Getting referrals to upgrade?

[Zanezim]

Hello,

 

A lot of Affiliate programs you can make money with have commissions. A lot of these affiliate programs offer free sign ups, but you don't earn anything from the members you refer until they upgrade. Getting sign ups is the easy part. Getting members you refer to upgrade is the challenge, at least this has been my case.

 

What would be a soft approach to either email these referrals to suggest they upgrade through an email or autoresponder? You don't want to be straightforward about it and tell them to upgrade, but any suggestions would be helpful.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Alan

[yourstores]

This is the 64 million dollar question. I'm a team leader with SFI, have a downline of over 700, which sounds impressive, but only ONE person out of all of them is what I would consider active and even he slowed down this month. So if anybody knows the answer please chip in...

[Zanezim]

This is the 64 million dollar question. I'm a team leader with SFI, have a downline of over 700, which sounds impressive, but only ONE person out of all of them is what I would consider active and even he slowed down this month. So if anybody knows the answer please chip in

Thanks, but what I'm looking for here is suggestions to say to a referral who signed up. An encouragement to have them upgrade without directly being forward about it.

[Guest mrclean0325]

I don't know the "secret" either.

 

Though I do have some experience with what you are asking and talking about. If you ask most people here, you have to keep going and get a LOT of downline built before you start getting upgrades. It isn't something that magically happens overnight.

 

I have found one of the hardest things to do (from an emotional stand-point) is to get someone to upgrade in a "free" program.

 

What I mean is you have to understand it is a game of numbers. You are going to get a LOT more NO than yes, more so in a "free" program. I am probably going to get some flack for this but, you have to understand a lot of people don't "get it".

 

You have to do that dirty thing most people dread above all else in the world - you have to SELL. Building a downline is no different than building a list. the mechanics are the same and the intended outcome is the same - to make some money right?

 

A problem in "free" programs is you will get a lot of "tire kickers". Most people will sign up and do very little or nothing. No matter how great the program and how many people are upgrading for someone else. Just a fact of life. To upgrade is a commitment and people are usually reluctant to make a commitment if they can get something "free".

 

You know the old saying, "Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?"

 

This is also compounded by people being a bit timid about selling. Timid salespeople have skinny kids you know.

 

The big question in all of this IS this - DID YOU UPGRADE?

 

If you didn't WHY?

 

If you don't see the value, why should your downline? It is very hard to sell something you don't own. It is harder to convey any benefits to your downline of something all you know about is what the owner put on their sales page.

 

If you didn't upgrade, the fact is you didn't upgrade probably for the same reasons they are not. Lesson to learn???

 

If you are upgraded - and have a way to contact your downline - (email, through system or whatever) There is the slow, round-a-bout, timid, my kids will be skinny this month way or a more effective way.

 

The timidest way is just to wait, and hope, someone will upgrade.

 

Then there is the "not so forward" way of mailing them every so often but never mentioning directly they should upgrade and, again, hope for an upgrade.

 

Then there is the more professional, and effective, way by "selling" them to upgrade. You can do this by telling stories about what upgrading has done for you, how you are using the upgrade, if the upgrade has made a difference in your marketing, and just sharing WHY it might be a benefit for them to upgrade. Selling is telling and sharing.

 

If you signed up for a list and were never contacted or told about a new widget and a link to buy it - would that marketer make any money?

 

You need to do everything you can do to increase the chance they will upgrade.

 

You also have to consider the program too. Are there things that are complicated and confused you? They probably do other people too. Even program owners may not be the greatest at selling or explaining things well. Share your own "light bulb" moments with your downline.

 

Lastly, if you can't write confidently about what you are telling your downline, they will not respond well. People can tell if you are faking it for the most part. Don't EVER lie to them, it is too easy to get found out. Don't tell them you are burning up the charts when you are not even on them. Also if you don't truly believe it is an advantage to upgrade, it is hard to convince someone else of something you don't personally believe in. Granted there are some people who can seemingly sell anything whether they own, believe, or even use the product. They are the "abnormal" that are pointed to and everyone tries to emulate.

