The Power Of An Internet Marketing Community – Gladiator Style….
Last night, I had one of those “a ha!” moments.
One of those times when it all makes sense and something clicks: I realised exactly how powerful and important it is to belong to my internet marketing community.
Have you ever watched Gladiator the movie?
Well there’s a scene in that film where Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) leads a group of amateur fighters into their first battle into the Collesium. Obviously those fighters were inexperienced and scared, but he kept telling them something throughout the battle:
“Stick Together!”
Those who did what he said, eventually fought off the enemies. But those who wondered off by themselves ended up getting slaughtered or eaten by a Lion.
Yes I know it’s a dramatic illustration, but in many ways it reflects real life: Those internet marketers who try to do it alone very often end up stuck (luckily there are no Lions on the internet), but those who harness the power of “sticking together” have a greater chance of succeeding.
* Now I’ve got a picture of Alex Jeffreys in my head as General Maximus dressed up in gladiator gear with sandals telling his students to “Stick Together!” * LOL.
I’m not sure if my mentor Alex Jeffreys will ever come across this post or blog, but either way, I’d like to thank him because he gave me a whole new perspective on the way I’ve been looking at internet marketing which has allowed me to advance massively.
When I first joined his coaching program, I did so to learn the nuts and bolts of building an online business. He talked a lot about the power of the forum and the community of other students but I never really gave it much attention. Little did I know that it was to become the powerhouse to my progress and success………………
This is what makes a community so powerful:
Community = Common Unity
People in a community are so called because they have a Common Unity. They share a common goal or vision that brings them together.
Here are just some of the benefits to belonging to a community:
- Focus
When you’re a lone wolf, it can be easy to lose focus on your goals and you can drift off on a tangent. A community helps you to keep your focus. - Understanding
As an internet marketer, I’ve had times where I’ve found it difficult to talk to people outside of the circle, such as my friends and family about it.
When they ask me what I do, I try to explain to them but they often have suspicions of this “business” and wonder if it’s some kind of MLM or scam I’m involved in as they’re not accustomed to the idea that you can produce a lot of revenue in a very short space of time.
The fellow community know specifically what you’re talking about and understand the struggles you face too. That in itself is a massive help already. - Comradery
You’re on the same journey but we are human and we can have “off” days or lose track. Sometimes that little bit of a push or encouragement from a friend to say “come on, get yo butt moving faster!” is so needed. - Accountability
Holding one another accountable is a great way to get results fast. Knowing you said you’d do something to someone makes it harder for you to go back on your word. Now that’s leveraging your own promises.
You’ll have noticed that the top guys who have massive success in the internet marketing business or any business for that matter understand the power of community and you realise that they are always meeting up and interacting with their community.
That’s how relationships are built and potential joint venture partners created to help each other make money, but that’s another topic in itself.
“So how can you join a like minded community if you don’t already have one?”
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Read blogs related to your niche. Just type in “niche keywords” + blog in Google and start joining in the conversations in the blog post comments. Blog commenting is a way to join that community.
Infact, Sally Neill has a great post on her blog on how blog comment. You should check it out.
- - Join forums in your niche. Just type in “niche keywords” + forum in Google and you’ll find them there. Go in and be helpful. Try to share your expertise and join in threads. Soon you’ll find that people are interested in who you are and they check out your signature link and also talk to you too.
- - Get yourself noticed by being genuine and appreciating other people. Mirko Gosch has a natural gift for appreciating people and encouraging them with his comments. I recommend you check out his blog, see how he comments to see for yourself.
-
Tweet other people’s posts, talk about them in your tweets and blog, you’ll soon get spotted on their radar and it’s the start of a relationship there.
My Personal Experience
The value of a community as I’ve explained above is incredible.
One month ago, this blog didn’t even exist, I didn’t know anybody here.
One month on, you can see in my previous posts how this community has grown and now I’m building relationships, helping each other along in our journeys.
