Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Product Review 1 - SFI

If you have spent any time on the Internet, and particularly if you have been trying to figure out how to make money online, you have run across the SFI affiliate program. Perhaps you have taken the opportunity to investigate it further, perhaps not. However, if you have investigated a little more deeply, you have seen a lot of claims of how great it is, and maybe a few comments about the SFI "scam".

Well what is the truth about SFI? Let's review the program shall we? While people obviously want to know if they can make money with the SFI affiliate program, lets deal with the "scam" issue first. After all, if SFI is a scam, then there's no sense of going forward, is there?

Since I do not know how much experience you have with Internet Marketing, or Network Marketing. Let me make a couple of points before I get to the question, "Is SFI a scam?"

I have been on Internet marketing for a long time and I have seen all kinds of scams, and I have seen all kinds of claims for and against many of the same programs. Here's what I have observed on my research.
While there definetely are quite a few rip-offs and scams out there, many people who make claims against network marketing and/or Internet marketing programs make the claims because they fell prey to hyped-up claims about what they would expect from joining the program. Some people join and sit back and wait for something to happen without putting the effort. Some take a few half-hearted swings at selling some products or signing up distributors and then give up.

Here's the common thread almost ALL of those who sign up for network marketing and/or internet marketing programs HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING! At the same time, almost all have been signed up by someone who raised their expectations to a fever pitch by making inflated claims about how much money they will make, or about how fast their business will grow.

The bottom line is, that the growth of any business, whether it's selling cosmetics (AVON) , motor oil (AMSOIL) , or a broad range of products and services (SFI) will depend on the time, effort, and talent of the business owner or operator.

The question of whether a business is or is not a scam does not depend on the number of people who have been successful with it, but whether or not it can and will deliver the goods, services, and potential profits it claims. I have been with SFI, and when I make the sale the customer gets the product, and I get the commission. I have purchased and used many of the products, and I have been satisfied with what I have recieved for my payment.

Apparently my customers have been satisfied as well, as they have often come back and purchased again and again. There have been dissatisfied customers, there always are in retail, and I am sure that many of them do not have a good opinion about SFI. Looking at it this way, if SFI is a scam because some that have done business with it are dissatisfied, then so are Sears, Walmart, and Best Buy.

There is the issue of misleading claims, however. Well, once someone signs up to be a distributor for any program, there is not much a company can do to prevent them from making inflated or misleading claims.
There are a lot of people trying to rip you off out there in Internet-land, and some people who just believe that "advertising" means making the biggest , loudest, most audacious claim you can.

All I know is, that if you go to one of my SFI websites and purchase something , you will get what you were promised at the price that was quoted, and I will get the commission. If that is a scam, then I am confused about the definition of the word. Sorry that took so long, but, when it comes to SFI , and other network marketing or internet marketing, that issue seems to be a big one. Don't fall short and think everything on the internet is a "scam"  Some sites put this in there title heading just SO YOU CLICK ON it to view, and inside you will find a short review and there link to buy.  Most people see the word "scam" and of course they want to click the link to see what is being said.  It is a marketing technique that has been used for years.
Anyway, you came here for an SFI affiliate program review. So, what is SFI? What does it do? What can YOU do with it?

SFI began about 11 years ago as "Six Figure Income". Over time, it acquired an image of getting rich-quick scheme due to the wild and high-flying claims by many SFI affiliates. Also, however, although starting with one product available for sale only in the United States, it progressed to being an International Organization offering a huge range of products, and the SFI business opportunity, to over 100 countries.
In fact, Gery Carson's dream was to create a business opportunity available to anyone with a computer and internet access anywhere around the world. The dream has been a reality for many years now, as thousands of SFI affiliates sells millions of dollars in products every year. As business will, over time, the original Six Figure Income affiliate program became the "Secure Future International Marketing Group" , retaining the SFI mark which had become known around the world.

Recently, Gery Carson launched a new and improved SFI affiliate program based on two sites in particular. TripleClicks and EyeEarn. Of course, you are reading this to find out what you get if you choose to sign up as an SFI affiliate. As it has been since the start of SFI, every new affiliate recieves not only one, but a range of FREE websites, a free online portal leading people to several online stores for name products, free training of how to market online, and an array of free marketing materials, including banners, text ads, flyers, and presentations. Very important stuff when choosing a company that you want to promote. 

