How Marketing Merge Attracted Thousands of Customers Using Social Media Marketing in Less Than a Year
Read More: Marketing Merge has strategically incorporated the social aspects of web media (known as social media marketing, or the social web) for much of its growth over the last year.
If you study closely, you’ll notice that Marketing Merge represents a contempory purchase funnel, and that is the point of this short article, for internet marketers to take note of how Marketing Merge has created this purchase funnel, as well as what is called a feedback loop.
Furthermore, it’s this model that Marketing Merge provides, that we can use as one example for the definition of “savvy social marketer” (considering I see that term used so often in vague terms).
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Marketing Merge. I am providing three links:
http://www.marketingmerge.com/internet-and-network-marketing-training/#About-Marketing-Merge
http://www.marketingmerge.com/internet-and-network-marketing-training/#What-is-Marketing-Merge
http://hubpages.com/hub/Marketing-Merge-Renegade-University-Review
Marketing Merge has turned teaching, learning and applying of internet attraction marketing into something just short of an academic activity, that in effect, has produced a positive impact on Marketing Merge users.
This positive impact has generated more social media such as SquidooLens, Hubpages, Youtube, Digg, StumbleUpon, Facebook, BetterNetworker and countless numbers of blogs. And guess what!? They are all in favor of Marketing Merge. Powerful.
This, as a result, has profoundly influenced all marketers living in the vaccum that is internet attraction marketing. But more importantly for Marketing Merge, this influence has reached potential and current (perhaps inactive or on the fence) users during the very crucial “consideration stage.”
This has created a feedback loop that has recycled itself over and over (and this example is very similar to say…the 5th grade version of the water cycle).
For as long as experiential social media is generated by current Marketing Merge customers, the next wave of shoppers will be informed. In this example, they are informed with positive information.
That’s the power of social media. Because remember, it’s user-generated content that is most sought after and coveted as a market place indicator.
In conclusion, I have used Marketing Merge (there are other examples) to illustrate an effective example for using social media. In this example, Marketing Merge can serve a working definition of what it means to be a “savvy social marketer.”
Additionally, and most importantly, Marketing Merge provides a contemporary purchase model using social media to create a feedback loop.
When you break it all down, Marketing Merge has connected their “post purchase” customers in a social conversation with potential customers within the vacuum of a purchase funnel that we can call the “consideration stage.”
This powerful example as illustrated by Marketing Merge will prove to be a cornerstone for the effective application of social media as other web-based business entities (and individuals) move forward with the social web.
Here are a few questions I have for Marketing Merge and “savvy social marketers:”
1. Did you set out with this intention or did it happen organically? Did you have a hunch that this was possible, or was your only intention to create the best product possible that served the end user?
2. Do you have any tracking or measurement devices in place to gauge this deliberate or unintentional social media model?
3. Since there is no method, and no means to control user-generated content, how have you wielded and directly or passively influenced the end user – if at all?
Other user-generated content that typifies the social conversation being generated by Marketing Merge customers:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Marketing-Merge-Network-Marketing-With-Internet-Marketing
http://digg.com/educational/Renegade_Professional_Calls_Hosted_by_Eric_Walker_Part_1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SuLl782_II
http://www.squidoo.com/blondeaffiliates
http://www.squidoo.com/RenegadeforInternetNetworkMarketing
It's been this user-generated content that has served two purposes:
1. It has created an enormous social buzz
2. It has effected the search engines in favor of what Marketing Merge offers.
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I couldn’t have written this article if it wasn’t for Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day by Dave Evans. It was his insight that helped me open my eyes to the thoughts I’ve expressed in this article.
Eric Walker is an aspiring attraction marketing and social media marketing expert. He is learning, applying and teaching these methods to other aspiring internet (network affiliate) marketers. He is a happy Marketing Merge customer, and a member of their super guide program. He will lead you through an attraction marketing curriculum so you can create a web presence that matches the goals you have for your online business.
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Comments: 12 
About the Author: Eric Walker
Member Since: 05/06/2008
I'm a Distributor For:: SendOutCards
Other Company: Eric Walker Marketing LLC
Industry: Education
Primary Web Site: http://EricLWalker.com
Nice article Eric,as a
Nice article Eric,as a marketing merge member myself I have seen first hand how marketing merge has attracted thousands of customers using social media marketing in less than a year.
Marketing merge has incorporated many social media platforms which has created a web of content across the board and the examples you give in this article proves that.Its user generated content that provides two very important aspects of what attraction marketing is all about social buzz and an effect on the search engines on what marketing merge offers.Its a great model!
Two Glasses of Wine and You Were Gone...