So…………………
I want to give a special thank you for everyone who has contributed to this blog and allowed me the pleasure of getting to know you. You know who you are ;p and it’s a great honour for me to be part of your community too.
I really appreciate each and everyone of your comments and at the same time learning more about you and what your journey is.
Please share your thoughts about how a community has helped you and anything else related, we’d all love to hear from ya.
Till next time,
Bailey
Hey Bailey,
Wow, what a post, and you deserve a medal for being brave enough to describe Alex Jeffreys in sandals ha ha!
From your first post to current one, it’s obvious your mastering the art of blogging, I think your transformation and progress is off the scale, and I am personally proud of you and how far you have come already.
I am the first to admit I was a lone wolf, but now I have some really good friends from our community, you, Jaycee and Nathan to name just a few, I feel much stronger now than when I worked alone in the past.
Like you said, family don’t really understand, so to be able to talk to people who understand what your going through and bounce ideas of them is a very valuable resource and really helpful.
People should follow your advice and start to work on their relationships both within and outwith our community.
Catch you soon Bailey, shame your wife had to have her birthday at the same time as the London event ha ha, would loved to have met you,
Sally
Sally´s last blog ..David Walker, Sally’s First Skype Interview…
Hey Sally,
Thanks for the compliments. I’m amazed at what this course has become. Not only have I been learning about internet marketing and the power of a community but it’s actually making me grow massively as a person too.
You’ve been a great example for the rest of the community to follow with your genuine desire to help others and leading the way in taking massive action, so thank you Sally.
Chat soon,
Bailey
Hi Bailey,
You’ve hit the nail straight on the head with your post. Some people who are natural loners may well succeed but they are a total exception.
The rest of us thrive on support and communication that a community provides. If you’re low, the others will give you the energy to pick yourself up and go. When you talk to others about your ideas and listen to their ideas, it generally sparks a whole new world of ideas for everyone involved.
And the example you give from Gladiator couldn’t be more fitting. Gladiators are by nature out just for themselves, trying to survive against all the others. Only when they act against their “natural” instinct and work together, when they form a team, do they succeed. Why?
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More
Max´s last blog ..My Internet Marketing Journey – Stage 1
Hey Max,
As humans, we are designed to connect so no doubt that we need our network or community to help one another.
Yeah, sharing those ideas creates so much inspiration and gets those creative juices going.
Nice TEAM acronym!
Bailey
Bailey.
I just want to say one thing to your readers.
Bailey is not just writing this post to write it. Here is actually “living” what he says.
This man is my “comrade” (…am I getting soppy in my old age…) and sticking together is what he does. He’s helped me many times already and for that I’m truly greatful.
The thing is. By sticking together we are almost ensuring our own success and the things that are taking place “behind the scenes” are going to pay us and the people that we come into contact with through our businesses, tenfold.
Bailey, this blog is getting real tasty my friend and I really mean it when I say thank you.
I have said this before somewhere else but I really think that MWA is going to change the face of internet marketing completely.
We’re making this thing much more personal.
Brilliant picture painting Bailey.
Reach new heights,
Nathan
Nathan Rufus´s last blog ..Blog Traffic Generation And Why Couldn’t Rome Be Built In A Day!?!
Hey Nathan,
Thanks for the compliment there. You’re making me blush man!
Yeah you’re so right, it’s all the stuff that happens behind the scenes that makes the outcome.
Nice to have you back aswell bro.
Chat soon,
Bailey
Bailey,
I needed this post, really I did! I have been building relationships in other ways this past couple of weeks and have not been that active within my fellow students personal blogs and I feel somewhat disconnected but it feels really good to be back among this wonderful group of people.
You are exactly right about having an online community of like minded people that brings everyone together no matter where they come from and it builds a bond that is remarkable. This world wide web truly does wonders, it’s something very powerful.
You write really well and I love how you incorporated the scene from Gladiator. I was imagining Alex in gladiator gear too:)
You are doing an awesome job, keep it up!
