WHAT IS THE AFFILIATE SYSTEM?
For more than a year now Internet Profits owned by Dean Holland have been implementing a new integrated CRM system called the Affiliate System. ( CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management.)
WHAT IS A CRM ?
A CRM is a centralized contact database that helps business collect, store, and manage all the data collected from leads, customers and business partners. A CRM keeps track of all your different channels of communication with your customers, clients and associates. This includes phone calls, texts, emails, live chat, direct mail, contact forms and social media platforms.
KEY FEATURES OF A CRM
1. The ability to integrate with your existing software used in your business. 2. Multiple dashboards egs. WordPress, Webinar system and Cloudflare. 3. Workflow and sales automation 4. Artificial Intelligence tools 5. Audience segmentation for targeted leads. 6. Analytics so you can track and know what leads are performing well and which ones are not performing so you know which leads to focus on. 7. Track which emails a customer received and whether it got opened or ignored, which ones bounced and who unsubscribed. 8. Tailor future emails to the exact content that a subscriber is likely to engage with you. 9. Store information from a customer who has submitted a contact form detailing their request.
Businesses use this type of software for 1. Sales teams to keep track of interactions with potential customers, track leads, manage pipelines, schedule calls, track communications and monitor sales analytics. 2. Marketing departments use CRM to manage customer data, segment audience groups, track targeted campaigns, track customer preferences, engagement history, and any past purchases. Create a more personalized marketing campaign. 3. Customer service representatives can view customer records and access previous interactions to provide more personalized assistance. Help customer service teams to manage support tickets, track issue resolution. 4. Small business owners can use CRM s for lead tracking, contact management and sales analytics to improve future decisions and drive sales.
WHAT IS THE BEGINNERS ADVANTAGE?
In December 2023 I was offered a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a small group of Internet Profits certified partners to join a new training program for the Affiliate System. Hence the name “Beginners Advantage” as it was the first ones who put their name down for it that got accepted and it was not available to the general public to use yet. The Beginners Advantage is the name given for a series of video training modules made by Dean Holland. Each week various topics are covered to do with how to use the Affiliate System and the different aspects of affiliate marketing. The weekly training also includes one zoom call webinar which gets recorded because of the different time zones. So you can watch the replay at a more convenient time for yourself. You can submit questions via email that get answered by Dean during the webinar.
Here are some of the first things we learnt in the Beginners Advantage:-
1. How to purchase your domain name 2. How to create a Cloudflare account 3. How to attach your domain name to your Cloudflare account . 4a How to update DNS settings for your domain.4b How to change our nameservers 5. How to set up your WordPress site 6. How to migrate an existing WordPress blog 7. Choosing a theme
WHAT IS CLOUDFLARE?
Cloudflare is one of the world’s largest content delivery cloud networks, serving 55 million HTTP/HTTPS requests per second on average. A connectivity cloud enables any-to-any connectivity between all networks, cloud environment applications and users.
DNS SETTINGS
A full DNS set up is where Cloudflare becomes the primary authoriative DNS provider once you have connected your domain. Cloudflare will respond to DNS queries for your domain and you manage its DNS records via your Cloudflare dashboard. Cloudflare’s response to a query is determined by your configuration in your DNS table which includes the value, record’s proxy eligibility and proxy status. When your domain status is active and the DNS record is proxied then Cloudflare responds with an anycast IP address instead of the value in your DNS table. This re-routes the HTTP/HTTPS requests to the Cloudflare network. But if the queried DNS record is set to DNS only with the proxy turned off, then Cloudflare responds with the value in your DNS table (i.e. a CNAME record or an IP address). This means HTTP/HTTPS requests route directly to the origin server and are not processed by Cloudflare.
Example :-
TYPE NAME CONTENT PROXY STATUS TTL ACTIONS
A blog 192.0.2.1 Proxied Auto Edit
A shop 192.0.2.2 DNS only Auto Edit
A HTTP/HTTPS request to blog.example.com, a DNS resolver will convert the hostname into an IP address. With the proxy status on, the DNS query will re-route to Cloudflare who will answer with an anycast IP address. Then the browser will initiate a HTTP/HTTPS request back to Cloudflare who will look up to find the matching domain and account configuration and process the request accordingly. Cloudflare forwards it to the original server which is 192.0.2.2
NAMESERVERS
Nameservers store and organize DNS records and determine where your DNS is hosted and where you add, edit or delete your DNS records. Without nameservers you would have to memorize an IP address for every website you visit. In order to add a domain to Cloudflare you have to go to where you purchased your domain . For example, I purchased mine from Namecheap so I had to log in and click the Domain list to find my domain and click the manage button. On the Domain page I scrolled down to nameservers and where it said ‘Namecheap Basic DNS”, I selected the ‘Custom DNS’ option. Then I had to enter Nameserver 1 and Nameserver 2. So I copied and pasted the Nameservers from Cloudflare and then ticked and saved them. Then Cloudflare will email you when your domain becomes active as sometimes it takes the registrar up to 24 hours to process nameservers. But in my case it took less than 10 minutes but if it does take longer then Cloudflare will still respond to any DNS queries on your assigned nameservers while pending.