Hey Everyone,
Eric has been reading the book he referenced above quite often lately. Last night, it was about 9 pm - New Year's Eve - and we're socializing and he's had two glasses of wine (he gets to talking quite a bit when he consumes any amount of alcoholic beverage). And of course, if he isn't talking about our soon-to-be born baby girl, Ella Rose, he's talking about some aspect of internet marketing.
Suddenly, I see this familiar look on his face. He's off - darting upstairs. I said, Where are you going?! He says, Be back in an hour, I have an idea I can't let go of.
Around 10:15 pm he returned downstairs with a satisfying smile on his face. All he said was, I had to write that article.
Good job Eric. I know the evolution your undergoing.
Life without Marketing Merge
Eric,
Great information, and I agree with your views. Without Marketing Merge many of us would not been able to grow our business on the internet. I tell people never start an internet business on your own, otherwise it will take a lot of hard work and you may or may not make much money. Learn for others who have made money online, like the members of Marketing Merge.
Marketing Merge
I was just thinking about this last night Eric - were you sipping from my wine glass? We have grown and learned from Marketing Merge so our reviews are positive which helps Marketing Merge to grow. Meanwhile, we create a side income from affiliates who sign up and then THEY begin to learn and grow and the cycle continues.
But what I appreciate the most with the Marketing Merge program is that we are not "stuck" promoting other people's products. Now, there are products and training programs I will always recommend and promote because they are that good - Marketing Merge being one of them. But I have not become dependant on it - instead it has enabled me to make contacts with joint venture partners - something I see you doing a lot, Eric, and given me the tools and confidence to create my own trainings and products.
The whole concept is genius. I don't know if it was by design - I have a feeling it was part design and part happy outcome - but obviously when we work to support and help one another, everybody wins!
Thanks for your thought provoking article!
Everybody Wins
@Barbara - Everybody wins with a good product, certainly. If the way in which Marketing Merge taught attraction marketing, and specifically social marketing, were inferior, the feedback loop would never be so positive.
I also strongly agree with you about the Marketing Merge program not being something we're "stuck" promoting. Customers are taught to monetize the process of building a network marketing business or any home based business. The applications are universal.
@Rallie - Certainly the customers of Marketing Merge who have applied what's been taught have learned to be more confident and capable of earning many streams of income depending on their business model.
@Katie - Talk about uncensored user-generated content! lol. I always appreciate the level of patience you have for me when you recognize and trust that I can check out for small moment and return with appreciation and love.
@Kevin - You mentioned "creating a web of content across the board" ... this is one of the most strenuous aspects for individuals getting started with attraction and social marketing, but I encourage smart beginners to start with one or two, and experience one at a time. Marketing Merge had a quite a campaign to produce content across various social sites.
Marketing Merge Answering the Questions Posed
Hi Eric, I always enjoy your articles. You're on top of your game!
I just thought I'd take a shot at answering your questions:
1. Did you set out with this intention or did it happen organically? Did you have a hunch that this was possible, or was your only intention to create the best product possible that served the end user?
We set out to do this intentionally & it happened organically. The two go hand in hand with social media. In other words, you can't control the social media 'effect' like you can Google Adwords or other commonly used forms of promotion--in order to effectively benefit from social media you must 'intentionally set out to make it work for you in an organic way.' You plan the seed and by understanding how social media works you let it grow from there... you tend to it over time. You influence it by you let the magic (growth) happen on it's own.
I encourage everyone I meet in business to take a pro-active approach to leveraging social media because long-term it's a gauranteed huge win--because it's growing so fast and will continue to do so until social media IS the Internet. It's plain silly to have even a glimpse of an idea what social media is and not try to leverage it long term in business.
2. Do you have any tracking or measurement devices in place to gauge this deliberate or unintentional social media model?
You certainly could set up tracking and measurement devices and we have moved in this direction; however, these are not well developed yet. The first goal for us was to:
First, get familiar with social media by using it.
Second, help our customers get acquainted with social media so they could use it.
Third, start developing better tools to influence, track and measure the results. Our main focus first is on influencing results, rather than tracking and measuring--and we are relying primarily on the organic natural growth that is taking place on its own for now. In other words, the seed is planted and now we are nurturing it over time so the magic can happen. Tracking and measuring will become a bigger priority at harvest time (like wieghing how big our pumpkin is for the county fair).
3. Since there is no method, and no means to control user-generated content, how have you wielded and directly or passively influenced the end user – if at all?
While it's true we can't 'control' user generated content, we can influence it in a number of ways. The first way is by introducing our clients and customers (and even prospects) to the social media locations we use, such as I did when I referred people to Better Networker. I may also refer them to YouTube and we have even gone further to teach them how to use YouTube and other sites. This helps us to generate feedback and is a means to provide value, which we can monetize, which creates a great looping effect for us. I encourage anyone in network marketing or internet marketing to plug their clients and customers into the same social media lociations they use, refer them to your content and even consider monetizing as you teach them how to use it. The loops is phenomenal and it's easy to understand why.