Anna
Anna Haller´s last blog ..Traffic Results For Alex Jeffreys Contest
Hey Anna,
It’s great to have you back and I really look forward to your posts too!
I think when we are busy working on the business like building traffic etc, it can be hard to fit in communicating with others too. I’m still trying to find the right balance and doing both things together.
The community has definitely been giving me a boost to keep on going.
have a good day and I’ll catch up with you soon,
Bailey
Hi Bailey,
Good job so far! Sally is amazing! She always has great information for us.
I agree about the blogging community. It’s fun to meet new people and follow those who follow us. There is a lot of great information out there. I enjoy reading different perspectives and it gives me something to think about. And sometimes provides me something to blog about.
Have a great weekend!
Scott Barron´s last blog ..Disappointed with Senate
Hey Scott,
Yeah Sally rocks!
I know that the blogging community has helped me learn so fast. I’ve been learning how to write, how to improve my posts and helping me to understand how best to help others too.
Community is definitely a very powerful force!
Bailey
Hi Bailey,
Thanks’ for stopping by my blog today.
How did you get to be one of Alex Jeffreys Students? I’ve looked on the Internet and not sure where to begin with Alex Jeffreys.
Are you & Sally talking about a book?
Thanks
Scott
Scott Barron´s last blog ..Disappointed with Senate
Hey Scott,
Alex is doing a live course at the moment called “Marketing with Alex 3.0″
It’s not a book. It’s a mentoring programme with live webinars, training with it’s own community and started around April.
He said this will be his last coaching program
So I guess I was lucky to get in. However you never know, if many people ask for an encore, he might do just one more!
Best thing to do is to download his report from his blog http://marketingwithyou.com/gurus-nightmare-live/ to get his latest updates
Bailey
Hey Bailey!
Awesome post. I could not agree any further. The network and sharing within MWA is absolutely awesome. It’s nice having others to help lien on.
Brandon
TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..Affiliate Marketing – Be A Profited Centered Middle-Man
Hey Brandon,
Yeah, having the MWA has been awesome. For anyone who’s not officially part of a network, don’t worry. Go out there like I mentioned in the post and find some friends. You’ll be amazed at how much it will help you on your journey.
Bailey
hey Bailey,
fantastic blog post mate and its a real pleasure to have you part of the MWA community ( your input has been fantastic )
so again great blog post … and I think you will like this short youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReFlbwNYOig
infact i think you will have a good laugh but also your A.HA moment may even get stronger that when you first wrote this post?
enjoy
Alex Jeffreys
Alex Jeffreys´s last blog ..Gurus Nightmare Is Live!
Hey Alex,
Thanks for coming by, what an honour!
Just saw the video, and now it’s made it worse. Now we’re imagining you not just with sandals on but a ripping six pack and skin tight shorts! Help.
Anyway, awesome video and excellent message in there. The MWA community isn’t just any old group of people, they are warriors on a mission!
Thanks for creating this community and showing the way. It’s bearing fruit and I know it’s a matter of time before you’ll see some big stars amongst this group.
Catch up soon
Bailey
Hey Bailey, wow, this is a really effective post for getting across an even more powerful message! I really like the definition of community, I never thought to break the word up like that, but you did and boy was it a powerful statement.
I do not have to convince you that I agree with the power of community, I would be nothing without it!
Really well written post Bailey, you have certainly found your blog voice and I love it!.
Btw, really nice intro video on the blog here man, very endearing
Alex´s last blog ..Do You Believe in Blog?
Hey Alex,
You lead the way in defining community and I’m really feeling part of yours nowadays.
Thanks for all your awesome input you’ve given to this community over the past month and inspiring us all!
A true gent and leader.
Chat soon
Bailey
Great article, two is always better than one. Gladiator is one of my favorite movies of all times! Being a part of online community really help me in learning and understanding the natural of business. Thanks for sharing this awesome post.
Hey Justin,
Great to meet ya. Two is definitely better than one. Like you said, it’s all about learning and growing, and having a great bunch of people helps that process so much faster and more fun too.
