Should I do it?
I’m becoming good friends with a lot of serious players in the life coaching industry.People who are creating some really powerful tools for coaches.
Good people. Smart people.They know I have a very responsive and trusting list of 55,000 subscribers, and are of course suggesting that I mention their tools and products to you guys.
Assuming I only pick people I trust, and products that are quality…….
My questions to you are:
Should I limit reviews and announcements of third party products, and just stick to offering SolutionBox products?
Will it create confusion for my customers who now wonder if they should buy SolutionBox products or these other products?
Or will it just be good karma all around?
Providing coaches with the tools they need?
I’d appreciate your comments – would you post them here on the blog?
56 Comments:
The only reason we're here on Earth is to help eachother...that's the life purpose so follow your gut and offer what you believe in...as I believe you already do.
Namaste
Good question. You might consider a link from your sites to a new site you would setup that would be strictly for these non-Solution Box items.
Sam Langfitt
Trisel Executive Coaching
focused on success
Tel. (321) 749-4138
www.triselcoaching.com
That is a hard question. what I would say off the bat is I would like solution box to be just that... a solution box not an internet infomercial. The more offers I recieve the more I get inundated with information and start to forget why solution box is such a valuable tool to me. I would prefer the offers be kept to a minimum and perhaps implementing a screening program in which you rate programs and those that meet a determined criteria are channelled to us (your ever so absorbant sponges) and those that don't meet the high standard are filtered out. Knowledge is power but sometimes wisdom is a much more necessary attribute.
I love all the added bits you send, and I am happy to discern for myself if they are useful to my situation or not. I do think you should be rewarded in some way by the sites that you send us to, as they benefit and we benefit from you taking the time to research what other resources you can recomend to your data base.
I don't think there is anything wrong with promoting the products of others through Solution Box as long as A) you truly believe in the product and B) you believe it will benefit your readership. I know of others who sell ads in their ezines, but I'm less likely to take those seriously than to listen to a bona fide occasional recommendation from the expert that I already trust and admire.
Kim Nishida
www.readytoevolve.com
Hi David, I think it says so much about you that you even asked us, so first off I want to say thank you for sharing who you are with all of us. As for my comment... Quite simply, if you don't mind the time it will take you, I would appreciate it.
Sharon Shenker
Relationship/Matrimonial Coach
www.divorcesupportplus.ca
Hey there David,
Nothing happens by accident. I read your last marketing email and I thought to myself, "Everyone is his friend, everyone has a deal he needs to share with us..."
If I thought this, it is possible others have had the same thought. Here are my words of wisdom I lovingly share with you this day: Redefine the word 'friend', re-evaluate the word 'loyalty' and cherish and protect the weight of your influence.
Clear and Bright
CJM
I have to agree with the last writer. There are times that I receive your emails and wonder are you just referring everything you come accross or are you really checking it out. Having said that, I also know that I would not have had access to some fantastic material if it was not for you!! Therein lies the dilema...I do believe that you will make the right decision and offer us products that you believe will help us all to continue to grow.
Celine
"Redefine the word 'friend', re-evaluate the word 'loyalty' and cherish and protect the weight of your influence. "
Just adding to what was already written!
I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago and we were talking about all the e-mail / joint venture mail we are getting. He said he was beginning to feel internet marketing was one big scam and very incestuous... well, that is what he said. I do not feel that way. I do appreciate getting information about products that could be of value to me from SOMEONE I TRUST. However, when I get 7 e-mails in one day promoting Wayne Dyers new book ( I love Wayne I am not picking on him just using that as the most recent example) I get very turned off. I am and I think many people are already in information overload. I can barely keep up with the newsletters I have signed up for.
I would think about this very carefully.
Peace
Hi David,
I want you to know how much I appreciate all the tools and information that you share with us. I know this is an abundant universe, however, to many people are doing joint ventures/affilate marketing and it is turning my mail box into the "classified"section of the paper...:-)
I truly appreciate your asking. I do not know of anyone else who has had enough respect for their list to even ask. That says a lot about you and your integrity. This is something you will have to use your judgement on. I know 99% of the people give ( $) back to the people who buy their products from someone elses endorsment. ie the term affliate program!
