What makes a business not just survive, but thrive in the long run?

It's a question that puzzles many, and one I think about a lot. Yet the answer is surprisingly simple and profoundly human...

HELPING others.

The business world is laden with examples of successful organizations whose foundations rest on this principle. Our entire business is built on this fundamental idea, and I want to take a few minutes of your time to explain why you should be focusing on this with every action you take within the online world.

Ready? Let's roll...

The Guiding Lights: Success Stories of Help-Centered Businesses

First things first, let's look at some real-life case studies, outside of course Wealthy Affiliate (and our passion for helping others)....which I will get to.

Let's look at a few stores here.

The story of TOMS Shoes is a compelling one.

Their one-for-one model - for every pair of shoes purchased, a pair is given to a child in need - not only redefined corporate philanthropy but also forged a unique brand identity. It allowed consumers to engage in a simple act of buying shoes and simultaneously contribute to a larger cause.

Patagonia, an outdoor clothing brand, has a similar ethos and one that has led to their success.

With their "1% for the Planet" initiative, they dedicate a portion of their sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. They have built a loyal customer base that identifies with their environmental stewardship.

And Apple, one of my favourite companies not because the fact that they are so successful, but how they got there.

They took problems that people had in their lives (technology), and removed the need to understand it to run some of the most sophisticated applications in the world. Their ability to HELP people overcome technical hurdles, and simplify process is what lead to their success...and is what will continue to lead to their success.

A Wealthy Affiliate: Help at the Heart of Our Ethos

Closer to the digital arena, at Wealthy Affiliate, we've etched the notion of 'helping' at the core of all of our operations. We were not built to merely provide a platform for learning affiliate marketing; we wanted to nurture a community, foster successful relationships, and build a support system that helps everyone succeed.

We feel we have accomplished this in many ways, but we are never "done". We can always get better in every way, and continue to improve our ability to help more people, and help them ore efficiently.

From our interactive live classes and boot camps to the insightful tutorials and blogs, our objective has always been to simplify the complex world of affiliate marketing for our members.

And now with AI, there is so much we can do to simplify process, and to help you succeed at a faster rate than ever. To remove complex tasks, to remove time-consuming tasks, and to blow away walls that have been built out of convention, we are continuing to innovate and evolve...and you are going to see lots of this as we move forward.

Our belief is that when one succeeds, we all do. Our longevity and growth are a testament to our core principle - helping first. And it's not just us. It's how successful long-term businesses are built, and that is something that you will hear me commonly emphasize here at WA.

Let's have a look at that, YOUR online business.

The Niche Narrative: Success by Helping

Let's look at an example of how an online business might shake out, for instance, an online business focused on organic gardening. Their mission - to help people live sustainably by growing their food.

How do they accomplish it?

Content is king, but its reign is approach to which the content is created.

Every blog post, every video tutorial, every how to they create is aimed at helping their audience navigate the world of organic gardening. Whether it's a beginner's guide to composting or an advanced strategy for pest control, their content serves one purpose - helping their audience succeed.

Their SEO strategy also revolves around helping. By optimizing their content for specific, relevant keywords (which are typically in one way or another, helping people solve problems), they make it easier for their audience to decide on a product they were wanting to review, to solve a problem they have, to understand a process, or to answer a question.

Engagement isn't just about answering queries.

It's about establishing relationships, building trust. The way they respond to comments, the personal touch they have within their content, and they way they feel like they are selflessly helping others.

Trust is key in critical to any level of success...and it is built through help.

Helping to Sell: The Trust Advantage

Trust is a powerful tool, but the predecessor of trust is always helping someone. When businesses prioritize helping over selling, they cultivate a relationship of trust with their audience. This relationship not only enhances their brand's reputation but also improves their ability to "sell". Customers are more likely to purchase from a brand/personality they trust and identify with.

And I always say that once you have trust, you no longer have to "sell" (which a lot of people really have a tough time with). You are simply making product/service recommendations to your audience, and recommendations that will further help them.

Helping others isn't merely a strategy; it's a philosophy. It's about putting people before profit and understanding that success in business isn't just about monetary gain, but the positive impact we can have on people's lives.

If you approach your online business that way, the profit and longevity will naturally follow.

When we make helping the basis of our business, we don't just build a company; we build a legacy.

Just my thoughts for today, would love to hear your feedback on this topic, and how you are going about building your business...and if you have some relevant stories to share, that would be awesome too.