A couple days ago I was talking to @Kevin Hood and he asked: "What are your criteria for offers that you're looking to help promote?" My criteria for affiliate offers are pretty damn simple: 1. A real problem that people on my list have 2. A sexy new solution 3. Proof Those 3 points pay off the (*) in my headline above. And now that I think about it, you can add to them a fourth point: 4. A price/proposition that a) makes it likely my audience will actually want to buy and b) makes it worth my while to promote (Put all those four points together and you happen to get the Bencivenga Persuasion Equation.) The trouble is, it's been almost impossible for me to find affiliate offers that really satisfy all 4 of these criteria, or at least to find as many as my audience has an appetite for. I've tried to fix this in various ways, the most effective of which have been: 1. Networking like a beagle at the dog park 2. Starting a community of list and offer owners with the explicit purpose of finding new affiliate offers to promote (ie. starting my own dog park) 3. Working with offer owners on repackaging and repositioning their offers in a way that I know my audience will respond better to (err... I've run out of dog analogies) But once again, too little, too rarely. So I'm curious: Have you promoted an affiliate offer that worked out great for you? If so, where/how did you find the offer?

I've been going through a presentation by Jeff Walker of Product Launch Formula fame. Here's a bit that particularly stuck with me. Says Jeff: === When I'm looking to run a launch I'm as much interested in what strategic benefit does it have to me in addition to any money I could make. I'm a big believer in thinking long term. That's one of my competitive advantages, that I always think very long term. === Sounds really good, except.. ... what does "strategic benefit" really mean? And how do you think long-term? I'm not just farming for engagement here. I'm genuinely asking, because my time horizon is like 3 days. To help me with that, I just sat down and made a list of "10 kinds of strategic benefits of a launch." I wanna hear yours as well, because I'm sure I'm missing some. If you're game, we can play the usual "Battleship" format. If you name a strategic benefit that's on my list, I'll confirm it. If you name one I don't have, I'll give you one I have that hasn't been named yet. The game goes on until I'm sunk. Your turn.

If you're selling to people who want to be where you are... ... for example, to solopreneurs if you're a solopreneur... ... to internet marketers if you're an internet marketer... ... to coaches if you're a coach... ... then does it make sense to appear frustrated, dissatisfied, or disappointed with aspects of your business? Or does it make more sense to be cheerful, optimistic, and eager about your business, both as it is now, and as it was yesterday, and where it will be tomorrow? I'd claim it's the second. Today I listened to a presentation by Internet Marketer Jeff Walker. Jeff was speaking in a closed-door mastermind. And he made his business sound so great. One big success after another. One great idea after another. Made me want to learn more from him, and pay him money. Even though I know for a fact he's had problems in his business... And even though i know the reality of running a business like his. So I got a question for you: If aiming to look happy and successful is good for business, and I believe it is... ... then how do we square this with the fact that being transparent and honest is good for business, which I also believe?

No, I'm not offering to do it for you. But I am curious. Are you planning to sell something unique to your list in March? And to have a deadline? And to send people a bunch of emails before the deadline expires?

The return of Small Win Saturdays... What's your small win for the week? Specifically, something to do with the emails you send out... the offers you make via those emails... the people you get onto your email list, etc? Sound off in the comments below. It will make you feel good about the past week, and I'd love to hear what you're up to.