This is an IMPORTANT question to ask yourself… Are you branding YOU or someone else?
What do I mean by that? When people come to your blog and they subscribe to your email list, they are saying “I like you and I want to hear more from YOU”.
What most marketers are doing is passing them off to someone else right away. They are offering them an affiliate product or service from someone in their same niche before they’ve even offered them something of their own.
Are you doing this? It’s okay if you are…
Most likely this is what you’ve been taught to do. There are a lot of big marketers that are telling you to do this. I always want to shoot you straight and give you the real deal info… so check out this video as I dig a little bit deeper into this topic:
So, let me ask you the question again… Are you branding YOU or someone else? Share your reply by leaving a comment below. I always love connecting with you. Also, pass this post to your Facebook and Twitter buddies, they will appreciate it:)
I appreciate you for hangin’ with me here today… much love!
Yours In Abundance,
Eric Goldstein
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Eric – great video, and I have to admit I have seen a few blogs with exactly what you are talking about lately. I understand that when you are just getting started sometimes it is easier to just put up something like KF’s manifesto until you can create your own free product, but these were ‘established’ blogs!
I have an optin on my page but it is a little different to most. It is to a small database of info from 5 people (including myself). Has had some great results in terms of optin numbers considering my blog is so young
Thanks for sharing your great points
cheers ~ Nat
Nat´s last [type] ..Enrich With Zemanta – What is it How Do You Use It What Benefit Is It To You
Hey Nat,
Thanks for the comment!
It does seem easier to just toss up
someone else’s product as an optin
when getting started.
There lies the issue… the optin should
be created before the blog. That’s just
my belief.
I think the blog should be created around
the optin offer, as your free offer is the doorway
to your store.
Just Eric G’s thoughts:)
wow I have to say I have never heard anyone compare the optin to being like the doorway to your store. But when you put it like that, it totally makes sense…. Ok now you have me thinking all new and different things here… off to write down some ideas and get the creative juices flowing – Thanks heaps!!
Nat´s last [type] ..How To Get Started With Your GetResponse Account – A Brief Overview
Yea Eric,
I absolutely agree with you about branding yourself! I think way to often people forget that they are building their list for the purpose of connecting with your own followers. I am not saying that marketing other people’s products is not good but like you said you have to brand yourself first. Once you are established then your list will be loyal to you and your own products. You can always JV later but for now it is a no-brainier to build your own brand first.
Cool Video Eric keep then coming!
Later bro – DB
Derek Bingham´s last [type] ..The RAFT System Is Like Motivation On Crack
Right on Derek… I’m with you!
If you are an affiliate marketer, then
it’s totally different. But if you are
creating a Personal Brand, then it
should be all YOU in the beginning.
More to come buddy!
Hey Eric,
I hear what you are saying. I am always trying to offer value to my list, which is why I give people free reports when they sign up, and why I shared with them some of your best content in a recent email.
It pisses me off when I sign up to a list and they just start trying to sell me stuff, or are all about themselves. But when bloggers tell me about free content online or other cool bloggers I respect that.
Cheers,
Garin
It’s KEY Garin to offer free value to
your list as well. It can’t always be
sell sell sell.
Thanks for sharing that here!
Hey Eric,
WOW, I had a conversation to this tune yesterday with a partner of mine, this had to be said and I’m glad it came from you in your usual straight to the point manner.
If I join someones mailing list and I get a set of videos from someone else they lose credibility, in most cases the vids are great but I wanna see what the person in question had to offer!
Great post and definitely one that I’ll be sharing cos people need to hear it!
Thanks Eric!
Frank Profeta´s last [type] ..1 Chance to Make a Good Impression – Here’s 5 Steps to make it Great!
You know me Frank, just sayin’ it
like it is. I know I will piss off some
people…
But I always like to say what I feel
is true to me, may not be to others.
And I know I will make a bunch of
peeps happy with what I’m saying,
so those are the ones that I choose
to focus on.
Thanks for sharing the post Frank!
Eric,
I use to do this. From the very beginning, I was passing my leads to someone else’s brand. I know better now. Thanks for sharing.
-Laticia
laticia´s last [type] ..A New Science In Network Marketing
Hey Laticia,
Good stuff… keep branding YOU!
Nice tip Eric and something that many people probably don’t think about. Garin’s point about providing value 1st…before selling to your list…is also extremely important!
Keep those short video tips coming
Kimberly
Kimberly,
I’m with Garin on that…
That’s what most of your front end
should be about… free value!
Then offer it within your backend as
well, mixed in with your products/services.
More stuff on the way for ya:)
Hi Eric,
Thank you, I have been reluctant about other people’s content and feel validated by this. Now to actually get my own brand up and running! Thanks for your comments and help!
Andrea
My pleasure Andrea… nothing wrong
with sharing other people’s content.
Part of getting exposure will be syndicating
with others within your niche… but when
it comes to your backend, let it be you from
the start.
Rock that brand girl!
Guilty!
I’m afraid I’ve done this Eric, so thank you for making the video! But you are so right. Finding your own value and gift to give others is when we are really able to take off! 
Emily Giuffre´s last [type] ..Creating Freedom and Our Future
All good Emily… we all have! I have:)
We all have value to share within
our niche, we just need to dump it
out of our heads and into a product
or service.
Hello,
This video was a very good insight, because there are a lot of people who use the affiliate programs to get started and their’s one in particular that I have used that has pre-set auto-responder campaigns which as you said promotes their brand as soon as people opt-in my list…
Thanks very much Eric,
look forward to your next posts…
Chris
Hey Chris,
There are lots of people who set this
type of system up for others…
But I feel if you are looking to brand
you, then it has to be all about you
when they first join your list.
Thanks for sharing buddy!
Awesome message, Eric. I’m in the middle of a training course right now that’s centered around creating information products. There are so many great reasons to do so…branding being just one of them!
Heather C Stephens´s last [type] ..7 Ways to Monetize Your Marketing & Create Additional Streams of Income
Hey Heather,
Create those info products, put
then on automation within your
funnel/cash flow map…
And build that biz… thanks for
sharing your thoughts here:)
Eric. You are spot on with your analysis. I made the mistake several years of ago of letting go of the brand I had built into an industry leader. I am now faced with rebuilding that same brand in a more competitive marketplace. Lesson learned. Thanks for the video.
Scott Pollov´s last [type] ..Why Write A Business Plan – Eight Great Reasons!
Hey Scott,
All good bro… I believe it’s like
the old saying ‘muscle has memory’.
You’ll get all that back in no time.
It’s funny how life teaches us lessons,
not always the way we would like it
to teach us:)
Thanks buddy…
Well said Eric! It may seem like the easy thing to do, just pick up another person’s material and put it out there, but your comments clearly explain the need to build trust by offering your own product. It seems to me that if you don’t develop your own material real Branding will never come!
Have a great day!
Trust is key… we’re building relationships:)
Thanks Bonnie for hangin’ here today!
Hey hey Eric,
think that I´m about to choose the first option, don´t like the latter one too much hehe.
Who wants to be fake? At the beginning trying to imitate other people sounds like a good deal, but it isn´t. People appreciate you, if you are for REAL.
Thanks for sharing.
Gerald
You are right, the problem for all the beginners including myself is the lack of knowledge. After a few months someone can start putting their own product together. There is so much information online! I do agree with your observation and I am going to start working on my own product to brand myself. Thanks
Ok Eric, I watched your video last night and really had to give it some time to settle. Few hours later I started creating my own content. It totally makes sense! Thank you for the inspiration. Your video pushed me in the right direction and to actually take action.
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