My Mission with this Blog

On any given day your mood can change 1000's of times. In my constant effort to make GOD first I struggle with my mood and attitude just like everyone else. My goal is to share some uplifting words and stories with you all to help you stay on an even keel. I look forward to your continued support.

Slide with the A-Team

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

HOW TO MAKE TRAFFIC EXCHANGES WORK FOR YOU

One of the least expensive ways to get traffic to your site when you are low on cash is to surf for credits on traffic exchanges. The idea is that you look at sites and for doing so you get credits to have your site seen. Sounds good but it can be frustrating. You see most of the people on the sites are business builders just like you and only click on your site to get credits to get their site seen.Savvy marketers can take advantage of this trend though. Imagine offering something free on an exciting lead capture page. Ive been getting some good responses by offering free leads. This might sound like a broken record to a few of you that read my post but its a good strategy. You see my goal is to build a list. By giving out free tools and info the people on that list get to know who I am. They get more comfortable with me and thus make it easier to market to them. Master Internet marketers have been doing this for ages. Giving away free e-books or other tools are a great way to build such a list on the traffic exchanges. If you are really savvy you can have a paid offer that comes up before they get to the free tool you are offering. Will everyone buy? Of course not but imagine offering something for $10. $10 isn't much so many will just buy it. If you get one person a day that's $300 a month. Not bad for a traffic exchange. The key is to offer something of value. I'm in the midst of creating a page of items I have reseller rights on. I recently got 50 free digital items from free leads.net for referring 50 people to them. I'm almost at that same mark for free survey leads as well.If you don't know reseller rights can best be described in these terms. You get the right to resell a product you obtained. There are various stipulations with many of the products but all and all you can just resell or give away most of these products. This gives you an arsenal of things to use to build your own list.A leader in MLM/Network Marketing once told me the power is in the list so do your best to create your own list. It may take a bit of time but in the end the leads are so much better qualified than any you can buy.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Leads generate sales!!

Leads generate sales. I believe a lead is a lead is a lead but is only as good as the person working it. Its even better if you generate the lead yourself. Recently ive found a great way to generate leads. Now if you are like most you can either buy leads , create squeeze and lead capture pages, post articles or social network. Ive done it all. I get great results from each avenue but recently I cam across something even better.
I found a place to get free leads. Now they are only opt-ins and surveryed generic leads but imagine this. What if you created a lead capture page that about getting free leads. Imagine the cross section of people that would respond. Im getting people from every industry. Who doesnt need leads? Now I have a marketing business as well where I create lead capture pages so everyone that signs up gives me a new lead to market to. I know it works as I found them on a lead capture page. Its a great idea. Now this is something of a niche market but it works for me. In addition everyone you get to sign up now has leads for your opportunity if they get started with your business. This is a sweet deal.
Now if you are interested in looking at how im doing this take a look below. Im averaging about 6-7 new people a day. Thats pretty good being that all the advertising im doing is free.
free leads - http://freeleads.acamarketinggroup.com
free survey leads - http://freesurveyleads.acamarketinggroup.com
Its that simple. They sign up for the leads. I call them and have a conversation. Oh I do offer a free gift as I have an unlimited supply from my primary business ( Coastal Vacations ). This is a great way to build a list by giving away something free. Master internet marketers have done it for ages.

If you have any ideas on how to improve on this system or what to get more info on how to get your own pages then be sure to let me know. Im open to learning as much as I can. In addition im offering a free marketing campaign with a free lead capture page and a free gift to anyone not in the travel industry right now. Lets work together to increase your business and well as mine.

