Rebuilding Trust for 2026

This isn’t a ‘how to’ article, it’s a values piece

Because before tools, tactics, or technology trust has to come first

There’s been a lot of change – and not a little confusion – in the world of online business this past year

Platforms have shifted, tools have evolved and trust can feel harder to come by

That’s why, as we head toward 2026, we want to talk about something that has always mattered to us and always will

Trust

Whether you’re already in business and looking here for education, or you’re quietly checking us out to see if we’re the kind of people you’d want to work with, this matters…

Really matters!

Because trust isn’t a marketing tactic, it’s the foundation of every sustainable business and every meaningful relationship (just like marriage for example)

Let’s explain…

Trust Comes From the Heart, Not the Head

Yesterday, I shared this quote on social media

“Trust grows not from reason, but from the heart.  How people feel has more binding power than how they think.  Besides, life is so much fun when you’re trusted and worthy of trust” – Warren Buffet

It’s a quote we first shared on our social media back in 2017 and it feels even more relevant now

In a world overflowing with information, people don’t struggle to find facts to be honest they struggle to decide who to believe

And that decision is almost always emotional before it’s logical

Honesty Builds Trust Especially When Things Aren’t Perfect

We don’t live in a perfect world

Businesses don’t run flawlessly

Mistakes happen

Things go wrong sometimes

And when they do, honesty becomes non-negotiable

This came up recently in a conversation with one of our team, and it felt important to say out loud  particularly in an online space where it’s easy to curate perfection or quietly move on when something doesn’t work

Trust isn’t built by pretending everything is smooth, it’s built by being transparent when it isn’t

A Real Conversation About AI

AI is everywhere right now and rather than pretending it isn’t, we believe the most responsible thing we can do is talk about it openly

We want to be very clear about our position

We absolutely love using AI in our business

We use it daily – we teach it

This is why, inside both our health & wellness business Amare Global and our online education and training business – The Home Business Academy, we don’t just allow AI – we actively educate our partners on how to use it ethically, transparently, and in a way that supports real human connection

Used well, AI doesn’t replace trust, it reinforces it

(If you’re curious, we share the same AI tools and frameworks we use ourselves inside The Home Business Academy — designed to support, not replace, you)

Our AI tools which include PromptWrite AI and Image Generator are found inside Premium Academy  

For us, AI isn’t about shortcuts or pretending to be someone you’re not

It’s about support, efficiency, and freeing up time while staying authentic, visible, and human

And here’s the part that really matters

If you’re using an AI version of you just tell people

Transparency builds trust

Context builds understanding

Story builds connection

People don’t lose trust because AI is used

They lose trust when it’s hidden, misrepresented, or disconnected from a real human story

Don’t Just Communicate – Connect

Warren Buffett once said his advice for success had nothing to do with investments

He writes handwritten notes most days, words of gratitude, simple acknowledgements

His former pilot, Mike Flint, shared that Buffett was far more interested in your childhood, what makes you laugh, what makes you happy, what makes you angry, what makes you cry far more than money!

Because whether it’s business or life everything is personal

And the people and businesses that endure are the ones that truly connect

 

Why We Felt the Need to Say This

For us, trust shows up in simple, consistent ways

Things like saying what we believe, even when it’s quieter than the noise, being transparent about the tools we use (including AI), teaching what works and what doesn’t and focusing on long-term sustainability, not short-term wins

Trust isn’t built with a single post or promise, it’s built over time through consistency, honesty, and care

Hence don’t often write blog posts like this or social media posts like this

We prefer to stay low-key, no drama, no noise

Just quietly getting on with running our business and living our life

But as educators in the online business space, particularly for people planning the next chapter of their lives, this felt fundamental to say

Trust, communication, connection

These aren’t “nice to haves” anymore they are the foundation

As 2025 Closes, a Quiet Moment of Decision

As the year draws to a close, many people are quietly taking stock

What’s working, what isn’t, and who they want beside them in the next chapter

We believe those decisions shouldn’t be rushed or emotional that they should be built on trust, clarity, and alignment

Because choosing the right direction matters far more than choosing the fastest one

As Dean Graziosi puts it

“Every life has a turning point. It’s the moment you stop choosing what feels good right now and start choosing what actually builds the life you want”

For us, rebuilding trust – in ourselves, in our businesses, and in how we show up online is part of that choice

For us, rebuilding trust in ourselves, in our businesses, and in how we show up online  is part of choosing better for the future…

Staying human, being transparent, using powerful tools wisely and remembering that behind every screen is a real person making real decisions about their life

Let’s make 2026 the year we stay human, transparent, and connected while still using the powerful tools available to us wisely and ethically

Real talk from the heart always

Thanks for reading today’s blog Rebuilding Trust for 2026 and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next

Why the Online Education Niche Still Works in 2025 (Especially for Over-50 Entrepreneurs)

Every so often, Facebook throws a memory at you that makes you laugh, cringe… or smile because it reminds you of just how far you’ve come

For us, one of those memories popped up this week

It was a question we were asked almost daily in our early online days and still get asked today

“Why did you choose the online education niche?”

