As a business owner, you know that the only person who is going to look out for your company’s best interests is yourself. You can’t expect someone else to provide the best marketing for your online business – or can you?
Philanthropy does more than just make a person feel good about him or herself, it strengthens your company’s reputation and relationships. Consider Bill Gates, owner of Microsoft Corporation and one of the wealthiest people in the world. He and his wife make it a point to give back a healthy percentage of their income and if you don’t think that makes a difference in his business success, then you are labouring under a delusion.
You can use the same type of positive publicity Bill Gates does to strengthen and grow your online business, too.
Ways To Give
Giving to others does not necessarily mean that you have to provide cash. There are many ways that you can contribute to your community, to fledgling business owners, and to other internet marketers. These include taking on an intern, becoming a mentor, volunteering time with a charitable organisation, providing donations to a fund-raising event… the list goes on and on. Use whatever you or your business can easily provide whether this is time, service, money, or products.
Another way to give back is to make note of those vendors and business associates with whom you have had a good experience. Not only should you let them know that their customer service or product is great, but post it publicly. Give them some space on your blog or a shout out via Facebook or Twitter. Wouldn’t you want the same?
Benefits Of Giving
We’ve all heard when giving selflessly, we should expect nothing in return other than a warm, fuzzy feeling. This is true, but even if you don’t believe in the law of attraction. When you give, you tend to get without asking. Provide free advertising for an organisation and many are likely to return the favour through word-of-mouth referrals and testimonials.
Anyone who has reaped the benefit of your generosity is likely to bring up your company name when they encounter someone looking for the products or services you offer.
Instead of being a selfish internet marketer, consider giving away more and chances are you will get more than you bargained for in return. The more you can give, the greater the benefit to everyone involved.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Hi Sean,
There are many benefits in giving. One benefit is that people are more inclined to remember your generosity and tell others to buy from you. I am a firm believer that word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising.
Testimonials, an example, and are effective as they are popular, especially on sales pages. They are word-of-mouth recommendations by people who are perceived to be genuine about the product or service that they are recommending.
Word of mouth has been proven to be the number one source of marketing. I proved this when I had a horrible experience with a real estate agent who since got out of the business.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell discusses this in length and really offers a wise perspective of the concept.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..A House of Straw =-.
A great post with some important information for all internet marketers to bear in mind. If we add value to our marketing campaigns and create a win-win outcome, success is inevitable.
Hi Colin,
I agree Colin, that is a good point. The benefits of giving can be a win-win outcome for you and the customer.
Vital information Sean.
Agree with Colin and Jill – I think that we have all seen the generosity and giving that some people in this world provide. You cannot buy the reputation that these people gain, it must be earned with actions that you take.
.-= Cemil´s last blog ..Affili@syd – Affiliate Marketing Conference =-.
I’m frequently giving back to other bloggers by commenting on their sites
Besides this site and Sean’s other blogs I find I’m spending much more time reading and posting relevant comments on people I’ve been networking with. This is not only helping their page but giving me ideas on what to write about and exposure in other parts of the world.
Cause and effect is a term I keep coming back to. The immediate cause I see relevant leads to such a rippling effect that I know it’ll create a wave so tremendous surfers will run from it
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..The Magic of Believing Review =-.
Sean,
I wish to sign up to receive your blogs in my inbox but when I click on the RSS link it just gives me the program jargon. Please help.
Have a wonderful day!
Jen
ps watched your webinar last night & it was a classic example of giving.
Hi Jen, the RSS feed is for viewing articles in a feed reader like Google Reader. If you click on the RSS button, it should give you the option to add the feed to your Google Reader or Google homepage. Let me know if you need more help with this
As the old saying goes “give and you shall recieve”. As you have stated, it doesn’t have to be money. Volunteers are the most precious part of our community and without them there would be a lot of organisations not being able to provide the service they do such as meals on wheels and RSPCA. Online marketing allows us to give our services to others such as commenting on other blogs and helping them rank higher in the search engine.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Falling Pregnant =-.
I agree with Jackie, giving of our time is something we all can do and it is so valued by charities. It will be one of you most fulfilling phone calls you make ringing a charity to offer your time.