Adam Frederick
http://www.ateamlifestyles.info
302 476 2753

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Its good to be the King

Are you an expert in your industry? This is a question that comes up all of the time. Believe me even when you prove yourself as a leader people will always question your credentials. This is why its important that you know your stuff. I have been in the home based business arena for 20 years and full time in Coastal Vacations for the last 2 1/2 years. As a leader in the Coastal Synergy Group I did trainings for the entire group and hosted live calls once a week. My training on live events and testimonials has been rated one of the best to date. Anyone that has heard it has used the tips and strategies to close many a deal. I get emails and phones calls all week long from members of Coastal thanking me. But you know what, when you are away from the membership and in front of a client none of that matters. You must prove your expertise to that client. Remember that client has no idea you have a massive team or that you gave a great tip or testimony on the last Q+A Call. So you only have a few minutes to gain their respect. This is why it is so important to be prepared to talk about your product. Now you probably are thinking to yourself im brand new and this product is extensive how can I possible know everything. Well you arent expected to, but you must have some sort of answer to always give. I train my teammates in this manner.1- They tell the client this is a lifetime wholesale travel package that will give them discounts for the rest of their life by using it. 2- They explain the package is primarily broken into two parts. The discount cards which allow you to travel right now at sometimes 80% off of regular rates. The second part is our even deeper discounts. You have to plan 60 - 90 days in advance but then you only pay any processing fees and room taxes.Ok this gives you some stable ground and the client is most of the time impressed, but then most will be thinking to themselves well that sounds good but prove it. Here is where you can make or break your deal. At this point I suggest telling a story. The facts tell but the stories sell. I bet many of you have heard that before and you should have because its true. The best sales people know how to tell a story. You see facts hit people on an intellectual level. Now for some of the population that works but most are led by emotions. People usually buy for two reasons. Either for pleasure or to alleviate a pain. Well vacations illicits a pleasure response. Most people will smile when they talk about vacations. Imagine if you can show them to go on that same vacations at a discount. They will love you. Paint as vivid a picture as you can. make it seem so real that the actually go there right now in their mind.I want all of you to understand my expertise is not in knowing all of the vacations inside and out. Thats what the websites are for, as well as the live calls and numbers of the vendors. Many of us get caught up in that we need to know everything right away and do nothing to truly market the product. Many directors do members a disservice by holding their hands in teaching them all of the knowledge they have on the product. Again the BOD does trainings about how to use the package and your time is better spent learning it there. We should focus more on teaching our teams priactical ways to sell this product as opposed to so much product training. This products sells itself. Cmon 5 cruises for $1295. Thats a no-brainer. That sold me the first time I looked at the package. Everything else was gravy. One of my mentors earns 7 figures a year in the industry and I bet that they have no idea of how most of the packages works. They do know enough of the testimonies to make 7 figures though and they know even better where to get the info. My wife is by far the more knowledgeable of our team when it comes to this travel package but I know enough to sell it and get the info our team and clients need ( just because you dont hear her doesnt mean she isnt around in fact she is my greatest asset ). You must get that same knowledge for yourself.Remember people will always question you and try to make you look like you arent the star you are. That is primarily to take the emphasis off of themselves and their inability to do the things they need to do. Remember the bully in the schoolyard. They had so many of their own mental problems and insecurities that they had to pick on others to get the heat off of themselves. They couldnt have stood up to the scrutiny their shortcomings would bring them. The way that you rise above that is to become knowledgeable about your industry and your product. It is a skill that once you acquire no one can take away no matter how much they try or how futile their attempts are. Your confidence in yourself will make you rise to the top. Remember that if you are on top and are a threat then you will have people coming for your title. I always beat them by being the best that I can be. I love being the champ or as the saying goes "It's good to be the king". Now im not bragging but rather saying you all should have the same confidence about yourselves so when you are attacked you can rise above it knowing that you can handle it. Remember you are the expert so show it.Gain the knowledge you need in this forum and do your best to utilize it. I hope that may post continue to be informative and give the members that are looking for it THE ADVANTAGE they need to succeed in this amazing business that we are all part of.


Adam Frederick
302 476 2753
Former CSG Board Leader + Master Trainer
Featured Member in the May 2006 HBC magazine
Coastal Level III Director

Sunday, February 17, 2008

BECOME A STUDENT OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND LEARN YOUR PRODUCT

How many of us really know our product? How often do you get on the phone with an interested prospect and lose the sale as you cant answer a few questions? Now im not saying you have to know everything there is to know but you have to have a working knowledge of the travel industry.Lets map out a few simple facts about our travel package. The reason that we are able to receive all the amazing deals we do is because of our power as a group. The hotels, condo's and motels are never at full capacity. Thats means on "X" percent of their rooms they make no money. As business owners they are trying to maximize their profit so that is why they offer us a discount. We have become a sales and advertising force for them. They believe they have great lodging and count on the fact that when we come to stay we will love where we are and refer the place to other travelers. Word of mouth advertising is the best. Think of the last time you picked a dentist. You probably asked around for referrals. They are only doing the same thing. In addition they are even putting extra income in their bottom line even if it is at rock bottom prices. If I was selling "widgets" and none sold at $100 but I lowered the price to $50 it would be better than going home empty handed. Understanding this is important when explaining and showing a prospect why this program works. Its a simple principle that is key to your development as a business owner. Another place we have to begin our learning is about the trends of the travel industry. All travel is based on availability. If a convention is going on in a hotel and they are booking rooms because of the demand the hotel will probably raise the rates. Its simple supply and demand. Think of the gas prices. The nations that have the oil have the supply and we in other countries have a demand for it. That means we will pay higher prices for it. We must understand this simple truth.Let me give you an example. Many of you have heard my testimony about my trip to Williamsburg Va. Ive told it before but here are the details. We got a 4 bed room condo for $259 for the entire week. The condo usually retails for $3600. Now what ive never told you guys is that we first were going to get a 2 bedroom. My wife who is an expert traveler and a true student of this package kept looking at the availability to almost the last minute. Now understand we used our Access card so we can book the condo on the spot. Well as she waited she saw that a 4 bedroom was available for the same price. Why was it available you ask? Well the resort didnt have anyone to book that condo so they offered it at a discount at the last minute. They would rather give us the room at a discount and make some money than leave the room empty and make nothing. You see the fact my wife understood how travel works we got a place twice the size for the same price.How are you learning about travel? Are you studying your package? Are you asking the vendors questions? Are you using the product? We make more sales because of product knowledge than we do because of my marketing skills. Yes im a good marketer and salesman but this package sells itself. When you can show someone you are an expert you will make your business soar.Stay tuned for more learning on the travel industry in my post the rest of the week. I hope that something I say helps you market more packages and teaches you to enjoy the great travel we get even more.

