Author: The AI Team

  • Quick Tip – How and Why To Use Campaign Links

    Summary:

    In the How and Why to Use Campaign Links Quick Tip, 2014 Infusionsoft Partner of the Year, Kim Snider, throws in a few extra Infusionsoft tidbits for her Art of Campaign Building Mastery Class by quickly explaining when, where, why and how Campaign Links should be applied.

    Quick Tip – How and Why To Use Campaign Links:

    Time Stamped Show Notes:

    • 00:01 – Introduction from Kim Snider
    • 00:09 – This video is a special bonus for the Art of Campaign Building Mastery Course
    • 00:22 – THIS is an absolutely perfect example of when you may want to use a Campaign Link
    • 00:30 – A Campaign Link is a link set up AT the Campaign level, rather than in the email itself
    • 00:45 – Unfolding the details of When and Why to use Campaign Links
    • 02:00 – Changing where the link points to is one of the fundamental purposes of Campaign Links
    • 02:40 – This is similar to a Campaign Merge Field
    • 03:05 – Returning to update the Link (on the back end) to change where it points
    • 03:45 – The Pros and Cons of Campaign Links
    • 03:50 – They cannot be used in a broadcast email
    • 04:15 – Eliminates the need to send a NEW email for link corrections/replacements—Dynamic Links
  • 05:30 – Kim’s Contact Info and End of Quick Tip

  • Easy Multi-Step Infusionsoft Forms

    NEWS FLASH! That Thank You page for your web form DOES NOT have to lead to a Thank You! Make good use of this simple trick to add more segmenting options after getting the initial opt-in, break up a lengthy form into bite-size portions, add an upsell or next-steps actions. The possibilities are endless when you know how.

    Create 2 web forms in your campaign

    step-one

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    step-two

    Set the Thank-you Page to Display to Web address and make sure Pass contact’s information to the thank-you page is checked. 

    step-three

    On Form Two we’re passing the email info from Form One, but we’re hiding it from the contact. You set up your additional info gathering fields on this form.

    step-four

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Copy Form Two’s Url to your clipboard and return back to Form One.

    step-five

    Return to Form One

    step-six

    Make sure everything is set to Ready. Publish your Campaign, and you’re all set to gather all the segmenting info you need or even do a quick upsell.

    Here’s an example of how you might segment your prospects with decision diamonds after gathering that extra info.  Market On!

    step-7

     

     

     

  • Avoid the Embarrassing “!!CORRECTED LINK” Email

    We’ve all been there – “Oh no, the email went out with the wrong link!” That’s when you want to reach into your computer screen and grab those emails back, but you can’t. Or can you?? Learn how easy it is to overcome this common mistake.

  • Why Use Click Funnels Over Lead Pages or Optimize Press?

    If you’re running a business with a digital presence there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Lead Pages or Optimize Press before.

    Both are well-established

    Both are providers of tools and templates for landing pages, sales funnels, membership portals, etc.

    Both claim to increase the ROI of your business.

    However, there is a new(ish) kid on the block when it comes to meeting the marketing and sales demands of digital business: Click Funnels.

    Though I only recently discovered Click Funnels, I am already super-excited to be talking to you about it for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is cost.

    As you know, maximizing the efficiency of dollars and cents is at the core of everything I do.

    Unlike Lead Pages or Optimize Press where funnel templates come with differing costs and differing features, Click Funnels’ functionality is not tied to price.  All the tools, tricks and utilities of their templates are included with the basic $97 per month Start-Up package (yes, they do have a more expensive Enterprise package, but it does not come with additional functions).

    More importantly, Click Funnels’ templates are completely customizable.

    While Lead Pages, Optimize Press and Click Funnels all come with a certain number of prefabricated templates, only Click Funnels allows for the development of fully-customizable templates, which is a huge advantage if you’re looking to have a landing page, optin or membership portal that is unique to your business.

    As a self-described integration-pro, there’s no way I can avoid mentioning how easily Click Funnels syncs with your favorite programs. From auto-responders and shopping carts (like GetResponse and Stripe) to marketing automation software (like Infusionsoft), Click Funnels is considerably more pro-integration than Lead Pages or Optimize Press.

