Make Your Next Move Your Best Move - Now It's On You

Peace and blessings, Entrepreneurs! Never give up... Many people have a misconception of what failure is. Not those endeavoring to accomplish. Failure only occurs when you stop making an effort. Everyone wants to believe they have superior perception, incite, or perspective and often are not shy about telling you. I do not believe in failure. You give power to the things you believe in. So, I choose to believe in ownership & opportunity. And, over the last few years, I have been giving power to that belief. I did not give my focus to the beliefs of others. Also, after the first year and a half or so of starting this business, I stopped focusing on the things that were wrong and began giving my focus to adjustments in the efforts of success. Sometimes, distractions come in the form loyalties and obligations you take on. Because people are oriented into the workforce as a stage of life and a way of life, they often do not give you starting a business the same level of respect and...

Grabbing opportunities with open arms is often easier to talk about than to actually do. Most people find themselves dreaming about being rich but never actually doing anything about it. A combination of procrastination and 'what if' syndrome can cripple your creative spirit and might mean your idea will never become a reality. Socrates said "Action equals knowledge". What he meant was that it is through action that we achieve results. For example, you could think about learning Spanish for months, imagining the holidays you will take and the people you will communicate with. You can dream forever but accomplish nothing unless you actually make the effort to start taking lessons. Much like the martial arts approach - the idea is to take action immediately and avoid over analyzing the situation. Do you want to start your own business but are afraid of what kinds of things can go wrong? What if your initial investment doesn't pay off? There are millions of things th...

Are you thinking about setting up your own business? Do you have an idea for a new business but are unsure about how to proceed? If you have answered yes to either of these questions, this article could be of benefit to you. I am going to write about how to plan and create a successful small business. Many people are looking at ways in which they can become self-employed as they have had enough of being dictated to and fed up with long and frustrating commutes to work. They want the freedom of being their own boss and to be able to choose their own hours of work. Leaving a full time career can be a scary experience. The security of having a regular income and other benefits such as a pension can seem hard to let go. I am sure many people have opted to stick with this security and to merely keep their business plan as an idea, which they never see through or use. Other people are willing and happy to take the risk and see it as a way of getting out of the rat race. When you have an idea...

I was first introduced into internet marketing through an Internet Marketing course with Full Sail University. I still had no idea how to use the Google tools for marketing. According to Google Ads, all I needed to do to make any money was place adverts onto Google’s search engine and people would buy products and I would receive a generous commission. Simple, I thought,that is until you try it as an uneducated marketer. I lost more money than I made, but this can be quite normal for the beginner. I accepted the fact that I had lost money but vowed to continue looking for something that I could do. So, being curious about money making on the internet, I decided to investigate further. I came across many money making opportunities that promise this, that, and the other, which I am sure a lot of you have seen yourselves. Anyway, after a while I found an offer that I thought I could try out and see what happens without losing an absolute fortune. After starting a venture into i...

Understanding What a Virtual Assistant Can Do I hear the term "Virtual Assistant" more and more in business. Did you know that you could possibly hire someone from another continent that works while you sleep and maybe for $8 - $12 Dollars. The VA’s I have worked with either have complimentary degrees or a great deal of experience working for a variety of entrepreneurs and companies. With the growth of virtual assistants has also been a change in what it means to be a virtual assistant.  The industry has made distinctions between what it means to be a virtual assistant, and what it doesn’t mean.  When you are explaining your business to others, you want to make sure to keep this standard.  Here are 5 things you should consider in a Virtual Assistant 1. Professionalism. Does the VA answer her or his emails, voicemails and other correspondence in a timely and professional manner? Also, if your VA is communicating with other parties on behalf of your company, she or he shoul...

It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur—in the last decade, technology has leveled the playing field and propelled an entrepreneurial revolution. As an entrepreneur, you now have more access to information that enables you to make more intelligent choices more quickly. You have an advantage over big businesses in that you’re lighter, more flexible, and faster on your feet. You can target new markets more quickly, and you can turn on a dime. But being a successful entrepreneur requires that you look at the big picture and follow a plan through from beginning to end. Rieva Lesonsky, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine gives some practical guidelines that can help you when beginning your own enterprise: 1.Don’t Quit Your Day Job. Consider starting your business part-time, especially if it’s online, while you’re working and have a steady income. It usually takes six months to a year to get a business going and you don’t want your ability to make your house payment to hinge upon your c...