Have a great day!
Namaste
I added the part about the money for the person who was concerned that people do not get paid for their referring people to buy anothers products. I do not think there is anyone doing that. ( not paying, just doing it in the spirit of pure sharing)
Just my own perception which could change tomorrow. Maybe I just had to many Ads today :-)
I agree w/ the majority of comments already posted - to me it's not the source of the products but the quality. And to offer information on items that are IN YOU OPINION something we may benefit from - just more good for all.
Information overload is the correct word.
Send your own info in your own newsletter. Then once a month or every couple of months in a newsletter mention (with maybe a sentence, but no more than a paragraph for each one, and a link) those you find to be of highest quality, but no more. Keep in mind, unsubscribing for members is just a click away! So tried of ads!
As long as you've thoroughly checked it out for quality and kept it as a small part of your newsletters (not an additional email to sift through), then I would appreciate a trustworthy source of additional valuable coaching materials. An overall quality resource book or text describing how to be a life coach would really be helpful!
Thanks David!
Hi David,
I think it would be important not to have so much on the site that it loses it's original purpose. Perhaps to find a way to pass along info about the best of the best and to be very careful not to have the "solution box" tools lost in the shuffle. For myself I trust and depend on the brand soliution box which to me represents you and what you stand for.
Keep it simple so we can still recognize the Solution.
We will be loyal if you are human and a few raw deals slip through...you will let us know. That's what we call Trust. You are not a crutch to our life and business -- you are offering solutions.
Your thoughts in the right direction. I get sometimes confused about what someone recommends. If I were you, I would recommend only products which I reviewed myself instead of just sending because I am an affiliate with them. Also, you can have two lists, one only your material and the other for promotions (which goes to only people who opt for it). Cheers.
Probably best to stick to your own products, or you just end up like every other internet marketer out there.. a walking billboard that no one looks at...
Martin Dolan
Fresh Insight
www.freshinsight.com.au
I appreciate your asking this question.
My attention is my only commodity.
Therefore, how I choose to focus my attention is my most important choice.
When I look for a solid resource online, I am looking for specific benefits and razor-sharp information. I don't want fluff.
Instead of more information in my inbox, I would appreciate links in the email posing questions. Then, if I am interested in that solution, the link would lead to facts, benefits and comparisons of programs that you have screened. I would value your recommendations.
However, I would not like to receive information automatically for any and all programs that you may find useful. I simply would choose to not read them.
I hope this is helpful.
mybizcoach@gmail.com
I think it's a good idea as long as you personally value the products yourself.
Don't do it. don't sully your great service
I prefer to read about your own products only
Honestly I saw a lot of people starting to market 3rd party products (like conscious one) and at the end it seemed to me that they lost their initial goal and became just a marketing tool and wanted nothing else then to sell. I became so much offered that I needed at least 2 liftimes to learn and study "how to make my life wonderfull, successfull, millionaire-like...." - at the end I blocked the mails coming in because ist just spam.
If you really want to offer something from a third party - make a linklist on your site - but please please dont start emailing these suggestions around...
Walter, Ulm, Germany
Hi David
In my point of view I would prefer that you revies products that supplement SolutionBox's products !
Should you deviate from this use your own "gut feeling" and common sense
Information overflow is a problem "to much to little" !
Best regards from Denmark
if you have tried out the products and feel they are valuable then by all means pass them on.that's a great way to offer products people might not otherwise come across and in this jungle of offers out there it's great to know someone recommends them whom we trust.and it supports others as they will undoubtedly promote your services also.way to go!
David,
I would love to hear about other offerings in addition to your own. I think it gives people more reason to visit your site as they will know that there will be a range of products they can find there and choose from, whether it be yours or some others you have carefully selected to share. As coaches I think it's in our nature to help the people around us so it is good karma all round and for those that don't belive in karma, then just consider that one day, you may need help from that someone you helped along the way....Tip
mooREsults coaching & consulting
www.mooREsults.com
stick to what you do well, thats why people trust you and stay as subscribers
Hey David,
You've got a pure heart and good intentions!!! Because of that you're becoming good friends with a lot of serious players in the life coaching industry.
