METHODOLGY

Introduction to Total Relationship Marketing

Total Relationship Marketing (TRM) is a membership company built on a simple yet powerful truth: success is rooted in relationships. No one achieves greatness alone — we grow, thrive, and succeed through the connections we build and nurture.

At TRM, we specialize in working with small and mid-sized businesses, helping them expand their reach, strengthen their networks, and achieve their objectives through purposeful relationship-building. Our unique approach transforms networking from a transactional activity into a strategic and symbiotic process.

Two Key Roles in TRM

Our system is designed around two distinct but interconnected roles:

Executive LINKS (Entrepreneurs): Business owners and sales professionals who are actively seeking growth, clients, and meaningful opportunities.
LINKS (Influencers): Professionals, connectors, and community leaders who have influence, credibility, and broad networks that can open doors.

By working together, Executive LINKS and LINKS form mutually beneficial partnerships. Each provides value to the other — entrepreneurs gain access to new opportunities while influencers, strengthen their reputations as trusted connectors and earn FINANCIAL REWARDS when successful.

Why It Matters

In today’s business landscape, success isn’t about who can shout the loudest or spend the most on advertising. It’s about trust, credibility, and authentic connections. TRM provides the structure, coaching, and systems to help businesses and sales professionals:

Build trusted networks of partners and advocates.
Generate high-quality referrals and introductions.
Create long-term relationships that lead to shared success.

Total Relationship Marketing isn’t just a business strategy — it’s a philosophy of growth through connection

Total Relationship Marketing: Empowering Your Success Through the Power of Relationships

Success is not just about working harder. It’s about working smarter—by building powerful, symbiotic relationships. Total Relationship Marketing (TRM) is here to help you do exactly that. Developed by David G. Edstrom, TRM is a membership company and proven system that turns everyday business interactions into endless opportunities for growth. It consists of four components implemented in three (3) PHASES.

The Goal: Endless Opportunities, Unlimited Potential

Imagine a business development strategy where your next customer is just one referral away. With TRM, that dream becomes reality. By harnessing the power of word-of-mouth marketing, we ensure that every referral is a stepping stone towards more customers, higher sales, and unmatched success.

Why is it so effective? Because giving is the key to receiving. When you help others succeed, you unlock doors to your own success. The TRM method builds on the understanding that the more you give, the more you get back.

The TRM Methodology: Simple, Yet Profound

There are four (4) components to the Total Relationship Marketing, which are implemented in three (3) PHASES discussed at the conclusion of this overview. The foundation of TRM however, is that Relationships lead to results. We build relationships between executives sharing the same market to share IDEAS, INFORMATION, RESOURCES and REFERRALS. This process is called the LINK System which turns the theory of Six Degrees of Separation into REALTY.

COACHING

Why Coaching Matters
Coaching turns potential into progress. It gives you clarity on your goals, keeps you accountable, and pushes you beyond your comfort zone. A coach sees what you can’t, builds your confidence, and helps you take consistent action. With the right guidance, you don’t just grow—you accelerate success. Coaching begins with the POP7 Assessment which is intended to identify strengths, weaknesses and inherent characteristics to determine fit. Our purpose is increase performance by focusing on skills, attitude and especially effort. Our objective is to build new habits becoming a self-manager and do those things everyday that unsuccessful people refuse to do. This is called the ADMISSION TICKET.

COACH TYPES

1 – NETWORK COACH (NC) – an Executive LINK and business coach who is responsible for ON-BOARDING new members as well as training and other coaching.

2 – MARKET COACH (MC) – a well connected executive from a specific target market who coaches Members to achieve objectives within that market and promote referrals.

3 – AFFILIATE COACH (AC) – an Executive LINK and independent business coach.

