Marketing

  • Business, Marketing

    My Top Takeaways from Ultimate Product Party 2024

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    In May I headed to Orange County, California to attend the Ultimate Product Party, a 2-day business conference for product sellers. This was my third year to attend, and while it’s a conference geared towards physical product sellers, even as a service based business owner who works with product sellers, I had so many takeaways and aha’s from this event. 

    I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite moments and takeaways from the conference with you below.  While I won’t highlight all of the speakers and roundtable leaders, I do want to emphasize this: EVERY SINGLE PERSON was amazing. You can see the full list of speakers at ultimateproductparty.com – go follow them all on Instagram!  

    Okay, now let’s dive into a few of my top takeaways!

    Tuesday evening before the event officially kicked off on Wednesday there was a pre-event cocktail party.  The venue location was AMAZING and the appetizers and drinks were tasty. 

    What was especially awesome was getting to connect with some of the attendees before the official first day.  I was able to meet one of my Affiliate Program Intensive students in person – Stacy from The Rad Mama Shop – which was fun.  

    I also connected with Erin from Product Powerhouse and her bestie Shaina who she runs Caffeine + Carbs with. The UPP hosts, Cat and Allison, were also there hugging and mingling and just being the best hosts and leaders ever.  

    Wednesday and Thursday at UPP were packed full of keynote speakers, roundtable sessions, and breakout sessions.

    Here are some of my favorite takeaways from some of the speakers this year at Ultimate Product Party 2024:

    “AI is your intern, not your CEO.” – @duo.collective

    Some other things I learned re: AI:  from Duo Collective:  ChatGPT is great for writing social captions.  When writing prompts, always use an action word.  Gemini (Google’s AI software) is great for more research based things and typically cites their sources.

    “Consistency is critical when it comes to growing your business.” – Lucy Kelly @bloombybelmonili  

    Lucy is another client of mine who’s affiliate program I set up, and she is a marketing genius for product sellers and makers.

    “Pin some of your top Instagram content to Pinterest.” – Mel Robbins @thelotco 

    This can be automated via Zapier and is something I’ll be implementing into my business this summer.

    “People need to hear about something 25 times before they buy.” – Monica Little @monicalittlecoaching 

    This blew my mind because it used to be that it was only 7 times… but the world is moving faster than ever before so makes sense.  Monica also did a session on using Etsy ads – if you are a product seller on Etsy, be sure to follow her and check out her resources as what she shared could definitely help you make more sales on Etsy.  

    “We are here to be influential, not influencers.” – Lauren Nelson @iamlaurencnelson 

    “Make a list of 100 leads within your niche and spend time every day connecting with 20 of those leads on Instagram.” – Shannon + Ryan Matson @thesocialbungalow 

    I loved everything Shannon and Ryan had to share about how to connect with others on Instagram.  I think sometimes it can seem like others are just easily growing on the gram, so it was refreshing to hear them share something specific I can be doing weekly to grow.

    “How would your day as a business owner look if you operated from a place of abundance?” – Mary Tappert @marytappertfinancialcoaching

    This was a great journaling prompt shared by Mary during her session.  Definitely something I want to continue to think about and will make time to journal on soon. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of being a business owner sometimes, am I right?

    One last thing I want to mention about UPP 2024 is that their hosts, Allison @allisoncartercelebrates and Cat @kittymeowboutique are two of my favorite business owners and mentors.  They genuinely care about every single person who attends UPP, and poured so much into making the event awesome for all of us {as did their amazing team.}  I’m so grateful to know them both and for their support of my business.  

    If you have the chance to attend a future Ultimate Product Party event, DO IT.   If you have the chance to work with Cat and/or Allison, DO IT.  I promise you will be so glad you did!

  • Blogging, Favorite Things, Marketing

    🍋 Post Malone, Lemon Tumblers + The Affiliate Program Directory

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    Today I’m sharing my Favorite Things blog for May. 🔆 Earlier this month I vacationed to Arizona and then onto California to see the Pacific Ocean and then attend Ultimate Product Party which was amazing… I’ll share more in a blog post with you next week!

    Okay, now, back to the reason for today’s blog. If you’re new to the Create Your Affiliate Program community – WELCOME! Every month I try to share some of my favorite business and product resources with you as a behind-the-scenes of what I am using and loving in my own business and with the product sellers I work with.

    I hope you’ll enjoy reading through this email, and will take time to check out all the resources available to you!  Have a very safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend. 💙

    Please note this blog post contains a few affiliate links, but I only share products and resources I use, love and can personally recommend!

    🥳 Favorite Current Work Project

    I launched The Affiliate Program Directory last week.  Before I launched it, I set a goal of how many business owners I’d like to initially join it… I am excited to share that last Friday I surpassed that goal!!  YAY!

