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Can You Make More Money Online By Giving?
As many of you know, I started internet marketing in early 2007. For the first few months to almost a year, I was doing it wrong. I thought, “I am an internet MARKETER now. Marketers sell – so I must SELL”. And as much as I detested the “salesperson” concept, I went about trying to SELL online. It wasn’t pretty, but little did I know how wrong I was. I came across a post today that made me think back to this crucial lightbulb moment in my online marketing career and what a difference it made for me both personally – and professionally.
FlashBack to 2007
This little blog of mine started out in 2007 as a free blog on Blogger.com. Every single post was designed to sell and to GET. Needless to say, it wasn’t working and I was clueless as to what was wrong. Not only did I not get what was wrong from a financial standpoint, I also was troubled about how I felt personally. Being a pushy salesperson was never my thing. I never respected that and I didn’t like feeling like that, either.
Then it hit me – I didn’t BUY from that, either!
I have never in my life bought something from someone who was shoving the product in my face – why was I thinking it was going to be any different when *I* was the salesperson?
So, in January 2008 I made two major – and business changing – decisions.
1 – I was moving my blog to my own WordPress site on my own hosting account, and 2. I was going to stop selling and start giving and sharing as much as I could about as much as I knew at that time.
A Question For You
Let me ask you something…. If you and another person are headed for a door at the same time, but you got there first – would you hold open the door for that other person?
If so, would you expect ANYTHING in return for opening that door for them?
Is that just one of those little things you do each day as a random act of kindness that make you happy to be you?
See, that’s me… that’s how I am. Trying to become a pushy salesperson just was NOT me. Not only did it not work for me, it also did not feel good.
Opening doors for people DOES feel good for me.
And that is exactly what PotPieGirl.com became – a place where hopefully, the door to low-cost internet marketing skills and advice is opened. I set out to better myself and increase my knowledge so I could help open as many doors as I could. After all, you can’t give what you don’t have, right? That goes for knowledge and experience, too.
Funny thing is, I didn’t know there was a name for what I was doing or for how I am, but after today, reading a certain blog post, I realize there is.
I Am A Go-Giver
Apparently, I am a go-giver. It’s a whole mentality for life – not just business. But let me tell you, giving online DOES really, really help your online business results in a BIG way.
Overnight? No – don’t be silly….lol. But I’ll tell you this – if YOU are feeling crappy about the way you are putting your content out there and feeling like you are just another one of “them” online…..changing into a go-giver WILL make you feel MUCH better overnight!
As I wrote in the comments of the blog post I read today (I’ll link out to it in a minute…hold your horses…lol), I think the biggest roadblock people have with being a “go-giver” online is this:
giver = get taken advantage of
Don’t be afraid to give. But if your sole reason for giving is just to GET, you might have a hard time.
About Being a Go-Giver
The Go-Giver concept comes from this book – The Go Giver (go ahead and look. That’s a link over to the book on Amazon and it will open in a new window) which has been followed by another book titled Go-Givers Sell More.
I just ordered them both tonight after listening to an interview between Justin Brooke and Bob Burg (co-author of Go-Givers Sell More). It was really, really good – and I’d like to send you there to read Justin’s post and listen to the interview recording.
Justin’s Go-Getter post and interview with Bob Burg is here.
Take a few minutes and listen to it – check out the books – these are the types of things that really make YOU better (online AND offline).
Tell me what you think – do givers make more money? What did you think of the interview with Bob Burg? Have you read the book, or like me, just ordered it?
Let me know!
Giving via your content online as an affiliate marketer is really tough to teach. Usually, it is a lightbulb moment, just as it was for me. I think learning to be a go-giver can totally transform your online business AND make you feel really good about what you do.
Agree? Disagree?
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Give more receive more. But never expect anything in return.
I have promised myself that if I ever make big time Internet Guru Status I will reveal how I did it.
Paul
It all sounds good, but funny how you made sure your affiliate id is in the amazon link. Looks like an affiliate sales attempt to me.
The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
What you have related is a principle. It is more than just an action. It is an attitude. I truly believe that your success stems from a overflow of your heart. That makes you a total winner. God bless you. You are an example that is easy to follow if someone has the proper mindset. Hopefully, I am right behind you!
Great post! I really enjoyed “The Go Giver” and plan on getting Bob’s latest book as well.
I totally agree about Go Givers making more money. I struggled online for years until I changed my strategy. Once I started showing people the mistakes I made so they could avoid them I finally got over the hump online and turned my luck around. It seems like the more I give and help, the more successful I become. It’s awesome!