And honestly, the answer is far simpler (and far funnier) than most people expect

From Total Beginners to Educators: How It All Started

When we started online 15 years ago, we knew exactly nothing about the digital world

WordPress was barely a thing
Websites took months to build
Social media was just Facebook and Twitter
YouTube was a toddler
“Lead magnets” didn’t exist yet
Funnels? No one used that word

Our mentor at the time told us, “You’ll need something to give away for free to build a list”

Imagine us accountants and management consultants sitting there thinking

A what? A free what? To build a what?

But we trusted the process and got to work on a 7-day video training series, because we saw him do it and thought, “Well, if he can do it, so can we”

Then we needed a capture page

Then an autoresponder

Then a way to get people to actually watch the videos.

We were learning everything from scratch  painfully, slowly, and with plenty of trial and error

And that’s when it hit us

If this is this confusing for us… how many other people are struggling too?

So we created our first product teaching people how the pieces fit together

That quite honestly is how we stumbled into the online education niche

Not because it was hot

Not because someone told us “it’s the future”

Simply because people needed help… and we could offer it

Fifteen years later?

Nothing has changed about the need  – only the tools

Why the Online Education Niche Still Matters in 2025

The world has changed dramatically

AI, algorithms, new platforms popping up and dying every week…

But the principles for building a business haven’t changed at all

And that brings us to something Dan Kennedy recently said

“Marketing today is a circus ”

He’s right

Everyone’s being told to

• Be everywhere

• Post endlessly

• Master every new platform

• Create AI content you don’t even read

• Follow the latest hack before it expires next Tuesday

Meanwhile…

The people getting predictable, consistent revenue?

They’re using the same strategies that worked before the internet and still work brilliantly today

Let’s break a couple of them down

Strategy #1: Lead Generation with an Irresistible Offer

This is as old as marketing itself:

1. Make an offer

2. Track the response

3. Adjust

4. Repeat

It’s not glamorous

It’s not complicated

But it works every single time.

Strategy #3: Own the Relationship, Not the Platform

You don’t own your social media followers

You’re renting attention from Zuckerberg.

But your

• Email list

• Phone list

• Mailing list

…that’s yours forever

The algorithm can’t take it

A platform shutdown won’t destroy it

And you can communicate with your audience anytime you want.

That’s durability

And durability is rare online

 

So Why Do We Still Believe in the Online Education Niche?

Because it ticks every box of a business that lasts:

People will always need skills
People will always need guidance
People will always pay for clarity
People will always want simplicity
People will always choose a proven path over chaos

And for people over 50?

It’s one of the best business models ever created:

• Low overhead

• No physical stock

• No tech headaches

• Based on your experience

• Residual income potential

• Flexible for travel, grandkids, hybrid retirement living

And the best part?

Today it’s easier than ever

Everything we had to cobble together manually 15 years ago – pages, funnels, autoresponders, tracking – is now done inside a single system

And that’s why we’re so passionate about the Home Business Academy (HBA)

It’s what we wish existed when we started

One place
One system
One education hub
One residual income model
One simple way to build a list and create leverage

For the over-50 crowd who want reliability, simplicity, and security?

It’s a lifeline

Thanks for reading today’s blog Why the Online Education Niche Still Works in 2025 (Especially for Over-50 Entrepreneurs) and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next

Why Most People Struggle to Make Money Online (And What Finally Worked for Us)

If you’ve been trying to make money online whether its been for weeks, for months or even years, and you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, we want you to know something right from the start

You’re not failing
You’re just missing the right pieces

How do we know?

Because for a long time, we were missing them too

We were trying…
and clicking…
and hoping…
and wondering

“Does this actually work?”
“Where do I start?”
“Who do I trust?”
“Why is everyone else getting results except me?”

So today, come and have a listen to what we have to say

Because we want to share the moment our entire online journey changed forever and why most people struggle long before they ever succeed

Watch The Short Video Here

 

It’s not because they’re too old
It’s not because they’re not techy
It’s not because they’re not “salesy”
And it’s definitely not because they lack potential

Most people struggle because of one simple thing

They’re trying to do it alone

We certainly were

We were buying courses… watching videos… joining groups…
but nothing made sense as a whole.

Everything felt disconnected, confusing, overwhelming

And the more we tried to piece it all together by ourselves, the more lost we became

Sound familiar?

The Moment Everything Finally Made Sense

We talk about this in a video we filmed several years ago in the Algarve, Portugal at a gorgeous five-star resort where we were invited to speak to over 600 online entrepreneurs.

But here’s the truth

Four years before that moment we had made very little online

We were exactly where you might be now, full of hope, trying everything, confused by everything, wondering

“Why isn’t this working for us?”

And then something changed…

We Found a Mentor and a System

This is the part most people skip

This is the part most people don’t even know they need

A mentor – someone who has done EXACTLY what you want to do

Plus 

A system – simple, step-by-step, proven to work

Not random videos
Not a new course every week
Not trying to figure everything out alone

A real, repeatable process

That was the turning point for us

It didn’t matter that our mentor was younger

What mattered was this

He had results
He had a system
And he was willing to guide us

That combination changed everything

We went from trading hours for money to learning leverage and earning even when we weren’t “working”

From confusion to clarity

From nothing much to finally building momentum

And it bought us to speaking on stage in Portugal

 

A Story We Always Carry With Us

Before we filmed that Portugal video, we were speaking at another event where we met a lovely man named Michael

Michael is legally blind

He sat right in the front row next to one of the other speakers determined, hopeful, ready to change his life

He wasn’t ready back then but like others in the audience we knew he wanted to build an online business and we knew he would

And guess what?

