Things you learned in the corporate world that have helped you as an affiliate

[Georgia Poker]

I'm in the mood to start a thread (it's been awhile!) -

Let's start a discussion about things you learned in the corporate world that have helped you succeed as an affiliate. I feel that one of the biggest benefits I took with me as an Enterprise Account Executive was how to conduct business with a large company.

It's no different when working to bring on new advertisers or negotiate a larger MGR or CPA deal. You typically do the following (some of these apply, others do not, but if you think outside the box you can come up with creative ways to apply these principals):

- Identify a large sales opportunity (or a large market, untapped niche, etc)

- Identify any competitors that may have beat you to the punch, be prepared to address any disadvantage you may have

- Research your competition and if you're really savvy, leave a "landmine" or two for them to step on. In other words, if you know a competitors weak spot, think of creative ways to ensure that your prospect will ask about it. Or set it up that your solution is positioned so much better than theirs, that will have to come up with a new angle of attack. Get them off their game

- Craft a business plan to attack that market and/or solve a problem

- Identify the players in your target account (this could be a new poker room or higher level contact with a room you currently work with) who can help you succeed

- Work with those people to sponsor you up higher in the organization (remember the "little" people that have helped you! ALWAYS)

- Prepare and deliver your proposal in a professional manner

- ALWAYS agree on next steps after EVERY MEETING. NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING TO CHANCE!

- Follow up when you say you will. If someone agrees to take your call on Monday, ask what time they will have to speak on Monday. Take out your calendar and/or BlackBerry. Ask them if they have access to their calender. FIRM UP THE NEXT STEP RIGHT THERE!

- Ensure that you never let any loose end come back to bite you

-Close the deal!

This is in no particular order, in fact this often changes while you're in the sales process. However, being prepared and the ability to get creative on the fly will greatly aid you when you're building your affiliate business.

Please share your thoughts on some other areas where "corporate life" helped prepare you for success in this world

[mjmurphy53711]

Great post, you should write a blog post on this.

[J S]

when I saw the title the first thing that came to mind was my sales experience. Being a commissioned only sales rep for a small company made me figure out 'how to get it done'. no base salary, no 'warm up period' it was sale or starve.

It really prepared me to take the leap and go full time in business for myself... even though the money was really good in my sales job, I knew I didn't want to do sales forever.

good post