PS Good seeing you in Justin and Chaunna’s “20 Minute Tackle” tonight
Being a Go Giver ABSOLUTELY helps your internet marketing business, and your life….
Once you open yourself up and begin to share your real, meaningful thoughts, services, or whatever, more begins to come back…
Recently, I provided some IM services to a company in my town at a serious discount, and really worked hard to help them out… They needed a hand with something and did not have a huge budget.
This resulted in a number of referrals back to my company, which resulted in more referrals, which resulted in a nomination for New Business of the Year in my community.
This type of recognition is HUGE in a community such as mine….
By giving and providing real value, and remaining open to receive, the company has solidified itself and is doing well.
Another company that I did some cheap work for last year has approached us about an exclusive partnership as well….
Things are looking WAY up, and it started with me providing real value and giving as much as I could….
Giving is the key, even more so with regard to affiliate marketing. You must provide value in order to sell, IMO!
The Go-Giver is a brilliant anecdote, and worthy of a read by any affiliate marketer….
Thanks Jennifer, Insightful post as always….
Regards,
James
Hi Jennifer,
I’ve been trying to make money affiliate marketing for a while now but haven’t had much luck. What I’ve learned is that I also am not a “salesperson”. I’ve always been a genuine giver (yep, I’d definitely hold the door open for anyone!). I believe that giving away something of value that will truly help someone is what will help to make money in the long run. It can’t be just any old thing you give away though, it must be something that makes YOU feel good about giving it away and knowing that it will really be helping others.
I want to be genuine and am uncomfortable with any other way, and I really appreciate when others are genuine. (considering I can use all the help I can get, LOL!
I’m with Paul, if I become a big time “guru” I will let others know exactly how I got there.
Lori
Great feedback – Thank you!
I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did (can’t wait to get those 2 books in my hands!)
@Paul – there’s no “secrets” to all this – just things we don’t know YET. Share away, my friend!
@ Neil – Yes, that is my amazon link…. I am a marketer after all =) I’m sorry if that disturbs you.
@ James Berry – THANK YOU! That was a very humbling comment you left – I’m very touched!
@ Eric – Sounds like we BOTH had the same “lightbulb” moment!
Good to see you with Justin and Chaunna too!!
@ James – I was so tickled when I read about your nomination in the WA forum. That is SO exciting! I’m very proud of you and your achievements!
Helping your community is a real “go-giver” thing to do!!!
@ Lori – “Genuine” is a great word to describe it….thank you!
Thanks all!!!!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
Well of course you would put an affiliate id in. There is a ton a great free info on here. You don’t need to buy the book, but when people do shouldn’t Pot Pie Girl make the commision. She is the one that brought the book to people’s attention after all.
Thanks, Nevada!
Thanks for the information. But how do you give? Are you talking about giving good articles about the
products? I am new and all help is appreciated.
Linda
Linda, that is an EXCELLENT question!
“How Do You Give?”
I’d love to hear what everyone else has to say, but I’ll start it off with this…
Think of a time you found something online that really helped you – How did you feel?
Think of a time someone explained something to you and it answered exactly what you wanted/needed to know – How did you feel?
Did you feel as if anything was expected of you? Did you feel as if something for sale was being shoved down your throat?
Let’s start with that….
Great question!!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
You ‘ve give alot.I’ve foollow your newsletter every week but still to find more time to study.
Jen:
I must address a comment I just read on this blog. In fact I read a post on Copyblogger last night that makes this comment almost perfect. Actually the concept comes from “Seth Godin” and his examples of the tribes. There are two tribes, the Cool Kids that work 16 hrs a day so they can make money on auto pilot at night. The Marketers who highlight their pages in yellow and it is all about $$$, and the third tribe which I would like to think is us with the onset of Social Networking, Web 2.0.
Now the new third tribes gives great content, is there for their customers, allows feedback from their customers, meets their customers needs and after all that giving is allowed to make a Buck! I believe Mr. Godin has a book out about this, $13,97 on Amazon. Just my thoughts
Regards,
Peggy.
Hi Peggy =)
Are you speaking of Tribes by Seth Godin? If so, EXCELLENT book! Sitting on my book shelf right behind me!
Yes, everyone should read his books.
All the best,
Peggy
I totally agree. I buy a LOT of marketing stuff, and I am much more likely to buy it from people like you who seem genuine and try to help others.
And yes, I will buy through an affiliate link if the information is worth having. I try to only follow those who have integrity, and a marketer with integrity will only recommend a source if it is worthwhile. Why let Amazon keep all the money if you are referring people to them? Refusing commissions you are due is silly.