Twelve years later… he joined us

Still believing
Still committed
Still determined to build a better financial future

Michael reminds us every day:

Your circumstances do not limit your possibility – your decision does

So What Finally Worked for Us?

It wasn’t luck.
It wasn’t “the right time.”
It wasn’t talent or tech skills or youth.

It was this:

Finding a mentor

Following a proven system

Staying consistent

Plugging into a community

Learning leverage

And NOT trying to do it alone

The program we used in those early years no longer exists, but the people we met inside it went on to create something even better

The Home Business Academy

A simple, heart-led system designed to help people (especially those 50+) start earning online without needing to be tech wizards or marketing experts.

The very thing we wish we had when we began

You can meet them and have an overview of their system here

If you’re struggling to make money online…
If you’ve tried things that didn’t work…
If you feel stuck…
If you feel behind…

Please know this:

You are not the problem

Your system is

Once you have the right mentor, the right process, and the right support, everything changes.

It did for us
It will for Michael
And it can for you, too

Do make sure to watch the video we recorded in Portugal 

We hope it truly inspires you to see what’s possible when you know what you now know!

Because we were no different to you

We just made a good decision to never give up until we found what worked

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Why Most People Struggle to Make Money Online (And What Finally Worked for Us) and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next

The 5 Principles for Choosing the Right Online Business (And Why They Matter More Than Ever)

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why doesn’t this online business thing work for me?” trust us, you’re not alone

We’ve been there too

After more than 15 years building multiple streams of residual income online, we’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and why so many people give up too soon

And honestly?

Most people don’t fail because they’re lazy or unmotivated

They fail because they didn’t know what to look for when choosing a business in the first place

That’s exactly what we shared in one of our recent Facebook Live sessions and it’s what we’re breaking down for you here

 

The 5 Principles to Look For When Choosing an Online Business

These five principles come directly from our experience…

The hard-won lessons that helped us go from frustrated beginners to living our dream “Hybrid Retirement” life here in sunny Spain

That may not be what floats your boat but whatever does that you want to fund from an online business these 5 principles apply

1⃣ Big Market + Real Buyers

Choose a market with huge demand, but make sure your ideal buyers are there too

We work in two thriving industries:

Online Education  Helping people 50+ build residual income streams.
Mental Wellness  One of the fastest-growing sectors in health and wellness.

If people are actively searching, buying, and talking about it  which makes it a market worth being in

2⃣ A Compensation Plan That Rewards You

You should be paid for your own results, not dependent on a team or complex structure

When you make a sale, you deserve the reward it’s simple as that

That’s what gives you both control and confidence in your business

3⃣ Clear, Actionable Training That Gets Results Fast

A great opportunity is useless if you don’t know what to do next

Look for up-to-date marketing training that’s easy to follow and helps you get your first sale quickly

It’s amazing how much confidence builds once you see proof that it works

4⃣ Real Support (Because Everyone Gets Stuck)

Whether you’re brand new or already experienced, there will always be questions

Make sure there are multiple places to get support – mentors, community groups, and quick access to help when you need it

5⃣ Work With People Who’ve Done What You Want To Do

There’s a big difference between theory and experience

Find mentors who’ve walked the path, who genuinely care, and who are willing to guide you personally

We can tell you from experience – that kind of leadership changes everything

Having the right people in your corner can make all the difference

Why This Matters

We believe these five principles are what separate the wishful thinkers from the successful doers

They’re the reason we’ve been able to build our lifestyle around freedom, flexibility, and purpose

This is what we call a Hybrid Retirement…

… a lifestyle where you work a little, live a lot, and create residual income that supports your dreams

If you can get these principles right from the start, you’ll save yourself months (maybe even years) of frustration

Watch the Full Conversation

We covered all five principles (with real examples from our 15 years of experience) in our latest Facebook Live

You can watch it here

 

 

If you would like your personal copy of the 5 Principles For Choosing An Online Business Opportunity you can  download your free copy here

No opt in needed

We hope it’s useful to you either now or in the future

And if you want to find out more about our online business education program there’s a video walkthrough here

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog The 5 Principles for Choosing the Right Online Business and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback

Just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here or chat with us on WhatsApp

It’s Fr.ee to talk and we’re not going to “sell you” just answer your questions and give you some clarity on what’s next

Home Business Academy Review

During our 15 years as online entrepreneurs and affiliate marketers we seen programs come and go and always given our honest review not as outsiders looking in but owners of the programs in question as we believe this is 100% the best way to judge if they are the real deal and if they would suit our audience.

So this review is personal and it is as an owner of the program and the products which some may consider a bias but would say is a benefit because unlike any review seen online this is not one of those “I like this… but I would recommend this” and they go on to pitch the program that they use.

These kinds of reviews do a disservice to the program being reviewed and we don’t partake in that kind of review to get attention

Now that’s out of the way let’s delve into our Home Business Academy Review and answer common question such as how much it costs, if it’s a scam (how we hate this but necessary to cover) and if you can make money with it as an affiliate and if it’s a good fit for you personally.