As an entrepreneur, you’re hardwired to enjoy a greater level of risk than the average person. But do you enjoy the thrill of business and investing so much that you’re willing to risk: -Being hounded by creditors? -Declaring bankruptcy? -Being denied a mortgage? -Paying more than your fair share of interest on your loans? -Losing your house? If you answered “no” to one or more of these questions, this may be the most important report you’ve read in a long time. Because, if you’re like most entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners I’ve met over the past 28 years, you’re in danger of facing all of these horrific problems. And it’s all because of your business. You see, entrepreneurs typically make one or more financially devastating mistakes when financing the launch, operation and/or growth of their businesses. In most cases, they don’t realize that they’re making a mistake. And to tell the truth, even when they do realize they’re making a mistake … they lull themselves into think...

What’s a Virtual Assistant? Virtual assistants are independent contractors or entrepreneurs who provide administrative assistance to multiple clients. Unlike regular assistants, they work out of their homes rather than at your business’ physical location. There are numerous advantages to using a virtual assistant: • Location. If you work from home, you don’t have to find a place to put an employee. • No Overhead. They provide their own office supplies, desk, computer, software, and phone lines. • No Benefits. They’re not your employee, so you aren’t responsible for paying social security or income taxes, holidays, insurance, vacation or sick pay. • Lots of Flexibility. It’s significantly easier to find a virtual assistant who can work evening hours or weekends—after all, they’re working from home. And you can give them more or less hours as your needs change. There are virtual staffing companies that match virtual assistants with small and home-based businesses who need help running th...

Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess these characteristics: 1. Self-confidence This is that magical power of having confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities. 2. Achievement Oriented Results are gained by focused and sustained effort. They concentrate on achieving a specific goal, not just accomplishing a string of unrelated tasks. 3. Risk Taker They realize that there is a chance of loss inherent in achieving their goals, yet they have the confidence necessary to take calculated risks to achieve their goals. Entrepreneurs are people who will make decisions, take action, and think that they can control their own destinies. They are often motivated by a spirit of independence which leads them to believe that their success depends on raw effort and hard work, not luck. So which of these three main characteristics is the most important? Believe it or not, it has to be self-confidence. Without self-confidence, nothing else is possible. If you don't...

By definition, a brand extension (product or service) should offer a different benefit and/or attract another market or market segment than its parent brand. Brand extensions seek to capitalize on the positive perceptions and associations of one brand, translating them to the new brand. For example, if customers associate safety with a certain company, they may infer that any product from that company is safe. Loyal customers of a parent brand may be more willing to try brand extensions. This, in turn, may decrease the cost of marketing the new product. The extension may strengthen the parent brand as well. Notice I keep using the word "may." Here's why: many brand extensions end up disasters, draining the marketing budget and diluting their parent brand in the process. In their rush to grow, even large corporations overlook the simple fact that brands should only be extended when the new product or service addresses genuine consumer needs and is based on accurate knowled...

I was speaking with a friend of mine recently, and we found ourselves on the subject of my website and ebook. I rambled on about how pleased I am with the way this project is going, and he asked me: "What got you involved with internet marketing in the first place?" I thought about this question for a second, then gave him an honest answer. "I got involved in this business because I was a sucker." We both had a good laugh at this. My friend laughed because my response caught him off guard, but I was laughing because what I said was true. You see, I came to the wonderful world of internet marketing without really understanding the art and science of  marketing. Sure, I had been a bit of an entrepreneur for 15 years now, and even been self employed a few times, but I had no real idea of how to effectively promote a product. I was drawn to this niche by the residual effects of too many infomercials and "get rich quick" ads sent to me by email. I admit it... ...

Let’s look at what the experts advise. By the way, while these tips sound bizarre -- they’re real nuggets, so stay with me: 1. Be an authentic liar. 2. Be your own valentine. 3. Fight bull. Here’s how these successful experts connect with the marketplace – and you can too: Be an authentic liar. In his latest book, All Marketers Are Liars, Seth Godin explains “the power of telling authentic stories in a low-trust world.” Mildly unsettling at first, he makes the case that our buyers are actually the ones who are lying. To themselves. About why they want to buy from us. Successful marketers are just providing the stories that our buyers choose to believe. But here’s the rub: you have to really live the story you’re telling. The second a potential buyer smells anything less than complete dedication to what you’re selling, you “cross the line from fib to fraud.” It’s simply not good enough to have a good story. You have to live up to it as well. If you’re a cobbler with no shoes, why should...