Thought provoking Jennifer and you give generously
enough yourself which is something a lot more people could do, but if you have that lack mentality built in, most would find it hard to get by.
And what ever you do, somebody always finds away to bitch about it, or make it feel wrong.
Doing what you feel is right and helping another as you would like to be helped and it makes you feel good, giving has to be the right way and yes it will pay off, but if that is your only soul reason for doing it…… It won’t.
Giving should only be about what it actually says, because you have and own that choice, and you can.
I struggled online for years until I changed my strategy. Once I started showing people the mistakes I made so they could avoid them I finally got over the hump online and turned my luck around
Great post. I agree 100%. Givers usually have more long term success in every endeavor in life, including internet marketing.
excellent one thing I’m finding though is I’m overwhelmed with info. I Could spent the next ten years reading and not doing so I feel pressure to move on right away and get something done.
What a great title is here. The title is enough to explain the article. It is truly said that it more blessed when you give then to receive. We should always help people who are old disable. Give love to who need to be loved, give help to who need to be helped this is what XXXX has said
Very fascinating, I love your thinking! I also feel the way you do about giving. I love to give and yes, open doors for anyone.
When it comes right down to it, I would rather give than receive because that way I know I have done a good thing for someone that needed it and that feels better to me than being on the other end and receiving.
I enjoyed your post very much and found it very refreshing. You can bet I will be back!
Thank you!
Carol
Yes, I have found that there are Givers and Takers in life. There are those who give until their heart sometimes breaks and there are those who always take and never think of giving in return.
Then there are those who share. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Those who share give of their strength to compensate for the weakness of another. And in return they receive from the strength of others to compensate for their weaknesses.
This is what makes a good team effort where everyone in the group succeeds.
And yes, I do buy more from those who are givers and communicators.
I liked this post PPG, and something I really really respect about you is that you have a fantastic receiving attitude as well, which is sometimes something that givers, even subconsciously, aren’t so comfortable with. And that on its own can cause such struggle lol! So thanks for being such a great example!
Makes so much sense to me. I do hold doors open, and although I don’t expect anything in return. A “thank you” goes a long way these days.
So….Thank you! Thank you for sharing your story and road to success, Thank you for providing “useful” tools and products. Although I have yet to make my first sale, your squidoo guide and one week marketing program have been the only things I’ve found to really make me feel that I will accomplish this in days to come. Thank you!
Hey PPG,
I had my light bulb moment about a year ago when reading Mike Dillard’s “Magnetic Sponsoring” book.
Even though his book is all about MLM, it doesn’t necessarily mean that his concepts only apply to MLM. I found that once I started applying his concepts to my affiliate marketing business things really changed.
I have had a lot of success since then. Affiliate Marketing is really all about finding a problem and solving it. It is that simple. If you can help people find solutions to their problems or needs, and oh by the way, send them to a product that does this, you will be successful.
Be a go-giver!
Brett
This is the exact philosophy I first learned in 2004(and still practice today) when I made my first website. I knew absolutely nothing about the internet but read about a program called Site Build It.
To make a long story short their main concept is to provide as much relevant (and free) content about your passion or hobby and then build your traffic up slowly by providing more and more free content to your visitors.
Only after you have got traffic coming to your site do you try to presell (not hardsell) your traffic. The very LAST step in their program is to monitize that traffic and develop a web business not just a website.
Ever since that first SBI site (i now have 2 but also have followed PPG OWM plan as well as some others for mini site Adsense income) I have tried to follow that exact philosophy in all my online endeavors. And it has worked very well for me up till now.
Thanks for the reminder Jen.
Keep up the good work you are doing here.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you ~ and all the rest of you, too! ~ for your wonderful post and all these great comments. This is a most thoughtful group! I’m so delighted to have stumbled upon your site, and will recommend it.
I’m honored that Bob’s and my little book touched off so much discussion and insight!
Like you I especially loved Linda’s question: how DO you give? “Giving” used to mean “give $” and these days, in this communication age, “giving” often means “giving information.” But giving can be just as powerful when the giving is of time, attention, focus, care, interest, empathy, expertise, perspective ….
Great discussion and feedback everyone! And what an honor to have John David Mann stop by. John is the other co-author of The Go-Giver and Go-Givers Sell More with Bob Burg.
Thank, you John! You and Bob and making quite an impact not just offline, but online as well. We wish you and Bob all the best!
I look forward to receiving both books and digging in. Hurry up, Amazon!