Catch you soon
Bailey
Hi Bailey,
Great post man, people need each other for all sorts of things in life and one of them is business.
The support in this community is second to none it is a real family and you have really made me realize that I have not participated enough in it.
I have had reasons such as trying to catch up with everything but that is just not good enough.
All the wonderful people that I read and hear about and I have not actually built a relationship with any one yet…that’s terrible considering the amount of people open to it.
Bailey I thank you a thousand times for making that simple and obvious thing sink into my rather thick head.
Very best wishes for your future in IM
To every one’s success
Pete
Pete Burns´s last blog ..Home Based Internet Business
Hey Pete,
Thanks for coming by. There’s so much to learn and do in this course that it can be difficult to fit everything in. I’ve had to try very hard to juggle my time between buildling my traffic, product and building relationships etc.
The thing is, it’s never too late for anything either. So glad to meet you and hope we’ll have the opportunity to know you more and support one another Pete.
Bailey
Hi Bailey.
This is my first visit here and I’m glad I found you and this post.
I had been going it alone for a long time but as soon as I found like minded people in Tommy Mclaughlins course I got a mental boost and well as a physical one with my blog.
I’ve met some truly amazing people in the course and on all the blogs that I visit now.
Thanks for a great post its got me thinking about how important it is to stick together and help each other.
All the best Gert.
Hey Gert,
Thanks for coming by and thanks for leaving your comment too. I’m glad you’ve been able to meet some amazing people and hope things are going well for ya.
It really is amazing what happens when people get together!
Hope to catch you again,
Bailey
Hey bailey,
Super post I really enjoyed it, Like you I didn’t really give much thought to the power of the MWA forum when we first started the course. Wow do I realise the power of it now, it is an active alive place to find all sorts of answers and help each other to stay focused when thing get on top of you.
The example you use from Gladiator is great and fitting.
Really enjoyable post.
Cheers
Adam
Adam Sandford´s last blog ..Your Turning Point In Internet Marketing…
Hey Adam,
Thanks for stopping by, yeah, hearing about the MWA forum and actually taking part and being part of it is such a different thing. You really don’t know what you’re missing until you take part in it.
Great to meet you too Adam.
Bailey
Bailey,
Speechless.
What an analogy, what a story to tell and share. Man, I got this stupid tooth surgery and was mentally blocked under heavy pharmaceutical artillery for the last few days and you? You just took off like a f…. rocket
Awesome. BTW:That welcome video blew me away. Brilliant.
And this post here is such an important piece of knowledge, understanding and sharing that I do hope that a lot of aspiring internet marketers will for their own benefits get the chance to read this. We are blessed to have such an awesome community and I know, I know, I´ve said it often but it is proven to me in every week again and again, that we owe it to our mentor Alex to have been the melting pot for this fabulous crowd of people.
Can´t wait to meet you in person soon, my friend.
Mirko
Mirko Gosch´s last blog ..The Golden Foundation Of Keyword Research 2
Hey Mirko,
It’s been a blessing to have you as part of this community so high five!
Hope your tooth is getting better and getting back to your energetic self again
Catch up soon buddy,
Bailey
Hey Bailey,
Being that I have only been involved in blogs in any way for about 3 months now, I know very little about Alex. I have noticed that not only does it seem that he teaches about community, but he seems to have also created one. I like that wrote a bit about your thoughts on community in general – we are social beings and community is required.
Nice post!
Have a great day!
mark´s last blog ..Innovation’s Last Stand
Hey Mark,
I would not be able to tell you’ve only been blogging for 3 months?! Awesome man.
You’re so right. We are social beings and connecting with others is what we’re designed to do! Now I have the privilege to do that with people all around the world. It’s so cool!
Bailey
Hi Bailey
We meet again, at last. I know earlier on in our blogging, you left some useful comments over at my blog and I thank you for that.Thing is, all the regular guys I follow, have so much good to say about you, I was surprised we were not in closer contact ourselves.