    Here is short list of just some of the applications Click Funnels can integrate with:

    • GetResponse
    • Stripe
    • Infusionsoft
    • Taxamo
    • MailJet
    • MailChimp
    • Warrior+Plus
    • ClickBank
    • PayPal

    But wait, there’s more…

    Click Funnels versus Infusionsoft

    Click Funnels is so good that – in some instances – you should probably use it instead of Infusionsoft…And you know if I’m recommending something over Infusionsoft it must be good!

    What would these instances be?

    My Client is Not Ready for Infusionsoft

    If your client is not ready for the development-bandwidth needed for Infusionsoft, building out their sales and marketing funnels (or their entire website) is going to be a lot easier using Click Funnels. What Click Funnels lacks in robustness (when compared to Campaign Builder), it makes up for in clean, drag & drop functionality.

    Design Appeal

    As great as Infusionsoft is, sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade; it seriously lacks in the aesthetics department.

    The truth is, Infusionsoft does not make pretty pages but Click Funnels does. Five years ago, businesses could get away with having an unattractive site but in the today’s digital marketpalce a sharp, clean and streamlined look is key.

    Boost Conversion

    A great UI and UX are usually the difference between paltry and sizeable conversion numbers.

    A couple of weeks ago, we used Click Funnels for the first time to run the registration portal for the Mastery Class webinar. Not only did Click Funnels drive a conversion percentage of roughly 80%, but three separate registrants emailed me directly to say how much they loved the registration process – that has never happened before.

    Mobility

    Click Funnels is mobile responsive, Infusionsoft is not. With the increasing prevalence of mobile device usage, this fun fact speaks for itself.

    Help at the Ready

    When working with Infusionsoft, anytime you hit a roadblock you’re going to need the outside help of a whiz-developer or an Infusionsoft-pro like The API Guys.

    Translation? – Additional expense.

    The basic Start-Up package with Click Funnels comes with full and fanatical tech-support, a really, really nice bonus if you are lacking supplemental IT budget.

    Click Funnels, Lead Pages and Optimize Press: The Summation

    To sum it all up, here is a graphic you can use to compare Lead Pages, Optimize Press and Click Funnels:

    ClickFunnels

  • What We’re Reading – The ONE Thing

    The ONE ThingIf you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one. Russian Proverb

    This week we’re reading The One Thing – The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan.

    Are you a slave to your to-do lists? Do you think juggling a hundred tasks simultaneously is a sign of productivity? Then you owe it to yourself to give this book a read. You’ll breeze through it over a weekend and come away with a profound process to reach extraordinary results in every facet of your life.

    Are these axioms you live by?

    • Everything Matters Equally
    • Multitasking
    • A Disciplined Life
    • Willpower Is Always on Will-Call
    • A Balanced Life
    • Big Is Bad

    Find out why they may not be serving you as well as you think. Learn how to find your one thing and stay focused on it. Ask yourself “What’s the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” Think about that for a moment, then grab a copy of The ONE Thing to learn how to incorporate that question into every part of your life for extraordinary results.

    We’ve started using the principles behind The ONE Thing in every part of our Infusionsoft business – from team review and planning meetings to quarterly goal setting. We’ve even put it into our client project strategies.  Let us know how you’re using your ONE thing.  We love discussing how it’s helping us reach our goals. 

  • Cool Tool – DilogR

    newsletter-dilogr1We came across DilogR while working on our online assessment tool to help users evaluate the gap between where they are and where they want to be with their Infusionsoft skills. We wanted interactivity with real time scoring and report generation. DilogR fit the bill. It’s an easy platform that takes interactive content to the next level. It has a seamless Infusionsoft integration to easily capture new leads, higher conversion rates and more business.

    Here’s just a few of their features, but be sure to check them out for yourself to get the full experience here.

    • Monetize photos and images in minutes
    • Personalize slide decks
    • Tailor video content to the viewer
    • Create surveys, quizzes, polls and assessments
    • Add CTAs
    • Add Lead generation forms
    • Add Hotspots
    • And more

  • Getting Started with Infusionsoft – Hang Out With the Pros

    Getting Started with InfusionsoftIf you’re just getting started with Infusionsoft you probably have lots of questions.  You’re not alone. We’ve all been there. Thankfully, Infusionsoft is super well documented. Type ug.Infusionsoft.com in your browser and the detailed User Guide is at your fingertips. Learning opportunities abound. Start with tutorials on Virtual Academy, take in a weekly Mastermind webinar for advanced strategies, and for the ultimate learning experience, attend the yearly ICON User Conference.