Just a note which I carelessly forgot in the main post…
Both books have their own websites that are full of good info and an opportunity to read a little of each.
You can find these sites here:
TheGoGiver.com
GoGiversSellMore.com
Thank you, everyone!!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
Hi Jen as always you give out some great information.
Jennifer,
Your giving nature is what drew me to your website.I needed to trust someone that could guide me through this maze of obstacles. I believe in your advice and as I can I will follow it. I am bloging right now on Blogger because I believe in what I’m doing and I feel it’s important. But, I know you are right and as I grow in this field I will upgrade. Thank you for being you!
I put affiliate links in everything that I find valuable and can share with other people. I find nothing wrong with earning commissions off of quality products and information.
The good guys should be helping the good guys, right?
Thanks PPG for always over-delivering btw.
Jennifer,
I knew PPG from the WA forum last year and since then I have been following your emails, websites and now blog. I realize now, that it is the giving and helping nature in you that attracts people to you. Thank you for sharing this post, which really changed my perspective not only in doing IM but also in life.. Anyway I am only a steward of what is given to me and a good steward will I be. Thanks again.
Jennifer,
I agree (and then some)
On several occasions I e-mailed you and got a response….before I purchased OWM.
You inspired me to create this lens … nothing in it for me …meaning there are no embedded links that I direct people to a cash page…just info I hoped would help a beginner…. because we have ALL been there..
thanks,
Steven
I am impressed with your work. your introductory program helped me actually get blog and landing pages and things out there on line and i published 6 articles. yea. But no sales this is probably the reason. I plan to print your blog and hold it up to my landing page for generators after these 4 days of no power and see how the two differ. And perhaps I should order these books I am an avid reader.
I’m just on info overload at this point:). I would like a little feed back in the form of a sale. Like a candle in the dark to start pointing me to the holly grail.
Thank you for all you do I follow all your stuff it is helping, I suspect I just have more ground to cover.
p.s I did join wa but that site is so massive I am affraid it is adding to the info over load.. However I will keep chiping at it. Bill
Hi Jennifer,
Another great post full of excellent info. I also know PPG from WA and have been following her success, and hoping mine will follow soon. I am a go giver, but sometimes am confused about what to give… what others will want. I definately am a door opener, and don’t like pushy salemen either. I can not be a pushy saleman, it’s just not me. Sometimes when I give out a lot of great content, I feel bad about trying to sell them a product. I know it’s their choice to buy what I suggest, and I shouldn’t worry about it so much, but I always wonder if people are satisfied with their purchase. I guess I shouldn’t take it so personally, after all I am also trying to make money internet marketing.
Thanks PPG for sharing your knowledge and helping the rest of us get where you are. 🙂
Hi PotPIeGirl
I get the feeling you are the real deal.I have subscribed to your blog, which I think is wonderful. I have been watching some of your videos. I have tried a lot of those shiny packages that you talk about and have not been very happy with them. A lot of them just show you how to sell their shiny package and I don’t want to do that. I do not want to take advantage of anyone. I want to be an affiliate for a real business. I did join WA, and I have a really good feeling about them too. I just have a few questions on you OWM plan. I’m tempted to buy, but I told myself I wasn’t going to buy anything else once I joined WA, but I’m really lost here. There is soooo much information, I just don’t know what to do. Does your OWM plan incorporate WA. Does it go hand in hand so to speak? Also, and I don’t mean to insult you, but if I do purchase OWM, once my credit card info is given, does it come up with a lot of must have upgrades. That’s how the shiny packages usually work and I always feel like what I just bought won’t work because I didn’t buy all the extras.
I have been trying to find a legitimate place to learn how to build an affiliate business for about 2 years. I think I might have found it with WA, and you. 😀
Thank you
Lu
Hi Potpie Girl,
Of the millions of bloggers out there, I’ve finally come across someone of like-mind! I totally agree with you that one can make more by giving more. Research International (UK) Ltd published its findings about Cause Related Marketing and reported that 81% of consumers agree that they are more likely to buy a product or service that is associated with a cause they care about, price and quality being equal.
86% of consumers have a more positive image of a company they see doing something to make the world a better place regardless of the specific charity or cause being addressed.
It is good for business to give because it makes the consumers feel good about themselves that by patronising a service or product that is socially-responsive, they, too, become part of a system that gives to others. This is exactly what the company I work for is doing. I would love for more companies to do social entrepreneurship.
Great post!
Pot Pie Girl, I definitely agree with what you said in this post.