    The Affiliate Program Directory is a directory of affiliate programs that I will be sharing out publicly so that we can get your affiliate program in front of new potential affiliates who want to promote your products.

    Here’s what you’re getting when you join the Directory:

    🤓 Your affiliate program will be listed in the Create Your Affiliate Program (CYAP) Directory available at creatyouraffiliateprogram.com

    💌  The Directory is shared every week on CYAP socials and in the CYAP newsletter to 3500+ people

    ⚡ CYAP will spotlight 10 affiliates per month on CYAP socials, in a blog post, and in the CYAP newsletter {you will have the option to sign up to be spotlighted.}

    🎁 BONUS: Empower Your Affiliates: 10 Proven Strategies to Get Your Affiliates to Promote Your Products Every Single Month {value $47}

    📆 The Directory is launching June 10th! It’s $39 to be listed in the Directory and promoted to my community for the entire year.

    My goal with this directory is to help your affiliate program get in front of new potential affiliates who will help promote your products to their audiences.

    More affiliates will equal more sales! 

    This Directory is a perfect fit for physical and digital product sellers.  

    If you want more visibility for your business and affiliate program, you can simply head over here to secure your spot for only $39 FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR until June 10th.

    🤓 Favorite Blog Posts

    Behind-the-Scenes: Sharing My Top 3 Reels, Templates + Events

     Staying Legally Compliant in Affiliate Marketing: A Guide for Product Sellers – guest blog by Amber with The Boutique Lawyer

     Behind-the-Scenes: Sharing 3 Tasks that Helped My Client Earn $33k in Product Sales from Affiliates
     How to Make More Product Sales This Month

    🛍️ Favorite Products

    🍋 I met Shannon of CraftyCurations at Ultimate Product Party.  She was so sweet and I *love* her cute tumblers in her Etsy shop.  I just ordered this lemon tumbler this morning… Check out here shop here {and use code INSTA25 to save 25% off your order.  She said I could share this code with you – see, so sweet!!}

    ☕ If you haven’t sent a newsletter to your affiliates for May, now is the time to do that.  These Affiliate Newsletter Templates are designed to make it easy for you to know exactly what to say to your affiliates every single month to encourage your affiliates to promote for you and help them drive conversions!

    💌 Want to improve your email marketing?  Social platforms may come and go but your email list stays with you. If you’re able to invest 10 minutes a week in taking bitesized actions you can improve your email marketing significantly.  Check out The Email Experiment™ here which will help you.

    🎥 Favorite Reel

    👀 I made a reel featuring Post Malone.  It’s one of my most viewed reels of all time.

  • Blogging, Business, Marketing, Social Media

    Why MRR (Master Resell Rights) is CRAP. ? (And what to do instead to make moolah online!) ?

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    Maybe you’ve seen the thousands of TikToks and Reels about MRR floating around online… (and if you haven’t, consider yourself lucky!)  

    MRR = Master Resell Rights, and basically it’s someone buying a “ready to sell course” for $X amount, then turning around and selling it for $X amount.  

    It’s kind of like a pyramid scheme… All you are doing is trying to sell this same course to other people so they can sell the same course to other people so they can… you get the point.  

    NO ONE actually uses the courses being sold {and that’s why no one will tell you the name of the course or what it helps you do}.  Doesn’t that feel a tad… scammy?  

    It’s get rich quick BS and in a few months you won’t hear anything about it because it’s not a sustainable way to make money long term.

    If you are looking for a legit, long-term way to make money, I strongly urge you to consider affiliate marketing.  

    But not just posting our affiliate links and hoping someone buys.

    Instead, become an affiliate for things you actually use and care about in your business.  

    With this strategy, you are making money in an ethical way, you aren’t scamming others, and you can feel good about what you are promoting!

    I’d love to share with you the 3 strategies I use every month to earn extra income through promoting the things I am an affiliate for.  

    These are truly simple strategies that you can begin using today to earn extra income online.

    Head over here to check out a little extra moolah. ?

    Because there are legit ways to make extra income online that are sustainable.  MRR just isn’t one of them.

    Thoughts on MRR?  Drop a comment under my post here.

    Ready to earn some extra moolah online?  Head over here.

  • Affiliate Programs, Business, Marketing

    Choosing the Right Affiliate Tracking Software for Your Business

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    Are you a course creator who has created an amazing course, but it’s just not selling like you hoped it would?

    Or maybe you are a product seller with a Shopify store full of awesome digital or physical products, yet you can’t seem to get buyers to visit your site and make a purchase?

    Good news: There is a cost-effective solution to each of these problems:

    Working with affiliate partners.

    If you want to increase your course or product sales, you need to partner with affiliates, as it allows others to market your course or products for you in exchange for a commission.  By working with affiliates, you can tap into their existing networks, reach a wider audience faster than you can on your own, and increase your course sales quickly.