Once that is all done then I was able to set up my WordPress site in the Affiliate System and create my log in dashboard access by watching the Beginners Advantage training which also shows you how to migrate an existing WordPress site over to the Affiliate System.
So it all sounds confusing and there are a lot of things to learn in your journey to become an affiliate marketer that are technical and to do with computers and software. The way the tutorials are set up in the Beginners Advantage makes it easier to understand but you might have to replay the videos over and over until it makes sense. In all of the seven modules in Week 1, Dean shows you step by step how to set up Cloudflare for your domain and shows you how to navigate around the Affiliate System to complete all the tasks and some things that are technical get put into your Affiliate System account by Internet Profit staff including all ready done for you promo videos at various stages in the course after the first week.
WHAT IS APPEALING ABOUT THE COURSES AT INTERNET PROFITS?
The best thing about the training at the various levels is that you are actually building your online business along the way. Dean will help you with advice about the subscriptions you will need to set up to do each course. Some things are free and there is something to suit everyone’s budget. As a beginner you often don’t have any products of your own you can sell or be ready to join affiliate programs. So as a certified partner Dean allows us to promote Internet Profit offers for commission to get some experience before we go onto phases 2 and 3 where we can promote anything in any niche we feel passionate about.
Also you can get help and support from the staff and from Dean when you are having problems moving forward. During our training of the Beginners Advantage you can submit any number of questions via your dashboard in Affiliate System to be answered by Dean during each week’s live Zoom call meetings. If you cannot attend live due to the different time zones, you can watch the recordings at a time that is more convenient for you.
Other ways you can get support and help and advice is from the two private Facebook community groups set up by Internet Profits. One for all certified partners and now a newly formed one exclusively for students of the Beginners Advantage only. Also you can submit a support ticket to be answered by his staff if you encounter a problem or don’t understand something in any of the courses.
As a certified partner you have access to the Internet Profits dashboard that has a video library of around 30 training videos about more technical aspects of using computers and things about social media etc. There are also some done for you videos Dean has made for his students that you can use in your online business.
Dean Holland also provides mentorship programs for 3 months, 6 months or 12 months. You can get daily coaching and join in the daily ask us anything program.
UPDATES
Building up to the anticipated launch of the Beginners Advantage using the Affiliate System later this year, I will be posting more information about both the Affiliate System and what it can do for you and how it can help a beginner to get started on their affiliate marketing journey and how it can help them to succeed where others have failed!
Have I raised your curiosity or your eyebrows? LOL. If you want to keep updated about my progress using the Affiliate System or would like to know when the Beginners Advantage will be made available to the general public please subscribe to my newsletter. The link is on the top section of this website. You can follow my journey to become a successful affiliate marketer and I hope to be an inspiration to others who are over 50 and looking to supplement their income.
Hi Regina – This is a great description of Affiliate System and a great description of all it has to offer. I too was also invited and took advantage of becoming one of the 1st people to experience this resource. What I love about it best is that it is a one stop shop for all that is needed in this business, or at least mine. I appreciate you describing each of its capabilities as I often forget all that it has to offer and all that it is doing in the background allowing me to focus on offering value to my customer. Speaking of value, this post was extremely valuable in itself. So, thank you very much for taking the time to describe this incredible system. Have a wonderful week!
Thanks Ernie,
Yes it is like a one stop shop and makes it easier to track our statistics like sales. commissions, performance of campaigns and tracking of emails sent and bounced and audience segmenting for a more personalized interaction with subscribers who like similar or different things depending on the niches. I have only touched on some aspects of it and will write more about the Affiliate System in the future. I hope your week goes well too!
Great overview of the Affiliate System and the Beginner’s Advantage! Leveraging a CRM to manage all communication channels and integrating it with existing systems can significantly streamline marketing and sales efforts. The step-by-step training by Dean Holland, especially on setting up domains and using Cloudflare, seems incredibly valuable for beginners. As part of this system I have learned a lot and look forward to getting to share it with others when it becomes live!
