Beyond the typical spam, my inbox is filled this week with two types of emails from people I usually want to hear from.

They are offers to promote their new product, or emails promoting those products. As a person who thought he had this email thing under control, I’ve come to realize that the last two weeks have been incredibly LOUD in my inbox, and as the big holidays approach it’s only getting louder.

I’m not talking about lousy, too much hype products that aren’t worth the email paper they are written on. This is especially difficult right now because there are some really great products being released all at the same time.

Here’s how I try to handle the overload of products being released right now (or at any time for that matter).

Email Overload Management Part One

First, I have more than one email account. I have a Gmail account that I rarely give out, and I don’t use it to subscribe to any new lists. So this email account helps me get the emails I really must get: communicate with my support desk, Paypal communication, family, and mastermind partners. Top level clients of mine also have this email address.

Then I have several other email accounts that are used to subscribe to most of the lists, product registrations, etc. These email accounts are important to gain access to in order to confirm registration of a product/subscription, and then look at a few times per week at particular times of the day.

I recommend that you use a similar system. Use Gmail (I find it much better than hotmail, yahoo, and other free services) for your personal and top-level contact. And then set up 2-3 other email accounts.

One email account for free advertising tools that then get bombarded with additional offers. A second extra account for products you have actually purchased, and a third for products you are getting for free.

(By the way, if you have no idea how to set up your own email account, make sure you get your free video at DiscovercPanel.com.)

Email Overload Management Part Two

Now, once I have my emails filtered, I try to regularly unsubscribe from those lists that I no longer feel fit my needs. I do this about once per month.

This leaves about 25 people I get emails from that I want to hear from in the internet marketing world. About 3-4 of those I open up pretty much immediately. The others I read when I can.

So when it comes to getting all these promotions, what can you do?

Well, first of all realize you have a limited amount of time in the day. Focus your energy on email during specific times of the day, get as much done during a defined period of time, and turn it off.

When evaluating products to promote, I take a look at several things.

First, I try to evaluate the product itself if it is available. I take a look at the common questions that I get from clients and subscribers from this blog and think how will the product address their needs. This takes care of a fair number of products.

Second, I look to see what’s the likelihood of the product actually being easy to implement (or worth the effort and price) for the majority of people I’m teaching. Sometimes this means that I may miss the minority, unfortunately. But I also can tell that if it won’t work for me, it’s not something I can share with credibility.

Third, I reflect on how respectfully the product owner treats his or her customers. Will they be barraged with useless emails after buying? Or will they be taken care of. This is not necessarily about frequency… I certainly write more frequently than the average person. It’s about quality of content, usability of information, and candid communication.

How I Pick What To Buy

On the other side of the coin is my decision making process to buy a product.

Just like you, I’m still likely to get distracted by shiny things, want to find additonal ways to grow my business, etc. But I’ve learned something about what I’ve bought in the past.

If I buy too many things at the same time, no matter how great each one is individually, ALL of them fail to produce results.

It’s only when I buy one thing, and apply it with complete focus for a few weeks or months that I get real results from any particular products.

With all the barrage of products, it’s difficult not to see the value in each software product, ebook, home-study course, or seminar series. And the temptation is that getting them all will explode your business.

The reality is buying them all will IMplode your business instead, no matter how good they are individually. Frustration results, and more debt accumulates for no good reason.

So, what’s an internet marketer who loves learning supposed to do?

Ask yourself these questions constantly before you make another purchase.

  1. What was the last product I purchased?
  2. What have I done to implement it?
  3. Have I used it to its full potential?
  4. Am I ready for another product to move forward?

If any part of my answer is too many, not enough, not quite, or probably not, then clearly I shouldn’t buy the new gizmo.

Trust me, this is very difficult to do consistently. I know a lot of the people releasing these products. I know the quality of work they are putting out there. I get review/draft copies of many of these things ahead of time now, and I can tell you that they are usually really great products.

But buying great products won’t transform your business.

It’s taking action on what the products can teach you or do for you that makes the difference.

So this week, with all these great products coming out, ask yourself those questions above. And before you plunk down another $17, $47, $497 or more, carefully decide which ONE product (if any) would be best suited for where you are right now, and where you want to go.

Buy it, shut off all the other offers, and beat that product to death putting it to work for you.

Bob Jenkins

p.s. I’d love to hear what you try to do in order to decide what to buy and who to listen to. Post it below.

Article Series - Business Finances

  1. How To Find Over $200 Each Month For Your Business Or Bills
  2. Buy This And Buy That: Offer Overload And What To Do About It

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