We hope that by the end of this article, you’ll have the answers to:

• Whether Home Business Academy is a legitimate program
• Who the founders of Home Business Academy are
• What does the Home Business Academy program cost
• Is affiliate marketing the right way to make money online?

Mike Hobbs and Paul Hutchings founded the Home Business Academy. This course teaches you how to start an online business.

The Home Business Academy is not a scam and may well be a good way to establish an affiliate marketing business online for someone starting out

Business Model

So, how exactly does the Home Business Academy program work?

Like many other courses online, the Home Business Academy has a series of tutorials that teach students how to practice affiliate marketing. Their approach, however, takes the traffic and conversions route.

With their tutorials, they teach students how to create sales funnels via their sales funnel builder tool. This, in turn, helps you generate traffic to your websites using SEO, blogging, Facebook, and YouTube. The principle being that the more traffic and conversions you have, the easier it is to monetize your personalised website using affiliate marketing.

Main Promises and Claims of The Home Business Academy Program

The big promise the Home Business Academy makes is that it helps people learn how to create and manage their own businesses. The course provides all the resources, tools, training, and support required to get started.

You’ll also receive resources and tools designed to help you with your entrepreneurship journey. These tools are great for anyone looking to start an affiliate marketing business or an affiliate marketing owner looking to take their business to the next level.

The Home Business Academy also teaches how to generate traffic using sales funnels.

It also has a Financial Literacy Course which covers :

• Retirement strategies *
• The truth about money. You get to learn the importance of money, unpack the half-truths of money, and financial freedom.
• Illusions of wealth
• Words from the wise
• Why do the rich get richer?

* Note the retirement strategies apply specifically to the USA although the strategies covered and in particular those relating to financial freedom and money are applicable worldwide.

How Much Does the Home Business Academy Affiliate Program Cost?

The Home Business Academy Funnel Builder costs $25 per month. For $25, you get access to live group coaching, funnel builder access, community, training, and support

You also have the option of paying $125 per month to access the Premium Traffic and Conversions Vault program. If you do have doubts about paying all that money, there’s a 14-day free trial option, where you get to test out the products this package has to offer.

The program also has a “high ticket” one time purchase offer for its Money Management and Financial Literacy Academy course at $1,000 or $500 is an offer is available at the time of buying your products – called “All In”

Other costs you may have to incur (as with any other online business programe) are:

• A domain ($10 per year)
• An autoresponder ($20 per month)

They have recently introduced an additional product called LetsGoal a personal development app at $10 per month (personally a favourite of ours as it allows us to keep track of our goals, our vision for our future and other very cool features which you can see here)

If you plan to be part of the Home Business Academy affiliate program and earn commissions from the sales of it’s products, you’ll also need to own the particular course you are promoting.  However they do have a very honest way of ensuring you don’t lose any commissions as they inform you if someone has bought the product you don’t own so you can get it and not lose the commission

How Much Can You Earn As An Affiliate Of The Home Business Academy?

80% commission on all products!

The Funnel Builder, Academy and Lets Goal are all monthly recurring products and you will earn 80% on each product each month for as long as your customer pays for them

The Financial Literacy course if a one time program but you do still earn 80% commission

The Best Way To Judge Is To See For Yourself

We’ve worked with a number of programs over the years and can say hands down this is definitely the best we have ever worked with in the 14 years we’ve been online in terms of creating residual income and we’re wholeheartedly proud of every single thing about the business model, the founders, the community, etc

On Saturday we allowed people behind the scenes to learn more about:

• our tools and training
• affiliate marketing (we pay 80% commissions for referrals on our products)
• how we’ve been able to provide 326,317 meals so far to starving children
• our community
• anything else they want to ask about

Anyway there’s a replay from Saturday that does a great job of explaining more about what we have and how we can help people who:

– want to learn how to market ANY business that they have or that are in
– want to start a business of any kind and need some training and support
– want to learn how to do affiliate marketing
– want to become an affiliate with us and earn 80% commissions on our revolutionary products
– just want a place to belong and to be able to mastermind with all kinds of entrepreneurs in all kinds of businesses and from all walks of life
– need some help with their marketing (for any business)
– need a page builder that’s second to none
– want to get dialled in with their goals and daily tasks
– and more…

Watch it here

Or just take a look at everything with our compliments and then choose what suits you best

 

Conclusion

We believe this is a great place to begin your journey to make money online as an affiliate marketing because you will learn the skills of traffic and conversion and it is that knowledge that will ultimately lead to you becoming a successful affiliate marketer

If however you are looking for the skills to promote any other kind of business this is also a great place to hone your skills

We especially love the LetsGoal App that helps you set and achieve your goals as well all need to have goals and a plan to achieve them and this allows you to do that plus all kinds of other valuable things to help you in your business activities and ultimate freedom

But don’t take our word for it go and check out the FAQ’s for yourself and then decide

Updated January 2026

 

 

Thank You

Thanks for reading today’s blog Home Business Academy Review and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback just reach out to us here

And if you prefer to talk to us personally you can book a call here

It’s Free

Home Business Academy Review

What Is A Lead Magnet And Do I Need One For My Online Business?

Whatever business you’re in, the truth is that you need to have a constant and consistent supply of leads and prospects coming to look at your products and services,

One of the easiest ways to do this is to offer something for free in exchange for a name and email, deliver them what they have asked for right away then build a relationship with them until they are ready to make a purchase.

