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| | The Small Business Think Tank Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | Views: 572 | | Dec 14, 2008 9:46 pm | | If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # | 
Paula Quick | | As part of our on-going conversations regarding social networking, I pose the question, when do you decide to pay for teleseminars?
I ask because I have paid for a jillion teleseminars in the past and I must confess that they all have been worth it.
However, now with the rise of social networking, the expanse of the Internet in general, not to mention the exhaustive library of books I have, and general belt-tightening, I think real hard before forking over money to participate in a seminar or join a membership group.
Not because I'm not interested in the information (I'm an information hound) but because there are so many free resources out there, why would I pay to attend a teleseminar on Twitter, let along buy a home study course on it, for example? And this sentiment goes across industries. Do I really need to be on another Law of Attraction call -- even if it's free? And yes, I WAS on Bob Proctor's recent LOA call and it was fantastic.
I feel you reach a critical mass point where the same information is repeated over and over, just packaged differently. Yet, savvy business people are making lots of money off of information products.
So what goes into your decision these days in paying for webinars, seminars and information products? And on the flip side of that, who is losing out on the preponderance of free information available?
I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.
Paula Quick, Internationally Recognized Life Coach & Reflexologist
http://www.thecheck-in.com & http://www.onyourfeetcoaching.com
You Don't Need More of "The Secret" You Just Need "The Check-In"
Do YOU MonaVie? http://www.monavie.com Distributor ID# 1507373Private Reply to Paula Quick | | Dec 15, 2008 1:45 am | | re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # | 
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Paula,
Everybody seems to be cutting back on just about everything. Just today, my church here in California announced it was seeking someone willing to pay for church advertising in the local newspaper. Meanwhile, my former church back in Atlanta sent me literature that they are planning to raise $15 million in the next five years via Ebay auctions. And, I have no doubt the Atlanta church will achieve that goal. Why? Because last year this Atlanta church raised $3 million dollars within a six-month period in order to be gifted an additional $3 million. Therefore, by showing they could raise $3 million in six months, they ended up with twice that amount of money.
What's the difference between the church where I live now and the one back in Atlanta? I submit to you it is about knowing how to CARE and CONNECT with an audience. Then, it is necessary to have an attractive (GOOD)DESIGN to achieve a goal.
How many times have you looked at a Ryze thread and seen zero responses to a post? If you go over to any of the "advertising" Ryze networks, you are likely to find a lot of zero post responses. Whenever I see zero responses to a Ryze post, that tells me people are not connecting. While folks may in fact read the post, they don't CARE enough to bother to respond and pursue any kind of conversation. Therefore, true business networking is NOT happening.
What I think would help a lot of folks is to get both a Skype and Yugma account and use them in conjunction with Ryze to get better acquainted. The focus here is not on Web 2.0 innovations or Internet analytics. The focus is on people. And, when it comes to sales and marketing, shouldn't the focus be upon the needs of the consumer?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
707-709-8605
Attract more customers! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Dec 15, 2008 2:00 am | | re: re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # | 
Scott Wolpow | | Lamar,
How about Atlanta has a much larger population? Private Reply to Scott Wolpow | | Dec 15, 2008 2:19 am | | re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # | 
Lindy Asimus | | Paula I frankly don't want to even know about another teleseminar, or training, or invitation to a group, a newsletter, or a podcast, or a squeeze page or sales video... Paid or not paid. I am up to my eyeballs in information, really don't have an interest in another one.
If I do... I will go find it.
It isn't a matter of money, it is a matter of: what I will be interested in, is something that comes up during the course of a discussion with someone. Notice I say discussion, and that rules out a random sales pitch from someone on the periphery of my network I've never conversed with.
So many seminars and info packaged one way or another. How many of these have You (non-specific You) invested time in these things, and great as they are have never implemented 1 thing from the teleseminar, or training, or conference?
If someone is reading this who has attended all the seminars, via phone or in person, and failed to implement the things they wanted to, I'm willing to work with you to put something in place. I have some limited time available over the next month, so if someone is interested in some help at no charge, contact me.
It is depressing to see such great information out there, and so little effort put into taking action on it.
Lindy
http://www.designbusinessengineering.comPrivate Reply to Lindy Asimus | | Dec 15, 2008 2:43 pm | | re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # | 
Kurt Schweitzer | | Paula,
What has been your return on investment (ROI) of all those teleseminars?
You said "I have paid for a jillion teleseminars in the past and I must confess that they all have been worth it." Does this mean you are now a jillionaire?
What is your goal when you sign up for one of these? I like to set a goal of getting AND IMPLEMENTING just one tip from any seminar. Implementation is the key - knowledge isn't worth anything until you USE it.
I, too, am a voracious reader, but I've learned that "free" information isn't really free. Even if it doesn't cost me a penny, it still costs me TIME to read and absorb.
I suggest you try this: Choose a single webinar, seminar, or information product. Extract its KEY component (just one!), and spend the next month incorporating it into your daily habits. (Don't try to speed this! Research suggests that to develop a habit you need to repeat it once a day for at least 20 days!)
Let me know how this works for you.
Kurt Schweitzer
Urban Village ScootersPrivate Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | Dec 15, 2008 6:11 pm | | Re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # | 
Teddy Towncrier | |
"So what goes into your decision these days in paying for webinars, seminars and information products? And on the flip side of that, who is losing out on the preponderance of free information available?"
I too have invested in a few plane tickets, hotel bills & seminar fees and Yes! I have made money.
The big bonus for me is meeting other attendees who will usually take my call and are an excellent supplemental resource.
I can often get a sense of the convenors capabilities from newsletters etc and if I determine they're likely to have what I need; I'll gladly pay for it.
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
 
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | Dec 15, 2008 11:45 pm | | re: re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # |
Paula Quick | | Thanks for your insights Kurt. Well, I guess I AM a jillionaire (in terms of knowledge, at any rate - ha, ha).
The good news is that I have a whole cadre of information to access as part of my coaching business, so I have gotten an ROI on everything heretofore. It's primarily with new seminars, etc. that I have to pinch myself and say I probably already have the information.
I think you make an awesome point about time investment. That's as valuable as any money spent. Good perspective!
Sincerely,
Paula
Paula Quick, Internationally Recognized Life Coach & Reflexologist
http://www.thecheck-in.com & http://www.onyourfeetcoaching.com
You Don't Need More of "The Secret" You Just Need "The Check-In"
Do YOU MonaVie? http://www.monavie.com Distributor ID# 1507373Private Reply to Paula Quick | | Dec 22, 2008 5:30 am | | re: re: If It's FREE It's For Me or Is It? | # |
Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | Kurt,
"Research suggests that to develop a habit you need to repeat it once a day for at least 20 days!"
That's a great tip. Thanks.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
707-709-8605
Attract more customers! Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901 | | |
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