Adam Frederick
http://www.ateamenterprises.biz
302 327 6263

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Starting out With Advertising

Now we have discussed the time you spend in your business so lets talk a bit briefly about advertising. Im only going to cover it briefly in this segment as I plan to talk heavily on true advertising methods used by some top interner marketers ive come across in my research and experience later. How do you advertise? Many of us have been taught to just buy leads and spend 70-90% of our time on the phone. That doesnt work. First off most dont have the skill set to be effective on the phone. It is an art in inself. Salesman are always rated among the top paid professions and that has alot to do with the fact they are good on the phone as well as in person. Well most of us arent salesman so why would you ever want to spend so much time on the phone. All it does is give you a chance to mess up the deal. Mess up the deal you ask? Yes just that. Let take a look at our websites. They are incredible in detail. Then we have great live calls where extremely successful leaders are there to assist. With this support we all should play a supporting role in the process. In addition lets look at what most of us do. We buy leads from various lead providers. Im not here to knock any vendor but in my opinion all of the paid leads stink. Yes I said it they stink. Understand that most of them are generated because of incentives. The prospects can get a free ipod if they fill in the form. I for one dont desire to talk to people that arent really serious about being in business. We must rethink our thought process. Now this is not to say you cant do well buying leads. I have as im good on the phone. Im quick on my feet and can handle any conversation plus im well versed in the travel industry as well as in the home based business arena. The question is are you? The better question is why should I have to be good on the phone. Lets be honest most people want to know the facts and want to see if this business is real. So your website tells them the facts and the calls make it real. Use the tools. That is why this business is in my opinion simple. If you have been reading this you see everything ive said is straight common sense. That is all you need to be successful here. So lets take that into our advertising. Use your common sense. I call it fishing where the fish are. If you want to advertise you should advertise a travel package where you find travelers. It again only makes sense. Im also against just advertising the Coastal opportunity as a business. More people travel than are wanting to start a business. So throw out a bigger net.If you advertise smarter and make better use of your tools then I assure you that Coastal will pay you like a business. Get in the game to win and play for keeps.

Adam Frederick
ateamcoastaltravel@hotmail.com
302 476 2753

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Time Management in Coastal Vacations

How much time should you put into your business? That is a question im asked on a daily basis. My answer is always the same. I answer it depends on your own schedule. The single mom or dad that works the night shift is totally different than the stay at home parent with school age kids. The first thing that you must establish is what is comfortable for you. I do have one rule of thumb 50% of you business time should be used on prospecting new clients. Now again this is my opinion and many will disagree on the numbers but this is what has worked for me.Time is relative and productivity is more important. A seasoned veteran in Coastal might spend less time on the phone prospecting as they have a few advantages. They might have a team bringing them training sales. They also might have learned more effective advertising methods. They also might have a broader referral base. Id stick with the 50% rule of thumb. The other 50% need to be broken into a few other areas. Training is a big one. By training I include learning testimonials by getting on live calls, getting in your back office, reading trade magazines and publications and spending time with your director is they have training calls. Many people focus too much on the training or the theoretical as I call it and not the practical. Remember we are in business to make money and while training is needed most of our efforts should be placed on the money making activities. That 50% that we spend outside of prospecting must be productive. The goal of that time should be to make us better at the prospecting that we do. Take a look at your business right now. How is your time broken down. Are you spending your time on all of our training calls and counting that all the time you are running your business. As I listen to our daily calls I make it my business to take as many notes to use later when im making my own calls. This is always needed. I am growing all the time. If I dont have someone on the call then I spend the first 1/2 hr of the call making prospecting calls myself. Then I jump on to hear the testimonials so I have more ammunition as I prospect. Make a true gameplan for yourself and start it out with a schedule that fits your lifestyle and your needs. If you can do that you are on the way to having all you want out of Coastal.

Adam Frederick
http://www.ateamfuntime.info
302 476 2753