After discussing it at length with my team, we’ve decided that while it was a worthwhile experiment, we’ve decided to close the Kaching Tank effective immediately.

This in no way reflects negatively on the Kaching Tankers themselves – they’ve all performed admirably and my team and I wish them all the best of luck!

To the many who have expressed interest in joining the Tank, we are still interested in bringing some of you on for an internship with the possibility of joining our team full time if you have what it takes (if you’re looking for an kooshy ride, this ain’t it – people on our team eat chaos for breakfast). If you are interested in that program, please contact our help desk. (simpleology.com/support)

We’ll be leaving up the blog for the time being, but will not post further. Comments will be turned off in the next few days.

Question #1: Can a Niche be created or is it usually found?
Helen Hoefele

Niches can be both created or found, but by far the easiest path is to find one. If you have a proven market, of course it’s easy to sell to it – just get their attention and ask what they want. Analyze the results as a scientist would (you know what you know). Of course, some of the greatest business successes in the world were the children of niche-creation (Fed Ex, Dominos, Microsoft …) but this is much harder to pull off.

Question #2 asked: Is it the marketing or the product that is the greater determinant of one’s success? RealtorChris

Marketing is the greater determinant in the beginning. When you’re first starting out no one knows who you are. So you could have the greatest thing since chocolate-dipped sliced-bread batteries that run a perpetual motion machine, but who’d know?

Once your initial marketing gets you out there, the product to a large extent becomes the marketing – whether you like it or not. Ideally, your product is delighting people so much that this turns into a word-of-mouth avalanche that drives your business. How often does that happen? Not very! Usually negative word of mouth sets in (either by being so bad that you’re buzzworthy, or by failing to live up to the over-blown claims of your marketing), or your product just meets a lot of shrugged shoulders and nothing happens.

So make sure you’re considering the long-term effects when developing your product(s).

Time is flying here at KaChing Tank - I’m now 5 weeks in. So what other Parallel Experiences have I gained here?

I feel like I’m on fire. As the weeks have unfolded, I have realised that I know more than I originally thought (I think I was trying to trick myself that I didn’t know enough so I wouldn’t get into action - a clever distraction really). I have really gotten into action both here at KaChing, but also with my own product that’s due to be released after Easter - an ebook called Childbirth Magic - How to create a positive birth experience.

I’m implementing the first Law in Simple-ology - “The Law of Straight Lines”, that states the shortest/fastest route to your target is a straight line (therefore stay clear of distractions that take you sidewards, backwards, or any -wards that prevent you from hitting your target).

What’s also exciting, Mark has been releasing products about how to become a Bestselling Author, including Conversations with Bestselling Authors (and strategies on how they made it to #1), and guess what? I plan to use the blueprints to launch my ebook into a book. So look out (well especially if you’re pregnant or know someone who is) - I plan to become a bestseller before the end of 2008.

Tasks that I have implemented here include: contacting Strategic Partners, contacting partners to supply Bonuses for Mark’s launches, finding experts for Mark to interview for a product he’s releasing (hint, hint… stay tuned for a surprise product launch next week that all internet marketers will want to get their hot lil’ hands on), and now I’m about to learn integration marketing (a marketing process that will assist with lead generation for Simple-ology, but also for Strategic Partners).

As I gain skills experientially - do you think that I can apply them immediately to my own product launch? Sure can! And I am.

I have a Strategic Partner system in place within my own website, so now I have contacted businesses to either become a Strategic Partner and/or supply bonus products for the Childbirth Magic launch in exchange for publicity and commissions.

Parallel experiences happen daily. As you can see I’m extremely busy, and loving it. What’s more exciting is that I’m fast-tracking while being here at the KaChing Tank.

Change is good! Right?

In business, change is good. As long as the change provides more for the customers in a way that works for them and provides solutions for them, while still being cost efficient for the business.

When making changes, do it in a way that doesn’t shut down your business to make the changes. It may be best to make small incremental changes over time. Or if you can do a big change in a way that is seamless and quick as far as the customer is concerned you may wish to do that.

You may want to do a survey in your own business or provide a way for feedback. Listening to our customers is how businesses grow and keep up with the changes in society. Take a step today to improve your business.

Of course it is important to follow our own advice.

What do you like about Simpleology? Is there something you would like to see improved? What is it, and how would it benefit you and others?

If you have some ideas for how Simpleology could improve please go to www.Simpleology.com/support and choose Submit a Ticket (or just click this link). Then click on the button that says “Suggestions and Feedback”. Click next and fill in the info.

If you don’t want to do it that way, feel free to leave your comments below. However, the fastest way for your suggestions to be seen is through the Support site.

Be honest and provide as much detail as possible, and the Simpleology team will work to improve the experience.

Mark Joyner is pleased to announce the appointment of Leon Jay, one of the original KaChing Tankers, as Director of Marketing for Mark Joyner Inc.

Leon demonstrated his exceptional marketing skills and creativity while project managing the launch of the Simpleology Bestseller Blueprint. Interestingly, Leon was also the very first person to apply to join the KaChing Tank and the first to be accepted.

The appointment takes place with immediate effect. For the moment Leon will continue in a managerial position at KaChing Tank.