If these players are creating some really powerful tools for coaches, why wouldn't you want to share the value of the tools with others?
What you give out, comes back to you ten fold!!! If you haven't noticed already, you've been giving so much, your business keeps expanding. SolutionBox is the vessel...
You've been placed in the position that you are in for a purpose...
So continue to follow the power within and offer what you KNOW would benefit the many. You're doing an awesome job!!!
If you need to distingush between SolutionBox products and other useful products, then create a hyperlink on your site distinguishing 'your products' from 'theirs'...It's a win-win situation all around.
Wishing you continued success and prosperity!!!
All the best,
Stephanie James
I feel you should stick to your own products. There are plenty of places that are available to provide coaches with recommendations already.
Lately I've felt that it's become routine for you to provide more & more recommendations which turns you from a trusted/valued source into an internet marketer.
From an affiliate point of view it would also mean that clients I send to you to purchase your own products are then being pitched by a competitor. Should that happen I for one would cease to refer clients to you.
Apply your integrity to the leverage principle, David. Your clients and "data base" isn't going to reject you because of it... the other "products" will be, thanks to you, scrutinised by an informed and discerning "marketplace".
I go along with anonymous.
However, I will say that I don't want you sending me announcements of other people's stuff every couple of days, jamming up my mail box.
I always read Solution Box mailings because you have been such a useful resource, but when I'm inundated, it makes me feel like unsubscribing. You seem to have a decent balance at the moment. (but maybe that's because i already know Suzanne Falter-Barnes work and products)
Hi David
My suggestion would be to promote any tools that are currently outwith what you do if you think this will add to your service, but perhaps limit these to only the occassional few. I personally enjoy all the advice from Solutions Box in whatever form it comes. In order to avoid confusion, perhaps limit the amount of links otherwsie your own identity will be lost.
Hope this helps,
Louise Roberts, Life Coach, Edinburgh
sure you should offer products. Class not mass is something that i grew up believe. Endorse products that you feel will genuinely help.
Numbers have their own heirarchy and too many will lead to tedium.
David we follow you because we believe in you. Element of faith to my mind is uppermost
Hi David,
I think it would be a good idea to promote other peoples products. Besides I am sure you could organise to get your cut from the sale of them. I think it is important tho' that it is understood that you will be very selective with what you choose to market on their behalf. Tried and tested etc. Good luck. Louise Crooks (new coach starting out)
Great question and great answers. What are YOU trying to accomplish by sharing that information? Most of us make our own decisions whether or not we want to go to the links. However, many DO get confused. It's all in the sorting out.
I'm new to this so I do appreciate the extra stuff. I'm learning as I go.
Thanks for SolutionBox!
As good-karma-oriented as I like to be, I've recently begun to get increasingly irritated by the number of people who are doing this. I could name at least five people I've signed up for THEIR information and now constantly (almost exclusively) receive the "you've just GOTTA check out this latest greatest person's product you just can't live without." And I hate to be so skeptical, but given the sheer volume of these emails, it makes me feel like (more often than not) the honest finish to that sentence should be "becuase I'm getting a cut of the sales I generate...". So my answer is... I'm not a fan, and becuase of my own reaction, have decided to never approach my business that way, even if it means turning down income streams. It dillutes the power of a good solid referral. How about just a web page where you list all your favorite stuff that's not yours.
It's an ethical question and one I've discussed with a great local coach ( http://www.carolinalifecoaching.com/ )
http://lifeasyouwish.blogspot.com/
they said they would only recommended products which they have either bought themselves and found to be useful or have done sufficient research to evidence it's usefulness.
Ethics and integrity is the name of the game here!
That all depends on if you are concered about competition in a business sense. I don't believe that is your motivation, nor should it be. Filtering what you believe would be beneficial to other coaches and would-be coaches is a great idea, as linking everything would take up a lot of what precious time many of us have.