.-= Melanie Braggs´s last blog ..Building Chicken Coops =-.
Everybody loves free stuff. There’s not many products online now that don’t offer a bonus offer along with it. People can go buy the free stuff somewhere else but why do that when you can get it for free as a two for one offer. A lot of products offer more than one bonus. From what I’ve seen these products and services that offer free stuff are the top selling products in there niche.
.-= Landon Steffensen´s last blog ..Dog Food: Is It Hurting Your Dog? =-.
I practice giving regularly. Any time I participate in a craft fair that is a charity benefit, I donate an item for the auction. I promote other businesses on my facebook page, and give what I can where I can. Although I don’t do it because I want to benefit from it, I do believe in “what goes around, comes around”. I am grateful that you are giving your time and energy in this competition. Whether I win or not, I will come away a winner because I will have learned something. Hopefully a lot of something, LOL. And hopefully I will be able to pass it on.
Great values to have Elizabeth, well done and keep up the great work
Well, of course, Your comp Sean is a prime example of what you mean – you are putting your money where your mouth is – so to speak LOL!
It is something I learned early on and even at my minor level I try to practice it – not just with enticements (giveaways), but also helping colleagues with practical things – e.g. writing, using their computer properly, free software and so on – sort of mentoring in a way.
Apparently researchers have found that there is a deep psychological urge in humans to ‘repay the favour’. So if you do or give give something that the receiver values, then without even being consciously aware of it, they will try to return the favour to you. If they can’t do it directly (by buying from you or giving something back) then you will find that they will do it indirectly in the form of recommendations to their friends. So giving is a powerful way of getting your message across. If you want to see an example of this you can visit my site where we give away training. It gives people a very good trial of the expertise we offer and acts as a great salesman for us.
Giving is just a good idea. Giving back to someone who has helped you in the past is an even better idea. I think giving would really help a brand too. This article makes a lot of sense and its a healthy reminder that not everything in life needs to be paid for with money.
.-= David Pearse´s last blog ..Learn Internet Marketing For Free!!! =-.
I love this on giving. Give unconditionally, for the joy of it , for giving is fundamental to your success. Raise yourself in peoples eyes, enjoy the joy you give to them. Expect nothing. Do it for the love of it.
“For life is the mirror of king and slave.
‘Tis just what you are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.”
MADLINE BRIDGES
This theme has really caught people’s imagination and it is good to see. While the concept of ‘giving’ is not new in internet marketing, a lot of it is merely lip service and self-serving – the gifts are not worth the click.
This comp is a good example of giving that is genuine in that it has not only potential reward (prizes) but has useful and actionable content.
Many of us probably have a desktop loaded with ‘free’ gifts that just sit there and gther digital dust as it were. This motivates me to do some housecleaning!
I have already begun to unsubscribe all those newsletters that have many words but say nothing really. And also to delete my collection of PDFs that just sit there – a couple of gems among them, but for the most part are just old stuff.
My ultimate goal is to be able to afford to give – in business and, also offline in the real world.
I agree, that digital dust is costly as my husband just keeps buying more hard drives as storage for things he plans to get to. I’d much rather do something with one PDF and then move on to another versus buy buy buy and continue to buy the “next great big thing”.
I struggle to find a lot of value in other people’s products as I’m a writer myself and find it takes a lot more time to change something already done than it does to write my own from the beginning. Maybe someday all of you will have a PDF “penned” by myself filling your hard drives. Hopefully we’ll all start doing something great with the value we already have.
Consider these three year old (or older) PDF’s free, no matter what you spent on them and money makers just knocking on your forehead wanting to get out.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..The Magic of Believing Review =-.
You’re right Sarah – most so called ‘free’ PDFs etc are out of date and/or give an outline, but if you want the real info then you have to cough up dollars.
Like you I have been writing my own e-books, but that then begs the question, how do I get traffic to present them too. That’s one of the things I look forward to in this comp.
If you ever want a JV – let me know!
This is a very valuable blog Sean. I have been reading through everyone’s comments and all are very important to consider.