For anyone serious about starting in this field, this course is a game-changer. Looking forward to more updates!
Thanks Alison for taking the time to comment on my blog. I didn’t understand what a CRM meant until I researched it and then it helped me understand the Affiliate System better. It can sure save you time because of the automations and tracking of sales, commissions and emails that do and don’t get opened or bounce and who subscribes and unsubscribes. There are not many courses like this online where you get daily help if needed. Also Dean loves to be an active contributor in our two community groups and often comments on our posts or requests for help. I don’t know how he makes the time out of his busy schedule to go that extra mile for us.
Hi Regina,
Isn’t the Affiliate System amazing? I’ve been loving the Beginners Advantage program with Dean. Setting up domains, WordPress sites, and more has been so easy with the Affiliate System and Dean’s help.
The support from Internet Profits with Sophie and Glenn is fantastic too! Can’t wait to hear more about your journey!
Meredith
Thanks Meredith, I enjoyed the tutorials that were “hands on and follow what Dean does step by step” for setting up all the stages you mentioned. It is great having the support from Glenn and Sophie and others in our community that can help out when it is needed. Now we have the new community group for just the users of the Affiliate System and the Beginners Advantage too.
I also like to follow your journey too.
Regina
Hi, Regina!
I’m lucky enough to be in the group with you, and your review of Affiliate System and Beginners Advantage is spot-on! It’s great to see your description of CRM systems and how you set up your online business step-by-step. The structured training and support from Internet Profits really is invaluable, especially for beginners (like me) in affiliate marketing. Also, the community is so supportive! I’m looking forward to hearing more about your progress and updates! It’s great to be on the journey with you!
Nakina
Thanks Nakina,
I enjoy the weekly Zoom webinars with Dean where we have the opportunity to get to know each other more and hear Dean answer questions submitted by users of the Affiliate System and Beginners Advantage. We always have a good laugh with Dean. It too is a good means of support for us as well as from the communities and the staff at Internet Profits. It is great being on this journey together and learning from one another too. Not much happening as my progress has been slower than what it should be as I need to face my fears and get on with it! Social media posting and creating videos scares me but I just have to start doing it no matter how bad they may be at first. There is no avoiding doing this if you want to be successful. Hope you have a great week!
Cheers Regina
Thanks for outlining the AS CRM system! I jumped all in in December 2023, too, and did all the step by step tasks to get my blog up and running!
We will be in a good position when Dean releases AS for our own leads! As Dean says, “Exciting times are ahead!”
Yes Kate we are in a good position Using the Affiliate System as we are close to learning the phase 3 part of the Beginners Advantage where we learn to sell products and services in any niches using the Affiliate System.
I, too, jumped in last year in August or September… There were times I thought about maybe canceling the subscription because of the cost, but I kept hearing about the affiliate opportunity that was coming and decided otherwise. This is why I got so excited after watching the webinar about what was coming and what was coming soon. I wanted to see Dean’s “selling” points as he spoke to an audience of those who did not get the opportunity that many of us did, and I’m so glad I watched the whole thing. It’s easy to be on the inside and not fully understand what this program can do. I have a renewed sense of excitement now and cannot wait to promote this wonderful opportunity. Thank you for such a great post.
Hi Vanessa, I too started around August last year when I signed up for the Iceberg Effect book and the Quick Start Challenge course. I felt that joining the Affiliate System’s Beginners Advantage was an opportunity too good to miss. There will be a limited number of people able to be an affiliate of Internet Profits Affiliate System. What makes it more exciting is the multiple AI affiliate assistants that will be built into the system. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Regina, Very good post it was laid out in a way that makes sense. There is so much to be able to write about AS that you could write a novel. It’s nice to know that we are only at the tip of the iceberg.
The Affiliate system is very complicated for a beginner that has not used tools for affiliate marketing. There is a lot of technical computer skills to learn and it is great to know that we can get help from Glenn who is Dean’s computer expert if we don’t understand something. I love your comment and the pun about the iceberg. A lot of people wouldn’t realize that Dean wrote a book called the Iceberg Effect and that is how many of us started our journey to build a business as an affiliate marketer. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
This is a great post as an introduction and explanation of Affiliate System. I too am privileged to be one of the founding subscribers. Anyone on the fence about getting into AS would surely be persuaded to jump in after your excellent write up.