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

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... ...

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...

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...

Have you ever walked into a store in your town, and been addressed by name? This has probably happened to you at stores that you frequent often. The shop owner knows your name, and uses it. He remembers you, and he wants you to know that he cared enough about you and your business to remember you. In the offline world, this is just one aspect of customer support. Customer service like this is almost impossible to achieve on the Internet, but some semblance of it can exist when you personalize your autoresponder messages. Autoresponder messages can be set up to address people by their first or last name – or both. In fact, there is quite a bit of personalized information that can be added, depending on the autoresponder that you are using. The information is included in the autoresponder messages by using codes. Each autoresponder will use different codes to insert the information in your messages. You simply write your message, and put the codes where you want the personalized inf...

If you’ve looked at the prices of autoresponders that are available online, you may have decided to search for and use a free autoresponder for your marketing needs. Using free autoresponders is acceptable in certain situations, and in the world of Internet marketing, any autoresponder is better than not using an autoresponder at all! Your first option for a free autoresponder should be the one that comes with your webhosting account – if you have a webhosting account. These autoresponders can easily be set up through the control panel of your website, and they do not contain advertisements from the autoresponder company or webhosting service. If you do not have a hosting account, or your hosting account does not include autoresponders, there are other options that you can pursue. There are many free autoresponder services to choose from. These services are free, because the company makes their money by placing a small advertisement in each message that your autoresponder sends out. Th...

Well, do you? If not, how do you have time to run a profitable business? By profitable, I am not just talking about money. I also include time to do what you want in profitability. Time is money right? I am going to give you golden nuggets of time management wisdom that I personally use. To qualify that these actually work...I utilize all of these methods personally every day! Use them in your business today! 1) The foundation under the blocks of your time management is your mindset. You must set your mind : focus ; intent ; perspective ; and, of course, your aim . 2) The first block is your culture . This is what you are doing, almost naturally (second nature), on a day to day basis. Our personal culture dictates much of what is to come - or is a big part of creating what is to come.  3) The next block is how you schedule the activities you do day to day. In the past, I thought it was sufficient to merely schedule my commitments based on their level of priority. After a while, I ...

People love to have access to things that other people can’t get. It gives them a sense of exclusivity, and it is a marketing tactic that really works. Granting access to secret pages works well on the Internet. It works best when it is limited. For instance, you can grant access to only a lucky few, or you can have a time limit for accessing the pages. You can grant access to secret pages on your website with an autoresponder. The way this works is quite simple. You create a directory on your website that is password protected, with one login and password that everyone can use. You then create some valuable content for that directory. You can call this your secret vault or your private stash or anything else you want to call it – as long as it sounds like something that your visitors may really want to get their hands on. For instance ‘the secret tools that helped me earn thousands each month’ would probably entice many people who want to learn how to make money. Once you get the dire...

If it seems that everybody is making boatloads of money online and you're missing out, fear not. There's plenty of time left for you, and the greatest part about it that it's not very difficult. Strategic Tip #1: Plan to work hard. I know, this goes against everything you hear but deep down you know that nothing worthwhile is easy right? You also know that getting anything done quickly just takes more work. Even cleaning out the garage, yeah you could take your time and get it done over a weeks time, or else you could work your butt off and have it finished and be sitting right back down on the couch watching your favorite reruns. To get things done quicker you just have to put in the extra hard work, but when the checks start rolling in, all your work will be worthwhile. By the way, if you do things right, one of the beautiful things about the internet is that the work you do today will pay off for months and hopefully years after. Just like that clean garage you’ll have. ...

Use these powerful yet simple tips from the national best-seller, "Secrets of Power Marketing: Promote Brand You" - the first guide to personal marketing for non-marketers.   Create and grant an annual award.   Send hand written congratulations and thank you notes.   Send greeting cards for some occasion other than Christmas.   Send postcards when you travel and even when you are at home.   Give a good book to special clients. Always sign it with a positive message.   Build relationships with the media before you need them.   Associate with winners - attend awards functions.   Build and maintain a database of clients, prospects, and key influencers.   Earn certifications and win awards from your associations - and tell everyone.   Ask happy customers to write testimonial letters for you.   Recruit your suppliers as marketing agents. They work for free.   Join and be active in your chamber of commerce.   Write...

Despite what the ad copy on most MLM sales pages tells you, this business is NOT easy. While everyone has their own learning curve, it generally takes a tremendous amount of solid planning and hard work to realize a profit with network marketing. A big problem in this business is a lack of honesty. I’m not talking about scam artists or crooks here. I’m talking about the inability of individuals to be honest with themselves and realistic about what they want to achieve. You may be an affiliate marketer who wants to build big in opportunity systems that are owned by other people. Or, perhaps you are someone who wants to sell your own products and services. There is good money to be made with either path. Personally, I believe the intelligent use of both affiliate programs and products that you own is the best approach to making money in the network marketing niche. But before you continue with this train of thought, I’d like you to take just a couple of minutes to consider why you are he...

The internet today comes with promises of wealth and fame. This allows many to dream of riches and notoriety. The opportunity is out there but the fact is that most people don't have a clue how to get there.  So many think that they can achieve this prosperity by just showing up. Unfortunately, that is not the way this ball bounces. Is there a simple answer? I don't think there is a single simple answer, yet how to be successful on the internet is pretty basic. You have to be willing to work. Work at what you may ask? First thing is to work hard at learning everything you can about your chosen field. I would suggest you read about and study the people who have had success in the past. There is an endless supply of knowledge floating around out there and you want to read as much of it as you can - systematically and with purpose. When I first started trying to make a living on the net, I thought I was wise enough to do it on my own. It sure didn't take long to figure out tha...

Do you want to know what it takes to successfully market a web site and generate repeat sales? It's simple really. You must position yourself as a perceived expert. It doesn't matter what product or service you are selling, this same premise will hold true. What is a perceived expert? Good question. Gone are the days where you could build a simple company web site, list your products and send customers to an order page. New web sites are sprouting up like blades of grass and competition is intensely fierce. The bottom line is this: why should a customer buy from YOU? A small but growing number of small business owners have discovered the answer to this question and are kicking your butt. How are they accomplishing this? By positioning themselves as an expert in their industry and using their web site to communicate that fact to potential customers. How can you become an expert too? Offer your potential customers an education to compliment the product or service you are selling....

Last year, a customer of mine opened a Mexican restaurant.  The unique aspect of the restaurant is that not only is the  Mexican food authentic, but the employees are all from Mexico as well.  When you walk through the doors, you feel as though you’ve stepped into the culture of Mexico. Six months later, this same gentleman opened up another restaurant on the other side of town.  What was the secret to his immediate and amazing success?  ...he found a natural market.  No one can simulate a natural market.  People who are not Mexican go to get the cultural flavor as well as the good food, customers of Mexican descent go to enjoy the experience of home. What Defines a Natural Market? The most obvious natural markets are cultural, but include a host of other characteristics that you may be familiar with as well.  What about parents who home school?  Who could communicate more clearly, or provide more relevant products than another parent who hom...