As each product is comparied to others in the market place there is a temptation of the reviewer and others to begin to compare produces against products.  When the product is used as a judgement standard it becomes a moving target.  The preferred way to conduct reviews is against an established standard.

In the first investigaiton of lead generation systems I used a set of criteria created as part of the syntopical reading process.  It developed as the authors of the various sustems explained why their systems were so much better than their competetor.  The list of 10 critieria became the standard all systems were evaluated against.

Image by theonewhoistall via Flickr

As we revisit the lead generation systems again it made sense to ask critical questions of the criteria.  Two areas of change in the various systems seemed the best place to begin the examination.

The main new feature added to the most popular system and some 0f the newer systems is the idea of content management.  Many systems even introduced what they are calling a “Content Management Solution” (CMS).  If they are really adding in the full functionality of  a CMS then could be a real distinguishing criteria. 

As I looked a the existing criteria and this idea of content management it became clear I should not add additional criteria for content management.  One of the primary criteria of lead generation system following attraction marketing principles is branding. The ability of the system user to customize their own content to foster personal branding. 

Content Management will not become a new criteria for evalution.  Instead the criteria for branding will now include a content management consideration.  Previously branding examined if personalized content could be entered in  or pointed to from the system.  Now the branding criteia will also ask if the system has a content management feature where marketing collateral (including images, videos and documents) can be stored and managed IN the system.

Branding will also look at the system to see if it has mechanisms in place to display and present content unrelated directly to lead generation.  Several systems, in an effort to provide a single stop solution, have bolted on to their systems blogging or mini website management capabilities.  This will also be considered a branding issue as an expansion of the content management capabilities of the system.

Niether content management or blogging/site management tools make or break a system since they can easily be handled outside of the system.  Accordingly, these modern features will be considered as part of the branding criteria and not become its own criteria.

Image via Wikipedia

The other feature we see creeping into attraction marketing lead generation systems are tools for integrating with social networks.  This type of integration includes the ability to sent a single message from in the system to all you social network friends.  Other features include improved communication with various groups of people.  These features initially looked like they needed their own criteria.

After careful examination it became clear these social network tools and integrations really were nothing more than additional avenues for building and strengthening your relationships.  Just as we did with the criteria above it made sense to NOT add an additional criteria but insead address social network integration tools under the relationship building criteria.

There are some who will place greater importance on personal branding through content management and may want to use CMS as a standard for their lead generation system.  Others may feel social network integration is such an important feature they may choose their system based on the precense of such a feature.  They will want to establish that criteria as a critical criteria for themselves.

For the purposes of the upcoming investigation criteria you will want to look in the Branding area to see if the system offers enhanced content management criteria and the relationship building section for social network integration features.

Happy investigating,

More From INetIN

• Evaluating System Support in Lead Generation Systems
• Determining Evaluation Criteria for Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Branding in Lead Generation System

INetIN Recommends

• Getting Social on a Schedule – 4 Twitter Marketing Tips for the Working Mother by Jennifer Pereyra | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)
• Review: Kidzkapes | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)

Ask INetIN To Recommend Your Posts

Popularity: 3%

Hi, Teach Jim here… I teach and I learn …

A little over a year ago…

I published the final results of an InterNET INvestigation of home business lead generation systems. Since then a lot has changed with the systems investigated. A lot has changed in what I know about lead generation systems as well. It is time to open the investigation again. This time, however there is NO WAY I can be unbiased.  That said, I am reopening the InterNet INvestigation of home business lead generation systems

Let me explain.

Sure, I’ve been a member of these systems for the last year. And YES I have had some success with some of the systems. And YES I’ve had regular life to live. And YES I did not make any effort to push any one system. I did a few tactics along the way. I never did want to drag somebody into a system they did not need. So I went pretty light on my promotional activities.

I got lucky and a few strategies ended up producing results. So now I am left making money from systems I am supposed to “INvestigate” as a nutural third party.   SORRY, this INvestigation will be my effort to tell you how it is, BUT I am “connected” to some of these systems more than others.

So now you know.

You can discredit everything I say or you can trust my desire is to reveal to you all that really matters when it comes to home business, MLM, Network Marketing, small business,  lead generation systems.  There are a lot of false expectations and unrealistic high hopes that a system will make your business into something YOU dream of without any effort on your part.  NOT TRUE! I will tell you as I see it.  You’ll just have to take my word on that. (Then verify and validate!)

NEW Criteria!