Good morning, Entrepreneurs! Support can come in many forms. A lot of people come to me expecting free services because I have helped many people in their journeys to accomplish their goals. However, I now provide "free help" in the form of this blog. A conversation is considered consultation. You get the benefit of about 2 decades of research and trial and error. So, for those of you who are looking to benefit from free business advice, read the blog regularly. You can even search it for what you are looking for. You can also check out the FAQs on nowitsonyou.com . From now on, every inquiry will go through the process that any prospect goes through. Calls will start being handle by my assistant. I have produced results for clients, friends, and family which exceeds $250,000 in the last 3-4 years alone. Sometimes, I help people who do not want to publicize their endeavors. However, I have produced results for a security company; a lab transport company; multiple artists an...

Sometimes it's good to have a casual day, you know? For that matter, it doesn't hurt to even take a day off once in a while. I work really hard at building my business and keeping it in order. Honestly, I almost never take a day entirely off. But you know what? I don't mind (most of the time) because I love what I do (again, most of the time). Sure, any form of work gets redundant at times or gives a sense of monotony. That's to be expected. I just couldn't imagine choosing a business that I didn't really like. The world is full of J-O-Bs that are just a total disappointment. Trust me; I've had lots of them over the years. But it makes no sense to me at all to invest my time and money building an enterprise unless it's something that I truly, totally, and completely want to do. Maybe you still have a part-time or full-time job, and are just working your business on the side for now. If so, I commend you for having the dedication to come home after a ful...

Are you ready to kick off a marketing campaign that will increase your sales?  Whether you're ready to create a web page, sales letter, or other sales copy, take a moment to ask yourself these important questions before you dive in. 1. Who Do You Want to Target? Is your prospective customer an avid outdoors-man who likes to hike?  Know exactly who you are talking to before you start.  Once you know the characteristics of your ideal reader, it's much easier to create a dynamic sales message that will address their interests and needs.  Talk directly to the reader, and watch them respond. 2. What Action Do You Want Your Reader to Take? Not all advertisements are intended to spur immediate sales.  Are you looking for a list of prospective buyers, first time inquiries, or direct sales?  Word your sales copy to stimulate the action you want the reader to take.  3. What Do You Have That Your Competitors Don't? Before you can expect your audience to head out ...

When you think about how to attract more clients for your professional services, are you playing checkers or chess? You're playing checkers when you... * Attend a networking event and expect it to generate business * Invest thousands of dollars in direct mail and expect prospects to eagerly call about your services * Treat your vendors poorly by not paying them on time or not communicating with them in a timely manner * Misunderstand the differences between advertising, PR, and promotion - and what they can and cannot do for your business * Underestimate how important it is for you to address your clients' PERCEIVED need (i.e., what THEY think they need) vs. what you know they need You're playing chess when you... * Understand that there are right clients and wrong clients for your business, based on where you want your business to be in one year, two years, five years - and that your definition of "right" will change over time * Consider what the right kinds of c...

The fundamental nature of PowerPoint makes it an ideal selling tool. You have a group of people, stuck in a room, listening to a speaker for an extended period of time -- anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour or more. This enclosed environment exists only for the presenters to sell something, whether it is a product, a service, or an idea. However, many presenters, especially those with a corporate interest in mind, fail to capitalize on that environment. Think about it. You have a hundred people in a room. They are all listening to you, but they are also watching the giant screen behind you, staring at the messaging, absorbing the graphics. Make the best of their fixed attention by creating brand reinforcement in every slide. ---------------- Using Your Brand ---------------- "Brand" is admittedly an ambiguous term. It encompasses and summarizes everything about a company that makes them unique, better and memorable. Elements of the brand can be broken down into various b...

Most of the Internet Marketers seem to think of website promotion as just submitting to search engines, directories, link building and advertising in ezines or banner exchanges. It is a known fact that most people in the world use most of their time off-line. They read newspapers, magazines, listen to radio and watch TV, talk with their clients, friends, neighbors and family. Not all the time is spent surfing on the internet. To ignore the value of off-line marketing is to leave 65-70% of the money to be made from your websites on the table. Some suggestions for creating an off-line advertising/publicity campaign are : Let your local papers know ( you can purchase a press release from our SEO affiliate ) that you have a unique product/service that will benefit the local community and you are able to help them save time, learn more and be more effective in their daily lives. This could lead to an interview with a local reporter or even with a national program with your website as a feat...