    Before they can start promoting your courses and products, you’ve got to make sure your affiliate tracking software is in place!

    One of the most common questions I get when people are thinking about starting their affiliate program is this:

    “What affiliate tracking software should I use?”

    My answer is to always check the tools you are already using first.

    Many of the popular course platforms out there offer affiliate tracking capabilities, such as MemberVault, Kajabi, ThriveCart, Teachable, Kartra, Thinkific, and others.

    If your course platform doesn’t offer affiliate tracking capabilities, there are a few tools I recommend:

    • GoAffPro – This is my favorite affiliate tracking tool for Shopify users.
    • AffiliateWP –  this is a wordpress plugin and so you will need to be using WordPress as your website or affiliate platform in order for it to work.
    • LeadDyno – If you have less than 3000 website visitors a month, LeadDyno is a great option for starting your affiliate program.
    • Refersion – integrates perfectly with Shopify, WooComemrce, and other platforms.
    • SendOwl – I use this platform for my own checkout features and they have awesome affiliate tracking capabilities.

    Before you sign up for any affiliate tracking tool, I recommend you research the platform thoroughly, sit through a demo of it if one is available and ask any relevant questions to make sure you fully understand how it work.  What you don’t want to do is set up your affiliate tracking tool, onboard your affiliates, and then figure out you should’ve gone with a different tool. #eek

    Ready to increase your course or product sales quickly, but need to get your affiliate tracking software set up first? 

    I’ve got you!

    Schedule an Affiliate Software Set-up Session today.

    Prior to the start of your Affiliate Software Set-up Session, I will make sure that the tool chosen is right for your tech stack and business needs based on a short questionnaire I’ll have you complete. During the Affiliate Software Set-up Session, I will get down to work implementing your software for you so that you’ll be ready to work with affiliate partners at the end of the day.

    All the details are here.

    Use coupon code SAVE100 to save $100 off your session when you book by August 10th, 2023.

  • Blogging, Business, Marketing

    BEHIND-THE-SCENES: How I Created my $9 Offer ? + How You Can, too!

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    I really like sharing behind-the-scenes content of how I’m building my business with you, and the resources I use, because I know business can be hard and trying to figure out how to do all the things and make a living from it can feel overwhelming sometimes.

    In this post, I’m sharing how I’ve made $500+ in digital product sales in just 23 days . I hope you’ll find this helpful and encouraging, and will consider creating your own $9 offer {resource below!}

    On March 5th, I purchased a $9 course on how to create my own $9 offer from Elizabeth Buckley-Goddard

    I listened to it that same Sunday afternoon laying in the hammock in my backyard – it’s really bite-sized and easy to digest, and I could listen to it like a podcast, which I love. ?

    On Monday, I made a super simple sales page for my $9 offer, which is my Invitation to Send to Potential Affiliate Partners. {You can check it out here.}

    I’ve very casually been promoting it on social media and to my email newsletter list.

    But here’s the cool thing…

    As a result of taking action from that one $9 training, I sold $500+ in digital products in just the first 23 days. ?

    So, what could you create and sell for $9 this month to start making more digital product sales?

    If you are running an online business, I know you’ve probably got an idea for a $9 offer inside of you! ??

    I would highly encourage you to check out the Small But Mighty $9 Offers training through my affiliate link here: ? https://checkout.elizabethgoddard.co.uk/referral/9/HzGArk4x2nHLHhKd ?

    —

    Do you like reading stuff like this? If so, I share more behind the scenes in my weekly newsletter… Sign up for it here.

  • Affiliate Programs, Blogging, Business, Marketing

    What to Include in Your Monthly Affiliate Newsletter

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    Kelly here, with a super quick tip and to-do for you today that is going to help you help your affiliates make you more sales.  

    {Not working with affiliates yet? This template will get you started.}

    Here’s the tip:

    If you have an affiliate program set up, make sure that you send your affiliates a newsletter to let them know how they can promote for you this month!

    Why?

    Because sending a monthly newsletter is a great way to keep your affiliates updated about what’s happening in your business, and to remind them how they can earn commissions as your affiliate partner.

    Sending your next {or first!} affiliate newsletter in April is great timing because it’s a new quarter! 

    Here’s what to include in your next affiliate newsletter:

    ✅ Check in with your affiliates to let them know what you’ll be focused on in Q2 and encourage them to continue sharing out your affiliate link {or to start if they haven’t already}. 

    ✅ Make sure you are making it easy-peasy for your affiliates to find where their unique affiliate link is, as well as the promotional materials you have created for them. 

    ✅ And remind them where they can go to see their monthly commissions inside your affiliate tracking software!

    Your newsletter does NOT need to be long or complicated.  But it does need to tell your affiliates the important details they need in order to be successful in promoting for you.