 

There are also programs that just by their nature are going to be hard to sell an upgrade. Simple, easy, point, and click is what people look for. If something is just too complicated and has a lot of moving parts they need to understand to get it to work, it will be much harder to get an upgrade. The whole thing has to do with ease of duplication. Why do you think all the stuff says, "Easy, push button, simple", and all the rest to sell their stuff?

 

So it is not easy and there are no guarantees. All you can do is do your best and learn from your mistakes. It is a process, and does take time, and most people quit before they give it enough time to work. You just have to keep reassessing and figuring out if it is working and why it isn't and go on from there.

[Zanezim]

I don't know the "secret" either.

 

Though I do have some experience with what you are asking and talking about. If you ask most people here, you have to keep going and get a LOT of downline built before you start getting upgrades. It isn't something that magically happens overnight.

 

I have found one of the hardest things to do (from an emotional stand-point) is to get someone to upgrade in a "free" program.

 

What I mean is you have to understand it is a game of numbers. You are going to get a LOT more NO than yes, more so in a "free" program. I am probably going to get some flack for this but, you have to understand a lot of people don't "get it".

 

You have to do that dirty thing most people dread above all else in the world - you have to SELL. Building a downline is no different than building a list. the mechanics are the same and the intended outcome is the same - to make some money right?

 

A problem in "free" programs is you will get a lot of "tire kickers". Most people will sign up and do very little or nothing. No matter how great the program and how many people are upgrading for someone else. Just a fact of life. To upgrade is a commitment and people are usually reluctant to make a commitment if they can get something "free".

 

You know the old saying, "Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?"

 

This is also compounded by people being a bit timid about selling. Timid salespeople have skinny kids you know.

 

The big question in all of this IS this - DID YOU UPGRADE?

 

If you didn't WHY?

 

If you don't see the value, why should your downline? It is very hard to sell something you don't own. It is harder to convey any benefits to your downline of something all you know about is what the owner put on their sales page.

 

If you didn't upgrade, the fact is you didn't upgrade probably for the same reasons they are not. Lesson to learn???

 

If you are upgraded - and have a way to contact your downline - (email, through system or whatever) There is the slow, round-a-bout, timid, my kids will be skinny this month way or a more effective way.

 

The timidest way is just to wait, and hope, someone will upgrade.

 

Then there is the "not so forward" way of mailing them every so often but never mentioning directly they should upgrade and, again, hope for an upgrade.

 

Then there is the more professional, and effective, way by "selling" them to upgrade. You can do this by telling stories about what upgrading has done for you, how you are using the upgrade, if the upgrade has made a difference in your marketing, and just sharing WHY it might be a benefit for them to upgrade. Selling is telling and sharing.

 

If you signed up for a list and were never contacted or told about a new widget and a link to buy it - would that marketer make any money?

 

You need to do everything you can do to increase the chance they will upgrade.

 

You also have to consider the program too. Are there things that are complicated and confused you? They probably do other people too. Even program owners may not be the greatest at selling or explaining things well. Share your own "light bulb" moments with your downline.

 

Lastly, if you can't write confidently about what you are telling your downline, they will not respond well. People can tell if you are faking it for the most part. Don't EVER lie to them, it is too easy to get found out. Don't tell them you are burning up the charts when you are not even on them. Also if you don't truly believe it is an advantage to upgrade, it is hard to convince someone else of something you don't personally believe in. Granted there are some people who can seemingly sell anything whether they own, believe, or even use the product. They are the "abnormal" that are pointed to and everyone tries to emulate.

 

There are also programs that just by their nature are going to be hard to sell an upgrade. Simple, easy, point, and click is what people look for. If something is just too complicated and has a lot of moving parts they need to understand to get it to work, it will be much harder to get an upgrade. The whole thing has to do with ease of duplication. Why do you think all the stuff says, "Easy, push button, simple", and all the rest to sell their stuff?

 

So it is not easy and there are no guarantees. All you can do is do your best and learn from your mistakes. It is a process, and does take time, and most people quit before they give it enough time to work. You just have to keep reassessing and figuring out if it is working and why it isn't and go on from there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you. I liked what you said.

