2013 Empower Network Products, Reviewed

Product #1: Viral Blogging System

Important update for August 2013: Empower Network is about to unveil ENV2, which will blow their current blogging platform out of the water.  I’ll adjust my review once it launches, but the Dave’s are claiming it’ll be the best blog option out there.  I’m excited to see if it lives up to the hype.

Cost:

• $25 per month, ongoing, until you decide to cancel.

What you get:

• A done-for-you, pimped-out Empower Network blog with all the marketing bells and whistles, including high-converting squeeze pages.

• An 8-module “Fast Start” video series detailing the core commitments you need to do daily to achieve success inside Empower Network (also comes with downloadable checklists and quizzes for each module).

Pros:

• You’re buying speed here.  You don’t have to spend time, energy and money figuring out how to set up a high-performance blog by yourself.  Upon payment, you can be blogging in a matter of minutes.

• Excellent training.  Instructions are simple, step-by-step and can walk even a complete beginner from clueless to confident in a short amount of time.

• Rank higher, faster.  Currently, you can benefit big time by having your own Empower Network blog on the already authoritative Empower Network domain.  This makes it quicker and easier to rank in Google and start getting traffic.

• You can promote anything on your new blog.  Lots of members use it to sell affiliate products and services or gain new leads for local businesses or other network marketing opportunities they’re involved with.

Cons:

• Despite being a great way for inexperienced online marketers to get their feet wet, you don’t own your Empower Network blog.  Therefore, there is some risk involved.  What would happen to all of your hard work if the company ever closed its doors?

• Who knows how long the ranking benefit will last.  My concern is that too many spammy affiliates will misuse their Empower Network blogs, forcing Google to downgrade the respect it gives to all pages, posts and blogs published on EmpowerNetwork.com… including yours.
• Summary:
  If we could be sure that a) Empower Network never closes shop and b) their entire domain remains authoritative for the long-term…
  … their viral blogging system has outstanding value for any marketer.
  But, because of those two unknowns, I wouldn’t build my entire internet business solely on the Empower Network blog.  I still think it’s the best way for newbies to get started blogging, quickly and easily.
  And I think marketers of all skill levels can leverage their Empower Network blog to drive more leads and sales.
  But creating your own blog or at least backing up all of your blog posts is a good idea.
  Score:
  • 75/100 … of all the hosted blogging platforms available online, this is far and away the best.  Granted, others might be free, but they don’t have the built-in marketing capabilities that allow you to generate leads and convert sales.

  Product #2: Inner Circle Audios

  Cost:
  • $100 per month, ongoing, until you decide to cancel.
  What you get:
  • Downloadable motivational/mindset audio recordings, usually featuring some of the top earners inside Empower Network.  New audios are added every 1-2 weeks and are generally around 1-2 hours in length.
  Pros:
  • These audios are uplifting and easy to throw on your iPod and feed your mind positive, inspirational messages while driving, working out, doing house chores, etc.
  • It’s helpful to hear straight from the current leaders, some of whom are very gracious in detailing how they’re achieving such massive results.
  Cons:
  • Some of the Inner Circle audios are actually available for free, if you happen to dial-in to the Empower Hour call on Monday nights.  Initially, this pissed me off.  As weeks went by, I realized that I would miss most of those calls anyway, so I was really paying for the convenience factor.
  Summary:
  Most network marketers and affiliates do not devote near enough time to training their minds.
  The Empower Network Inner Circle audios make it easy for the not-so-motivated to get in their daily dose of “positive programming.”  If you’re like I used to be and think this stuff is all a bunch of fluff, think again.
  Loopholes, tactics and strategies don’t make you money; the right mindset does.
  The content on these audios is always top notch and I find myself recharged and ready to take serious action after listening to ‘em.
  If you can get past the fact that some are available through the Empower Hour, it’s a hundred bucks well spent each month.
  Score:
  • 80/100 … again, the only real strike here is that some of the audios are from the free Empower Hour call.  Most of us are busy on Monday nights and I’m happy to pay so that I don’t miss out and can access any and all past audios, at any time, whenever I need a pick-me-up.

  Product #3: Costa Rica Intensive

  Cost:
  • A one-time payment of $500.
  What you get:
  • Eleven high-definition, well-produced videos documenting a live mastermind event held by Dave Wood in Costa Rica, just before he teamed up with Dave Sharpe to launch Empower Network.  Included with each video are checklists and quizzes.
  Pros:
  • I thought these videos were entertaining, plus the production quality was undeniable.  Those two factors alone made me ‘feel’ like I had purchased something valuable.
  • Coming from a nuts and bolts affiliate marketing background, I found the content to be incredibly unique.  They discussed lots of business-building strategies I’d never learned about before, such as leadership, automation, persuasion, building authority and more.
  • Some of Empower Network’s top success stories of today (in 2013) are featured in this mastermind retreat… which is pretty damn inspiring.
  Cons:
  • This Costa Rica Intensive took place a couple years ago.  Knowing this, I couldn’t help but pick up on a few ‘tactics’ that were now outdated.  To be fair, most of the training was conceptual – and sound business concepts never expire.
  • For those who’re only interested in the actual steps, you might be disappointed.  Most of the talk, once again, was centered around principles and overviews of techniques.
  Summary:
  Although I really enjoyed a few of the videos, some weren’t all that helpful and parts of others were irrelevant for 2013.
  While I do think I received at least $500 of value from this recorded mastermind, I’d expect to see an updated product to replace this sometime soon.
  As you’ll see with the next product, Empower Network is known to do this.
  And you don’t have to repay for the updated edition, which is a nice bonus.
  Score:
  • 65/100 … of all the Empower Network products, this was by far my least favorite.  I’m confident they’ll recreate it soon, though.  Either way, I’m a huge believer in being “all-in” and learning all I can, so I’m still happy I bought this.

