[SUCCESS UPDATE] Making $100,000 by Leveraging Facebook Groups + Brilliant Directories

Introduction (00:00:00)

• Corey Barnes is a special guest who has made significant progress with his membership website since his last appearance, and he will be sharing his updates and strategies (00:00:00).
• Corey was previously a guest on webinar number 79 in December 2019, where he discussed his tactics for generating five figures from his membership site in his first 90 days, with a primary strategy of utilizing Facebook groups to drive traffic to his site (00:00:19).
• Corey’s initial progress was notable, with great results from using Facebook groups to drive traffic to his site, and he will be sharing what has changed, tips, and his growth since last year (00:00:41).
• The current webinar is a follow-up to the previous one, where Corey will be discussing his current strategies, what has changed, and the growth he has seen since his last appearance (00:00:54).
• Corey will be presenting his updates and sharing his experiences, and the hosts will be passing the mic over to him to go through the next few slides (00:01:08).

Let’s Meet Cory Barnes (00:01:14)

• Cory Barnes has a brilliant directory site that has been operational for about a year and is doing well into six figures in sales (00:01:15).
• The site has achieved this success without any traditional paid marketing, aside from running a large 21,000 member Facebook business networking group in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the United States (00:01:27).
• The Facebook group has contributed to the site’s rapid growth, and Cory also offers a course called Facebook Group Accelerator (00:01:39).
• Cory’s website is csbnconnect.com, which is connected to the brilliant directory site, and he can be reached through this website for more information (00:01:46).
• In the first three months of operation, the site generated over $10,000 in revenue without any paid advertising (00:01:51).

2 Things That Are Working For Me (00:01:56)

• Two strategies that are currently working well involve utilizing a 21,000-member private Facebook group and creating micro Facebook groups, such as the Chattanooga, Tennessee Online Yard Sale Group, to drive traffic to the Brilliant Directory website and promote classifieds and events (00:01:56).
• The micro Facebook groups allow people to list products for sale and also mention the classified section on the Brilliant Directory website, providing additional functionality and features for users who sign up and list their products on the site (00:02:25).
• Giveaways have been successful in growing the group, with a methodical approach to running them, including offering cash prizes, such as $100, and having premium members sponsor giveaways to give away nice items and grow the group (00:03:17).
• The Brilliant Directory website has been specialized to offer a unique selling proposition by tagging vendors in the Facebook group, connecting customers with vendors, and offering free e-guides and e-books to attract users and get them into the sales funnel (00:04:32).
• The Brilliant Directory website has a preferred vendor network, which includes premium subscribers, known as Gold Members, and posts promoting this network have been successful in generating interest and revenue, with one post potentially earning $3,000 (00:05:50).

BD Features I Find Most Useful (00:06:22)

• The Brilliant Directories (BD) website is a useful tool for businesses to list their products, photos, and information, and features such as the VIP package can help amplify and turbocharge the site (00:06:24).
• The VIP package is considered a no-brainer and offers over 100 features, including click-to-call, which allows visitors to automatically dial a vendor’s phone number from their profile listing (00:06:44).
• Making full use of the header and footer sections of the site can be beneficial, such as presenting a free e-guide or e-book, like the “Hidden Gems” e-guide, to collect email addresses and build an email database (00:07:08).
• Adding a custom graphic to the Facebook group, Instagram page, or LinkedIn page can help leverage traffic, and the built-in email system in Brilliant Directories can be used to send weekly email newsletters, tips, and tricks (00:07:56).
• The built-in email system can also be used to upsell mid-tier packages to premium packages, and providing value to the community through tips, tricks, and trainings can help build trust and loyalty (00:08:08).
• Ensuring that preferred vendors or gold premium members are ranking above mid-tier members is important, and adding confidence boosters such as video testimonials from premium subscribers can help increase conversions (00:08:42).
• Adding a whiteboard video explaining the different preferred plans and premium plans can also be helpful in explaining what the business does and can be added to the join page (00:09:17).

Some Inspiration… (00:09:40)

• The concept of creating lead magnets and engaging people to keep them interested is discussed, with the goal of keeping them in one’s universe and ecosphere (00:09:40).
• A book recommendation is made, titled “The One Thing (book)” by Gary W. Keller, which focuses on a system and methodology for success, emphasizing the importance of tackling the most challenging tasks first thing in the morning when willpower is most abundant (00:10:03).
• A personal strategy for motivation is shared, involving committing to work on a small task for at least two to three minutes, and then allowing oneself to stop or continue working, as getting started is often the hardest part (00:10:56).
• The strategy of committing to a short amount of work is explained to help overcome lack of motivation, and it is noted that once started, motivation tends to follow (00:11:28).
• The management of a large group is discussed, and it is mentioned that having a team is helpful, with one paid employee and a volunteer administrator assisting with tasks such as moderating and selling plans (00:11:56).
• The importance of having a team is emphasized, as it becomes necessary when the business grows, but it is also noted that solo success is possible until hiring people becomes necessary (00:12:12).

Facebook Group Accelerator (00:12:19)

• The Facebook Group Accelerator is an eight-week online video training course that teaches everything needed to know to be successful in launching and administering a Facebook group, covering topics from A to Z (00:12:27).
• The course is offered alongside several freebies, free live coaching calls, and has already seen members from the Brilliant Directory community sign up and achieve great results (00:12:40).
• Having a Facebook group is one way to nurture and foster a member community, and can be used to drive traffic back to a website, such as the Brilliant Directory website, although it may not be a suitable strategy for everyone (00:12:58).
• The Facebook strategy can be a great way to sharpen digital marketing skills, become more proficient, and work more efficiently, especially for those who believe their member community can be fostered and nurtured on Facebook (00:13:22).
• Corey has shared progress and experience with using Facebook groups to grow a membership website, and will likely share more progress in future webinars (00:13:40).