|
|
[2003-05-30] Are You Prepared for Success?
I'm sure you've heard the one about "Failing to plan is planning to fail" and, equally, "If you don't know where you are going, how are you going to get there?"
[2003-05-30] A Well-Oiled Strategy Machine
Yes, that's what public relations really is when it tracks important external audience perceptions and follow on behaviors. And again when it does something about those perceptions and behaviors by reaching, persuading and moving to actions you desire, those people whose behaviors affect your organization the most.
[2003-05-30] Are These Common Email Mistakes Costing You Business?
I hope that you have already learned not to type your email in ALL CAPS as that is considered YELLING. Also, if you are doing business, I hope you are not one of those that types in all small case letters - no CAPS!
[2003-05-30] Search Engine Submission Tips
Creating a Website is just the first step in having an online presence. Your site needs to be properly submitted to the major search engines as well.
[2003-05-30] Are Banner Ads Worth It?
Most people on the Internet today simply ignore banner ads and move on to other things.
[2003-05-30] Choose Your ‘Enemy’ Wisely
When the great Carthaginian general Hannibal was just a boy, his father forced him to declare his undying hatred for Rome. After his father's death, Hannibal used that rage to propel him in a lifelong battle with the emerging Roman Empire.
[2003-05-30] Where Can I go to Network?
I often get the question, "Where can I go to network? I don't belong to any
groups." As true as that may sound to you I am sure that something on the
following list fits you.
[2003-05-30] Make Your Business Plan A Guide To Success
Congratulations, you've just started your new business! And as daunting of a task it may have seemed to get your business off of the ground, the hard part isn't over yet. In fact, it's never over… at least until you retire.
[2003-05-30] Write Where You Are
I caught the writing bug when I was ten, when I joined an essay writing contest. The topic was: "Where did you spend summer and what did you do?"
[2003-05-29] New Tax Law Turns Small Biz Loophole Into A Crater!
In case you were too busy over Memorial Day to notice, our beloved politicians just passed another tax bill designed to put more dollars in your pocket.
[2003-05-29] The Goldmine is in YOUR Brain
Given today's unstable economy, the unveiling of corporate shenanigans, shrinking paychecks, job layoffs, and false prophets who promise get-rich-quick schemes with every click of the computer mouse, it's no small wonder that our heads are spinning like a child's toy. Each of us copes the best we know how. We feel so... vulnerable. Blood pressures rise, tempers flare. Under these conditions, the house cannot be a happy home.
[2003-05-29] How To Use Free For All Link Pages to Promote--FREE!
Internet is a terrific resource containing billions of web pages dedicated to thousands of topics. Since the amount of information available on the Internet is so vast and mind baffling you may feel lost.
[2003-05-29] Design vs Content: Who is King?
I am a firm advocate of good design but most of the time people tend to interpret design as amazing graphics and astounding visuals they tend to forget that design is the culmination of every aspect of good and effective presentation into one (visit Vincent Flander's WebPagesThatSuck.com).
[2003-05-29] The Law of Income
The concept behind any form of wealth is creating income. Are you satisfied with your current income?
[2003-05-29] PR Failure Defined
I define public relations failure this way:
[2003-05-29] 7 Techniques For Increasing Your Sales Letter's Response Fast!
1) Use The Stunning "Avalanche Iceman Technique" When Creating Headlines!
Using this three step technique you can instantly increase the readability and response for your sales letter. Here's how…Simply pick the biggest benefit your product has to offer and make a promise to deliver. For instance…."Write Headlines Guaranteed To Double Your Sales Letter's Response" Then, take that promise of benefit, and transform it into a statement that builds curiosity…"
[2003-05-29] 7 Writing Muse Kickers to Fill Up That Blank Page
Nothing is more daunting for any writer than having to stare at a blank sheet of paper.
[2003-05-28] Take It to the Net
A lot of the innovations that you run into online are just offline businesses, marketing, and products that have been converted to their online form by an entrepreneur that decided to take a little risk and run with a dream. And if you think that everything has been done before, think again.
[2003-05-28] Personal Feedback
Internet marketing takes a lot of work. I am not going to lie. Anyone that tells you otherwise has already made it past the startup phase and has reached guru status. In the end, only you can decide which route you want to take on the web and asking yourself a few simple questions may be more important than finding "the next big trend."
[2003-05-28] A Phd in Internet Marketing
Let's take a look at the job requirements of an internet entreprenuer, if you had to go through an interview before you actually started working. Okay, first you would definitely need an MBA.
[2003-05-28] 3 Words That Sell Like Candy!
1) Fast
Use the word "fast" in your ad. People want fast results, fast delivery, fast ordering, etc. Nowadays, we usually value our time more than our money. For example, you could say, "Our product works fast!" Another example, "Our product comes with fast shipping options."
[2003-05-28] Titles Sell Books
A clever title is great if it is clear, but a clear title is always preferable. The best? A clear and clever title.
[2003-05-28] Don't Pretend To Be An Expert - Become One!