KaChing Tank is a training program where Tankers receive tuition and guidance from Mark in return for working on his projects. Tankers also benefit from the experience of working with Mark on ‘live’ Simpleology projects. 

Leon’s appointment demonstrates that KaChing Tankers that excel during their time at the KaChing Tank may have the opportunity to work more closely with Mark in the future.

We all wish Leon our congratulations on his appointment as Director of Marketing and wish him every success for the future.

Having just gone through the exciting launch for the Best-Seller Blueprint I noticed one crucial factor that could be overlooked - the buying process. There are some crucial factors in this process to be aware of and test for.

Here are a few basics to get you going.

1. Does the buying process do what you want it to do?
(If not, ask what effect this will have on the business)

2. What does the customer/client see as they go through the process?

3. How does the customer/client feel as they go through the process?
(Hint: they should feel comfortable/excited and ready to hand over their money)

4. Does the buying process work under varying circumstances?
(Different browsers, different forms of payment, is there more than one form of fulfillment)

There are probably an unlimited number of ways to test your buying process. Make sure though that you, or a delegated individual who knows exactly what is expected of the process, tests it as well as a few others. Try all the options, especially if you have upsells, cross-sells, OTO’s (one time offers), etc, to make sure the system works under all scenarios.

This simple idea could make the difference between being a success or being dismissed as a non-working, untrusted, business.

Make it a success!

Week 1 was a long week, I think because I was adjusting to new working hours and getting my head around implementing new daily strategies. Last Friday I worked late putting together The Rise of the Author report - yes I did all the formatting in Indesign till 10.30pm (not a bad effort).

Week 2 has just flown. My tasks have included contacting Mark’s top 50 Strategic Partners, (i.e., some of the world’s top internet marketers), and developing closer relationships with them. I’ve also had to find new prospects for bonuses for the big Bestseller Author launch set for next Tuesday 26th February, as well as new Strategic Partners for this big launch.

So where are the parallel experiences?

Day 1, if you remember we were encouraged to jump off the 192m Sky Tower. Taking the lift up, I was extremely nervous holding onto a lot of attachment around something happening to me, (my “story” was around my 2 year old daughter and leaving her without a mum if something terrible happened), plus I was doing a lot of rationalisation in my head - my ego was working overtime. Well as you can see, I jumped. I shut the ego up quick smart, I overcame my fears and took action. I suddenly accessed a new form of courage within me… like “I can do anything now!”

The parallel experience at the KaChing Tank? Well I’ve had a fear for many years now, calling up people I don’t know and asking something of them. I’m more likely to do it for other people, (less attachment to the outcome), but I still go through anxiety and nervousness. I have also held beliefs that I’m not a good sales person, I fumble with my words on the phone and I’m generally not a great telephone person - lots of lack of self worth when it comes to this department, and self-persecution. From this, I also use the word “procrastination” as an excuse to not call, (when actually underneath it is fear - or the belief “I can’t handle this situation”).

So my task of having to call the top internet marketers/Mark’s Strategic Partners nipped my “story” and fear in the bud. And now I have the confidence to make calls, relay my message effectively and feel I’m great at building relationships. A big call from my behalf. Just like falling off a Sky Tower in less than 10secs

Stay tuned for Part II when I share my other parallel experiences…

Well, I could give you an insight on what’s going down here at the Tank but as I started to write this, I thought. . . why not find out from you guys what you think about KaChing Tank so far?

Your feedback is what steers this tank and to give it juice, we need to hear from you. . .

Got any ideas? Share them with us . . .

Let us know your truest impressions . . .

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you visit the blog? What would you really like to see here?

Don’t forget to stay tuned, there’s more to come. . .

The new Tankers (Mara, Haiming, Shane and myself, Steffen) are now on board and have taken our leap of faith off the Auckland Sky Tower, the now traditional KaChing Tank initiation. The jump off the highest building in the southern hemisphere gives you an amazing buzz and helps you embrace life! This was definitely a scary experience but was the perfect introduction to the new life enriching experience we are about to undertake with Mark.

The next 3 months are going to be a huge lesson but also an opportunity to share knowledge and ideas with the team members. But most important, it will be a time of consistent, persistent and constructive action (see Simpleology 101). As probably the least experienced Tanker in terms of business and marketing, I expect to watch and learn with curiosity. I’m keen to integrate my inherent skills and knowledge as best I can for the benefit of all KaChing Tank projects.

My experience comes from practicing Judo for 9 years, serving in the army and studying at the Humboldt-University of Berlin. But surely the most important influences and changes in my life come from within and from the people I meet. That’s how you get your ‘real’ education. Seven months ago I started to learn about online marketing when I met Leon Jay. Since that time I’ve been constantly studying books, dvds, audios and most of all, from working with the fantastic medium - the Internet.

The KaChing Tank is the right place to take me to the next level of understanding and performance. I’m looking forward to learning from the most motivated, knowledgeable and creative man (MJ) in his field and also from the enthusiastic and engaged Tankers who all come from a different and diverse background in business and life. What a great opportunity this is for all of us.

I’m ready for combat – well for a productive time at least with participation, integration and interaction. I’ll be focusing on the success of all the projects we work on during my time at the Tank.

If you like the idea of joining us, of learning and experiencing a lot of life changing stuff, but still have doubts - don’t make any excuses, just do it!