Good ole cluster theory says you will attract more people if you offer a diverse range of products in a way that is not confusing. It will keep you on your toes as you see the quality of products being offered, so it fosters competition in a healthy way. No brand is the same so be clear about what their brand is adding in addition to your own.
Just be discerning and use your wisdom in deciding which products you would endorse and believe would be beneficial to your Solution Box subscribers.
offering coaching tools that you believe in is the way to go.we are
here to share what we know and believeto others so they may also grow
Blessings
If there is reciprocal profit why not for you and for your suscribers
Although I can see the temptation to promote these products, as others have mentioned there is certainly a point at which you cross the line to an infomercial or merchant versus a "solution box". Setting up a separate page might work.
There is an awful lot of material available and much of it is 3rd party. It feels much better to purchase from an actual user of a product or creator of a product than to be inundated with ads. I believe too many ads can discredit a site and lend an unprofessional (undiscriminating) flavor to a company.
Karen Lee
919-371-2477
www.carolinalifecoaching.com
Exceeding Expectations!
http://lifeasyouwish.blogspot.com
After reading many of the comments, I still would like to see what you would recommend, as it is time consuming to find my own resourcecs and then try to decide if they are trustworthy. I have had my cc number stolen from a supposedly secure safe site and having been burned am wary of unrecommended sites. I would suggest you put a "reference" link on your website. That way you are recommending them, but we are not unindated with unwanted information.
Good luck,
Susan
David, you are someone that I look at a leader in this field and your words are very important. So yes, I think you should continue supporting other products that you feel are worthwhile. Just share your thoughts on why it is of value. In otherwords, what separates a particular product from the others which might be similar. I find that very valuable also.
Peace & blessings.
Sheryl - The NuGenesis Center, Inc. - 216.255.6822 - slthomas@nugenesiscenter.com
David, it is really open of you to ask your clients what they would like. Some will think it is great, others will not. At the end of the day the decision is up to you. Which is the best way to move your business forward to where you want it to be.
It is your experience and wisdom that bring clients to you.
Dear David,
It's an interesting question that I have pondered too. One of the people I look to as a model in this is Terri levine. Through the wealth of information about third party products that she has shared I have received a great deal and I am grateful. Sometimes I do feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount that is offered. But I have learned to trust my instincts and just skim and open or fully resppond to what jumps out at me. Overall I am very glad that she dos share this information. It's likely that I wouldn't have bought from you if she hadn't! Because I feel gratitude I will continue to look at what Terri herself offers and I am sure will buy products from her again. I have become associated with her as health coach, so our relationship has a unique place in my life coaching practice. I love this generosity that exists in the coachin world and I believe we all benefit from it. I do think some guidance about how to relate to the flood of information that can come in would be incredibly useful and perhaps you could provide that.
Cheers, Alice Aird
Life Energy Coaching
Yes indeed. However, it should be with others you trust or have experienced. The more good people reference each other, the better it is for all. The references I do not appreciate are when one person gets compensated for recommending another.
They are suspect.
On the other hand, person you have used is a strong referral.
If you wish to seek revenue, have a "resources" page
Regards
Jim
What I am looking for is really the framework and systems you use as a successful professional coach. I use a bunch of practices, which I have fit into a framework of systems, but I am not positive that my framework and systems are right.
I don't care where my framework and systems come from, so whether or not they are Solutionbox copyright or not is not important. What matters is that I have a framework, systems and practices that are fun, useful and empowering. Always look at your offerings from the point of view owned by your prospects.
OK, so maybe this is Object Oriented Coaching.
Here is my image of a framework that our coaching practices could be placed into.
Remember as you look at the picture, that all of this is outward-facing.
http://www.ArrowStars.com/images/coaching.png
++ A visitor enters your reception-recruiting area from various ad campaigns and offers. The reception-recruiting building is a system that lets you know the visitor's interests, the general newsletters that this person is interested in.
== The Intake system then takes the new visitor's email and name, so the newsletter can be directed to them. This could also be where the questionnaires reside, that show help you direct the clients to the practices they need to make their hopes materialize.