The problem for the beginner is that he sincerely believes he cannot be a success unless he comes across as an expert. He believes that to be accepted, and to have people buy his products, he has to "talk the talk."
[2003-05-28] Six High Impact Revenue Generating Ideas
As most of you already know the greatest rewards of an online business consists of independence and financial freedom. But to realize the success that we each hope to achieve, there are several things that must be in place prior to reaching your goals. If you're not generating the revenue you are after, the following few strategies and suggestions may help move your business in a new direction.
[2003-05-28] PR: How Sweet It Is!
The public relations goal and strategy make sense; the message is persuasive and compelling; the communications tactics are aggressive and well-targeted. YES!!
[2003-05-28] 6 Steps To Getting
A few years ago, Bruce Smith experienced a slowdown in his Salt Lake City-based travel agency. Airlines had eliminated his sales commissions.
[2003-05-28] Create User Friendly Confirmation Pages
Including a form on your website is the best way to get feedback from your visitors.
[2003-05-28] Don't Overlook The Easy Sales
Are you so busy chasing down new customers that you completely overlooked these two prime sources for easy sales?
[2003-05-28] The 5 Toughest Problems Facing Online Retailers
What are the toughest problems facing online retailers in 2003?
[2003-05-28] The Entrepreneur's Toolbox
Entrepreneurship is largely an inside out proposition. Whether you're trying to create a technology or develop a product, entrepreneurship starts with who you are, and blossoms out from there.
[2003-05-28] 7 Techniques For Increasing Your Sales Letter’s Response Fast
1) Use The Stunning "Avalanche Iceman Technique" When Creating Headlines!
[2003-05-27] Your Current Job May Be Your Ticket to Telecommuting
Many people dream of quitting their jobs for a telecommuting position. However, one solution that's often overlooked is the option to negotiate telecommuting privileges at your current place of employment.
[2003-05-27] Make your Writing or Marketing Projects your Top Priority
When you finish your eBook or print books, you have a product you can sell. After you finish the book be sure to write the all important sales letter. The sales letter is the key to sales flooding in. Each book will market another book. Books help promote your service as well.
[2003-05-27] Top 10 Reasons Why Some Realtor Websites Fail
Are you frustrated with your website?
I've been there before. Everyday you check your visitor
statistics and every day you see the same poor results. A slow
trickle of visitors, no real leads - it gets pretty painful.
The good news is that this problem can be remedied very quickly
(and cheaply) with just a few minor tweaks to your website.
[2003-05-27] 10 Tips For Writing Good Sales Copy
Writing an ad? The tips below -- and the important warning that
follows -- will help you to get the very best response.
[2003-05-27] Take Off The Blindfold!
Would you put on a blindfold and then walk across a busy road? Or jump into a lake without checking how deep it is? No, of course you wouldn't. So why do some people launch an online business without first carrying out some research to see if it is likely to work?
[2003-05-27] The #1 Way to Get Profits Fast and Forever
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to make profits from your business, think joint venture.
The beauty of a joint venture is that no matter how much or how little traffic you are currently receiving at your site, this marketing technique can explode your traffic and profits.
[2003-05-27] Complaining Customers Are Good For Business
Remember the Coca Cola marketing disaster a few years ago? They tried to switch Coke drinkers to New Coke. It didn't work. Fortunately, the company quickly recognized the problem and had the resources to recover fast. Their follow up research revealed that only 1 unhappy customer in 50 takes time to complain. The other 49 just quietly switch brands.
[2003-05-27] Have You Registered Your Service Mark?
First of all what IS a "service mark?" Well, a trademark applies to goods or products (such as a car or a washing machine) while a service mark refers to services (like coaching, transportation and storage, or legal work).
[2003-05-25] Showing (and Writing) It Right
Good writers show, instead of tell. Don't just write:
[2003-05-23] Unraveling Tax Laws: Inventory And Depreciation
Hi Wayne: I own a Video Store which I bought last year. I used "taxcut" to do my taxes but realized too late that I was over my head. Someone is probably going to have to look at them. I completed and paid my taxes on time even though there may be errors.
I'm confused about my inventory. Do I show it on the balance sheet and taxes as inventory or just depreciate it as a depreciation expense?
[2003-05-23] The Shocking Tax Benefits Of Section 179
Hi Wayne: What can you tell me about Section 179? I own a small business and have heard that I can obtain a substantial tax benefit by purchasing a new vehicle. I was told that to obtain the most benefit I should purchase a vehicle with at least 6000 lb. Gross Vehicle Weight. How much benefit could I expect and do I have to maintain ownership for any specific length of time? If I purchase late in the year can I still utilize the deduction? Is there anything I should be aware of that could bite me if I'm not careful?
[2003-05-23] Just Write an E-mail
How did you sell your last product? Imagine that I am a newbie writing you an e-mail after reading your ebook. How would you answer the question? I bet you could send me a 300 word reply in no time. Words would flow from your keyboard as fast as you can type. You have just written your next article. Don't think so? Too easy? Read the next paragraph.