Like you, I find it hard to SELL or to PUSH products onto people. It feels like I’m forcing them to do something that does not benefit them.
The greatest satisfaction I get is when people BUY because they have a need, not because I was glib.
Ye, it was Zig Ziglar who said something like “help as many people get what they want and you can have EVERYTHING you want” Good Post!!!
Jen,
Great Post. I find it odd that people have a hard time deciding what to give or how much to give. Ask your customers/clients, “What are you looking for?” “What would make your day easier?” I did this on a blog and when I found something that I thought would work, I posted it for review and instant download. If it worked, great, if not, at least my clients knew I had taken the time to listen to them and actively took an interest in helping. I don’t know if I received any sales for this. But, that was not the point.
Jennifer, An ebook written by Joe Vitale covers your Go-Giver thoughts with a beautiful description of what, who, how, and why. I know you will enjoy it for its financial, physical and spiritual endowments. The ebook on Gratitude I have read several times, and is a “giveaway” from me to you and to your readers.
God bless them all! May they gain as much as I have from giving before getting. So I give to receive whatever He gives to me.
I will put it up on my blog “http://earn-life.blogspot.com/”.
Or download at:
http://www.DailyGratitude.com
Emery Thompson
Jennifer, you introduced an excellent subject for your post, and interesting too in more ways than one! The theme reminded me of a famous old book (which only seniors like me will remember :-)) by Lloyd C.Douglas, titled “Magnificent Obsession”, as well as its companion volume, “Dr.Hudson’s Secret Journal”, published in 1932 or thereabouts. Through a fascinating, heart-warming story, the books deal with anonymous giving as a central precept of a meaningful existence for man. Of course, the significant keyword there is ‘anonymous’. It was the anonymity of the giving that created the enrichment of both the giver and the ‘givee’. In today’s world, however, (especially in IM) it is difficult to give anonymously, but it is possible to give without fanfare, i.e. without making the recipient feel that a selfless, benevolent ‘giving’ is being perpetrated, and the beneficiary should be thankful for the generosity. BTW, someone took a potshot at you for providing your link to Amazon. I would like to believe that his remarks were just a harmless poke at you. One way of ‘giving’ would be to ignore such snipes with a benign smile :-).
Hi PotPie Girl
I read all your info & remarks and thank you for your inspiration. I too am a Go-Giver, but have just gone through some serious financial troubles. My intention is to buy your book and the other offer in two weeks, when this problem ends.
Do not give up on me. I will be there. Keep those emails coming. You are Great.
Stan
Put yourself in the reverse situation: Don’t YOU really prefer to help out the person who is the most giving and helpful?( Look at Ty Pennington ~ the people he builds new homes for are always people who have given selflessly to their communities) So it follows that people who are givers are the ones people will want to listen to, buy from, and come back to again and again. It’s the Bible’s tithing principle at work, too. When you plant seeds, especially sacrificially, those seeds will multiply thousands of times over, and you will always have plenty.
Hey PPG really great, inspirational stuff! I’ver been trying for 7 months now to make a living as an IM with no success (ZERO commission) and just wish I’d come across you much earlier LOL! There’s so much dross and misleading stuff out there designed to ensnare the wide-eyed newbie, and I sure fell for all that claptrap…but you’ve given me hope and inspiration, and am definitely gonna follow you from now on…thanks a million! Ali
I really like the message in this post – It’s better to give than to receive, and more lucrative too. I think that we as internet marketers sometimes forget what it is like to be a consumer. By remembering what drives us, we can be respected and appreciated by the people we are trying to sell a product to.
Great post. Thanks.
Great article and a self explanatory title. Very well said it is always give and take, one should give love in return you will get love from others. I like your words placement. Do keep posting .
Great name for a giver. I am definatly a hold the door open kind of person so I get what you are saying. And I think good things do come to people like us.
I can see that you really give out, and i really thank you for that . What’s worst it keeping to yourself and not getting anywhere, at least by being ‘nice’ you feel nice in the end.
I’ve come to experience the gifting as a prime the pump action – I just can’t know for sure WHICH pipe. It might come back as a “sale” or it might come back as a free night with my family. Either way I feel good gifting it whether its quick advice or something on my business site – I’m at choice and people either respond or they don’t.
Great post Jennifer.
You see, much like you when I started in what is called “network marketing” it was all about selling, or pretending to give to sell. It didn’t work for me either.
Now I give tons of info through forum posts, free tutorials, blog post and articles and people are now responding to what I sell in a big way. I love to give, it inspires me. Selling doesn’t.