In the first report I had to rely on what I learned with the syntopical reading strategy to help me identify the criteria for evaluating the sites.  This time around I am using the sites themselves AND have input from good people like you.

As I see it.

YOU want to know what systems are pushing the envelop and which systems are staying current with the changing face of  Internet Marketing.  That is fair. I know content management features have crept into several of these systems. Integration with social networks is another point of interest.  Promoting YOU and not the system owners is another theme I continually hear out there.

What matters to YOU?

What matters to you as you work with or consider using a home business lead generation system? Income? Ease of use? Connections to social networks? Content Management? Contact / Relationship management?  I look forward to your comments. Thanks in advance.

More From INetIN

• Evaluating System Support in Lead Generation Systems
• The BEST Decision is a Home Business Lead Generation System!
• Why You Need A Business Lead Generation System

INetIN Recommends

• The Work at Home Woman’s Business Book Club  (LivingYourMoment)
• Getting Social on a Schedule – 4 Twitter Marketing Tips for the Working Mother by Jennifer Pereyra | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)

Ask INetIN To Recommend Your Posts

Popularity: 2%

Lead generation systems under investigation are evaluated against the following criteria:

-Branding
-Income Generation
-Capture/Landing pages
-Relationship Building
-System functionality / usability
-Training on the system
-System Support
-Marketing Training
-Personal Development Training
-Overall Impression

Examining SYSTEM USABILITY

How easy a system is to use depends on a huge number of variables.  Not all the things that influence usability are in the system.  Many are in the capabilities and experience of the user. The evaluation of usability in this instance will be highly biased by my personal experience and exposure to such systems.

The ideal system will be user friendly enough to deliver on promised performance without a lot of study or effort.  Systems requiring multiple complex steps will get a lower score despite their level of high quality delivery of services.  If the system is out of sync with the users of the system there is a good chance the new users to the system will be overwhelmed and not remain with the system.

Criteria for usability evaluation relies on two primary factors.  First the ease of navigating to the required actions of the system back office.  Daily tasks like campaign management, new user sign ups, and personal development will need to be easy to find and use.  Second if set up or configuration steps are needed they are organized in a easy to follow wizard type situation so new users will not get lost in the various steps.

High scores will include both aspects. (Ease of daily work flow and clear direction and assistance in any configuration tasks.) Mid range points will be strong in one or mediocre in both areas.  Low scores go to system missing either of the above and or the implementation of their work flow or configuration step are so difficult to follow the system usage is impacted adversity.

Finding a system that meets your usability standards will likely take some time as you become accustom to Lead Generation System tasks and practices.  Remember to take your own personal ride through the system you work with to assure you will not be deeply disappointed with usability.  Make a match and you will love working in your system of choice.

More From INetIN

• Evaluating System Support in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating System Training in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Marketing Training in Lead Generation Systems

INetIN Recommends

• Getting Social on a Schedule – 4 Twitter Marketing Tips for the Working Mother by Jennifer Pereyra | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)
• Success in 2011: Making Goals for the New Year! | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)

Ask INetIN To Recommend Your Posts

Popularity: 1%

Lead generation systems under investigation are evaluated against the following criteria:

-Branding
-Income Generation
-Capture/Landing pages
-Relationship Building
-System functionality / usability
-Training on the system
-System Support
-Marketing Training
-Personal Development Training
-Overall Impression

Today we look at  RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Whatever system you choose make sure it provides  Customer Relationship Management tools (CRM).  At the extreme CRM tools compile and centralize every communication and interaction with the prospect.  The Lead Generation Systems under review do NOT have CRM systems in them.  Most have tools for communicating in mass to the people on your list in ongoing broadcast messages.

The ideal Lead Generation System has list management tools combined with autoresponder capabilities (The ability to send multiple messages over time).  Your list is your greatest asset.  Your relationship with the individuals on your list is what adds value to that asset.  You cultivate that relationship by how you treat them and what value your expertise adds to their life.  Without the proper Relationship building tools,  you risk offending or otherwise undermine your credibility.

Evaluation of the Relationship building tools in the systems under review is based on three factors.  First do tools exist for capture and management of your list.  Is it your list under your control or does it belong to the system and the system producer.  Second does it have auto responder capabilities allowing your to have ongoing communication with your list of prospects / leads.  Finally, does the system provide you a relationship strengthening plan/system for communicating with your audience with your branded message.  Systems with all three characteristics List Management, Auto responder and Communications system will recieve 10 points if the quality of the system warrants it.  Systems missing elements decrease to near the 5 point mark.  Systems with minimal list maintenance capacity and few or no communication tools will score near the bottom of the points possible.