[2003-05-23] 4 Strategies for Protecting Your Online Business
Information products are selling really hot online for prices ranging from $9-$900 and with this there are attempts to break the system and get these product for FREE!
[2003-05-23] Headlines Bring Sales--Where and How to Use Them
Headlines are short vital statements to stimulate your potential customers and clients to take action. That means sales! Since you only have 10 seconds to attract your visitor or reader, create headlines to make ultimate sales.
[2003-05-23] Follow The Leaders
Why not pick one guru and follow his plan step by step until you achieve his results and make as much money as he does? Because you never will. Copycats never do. If you have ever purchased a brand new ebook, waited impatiently as it downloaded and then opened it to experience deja vu, you know what I mean. Instead I have another suggestion.
[2003-05-23] The 8 Myths About Creating Wealth
You have probably read or heard about various myths (these are the truths that are valid only for certain cases, but not in general) surrounding wealth and wealthy people, all of which hinder your quest for financial independence. Here are the most common and most destructive:
[2003-05-22] 10 Steps to Research or Google a Topic
In a fast-paced industry like the communications and information technology, a manager needs to keep himself updated about the latest happenings in the world around him. When you publish an Ezine or contribute articles, often you face "writer's block". The next step would be to contribute towards some innovative and creative solutions to gather material for your next article.
[2003-05-22] Why Are You Doing Everything Yourself?
When I coach my entrepreneur clients, one problem I often see is that they're not taking enough time to market and grow their business. It's not that they don't understand the value of those efforts, or they don't want to make the time. It's that they're simply trying to do too much by themselves. They're so busy running their business that they're not working ON their business.
[2003-05-22] What Kind Of Leads Will Bring You MLM Members?
One of the Internet companies I help to run sells advertising and leads primarily to the MLM industry. Everyday I hear people trying to get a business off the ground. It's tough. They have a product they like. They have a product they trust. They have a web site produced by the organization they have joined, yet they can't seem to make a dime. Sometimes by the time they get to me they have already spent hundreds of dollars on different types of advertising. They are dejected, demoralized and defeated. They are smart yet the dream of a home-based business alludes them.
[2003-05-22] Home-Based Business Start-Up: 7 Tips For Lowering Your Fear Factor
All of us who tell the truth will admit to having fears. Many people live their entire lives with one fear or another, but Anne Block, discovered how to side-step her fear factor into a home-based business reality.
[2003-05-22] Top 10 Tips to Increase Conference Attendance
1. Persistent, automatic emails to inform, educate, sample and entertain potential attendees - recommend two per week starting 3 months before registration cut off.
[2003-05-22] 3 Steps To Locate Bonuses To Market Your eBook
Most of us who have shopped online are familiar with the array of free gifts, free bonuses and freebies that are offered to the visitor to encourage them to buy the online software and books.
[2003-05-22] Proper Use Of Meta tags For A High Google Ranking
Google is currently the web's most popular search engine. Getting a high Google ranking is a must if you want your website to succeed! In addition to being the most used search engine in its own right, Google also provides the search results for other mega-sites, including America Online. By following a few simple guidelines, you can watch your site climb up the Google ladder and your traffic will climb right along with it. This article will show you how to make effective use of meta tags to help your website climb that ladder!
[2003-05-22] Communicate & Co-operate to Satisfy Your Customer
The ability to speak English well does not automatically make you a good communicator. There are a few natives who can communicate much better thru sign language than we can with our artery of words. Communication is a 2 way process and involves a feedback loop. The speaker sends a message, which is received by the other person. Now how does the person interpret the message? Do both the speaker & the spoken to understand the message in the same spirit? Often no.
[2003-05-22] Communicating with Case Studies
A couple of colleagues and I were discussing a new business idea, but we had trouble expressing how this new business would provide value. And out of our discussions came the idea of writing a case study. If you're not familiar with them, case studies are histories of business initiatives.
[2003-05-22] Success Doesn't Happen Overnight
We've all heard that old saying, right? Of course, we have. And it's so true!
[2003-05-22] The #1 Rule for Businesses - Be Professional
Have you ever walked into a store and things looked sloppy? Stores should have nice neat displays, right? Normally, yes, but sometimes they get a bit messy on busy days and we all understand how that can happen.
[2003-05-22] Home Business: A Dream or a Nightmare
Many of us dream of someday having our own business. Whether it is a grocery store, craft supply shop or accounting office we dream of being our own boss.
[2003-05-22] How to Deduct Your Next Vacation
It is perfectly legal to deduct your next vacation. Here's how to do it.
[2003-05-21] Boosting Affiliate Sales On A High Traffic Site
Dan,
Please go to www.thecrayonhouse.com - launched in November 1999. The site enjoys over 75000 visitors per month - as high as 95000 some months. We have won some awards and receive constant positive feed back from our visitors. We are unable to make any affiliate or click through program generate income for the site. It is a cash drain from our main business and we may have to consider closing. Obviously, this would be financially and emotionally disappointing. Any ideas?