I can relate to Elizabeth’s husband having miles of PDF’s stored for future reading or viewing (have been guilty of that myself in the past) I recently got rid of most of them.
What I think is very important to give, other than helping people to rise out of poverty, which I do by providing them with the means of an education, and helping others where I can, is giving people time.
I am always thinking of ways to help people have more time by saving them time. (including myself) It’s something we all desire more of for whatever reason.
One of the reasons I took up an education in Internet Marketing is so that eventually I would have more time in my life to do one of the major things I would love to do and that is to be able to travel and help people in various ways I have planned.
I wanted a lifestyle/passive income. The funny thing is that I spend about 10 to 12 hours every day on my computer learning all about internet marketing! But I love it and it is time well spent. I am sure my plans will turn out better than I can even imagine.
So if anyone has any ideas about marketing products or services that can save people time, for free or whatever, it may be some food for thought. Just wanted to mention it here.
Sean you are a great example here. You are giving us all this information, as much as we want and all for free. For most of us, you are fast tracking our IM education and saving us thousands of hours and dollars in time (that includes all the time it would have taken to have to go to work to save the money to invest in a course that would teach us what you are teaching us here). I am so grateful for your generosity. This is real value!
Blessings
Elly
.-= Elly Wilson´s last blog .. =-.
Thanks Sean for practicing what you preach, and you’re completely spot on that it doesn’t have to be money. I often find when I give that I receive it two/three/even more fold!
I believe that even by “giving” away great content, we are improving the overall web experience for our visitors.
The attitude here is really encouraging so I hope even when this comp is over we can continue to put into play that sense of sharing and generosity. I for one will always be keen to help in any little way I can.
Hi Sean,
Everyone is right. You are the perfect illustration of the benefits of giving. We couldn’t ask for a better mentor.
For me though, one of the biggest benefits of giving is that you take the focus off yourself. Sometimes people get so bogged down in what is wrong with their lives that they don’t consider other people.
You have to give away whatever you’re lacking in your life to get back the thing you want most. If you’re unhappy, do something to make someone else happy. If you want to be successful, do something to help someone else succeed.
Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn – It’s a Marathon Not a Sprint =-.
Thank you Jazz, I appreciate your kind words
You are so right Jazz!
I sometimes like to practice what is known as a RAK (Random Acts Of Kindness). It doesn’t have to take much to make a difference in someone else’s day.
Watch the joy that you bring others. The energy of that is contagious and gives you a spring in your step. “Be the change that you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi.
I love RAK and Paying it Forward – you never know what you’ll get in return and that’s what makes it spectacular. Just today I gave away an additional book to two people knowing that it’ll come back to me.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..The Magic of Believing Review =-.
Congratulations, doesn’t it feel good Sarah. I don’t need to know if or when this energy returns to me. Its like nnot getting focussed on the outcome…just the action. Keep in the flow and let yourself shine!
Most definitely. It seems I always think I can’t do it because I’m home all day but with the internet there’s so many ways to pay if forward – you just have to use your imagination! Which I love to do by the way
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..The Magic of Believing Review =-.
That’s right. No matter how bad of a day you think you’re having someone, unfortunately, has it worse. If you can brighten someone’s day with a smile – a gift we’re born with – than someone can brighten yours.
A gift doesn’t have to be monetary, it can be as simple as an innocent hug and yet today’s society frowns upon giving away too many hugs. I think we should bring them back as they touch each and everyone of us – two at a time, if done properly
We do have to always keep the big picture in mind while we celebrate the little things in it.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..The Magic of Believing Review =-.
The Benefit of giving is huge, and I think most of the time it is underestimated. More and more we seem to live in a time where people expect to receive first and everybody owes us.
But that is not the case, never has been. Once we start giving (our time, our love, or knowledge etc) we receive. Heaps.
I agree with Jazz, it also takes the focus of your own issues and puts it back on the bigger issue, the community and the world around us.
Thanks Sean for reminding us of the Benefits of Giving!
.-= Renee´s last blog ..Self Improvement Books – What Are Your Favourites =-.