We have also done other unique things to influence content creation--such as inviting some of our customers to become partners in a sense, where we give them access to review our new content we have created on our website or in the social media locations and to make it easier for them to link to that content within their own sites. In exchange we allow our content network to generate leads for those who are partners. This is not 'gaming' the system and so there is no concern for penalization because it is based on value (in other words, they are taught to only link to relevant content that would add value to their customers). It's not like a link exchange or other gaming strategies that can lead to heavy linking that is not guided with an intent to bring value to the Internet user's experience.
We also encourage our partners to create content for us, including posting their content within our own social media locations (like at YouTube) to give them exposure and to give us more content. So it's a win win.
Those are just some ways we have influenced social media content and the end user.
Eric, thank you for you continued contributions to the industry.
Partners in success!
Mike Klingler
Marketing Merge Floats All Boats
Just like the tide coming in, the principals and concepts taught in Marketing Merge have wide application and can empower and float all sorts of enterprises and businesses.
The linking of others as we are doing here is a powerful tool in inself, and one that the search engines take notice of. We are all benefitting each other as we participate in the Marketing Merge family and by interacting socially on line..
I know I feel so much more capable of achieving great things with the newfound skill sets I have gained.
After Mikes comments above I think my input will be short. Thanks Eric for the thoughts....Rod Alfred
Winning With Marketing Merge
Hey Eric,
Great article!
As a member of Marketing Merge, I know I would not have gotten to where I am today with my marketing efforts without them. I still consider myself a "smart beginner" because of my limited amount of time online. I have really only been active with attraction marketing for 11 months and then in very limited amounts as I work a full time job. Marketing merge has been my complete university and I am honored to be a member and a guide to others looking for assistance with this marketing model.
I certainly hope to have the success Marketing Merge has had, someday. I just need to find that one thing that everyone needs and/or wants, right?
Michelle Moseley
Thank You Mike Klingler
Your response completes this article, makes for a complete thought. I appreciate that, as everyone interested in learning about social media marketing should.
Your response is why I am so excited about social media, and that's because this is as much your article as it is mine. Altogether, there is a lot of value to gleen.
Marketing Merge / Social Media
Eric,
Great Article!
I can relate to everthing you mention have above. Marketing Merge has set the precedence for social media forums. It gives you comprehesvie outlook on what one should provide to any audience: VALUE. Just as you have illustrated with the articles.
Again, Great Article!
Donna Wells
Thanks for drinking the wine Eric!
Wow how amazing this new method of bringing value to other people's lives really is.
The fact that it is interactive and evolves over time is one of the most dramatic aspects of this media format.
The best part is that the people who contribute to other peoples lives by offering real value are the real winners. That is what is truly win win.
Thanks for all you do Eric.
Robert Ford
Ever wish you could use Google AdWords...Discover How To Dominate Your Market
Another great article - and lessons to learn
Hi Eric,
Thanks for sharing this.
This very much fits with my own values and intent, and so I appreciate very much the opportunity to model somebody who is doing this well!
I came to this approach organically in that I 'evolved' to this point, partly because the traditional sales & marketing approaches being 'pushed' on me just didn't feel 'right' for me...
I've thought about tracking systems - I have some notable expertise in evaluating the impact of training, and I believe there are links and parallels, and do you know what? I don't think it matters, at least, not to me. What I mean by this is that I'm doing what I do out of joy. I can't MAKE somebody like me and what I do. All I can do is be me. Some will like, others will not. That said, I do look out for trends so I can try to do more of what seems to work, and less of what seems not to...
I've noticed this one pattern though...
When I'm not 'out there', writing, advising, being there for others, well, then I see an upturn in business about 6 weeks later. When I stop these activities, I see things drop off about 2-3 weeks later. And the weird thing is, almost all the business I get is from people who I'm NOT in contact with...!
As far as directly or passively influencing the end user (great questions, by the way!), I try to genuinely EMPATHISE with people (not the same as sympathise!) - if I were in their shoes, what would I be thinking, feeling, saying & doing? What would those around me be thinking, saying, feeling and doing? Given these insights, what can I do, how can I take responsibility for moving things to a 'better state'?
For the NLP students amongst you, this is second positioning. For those of you about to respond by saying it's not for me to be responsible for the situations of others - I agree, and this is not what I'm taking responsibility for - I'm taking responsibility for choosing to do something to help and contribute. There are no guarantees of any change in outcome...
Thanks for the closing links, especially Dave Evans' book on social media marketing - my order is already with Amazon...
Have a great day!
Cheers
Martin