    Don’t Underestimate This Simple Tip

    There’s one tool you might overlook. It’s a habit, actually, that will launch your Infusionsoft skills light years ahead in an incredibly short time. Hang out with the Pros. Where do the Pros hang out? In the Infusionsoft Forums. Yes, it’s just that easy. One hour a day reading forum posts and solutions will get you confident with Infusionsoft in ways you never dreamed possible. Learn behind the scenes tricks veterans use to bend Infusionsoft to business needs. Be privy to free scripts and code snippets that make Infusionsoft hum. Access years of Infusionsoft knowledge.

    But you have to make it a habit.  

    Infusionsoft ForumsFollow this prescription:

    • Spend 1 Hour a Day in the Forums
    • Do it first thing in the morning
    • Forget checking Facebook or Twitter. The Infusionsoft forums are where the really cool kids are hanging
    • Try it for one month and report back here to let us know how much you’ve learned

  • Campaign Builder Do’s & Don’ts Webinar Replay

    Summary:

    In Campaign Builder Do’s & Don’ts, 2014 Infusionsoft Most Helpful Partner, Kim Snider, introduces the audience to some of her most fundamental Do’s and Don’ts for Campaign Builder. During the video, Kim covers her core beliefs, best time-saving tips and key mistakes to avoid, finishing the webinar with a robust Q&A session.

    Campaign Builder Do’s & Don’ts:

    Video no longer available.

    Time Stamped Show Notes:

    • 00:01 – Welcome from Kim Snider, the President of The API Guys, featuring a two-minute introduction and personal background summary
    • 03:47 – Kim’s goal with The API Guys (from a business perspective) is to take the business from start-up to $2 million dollars by the conclusion of 2016
    • 04:55 – What Kim Believes….
      • 05:10 – Small business is the heart of a thriving economy
      • 06:17 – 99% of Infusionsoft users are only using a tiny fraction of Infusionsoft
      • 07:30 – The key to small business success is investing in multiple efforts
      • 08:30 – Infusionsoft always can
    • 11:35 – Starting with the 3 Mistakes That Can Crash Your App
      • 12:05 – The #1 mistake people make?—Having too many tags
        • 12:55 – The more contacts you have, the bigger the problem this is
        • 13:25 – The best practices for tagging
      • 21:35 – The #2 mistake people make?—Too many saved searches
      • 25:08 – The # 3 mistake people make?—Importing data to the wrong fields
        • 26:50 – The most common error?—Entering the phone number into the phone type field
      • 27:00 – Bonus Tip: Multiple tabs open will not crash or slow down your app, but it can have unintended/weird consequences
    • 30:26 – Three Time-Saving Tips No One Uses
      • 30:33 – Time-saving tip #1: Nobody takes advantage of the “Copy From…” function
      • 33:57 – Time-saving tip #2: Use Campaign Merge Fields
      • 36:00 – Time-saving tip #3: Use Campaign Links
      • 41:45 – Bonus Tip: Many people forget to do a simple copy and paste within a campaign
      • 44:07 – Bonus Tip: Learn how to add to a sequence without deleting lines
      • 44:55 – Bonus Tip: Use Firefox to avoid going back to List Page when you delete lines
    • 45:50 – Three Ways to Shorten the Learning Curve
      • 47:05 – Way #1: Go to the Infusionsoft forums and Read/Answer the forum every morning
      • 48:00 – Way #2: Participate in the Infusionsoft Facebook groups
        • 48:40 – The two Infusionsoft Facebook groups operated by The API Guys
      • 49:55 – Way #3: Join the Infusionsoft Mastermind calls and webinars
      • 50:52 – Bonus Tip: Sign up for The Art of Campaign Building Foundations Course
    • 51:25 – Foundations Course summary
      • 56:15 – Training, more than anything else, is the one-thing that will make Infusionsoft easier
      • 56:55 – Defining who specifically the Art of Campaign Building Foundations Course is for…
      • 57:30 – Preview of the course syllabus
      • 58:00 – Schedule and Pricing outline
      • 59:26 – Registration Link
    • 62:00 – Questions and Answers
    • 86:49 – Kim’s contact information
    • 87:41 – End of Webinar

    5 Key Points

    1. Most Infusionsoft users are only using a fraction of Infusionsoft’s capabilities; this is not only foolish, it’s wasteful.
    2. Do not become contaminated with a case of the “can’ts;” 99% of the time Infusionsoft can
    3. Teaching is the key to learning; the better someone can teach a topic, the more quickly they will master it.
    4. Having too many tags is far and away the #1 mistake that most people make.
    5. Adequate training will make Infusionsoft significantly easier to use.

