Interview with Roger Blackman ( TheFreeOnline Coach)

So, here is the interview that I promised, divided into two parts – enjoy ! J

‘Starting from Square One in Online Network Marketing’ - by Jo Baker

Interview with Roger Blackman ( TheFreeOnline Coach), London UK - 7^th July 2009

Roger Blackman: Hi Jo, what did you make of the Renegade tutorials you read then?

Jo Baker: Have read most of it, it appears that I did not print off everything, one section was missing.

I think that the basis of people feeling as if they know you is a good one.

Roger Blackman: Well, it's more the case that they do get to know you, authentically.

Jo Baker: I have 'allocated' Sundays as a day that I can write stuff, so thought that I could write a 'blog' then, I have a book that I am very slowly writing when I make my mind up to do it, lol.

Have you used WordPress or a blog-site similar? What response do you have from readers?

Roger Blackman: Cool, I'm working on Blogs at the moment and they will be the focus of a new email series, I think. I'm using SquareSpace for mine.

I have used WordPress and BlogSpot before though.

Jo Baker: Not heard of that one, they are mostly free aren’t they?

How do you think they compare?

Roger Blackman: Yes, but SquareSpace isn't. There's a 14 day trial then it's $8 a month.

In this case, you see the difference in you get what you pay for. Unlike the capture pages as a comparison.

Jo Baker: How do you mean?

Roger Blackman: I mean that with the capture pages, the free ones, like those that I recommend, are great. But with the blogs, the paid one I'm working with is, in my opinion, a superior option.

Jo Baker: What makes it superior?

(You can tell when I am using both hands for typing, my grammar improves !) (rofl)

Roger Blackman: The overall variation on pages, sections, appearance and functionality.

(It is that enter key that gets me.)

Jo Baker: I guess, not having used any as yet, I will find out what I need when I do it.

Roger Blackman: Yes, you will. I shall be sending out some emails on blogging soon. Did you get the one I sent on 21st June ok?

Jo Baker: What was the title on that one?

Roger Blackman: Blogging for Beginners

Jo Baker: Yes, I did, time zone threw me there, I got it on 20 June, and it had ittybitty writing on it

Roger Blackman:....oops J

Jo Baker: Very hard to read, but it had the link to a video on it

Roger Blackman: Yes

Jo Baker: If I have two hours a day to put into prospecting and setting stuff up online, what is the best plan of attack? How do I prioritise my time?

Roger Blackman: Have a daily check list.

Jo Baker: I do that, but I'm not sure if I am focusing on the right things, in the right order.

Roger Blackman: Put on it prospecting activities, cycle them if you have multiples. Take time to develop new ideas and add new aspects and items of content.

Jo Baker: ( I am a slow reader and it takes me a little time to get it)

Roger Blackman: If they bring in leads, they are right. If they bring you nothing, they aren't

(Slow is fine, just so long as you make progress, nobody is timing you.)

Jo Baker: Prospecting activities - like placing ads, setting up blogs etc.

Roger Blackman: Yes

Jo Baker: It is the new ideas I have trouble with ~ because I'm not sure what I am doing, I don't have time to go over stuff that other people have already found does not work.....

I know that I am not that old, but I also feel like I do not have lots of time to waste anymore!

Roger Blackman: That's easy ..

Ok, want direction on development Jo?

Jo Baker: (Development like 'the Secret', ‘Beyond Freedom’ with LLI, ‘Think and Grow Rich’, ‘Science of Getting Rich’ by W Wattles?) Yes please, any help is appreciated.

Roger Blackman: That kind of development is great yes, that's personal development. But for developing your business strategy..... 1) Complete all tutorials at Renegade University.

Jo Baker: Ok, will do that ....

Roger Blackman: 2) Join Renegade Professional and follow the directions laid out there.

You will shoot ahead and will only be working at your pace. It's really quite amazing and I don't say that lightly.

Jo Baker: What is the cost for that again?

Roger Blackman: The Pro?

$49.95 a month and the best $49.95 a month I've ever spent on my business too.

Jo Baker: Is that USD?

Roger Blackman: yes, about £34

Jo Baker: And is it tax -deductible :)

I am in NZ and so that converts to about 60-70NZD

Roger Blackman: It's a business expense, so it's tax deductable here. I'm assuming it is there too.

Jo Baker: Ok, do you mind me asking you about your business online... what do you do, are you full time, and approx what is the income you are making from it ?

I know that there people out there who say they are doing really well and you see shots of their accounts, but all of that can be engineered so to speak, even testimonials can be borrowed or pretend...

Roger Blackman: No I don't mind. I coach mainly. My first primary, DM is just a monetization component now and of course lead source. And although I do have another company that I work with, I have stepped back for a while to get the coaching up to speed so I can automate it more while keeping it personal too. A challenge, but I welcome it. This is what I do full time, the earnings vary but I afford all my bills, business wise and household and I am stepping things up nicely. I'm not a millionaire by any means, not this year anyway, but I pull in over £500 a week and that's going up weekly pretty much.

Testimonials and screenshots of accounts are baloni in my book, never have believed them and it strikes me as crass that you'd go there with prospects that are quite often hard up.

Jo Baker: What is DM?

Roger Blackman: It's one of my lead sources, one of the best actually.

I run a team of networkers there, have done since January 2005

Jo Baker: I would like to set up something that will provide an income so that I can really build my business and not have to rely on my job for it, which I do now....

Roger Blackman: Good plan, the only plan too.

Jo Baker: The biggest problem is the amount of time I spend in my job, not just time but energy and when I am finished I feel like that ...... You still did not say what DM was?

Roger Blackman: Sorry, it's a business networking community for online entrepreneurs.

You create a business profile and make contacts, then, in my case, offer them help in network marketing.

Jo Baker: Is that like Direct Matches...

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As above, where Roger talks about customers/prospects/team members joining YOU because you have made yourself available and known - you can see at the moment in the Media and in the US how people are mourning Michael Jackson because they felt as if they knew him, and in a way they did - because they saw him and knew a lot about him - so it is important to be seen, to be open and honest and building relationship..... He certainly did have a huge impact on the music industry, and it is sad that he died at an age that is now considered still so young.....My thoughts and condolences are for his family, especially his children. R.I.P MJ