[Steve Shapiro]

"most people quit before they give it enough time to work"

 

Very true, but the question is "How much time is ENOUGH time"?   People want instant gratification nowadays,  Short of that, they at least want to see progress.  Some sign that what they're doing is working is essential to keeping the motivation to maintain the marketing effort.  It may be only a few upgrades or sales the first month....maybe a few more the 2nd month....but SOME sign of progress.  What happens far too often, from my experience, is that the program you're promoting tanks before you can ever build up a profitable business with it.  Or maybe it just stagnates.  Once people start dropping out, it becomes a snowball effect.  So, how much time is enough time kind of depends on what it is that you're promoting and how that business is doing in general, aside from your own efforts.  

[market101]

If I really like a new affiliate program, I send an email to my list and tell them I upgraded right away and offer my help to anyone who needs it.  It's interesting - all the thank you emails I get, telling me that no one ever offered to help them before.  I always send a personal greeting to my front line people and suggest that they do the same with their personally sponsored.

[Guest mrclean0325]

"most people quit before they give it enough time to work"

 

Very true, but the question is "How much time is ENOUGH time"?   People want instant gratification nowadays,  Short of that, they at least want to see progress.  Some sign that what they're doing is working is essential to keeping the motivation to maintain the marketing effort.  It may be only a few upgrades or sales the first month....maybe a few more the 2nd month....but SOME sign of progress.  What happens far too often, from my experience, is that the program you're promoting tanks before you can ever build up a profitable business with it.  Or maybe it just stagnates.  Once people start dropping out, it becomes a snowball effect.  So, how much time is enough time kind of depends on what it is that you're promoting and how that business is doing in general, aside from your own efforts.  

 

You have hit on a very good quandary most people have also.

 

Two of the the inherent problems with any downline are the same whether it is a MLM or a traffic site.

 

1. Attrition (paying people drop outs)

 

2. Is it duplicatabie

 

No matter what the GooRoos tell you, attrition is your biggest enemy in building a downline in any business where people pay for the privilege of being in the business. The obvious answer is to keep adding more people faster then they leave, right? Well, in some instances that is just not possible. You know how it goes, you work your butt off to get a new customer in your downline and then a couple days later get a notice one left.

 

Sure you are motivated and excited about this new enterprise and for some reason others are not so much or at least not enough to keep with it.

 

You really need to look at WHY they are leaving. It is sometimes impossible to communicate with them directly since they also usually unsubscribe from all contact when they leave. So what do you do then? How do you get a grasp on this?

 

The easiest way is to have someone who has no skin in the game look at the program and give their honest opinion to you. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees and blind ourselves to some major problems for the "casual" person. So when we find out these issues, we need to find a way to convey a solution for to our downline.

 

There are usually only two reason they leave - don't quite understand it or not making any money with it. These may be both the same as they may not know enough about how it works well enough to make money with it.

 

For the second part, duplication, the newbie has to absolutely be able to do what it is you do to make money with the program. This may require a "hand holding session" or a report with detailed instructions on exactly how you are making money with the program. The prevalent idea is to keep your "secret" to yourself and hide your gold mine. The problem in real life is this works fine if you want to keep making it all yourself when the idea behind a downline is to make a little money off a lot of people.

 

Of course you have to actually be making money with the program for this to work. Otherwise it is the blind leading the blind and you all fall into a hole. You also have to be making the kind of money the people coming in are expecting to make from the advertising. If the ad says you can make "$10,000 a month in 3 months" and you've been doing it 7 months and barely making enough to paying for the monthly - it won't work well.

 

So if you are looking for an easy solution, I am afraid there isn't one.

 

What I do from past experience, and many reality slaps, is this:

 

1. Is the product worth the price and is it actually being sold. Unfortunately in the Internet age, there are ads for things and people just aren't buying them. So do some research and see if people are actually spending money on the product. If you study the stats you will find some programs just aren't as great as the ads make them seem. AVOID "review" sites about the program since most of them are either marketing the program itself or saying it is OK (or terrible), but they have something better.

 

Also don't generalize too much. don't just say, "Oh, it is a traffic site - people buy traffic so it has to be OK". Does the site you are trying to work actually produce results? Are they worth the money for the upgrade? Are people really upgrading? If they say how they are growing like crazy and only have 1,000 members after 3 years....hmmmm.