But… sadly people get stuck at the point of creating a lead magnet (the thing they need to give away as a “freebie”.  Early on in our online business journey we learnt the easy way of creating a lead magnet using PLR.

PLR if you have not come across it before stands for Private Label Rights and we covered that in our previous article you can read here : Top Tips To Grow Your Business With PLR

The something for free in the world of marketing is known as a Lead Magnet. Today with a huge number of resources available and the technology to deliver them simply it’s very easy.

In a recent training we discussed creating a lead magmet using PLR (the easy way) as well as how it fits into a simple marketing funnel which builds credibility and expertise, builds your list and your future customer gets to know and build that all important relationship with you.

Creating A Lead Magnet Using PLR Explained

 

Let’s take a bit more on the kinds of lead magnets you can create using PLR and introduce you to one of our favourite PLR providers who provide beautiful ready-to-sell private label coaching courses, articles, products, worksheets, and content that is 100% written, edited, and designed by leading industry experts.

They have content in hundreds of niches as we explain in the video but here’s a few examples of the popular niches

• Anxiety, Depression & Panic Attacks
• Confidence, Self Esteem & Self Care
• Business & Marketing
• Career & Job
• Dating & Relationships
• Goal Setting & Achievement
• Inspirational Graphics & Wallpapers
• Meditation, Reflection & Journaling
• Money Management, Budgeting, Credit & Debt

We’ve used PLR content and added personal references and our story which of course you can do as well when creating your lead magnet.

If you want to follow through the process we taught in the video you can sign up here and model the process and get our most recent lead magnet which was a book we actually wrote ourselves rather than a PLR to show you that there are always different options

Last but not least as we explained in the video, the whole purpose of creating and offering a lead magnet is to build a subscriber list and if you are just posting content on social media and not collecting a lead then we highly recommend you start offering a lead magnet right away.  There are many different places you can do this on each social media so take advantage of it!

Resources

Recommended PLR Site : Click Here

Recommended Autoresponder : Click Here 

Recommended Funnel Creator : Click Here 

We particularly love this funnel builder as you really can quickly build amazing pages and funnels, generate high quality leads and turn those leads into customers and raving fans.  They even have a ready made funnels with a give-away lead magnet.

Thanks for reading today’s blog What Is A Lead Magnet And Do I Need One? and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.

And if you want to talk to us about anything to do with this or starting and growing an online business you can book a free call here

 

What Is A Lead Magnet And Why You Need One For Your Online Business

Why You Need Recurring Revenue For Your Retirement

In this article we’re going to look at why you need recurring revenue for your retirment versus other kinds of income which are less predictable.

As you embark on your journey of making money online for your retirement, you are going to be presented with different options for how you can bring in those profits. Some of them will require more work than others.

As an online entrepreneur, your goal is not only to generate an income, but one that is predictable and sustains your lifestyle. With a recurring revenue stream, you will get to enjoy ongoing payments that are coming into your bank account (think about the things that you pay for monthly which are expenses to you – mobile phone, cable TV, Netflix etc).  You want to be the person receiving regular monthly payments to help you sustain your retirement lifestlye just like that don’t you?

Once your systems are in place, you’ll get to focus on the generation of new leads as well as customer retention while you slowly scale your business to create more revenue for you. On other words use some of the income (profit) to create other assets that give you recurring revenue.

One of the biggest problems many online entrepreneurs face is that their income has too many fluctuations. One month they are well above their financial goals, and the next month, they’re struggling to meet their basic needs.  This was exactly what we found in our traditional self employed accountancy and management consultancy.  Some months our income was really good and other times not so.

When we began our online business we had a mixture of recurring revenue from the tools and resources we were recommending and some subscriptions that our students would need to run their business such as an autoresponder, a lead page creator etc as well as we were selling what is known as “high ticket” mainly in the education and training sector.

By having a more predictable and steady recurring revenue system in place, you’ll be able to count on a certain amount of money each month, which takes the pressure off of you and allows you to have the retirement lifestyle you want and why you started this online business in the first place.

Below, we are going to dive into the recurring revenue business model, so that you understand what it means, how to develop one of your own and set it up, market it, and then grow it into something more that can contribute to the type of lifestyle you want to lead – just like we do

Different Types of Recurring Revenue Streams

Before we begin talking about how to set one up and plan one, let’s look at the different types of recurring revenue streams you can generate online. There are basically three different forms of recurring revenue.

Subscriptions

The first one is a subscription based model, where people subscribe to your brand through something like a membership where they gain value each month. As long as you are performing for them and meeting their needs they will continue to pay each month.

An example of this is an academy we belong to which teaches marketing – how to get leads and how to convert them.  We earn a monthly commission from our clients and students who purchase this option from us.

The reason many consumers enjoy belonging to an online membership program is because they are a part of a community where they can connect with each other, ask questions of you, and even support each other in their goals.

This is why this is our number one recommendation to our students and clients looking to learn the marketing skills they need for their new online business and they in turn will learn then how to refer this from what we teach them or they decide to learn themselves self study.

The reason we like this is our students and clients like receiving ongoing value from someone they know and trust. They get to look forward to new information such as courses, templates, and other elements of content that meets their needs.