There is no cost to any of this to the SFI affilate , but he or she is tasked with the responsibility of leading people to one of their websites. After that, the SFI infrastructure takes over. People arrive at a professionally designed, and regularly updated, website. Should they make a purchase , they are automatically assigned as a customer of the SFI affiliate whose website they purchased from. SFI will see to processing the payment, delivering the product, and even make a refund if required. The affiliate recieves a commission for the sale.

Many SFI products are either subscriptions to a service, such as web hosting, membership in the IAHBE (International Association of Home Business Entrepreneur), the IAB Health Benefits Plan: or an expandable products such as nutritional supplements which need to be re-ordered from time to time. Sales of some products will allow the SFI affiliate to recieve some points, and, with enough points, they can begin to create a downline of other SFI affiliates whose sales will generate additional income.

The SFI affiliate program is an excellent place for the beginning internet marketer to get started for the following reasons:

It is entirely FREE to join. It provides all marketing materials, including several professionally designed websites for free. It provides an extensive training program in internet marketing (free) and it offers a broad range of products and services for the SFI affiliate to choose to target. If you can not succeed with the SFI affiliate program, there is a good chance that you will not succeed with internet marketing at all, as your only task would be to lead potential, and interested , customers to the websites provided by the SFI affiliate program. I would highly recommend that you take advantage of all the free items they offer and the training they give you.  If you want to get into this sort of game, this is a must starter site to get into.  This will teach you how to drive targeted traffic and get you off the ground.  Once you have learned the basics, you can then move on to more advanced companies. 

Anyone interested in this online marketing affiliate program opportunity can sign up at:

Monday, February 27, 2012

Blog Update 1 - Introduction to Online Marketing

Today, I'm going to discuss affiliate marketing. All the information provided in this blog can be used if you have your own product or decide to sell for another merchant.  Let's just jump right in and get started.  I know you have a lot of questions, so we'll begin with defining affiliate marketing.

Affiliate Marketing Defined
You, the affiliate drive traffic to a merchant's site via your website or blog, using special affiliate links that are personalized for your use. The merchant may be selling a product like DVDs or ebooks, or they may be trying to sign on clients, such as a bank.
The merchant pays you a commission once the visitor has completed the desired action, such as purchasing a product or completed a registration form. (Money exchange is not always the final goal.)
When you send a consumer to a merchant's site the specialized link you were assigned by that merchant tracks the activity and purchases of the consumer. Obviously, other affiliates have similarly personalized links to the same products on the same merchant's site(s).

Affiliate Goals
As an affiliate your goals is to drive the highest possible targeted traffic to your merchant(s) through your unique affiliate link.
Once you have your website or blog up and running, and it promotes the free flow of traffic to the merchant(s) through your affiliate link (s), you can continue to earn money from it whether you are in bed, on holiday, or sleeping.  This is called passive income.
It's passive because after the initial effort of researching your chosen market, building a website and setting up your campaign, you can earn with minimal day-to-day input in your campaign.

Affiliate Marketing Example:
Take Grit City Publications, for example. That company produces emotobooks. They have a website and affiliate program. Of course, you can apply these principles to any affiliate capable merchant.
First, build a content rich website about some kind of related matter that applies to the company's affiliate program. In the case of GCP, topics about pop culture and fiction apply.
Next, sign up and receive an affiliate link. The link given to you is unique and contains your affiliate ID (a number or your affiliate name). The link allows the merchant to track sales generated from your visitors so that you receive commission for sales generated through that link. You then place this link on your site or blog, and in appropriate online sales venues to drive traffic. If a visitor buys an emotobook, you get a commission.

