Investing In Your Business: The Cross-Blog Conversation Continues…

Lots of ground to cover in this installment of my cross-blog conversation with Nicole Dean!

Over the last week or so, Nicole and I have volleyed a series of questions back and forth to one another. (If you are just joining us: here is Nicole’s response to my original set of questions: Cross-blogging with Trish Lindemood).

Again, Nicole is a very well-known and successful online entrepreneur. She has lots of “titles” (i.e., popular blogger, affiliate manager, Internet Marketing genius, etc…  You get the idea! ) She’s built a very successful online business and I’ve learned a lot by observing not only what she says, but also what she does.

Needless to say, I’m excited to share some of her knowledge here with you!

In my last post to her, I asked a question about a really cool concept she developed called the Blog World Tour. I wasn’t sure if the concept really applied to my business model because I don’t have an information product or affiliate program to promote.  However, because Guest Blogging is a form of Content Marketing, I wanted to take a closer look at it here.

Here is Nicole’s reply: Guest Blogging for Service Providers

Now for my response:

Hey Nicole!

Thanks for the great, in-depth reply. Based on this discussion, I can see how Guest Blogging can enhance just about any type of online marketing program. In fact, I am currently working on my 2010 business plan and editorial calendar – and am going to incorporate a Blog World Tour into the first quarter.

And, yes – since I hate wasting time – I am going to use the Blog World Tour Guide as a blueprint for how to get the most out of this undertaking. No sense trying to reinvent the wheel!

Now, to answer your question to me:

I’ve been participating in a discussion about ethics on another site (which I’ll post about in a few days) but one major takeaway for me is that it is not only my goal, but it’s my duty to help Online Business Owners to invest their money wisely – especially now when money is tight for so many.

I know that you’re a member of online at Lynn Terry’s Elite Mastermind Group. (Since I chat with you in there.)

And, you’ve mentioned that you’ll be attending the NAMS Conference in Atlanta in January – which is awesome, too.

So, tell me. What made you choose to invest in those things? And, do you feel they’ve benefited you? In what ways?

Great question!

I agree, it IS  our duty to help other online business owners invest their money wisely. There are just SO MANY bells and whistles and bright shiny objects out there all promising the be The Next Big Thing. It is so easy to get caught up in the whole “I just need to learn one more thing – THEN I’ll be ready to make a go of my online business. THEN it will all become crystal clear.”

So not true.

I personally had to learn this the hard way. The very first time I dipped my toe into the online marketing waters – I fell for a VERY pricey program that promised to help get me up and running. Fortunately, once inside, I saw that it was not all it was cracked up to be – and was able to get all my money refunded.

Now, nearly 2 years later – I realize what they were peddling for thousands of dollars (*gasp!*) is stuff that can be found in an awesome $37 program! So, I am pretty passionate about advocating products and programs that deliver on what they say – without breaking the bank.

That said: Lynn Terry’s Elite MasterMind Group is hands down my favorite online resource. Hands down.

Let’s face it – Lynn is at the top of her game – and clearly doesn’t need to be as personally involved in the forum as she is. I love that she takes the time to personally respond to threads. In fact, I recently posted a question I had about my own online business – and she and I had a really great and lengthy online conversation that produced several “Eureka” moments for me.

I’m not talking about general theory or ideas, either. Her advice really helped clarify EXACTLY what my next steps need to be to get to where I want to go. She could charge hundred, if not thousands, of dollars for that type of  personal attention.

That’s just one example – there is also a ton of value in the contacts and friendships I’ve made there.  The membership ranges from complete newbies to highly successful Internet Marketing professionals such as yourself – so there is something for everyone. In fact, I don’t think it’s possible to really absorb all the great ideas, information and resources available there.

Further, the group is comprised of card-carrying members of the White Hat Internet Marketing Club (ok, I just made that up – but you know what I mean! ) – and that is really important to me. I want to be involved in something that embraces “best practices” vs. short cuts that can really hurt your business down the road.

So, yeah, the 27 bucks I spend per month to belong to the Elite MasterMind Group is definitely the best investment I’ve made into my business!

As far as NAMS3, this is my first time going  so it’s hard to say what the value is. However, my offline corporate career has been in sales and sales management – so I know how important it is to keep up with what is going on in your industry. Plus, I love to learn and really enjoy connecting with people in real life. I am positive that attending NAMS3 will not only help advance my own online business efforts – but what I learn there will also make me a more valuable resource to my clients.

I can’t wait – I am really excited to be there!

Now, if you don’t mind… I want to turn this back to you one more time…

You are an instructor at NAMS3 and have been involved with the previous sessions.  What do YOU think is the most valuable part of these workshops? If someone is still on the fence about attending – what is one specific example of real life results you’ve seen come out of it that might help them decide to attend?

Looking forward to your reply!

PS Here is Nicole’s reply and wrap-up for this series. Hope you enjoyed it!