Tricia Meyer

Affiliate Marketer, Blogger, and Consultant

Small Business, Big Break?

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I’m one of those small business owners who is always hoping for the “big break” that will take us to the next level. While I have dreams of Oprah or Ellen telling their viewers about how great we are, I would settle for some news coverage or a mention on the Today Show. Every time I think we are getting there, nothing happens. Write-up in the newspaper? No increase in membership. Featured on the local television station as a place people can save money while holiday shopping? No significant increase in membership.

I’m not naive enough to think that we won’t have to work for our Big Break. I submit responses to HARO inquiries, follow important people on Twitter, and participate in my share of networking groups and forums. And yet, I continue to wait for that one opportunity that is going to turn us into a household name.

Are you a small business owner with a desire to make it big? Or maybe you WERE a small business owner and you already got your big break? It can be lonely and discouraging sometimes to see other companies pass you by when you know that you have more to offer. You want to be optimistic but at the same time realistic. Let’s encourage each other and help one another to make those big breaks happen.

<queue the song “Movin’ On Up”>

Want To Be A Trust Agent? Find Out How

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I’ll admit from the start that I haven’t yet finished Trust Agents, by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. Between two conferences in the last week, travel, and the first week of school, reading time has been short. But combining what I have read so far with what I have SEEN in the last 7 days, I can unequivocally say that everyone needs a copy of this book.

A week ago I could barely tell you who Chris Brogan and Julien Smith were. What I could tell you was only from what I read others said about them. Fast forward a week and I could talk your ear off about why I believe in them not because of what they say but because of what they do.

I first saw both Chris and Julien speak at Affiliate Summit. They outlined some of the main points of their new book. That would have been sufficient enough to make me read it. However, actually meeting them and talking to them about what they do and how they do it made me not only want to read the book but also tell everyone I know about it. Chris and Julien have that way of talking to you like you are the only person in the room. You WANT to believe them not because they are buttering you up or trying to sell you something. Instead, they are giving you little pearls of wisdom about how you can be successful.

A few days after Affiliate Summit I had the chance to meet Chris again at Blog Indiana. How excited was I when he called on me by name during a Q&A session? It was a perfect example of how he operates. You build trust, in part, by empowering people. I walked away from that Q&A feeling like a million bucks.

Trust Agents is all about how you use turn personal connections to leverage your message–whatever that message may be. In a “virtual” world where you are more likely to come across someone on Twitter or Facebook than at your local coffee shop, it can be difficult to establish trusting relationships. Trust Agents teaches you how to become a trust agent yourself and how to build relationships with other trust agents (what they call the Agent Zero of each network).

If all of that above isn’t enough to make you want to buy your own copy of Trust Agents, just do a quick Google search and see what everyone else is saying. Learn from people who are DOING it and not just talking about it. Learn from the people who are building networks of trust all over the place–Chris Brogan and Julien Smith.

(Chris Brogan and I at Blog Indiana after his keynote)

Affiliate Summit East: Memories of the Way We Were

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Now that almost 24 hours has passed since I left New York City, I am finally getting around to decompressing and reflecting on Affiliate Summit East. When I tell people that I have been to 7 Affiliate Summits, they always ask me if it is still worth it every time. “Don’t you just see the same people and hear the same things over and over?” Yes, and no. I see the people that I like to network with again to touch base and find out what is new with them. But I also meet new people each time and learn more than I can every imagine.

I could blog about all of the great friends I met with, the merchants that I now want to add to my site, and the swag I brought back for my members. I could drop in a few digital pictures (even video!) or complain about my feet hurting. But I would rather step back and give you the big picture that I ended up with.

Every Affiliate Summit turns out to be a different experience depending upon where I am in my career and what my goals for the conference are. In the beginning, I learned about affiliate marketing in general. Then I started making connections. After a few more, I started working on getting out the name of my business. Last time, I worked on getting out my personal brand.

For ASE09, my biggest takeaway way in getting up the courage to introduce myself to more of the “heavy hitters” and learning by their examples. For the first time ever, I introduced myself to the keynote speakers. I actually met and chatted with Chris Brogan, Julien Smith, and Peter Shankman (HARO). I even introduced myself to Ted Murphy (CEO of IZEA) at an after party and managed to get a couple of pictures with him. Each of them was engaging and conversational and made me feel like he was pleased to meet ME.