[2003-05-21] Every Mistake In The Writing Book
This morning I received an email from someone who has set up a site devoted to "writing for coaches." We'll call the author "X" to protect the guilty -- and the naïve. Here's what we can learn from X's mistakes.
[2003-05-21] Developing a Highly Profitable Opt-In List
An opt-in list is the absolute most effective marketing tool available on the Internet. Not only do they provide you with a direct line of communication with your target market, but they also enable you to develop a trusting relationship with your subscribers.
[2003-05-21] Build my Business by Offering Free Stuff? Why?
Do you want a Web site that generates more business?That's what most of us want. Once I decided to create and manage my own Web site, I began studying how to build a site that would reach out and touch potential clients.
[2003-05-21] Walt Disney's Failures Could Inspire Entrepreneurs!
If you are a struggling entrepreneur who sometimes feel like you are pushing a 3-ton boulder up a steep hill, costs keep mounting and you are considering giving up, check out the 10 setbacks that Walt Disney faced. Some were financial nightmares that put him millions of dollars in the red and others were just plain embarrassment.
[2003-05-20] Newsletters
Newsletters are a great way to establish a new, more personal relationship with your customers. You can keep them up to date on your products and services, give them a little insight into the lives of your employees, and much more. For example, you can "spotlight" one individual in each issue, talking about their interests, families, etc. I think it's a nice touch to let your customers know more about the people that they deal with; it has a nice "touchy-feely" quality to it and makes the business experience a little more personal.
[2003-05-20] Shopping Search and the Small Online Retailer
Shopping search is something all large portal sites attempt to
incorporate into their search functionality in one way or another,
but knowing where you are getting your results from is the
difficult part for most of us. The biggest issue is that nobody
really understands that a search engine is made up of multiple
resources and that is especially true of shopping search.
[2003-05-20] Your Newsletter As Search Engine Superhero?
Newsletters are magical things -- they can attract customers, increase company profits, establish expertise and much more. But, did you know they can also help you increase your search engine rankings?
[2003-05-20] Click Your Way to Profits with Pay Per Clicks
Once upon a time in Internet Land, you could submit your web site to the search engines, and customers had no problem finding you.
[2003-05-20] How To Motivate Yourself For Success?
I was having coffee with my friend the other day. He just joined a multi-level marketing company. The company sells aromatherapy products that improve air quality and help people to have a healthier life.
[2003-05-20] Some Tips If You're Planning a Multicultural Coaching Practice
Here are some tips if you're planning a multicultural coaching practice.
1. Many wars have been fought over cultural issues; it's a highly-charged subject. However, culture is learned, which means it can be changed. I could convert to Judaism tomorrow (culture), but there's no way I'll become Asian (genetic).
[2003-05-20] Establishing Your Web Presence
Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their web presence. After all, you want to benefit from the global exposure, reduced marketing expenses, and low entry costs. But to receive those benefits, you must first get your web site off the ground which means you need to select an effective domain name and find reliable web hosting.
[2003-05-20] The Law of Financial Compensation
For over 20 years I have been fascinated with what it really takes to make a lot of money.
I realized a long time ago that if someone else could do something or achieve something... then I could at least copy what they did, and get a similar...or better result.
[2003-05-19] 11 Secrets to Direct Response Marketing
Here are the 11 secrets to direct response marketing - how to get more business to come to you in a month than most get all year! discover the real reason virtually all businesses never make the money they could... and should be making!
[2003-05-19] Extra Traffic Right Under Your Nose!
Do you know what's the 2ND MOST VISITED page on your web site?
This may surprise you. But in my consulting work the error page is the second most visited web page on many of the web sites that I've seen!
[2003-05-19] How to Double Your Debt Collections
Believe it or not, the success of your attempt to collect a debt is usually decided right at the beginning of your phone call - with the very first thing you say after the other party says hello. Knowing exactly what you are going to say - and handling the call in an organized, professional manner is the foundation upon which collections are made or lost. A professionally executed collections call has four parts:
[2003-05-19] Slow Down Marketing
Competition in the retail marketplace has forced many stores to cut costs to the bone so that they can cut prices, which, of course means that they must cut back on labor costs. And this leads to treating customers like cattle, whether you want to or not. Get them in, shake them down for as much money as you can and get them out. And how does the corporate office try to get employees to fake customer service? By using canned phone answering techniques, greeting the customers at the door, and basically creating a frontline of expendable, robotic employees. Why do I bring this up?
[2003-05-19] Four Traps that Catch Entrepreneurs
"A problem cannot be solved on the same level that it was created." - Albert Einstein
[2003-05-19] 5 Selling Tips To Increase Your Sales
Here are 5 selling tips to help you increase your sales. All 5 work for any business. They're effective for both online and traditional offline marketing. And they won't cost you anything to implement.
[2003-05-19] "Energy Marketing" - An Unusual New Way to Attract New Clients
"It doesn't matter what you say in an advertisement," Esther Hicks told me over dinner with her husband, Jerry, one day many years ago.