And this is the tremendous and surprising by-product of the coaching course we are on with Alex Jeffreys – just as you have written about here – we have become a supportive community – and it is so genuine, personal and real.
Before I joined the course,I suppose I would have expected this highly competitive field to be a bit cut-throat. I can readily admit, a few weeks back, when comments on my blog were thinning out a bit, whilst seeing other blog comments soaring, I felt a little jealous and a tad down, but…I realised that these same guys, like Sally and Darren Carter, Mirko, Nathan and Anna Haller, all have wished me the very best and have been genuinely encouraging – and…like real friends.
This community aspect of our online journey is one I will never forget. It can’t really be spoken in words – just felt. From all over the world, we are not alone, we are not selfish, we do care…we can and have made a difference in the lives of strangers.
A great and encouraging blog post, BaileyBailey, don’t be a stranger, you’re part of my extended family now!
Thank you
Jaycee
Jaycee´s last blog ..Jason and the BlogQuest
Hey Jaycee!
Yeah I know! its funny how over paths didn’t cross sooner, but I guess that’s the funny thing about community too. It’s so dynamic and surprising.
I think we’ve all been through those times when we feel we are falling behind compared to others but I’m reminded that we all have our own paths and will reach the goal in different ways and different times too.
I totally agree with you that these guys you mentioned are so awesome. They really are so genuine and selfless that every time I think about it, I’m know I’m so blessed.
Thank you for having me as your family too, that means a lot to me, so thank you!
Chat soon,
Bailey
Hey Bailey,
Good post. I really agree with you about the power of havign a community around you. That’s funny that other people you talk to think your a doing somethign that involves MLM or a scam, I’ve gotten the same thing trying to explain it.
Holding yourself accountable through a community is such an overlooked aspect too. Thanks for pointing it out.
Really good post!
Peace,
Darren L Carter
Darren L Carter´s last blog ..What Should I Ask An Atomic Bomb Survivor?
Hey Darren,
Hows it going man? Hope the interview goes well.
You lead the way in using accountability in the community. So much so that I’m really excited about you reaching your goals!
Catch up soon,
Bailey
Bailey
I love your blog. Very cool how you refer us to other people in our community. I will definitely check their blogs. I think it demonstrates a real confidence and desire to help others. I think your intro video is really clever, hope you dont mind if I copy it.
Cheers
Dave
Dave Jefferys´s last blog ..Life’s Little Challenges
Hey Dave,
Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, the community here is awesome, the people are second to none.
Please do copy the video, I’m sure you’ll do a much better job than me! Just hope I can help as many people really
Hope to catch you soon
Bailey
Hi Bailey,
What a fabulous post mate. And you are so right using the gladiator analogy.
One of the great things for me living in such a remote and isolated Thai village, is the fact that via Alex’s program, I have come in contact with so many wonderfully supportive people, like you Bailey.
Our community was a benefit I never realized when I was making the decision to join our MWA program…but in hindsight it is truly one of the major strengths of the program.
Once again great post mate…really hit the nail on the head with this one!
Hey Peter,
Great to hear from ya. Hope things are going well in the village. I’m very greateful for the community here and really hope we can be helping each other along massively
Bailey
Hi Bailey,
I haven’t visited here for a while. Your skill as a blogger is off the charts. I have just finished reading your last post, and what you talk about is from the heart. Being part of a community is what propels us forward. I feel so privileged to not just have Alex as my coach, but my fellow 3.0 students to learn from as well.
Keep Shining
joanne
Hey Joanne,
Really nice to catch up again! Thanks for the compliments. Hope things are going well with you too and catch up with you soon
Bailey
Baily
Really super awesome post man. You’ve done awesome job. Keep it up.
Thanks for sharing this great Post.
~Dev
Dev | Technshare´s last blog ..7 Effective Ways to Get Quality Traffic to Your Blog
No problem Dev, Good to catch you again too.
Bailey
Hello! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Veronica´s last blog ..reviewed