  Product #4: $15k Formula

  Cost:
  • A one-time payment of $1,000.
  What you get:
  • New for 2013, you get live weekly webinar trainings directly from the top earning Empower Network sponsors.  Comprehensive study guides are available for download to compliment each webinar.
  Pros:
  • This is the most cutting-edge, “what works now” coaching you could hope to receive.  The fact that team Empower Network decided to redo each and every video for 2013 says a lot about what you can expect from them going forward.
  • Learn straight from the big dogs themselves.  These webinars aren’t just “the Dave’s” giving their thoughts on everything.  Instead, they’ve brought in the best of the best, in every area of marketing, and asked them to spill their guts.
  • Nothing’s watered-down.  You might expect these leaders to hoard the “real secrets” for themselves, but that’s not the case.  Everything is revealed and you benefit from a behind-the-scenes look into some high-six and even seven-figure Empower Network businesses.
  • Comprehensive and step-by-step.  No stone is being left unturned with this product.  Like I said, literally every area of online and offline marketing is being covered by those who’re actually doing it, right now.
  Cons:
  • There aren’t any real cons besides the price point.  At $1,000, not everyone will be able to afford this right off the bat.
  Summary:
  If I had to sum up the $15k Formula in one word: BRILLIANT.
  This product alone was worth the cost of every single product combined, times ten.  Simply put, what you’re getting here is the best, most current, most actionable, most relevant, stepwise blueprint for making it rain traffic, leads and sales.
  (In any business, not just Empower Network.)
  Score:
  • 95/100 … what more can I say?  The $15k Formula is the best investment I’ve made since starting an online business, bar none.  And I’ve bought a TON of shit.  You have to buy this product.  Period, end of story.

  Product #5: Masters Retreat

  Cost:
  • A one-time payment of $3,500.
  What you get:
  • 41 high-definition videos that document a recent Empower Network masters retreat, where 100 top earners each forked over $5,000 to attend.  Or, as it says in my members area: “Compelling stories from real people with extraordinary results that will shift you into making $10K, $50k and $100K+ per month for your best year ever.”
  Pros:
  • If you look at the real-world value, it’s an amazing deal.  You’re saving $1,500, plus the cost of airfare and lodging you would’ve otherwise paid to attend live.
  • Once again, the production quality is absolutely amazing.  It’s clear that a lot of money went into the filming, editing and producing of each individual video.
  • The content was a great mix of inspiration, individual stories, principles and actionable steps.  Something to suit every learning style, plus the content was extremely comprehensive (much like the $15k Formula).
  • I can personally credit a handful of strategies and insights I took away from this product that accounted for my rapid success here on Lazy MLM.  I’ll put it this way: what I learned in the Masters Retreat has already paid me back multiple times the cost of the original investment.
  Cons:
  • The massive price point will automatically make it unattainable for most struggling marketers.  Even though I think you can find a way to come up with the money, I know you probably won’t.
  • Not quite as action-oriented as the $15k Formula and a little more advanced, meaning, to really benefit from this material, I think you need to have at leastsome momentum in your current business.
  Summary:
  The Masters Retreat is a helluva course.  And it should be for $3,500…
  If you’re making sales, it’s a must-have.
  However, if you’re just getting started, I’d suggest waiting until you learn the basics before diving into the deep end.  This is the type of stuff that can take you from $2,000 per month to $20,000 per month; not zero to $2,000/month.
  Score:
  • 85/100 … the cost and accelerated material put this product out of reach for the majority of Empower Network members.  However, for the select few who’re ready and willing to invest, the value is off the charts.  And let’s not forget, owning this product allows you to resell it for juicy $3,000 commissions which don’t suck.

  Final Thoughts On All Products 

  From top to bottom, the Empower Network product line is pretty badass for 2013 and beyond.
  (Might as well describe it in “Dave speak,” right?)
  Seriously though, I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars in the past three years on my marketing education, tools, resources, shiny objects – you name it, I’ve bought it.
  The Empower Network products, for me, have surpassed the hype.
  I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much when I first made that fateful decision to go all-in.
  I was skeptical to say the least.
  I figured they were pushing a bunch of overpriced fluff just to supercharge their ridiculous compensation plan.
  I was quickly proven wrong.
  Now, from experience, I can say it’s not about buying a bunch of junk so you can resell it for 100% commissions and get filthy rich.
  It’s about next-level direct response marketing from some of the brightest marketers in the game.
  It’s about learning concepts and techniques that you can go and implement in any business you want – online or offline – to explode profits, reduce inefficiencies and maximize happiness.
  The fact that you then have the ability to promote each product for big ol’ commissions is just a very sweet perk.
  I’m grateful for everything Empower Network has given me.
  I’m proud to be all-in.
  And if you’ve got real desire and you’re not just some poser who claims you “want it,” I know you’ll feel the same way after investing in the Empower Network products.
  Oh, did I mention the cherries on top?