"People will pick up on the energy in the ads, not the words in the ads," she continued. "They'll respond, or not, based on what they feel from the ad."
[2003-05-19] The Ugly Side Of Internet Marketing
Did that headline grab your attention?
I have experimented with many different headlines on my sites and found that you can take the same sales letter yet your sales will increase or decrease depending on the headline you are using.
[2003-05-19] Realtors – How to Make Sure Your Prospects Don't "Trash" Your Email
Every morning, I drop into my office, chair fire up my email program and wait, and wait, and wait.
[2003-05-19] The Language of Freelance Marketing
Newbies usually enter the world of publishing with the notions of submitting articles, receiving prompt replies and getting published. After all, the next-door-neighbor did just that, and now she has a byline and everything. Maybe your neighbor's lucky. Maybe she's lying. In all probability, she's established.
[2003-05-19] 5 Steps To Choosing A Great Host
Being online used to be quite expensive. You had to have the hardware to run a site, or pay a small fortune for hosting. These days, there are so many hosting companies it can be confusing. Different companies offer different plans, features, transfer rates and support levels, so how can you choose what's right for you?
[2003-05-19] The Importance of "Thank You" In Business
Most people were taught as children to say "thank you". This treasured measure of etiquette couldn't be more important than in your business.
[2003-05-19] How to Organize Your Email Without Losing It (Part 2)
Part 1 of this article (www.isitebuild.com/organizedemail) discussed how to efficiently organize your email so you can spend more time on building a profitable business.
[2003-05-19] 4 Steps To Succeed Online With One Question
Do you want to change your life? Change what you think about. Ask yourself solution oriented questions not disempowering or negative based questions.
[2003-05-18] Recipes For Stress
It is within your power to reduce the stressful reactions that you have. A key to changing your reactions is being able to track the way in which you generate stress.
[2003-05-18] Multiculturalism: You Need to Know the Language
"How did you know what she meant?" a client asked me the other day, as we processed a joint conversation we'd had with someone from Venezuela. "What did he mean when he said."
[2003-05-17] 6 Steps To Get "Slightly" Famous
A few years ago, Bruce Smith experienced a slowdown in his Salt Lake City-based travel agency. Airlines had eliminated his sales commissions. The recession and recent terrorist attacks also took a toll. And because the travel industry was ultra-competitive, he knew he had to find ways to distinguish his company from thousands of other travel agencies.
[2003-05-16] Attract Potential Buyers to Your Web Site With Valuable Content
Content is the most important component of your web site. Useful
content gets visitors to your site, engages them, builds credibility, and
converts them into buyers. Surveys indicate that 80 percent of visitors go
to web sites to get information. Only 5 percent are interested in graphics.
[2003-05-16] How To Build a ClickThru Marketing Web-Page Guaranteed To Pull In Tons Of Traffic
The biggest mistake and the reason most people fail at clickthru marketing is that they just pop in their affiliate link and start sending folks to their affiliate website.
[2003-05-15] Affiliate Marketing Means Using Email Marketing
As an affiliate in an affiliate program you need to be good at affiliate marketing. One of the most important aspects of affiliate marketing is email marketing.
[2003-05-15] The Most Powerful Force In Email Marketing
I've been learning recently that the most powerful force around is something that we all have access to: relationships.
But what most people don't know is how this relates to email marketing! Well, I'm going to tell you that in a minute but first think about this...
[2003-05-15] How to get Free Internet Merchant Accounts
This article will show small businesses how to get free internet merchant accounts. If your business is to grow and succeed, it is essential to accept online credit cards
[2003-05-15] How To Reverse A 'Slump' In Business - Fast
Every business experiences cycles of heavy sales volume and light sales volume. Periods of light sales volume are called business "Slumps".
[2003-05-15] Defining The Critical Factors of Your Sales Success
When know what your customers think about you, what they want and need and what you have to do to improve their perceptions, you need to find out how your business functions in its present foundation. You need to break the entire process into smaller, easier to control elements that have a decisive impact on your lack of success.
[2003-05-15] Instant Customers! Things To Do To Get A Customer Now
In tough times, in bountiful times, in what ever kind of times you find yourself in remember the power of marketing. In fact, as has been pointed out in this column before, marketing is not an expense that should be cut during tough times. It is an area that deserves more spending and certainly more attention. The reason for this obviously is to grow the revenue side of the income statement as we all strive for a new break even point and beyond.
[2003-05-15] Turning Emails Into Dollars .. Using Just One Word
Knock the socks of your visitors with this simple technique and increase your response rate by 400%.Science tells us that there's no sweeter sound to our ears than the sound of our own name.
And you already know that personalizing your marketing email is critical to getting results.
[2003-05-15] Four Steps To Success
What is success? For the business owner, success is defined as "the achievement of wealth and fame". For many, wealth and fame remain only dreams, but there is a four step formula that will allow anyone who truly desires success to reach their dreams.