Cookies Explained:
It gets better! With some reputable affiliate programs, a visitor does not actually have to buy during that visit. Say Jim lands on your website, clicks your affiliate link to some product on your website. He gets taken to the product's merchant site, looks at the sales page and then leaves without purchasing. During that click, a “cookie” is placed on Jim's computer. Cookies are nothing more than a bit of code that says that Jim's computer viewed the product on a specific date and time. It also holds a record of who referred Jim to the product, (i.e. you).
A week later, Jim decides to make the purchase. If he remembers the URL of the product's merchant website (Amazon, for example), and then types it into his web browser, the cookie kicks in and uses the original affiliate link, your link. The webpage recognizes Jim as being refered by you.
What does this mean?  You still get your commission!
Cookies could be valid for as little as one day, but could maintain up to 60 days. Some are lifetime cookies. As long as the purchase is made from the computer where the cookie is stored, within the time limit of the cookie, and Jim hasn't encountered other marketers cookies since using yours, you get your commission.

Word of caution: Cookies vary in their duration so read the companies affiliate agreement carefully to find out the life span of their cookie. A 3 month cookie is obviously more desirable that a one week cookie.

Is Affiliate Marketing for You?
That's the question, isn't it? Working as an affiliate can be a lot of fun and highly profitable, but it has its perils, like any career. See the following list:
1) You do not need to develop your own product. You make money promoting other peoples products.
2) You have no responsibility for after sales service for the product. This is all handled by the merchant.
3) You do not deal with shipping, storage, packaging ,or inventories.
4) You can promote one product, several products, or drop a product if you are not satisfied. You are essentially your own boss.

What is in affiliate marketing for the merchant?
More Exposure = More people will buy.  Which is great for the merchant.  Affiliate programs for any product/company is an awesome way to get products spread throughout the web.  If you are the developer of a product or owner of a merchant site, you should look into starting your own affiliate program.

What affiliate Marketing is Not:
Affiliate marketing is not a get rich quick business. It requires a lot of energy and determination to meet your own goals. Even if you don't want to start a business, you still must treat it as though it was its own business.
You can't make six-figure salaries by sitting around thinking everything is on auto-pilot. If you just want extra cash on the side, it still requires devotion. As you get involved with affiliate marketing you will come across a lot of products that claim to teach you how to make hundreds of dollars in 15 minutes. Beware of the hype!!
The reality for most of marketers is that it takes months of hard work to start making a substantial income. Time + Energy + Devotion = Money.

Financial Freedom:
Ask yourself, if you continue in your current job (just over broke] for the next 10 years, will you earn enough to be financially free for the rest of your life? No, of course not.  I've done the research. The top surgeons in the world are making around $400,000 - $500,000 a year.  Can these people retire in ten years? Yes, they most likely can, but they went to school for years, devoted their life to a noble profession and have worked all their lives to accomplish this goal. 
Now if you find an opportunity that if your worked at for a few months or years, that anyone can learn, and has the potential to make you financially indpendent for the rest of your life, take advantage? Of course you would.

Passive Income:
Let's think of our friend Jim, who works a regular job. He goes in, does his work, goes home and gets paid at the end of the month. He gets paid ONCE for the job he does. He needs to go to work again and again to get paid again and again. In affiliate marketing, you sit down, set up the website, set up your trafic generation methods and then build upwards. As long as traffic keeps coming to your affiliate marketing website or blog, you stand to make money again and again.

Multiple Streams Of Income:
Jim can only do a finite amount of work a day. He is limited by hours, home life, and physical ability. He cannot do 6 full time jobs a day.
In affiliate marketing, you can build 1, 2, or 30 websites, all of them earning. Like I mentioned, however much time you put into this business, that's what you can expect to earn. It takes time, determination, some investing, and the will power not to give up.

There are many affiliate companies out there.  Amazon, Ebay, Clickbank, and SFI are just some of the big guns. I hope you've enjoyed this post and I now hope you have an idea of what affiliate marketing is and what it can do for you.

Follow this blog and I will supply you with the information needed for marketing success!  