 

If they have a forum, look at how recent the posts are. If all of them are from 3 years ago or crabbing about being paid, not a good sign.

 

2. Look at the top people (if they are listed) and see what they are doing. Do some simple math, if they are only bringing in 100 people a month @ $5 each - does that jibe with what the ads say? If the top person is killing it, find out what they are doing by either asking them or just spying on what ads they are running, sites they have, and whatever else you can find.  DO what they are doing since it obviously is working.

 

You need to be wary of sites that emphasize something other than the $$$. If they don't list the top earners, what is the point? The top people could have a downline of thousands that are doing nothing and they aren't really making any $$$. I have been in some where I was the top guy in my area and not making a dime. You got to think about these things a bit.

 

3. You have to consider your own time, effort, and money. Can you duplicate what the top people are doing to make a good dollar? Are they using techniques that you will have to learn and how long will it take for you to be proficient at them? Are they using special software, paid traffic, or something you just can't do? If you can't follow their exact plan, don't expect the same results!

 

The most powerful sales technique is to make something sound so good and the income so great you just think to yourself, "If only I could do 10% of that I will be set" and they got you. You then hope you will stumble into this 10% just plodding along, it doesn't work that way.

 

4. Go hog wild on the thing for at least 90 days (I mean to actually work it and get the traffic, not just piddling with it). Be relentless and work your butt off. At the end of 90 days you need to evaluate what happened. Figure your math: how many hits to sales/upgrade/downline? Can you actually sustain this level of work? What level will you have to get to to make the money you need? Can you actually do it?

 

So if you end up losing as many people as you signed up, it is not a a good start.

 

The object is to try and not waste your time on something that just won't work for you. If in the 90 days you get a 1,000 free members and no upgrades or a dead downline, you have to rethink some things. It may be nothing with you, your product may suck.

 

Sorry for the long post, again, and I even tried to condense it as much as possible. This is a subject with a lot of variables and something people do struggle with each and every day. I just hope it help!

[Zanezim]

If I really like a new affiliate program, I send an email to my list and tell them I upgraded right away and offer my help to anyone who needs it.  It's interesting - all the thank you emails I get, telling me that no one ever offered to help them before.  I always send a personal greeting to my front line people and suggest that they do the same with their personally sponsored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

I liked what you said  This seems very logical to me with an indirect approach. 

[market101]

.

I liked what you said  This seems very logical to me with an indirect approach. 

 

Different people respond to different things.  Some like the direct approach and some respond to an indirect approach.  One thing everyone  pauses to consider is anything that reaches them on an emotional level.  As my friend Jerry always says, "Emotions Are Stronger Than Intellect" - Jerry Levine

[Terry Guile]

I run a traffic exchange and this guy is phenomenal at getting referrers and people to upgrade in my site.

 

This is the page he uses. http://www.freetrafficsites.web-tools.top/AdSurf.htm

 

He sends about 600 hits and gets 3 - 5 referrers. About 10% of them upgrade.

 

Notice how many of the sites are coops or paid to promote sites?

 

This is important because he is promoting the coop or the PTP site with a chance to get referrers but he also gets most of his traffic back.

 

Most of the traffic exchanges he is promoting are PTP approved at Donkey Mails and No Minimum.

 

Also I think the way he created his own unique page and describes the benefits of each one is very effective.

 

Plus he has a whole bunch of them there. Some may bookmark that page and give him numerous signups.

 

I have a Top Promoter mod on my site that pays him back credits and money for his traffic.

 

That is what you need. To get the traffic back while promoting the site and describe many of them in a unique way.

[Phyllis Wolfe]

I'm thinking a lot of affiliate programs have the word "free" as part of their advertising and that word is enticing to people,

especially if they are newcomers, to the internet.  Sure it is "free" to sign up, however, once inside the program, they find

out they have to pay to make any money.  I do think it can be misleading.

 

As far as getting people to upgrade, a welcome email offering to help them, (as has been said) giving them your email address,

and telling them about the program, is certainly letting them know you are available to them.  I don't think selling them is the way

to go, as they are already signed up.  It is now their choice whether they upgrade or not.