Relationship building tools strengthen your position as an expert in the minds of your leads.  Ongoing interactions allow for further revenue and future assistance.  A professional, engaging interaction with your prospects makes the difference in having a list and having a valuable asset in your prospect list. Whatever the system make sure you have the tools for communicating and strenghtening your relationship with the individuals on your list.

More From INetIN

• Evaluating System Support in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Marketing Training in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Usability in Lead Generation Systems

INetIN Recommends

• Getting Social on a Schedule – 4 Twitter Marketing Tips for the Working Mother by Jennifer Pereyra | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)
• Success in 2011: Making Goals for the New Year! | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)

Ask INetIN To Recommend Your Posts

Popularity: 1%

Lead generation systems under investigation are evaluated against the following criteria:

-Branding
-Income Generation
-Capture/Landing pages
-Relationship Building
-System functionality / usability
-Training on the system
-System Support
-Marketing Training
-Personal Development Training
-Overall Impression

This article covers CAPTURE / LANDING PAGES

All the site visitors in the world will net you nothing unless you can convert them into leads in your system. The capture and conversion of visitors into leads IN your system is why you adopt a “Lead Generation System”.  Systems vary in the quality of their capture/landing pages.

The ideal system will provide market tested, proven capture/landing pages with effective conversion rates and the training / support for the self-branding of these pages to meet your need to be established as the expertise while maintaining conversion effectiveness.

Capture / Landing pages are evaluated on two criteria.  First do they have quality, proven pages for your use. Second can those tested and proven pages be customized with your personal branding. Better yet is the system that provides quality proven capture/landing pages but do they also provide adequate training so customizations of the pages does not distract from the pages conversion capacity.

Scoring is skewed in favor of customization.  Again, personal branding and “I am the expert” basic premise of attraction marketing / magnetic sponsoring demands this flexibility in higher ranked system.  A 10 will have quality / quantity of capture / lead pages with clear and specific directions on how to maintain reproducible conversion rates after customization.  A system with a 5 rating will have a mix of quantity or quality letters with customization capabilities but little direction or support of the customization process.  A low score will have NO customization.  A lower score will result if the quantity or quality of available letters in insufficient.

Conversion of visitors to leads and customers can rely on converson/landing pages if your offer or expertise is not compelling.  The system’s capacity to deliver effective customizable capture / landing pages can make the difference for internet marketing beginners.  Beginner or advanced marketer a jump start with quality capture / landing pages can save you time and set you on the road to immediate success.  Get a system with the capture / landing pages you need.

More From INetIN

• Evaluating System Support in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Marketing Training in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Usability in Lead Generation Systems

INetIN Recommends

• Getting Social on a Schedule – 4 Twitter Marketing Tips for the Working Mother by Jennifer Pereyra | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)
• Success in 2011: Making Goals for the New Year! | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)

Ask INetIN To Recommend Your Posts

Popularity: 1%

Lead generation systems under investigation are evaluated against the following criteria:

-Branding
-Income Generation
-Capture/Landing pages
-Relationship Building
-System functionality / usability
-Training on the system
-System Support
-Marketing Training
-Personal Development Training
-Overall Impression

Let look at BRANDING

Establishing yourself as an expert. Attracting qualified leads to you depends on you being the one on your prospects mind as the expert. This is the principle behind Attraction Marketing. Branding you as the expert is an important criteria for evaluating a system.

With branding the ideal system allows you to personalize and self-brand the site to be yours. Most of the attention must be on you.  Your recommendations, as an expert, are what should point your people to an affiliate product or service.

Points are awarded on the following scale. The tool is yours. Branded with you in every way. 10 points. Equal mix of you and the system / system producer 5 points.  Little or no you and mostly system/system producer near to 0 points. The score reflects more or less the percentage of personal branding while allowing reasonable reference to third party experts by association.

When considering a system this should be very important to you because it is on this single point you will be seen as a leader or a follower.  Brand yourself as you will and enjoy the rewards accordingly.

More From INetIN

• Evaluating System Support in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating System Training in Lead Generation Systems
• Evaluating Overall Impressions in Lead Generation Systems

INetIN Recommends

• Getting Social on a Schedule – 4 Twitter Marketing Tips for the Working Mother by Jennifer Pereyra | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)
• Success in 2011: Making Goals for the New Year! | Living My MoMent  (LivingYourMoment)

Ask INetIN To Recommend Your Posts

Popularity: 1%