the others, I found it good to learn what is all about, but after ones have to step out of it and grow…
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faithbarnard Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 4:32 am
Hi Yvette,
Thank you for your comment. I do feel there is great information and systems we can learn from these branded systems and at the end of the day we all want to brand ourselves and protect the integrity of our lists.
Sometimes what is good in the short term is not always good in the long term.
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Hi Faith! Great video and info…I totally agree. I almost signed up w/one and realized it would be more valuable in the long-term to brand myself and attract like-minded people to me. It really came down to trusting my instincts because there were so many diff’t programs and systems being offered. I am sure it’s a great learning experience, especially if you’re starting out, but I choose another road and am glad I did. Thanks for posting!
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Faith,
Thanks for pointing out the drawbacks and downside to using these automated systems. Branding yourself FIRST is most important. Great contribution to this topic.
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Hi Faith,
I totally understand what you’re saying. I signed for one of those cookie cutter programs. Right after I did, I got very sick and couldn’t get started.
The creator of the program kept sending emails, after emails, urging me to go forward. I then, realized what kind of program that was and immediately canceled it.
I thing it’s a good thing alert others.
Thanks,
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Great points Faith. Personally if it’s working…keep doing it. However, long term you must build your own brand. A blog is the best way to do that in my opinion. Add some youtube videos and your on the way.
Kenny
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I am really not familiar with branding marketing systems, at least not in those terms, but I agree it is all about branding yourself. After all if we want to monetize and have a system that lasts, and who better than ourself to be that system. I have always preferred working for myself with my own accountability, providing my customers with good service.
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I noticed the same thing, too. I’ve signed up on quite a few mailing lists, and I’ve noticed that there seem to be four main systems that send me e-mails, and there are times when the only difference between the e-mails was the return address. Thank you for letting me know about this. This is part of the reason why I am doing my best to make sure that any program I do sign up with doesn’t do things that way.
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Faith,
I agree with your points. And your focus here is on the potential hazards of distraction.
One thing I think the wave of branded systems and the concept did for our porfession over the last 5-7 years was pave the way for folks to understand the importance of shifting their energy and time from branding their company and their upline to branding themselves.
I feel this trend caused more people to consider the concept of themselves being a leader sooner in the game.
In my experience, if a partner sees him or herself as a leader earlier in the game, I will have a loyal partner for longer. And this is good for them and good for me.
Stability and a marathon perspective doing what works is the name of the game in the current climate.
It’s so common-sense that many are still missing it. Yet, our profession is evolving.
Great post. Very thought-provoking!
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faithbarnard Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 4:36 am
Stephanie, thank you for your thoughtful post. I love the metaphor of marathon versus sprint. So true we are all in this for the long haul.
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Hi Faith!
I have written about this in a similar vein, the fact that many people seem to be promoting the system more so than branding themselves and providing value.
But the fact that someone used their list to pitch an opportunity, especially that frequently, is a total mis-use of their list! The list should have been limited to the content originally promised. orry you had that experience, and thank goodness they allow unsubscribing!
And I guess if you had been the one to offer the system to your team then they would only be on YOUR list, not the spammer. In that case you would be able to limit the damage control. Protecting YOUR list is key as you said!
Thanks for bringing this up!
Wishing You Every Success!
Vicki
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faithbarnard Reply:
May 27th, 2010 at 4:39 am
Vicki,
Thank you for your insightful comments. Historically I have built teams offline in network marketing so I am in a learning curve with everything internet marketing etc. It is an exciting journey and glad to know I can always trust my instincts.
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Faith,
I have never go with someone elses branded systems, they have a good foot print on what to do and if anything you can always pick up tips on what to do, i like to create my own branded systems to build my list, build relationships and have people know me. So get ideas from these branded systems, and use affiliate programs that have value to your list and your own system thru blog, capture page etc so that you control what your team/list gets all branding you except getting spam or affiliate programs on someone elses stuff and building their list.
Great points on this post and video!
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Interesting insight, I think branded systems help a lot of people and can cut down the learning curve but just my opinion
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