Running Your Own Race

Running Your Own Race

by: Elena Fawkner

There was an article on the front page of the Los Angeles Times Friday that caught my eye. The headline was "Small DotComs Thrive While Industry Giants Melt Down". Here are the opening paragraphs …

"Beneath the chaotic dotcom busts of the last halfyear, an overlooked breed of Internet companies mostly small and nimble is thriving.

"They have no public stock, no Super Bowl commercials, no milliondollar product launch parties, and no naming contracts with professional sports stadiums. Their small size has allowed many to weather a storm that has quickly taken down hugely stupid, profligate and unlucky internet firms.

"This yearกs grim portrait of the Internet economy has largely been painted by bigmoney Wall Street nose dives such as those by Priceline.com, Drkoop.com and Etoys.

"By contrast, the mundane dotcom survivors are small operations with few employees that have trudged along, slowly but steadily, in a parallel universe that more closely resembles the socalled Old Economy."

Well, gee, no kidding. Finally the dust begins to settle and the resulting landscape resembles, well, something suspiciously like the real world. And WE, the "mundane dotcom survivors" are the ones trudging along in a parallel universe? I think not. Weกve always been firmly rooted in the real world. Itกs the "hugely stupid, profligate and unlucky [and whatกs "luck" got to do with it?] internet firms" that were always living in a parallel universe of their own imaginations.

So whatกs the lesson of the great internet shakeout of 2000? Itกs this: just run your own race. Forget about what the socalled mega dotcoms are doing. They’re not operating in the real world, they’re in some la la land where venture capital is a (for now) bottomless pit and the bottom line doesn’t seem to matter. Yet. Whatกs the future for such businesses? They’re destined to bite the dust! I don’t care how much money they have at their disposal, sooner or later they have to pay the piper. There is NO successful business model on earth that doesn’t, at some point, require black ink on the allimportant bottom line.

So, don’t stress out over what your megacompetition is doing. Look to your niche and focus on that. Ever tried emailing one of those mega sites? I have. You get autogenerated responses. No such thing as personal service. And how could there be? They’re in a parallel universe, after all, where such things as basic customer service are delivered by autoresponders, not real humans.

For you and me, the "mundane dotcom survivors", the trick is to focus on *business* and not get caught up in the hype and swirl of The Internet. We understand that the internet is but a tool at our disposal, not some mystical plane where you can afford to throw out antiquated "old economy" principles such as the fact that revenues must exceed expenses in order to make a profit.

The LA Times article profiled a small dotcommer who is thriving despite the so called "meltdown". A soleemployee business, this entrepreneur "turned her idea for a couponclipping Web site into a profitable business by keeping expenses low". Fancy that. Keeping expenses low. What an epiphany. The business took a year and a half to turn a profit with expenses of around $800 a month. It has remained in profit ever since, generating a salary of between $75,000 and $125,000 a year for its owner.

Even more startling is the fact that "the vast majority of Internet companies have never seen a drop of venture capital or had a public stock offering. Of the about 10,000 dotcoms in the United States, fewer than 500 have publicly traded stock. Only a quarter have received venturecapital money, depending instead on money from more patient private investors, their own checkbooks and credit cards or remarkably company revenues."

Fancy that.

About The Author

Elena Fawkner is editor of the awardwinning A HomeBased Business Online … practical home business ideas, resources and strategies for the workfromhome entrepreneur. http://www.ahbbo.com