[2003-05-15] Getting Funded: Know What Lenders Are Looking For
Hi Scott, Just a couple of questions about business financing. I have set up a new business,understandably things are a little quiet at the moment but the jobs we are doing even though they are few and far between are high profit. We have very little working capital at the moment and are wondering if we can drum up some business funding even though we are in that position.
[2003-05-15] Should You Buy Advertising With VC Or Internal Funding?
Hi Scott: I read your article in EntreprenuerNewz and was wondering about a few things... We have a small company that started about a year ago. We released our service about a month ago and have had great response and signups for the amount of advertising that we have done (very very little).
Question has come up for us wether it would be wise to get some venture capital to help increase the growth rate of our business.
[2003-05-15] Marketing Tips For A New Consulting Practice
Hi Scott: I'm working on a business plan for a consulting business. Could you please provide tips on how to market such a business?
[2003-05-15] Ordinary People, Extraordinary Business
One of the marks of an extraordinary human being is someone who knows what he or she wants and goes after it. They have the courage of their convictions, surround themselves with good people and are not afraid to risk. Recently while listening to an interview on 60 minutes, I had the good pleasure of being inspired and encouraged by an extraordinary gentleman by the name of Mr. James Goodnight, CEO of SAS. I have since discovered that SAS is the largest privately held software company in the world and I now know why.
[2003-05-15] 12 Steps to Creating an Ezine
Now that you've decided to create your own ezine, what's the best way to begin? Here are 12 steps that have proven useful to many people just starting out.
[2003-05-14] Market By Email Without Getting Persecuted
You provide a Web service such as Web site design, Web site evaluation, search engine optimization, graphics design, or copy writing. You find a Web site that could sorely use your services. You send a friendly email message to the Web site's owner.
[2003-05-14] Your Success Depends on Your List
Now you've probably heard it said a 1000 times by the top online marketers: the single most important thing that you can do is build your list. I challenge you because there is a second part to this: build a relationship with your customers and readers. Provide them with content that they can use and products that they want. You'll have loyal subscribers who will buy your products.
[2003-05-14] Big Dollar Affiliate Marketing
How many choices are you giving your subscribers? The answer may just mean the difference between your success and failure online.
For instance, among my tens of thousands of subscribers, I have people from dozens of countries, a myriad of economic situations, all races and creeds. It is a very diverse group.
[2003-05-14] 3 Sizzling Copywriting Secrets!
Bond With Your Readers
1) Create a bond with your visitors by bringing up likes or dislikes you have in common with them in your ad copy. Just make sure you do your research. For example, you could say, "I hate it when you have to wait in line for a long time at the drive-through." Another example, "I really like it when I have extra money to spend."
[2003-05-14] How to Make Your Website Visitor Trust and Like You.
At first, all prospects are distrustful when they first come into contact with your website. All they want to know is what's in it for me? You are asking them to trust you, trust in the benefits of what you are selling, and, ultimately, to part with their money.
[2003-05-14] Low Cost Web Site Promotion For Small Businesses
Promoting your small business website in the search engines can be a daunting task. Use of free submissions and link popularity is a good starting point for your website promotion campaign.
[2003-05-14] This One-Word Ad Change Doubled Results
Is this mistake killing your profits?
You think your ad or your product is important. Well maybe it is, but not to your customers. It's important to you, your family, your friends, and your employees. But that's as far as it goes.
[2003-05-14] Haven't You Waited Long Enough for Your Money?
Business-to-business debt collecting is a different ball game compared to collecting from an individual debtor. Once things have gotten to the point where a business debtor has owed you for quite awhile, it's perfectly OK to take the gloves off - to go all out to get your money. After all, things are now at the point where you wouldn't accept an order from that outfit anyway so there's nothing more to lose!
[2003-05-14] Choose the Right Subject Line for your Ezine
How many times have you opened up a mail thinking it was something personal, only to find that it was nothing but spam? There are ways by which spam can be identified and most of the net community is aware of the common techniques that are used.
[2003-05-14] Is Going Offline The Answer?
As email marketing becomes more and more difficult, many online publishers are using alternative methods to market their products and promote their websites.
[2003-05-14] eMail Tips For Coaches Who Want To Succeed
Coaching is a relationship field. Many of us offer unlimited email along with our coaching. Here are some ways you can make your emails professional yet engaging.
[2003-05-14] Affiliate Marketing Means Using Email Marketing
Get it right and you will be a successful affiliate. Get it wrong and you will be just another affiliate statistic. (It is estimated that between 80% and 90% of affiliates make little or no money from affiliate programs)
[2003-05-14] The Lucrative Identity Theft Scam
Identity theft is a serious problem - make sure to keep all sensitive information from being acquired by any other people. That means - do not give out your name, social security number, bank information, credit card information, etc. Shred store receipts. Use heavy discretion when ordering from the Internet - order from secure sites and know whom you are dealing with.
[2003-05-14] Common Decency....Let's Keep it Alive!
I recently had an experience with one of the affiliate programs I *was* involved with. This experience did not surprise me, but did however, disappoint me. It is a sad fact that it did not surprise me and I thought maybe an article on this subject might bring it to our attention.
