Three Thoughts: It’s GOOD to Send Your Readers to Competitors

In a recent discussion with a Email Marketing Reform School student (she’s also joining me for IM Copy Makeover) that I really enjoy working with (she listens, applies and keeps moving forward - good student!), she told me:

“As this isn’t IM I can’t really send offers other than for my own stuff. I don’t want to send them to competitors.”

I was kind of surprised, but not completely taken aback as a lot of people who have their own products think this way. Here’s what I told her:

Your readers are going to buy from all kinds of companies, competitors, etc..whether you like it or not. Why not get paid for it? Wise advice I first heard from John Reese.

It’s a great market research tool to figure out which products you might be able to develop yourself. If you offer other products that your readers readily buy, that’s powerful information.

Always remember, the Internet is so vast. You have so many people on your list that will never buy from you that it’s not like sending your brick and mortar customer to the store next door.

In fact, if you lead them to quality products from other companies, they will trust and appreciate your opinion and come back for more. Overall, there are so many ways to maximize our online income and convert more prospects to sales…even if it’s not always for our own products.

I must admit, in this market of selling to online business owners, I make fewer and fewer affiliate offers - but there’s a very good reason for that. I have more of my own products to offer, so I am able to fill more of my prospects’ and customers’ needs. However, I haven’t stopped and will never stop making affiliate offers…because I just can’t be everything to my target prospect.