One Thousand VARs and Counting

Business is good.

Last week we reached the 1,000 VAR mark, with over 400 of our partners entered to receive VARSearch leads. From 2003 through June 2006, we signed up a total of 400 VARs. In the last 90 days we've added another 600! With the increase in leads that we (me and the ShopforT1/Cognigen network of agents) generate, more VARs are being attracted to our program. And why wouldn't they? We're offering VARs free leads - they only pay us a commission IF the leads convert to actual sales, making this program 100% risk-free and 100% profitable.

Some people have asked me why I'm so infatuated with VARs. After all, we're in the business of selling T1's, right? Well, let me phrase it this way ... VARs represent over 50% of ALL T1 lines sold. Yup, their "scraps" amount to more T1 sales than ALL telecom master agents combined. The idea is to get this 50% of the market by getting VARs to submit T1 sales through OUR contracts. But first, you need to give the VARs a good reason to send their business to us.

That is where the idea of reciprocation comes in. The shear act of sending leads to VARs is a *guaranteed* way to establish relationships with VARs that last longer than 10 minutes. You take care of your partners, they'll take care of you. Sending leads to VARs will dramatically increase the likelihood of these VARs thinking of ShopforT1 when their clients ask them "what do you recommend for high speed internet or commercial phone service?"

Fact is, most of our VARs have never visited their http://var.shopfort1.com back office web site. They do not have any clue that they have access to real-time quotes from over 30 providers. One of the best ways to get them to see this incredible tool is to also house the VAR equipment leads that we send them in this same back office. They have to log in to see the customer's information - and I'm betting that many VARs will get curious and begin testing out GeoQuote. It won't take long for them to become as hooked on it as our agents are.

Lastly, last week we officially eclipsed our 2005 sales totals. In just 8 months we beat our entire 12 months of 2005 - which was a record year in and of itself. In fact, 2005 ushered in a new era of trophies and accolades for our program and our agents. 2006 is shaping up to be WAY higher still, with four whole months still left to go! Onward and upward!