This article was posted on January 20, 2002

by Elena Fawkner

The Working Case Study

The Working Case Study

by: Christine Taylor

Next to white papers, case studies are the most popular tool in the technical marketerกs toolkit
The ubiquitous case study can range from a 3 paragraph online snippet to a fullblown magazine article. The most popular case study in the marketing/PR arsenal is the 500700 word success story. They’re not as challenging to write as white papers, but you should structure them for maximum impact.
Different companies use different structures for their case studies, but all should follow the same general pattern: 1. Company overview and challenge 2. Project details 3. Positive results (of course)
Customer Overview and Challenge
Start with a 23 paragraph overview of the customerกs company. This should be very positive since you’re going to detail a problem the customer was having, the last thing you want to do is make them sound like jerks. So compliment them. Feel free to adapt the overview from their own Website text, where they’re already placing themselves in the best possible light.
Then move on to the business challenge. Don’t make the customer sound stupid or incompetent. The challenge should always be centered on something good that is happening to them fast growth, industry prominence, strategic IT changes whatever. Their challenge should be applicable to your readersก own business issues.
Project Details
No project goes perfectly, but save the debriefing for the longerform trade journal article. These short case studies should report on the successful project by briefly discussing specific products and benefits.
Don’t go all over the map. If the project is fairly narrow or specific, you won’t have any trouble sticking with the main point. In the case of large and complex installations, concentrate on the main point. For example, Microsoft Great Plains has more modules than you can shake a stick at. Concentrate on the ones that had the most positive impact on your customer.
Business Benefits
Always quantify improvement when you can. Numbers can be dollar savings, percentages, or other measures of saved staff time, more efficient workflows, better customer service, etc. Be sure that the benefits you list are the benefits the customer perceives hard costs are most easily quantified, but soft costs may have the higher perceived benefit to a customer. Ideally you will list both.
When NOT to Write a Case Study
What are the most common blocks to partnering with a customer for a case study?
1. Your customer is really unhappy. Theyกd do a case study all right, but you wouldn’t want them to. If you’re the hapless individual setting up the initial interview, be sure that the customer really is happy and is open to talking to you. Otherwise theyกll just give you an earful. Fix: promise the customer that youกll pass on all of his comments to the technical support team, or whoever you think will best handle it. Then do it, and forget about it.
2. Customers who fear their market will punish them. Prime example: legal firms with security issues. Sure you helped them through a security project and now they’re Fort Knox, but they don’t want their clients to dream that a problem ever existed in the first place. Fix: Forget it. Theyกll never give you permission to produce the study. Besides, they’re probably right.
3. Your customer is an exacting IT type who is suspicious of the success story format. This customer considers the project a success too, but they dislike purely positive spins and no project is perfect. Fix: If they are happy for the most part, get a buyin that the project really was successful. Don’t put him off about the negatives, capture those comments too and promise to pass them on. (Then do it.) This is usually enough to secure the interview.
4. Your customer is scared to be interviewed. This is usually the IT guy who did all the footwork, and prefers to stay behind the scenes. He (or she) will either be too nervous to talk, or will despise you because he doesn’t think youกve got the technical chops. Usually both. Fix: Understand the technology you’re interviewing about. You don’t have to be an engineer, but you should understand IT pressures and issues. Ask leading questions, but if they clam up and won’t talk, thank them and hang up. Tell your customer contact that you’re so happy you got to talk to the technician, and now could you talk to a project manager too?

About The Author

Christine Taylor is an expert copywriter for the technology industry. Call her today for help with your white paper, trade journal article, case study, positioning document, or any other B2B marketing piece. Call 7602496071 or email her at [email protected], and start that white paper selling!

This article was posted on July 07, 2004

by Christine Taylor

Don’t Bite the Hands That Used to Feed You

Don’t Bite the Hands That Used to Feed You

by: Denise Hall

When we begin working online we have no idea how to get visitors to our website, let alone actually make a sale. We start to read everything we can get our hands on to learn as much as we can.

We subscribe to newsletters, sign up for free reports and buy eBooks and courses offered by those who already make their living online.

They know how to start and promote a business and they’re willing to show us. We follow their lead as they guide us into the world of Internet marketing, teaching us what they know each step of the way.

There are many wonderfully helpful people in the Internet business world. Not only do many of them provide help along our journey, but they also become our friends.

Then there are the ones who กhit the big timeก and leave their friends behind. They suddenly think they’re too good for those who haven’t yet reached the same financial status. They’re hobnobbing with the กbig guysก now and don’t have time for us. Our names aren’t in the same social class as theirs anymore.

Excuse me, Mr. กIกm a Millionaire now.ก Wasn’t it กlittle guysก like me who helped you make so much money? We bought your ebooks and software programs. We became your affiliates and sold your products, putting even more money in your pocket.

(By the way, if you’re so rich, why didn’t you send my last commission check? Iกm still your affiliate even if you don’t acknowledge me as your friend anymore.)

We looked up to you and we appreciated everything you did for us. Most of all, we were your friends. Suddenly we’re not good enough for you?

You should never forget where you started and how you got where you are now. The hands of your former friends and other กlittle guysก put food on your table and clothes on your back.

To the people who remain ‘realก and true to their friends, I say ‘thank you from the bottom of my heart.ก Without all of you, most of us wouldn’t get anywhere.

I haven’t yet struck it rich, online or offline, and maybe I never will. But even if I do, Iกll never forget my humble beginnings and the friends Iกve made along the way. They’re much more valuable to me than money.

About The Author

Denise Hall is the owner of Home Business on a Budget which specializes in tools and resources for your home business needs. Visit http://www.homebusinessonabudget.com today. Subscribe to Home Business on a Budget Newsletter for weekly articles, tips, information and resources. Subscribe at http://tinyurl.com/36e5s today.

If you would like to receive her new articles when they are written, please mailto:[email protected]

This article may be reprinted in its entirety with this resource box included.

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 28, 2004

by Denise Hall

Sorting Through the Good, the Bad, and the MLM Ugl

Sorting Through the Good, the Bad, and the MLM Ugly

by: Andre best

You know, if thereกs a surefire killer of a beginning networker, itกs the old deal where the new networker wastes so much time finding the right folks to sponsor.

As you are well aware, the key to building yourself that lucrative residual income is not only to get yourself those required retail customers but also to get yourself that downline group of folks. And it all starts with your sponsoring efforts. Itกs your biz after all.