    Want some support with writing your affiliate newsletters each month? ??? Click click click to check out the Affiliate Newsletter Template Pack I’ve put together for you.

    This template pack is delivered in Google Doc format, and contains 12 newsletters {one for each month of the year!} ready for you to customize with your specific affiliate program details and information.  You can simply copy the google doc, and then edit the newsletters straight away.

    I’m not doing a big launch around it or anything, just wanted you to know it’s available for you if you’re committed to sending out a monthly affiliate newsletter and want it to be easy.

    Leave me a comment if you found this blog helpful – I’d love to hear from you!

  • Affiliate Programs, Business, Marketing

    Grow Your Membership in 2022 by Working with Affiliates

    Want more members inside of your awesome membership program?

    Of course you do!

    One of the easiest ways to add new members into your membership is by having your current members become affiliates for you!  

    In case you’re new to what an affiliate is, an affiliate is someone who shares your work (or in this case, your membership) with their community using a unique tracking link. They receive an affiliate commission for anyone who signs up for your offer/membership through their link. 

    Working with affiliates has one of the highest ROIs because once you set up your affiliate program, you only pay your affiliates when they refer a “sale” aka new member to you.

    Your current members make the best affiliates for your membership for two main reasons:

    1. They already know, like and trust you so would more than likely happily affiliate for you; receiving the commission would just be the cherry on top!
    2. They can share about your membership from personal experience – so their “marketing” of your membership comes from a really authentic and genuine place.

    If you’re ready to work with affiliates to grow your membership, let’s walk through what you need to do to begin your affiliate program:

    Set Up Your Tech

    The first step to working with affiliates is to make sure that you have your affiliate tracking set up.

    The good news is, if you have your membership set up already, chances are you already have the tech you need for your affiliate program!

    Most of the major course platforms (Teachable, Kajabi, MemberVault, etc) offer affiliate capabilities.  You’ll want to check your account directly.

    If your membership site platform doesn’t offer affiliate capabilities, not to worry. There are some great affiliate options out there, such as LeadDyno and WP Affiliate. (I cover more affiliate options inside of my free guide here.)

    One of the most common Qs I see in the membership space is “How much should I pay my affiliates?”

    On a recurring membership, I recommend 20% – 25%.  Of course, there is no right or wrong answer here, but that commission rate is pretty standard for membership site owners.

    What to Provide Your Affiliates

    Once you’ve set up your affiliate program tech, you want to gather up the promo materials you want to provide your members who will sign up to be an affiliate for you.  

    Things you’ll want to provide your affiliates:

    (more…)
  • Affiliate Programs, Business, Marketing

    How to Create a Welcome Email Sequence for Your Affiliate Program

    Here at Create Your Affiliate Program, I talk a lot about, well, creating an affiliate program.

    Today’s post is for those who already have an affiliate program created.

    So if that’s you, be sure to read the entire post to make sure you aren’t making the #1 mistake I see that could be keeping you from being profitable with affiliates!

    What is that mistake, you ask?

    Y’all, hope is not a very good affiliate marketing strategy.

    Instead of hoping your affiliates share about your offering with their audience, you need to set your affiliates up for success.

    Here’s how to set your affiliates up for success:

    Create a welcome email sequence for your affiliates!

    This welcome sequence is a series of emails you send your affiliates to make sure they have and can find everything they need to share about your offer with their community.

    {Remember: The big key to success with affiliates is making it easy-peasy for them!}

    via GIPHY

    Here’s the emails I recommend you include as part of your affiliate welcome sequence:

    Affiliate Email 1 – Welcome Email

    Welcome them to your affiliate program, re-introduce yourself, give them their unique affiliate link, provide them with ready-to-use marketing materials, and give them your affiliate packet if you have one created.

    Affiliate Email 2 – Check In Email

    Make sure they have everything they need; reshare their affiliate link and marketing materials.

    (more…)
  • Affiliate Programs, Blogging, Business, Marketing

    The biggest misconception course creators have about affiliate programs

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    Today I’m jumping straight into the biggest misconception people have about affiliate programs:

    “My business isn’t big enough to work with affiliates yet!”

    My friend, that’s simply not true!

    You don’t have to reach a certain level before you start working with affiliates.

    In fact, I believe there’s just two things you need to have in place in order to be successful with affiliate programs:

    1. A Digital product or online course that you know you can sell.
    2. A solid affiliate program set up

    Let’s discuss number one first:

    1. A Digital product or online course that you know you can sell.

    The reason you need to have sold your own products/courses first is so you can ensure that there is actually a need for it.  You don’t want to have affiliates promoting something that isn’t going to sell. This will be a disappointment to you, and a waste of time for your affiliates when all you are hearing is crickets.  

    Once you know that people are buying your product or online course, you are in a great position to work with affiliates.

    (more…)