If you haven’t seen this yet… it is Lip Dub’s song “Hey Soul Sister” produced by the University of Vic (UVIC) during May 2010. Approximately 900 people appeared on this Lip Dub. The initiative comes out the course of creativity students of Advertising and Public Relations. (Directors: Daniel Feixas i Santi Hausmann).

Pretty cool and it gets better as it moves along

Can you see and feel the passion? What type of skills would you need create an experience like this?

What Are Affiliate Programs?

Affiliate programs are the Internet’s version of a retail company’s commission-based sales program.  Simply put, you refer a customer through your affiliate link and get a check.

The beauty is that as an affiliate you won’t physically handle products, create marketing tools, set up the sales process or collect the money. It is all handled by the affiliate manager.  You just refer a potential customer (via email, social media, website or blog promotion). Nice and simple.  It is a perfect way to start developing multiple streams of income which is essential in these economic times.

Some Points to Remember

• Promote products you truly believe in and that are relevant to your target market. Ask yourself: What other products and services do my customers need?

• Pre-sell prospects with your own testimonial. It is important that you use or a very familiar with this product and truly believe in it (For example I resell my shopping cart because I use it daily and know others need this e-commerce solution too).

• Be transparent and tell prospects you are an affiliate (The FTC mandates this)

Some Excellent Affiliate Programs (there are hundreds of great products on these sites)

www.CommissionJunction.com

www.ClickBank.com

www.AffiliatePrograms.com

Your Action Steps:

1) Go to the websites above and find one that has products your target market needs

2) Sign up for their affiliate program (sometimes called associate program or resellers program)

3) Read their promotional instructions and place your affiliate link (or graphic they provide) on your website
or in your promotional emails

4) Wait for your first check in the mail

Affiliate Programs are a terrific way to generate multiple streams of income– a very smart move for anyone building a business online.

P.S. Here is a video I created on this topic as well as my affiliate programs: www.PartnerWithMitch.com

As you  surely know the downturn in the economy has made times more challenging for the entrepreneur.

However, any savvy marketer knows that developing powerful partnerships can be the key to surviving any economic storm.  So in this post lets look at how you can successfully connect with influential marketing partners in your industry.

Before choosing a JV partner make sure that you:

•  Know exactly what they want most from the venture… It may not be what you assume.

•  Are fully aware of your own goals… and that you’ve communicated them to your would-be partner.

•  Both feel that you can better achieve your objectives working with each other

The Platinum Rule

We’ve all heard of “The Golden Rule” – Treat people the way you would like to be treated.  And while the concept is sound, it becomes problematic because it assumes that everyone has identical desires and perceptions.

Authors Tony Alessandra and Michael J.O’Conner rephrased the tenet and renamed it “The Platinum Rule.” It goes like this, “Do unto others as they’d like done unto them.”  This requires a real understanding of others and what motivates them… and there’s no better way of learning that than by asking them. Otherwise, we risk offending others by incorrectly presupposing the answer based on our own sensibilities.

Following are some quick tips for developing healthy joint venture partnerships…

•  Do your research ahead of time… make sure they’re the type of person you like and their business is healthy and respectable.

•  Approach them with a “what’s-in-it-for-them” stance…  not how great you are.

•  Be specific…don’t leave things “squishy” regarding anything – this is how misunderstandings begin.

•  Respect their time… let them know you value theirs as much as your own.

•  Develop simple deals… especially ones which don’t require either of you  to “look over the others’ shoulders”.

•  Give before you get, particularly if you’re just starting out… people are understandably more leery of opening up their hard-earned business resources before you’ve proven yourself.

•  Avoid using a “sales pitch”… it’s no way to begin a give-and-take partnership.

•  Don’t obsess over who’s getting more out the deal… make your best deal and forget about it.

You will find that solid  partnerships can be the key to thriving in a challenging economy. Go out an find one today!

Mitch Meyerson, author of Mastering Online Marketing and Founder of Guerrilla Marketing Coaching

Become A Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach: www.GMarketingCoach.com

Brand Your Business With The Best Selling Marketing Series In History.

Lead by Mitch Meyerson, Founder of Guerrilla Marketing Coaching

This intensive 12 week intensive program will show you step by step how to get new customers in this challenging economy without spending a lot of money.
–>  Get the full story: www.masteringonlinemarketing.com