So lets quickly cover what most, and I mean the vast majority, of new networkers do when they’re first sponsored…

It really can be summed up in a few words…

They spend too much time talking with the wrong folks and not enough time talking with the right ones. Or not talking to the right ones at all.

Simply put, most networkers find someone to approach about their new business. It doesn’t matter how that person is approached.

Be it through the 3foot rule, postcards, phone calls, the phone book, advertisements, approaching someone on the street. Whatever.

The key here is that beginning networkers find someone in their sights and they fall into the trap of not letting that person go regardless of whether they are probably a complete waste of their prospecting time and money.

Why does this happen? Good question.

Well, it happens because that is an integral part of human nature. We don’t want to let up on a possibility until we absolutely know that that possibility just isn’t going to give us what we want. In THIS case a good person to sponsor.

Regardless, even for some of us, even though we know this person isn’t the right person to sponsor, we still won’t let go. Thereกs something about going through an experience as sometimes hard as networking, and doing it in numbers makes it easier.

Letกs look at it from a reallife perspective…

We find ourselves talking with someone on the phone. We just met this person since they’re from our coldmarket. This person sounds like a good person to send a big package of info to, but we just aren’t quite sure. We don’t know if we should thank them for their time and hang up the phone, or if we should indeed send them that big package, at our expense, and see what comes of it.

If youกve been networking for a while, even as a beginner, youกve probably been here. And if you haven’t, read closely.

So what do we do?

We decide to send out that big package that in the end cost us around eight green ones.

We’re thinking… กI don’t know, she just sounded so good and she seemed to say some of the right stuff and oh well, what the heck…itกs only eight dollars.ก

And what happens a week later as we’re still trying to get a hold of that person after our fourth phone call to them and our three previous voicemails haven’t been answered?

The answer?…Nothing.

That person flaked on us.

And what do we do?

We scratch our head and tell ourselves that we don’t know what happened.

‘that person was not a good prospect, but they looked sooo good, I just don’t get it.ก

We continue to wonder and then just chalk another one up to experience. We’re eight bucks lighter, a little disturbed about all that happened, and then we just ever so slightly beat ourselves up for not knowing that that person would flake on us like that. We should กknow betterก we tell ourselves..

Next time we กwon’t let them do that to usก.

And what happens next time?…

The same thing all over again.

Now letกs get into the meat of this insight.

~~~~

Why is this happening?

Well, there are several reasons. And yes, unfortunately, you’re one of them.

Now don’t zone out on me yet. NO reprimands or browbeating here. This is a familyfriendly insight. 🙂

YOU’re the reason only so far as you are a beginner in this whole game and you haven’t yet discovered this weird fact of human nature.

What fact? How should I put it so as not to insult folks who fit under this category. Hmmmm…

Oh well, Iกm brutally honest at times so here goes…

People are flakes.

Not you, just those other folks. 🙂

People will lie to no end to put a stop to something that they don’t feel comfortable being an active participant in.

Be it a relationship.

A J.O.B .

A date with someone.

A sales pitch.

You name it.

People don’t do that to be mean. They just do it to end their pain with the situation. Itกs not about YOU. Itกs about them and their uncomfortableness inside themselves.

Remember that.

But the aspect that IS about you is that fortunately you can learn some new behaviors with and this will foster a new growth in your business. And at the same time keep those hardearned bucks of yours where they belong. In YOUR pocket. Or purse.

Iกll explain.

You see, basically there are three types of socalled prospects that youกll come across in your sponsoring efforts. And during your prospecting.

~~~~

There are those folks who are asleep. What are they asleep to? Simply put…life.

They’re dead inside. They’re walking zombies. The blood is coursing and the skin is warm but nobodyกs home. These are people who wouldn’t know a good opportunity no matter how nice it sounded.

Why? They’re not interested.

In fact, they don’t even know that they’re not interested. They don’t have any thoughts in their lives about doing a home business. They don’t have any thoughts whatsoever about doing MLM. Thereกs just nothing there. They’re asleep.

They’re dreaming of riches yet oblivious to what can really get them there. These are the folks who scream at you to กget me off that damn list.ก

Or they say something along the lines of…

กI don’t remember responding to that.ก

กIกve heard of MLM. Isn’t it one of those pyramid thingies? Doesn’t everybody loose money but the one on the top?ก

กYeah sure, that sounds okay but I have to go because the news is on the television.ก

กNah, I don’t care if you’re giving away money. Iกm not interested.ก

กSure, send me some info and Iกll get back to you.ก

กDo I have to spend money? I don’t want to spend too much.ก

กHow much will it cost? I only have a few bucks to spare this week.ก

กWhy do I need more money? I have enough. The rent is overdue, but Iกll get it somehow. The kids can skip eating for a couple of days right?ก

THESE are the folks who are asleep in life.

Stay away from them. The minute you smell them or sense their presence or hear their snoring…move on. Quickly.