 

Also I find, lots of people signing up for a program think they can work it for free.  Quite a few programs offer a small commission

to free sign ups and they think they will not have to pay to make money.  So maybe telling them what the upgraded benefits are

would help.  Such as, I am an upgraded member and this is what I get from the program.

 

I would also like to mention here that many affiliate programs have a down line builder which has many more programs to join, which makes

it overwhelming to some people.  Once you join all those programs, you are expected to upgrade also, in order to work the program

properly.  This can run into a fair amount of money.  That may scare people away from the program once they sign up.

 

In my opinion there is no one way fits all. Trial and error. If something works, keep doing it.

[davepilgrim]

A lot of sites are great at enticing free members, but then a lot of those members never log in again, which is such a waste.

 

I much prefer promoting sites where the owner actively sends out regular emails encouraging members to sign in and use the site (and preferably upgrade).

 

Even better are those sites which allow you to email your referrals.

 

It is so frustrating looking at your referrals within a program and seeing that they haven't signed in since the day they joined, yet you have no way of contacting them and you know the site owner isn't doing it, either.

 

I've actually stopped promoting otherwise excellent programs for this reason

[Jasond188]

Don't get them to join because it's free. Sell your paid membership. I say this but I myself still make this mistake sometimes but I think it's the way to do it,

 

In your promotion you would say ''save X % on our best membership, you get this and you get that'' instead of '' Join for free and get 100 credits and 2$'' 

 

 

Let them know what they get and how much it cost. If it's valuable and benefical for them, they buy.

 

One of the program I promote has an upgrade rate of 17,6% upgrade rate. I think it's good. 

[affilliate3percent]

The best tip ever given to me by my mentor Cori Rudl was to focus less on the pay plan than the product, and more on the value than both together. If people see they can earn $1 they will sign up free to find out more. When they find out they have to pay $2 before they even make that first $1, they walk away. Show them how they can turn $2 in cost into $4 of value and then offer to pay them to bring their friends and you will see more of them hand you $2.

 

If I am looking at a weight loss product paying $10 commission on a $20 sale but you have to buy $20 in product to qualify as an affiliate. If you hadn't lost me on this notion to begin with I would want to know what is the benefit of owning the product and if it were worth the $20 or more before I decide to promote it or not. Most people just don't know their product well enough to convey it's value and instead just tell people, "c'mon, you'll make money". That is not a selling point that makes most people buy anything.

[rpsmith]

The issue presented here is kind of a sticky one. If you have a lot of referrals to "help", it could get to a quagmire of trying to help them. I have been in some situations like this (on the receiving end). I didn't get any referrals (through their "help") and wound up quitting the program. My own efforts failed. I felt like I had been lied to. Just my thoughts.

[Glen Palo]

Hello,

 

A lot of Affiliate programs you can make money with have commissions. A lot of these affiliate programs offer free sign ups, but you don't earn anything from the members you refer until they upgrade. Getting sign ups is the easy part. Getting members you refer to upgrade is the challenge, at least this has been my case.

 

What would be a soft approach to either email these referrals to suggest they upgrade through an email or autoresponder? You don't want to be straightforward about it and tell them to upgrade, but any suggestions would be helpful.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Alan

 

 

For existing downline members, tell them the benefits to them for upgrading and how upgrading has helped  you. Don't be subtle.

 

For potential new members, promote the ugprade. Look for people willing to spend money, not just join free programs.

[davepilgrim]

Ask yourself, what benefits do your referrals get if they upgrade? 

 

Are those benefits in themselves worth the upgrade?

 

Is it worth upgrading even if they never get any referrals themselves, or must they build their own downlines to make the cost of upgrading worthwhile?

 

If a program genuinely offers a great deal to upgraded members (more traffic, excellent products, etc) then your referrals will be able to see this for themselves.

 

However, if you NEED your referrals to upgrade to make your own upgrade worthwhile, then people are going to be reluctant to take this step for themselves.

 

Many programs avoid being classed as ponzis by offering products or services, but if those products or services are not worth the actual cost of upgrading, then really is the program any different from a Ponzi?

 

I believe if you offer genuine quality and value first, then you won't have to spend all your time trying to prize the cash out of your referrals fists   

[Jherewini]

I believe the crucial step is before the sign up, I now have people calling me to join me. The only thing I am doing different to the majority is the way I qualify my leads.