++ The Tele-seminar Centre contains practices that you use to make your Webinars, Tele-seminars and such. Maybe you JV with other coached to provide more value to your clients and visitors in seminar stuff.
== The Goal Center contains practices that help your clients solidify their goals.
++ The Action Plan Centre is full of practices that help you provide the "What next?" info to your clients. These can be prebuilt "canned" plans keyed to a client's search keys, or it could be a custom package costing thousands of dollars.
== The Motivational Library, or bookstore, is the place where clients can find your gems of the motivational world. Books, Audio and Video Tapes (what are tapes?), Flash-cards, CDs, DVDs, and other finished products that the client can purchase or download. Here again, there are practices which make it easier and more natural for the client to find what they are really looking for, and practices to make this a joyful experience.
++ The New Project Centre is where you keep practices to help your clients start their new projects.
== The Scribery/Publishing Systems Building is where you assist your clients to publish their own books, seminars and other information products.
++ The Partners Coaching University is a system that allows you and your clients and other coaching partners to develop new ideas for new practices mounted in all of the systems you are maintaining. Once you have developed the idea of a TV show for your client, then that client could become a partner in a practice offered to other clients. This opens a space for starting whole new frameworks for your clients to interact within.
== Games and entertainment is a system which keeps clients interested in the site and your treatment of the site. The practices here may be light-hearted, but they may also teach on issues which would fail if treated as a subject of study. No Morals-to-the-Story, please.
++ The Secret Caves are a system that lets you tier your teachings. The Secret Caves may be a framework for "graduate students" of your practices. You may train the leaders who will be seminar trainers of your method here.
oops http://www.arrowstars.com/images/Coaching.png
I guess the capital "C" mattered after all.
Wolf
"Anything you can do alone is not big enough." Alliances and collaborations are an essential part of your business and ours. If you love a product, acknowledge and celebrate it, have a conversation about it just as you would have a conversation about anything else. If a product resonates with you, and you connect with the product and its designer, step outside the "should" box and exercise full and free self expression. Caveat: Make sure you trust it because we have learned to trust you and your judgment. Orient around your values. If you have not and would not use the product, I do not want to hear about it. In a world of technological overwhelm, knowing the products and services you recommend is wonderful for me. Hit and miss is time consuming and costly.
There is no confusion about the products. You seem to be sharing your genuine enthusiasm, sincere respect, awe, and energy. Your authenticity is apparent.
It is good Karma all around to share resources, love, energy, tools to help us grow.
Thanks for the resources you have recommended in the past. They have been helpful.
I think we would all appreciate products, services that went under a REAL and TRUSTABLE scan and are not just sent to us because they paid you to.
But we all need other tool than just SolutionBox and it does take time to find them. So it would be easier to have them at one place with your offers.
I apreciate the question even being asked! My suggestion is that you consider a link from your site. I am overwhelmed yet not overly thrilled to dig through a huge number of recommendations -- I'd prefer to do that when time and energy permit. Keep your material "pure."
Misty@energycoach.com
I say share the wealth the more information I can obtain from trusting people and quality products the better for all!! I say it's good Karma
G'day David
It's great that you ask your 'list'. The feeling of specialness around solutionbox has diminished a little in my view since these 'special offers' started to arrive in more numbers. Things are becoming more marketing oriented from you but I have a choice to unsubscribe if they start to really bother me. So you have to make a conscious choice based on your intent for your business. We'll make our own choices. But, thanks for asking. And good luck to you whatever direction you head.
Dear David firstly thank you for keep on sending me your monthly letters. i am an aspiring welness coach and been struggling with ' can i do it?' syndrome. now i have a first client on 6 months program and next week i'll be purchasing thw wellness inventory of John Travis which was a special offer by you. and my client has volunteered to pay for it as part of our agreement. I think your offers of third party products and services is a wonderful and hollistic approach as it is about affiliation, sharing and community. and yes a good karma. keep up the awesome work and inspiring others like myself. Gem Akcan
I think you have to give to get. I know that because you have given so much you will get it back x a gazillion !! Look at all the contacts you have because of what you have shared??
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