Theyกll waste your money, your time and your life. Apologize to them for waking them up and continue with your prospecting efforts.

~~~~

Okay, the next type of prospect youกll come across….

This type of prospect is just waking up. They’re kind of between the space in life where they’re not quite asleep and yet they’re not quite awake to the world.

They’re still rubbing sleep out of their eyes. They’re yawning, and trying to orient themselves to whatกs happening around them. They may be somewhat confused but they’re letting their minds wake up to the world around them.

Are they alert and fully with it and raring to go? NO.

Are they willing? Perhaps, but itกs hard to tell.

You can’t really tell who they really are when they’re awake because they aren’t there yet. They’re still trying to figure out what they should be doing and where they should be going with their life that day.

Think about it. Isn’t that the way you are when you first wake up? Iกm talking about those first few seconds on that day when you jolt yourself awake and have to ask yourself what day it is and should you be heading off to work or sleeping in again.

Weกve all been there. Itกs a very confusing state to be in. Not quite asleep and not quite awake.

So, who are these folks who are in limboland? Or should I say lalaland.

Letกs hear what they say and do.

กSend me the info and Iกll think about it for a while. Call me in a week.ก You call back and they haven’t watched the video yet. This goes on for several weeks to no avail.

กI haven’t gotten the time to listen to that tape yet. Iกve just been so busy you know. This week was especially hellish. Call me again in a few days.ก

กYou called me last week? I don’t remember you, can you tell me what this is all about again?ก

กI DID sign up with the company, but they’re telling you I didn’t? Hmmm, thatกs strange…ก

กIกve been thinking about a home biz, but Iกm just not quite sure if this is what I want to be doing.ก

กI did MLM before and it didn’t work. Why should I try it again?ก

กI got my desk straightened out this week and Iกm getting ready to get started.ก

กCan you call me back at a better time? Perhaps in six months because Iกm right in the middle of this other deal that might pan out for me.ก

กI really like the way the products sound but Iกm just not sure if I should be doing this just yet. I don’t know…ก

Are you beginning to see the types of things the prospect who is just waking up sounds like and does? They’re on the fence and don’t know which side they want to step down to. They can’t figure out exactly what it is they should be doing for themselves right now. They’re still getting ready to get ready.

Are they potentially bad prospects? No.

Will they do something someday? Maybe.

But unlikely.

But let me ask you, do you have the time with your limited eight to ten hours a week to work your biz to find out if they have what it takes to be a superstar? Or even maybe become a retail customer of yours? Most of us don’t.

But this is where most networkers get stuck. They stay with these folks and hang onto them for dear life. Because, กhey, who knows they just might turn into that next diamond I need to qualify for the next level in the comp. plan.ก

Right? Hard to let go of them. There is that whole bit about hope after all.

And so then what do most networkers end up doing with these folks?

They chat.

They discuss stuff every week.

They become friends.

They learn about each others family, lives, jobs, and such.

But no one is working their biz and sponsoring folks and retailing products.

Lots of friendshipping stuff going on here. But that isn’t why you joined MLM is it? You joined to make money, didn’t you?

Most people agree.

So, letกs move on to the last type of prospect youกll come across.

~~~~

This type of person is one who is fully awake to life and the world surrounding them. They’re out of the slumber zone and they’re moving through life. Sleep is nothing but something that needs to be done in their lives. They’re out there ready to greet the day and raring to go.

Get out of their way กcause they have a mission in life.

They’re truly full of life. They know where they’re going and honestly nothingกs going to stop them. Theyกll figure out how to get what they want in life. They work hard on themselves. And they work hard at what they set their minds to. They aren’t afraid to try new things and take risks. They believe in themselves and take necessary risks. Fear is only a feeling to them. Itกs not real and it doesn’t stop them on their journey through their wakeful state in life.

These people are about as far from sleep as you can get and theyกve long ago wiped the sleep from their eyes.

They’re awake and going for it.

You can’t say the wrong thing to these folks. And these are the folks you NEED in your biz.

What do these people say and do?

กSure I can do that. Just tell me what to do and Iกll do it.ก

กIกve already placed an order for the products even before I first talked to you.ก

กI wanted to see how they worked with me so I just had to get on them.ก

‘this sounds awesome to me. Iกm in.ก

กWhat do I do next?ก

กCan you tell me more about what this is about? Sounds very interesting.ก

They call YOU.

They reach out to YOU.

They’re energetic. Alive. Full of spirit and foresight.

They sponsor folks in your business.

Theyกve sponsored folks in past businesses and for whatever reason are looking to start fresh again.

They’re coachable and willing to learn.

They just do it. All that it takes.

They’re noncompetitive but instead resultsoriented.

They have an attitude of personal success in life almost an aloofness about their actions.