You can also offer different tiers of subscriptions so that people can choose one that fits their budget. When promoting this type of recurring revenue stream, you can offer a free or low cost trial to prove value before they make a commitment and they can get a sneak peek of the type of value that waits for them inside.

Licencing

The second type of recurring revenue business model is licensing. With this type of option, you are going to charge your customers for the right to use a product for a specific period of time, where it renews each month, quarter, or year.

Many online software developers use this type of recurring income model and the price is more attractive for a longer commitment, such as purchasing annual rights rather than monthly.

A common one that you may well have come across is themes or plugins for wordpress websites.

Digital Products

Digital product models with recurring revenue are the third option, and this allows you to bill customers on a regular basis for the use of your product. So if you develop a product that is cloud based, such as storage or a product such as an artificial intelligence tool, keyword research tool, etc., you can charge customers for using what you created.

An example of this is an email autoresponder system where the purchaser pays a certain fee each month for the number of subscribers they have, which increases the more people you get on your list.

Or another example might be a funnel builder of which there are many to choose from but all subscription based.  The one we like and recommend today since it includes many great features is this one

This is an recurring revenue stream we have made a good amount of money from (and still do) as affiliates of a number of different autoresponder accounts (as we share on our website resources page) and funnel builders because what we teach our students requires them

Developing Your Recurring Revenue Funnel

Now that you know what options you have available to you, let’s talk about you developing your own funnel of recurring revenue. The foundation of your business is going to be to develop a funnel that is irresistible to prospective customers but first…

Who are those customers going to be?

In it’s simplest form this is people just like you who want to do the same as you, have the same pains and challenges as you and who have the same desires and outcomes.

Your target audience.

More on this to follow as it’s very important

These prospective customers are looking for a few things from you.

It starts with the value you can provide to them and how is your product or membership going to change their life or solve a problem for them in a unique way?

It’s going to start with the attraction process, where you are publishing content that brings people to your blog or social media accounts and presents something for free (we call this a lead magnet) and that gets them on your subscriber list.

Next, you’re going to nurture those prospects via email marketing so that you can prove the value you offer to people.

(You may be reading this in one of those emails as we regularly share our new blog articles with our subscribers.)

You’ll then present them with your offer to join your program or buy your subscription product.

Building Your Recurring Revenue Model

Think about how you are going to earn money from this concept. You have probably already chosen one of the three recurring revenue business models. The next step is for you to pinpoint who your ideal customer or general target audience is.

Not only do you need to understand the basic demographic information such as their age, gender, location, income level, etc., but you need to know more psychological and behavioural elements that tell you more about their pain points, preferences, and challenges.

Keep in mind that this is not a one time process for you. As a business owner, it’s up to you to understand how your customers journey will evolve over time. Their needs will change, and you have to be able to deliver something that addresses that transformation they require.

For us the pain they are experiencing is lack of income to fund their retirement.

We have solutions but we first have to be talking to the right people.  For example we have a Tik Tok channel that is specific on this and everyone who we get in conversation with ask us for our book that helps give them clarity and leads to a one on one all to further define their specific needs.

Marketing Your Recurring Revenue System

Your next step is to think about how you’re going to market your recurring revenue system. You want to be attracting your prospective customers and finding ways to encourage them to become subscribers.

Once you know your target customer or prospect you will be better able to tailor your messaging within your content, whether it’s on your blog, social media, or elsewhere.

Knowing your customer’s requirements, you need to showcase in your content the transformation that will take place whenever they become a member or user of your recommended program

For example our target customer needs to know how to get leads and how to convert those leads into buyers in order to generate an income for their retirement and the program we recommend does exactly that.

They also need to know how to create their own funnel and a lead magnet and one of our recommended resources does that too

You’re not just positioning your brand as one that is attractive for their needs, but your position yourself as that trusted leader and guide who will help them achieve their goals within the community of your recurring income system.

In addition to content marketing on your blog and social media marketing where you relay the value you will be providing to your subscribers, you can also use live events that are open to the general public and get people on your list using a value pack lead magnet so that you can cater to them directly via email.

Lead magnets are very easy to produce these days with both AI and PLR and can be adapted to match your required prospect

If you are running a network marketing business which we do alongside our business education and training business, your products are also something that you will earn commissions on on a recurring revenue basis so think about that too

Customers of your products who love them will keep buying them each month if they solve a problem for them.

Keto, Paleo, Vegan… these days, people are passionate about their unique approach to health and wellness (that’s us). But it can be hard to find products locally that support these unique lifestyles.

Why not make it easy for these folks to explore these diet-friendly products?

Find a network marketing company whose products you like and would use yourself and start promoting them and earn recurring revenue

It’s exactly what we do with the company we’ve partnered with – Amare Global

Personal Wellness Services is another area where you can earn recurring revenue when someone is ready to take their health, fitness, or wellness seriously, they can be in the perfect place to sign up for recurring packages like personal training, meal planning, or meditation guidance. Plus, the accountability they’ll get from you can help them make meaningful progress towards their goals.

Susan has this in her business where she helps women 50 plus coping with the menopause

Just some ideas…

There are so many more and we can  discuss these with you on a call should you want to get some ideas.