  • How To Use Contact’s Company

    Summary:

    In the How to Use Contact’s Company Demo video, 2014 Infusionsoft Partner of the Year, Kim Snider, gives a brief run-through of the Infusionsoft plug-in Contact’s Company, dually explaining both what it is and how it can be used.

    How To Use Contact’s Company:

    Time Stamped Show Notes:

    • 00:07 – Kim outlines what Contact’s Company does
    • 00:48 – There are two different ways that Infusionsoft represents Company
      • 01:03 – The formal way
      • 01:56 – The informal way
    • 03:35 – Why this distinction matters?
      • 04:34 – The company is a great and natural way to link contacts together
    • 04:57 – This video will discuss how to programmatically create the aforementioned links
    • 05:05 – There used to be a fairly significant bug in Infusionsoft involving Contact and Company links which Kim outlines here
    • 06:10 – Within TheAPIGuys store, the Contact’s Company product description explains how the plug-in adds a new company from the name in the Company field
      • 06:28 – Kim demonstrates how this works in practice
      • 06:58 – Contact’s Company  also enables users to create a default company parameter if the Company field is left blank
    • 08:06 – Example of a form not attached to Contact’s Company
      • 08:55 – Actual form shown
      • 09:25 – In refreshing the Contact record, nothing is linked but the contact’s company did change
    • 10:03 – Looking at how Contact’s Company is constructed
      • 10:12 – URL
      • 10:29 – Contactid
    • 11:12 – Example of a form attached to Contact’s Company
      • 11:40 – Now the contact record has been changed so that the contact is linked
      • 12:04 – Also, a company has been created

  • How To File Upload to Filebox

    Summary:

    In the How to File Upload to Filebox Demo video, 2014 Infusionsoft Partner of the Year, Kim Snider, details all the little necessary steps to successfully uploading multiple files to a given contact’s filebox in Infusionsoft.

    How To How To File Upload to Filebox

    Time Stamped Show Notes:

    • 00:05 – Kim’s introduction
    • 00:14 – Definition of what the Multiple File Upload plug-in does
      • 00:18 – Allows for the upload of more than one file to a contact’s filebox
    • 00:44 This video assumes that all users have already installed the plug-in
    • 00:58 – FTP credentials will be necessary to properly use this plug-in
    • 01:06 – Log into FTP client →Go to public HTML directory → the plug-in will have installed in a folder called Scripts  → Within Scripts locate the folder labeled Pocket Developer  → Locate the Blocks folder → Locate the File Upload folder
      • 01:37 – Within the File Upload folder there will be two files, right-click on the form file and select “view edit”
      • 02:19 – Within the file, identify the URL and check the path to determine if it is correct. If it is not, the URL will need to be corrected
      • 03:07 – Hit Control + A (select all) followed by Control + C (copy)
    • 03:25 – The following steps take place on a WordPress page
      • 03:30 – Go to Dashboard → Go to Pages  → Open a given page  → Paste the copied code into the text editor, which is the HTML editor
      • 04:24 – Make a note of the URL for the page just created
    • 04:38 [and 05:11] – The next step is to create a Form in Campaign Builder
    • 05:19 – In the Form make the Thank-You  page the URL of the page we just created in WordPress
    • 05:32 – After the Form is completed, it will then drive to the file upload page, prior to driving to the Thank-You page
    • 05:41 – Your site should have a standalone Thank-You page
      • 05:51 – Put the URL of the page just created, followed by a question mark, followed by the word redirect all lower-case, followed by an equals sign (=), followed by the URL of the Thank-You page where the contact should ultimately end-up after they have uploaded their files
      • 06:22 – Check the Pass Contact’s information to the thank-you page box
      • 06:31 – Under the Code tab, select Use the Hosted Version and set to Ready
      • 06:48 – Go back to the campaign and hit Publish
    • 06:53 – Test to see that the plug-in is functioning properly
    • 07:16 – The newly created Form as it exists on your website will need some styling
      • 07:26 – What the Form looks like sans styling
    • 08:10 – Look in the Filebox in the contact record to see if the uploaded files went through
    • 08:42 – Kim’s contact information