They care about others, but won’t let other peopleกs limitations and hesitancies stop them from getting what it is they’re after.

~~~~

Okay, now we know all about the three types of folks you could possibly run into during your prospecting efforts. Lets summarize the ones you should be focusing ALL of your time on.

Obviously, the people that are asleep are better left just that way. Asleep.

Don’t waste your time on them. Sound callous? Maybe. But you’re in biz, remember? You want that elusive residual income don’t you?

Well then, don’t waste your time on these business deadweights. Leave them alone to continue sleeping.

As for the oneกs that are waking up….

They too should be mostly left alone. Don’t ignore them or write them off right away. Feel them out. See what they do. See if their actions match their words. See if they’re everything that they say they are.

See if they get into action. If they don’t, put them out to pasture. Don’t be mean. Don’t write them off forever. Just put them on your กcall in six monthsก list. If they’re still in that same slumber state then, than DO tear up that contact card. Let these people sit on that fence. You go build your business to success and lead by example.

If they ever wake up then they can call you. In the meantime youกll be building your business. You won’t be waiting for them but youกll be available WHEN they’re ready to start and ready to follow through.

Finally, we’re left with the only group of folks that you SHOULD be spending your time with….

The ones who are awake to you, your opportunity, and what you have to offer with your products and your biz.

Get to know them. Find out who they are. Introduce them to your upline and your uplineกs upline. If THEY haven’t already done so!

Stick with them. Give them what they need and then get out of their way.

These are the folks you’re in business for. They’re why you have to get the sifting and sorting process down to a fine science. You can then sit back and look at what fell out of the sifting funnel you put all those prospects through. These winners.

You need to get yourself so tuned into these three types of folks that you can spot those who are sleeping and those who are waking up within a few seconds of talking to them or seeing them. After a short while they become so obvious and you then know exactly who you should be spending your precious time with.

You see, as you know this is a game about building yourself that big downline that everyone talks about. Since you’re going to be a parttimer from the start like most folks you only have a limited amount of time to really work the biz. You don’t have time to waste.

Sure, go ahead and get your feet wet learning the ropes. But after you’re through that stage, youกll discover that if thereกs one thing that you don’t want to be wasting itกs your time. And secondly your money.

Remember, the sleeping and the vast majority of the waking up business parasites will suck you dry before you know it. Thatกs why you have to be a smart sorter.

Keep looking for your กdiamonds in the rough.ก Sort through all those insignificant grains of sand that aren’t awake to the world. Do this until you find that pearl.

And when you find that pearl, believe me, youกll know it. Youกll be thinking to yourself that this personกs too good to be true.

Youกll not only be listening to what they say but youกll also be seeing their actions match those words because they’re wide awake. Itกll be so exciting itกll almost be scary. But youกll know that you have a ringer that you need to focus all of your efforts on.

That is, until they tell you to get lost and just let them get to work. Stop cramping their style and move on to finding that next diamond.

And remember that old saying…

กYou can’t say the right thing to the wrong person. And you can’t say the wrong thing to the right person.ก

Get out there and find out whoกs right for this business and whoกs not. Find the folks who are awake like you are.

Remember, you didn’t have to be sold on network marketing, did you? You knew a good thing when you saw it because YOU were wide awake. So, go out there and look for others like you. They’re there. Your mission is to find them.

You deserve at least that much with your burgeoning MLM business.

I hope this insight was helpful with your business efforts.

About The Author

Andre Best is the owner of http://www.IsMLMForYou.com a generic MLM resource site offering over 400 printed pages of unique information for struggling and beginning MLM/network marketers.

Authorกs permission is granted to share this full article with others.

This article was posted on October 03, 2004

by Andre best

The Real Key To Happiness, Peace of Mind, and Mass

The Real Key To Happiness, Peace of Mind, and Massive Internet Success

by: Rick Miller

Do you know the secret that allowed 100% of the top Internet Marketers to become successful?

Amazingly though, even if you read all their books, attend their seminars, or even ask them in person, youกll probably never discover the one true secret of their success.

Why?

Because they probably don’t even know themselves …

They’re too caught up in marketing techniques. They may be totally unaware of why almost everything they’re involved in becomes a success.

Would you like to know their secret?

Listen closely:

All truly successful people live in alignment with their passions … they’re fulfilling their purpose in life. They’re living their own dreams.

The famous theologian William Barclay once said, ‘there are two great days in a personกs lifethe day we are born and the day we discover why.ก

Most people, regardless of religion or lack of religion, instinctively feel that thereกs a higher purpose to life … and that if they could determine their mission in life, theyกd be much more happy and satisfied.

Once you start to follow your passions and mission in life, the Universe (God or Nature, depending on what you believe) seems to start helping you achieve your goals, often by presenting startling opportunities for you …

In a recent interview with Janet Attwood, she revealed a remarkable tool thatกll help you quickly determine your purpose in lifeThe Passion Test.

The simple test, a series of probing questions that you ask yourself, will quickly help you identify your top passions, whatกs really important in your life.

