Well, we're down to the wire.  As I've written about before, I'm pretty impressed with the boys at StomperNet and their forsight in putting together the first big Social Marketing training that I've seen.  I jumped in on day one of the launch and was able to get in on some great fast mover bonuses.   

Here are a few things you should know.

• Don Crowther - lead faculty member of the SMARTS coaching program has already done two orientation calls answering questions.   The calls lasted over 90 minutes each!   These guys are NOT going to skimp on content or delivery.  Don't worry, the calls were recorded and if you join, you'll be able to listen to the calls and catch up.
• He's already given out multiple assignments to get us jump started. 
• The forum is hopping with well over a thousand posts, probably closer to two thousand already.
• Mastermind groups are already forming between the members.  These groups are forming based on business models and geography.
• Just the Video and SMARTS Strategy guide outlined TEN strategies you can implement today to begin increasing traffic and gaining momentum with Social Marketing.
• As a long time StomperNet member, I know first hand how good the content is in StomperNet, so I had NO hesitation that SMARTS would live up to their reputation.
• Social Networking and more importantly Social Marketing are really the way of the future.  If you have not seen the graphs yet showing how YouTube gets twice the traffic as Google, and how Myspace beats Google for traffic too.  And FaceBook is gaining ground and gets about as much traffic as Google now.  If you are not taking advantage of these huge traffic monsters plus the other hundreds of other social bookmarking, networking, content sharing and video sharing sites, you will be left in the dust.

That is exactly what I was afraid of.   Truth is that in my eCommerce niche, I don't see anyone doing this Social Marketing yet.  So for me there is clearly a first mover advantage.  But forget the advantage, I don't want to be left in the dust when my competition finally does figure it out.   My personal belief is that learning Social Marketing today is like learning Pay Per Click when it first came out.  It's going to be THAT important.

A few resources you need to check out before the launch is over at Midnight Friday January 19th, 2008. 

1. Scrutinizer Software
2. Smarts Video - you really need to watch this to understand just how important the social networks will be to your business.
3. Smarts Strategy Guide - a great follow-up guide to the video.  More stragegies are given that you can implement today.
4. SMARTS Sales page  - if for no other reason, check out the charts on the traffic and learn from how a big launch is done.  Use what you learn in your business.

Like I said, I'm already in the program and scrambling to apply the lessons already learned through the pre-launch and orientation materials.   And the program hasn't even started yet.  It does on Monday the 21st of January.   One more point.   Even though I know Brad Fallon and Andy Jenkins and I'm helping them promote - I'm a PAID attendee of the program. 

Deadlines:

• 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time - The price goes up by $600 bucks and a free extra two weeks of coaching dissapear.  Get in before 2:00 PM and get 12, not 10 weeks of Stomper Quality education.
• 12:00 Midnight January 19th, 2008 - StomperNet SMARTS registration Closes for good. 

StomperNet SMARTS Information Page

 So, read about it, make your decision and get in before time runs out.  And if this truly isn't for you, snag the resources above, watch the video and at least get started with the basics covered in the freebies given out so far.   Hope to see you on the inside.

Dan Buglio
SMARTS Attendee