I am constantly asked the following question: “What should I put on my content sites?” They are asking about our Autoblogging strategy where we recommend creating content sites and pushing the traffic to create income streams. Here are some things to consider putting on your content site: 1. A Resource Directory Resource directories provide visitors with resources relative to their search inquiry. Though it is not always the case, these directories are also Link Directories. According to Merriam-Webster, a directory is an alphabetic or classified list . Yahoo actually got it’s start as a resource directory. They are now one of the top visited sites on the entire internet. The search engine ranking data (http://www.RankingFactors.com) shows that outbound links are still a positive ranking correlation factor (even though so-called SEO “experts” moan about PR leak and other such nonsense). However, in this " ever-changing SEO industry " (and according to Moz ), the quality of t...

At a retail store in Hernando not long ago, the owner and I exchanged business cards. I looked at his logo, and he studied the name on my card. "I know that logo. We've been in touch in the past," I said. "That's right. I know your company name," he said. Although we weren't able to pinpoint when or why we'd exchanged mail previously, we guessed it had been at least five years back. Neither one of us remembered any details. Rather, he had created a distinctive visual identity for his store, and I had devoted effort to linking my name with creative marketing. For at least five years his look and my reputation had lurked in the other's memory banks, while thousands or hundreds of thousands of other business identities had come and gone without leaving a significant trace. Why? Memorability. It illustrates a key element of successful branding. What is Branding? Branding is the process of creating distinctive and durable imprint in the minds of consu...

The appeal of great market research data often fades after it's presentation because companies don't know what to do with it. The central issue is linking your new and terribly interesting research to your own customer and prospect data.  Fortunately there are straightforward ways to get to market segmentation and break the pattern of mass marketing that leads many companies to “also ran” status.  We call this reverse segmentation and it can create legends in the business world. Here's how reverse segmentation works.  Almost everyone has a customer database and knowledge of vendors who can provide lists of prospects.  We can use data commonly found in these databases to develop market segments.  For example, using data from a client's customer list, you can use income, education, and marital status as the basis for segments. Once these segments are formed, you can psychographically profile each segment using new market research.  The key was that the market...

If you’re looking to maximize the return on your marketing costs ("[marketing is not just an expense], it is an investment" - Lisa Sasevich ), then you need to develop an integrated marketing campaign.  An integrated marketing campaign uses more than one medium to communicate a message to your audience.  Integrated marketing can also mean a marketing campaign that leverages the power of different media types to move prospects through the process of becoming a customer. The most successful marketing campaigns begin with the media type that particular prospects use regularly.  For example, if your competitors have a higher percentage of success with direct mail than with email marketing, targeting the same market segment, you could leverage that information to your benefit.  Studies have shown that individuals who fall within this consumer segment spend a lot of time opening and reading their mail.  That being the case, you want to make sure that your first contac...

As a company with long – term goals of development you should know what your customer wants. Without it you will hardly manage to build a good service for your clients. So, what are the clients’ present expectations? No matter who is your consumer? Anyway he/she is the highest authority for you, whose opinion is a law for you. One of the best definitions of “a consumer” belongs to Mahatma Gandi, many leading companies owe their primacy to these simple postulates: Consumer is the main person in your office. He does not depend on you. All of us depend on him. He is no hindrance for our work. He is the target of our work. He is a part of our work. We don’t do him a favor serving him. He does us a favor giving us such an opportunity. The trite phrase “Client is always right” – this is the credo of any marketing – oriented company aimed at success. It can’t be otherwise. So, what are the clients’ present expectations? They want to feel secure and relaxed. In everything. A student purchas...

Although on the books, marketing is an expense, it’s really not when you stop and think about it.  What do you need to do to generate sales?  You have to let people know what you do and what you can offer them.  It’s called marketing. So when times are tough, why would you stop using your main resource outside of referrals to get more money in the company? With that in mind, forget what your accountant labels marketing as, you have to treat it as an investment. Allow me to go further on the subject to clear it up. In accounting, sure, marketing IS an expense.  But here's what happens when marketing is viewed purely as an expense: You think of marketing solely as an expense.   When business gets slow, many people cut marketing.  Now you are letting less people know about your products and services.  Results:  You get even less business. If you think of marketing only as an expense, the odds are, your marketing is nowhere near as effective as it ...