4– PLAYER COACH (PC) – a PLAYER COACH is a NETWORK COACH who is available for field work. An Executive LINK can interact with a PLAYER COACH in three ways: 1- if at the same event receive coaching at no cost 2 – upon request, attend a specific event and represent the Executive LINK to facilitate LINK meetings, or 3 – retain the PLAYER COACH to facilitate LINK LUNCHES with executives in their target market. This can reduce 6 Degrees of Separation to 1 or 2 Degrees. PHASE 1 – 3

In some situations, an Executive LINK or business owner may not have the time or interest in the networking process and may elect to retain the PLAYER COACH to facilitate 1 degree relationships. A RETAINER FEE is agreed upon based upon expectations, but there are typically no guarantees of new business. An Executive LINK can refer the PLAYER COACH to contacts who may need and want this level of service, and if successful receive a Financial REWARD from the PLAYER COACH. This meeting is referred to as the Letterman LUNCH, not to be confused with David Letterman. EXAMPLE: If a PLAYER COACH retainer is $1,000/month, a referring LINK could receive a FINANCIAL REWARD of $2,400 over the 1st 12 months depending on the % agreed to to by the PLAYER COACH.

THE MILLION DOLLAR FORMULA SEMINAR

The Million Dollar Formula Seminar teaches 100 key professional networking secrets, referred to as COROLLARIES each valued at $10,000 hence, the name. Attendees learn how to attend the right events attended by executives in their target market and turn idle chatter and chance encounters into business opportunities, opportunities into contacts, and contacts into multiple opportunities, through the development of business relationships referred to as LINKS. This training is key to the LINK System and unlocks the secrets of Six Degrees of Separation and is taught during the ON-BOARDING PHASE 1.

The LINK System

The LINK System implements the Million Dollar Formula and begins the process of turning Six Degrees of Separation into REALITY. The LINK System saves time, money, and frustration by making every connection purposeful and productive. We do not conduct weekly network meetings but rather periodic social events to foster relationships. There are numerous networking groups to join and all serve a purpose. Our purpose however is to provide a networking methodology to find others who share the same target market, and do not compete with each other to share ideas, information, resources and referrals. Any member of TRM can use the system to refer an EXECUTIVE LINK and receive financial and other rewards when successful. Non-members can use the system as well, however financial rewards are not available, and ONLY EXECUTIVE LINK members can be referred through the system. This is a marketing methodology not to be confused with a typical network. That said, the overall objective is to build relationships with 12 executives who share the same target market and meet with each other monthly for a LINK LUNCH to develop symbiotic relationships. When you attend networking events, these are the people you need to meet!

Six Degrees of Separation

The theory of Six Degrees of Separation is discussed during PHASE 1, suggests that every person on earth is connected to anyone else through no more than six relationships. In other words, your next opportunity is rarely more than a few introductions away. Attend events, especially those attended by executives in or close to your target market. That said, business events in general provide the opportunity to MEET contacts who may be prospects for Executive LINKS, but most importantly LINKS and Executive LINKS. The key is to understand the purpose of attending any event, but it’s never to sell.

How the LINK System Makes It Real

The LINK System takes this theory from possibility to practice. Instead of waiting for chance encounters, TRM helps you build intentional LINKS—trusted connections who commit to giving and receiving referrals. With structured requests, financial rewards, and accountability, six steps can shrink to just one or two.

The process includes TARGET MARKETING, MARKET ANALYSIS, SKILLS TRAINING (Including the MILLION DOLLAR FORMULA and Sales Skills training) and a custom Total Relationship Marketing Plan (TRMP) providing an implementation blueprint.

The LINK System is available to Members of Total Relationship Marketing

MEMBERSHIPS

Membership fees may change from year to year, however, they are grandfathered from the date of joining.