According to Attwood, ‘the numberone reason people don’t get what they want isis they don’t know what they want.ก

Once you discover your passions and align your life with them, success comes quickly and automatically.

Whatกs more startling, she found that every single highly successful person whoกs taken the test (Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield, T. Harv Eker, Dan Poynter, to name a few) already are accomplishing their top passions.

Undoubtedly knowing your passions speeds up the path to success.

Most importantly, she also revealed ways to help you realign your life to help you follow those passions.

The one key ingredient in reaching any goal or accomplishment is that you must totally love and enjoy whatever you are wanting to appear in your life.

It has to be your dream, not someone elseกs.

Do you really want a million dollars or would you rather have someone to love and be loved back?

Do you want that mansion or would you rather travel and not be tied down to any geographical location?

Only you can decide …

After taking the Passion Test, I was profoundly changed in the way I view my life.

For me, I discovered that my number one passion is gaining dynamic health, my number two passion is improving myself, and three is mastering the guitar.

I realize now that Iกve put those desires on the back burner while I worked totally on survival goals (you know, making money and dealing with lifeกs obstacles).

With that in mind, itกs clear to me that Iกve missed out on a lot of joys that accomplishments in those areas would have brought me.

So I have a lot of work ahead of me to bring my life back into alignment with my most important passions …

Maybe itกs time I do something with the domain name that Iกve owned for several years (and done nothing with) thatกs focused on health and selfimprovement.

What about you? You owe it to yourself to discover your passions. Itกll help you in all areas of your life and in your Internet business.

Copyright 2004 Rick Miller

About The Author

Rick Miller is a Certified Master of Web Copywriting and cofounder of List Crusade. Weกve arranged scholarships for 50 of our readers to get the audio lesson with Janet Attwood for free, along with 26 weeks of training from Jay Abraham, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Joe Vitale, Robert Allen, Dr. Robert Anthony and other top selfhelp/wealth gurussimply visit: http://www.ScientificInternetMarketing.com/attwood.

This article was posted on December 05, 2004

by Rick Miller

10 Ways To Generate Highly Read Article Ideas

10 Ways To Generate Highly Read Article Ideas

by: Andrew Cantrell

1. Participate in chat rooms related to your targeted audience. Watch what questions people are asking and ask others what information they’re interested in.

2. Examine what information in being broadcast on tv, news and talk shows. That information is usually hot topics.

3. Hang out in similar message boards. People leave questions for information they’re seeking. That is a strong indicator of subjects to write about.

4. Survey your web site visitors or current customers. Ask them what type of articles they would like to see published on your web site or in your ezine.

5. Regularly check your siteกs guest books. People sometimes leave questions or comments that would help you generate high readership articles.

6. Check online bookstoreกs best sellers l.ist. They’re very good resources for finding w.inning topics and ideas to write about.

7. Use the time of year to come up with good topics. You could relate your content to the holiday, season, things that happen years ago during that time, etc.

8. Join some related email discussion lists. Explore the question being asked and the subjects people are discussing.

9. Relate your article to a current fad thatกs going on in your specific industry. The topic is usually interesting to your target audience.

10. Make a file of visitor or customer questions you receive via email or phone. Usually, others have the same questions, but never ask.

Quote of the Day:

กMaking a million dollars is the simplest thing in the world. Just find a product that sells for $2000 and that you can buy at a cost of $1000, and sell a thousand of them.ก Jerry Gillies

Warm regards,

Andrew Cantrell

http://www.zipzoombiz.com

*COMPLETE* Money Making Site Setup FREE!

http://www.zipzoombiz.com/pips.html

About The Author

Andrew Cantrell has helped thousands of ordinary people succeed with their own internet businesses. Check out his site and make sure to join his free newsletter on how to earn residual income.

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 29

by Andrew Cantrell

Great Games Youกve Never Played

Great Games Youกve Never Played

by: Chris Campbell

Do you know what you’re missing?

Some of the best computer games ever made are likely games youกve never heard of. Created by individuals and small companies working in relative obscurity. They don’t have million dollar budgets, some don’t even have hundred dollar budgets. They don’t have dedicated marketing departments, research analysts, sales teams, fancy offices, and cutting edge tools. They scrape together whatever tools they can, often discarded by the ultra rich game designers of big shiny game studios.

Making Miracles.

In spite of these deplorable working conditions, they create some of the most amazing games around. How do these game gems get created, and who are the miracle workers creating them. They’re independent game designers. Sometimes called Indies for short. Working out of their bedrooms, garages, spare offices, and basements. They have a passion for what they do. They love games, they love the act of creation, and are relentlessly committed to their vision of what a game should be. They often build games they themselves would love to play. Simply because no one else will. These kind of games you won’t find at the big box electronics store casting itกs shadow over your end of town. These passionate Indies could care less what the marketing boys up on the 26th floor have to say about the latest game trends. Probably because their garages don’t have 26 floors. They just know their love of games, and how much they enjoy playing.

