Networking Mistakes: Being Difficult
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Hi. I’m Nicole Dean, and I’m here as a guest expert on Odinn’s blog this week. Today I’m posting my fourth installment about about Common Networking Mistakes that can Sabotage your JV efforts.
Want to hear something funny? Or not so funny? Yesterday I talked about “Unreliable Ursula”, the JV partner who doesn’t do what she promises, and I ended my post with a quippy “I’ll be back tomorrow — and that’s a promise.” Oh, how I tempted fate. I’m having one of *those* days and everything that could go wrong has.
So, it’s nearly 8pm and here I am, finally writing my post. BUT I did manage to win the latest battle with my computer gremlins (and neighbor kids) and I’m here with what I hope will be a helpful post at the end of a difficult day.
Speaking of “Difficult” that is the theme for today. I’d like to introduce you to Networking Mistake #4: Difficult Danny.
Difficult Danny could also be called Lazy Lucy. This it the person who sends you a JV request that looks like a College Syllabus or perhaps a “Honey Do” list. You skim down the long list of steps in the JV request, thinking “are you insane”?
Have you ever gotten a JV request that started like this?
“I’d love you to join my affiliate program. Just go here and watch a video to learn more….”
Watch a video? Really? Before I even get a link or have any idea what the product is about? I *really* don’t like videos. That’s a deal breaker right there.
And, it gets worse…
- Watch a welcome video.
- Sign up for the affiliate program.
- Email the Affiliate Manager to get approved for the affiliate program.
- Hunt down your affiliate links in the affiliate center that you can’t find without asking.
- Write a promotion.
- Oops. Go back and log in and enter your Tax ID and paypal info — it didn’t ask for that when you applied, but they need it before they can approve you.
- And, after all of your hard work, you won’t get paid until you request payment by sending an invoice.
Do you just want to say “SERIOUSLY?!” I do. I mean, come on. Who has time for all this?
Actually, that’s one reason why I really love using Clickbank.com for my affiliate program. While Clickbank does have their weaknesses (as all programs do), recruiting affiliates is super-easy. All I have to do is find a person’s clickbank ID (or request it) and then I can send their link embedded into a prewritten promo. No videos to watch. Nothing new to sign up for. No hoops to jump through. No tax id’s to request. My JV partner or affiliate can then simply copy/paste and they’re ready to make money.
If you’re using your own shopping cart, you can still make things easy for your affiliates and networking buddies by pre-entering the preliminary information for them into your shopping cart. (You can always change it later.) Then, request their tax ID, address, and paypal address in the contact email that you send with their link.
Also, give people options to make their lives easier.
People in other countries oftentimes get frustrated with checks in the mail and would rather receive payment via paypal.
Personally, I really dislike videos, as I mentioned, so anything that requires me to watch a video in order to understand the affiliate program will be put off… probably forever.
I also am not a fan of having to request an affiliate payment. It kind of should be done automatically.
What do do when you find yourself dealing with an Difficult Danny?
If you run into a Difficult Danny and you’re not that interested in the product or JV request, simply send it to your recycle bin.
However, if you find out too late that you’re working with a Difficult Danny, and the process is ridiculous, then simply ask the person to handle things for you in an easy-going way.
For instance, “I’m just not finding time for this process. What info do you need from me, exactly in order for me to get my promo link?”
That’s pretty obvious.
If you find yourself being an Difficult Danny…
Again, quit it already. 
But, seriously, as either a JV broker, an Affiliate Manager, or just in doing cross-promos with networking buddies — remember that people are two things 1. busy and 2. busy. So, if you want something done, and you’re asking for an action from someone, then make it simple for them to do it for you.
Compare it to your real life. Let’s say I have a friend coming over and I’d like her to stop and pick up a bottle of wine on her way to dinner.
Well, I’d say “Can you please pick up a bottle of Merlot or Cabernet Savignon? It would be perfect for dinner and I forgot. Just grab whatever you like that sounds good. Price? Oh whatever looks good.”
I would not say “Can you please pick up a bottle of Vampire Merlot? It’s quite hard to find and they don’t have it anywhere locally, so you’ll have to drive to the next town to find it. Actually, it’s on the other side of the next town, and you’ll want to get there before dark as your car might be broken into while you’re in the store. And, while you’re over there, can you grab two cases of it? Oh, you hurt your back? Oh, dear. ok, well then just one case. Thanks! buh-bye!”
The lesson?
Make it easy for people to do what you want done and they will oftentimes do it. Any woman who has been married for more than a day knows this already. Any parent does, as well. Set people up to succeed and they can please you.
And, in your business? Don’t be difficult to promote or people just won’t do it. When you’re wondering why no one is responding to your JV requests, I’ll be scooping them up right behind you.
Just look at this Blog World Tour. All Odinn had to do was give me a login to his blog, and now I’m in. He doesn’t have to do ANY work from now on. Any time I have something cool to promote or write about I can shoot him an email and make sure it’s ok for me to do so. I know his clickbank ID, so I can insert his affiliate links in everywhere I mention the product. Does that sound like work for him? Nah. Not so much. Do I benefit? Oh heck yeah!
Make it EASY and it works. How do you think I got 13 blog owners to let me commandeer their blogs for a week each? It’s a win-win with no work for them. That’s why.
Recommended Resource
Homepreneur Habits: How to Run a Successful Home Business
by Jimmy D. Brown
I’ll be back tomorrow to wrap up this series. Thanks so much for reading!
Warmly,
Nicole Dean
Follow Nicole on Twitter| Follow Odinn on Twitter | Nicole’s Blog & Podcast
PS. Don’t forget to post your comments to win. You can get a copy of any of the reports at SR Zone if you win.
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The easier you make anything for someone the more likely their chances of taking action. It’s no different with JVs than it is with kids. Think of it like this:
You ask your son to pick up his room. Nine times out of ten (if he’s anything like my two) they go in their room, pick up one thing, get distracted by a toy laying in floor, and the next thing you know an hour has passed. You go to check on him to find nothing has been accomplished and the room is still a mess (if not looking worse than when he started.)
Solution: Make it EASIER for him – and no I don’t mean do it for him because it’s easier for you!
Send him in his room with the instructions to pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the laundry room. Ask him to return to you once he’s finished.
When he comes back, ask him to pick up all of his legos and come back to you when he’s finished.
Keep giving him simple easy to focus on tasks. Don’t overwhelm him by saying “Go clean your room.”
Same goes with business. Don’t overwhelm your partners or affiliates with a ton of information or requests at once.