1 – Executive LINKS (EL) – are entrepreneur members who both GIVE referrals and GET referred. When they GIVE a successful referral, they receive a FINANCIAL REWARD issued by the business being referred. When they GET referred which results in a sale, they issue a FINANCIAL REWARD to the referring member. FINANCIAL REWARDS are designed by each Executive LINK and posted in advance. Membership Fee 2026 $200/month or $2,000/tear

2 – LINKS (L) – are influencers who GIVE referrals to any EXECUTIVE LINK, and receive a FINANCIAL REWARD when successful, however anyone can give a referral simply by obtaining a unique link on the REFERRAL platform. The referrer could be a friend, contact, even employee. Membership Fee 2026 $30/month or $300/year

3 – AFFILIATE (A) – are influencers who GIVE referrals but may not be LINKS, currently exceeding 100,000 members. Each week a REFER ME NOW promotion for each EXECUTIVE LINK, is sent to all Affiliate Members, who then determine if they have a match and give a referral.

TYPES OF NETWORKS

Unlike most networks, TRM enables members to reach across network boundaries to facilitate business relationships utilizing it’s unique referral system. A member of any NETWORK can GIVE a referral to any EXECUTIVE LINK or GET a referral from any other member. Any EXECUTIVE LINK can join or build a specific TARGET MARKET NETWORK. A NETWORK is owned by an Executive LINK who receives incentive compensation based upon the performance of the NETWORK. NETWORK INCENTIVES – Specifically 20% of new and renewing membership fees and 10% of FINANCIAL REWARDS received by members of the NETWORK.

1 – SIX DEGREES – is a NON-EXCLUSIVE NETWORK of executives. A TRM SIX DEGREE NETWORK includes LINK members, a NETWORK COACH for on-boarding new members, training and coaching. Onboarding includes but is not limited to the following: Project 100, Target Marketing, Market Survey, Networking skills, 6 Degrees of Separation, The LINK System, Referral Platform, and the Total Relationship Marketing Plan (TRMP). Membership 2026 $300/moth or $3,000/year

2 – ONE DEGREE – is an INDUSTRY EXCLUSIVE NETWORK targeting a specific market. An EXECUTIVE LINK can join or build a ONE DEGREE NETWORK. A ONE DEGREE NETWORK can also be built by a MARKET COACH who is an experienced executive and well connected in that Target Market and serves to provide coaching and referrals within this market. In some cases, a NETWORK COACH and MARKET COACH can collaborate. Members of a ONE DEGREE NETWORK should meet with each other one-on-one each month to build strong symbiotic relationships to freely and routinely refer each other to their contacts and customers within the target market. Membership 2026 $300/month or $3,000/year.

3 – NON-PROFIT NETWORK – is a NON-PROFIT organization which has formed a LINK Ambassador program. The NON-PROFIT will introduce an Ambassador LINK (AL) to a donor continuing the mission of the NON-PROFIT with the purpose of acquiring referrals to others who look like the donor. The AL then redirects the new potential donor to the NON-PROFIT for development. When the Executive LINK receives a successful referral from the NON-PROFIT, the NON-PROFIT receives a FINANCIAL REWARD or contribution. In addition, the Non-Profit will receive referrals from all TRM members. Membership 2026 $300/month or $3,000/year and is waived as a Like Kind Gift.

REFERRALS

The Total Relationship Marketing methodology includes a REFERRAL component. Not just any referral but a Promoted and Incentivized REFERRAL. Referrals are made by custom referral templates for each Executive LINK including 2 types: 1 – LINK builder to build a network of LINKS from new contacts, and 2 – REFER ME NOW to promote products and services. When a REFER ME NOW referral is successful, the LINK who gave the referral receives a FINANCIAL REWARD. Example: 20% of Annual New Business Credit (ANBC, also referred to as margin). CLICK HERE to see an example of the referral process which includes the following steps:

Determine the Executive LINK you wish to refer
Select who will receive the referral
Select how you want to make the referral (Email, text, other)
SEND

Click HERE to PREVIEW the PROCESS. When a referral is made several notifications are made including a notice sent to the Executive LINK being referred with detailed information.

On the main menu find a link titled NETWORKS. When accessed you will see below to search for a specific NETWORK including members of the NETWORK. If you have a prospect for an Executive LINK, but do not yet know that LINK, click SCHEDULE LINK MEETING to get started.