Where do Indies come from?

Indie game developers come from all different areas. They’re often former artists, programmers, or designers of some big name software companies. Maybe that quiet little programmer in that tiny corner cubicle dreams of being an Indie one day. Tired of the corporate rat race, and looking to express themselves creatively they become Indies. Some of been lucky enough to avoid the corporate avenue altogether and make a living doing what they love from the beginning. Regardless of their origins, they all have the passion and desire to create. To be able to put their name on something really great. They want to be recognized for their abilities and worth. But more than that, they want you to play their games, and have fun doing so.

Why are Indie games so good?

Indie games are good first and foremost, because they’re fun. Itกs a game after all, and if itกs not fun from the get go, then whatกs the point. They’re also highly original, sometimes mainstream funny, sometimes just weird funny, sometimes morbid, sometimes creepy, and sometimes just downright gross. But, thats OK. Games should be a departure from the everyday. They should make you think in different, fantastic ways. So many big name games are just rehashed ideas done a thousand times before. Another sequel of the same old games from last year. Indie games are adventurous and risky. Indies take chances and devote their time to making something unique. So, take a look around, and try a few, till you discover the one that matches your own bizarre and fantastic interests.

About The Author

Chris Campbell, is that quiet little programmer in the tiny corner cubicle harbouring dreams of an Indie life. He likes to surround himself with his gaming masterpiece and those of other Indies at his website http://www.SunAndGames.com.

This article was posted on January 31

by Chris Campbell

How to Make Money From Your Book And Get Massive P

How to Make Money From Your Book And Get Massive Profit Before You Finish Writing It

by: Eo Lim

You can generate instant income from your book instead of waiting till you complete it.

There is a way to do it. However, this method may not suitable for all.

One way to get into profit immediately is by strategy of On Peopleกs Money.

I bet most of you already know how instalment on car or house loan works. You get your car or house upfront. And, you must pay it every month.

This is simple to understand.

But, what if it is the other way round?

It works like this.

You gain a lump sum of money selling future contract of your service without having to render it completely now.

The trick here is to make money selling your product upfront and deliver it over a period of time.

By doing this way, youกll have better cash flow for business operation.

How to make it work in your book?

Write and sell one chapter at a time.

Turn the chapters into newsletter issues and sell them at much higher price.

A completed book is usually distinguished by consumers as less valuable than paid newsletter.

Such strange behaviour happens all the time. The longer time it takes to fulfil a product, the higher the perceived value is.

Such mentality is the same to people buying car or house on credit. Theyกll stay with the program until full ownership is transferred to them. It is like a wonderful dream they’re chasing after at.

And, theyกve no choice but to fulfil the credit agreement. Otherwise, it can turn into their worst nightmare.

In this case, situation works against book publisher.

If you know you pay a lump sum of money upfront for monthly solid information, would you wait until you earn back your investment?

Or, you would rather buy a book straight.

I know youกll definitely choose the monthly information.

Let me tell you why.

Most consumers don’t want to miss such product delivery. They’re not stupid.

If publishers take the money upfront, they’re also aware of legal agreement. They must render full service faithfully till the end of contract. Otherwise, customers may request for full refund.

This money making strategy works against publishers. But, it can work against customers if you can deliver your promise.

In fact, many business experts make tons of cash selling through this product format.

Imagine youกve already done 12 chapters for your book.

You could sell these in 12 separate issues for about $9.95 to $14.95 each. A 12chapters book may only fetch a value of less than $49.95.

Do the calculation now. If you sell 12issues newsletter, you already make $119.40 upfront!

The newsletter subscription may be the hardest thing to sell. Nevertheless, it depends on how you exploit the advantage of it.

One simple yet powerful trick is to give 12 issues as bonus. People will buy this deal upfront. The additional 12 monthly issues are just icings on the cake.

Youกll be sending to your customers every month for another 12 months. It means you have the opportunity to sell more backend products. Thereกs no need to spend extra money to generate new leads.

Many entrepreneurs have built at least $200,000 or more per year income stream with only a few simple, short reports at the beginning. At the end of each report, thereกs always an offer to more products. The customers will probably bite on at least one offer as well.

This business has a million dollar a year potential. It can be started in less than a week. And, the reports are usually about 5 pages or more. Unlike sales letter, they’re easy to create. One report can be written in just a single day.

Can you see the potential now?

Thatกs how you make money on other peopleกs money in the Internet.

About The Author

Eo Lim has helped many businesspeople succeed online using the revolutionary P.E.R.F.E.C.T. writing formula. Visit his site to find out how you can get a free consultation: http://www.EoLim.com

This article was posted on November 09, 2003

by Eo Lim

7 Crucial Elements of Visitor Friendly Websites

7 Crucial Elements of Visitor Friendly Websites

by: Peter Lenkefi

Approximately a decade has passed by since the birth of Internet commerce and online service users and shoppers have grown up.

They know what they’re looking for, they know where to get it from and they grab it in an instant. They’re in and out of your virtual shop in a second. They’re fast and furious…especially if the can’t find what they were looking for.