As I clean up my email and start sorting through business cards, I can’t help but keep peeking at Trust Agents (by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith). It really sums up my experience at Affiliate Summit this year. I trust some industry professionals because of the way that they act and the information that they provide. I do NOT trust some of the people in my industry because I see how they act when they think no one is looking (at least not the people who are important to them). I want to build a business that people trust because I treat people right and give them something of value in some way. Thanks to ASE09, I’ve got more tools to accomplish just that.

Petition Against Pittsburgh Steelers Signing Michael Vick

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People who know me know that I am extremely passionate about very few things. But the Pittsburgh Steelers are at the top of that short list. I was born in Pittsburgh in the 70s and was raised a Steelers fan. I truly understand the whole “bleed black and gold” thing. Even living in Indianapolis, I have never waivered in my love of MY team.

However, the rumors that the Steelers are looking at signing Michael Vick just make me sick to my stomach. I’ve read all of the commentary. Stallworth gets drunk and drives and accidentally kills someone. How is that different? First of all, I didn’t say that I wanted Stallworth either. But second, and more importantly, it is the CHARACTER of Michael Vick that I can’t stand the thought of. I know sports figures aren’t super heroes. They aren’t supposed to be perfect. But at the same time, I can’t help but think that a person who used his bare hands to torture animals and found it funny is not the kind of person I want my kids to cheer for. EVER.

Yes, he served his time. That’s why he isn’t in jail anymore. Does he deserve a second chance? At what? Having a life? Sure. Being looked up to by thousands of kids and making millions of dollars to do something he loves doing? Nope. He lost that right. He can start his life over as a garbage man for all I care. He can make an honest living doing something that doesn’t involve me and my kids cheering him on. Would I want my kid wearing his jersey? Never in a million years.

People say that our team would be better with Michael Vick. It is true that he might elevate our skill set. But would the TEAM all like working with him? I’d rather lose every game this season than win with Michael Vick on the field.

If the Steelers sign Michael Vick, I will end my time as a fan. It will hurt for awhile because the Steelers are such a huge part of my life. But sometimes you feel so strongly about something that you are willing to take a stand. As such, I have created an online petition. No one will probably care how many signatures we get,  but I will feel better that I did something rather than just sat back and watched it happen.

http://www.petitiononline.com/stlrs09/petition.html

Comment away. I encourage the discussion. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t change my mind.

Indy Business Rally Energizes and Educates

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I had the pleasure this morning of attending the Indiana Business Rally, sponsored by Bitwise Solutions and Inside Indiana Business. The event was held during breakfast at McAllister’s Deli. Over 200 local business leaders were in attendance. In addition, donations were collected for Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

As an affiliate marketer, I do not attend many local networking events. However, I was inspired by Gary Vaynerchuk at the last Affiliate Summit to start networking more outside of affiliate marketing conferences. I am glad that I did!

The event was low key, starting with a $5 breakfast buffet and some opening announcements. Gerry Dick from Inside Indiana Business relayed some great news about 1300 new jobs coming to Connersville. It was a great way to kick off our networking with encouraging news for our local economy. Others spoke briefly about the need for us to take economic recovery into our own hands by being positive and networking to build trust relationships.

I was able to speak with people about affiliate marketing because most of them have never heard about it. In addition to spreading my own Sunshine Rewards brand, I think I educated some consultants about what affiliate marketing could do for their clients. I also met interesting people from places like Comcast (who is hiring!), Bitwise Solutions, and Sandler Training. I had a particularly good discussion with Amy Lemen of ALL in One Marketing about how she started her own business after many years in corporate America.

The rally was a perfect opportunity to 1) brush up on my elevator speech for upcoming Affiliate Summit, 2) spread the word about Blog Indiana, 3) meet new people, 4) learn about other businesses, and 5) remember why I am excited about what I do.

If you have the chance to attend an Indiana Business Rally or something similar in your town, you absolutely need to give it a shot. For $5 and a couple of hours of my time, I walked away feeling like a million bucks.