Internet marketing strategist Rich Schefren made a rather bold claim earlier this week. He said that Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama won the 2008 United States Presidential Election due to the Democrats’ masterful use of social media marketing.

While Rich put forth some persuasive statistics - and we have also published similar indicators that Obama dominated on the Internet - I’m not sure I agree. Sure, Obama campaigners may have harnessed social marketing better than McCain… but was that really the clincher?

And even if it was, doesn’t that beg the question of WHY? Why was Obama able to stir up such activity on the Internet? Weren’t their deeper reasons driving people to be so vocal?

In any case, if it IS true that the Democrats beat the Republicans online… the GOP is already taking steps to fight back and, in particular, make better use of social media marketing.

First big step: the launch of RepublicanForAReason.com.

Developed by the Republican National Committee (RNC), RepublicanForAReason.com has similar aspirations to the Democrats’ website Change.gov. The Republican site will be a platform for grass-roots supporters to share and discuss their views about the future direction of the GOP.

In the words of RNC Chairman Robert M. Duncan:

“we need to hear what our volunteers, activists, elected leaders, and party members think about the Republican Party as we rebuild, re-focus, and renew our bond with the American people.”

Sounds like a good use of social media to me. And just what the Republicans need to do in light of their election defeat.

But I’ll tell you one thing: poor choice of domain name. Too long and hard to type. And by the way who was the incompetent who forgot to register RepublicansForAReason.com?

Hmmm… I wonder how many people will type that in… and what will they see when they go to THAT site? Someone is set to make some good money from parked domain name revenues. Until the lawyers get involved of course…

Sources: Rich Schefren, “The Biggest Reason Why Barack Obama Won The Election”, Strategic Profits Blog, November 11, 2008, Richard MacManus, “Republicans Use Social Media Too”, ReadWriteWeb, November 12, 2008

Let me say, off the bat, that Rich Schefren’s answer to the Uncertainty Syndrome - in the form of a report entitled ‘The Entrepreneurial Emergency‘ - DOES live up to the hype and anticipation surrounding its release.

Now, I was expecting it to be good… but not this good. Having read numerous business books, and indeed Rich’s previous free reports, I wondered: what could Rich Schefren possibly say that hasn’t already been said?

Some people will probably say that Rich Schefren does NOT say anything new in The Entrepreneurial Emergency. That his report is based on existing ideas. BUT we need only consider how so many entrepreneurs, let alone online entrepreneurs, seem to be struggling, to know that MOST are NOT aware of these ideas. Or at least are not applying them.

Now, having listened to the free teleseminar Rich conducted a week before, I knew what the central tenet of The Entrepreneurial Emergency would be (which I’ll share with you in a moment). But it wasn’t until I began reading Rich Schefren’s Uncertainty Syndrome report that I truly ‘got it’. What’s more, I got a few more ‘ah-has’, as well as some solid strategies and tactics I can immediately apply in my business.

All in all, I recommend you read The Entrepreneurial Emergency and see if you don’t also come away with some major take-outs. Without question, this free report packs a much bigger punch than many business books you’ll buy at the bookstore.

Yes, the report is a free ‘carrot’ in the lead-up to the launch of Rich’s Guided Profit System (TM) coaching program (to be launched on Tuesday, September 23, 2008). But let’s be honest: this coaching program will be cost-prohibitive for most Internet marketers. So why not take advantage of the quality information Rich is giving out for free?

Okay, so what exactly DOES Rich Schefren reveal in The Entrepreneurial Emergency report? Let me give you the low-down…

Rich begins the report by prompting us to think about the one thing that will determine our success. Then it shatters the belief that this one thing relates to our knowledge, skills, commitment or other personal qualities.

While these all add to our POTENTIAL for success… what determines our ACTUAL success is our CONSTRAINTS. To be specific, the only way our actual success will ever equal our current potential for success is if we eliminate the constraints holding us back.

While this, in itself is a powerful idea, Rich goes on to point out that what we *think* are holding us back are most likely to be SYMPTOMS of the true underlying constraints. Which is why we can spend much of our time putting out fires… without addressing the causes of those fires.

Only by identifying and overcoming our true constraints will we achieve the breakthroughs we seek.

My third big ‘a-ha’ was something Rich mentions, but could probably emphasize more (probably the only weakness in the report, apart from a few typos and the absence of a references section): at any given moment there will be ONE chief constraint. When we begin the process of overcoming all the constraints holding us back, our aim should be to deal with the biggest constraint first… and only after that’s dealt with, to move on to the next biggest constraint… then the next biggest constraint, and so on.

Rich identifies three kinds of constraint - rational, procedural and self-imposed - and goes on to provide ’seven silver bullets’ designed to help us address some of the most common constraints he sees plaguing online entrepreneurs:

• The erroneous belief that mistakes must be avoided at all costs;
• Flying blind without key information that can help us improve our business;
• Linear thinking;
• An inefficient work style;
• A lack of a personal network;
• Using outdated, one-way marketing tactics; and
• Buyer bottlenecks.