So how can we make them stick? How can we make them coming back?

Well, here are 7 crucial elements which can significantly help to solve this basic problem if applied properly.

1. Consistency in layout and navigation

According to multiple online surveys visitors prefer sites where pages have a white background, and the colour text is black. Consistency in navigation is a must.

People get used to the navigation system on your web page very easily. During their multiple visits they are looking for the same navigation points, and if they can’t find them where they were at their previous visits, they get confused and leave.

Use the same colour scheme all the way through your pages. Try to match colours and design your pages simply but tastefully. If you are not a designer type, don’t be shy to ask for help or to purchase a simple predesigned template.

Nowadays lots of sites offer beautifully designed web page templates. They can be easily modified,handled and tailored to your needs.

2. Clear Copy, More Sales!

Try to be as clear as you can. Don’t use jargon or complicated expert language. That would definitely scare your visitors away.

Highlight benefits but also show features if necessary. Write from the heart. You need to show your visitors that you are an expert, and also an authority. In other words, they need to feel that you know your stuff.

3. Fast Loading pages

Stay away from image heavy design, use text navigation and if your sales copy or page happens to be too long, break down your pages into small tables. This will significantly speed up your web pages loading time.

4. Headlines, taglines, logos : Brand It!

Use shorter headlines or calls to action on every page if possible.

Headlines will make your visitors read further down your copy.

Use taglines all the way through on your pages to brand your site and highlight your unique selling proposition.

Show your logo on each and every page to give a better chance to further brand your product, service or company.

5. Personal photos, addresses, phone numbers: Build Credibility!

Online commerce is a faceless process. People still pretty reluctant to pull out their credit card and give you a buck or two. You need to ease their reluctance as much as you can.

The easiest and fastest way is to put your company address and phone number onto each and every page. That would immediately show that they’re dealing with a real company or person.

Put up a about us page and upload a personal photo of yourself.

That will definitely build instant credibility.

6. Audio greetings and customer testimonials.

With nifty little audio tools now you can create a short audio greeting and put it up to your web site. The human voice will significantly build more credibility ands help to turn visitors into buyers.

Collect testimonials from your previous customers and put up the best ones to you web pages. New visitors will see that you have been in business for a long time and made dozens even hundreds of people happy with your products or services.

7. Be available and answer enquiries promptly

Whenever you receive a customer enquiry via email answer as fast as you can. Fast prompt enquiries will convert to sales very soon and will separate you from the lousy pack. Collect generic enquiries write up the answers and put up a page as your FAQ center.

Copyright 2005 Peter Lenkefi

About The Author

Peter Lenkefi is the cofounder and CIO of Australia/USA/Hungary based online marketing consulting firm http://www.WebFoxMedia.com, the home of the Online Selling System. Peter and his team have helped dozens of small online business owners to get their ventures off the ground fast and on budget

This article was posted on February 19

by Peter Lenkefi

People Are Not Interested In You Or Your Company

People Are Not Interested In You Or Your Company

by: David Rosam

Does your Web site talk about your company? Yes, I know, itกs your company Web site! But the last thing it should talk about is your company.

Yes, Iกm sure you’re all cool, interesting people, with fantastic skills, but trust me, thatกs not what you need to lead with on your Web site or mailing or brochure.

*The bigger the corporate, the less likely they’re even going to blink an eyelid*

Thereกs a lot of truth in the picture of corporate person under siege. I probably don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to get through to people in companies any more. But they’re not just hiding behind voice and email because they can. They’re often just too busy to respond.

So the same applies to your mailshot or brochure, or when they visit your Web site. They don’t have time to wade through reams of material that doesn’t tell them how you can *ease their pain*. How you can solve their problem or the one their boss has placed in their hands.

*Tell your readers something they need to hear*

Telling people กwe’re the leading Megacorp Platinum Reseller in the South Westก, doesn’t cut the mustard. Hit your prospects with what they need to know right away. What problem can you solve? How quickly? And *if* itกs relevant how your product or service does it.

I was taught to think of most prospects as being like car buyers. They want the glamour and good feelings, but aren’t interested in the gudgeon pins!

So you should be clear in your own mind how much you have to say to move the sale along. Later on, if they’re really interested, theyกll want to know about your company. So put corporate information near to last.

Your prospects will read about you and your company when the time is right.

About The Author

Hijacked some time in the 80s by a Parisbased advertising agency, David Rosam cut his teeth on writing for IBMกs EMEA division. Since then, he has written copy for small and medium enterprises through to global brands such as Microsoft, Oracle and Hewlett Packard.

Davidกs direct mail experience rolled itself on to the Web a decade ago, and now he writes online copy, Search Engine Optimized copy, direct mail, brochures and newsletters as well as consulting to a number of individuals and companies.

He now publishes Technology Marketing Tips see http://itcopy.com/tmt.html

[email protected]

This article was posted on September 08

by David Rosam