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Why You Need Recurring Revenue For Your Retirement and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Why You Need Recurring Revenue For Your Retirement

The Power Of User-Generated Content

Before we get into this topic in more details let’s first explain what it is.  In a nutshell user-generated content (UGC) is original digital content related to a product or service that is created by individuals (that’s you and me) and not by the brand itself.

UGC comes in many forms such as product reviews, testimonials, blogs or social media posts, videos and podcasts etc.  It is this digital content that drives traffic and sales for businesses.

So by example, we have a health and wellness business representing a company who are the leaders in mental wellness and they have many different products. We create social media posts, and videos talking about these authentically sharing the impact they have had on us personally by sharing our story.  This generates interest and leads to sales of these products

The best thing about this kind of marketing is that absolutely anyone can do it

 

User-generated content (UGC) is really authentic because it’s real experiences, making it distinct from brand-generated content that whilst beautifully created for best effect doesn’t have the heart of say a photo taken by a user.

In the world of marketing today people buy from those they know, like and trust who they see using something, getting a result they want and more likely therefore to make a purchase.  If you wanted a comparison, it’s a modern day “word-of-mouth” method of marketing much loved by network marketers in particular.

Social proof is a very powerful medium – the validation prospective buyers need and existing customers provide about a product or service.  People trust people and seeing user-generated content helps build that trust and purchasing decision.  As an entrepreneur, when your audience sees people just like them wearing or using a product, it feels more relatable and helps influence them to make a purchase.

 

How to make the most of user-generated content

When thinking of how to use user-generated content in your marketing, it’s important to frame it as modern-day word-of-mouth marketing.  People ultimately trust other people more than celebrities or brands themselves, so your content must come from real advocacy.

Today with the growth of social media platforms and video in particular you should never be lost for content you can create – reels, stories, live video (Facebook and Instagram), and of course not forgetting Tik Tok, we have so many opportunities to build our businesses as entrepreneurs representing ourselves, and the companies we’ve aligned with as affiliates or network marketers.

You only have to spend a small amount of time on any social media platform to see this user-generated content appearing in front of you to see how powerful it is.

On a personal note I started a Tik Tok channel in January of 2023 talking about menopause and weight gain sharing my personal story.  I got thousands of followers and views of my videos and was able to showcase the products through my stories.  I even got contacted by two leading health and wellness companies asking if I would represent them

This is the power of user-generated content!

So I’m sure you can see from what I’ve shared here that this is a very powerful marketing strategy that is perfect for those of us who are entrepreneurs either as network marketers of affiliate marketers (we’ve always said there’s not a lot of difference)

Today you have the power to combine modern day attraction marketing techniques but in a new and exciting way to build your business

We love it and it absolutely works

We’re definitely not “influencers” per se but it’s a lot of fun building a business this way

And business should be fun shouldn’t it…

Get out that phone and start taking selfies, recording video clips and see where it takes you

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog The Power of User-Generated Content And Why You Should Be Using It and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

 

The Power of User-Generated Content And Why You Should Be Using It

Top Entrepreneur Secrets Of Success

If you’re reading this and ready to take the leap and follow your entrepreneurial spirit…

Thinking about finally planning your escape route from your current job and taking the leap into entrepreneurship…

Or maybe just daydreaming about it (that’s how it usually starts) we’re here to share with you our top entrepreneur success secrets.

Why we believe personal development is the key.

 

These are the lessons we learned making our escape from the corporate world (our management consultancy) and how you can shift from a corporate mindset to a business mindset.

MAKE A DECISION

Are you going to stay right where you are or will you follow your entrepreneurial spirit?  You can’t move forward until you decide to commit to achieving a certain result in your life.

KNOW YOUR DIRECTION

Know where you’re going and don’t let other people’s stresses affect you.  Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re going to do you need to know the direction you’re heading.

In our first book The Mindset Shift Alice asks the question of the Cheshire Cat during her adventures in Wonderland if she was on the right road.  He asked her where she was going.  She said she didn’t know and he replied thatin that case any road would get her there.  And he was right.  If you are wandering aimlessly you will never arrive at your destination because you don’t have one!

 

REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES

What is standing in your way?  Remove people from your decision makeing and put away other people’s opinions.  Don’t adopt other people’s lifestyles that don’t align with your own.

This was a difficult one for us as it was our closest friends and family who couldn’t see what we were doing was what we wanted and in fact needed to do!

GET A MENTOR

Find someone who’s been in your shoes and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Business owners and entrepreneurs LOVE to share their stories!  We know what it feels like and what you’re going through.

We remember reaching out to the young guy who was to become our first online mentor.  He had done what we wanted to do and as it turned out was willing to help and guide us.

Best thing we ever did!

BUILD A NEW NETWORK

You can’t rock and roll in that old network you were in prior to making your decision to escape your current situation so it’s time to cultivate new relationships.  The world of entrepreneurship has a totally different mindset and support network.  Find other people who think like you.  People you ‘vibe’ with.  People you can see as your future self – who you want to be.  You never know, one of these people may become one of your clients, business partners, or customers

GIVE IT TIME

Ask yourself if you’re willing to start over before you quit your job.  There are building years that you have to invest into your new business – your entrepreneurial career – before you have the money and free time to support your ultimate dream.