One of the greatest problems that businesses face is getting the pricing strategy right. This article explores the three key factors all companies need to consider when getting this vital element on target. Missing only one of the three can have disastrous consequences. As with everything, it does not take rocket science to get this right, however one slip, could seriously damage your bottom line. The three factors, equally weighed are as follows: The value that your customers put on your product and service (" Perceived Value "). Take a look at our article from 01/30/2018, Your Web Site's Success Are You A Perceived Expert Will you make a profit ? What your competitors charge for the same or equivalent (some use this pricing strategy based almost entirely on competition's prices. This is a common error. But don't take my word for it... ) Understand that competitive pricing is one strategy that involves many factors. Check out this article here . So ho...

Most businesses invest in marketing and advertising each month but overlook another vital investment that they are already making. That investment is their employees. I've said before that your employees can make or break your company, and recently I ran into a very pinpoint example of that fact. I was on the telephone with UPS trying to track down a shipment that had to be intercepted so that we could get it to a client sooner. I spoke to a woman at UPS about this and she took all the necessary steps to make it happen. After two hours had passed and I had not received a phone call saying where we could meet the driver to get the packages, I called UPS back. This time I spoke to a gentleman who seemed to be new. He insisted on telling me all the reasons that this could not be done. Fortunately I had dealt with this situation before and knew that it could. After a great deal of frustration I ended the call and called back, this time speaking with another woman. This woman was o...

I thought I would clear up some misconceptions about marketing in this two-part series: What Marketing Can Do For You and What Marketing Can't Do For You. This issue is about what marketing can’t do. While there’s no question a solid marketing program can increase your business, it can’t fix everything. Below are 5 things marketing can’t do for you: 1. Marketing alone can’t make you an overnight success. Just because you start a marketing program doesn’t mean you’re immediately going to see your business explode. Marketing is about getting your name in front of your target market on a regular basis until they finally decide to give you a try. On that note, if you’re in trouble right now – sales are down, a new business isn’t getting off the ground like you planned -- depending on how bad the trouble is a marketing program may not be enough to save you. A successful marketing program needs time to work and more likely than not, a little money as well. If you’re panicked about one (o...

I thought I would clear up some misconceptions about marketing in this two-part series: What Marketing Can Do For You and What Marketing Can't Do For You. We'll start with the positive. Over the years, I've had dealings with some business owners who have a rather skewed perception of marketing. They think you throw a few ads out there, get a couple of press releases printed and voila! You’re a big success. Oh, if it only were that easy. (Although if it were, I probably wouldn’t have a job.) But there's no getting around that to have a successful business, you need a solid marketing plan. So what CAN marketing do for you? Increase your business – no question about it. You need to be marketing if you want to grow your business. However (and this is a really big however) marketing is NOT going to result in overnight success. Marketing is about slow growth, building on last week's success and forgetting about last month's failures. (Or what you THINK are failures. I...

Market research is a crucial starting point for any business that seeks to target a particular niche market. The equation is pretty simple: if the interest in your product is low, you won’t make enough sales to keep afloat. One of the keys to success is planning ahead – seek out a ready and willing market that will buy your product before launching a marketing campaign. The internet offers the start-up business industry a lot of tools for market research, so there’s no excuse for not taking advantage of the available information. It gives you access to a wider range of consumers than you would normally be able to reach. Your target market doesn’t have to be defined by geographical location – instead, you will likely be targeting a group of people who share a similar interest - as well as other characteristics. A lot of online market research is conducted through three avenues: the web, email, and newsgroups. The first is perfect for checking out the competition. It pays to be informed...

An effective logo/tagline combination can be one of the best ways to successfully brand your business. But you don't have to take my word for it. Do any of the phrases below ring a bell? See if you can identify which companies each of the following taglines belongs to. You'll find the answers at the end of the article. But before you read ahead to get the answers, take a few minutes to test the power of taglines yourself by naming the brand each of these top-ranked taglines belong to. 1) Have it your way 2) Is it in you? 3) The quicker picker-upper 4) Just do it 5) It's everywhere you want to be 6) Drivers wanted 7) When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight 8) Finger lickin-good 9) Because I'm worth it 10)Let your fingers do the walking So what exactly is a tagline? When it comes to marketing, one of the most powerful tools you can use to build your brand is a tagline or slogan. The two terms are pretty much interchangeable. I...