Keywords:
How to Change your Life, Entrepreneur, Make Money Online, Fast Cash, Online Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Grow Your Business, Business, Business Start Ups, Fast Money, Quick Ways to Make Money Online, Online Money, Make 6 Figures in a Year, How to Make Money Online, Social Media Marketing, Make Money with Twitter, Make Money with Facebook, Work from Home, Change Your Life,Quick Cash, Quick Money

Friday, February 24, 2012

End Week Update

Just a small update.  Apparently the domain name that I bought on Feb 17th never went through.  They never charged me for it.  I promised that this blog would go officially live on Feb 27th and I am true to my word.  So, I will be using the jgavalik.blogspot.com subdomain for a week or so until I can set up the domain name.  Feel free to still spread the word and drive me some traffic here, as even when the domain name goes live, all old searches will still be forwarded to the new domain.

Looking ahead.  Monday will get everything started.  Plan on doing a great article on Introduction to Online Marketing.  Followed by Tuesday's Product Review of SFI.  I chose SFI because it is an awesome company that provides ample amounts of opportunities to make some income, and they also provide numerous free resources. So be sure to check out Monday and Tuesday!  Also, Wednesday will be the 1st Webinar recapping Monday and Tuesday!  Looking very forward to working with you guys and hopefully being able to assist you guys through the learning process!



Keywords:
How to Change your Life, Entrepreneur, Make Money Online, Fast Cash, Online Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Grow Your Business, Business, Business Start Ups, Fast Money, Quick Ways to Make Money Online, Online Money, Make 6 Figures in a Year, How to Make Money Online, Social Media Marketing, Make Money with Twitter, Make Money with Facebook, Work from Home, Change Your Life,Quick Cash, Quick Money

Webinar 0 - Welcome Message

The first pre-Webinar Video - Welcome Message
(I know the sound is kind of poor - That will be fixed next video)


Friday, February 17, 2012

Welcome Post

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my Blog "How to Change Your Life...One Step at a Time"

In this blog, if you choose to follow it, I will teach you the many ways that you can be successful online.  I know you have no idea who I am, or what I have accomplished for myself.  Please be sure to take the time to read the About John section on the top of the page.  I am a self made Entrepreneur and I want to show people how they can change their lives.  I wanted to start this blog to give some secrets, tips, and tricks on what to do, and ultimately what to stay away from.  There are a lot of "Internet Guru's" out there that basically just want your money and will sell you their trashy product which will give you some information, but leave you in the dark about other things that you will eventually need to learn.  I hope that if you are just getting started in the online marketing business that you follow this blog and use the information I will provide to be successful.  Even if you aren't new and are a seasoned veteran, I still hope you will follow and gain even more knowledge then you already have.  I have thought long and hard about how I want to approach this whole experience.  I could just keep all this information bottled up and create my own product to mass produce and charge an insane amount of money for it.  However, I am not a greedy person, and I chose to post all this information for free, so that my fellow man (or woman!) can change their life, if they so choose to do so.  What I have determined is that this blog will have a weekly schedule.  I didn't want to invest a lot of time into it as I do have my own business that I have to run.  However, I have come up with this schedule that I think should work out just fine!

  • Monday - Blog Update - Tips, Tricks, Articles and Secrets
  • Tuesday - Product Reviews - What to buy, What to avoid
  • Wednesday -    Video Webinar that will Go over Monday and Tuesday Topics
  • Thursday/Friday - Possible Random Updates or what I see fit 
Each Blog post will be well organized for future search reference if you need to.
Such as Monday's post would have a topic such as "Blog Update 1 - SEO and You
Tuesday's  post would have a topic such as "Product Review 1 - Product Name Etc
Wednesday's post would have a topic such as "Webinar 1 - (Date) Etc

I like to not only keep organized for myself, but also for anyone who follows my blog, so they can use the search bar instead of having to go through countless posts in the archives.  The information that I will be giving will always be used and it's a good idea to keep them well referenced for future use

In closing, I just want to thank you for viewing, and that I hope you bookmark, share, spread the word, and even add me on any social network. I hope to bring everyone of you great success.


Keywords:
How to Change your Life, Entrepreneur, Make Money Online, Fast Cash, Online Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Grow Your Business, Business, Business Start Ups, Fast Money, Quick Ways to Make Money Online, Online Money, Make 6 Figures in a Year, How to Make Money Online, Social Media Marketing, Make Money with Twitter, Make Money with Facebook, Work from Home, Change Your Life,Quick Cash, Quick Money