We did exactly that and some years later in 2012 when we got a special edition of Think And Grow Rich from Sharon Lechter she shared with us how important it is to start part time to give you financial security as you grow your business and network

You can listen to that interview here

After your escape everything is different…

And that’s a good thing!!!

Because success leaves clues

 

Thanks for reading today’s blog Top Entrepreneur Secrets Of Success and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.  Just contact us

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Top Entrepreneur Secrets Of Success

Marketing Funnels Explained & Why You Need One

I was in a Facebook community group we belong to and this lady askeda question about her funnel she had created using a software we also use.

This is what she said “I need help to understand this before I throw up my hands and give up.  I don’t understand what I do next to get people to even see it…”

So I was able to ask her some question about her funnel in order put into perspective her question.   Things like what was she promoting and what was the desired result from creating this funnel and more importantly who was she wanting to attract.

These are all important considerations because at the end of the day a marketing funnel has a specific purpose.

Since this will be useful to anyone wanting to attract prospects and makes sales and needing to know how this all comes together I’m going to try and simplify this for you in the article.

Today thanks to the internet and social media, prospective customers encounter your business through diverse channels — word of mouth, ads, digital marketing, content creation etc. What you need to know is how do you nurture a prospect from their first awareness of your brand to the point of making a purchase and ultimately becoming a steadfast advocate?

You start by charting a customer’s journey through your business thus creating a marketing funnel strategy.

Within this article we’ll demystify the distinct phases of the marketing funnel and share the different strategies needed at each stage.

What is a marketing funnel?

A marketing funnel is a model representing the customer journey from a prospect discovering your business, brand, product, or service to the moment they take a specific action or purchase from you. We call it The Customer Journey and we see this in four distinct phases

1. Top of Funnel (Problem Aware) – At this stage of the funnel, you market to a wide audience to capture as many leads as possible. Your prospect knows they have a problem and that there is a solution but they don’t know you, your product, your company or the difference between your solution or anyone else’s.  It’s your job to convey to them that you understand their problem, their pains and that there is a solution and that your solution, tht you have it.  Typical top of funnel activities include publishing blogs and how-to articles and posting on social media platforms.
2. Middle of the funnel part 1 (Solution Aware) – At this stage of the funnel you will be marketing to an engaged audience who knows your brand. They are aware of their problem and know there are different solutions but not sure which is the right one. Typical middle of the funnel activities might be promoting and encouraging prospects to attend a webinar and to review and download case studies, ebooks etc.
3. Middle of the funnel part 2 (Product Aware) – At this stage of the funnel your prospect is aware of various solutions available but still not 100% decided if your product is the right one for them.
4. Bottom of the funnel (Most Aware) – At the bottom of the marketing funnel, your leads become fewer but more likely to convert. They are ready to buy and you are the person they want to buy from.  This is where it is essential through your marketing and communication your prospect is absolutly clear about your offer and you knowing your product intimately enough to explain it.  At this stage it really is about the relationship you have built and being there when they make that decision to buy. Typical bottom of the funnel activities might include live demos, product trials and customer references/testimonials – even a zoom call to talk with them.

As you can see in summary, the widest part of the funnel captures the biggest group of people who might be interested in what you sell, while the smallest part of the funnel includes the smaller group who are most likely to convert.

The only trouble is you don’t necessarily know where someone is in your funnel!

So you need to create content that appeals to all different levels.

How to develop a marketing funnel

Before you can create your marketing funnel strategy, you’ll need to first create a buyer persona or customer avatar and then develop content specific to them at each stage of the funnel.  Knowing this information is absolutely critical because you cannot market to everyone – everyone is not your perfect client for your product or service!  Sadly in our experience talking to newbie entrepreneurs they think that everyone does and we get it because we did too when we first started out.

Now we really focus on this and have a training specifically on how to define your perfect customer so that everything you do will not be wasted but designed for that specific person who is actually a fictional character you develop to describe in great detail your ideal customer.  Ours are called Patricia and Peter.

Now you have a bit more knowledge about having and using a funnel I hope it makes a lot more sense what I said to the lady talking about her funnel and what she should do with it.

Just to give you an example, Chris and I have a funnel we’ve created for our target audience, our ideal customer

Someone 50 plus in or approaching retirement who is looking to start their first online business and more than likely does not yet have digital marketing skills or even started an online business yet

So we offer a book

Go through it and see how it works

There’s a very simple optin page

These are all steps in a branded funnel, one that has been created specifically for that peron we’ve described above

An investment in tools and resources that help you automate your business really are one of the best investments you can make

Our favourite funnel builder which has templates, tuition, and more is this one

We’ve chosen it because for beginners it really is the best there is and actually we are moving all our existing funnels over to this program.

Take a look at our recommended funnel builder because you will not only understand better how a funnel works but also see the value

Get step by step training, demos, and more on how to use your funnel builder to create and build businesses online that work for you 24/7.

You’ll have unlimited access to our over the shoulder trainings done by our in house funnel building exert.

Everything from basic to advanced is covered, and you’ll be able to create any type of page, offer, membership site, or sales funnel you desire.

Thanks for reading today’s blog Marketing Funnels Explained & Why You Need One and would love you to share your thoughts and feedback.

If you are wanting to create your own funnel and want to ask us for some advice just contact us 

And if you want to talk to us you can book a free call here

Marketing Funnels Explained & Why You Need One