During the last week of January, I set my promotional plan to
action. I contacted a few e-zine publishers and asked if they'd
be interested in doing a cooperative venture with me.
The cooperative venture? A customized version of a free e-mail
workshop I created to promote my e-book. In the customized
version, the e-zine publishers are the "sponsors" and the links
in the workshop pointing to my e-book's sales page are their
referral links. I'm selling the e-book through Clickbank so if
they promoted the customized version of my e-mail workshop to
their subscribers, the publishers earn when their subscribers
purchase my e-book through their links.
While I was writing my introduction letter and offer, I realized
no matter how hard I promote anything on the Internet, I won't
get the kind of results I want unless I ask other people's help.
I'm a shy person by nature. I'm an introvert and I never go to
parties or any social gatherings. Other than speaking at (very
selected) events and conducting face to face workshops every
other month or so, you won't catch me out of my home office.
Although I do consultancy work for an international
organization, I work right from home and only go out when
absolutely necessary. And when I do go out, the neighbors end up
asking my mother about her house guest. My mother would say,
"She isn't a guest. She's my eldest daughter."
The Internet isn't designed for a one-man team. Instead, the
Internet thrives on the principles of cooperation and
information sharing. Partnerships, joint ventures and mutual
cooperation are the ideal models for the online environment.
And in order to develop successful partnership undertakings on
the Internet, someone needs to take that first step. Thus, I
know that online, my shyness won't get me far. It won't bring me
my desired results. I won't achieve them unless I get rid of
some of my shyness and muster enough courage to approach people
and ask for their help. And it begins with a simple and direct
e-mail introduction.
And really, that's all there is to it. I approach people, ask
them politely and see if they're receptive and willing to work
with me side by side. If they give me a no answer -- well, it's
a good thing they didn't have to give it straight to my face!
But seriously, approaching someone on the Internet with
sincerity and honesty is the only way to be successful online.
No, it isn't the best way. It's the *only* way. Show anything
short of that, and true success is going to be elusive.
About the author:
Shery wrote the e-book, "How to Create & Profit from Your Own
E-mail Workshops in 3 Days or Less!" She offers a customizable
free workshop, "Create Your First E-mail Workshop in 3 Days!"
that publishers and webmasters can use to promote their e-zines
and sites. http://www.emailworkshopshowto.com/customfree.html
