Authentic Internet Marketing
August 27, 2008 by Iyabo Asani
Filed under Follow Your Passion
It has been an exciting journey for me becoming a coach that depends almost exclusively on my internet based presence to find clients and create a wonderful income. I have learned so much as it has been a huge perspective shift for me. As an attorney, I did not even have a website. My business relied solely on word of mouth. However, as a coach, the most important tool I have is my internet presence. It is all very exciting.
I have been trying to listen to my own personal authentic gauge meter to see what fits for me. Sometimes, I find myself struggling between what everyone suggests I should do and what feels authentic to me. I do not like pushing products on people even though making money is very important to me. It is important to me that my web presence delivers value independent of the money that may be involved. It is important to me that my web presence is about my potential clients and the value that I can offer them.
So, as I observe what others are doing, I gauge how it feels to me. After all, my feelings are of paramount importance to me! And nothing is more important than that I feel good. Lately I have been seeing a lot of hard sells and a lot of newsletters that sell only product or the person behind the newsletter. I actually see very little value being delivered. Let me clarify on the issue of value here. Of course the product that the person is selling is valuable. I have no problems with that. But usually, they are not giving away any of their core information.
A coach may sell you a product but in the newsletter selling you the product, they have not told you anything that you can use to improve your life. No nuggets, no take aways, nothing that lets you know that this person knows their stuff. Nothing that builds trust and displays genuine competence
So, I have said this is not how I want to be. That is not authentic to me. My product has value whether I put a dollar amount on it or not. Value is a lot more than money to me.
So, I started getting emails from Angela at www.Harmonyharbor.com. I do not know anything about this company. I do not even know how I found her. I stumbled upon her and asked to get her emails as she talks about weight loss and as I started getting her emails, I discovered I love the tone and love that comes across in her emails. She was absolutely lovely. I feel that I know her. She delivers value and I will continue to follow her. It is a weight loss website with no hard sell – Imagine that. Now, I am ranting and raving about this person after only reading about 4 or 5 of her emails! I have had no personal communication with her outside of this!
Please check her out.
Now, my coach and mentor Jeanette Maw also does the same thing. I must have learned this concept from her. She is the most generous, clear-energied, (is that a word?), loving person that I know. Check out her blog at www.goodvibeblog.com and you will see what I mean. She is very successful as a coach. She walks her talk and she is truly the law of attraction guru. I have coached with her for years and I know this for a fact.
She has a whole lotta good vibes flowing. We are at the present having a ball with her post about love. It has caused such a controversy. On every piece of writing she does, she teaches what she knows about the law of attraction. You know what, I just realized something writing this. I said “she teaches.” Teaching resonates with me. Maybe that is the difference. I enjoy teaching and sharing and showing. Other coaches, other people, have skills that may not include teaching and they are selling a product so their newsletters do not teach. Maybe that is the difference.
What do you think?
So today’s Dolphin awards to to Jeanette Maw and Angela at Harmony Harbor.
Check out my previous post on Dolphin awards to see what that is.
Weight Loss » Blog Archive » Authentic Internet Marketing on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 12:48 pm
[...] Original post by Authentic Change Coaching Weblog [...]
Jeannette on Wed, 27th Aug 2008 11:52 pm
Thanks for asking what I think, Coach Iyabo, because I have a strong opinion about something I believe you misstated here!
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You said: “… as a coach, the most important tool I have is my internet presence.”
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Really?!
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I understand the point you were making, but what is your TRUE most important tool as a coach?
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I can list SO many things ahead of “internet presence.”
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And yes, already I hear Jeff arguing with me …
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He would say it doesn’t matter HOW GOOD you are as a coach, if people don’t know about you, it’s a complete waste of talent.
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But honestly, at least as important as your internet presence is your heart, your amazing capacity for insight into the dark corners of one’s life (I’m talking about the times you’ve looked into MINE, you know), your commitment to serving others, your intention to deliver exceptional value over and over, …
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I could go on all day.
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Don’t sell yourself short! As you mentioned in this post, there are plenty of folks with amazing web traffic that bring NOTHING to someone else’s table. I’m glad that’s not you.
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Jeannette
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http://goodvibecoach.com
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PS – thanks for the kind words.
Iyabo on Thu, 28th Aug 2008 12:02 am
Ouch! Gosh, how did I write that? Ok, let us explore that statement. Either I made it consciously or unconsciously but it does reflect my current state of mind.
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I have been spending a lot of time focused on my internet presence and because whatever we focus on expands, that limiting belief snuck up on me and took over.
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Guys, this is coaching at its best. My coach pointed out to me that I was limiting myself.
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This is such a great lesson in that shows us the value of not disconnecting from our authentic self.
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So, let me rewrite: The most important tool that I have is me: My keen interest in other people; my passion for seeing people burst out of limiting lifestyles and blossom into fully authentic beings; and my ability to discern unspoken things and my love for my clients.
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The most important external tool that I have is the internet.
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Coach Jeanette, that is why I love you, you are the real deal and you never run away from that.
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Thanks
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Iyabo
Beverly Mahone on Thu, 28th Aug 2008 8:16 pm
Coach Iyabo,
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First of all thanks for responding to me on Twitter and leading me to your blog. Like you, my clients have come because of my online presence. My value comes from my clients. Their testimonals speak volumes. I not only want them to get the benefit of what they’re being charged but I want them to walk away with a connection that will be everlasting and really feel good about our interaction.
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I could surely boost up my image and say “I’m this and that…” but I am reminded of that James Brown song, “Talkin’ Loud & Sayin’ Nothin.” I’ve seen plenty of that out here, for sure!
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I am glad I read your post because it gives me even greater insight into what it is I am supposed to be doing as a business woman—as a media consultant.
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You are the bomb, my sister! (do they say that anymore??)
Mari Smith on Sat, 30th Aug 2008 4:21 am
Iyabo – I feel the market is in a period of transition. We are becoming wiser consumers; we don’t like to be pushed and manipulated (not like we did before!!)… but we’re more savvy about the different tricks some aggressive marketers use… whether online or on the platform.
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So the softer more relationship-oriented approach just seems to be more effective all round. And with the boom of social media, it’s the perfect opportunity for us relationship marketers to really flourish!
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I appreciate your kind connection on Twitter and my own blog.
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And, I look forward to a wonderful ongoing relationship with you.
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Cheers,
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Mari
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@marismith