[2003-05-14] You've Got Mail
Answering your e-mail is a priority! Personal e-mail and e-mail marketing has become the favorite method of communication among the US and around the world.
[2003-05-12] Carpe Diem -- Seize The Per Diem Method (and Throw Away Your Receipts)
The mantra of tax record-keeping has remained relentlessly burdensome for decades: "No Receipt, No Deduction".
But fear not, you who loathe the never-ending climb up the mountain of paperwork required by the U.S. tax code.
Many of our most beloved tax rules have exceptions, and such is the case with this one.
[2003-05-12] Sole Properietorship And Tax Liablility
Hi Wayne:
I am a Personal and Business Coach and that income requires quarterly self-employment tax payments as estimates of that year's taxes. I also earn some occasional income through a couple of other businesses who hire me as contract labor. The income I earn through those businesses gets reported on 1099-Misc under section 7. Nonemployee compensation. Does that income also need to be included in the quarterly self- employment tax payments? At what point of income MUST you file the quarterly payments?
[2003-05-12] The Deductibility Of Charitable Contributions
I was told that you have to reach a certain percent of donation from your annual income before you can claim it as tax deduction. Others tells me that they claim all their deduction no matter how much. I'm confused, please help!
Thanks, Bernadette
[2003-05-12] Vehicle Deductions And Section 179
What can you tell me about Section 179. I own a small business and have heard that I can obtain a substantial tax benefit by purchasing a new vehicle. I was told that to obtain the most benefit I should purchase a vehicle with at least 6000 lb. Gross Vehicle Weight. How much benefit could I expect and do I have to maintain ownership for any specific length of time? If I purchase late in the year can I still utilize the deduction? Is there anything I should be aware of that could bite me if I'm not careful?
[2003-05-12] Developing Competitive E-Newsletter Content
Hi Michael:
Do you have any suggestions for gathering content? I like to write, but I know I'll need to include the work of others since I dont have the time to research and write full time. I've seen sites like freesticky.com but find that the subjects I need are not there.
[2003-05-12] Lowering Your E-Newsletter File Size
Dear Michael:
I would love to get a monthly letter out however, I have found that people complained of the size of the completed document in their mail boxes. I used the microsoft newsletter format, do you have any suggestions? I do have a website www.africanenza.com that is growing in popularity and would love some ideas of how to improve my external communication.
[2003-05-12] Answer Up Right Now!
Online businesses that once thrived continue to fail to our left and right. Yours has no special immunity.
[2003-05-12] Garlic, Love and the Internet...Wha???
I just made a great discovery! I was minding my own business...just cruising along the CyberHighway...and my mate yelled at me, "If I'm going to cook this great dinner...get your CyberButt over here and peel the garlic!" Wha???
[2003-05-12] Don't Take It Personally
Did you get a vulgar, angry, insulting email today? I did. In fact, if you have a website with any solid traffic you probably get them pretty much every day.
[2003-05-12] The Unexpected 'Thank You'
I bought my first new car when I was 21 years old. It was a bright red convertible. Along with the joy of owning my dream car came the responsibility of paying for it. I remember how the feeling of "buyer's remorse" plagued me for days after I drove the car off the dealer's lot. ("Buyer's remorse" is what we feel after making an impulsive decision ...until we can justify our decision with logical reasons.)
[2003-05-12] Get Started Now And Use Your Time Effectively
Using your time effectively requires you to manage yourself, not time itself. One of the steps is to continually evaluate what's working well for you and do more of it.
[2003-05-12] Show Me Yours...And I'll Show You Mine...
Over the past few years there has been a growing trend on the internet where business owners are showing each other their stuff. Some of these business people are even paying to see the other business owners' stuff. Can you believe it?
[2003-05-11] WAHMS – Why are you not Succeeding?
I have been a work at home mom nearly six years now and from park to play-date the statement I hear most from other mothers is "I would love to work at home". Why is it that so many savvy moms start businesses only to see their dreams piddle away to "something they tried once"?
[2003-05-11] Grow Your Brain
In the past, scientists believed that we were each born with about 100 billion brain cells, and that after we reached adolescence our brain started dying at a rate of about 10,000 per day, and these cells could not be replaced.
[2003-05-10] Five Easy, Pain-free Ways To Boost Your Productivity
Commit to following these five strategies for a month, and you'll be more productive --- that's a promise.
[2003-05-09] Primer: How to Test Your Ads & Improve Your Profitability
It's so easy to blow through money when marketing a website. If you're like many new entrepreneurs, you may have already wasted several hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on marketing campaigns that didn't give you the results you were hoping for.
[2003-05-09] Who Creates Your Good Fortune?
You create your own good fortune. Do you accept that? Do you believe that you can control your world and your life? Do you know that you do not have to accept the world just the way it is?