I agree with you Renee. Too many people do nothing and expect the world but get very little. It’s those who are here, those who make their presence known through hard work and dedication who receive everything the want.
Do for someone and have something done for us. Do for ourselves and lose out on so much greatness.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..The Magic of Believing Review =-.
Hi Renee and Sarah,
I’m just really grateful to be surrounded by so many smart and thoughtful people. The Law of Attraction really works. Every time Sean runs a competition, the group of amazing people just keeps on getting larger.
We can do anything.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
And, Jazz, the people in here, on the comp, contribute a lot don’t they – it really extends the learn and earn aspect
Most definitely. I’m connecting with so many new people this time around and know that with each day and each comment I’m surrounded by enough wisdom to keep me going for a long, long time.
Sean really knows how to get people together for the greater good and to keep us on our toes while helping him.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..A House of Straw =-.
I’m hoping that somehow that some of us can continue to be connected after this comp ends – not just for mutual support – but there is a lot of talent operating in this comp and its seems a great way to build a strong network.
Any ideas on how to do this?
We are all in Sean’s Facebook group so I think we can use that for future connections, not to mention we are following each other, for the most part, on Twitter. Online business success includes being able to connect and stay connected to those who are more intelligent and just as aggressive as we are. I know that we are all intelligent people who offer something different, our own unique selling proposition, to the field and the team Sean is creating is a powerhouse.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..A House of Straw =-.
G’day Sean,
In the time I’ve been involved with you and YOTA, I must have seen at least 100-200 people commenting on your generosity, probably more. You are the perfect example of giving to others and you always do it without asking for anything in return except for a click of a mouse on a fan page. Man, that is really cool. You’re a legend.
Certain religious organizations teach the value of ” TITHING ” which means giving 10 % of all income to either their church or a worthy charity – without any excuses, and never missing their donation for any reason. That is real giving, as is working for, or donating to, worthwhile charities.
Even on our greyest days we can surely brighten another person’s life by giving a kind positive word, or a smile – the more you give, the more you receive.
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE.
Cheers
Harry
.-= Harry Lynn´s last blog ..SEAN RASMUSSEN’S ” LEARN AND EARN ” COMPETITION. =-.
Thanks Sean,
This is such a feel good post because giving does bring such a warm feeling within.
I read that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has an has an endowment of US$33.5 billion as of December 31, 2009 & in 2007 its founders were ranked as the second most generous philanthropists in America.
I can only imagine the positive publicity generated through such a huge amount of money.
The Gates have truly shown that there is no point in being the wealthiest family – and then doing nothing for others. They show that huge wealth only has meaning if it is also used to benefit others.
Each of us, in our own way, can emulate the Gates’ – even if it is only using our blogs and websites to promote causes that need support
Giving is such an important aspect of being part of a community. It’s something we should all role model for our children and the next generation as a whole. Giving without expecting thanks is sometimes hard but your generosity will bring reward much greater than you expect, be patient though, it may not be immediate.
.-= Melanie Braggs´s last blog ..Building Chicken Coops =-.
Friends of mine do a great thing with their kids – they give up one Christmas present and use that for sponsoring a child in World Vision. Then they give the children opportunities to ‘earn’ more for that by setting up certain ‘paid’ chores – providing the money goes to the sponsorship program.
Then , without notice, they ‘reward’ them with a little treat on ocassion.
What a beautiful sentiment and lesson, Peter. They are lucky children to have such giving parents and I know that this is an example of a learn and earn concept that will be passed on to generations to come.
I have always wanted to sponsor a child through World Vision but have change the course slightly in the recent past and focusing on helping those who struggle with literacy. Although I don’t see the specific results I know that I’m doing a part in the betterment of the world as with literacy comes knowledge and with knowledge comes power.
.-= Sarah Butland´s last blog ..Live- With Regis and Kelly- The Law of Attraction and Sarah =-.
Thanks Sarah. With a little thought it is not hard for us or any family to sacrifice a small amount (in any form) to then be able to do so much for a child in Africa or elsewhere.
I use World Vision, but there are many other groups doing similar work – so folks can make their own choices.
And, you are right – it is a learn and earn in the very best way