 

The best thing you can do is reach out to your potential lead first and start to create a relationship with them, For me hangouts and personal conversations works best because that allows me to form the relationship first and identify how I can help them achieve their goal. 

 

Always remember its not about you, its about them and I would rather be earning an income from 1% of a 100 people than a 100% of 1 person. 

[captkirk]

Hello,

 

A lot of Affiliate programs you can make money with have commissions. A lot of these affiliate programs offer free sign ups, but you don't earn anything from the members you refer until they upgrade. Getting sign ups is the easy part. Getting members you refer to upgrade is the challenge, at least this has been my case.

 

What would be a soft approach to either email these referrals to suggest they upgrade through an email or autoresponder? You don't want to be straightforward about it and tell them to upgrade, but any suggestions would be helpful.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Alan

 

Hi Alan,

 

For me, I don't waste my time or others time trying to get them to upgrade.

 

I focus on what I can do rather than what others can or will do.

 

The key is to keep the traffic coming in and let the owners of the site sell the benefits of upgrading.

 

I generate the traffic to the sites and the Admins close the sales!

[Zanezim]

Hi Alan,

 

For me, I don't waste my time or others time trying to get them to upgrade.

 

I focus on what I can do rather than what others can or will do.

 

The key is to keep the traffic coming it and let the owners of the site sell the benefits of upgrading.

 

I generate the traffic to the sites and the Admins close the sales! :)C

 

 

 

 

Hi Captain Kirk,

 

 

Thanks for your input. I started this topic a few weeks ago. I did not realize this topic has got this far.

[simplygenius]

A lot of heartfelt answers here but I feel the best answer is to deliver results to members who are not yet upgraded let them see that choosing to upgrade will allow them to scale whatever results they are getting at the free level can be scaled up i.e wider reach for example if am restricted to mail only 1000 members but am receiving a better than expected response from mailing the restricted list then maybe if I upgrade and am able to mail 10,000 instead of 1000 with a 25% click through rate plus sign ups and sales then who wouldn't be willing to upgrade their membership?

 

I see where a lot of programs are forcing you to upgrade when you actually not getting any result from being a free member - no quality traffic, no engagement, no sign ups and no sales so why should I upgrade? If your program delivers the sh*tty when it's free then why should members assume if better if I upgrade since am not receiving any good results being a free member?

 

On the other hand if upgrading to GOLD has all the whizz and bang effects and giving upgraded more than they expected then give the free members a taste of what the "good life" if they upgrade by offer a short trial of the upgraded membership for example a Thirty (30) Day trial option before they are charged for an upgrade. 

 

If your trial offer of the premium level of your program is in fact delivering more than the expectation of the members then the chance of getting them to upgrade is escalated since all will agree that your program is worth paying (since the value benefit exceeds the cost by perception).

 

If you offer a free trial of your premium membership and no one continues with the paid option then it's your fault your program sucks. 

[dtopmark]

The solution is very easy. You simply need to upgrade yourself first and see if the upgrade is worth it.

 

Then...You should document your results and create a report showing your results.

 

When people see that you have upgraded and have seen good results from your upgrade, then they will be more likely to upgrade themselves.

[Michael Benti]

Here is my two cents worth. I think that people need to look closely at what they are referring others to. Also there are so many ways to advertise out there. Make sure you are not wasting your time in free traffic systems. They usually will get little to no results. Ask yourself these questions.

 

1. What value does the product or service really hold?  Is this a must-have product/service?
2. Is there a large audience out there looking for your product/service? Learn who and how to target your audience. 
3. Does the price point match the value? Do you think your product is a great value for yourself?
4. Where are you advertising to get customers? Free traffic gets you Free results for the most part.

Hope that helps 

[ajayala580]

This is where you need to separate those that are testing the waters from those who actually want to better the financial status...

 

I find that by informing the user from the start that the money is in the upgrade and assure them that you will help and provide them with materials and advise on the best places which provide positive results is the way to go.

 

You are in it for the MONEY, not trying to be polite, Free is good but Upgrading means COMMISSIONS...

 

It takes money to make money on the internet.