None of these may be YOUR constraints, but if they are, get ready for a ‘wake-up call’. Fortunately, Rich also provides some invaluable ideas - indeed, entire frameworks - for overcoming such constraints.

Again, while it can be tempting to regard these as constraints that must ALL be dealt with now, nothing could be further from the truth: your aim should be to focus instead on removing the BIGGEST constraint first, before moving on to the remaining constraints, in order of priority.

The Entrepreneurial Emergency would be incomplete without including some practical tips for addressing and overcoming constraints. Fortunately, Rich doesn’t disappoint: towards the end of the report, he sets out a step-by-step process for identifying and eliminating constraints in order to achieve our  goals.

While I took notes on my first read of Rich Schefren’s The Entrepreneurial Emergency, I will undoubtedly read it again and take more notes. His sections on understanding buyer behaviour and becoming more productive, respectively, are worth reading in themselves.

In sum, I was extremely impressed with the report and highly recommend you read it. Rich’s Guided Profit System (TM) coaching program won’t be for everyone… but this report probably is.

=> Click here to download a free copy of The Entrepreneurial Emergency

To help promote his new report, ‘The Uncertainty Syndrome’ and to generate publicity for the upcoming launch of his new coaching program, Rich Schefren is hosting a live, televised question and answer session.

The live Q and A began yesterday at noon, when Rich released The Uncertainty Syndrome. It will continue until noon today.

Depending on when you read this, you’ll be able to catch the last few hours of Rich live on web television, and be able to ask him YOUR burning question.

Yep, it’s a publicity stunt. Take a look here:

==> Rich Schefren On 24 Live TV

P.S. I’ll post my review of Rich’s report tomorrow.

Today at 12 noon EST, Rich Schefren will release his latest report on the state of Internet marketing - ‘The Uncertainty Syndrome’ report.

If The Uncertainty Syndrome report lives up to the hype - and there’s been a LOT of hype (just check out the video on this page) - it should be a ripper of a read. And hopefully Rich Schefren will share a nugget or two… or three or four… or more… that we can directly apply in our Internet marketing businesses.

Make no mistake - The Uncertainty Syndrome is a precursor to another big product launch. Rich Schefren plans to introduce a brand new coaching program next week. But, unless I am sorely mistaken, the program will likely be cost-prohibitive for many people, so the free report may be the next best thing from Rich Schefren you can lay your hands on.

I think Rich knows his stuff - he is not only a ‘big picture’ thinker, but he is a keen strategist and tactician as well. I was mightily impressed with his previous reports and also had the pleasure of seeing him present at conference here in Australia last year.

As such, I’m an enthusiastic affiliate for the launch. So you’ve been warned! Having said that, I’ll be publishing an objective review - or as close to an objective review as is possible - of Rich’s report either tomorrow or Friday. Look out for it then.

In the meantime, sign up to get The Uncertainty Syndrome report as soon as it’s released by clicking here:

==> Click here to sign up for your free copy of The Uncertainty Syndrome

Did you listen to Rich Schefren’s teleseminar yesterday? If so, you and 6,999 others!

Rich Schefren may have been shocked at how popular his free teleseminar was, but perhaps it’s not all that surprising, given the ‘firepower’ behind the call. Several major players in the Internet marketing niche not only promoted, but also participated in the call. Namely:

• Yaro Starak
• Joel Comm
• Michael Cheney
• Tellman Knudson
• Mike Filsaime
• Willie Crawford
• Brad Fallon
• Frank Kern
• John Carlton
• Jeff Walker
• Liz Thompson
• Kevin Hogan

Rich Schefren opened the call by explaining that an entrepreneur’s success was NOT based on their knowledge, talents, assets, and so on.

These indicate a person’s potential, not their success. In fact, an entrepreneur’s success is based on their major constraint and the extent to which they overcome this.

In basic terms - just as you are only as strong as your weakest part, so too, your business (and you) are only as successful as your biggest roadblock.

Schefren then asked each of his guests what they believed had been the biggest constraints in their business careers to date, how they had overcome them, and what were the results.

There were some interesting answers given. Not all as obvious as you might think, but many which we could all probably identify with.

If you didn’t manage to get on the call, click here to sign up for the replay:

==> Click Here To Listen To The Replay Of Rich Schefren’s Teleseminar

Next week Rich plans to release a new, free report on par with his highly regarded ‘Internet Marketing Manifesto’. After that he’s planning a major product launch.

I can’t give too much away, but as an affiliate for this launch, I can tell you that Rich’s company, Strategic Profits, is expecting this to be the biggest launch in 2008… and possibly in Internet marketing history.

Now that’s a big call (forgive the pun).

In any case, devouring the free content and taking notes is a great education in itself, and this call with Rich Schefren is no exception:

==> Click Here To Listen To The Replay Of Rich Schefren’s Teleseminar