[2003-05-08] Singing Your Way to Success
Entrepreneurs can take a lesson from Sheryl Crow hit, "Soak up the Sun." During the chorus she sings, "For every time I feel lame; I'm looking up." For those who start and build a new enterprise, the need to keep "looking up" is critical for success. An entrepreneur is like a salmon trying to swim upstream through rapids. It takes an unnatural degree of effort, and the dearest struggle usually comes while all outward signs present a negative face.
[2003-05-08] Little Box of Dreams
We are so very busy these days that we don't seem to have the time to make personal and career goals for ourselves. We have dreams and aspirations, but we don't take the time to map out a plan to make them happen. We simply accept what life throws at us and settle for the mediocre. But it doesn't need to be. We CAN change our future and with little effort.
[2003-05-08] I'm Out of Ideas, Now What?
I am actually out of ideas for an article this week, so I guess I will make that into an article. Do you have a similar problem? You write article after article and finally you just seem to draw a blank for ideas for another article! I am sure this happens to all of us at some point or other.
[2003-05-08] ON GUARD - Fraud Finder (Part 1)
So you think you're too smart to get taken by a con artist? Think again, because con artists take very smart people just as easily and often as anyone else. Cons and frauds come in every size, shape and color imaginable. But there are several basic "tried and true" cons, which are still being perpetrated that everyone should be aware of. Here's one of them:
[2003-05-08] 4 Steps to Creating Good Credit
As a consumer you've learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit rating or credit score.
[2003-05-07] How to Write an Attention-Grabbing Op-Ed in Five Steps
There are few better ways to attract new clients and customers than by becoming known as an expert in your field. And the fastest way to establish your expertise is by writing op-eds for newspapers, magazines, trades and the Web.
[2003-05-07] Control Employees By Controlling Yourself
Dear EQ Coach:
My administrative assistant is quite young (22) and often displays her emotions in an inappropriate manner when things aren't going well at home or with her family. Though I think I treat her very compassionately, and grant her a lot of flexibility, there are times that her sour, combative moods become unbearable-especially when at these times she also often arrives late to work and doesn't perform her tasks with care or accuracy and does not provide me the assistance I need in a timely manner. How can I tell my assistant that her behavior and attitude are unprofessional and not acceptable without making things worse?
[2003-05-06] Taxes And The Personally-Funded Business
Hi Wayne:
I currently work for an aerospace company and run my own business. Can I use my aerospace money to pay for some of my business expenses? I really don't want the money to be taxed twice, but do I have no other choice?
[2003-05-06] Online Auctions: Play it smart
Online auctions are a terrific way to save money, or make an extra buck. According to a 2002 Newsweek article, more than 50 million people buy and sell on eBay, not counting the millions that buy and sell via other auction venues. This is beneficial for both buyers and sellers, but any online venture is bound to have pitfalls. Online auctions are basically an honors system type of business.
[2003-05-06] The Truth About Pay Per Click Marketing
The key to an effective Pay-Per-Click program is driving the "right" traffic to your website. Since you pay every time someone clicks through to your site you want to attract only visitors who are interested in your product or service. And you want to be sure that, when they arrive at your site, they can find what they're looking for- quickly.
[2003-05-06] Ezine Readers Not Biting? Change the Bait
A newsletter can be a fantastic way to lure new customers, but without the right bait, you can send out line after line (or issue after issue) and not get a single bite.
What should you be baiting your newsletter with? Let's take a look:
[2003-05-06] Where Greatness Begins!
What do you think of Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Tiger Woods and hundreds of others who have made it to the top, sometimes against all the odds?
[2003-05-05] Argument Weak - Talk **LOUDER**!!!
Have you heard of the preacher (there are probably quite a few of them fitting this description) who wrote in the margin of his sermon ‘Argument weak - talk louder!'? Well, as with sermons and speeches, so with ads for your online business - talking louder won't convince anyone if your fundamental argument is weak.
[2003-05-05] WHICH OR WHAT?
It seems that the word ‘which' has rather fallen out of favour these days, to be replaced by ‘what'. A question like this one, which I came across in an ezine's trivia section recently, leaps out at me as just not sounding right:
[2003-05-05] Less, Fewer, I and Me
Just a couple of quick tips today:-
First, when to use ‘less' and when to use ‘fewer'. Though the opposite of both words is ‘more', they are used differently. Some examples of correct usage are as follows:
[2003-05-05] On 'Weaving Well'
I thought this week I'd take a step back from the nitty-gritty of commas and so on, and explain why I'm calling this column on writing for the web - 'Weave Well'.
[2003-05-05] Weave Well - Providing and Provided
Another little gem of English usage this week: a frequent mistake concerns the use of 'providing' and 'provided'.
[2003-05-05] An Invaluable Reference Tool for Busy Entrepreneurs
Time goes by so fast these days. You've got masses of work to do, e-mails to respond to, ads to write, your website needs tweaking - and there are just a couple of facts you want to check before sending off your new article to the various ezine databases. You haven't got the right books at home, and you definitely haven't got time to go to the library. You can probably find the information you need on the net, but it may take a while to track it down, and the search engines throw up a load of dross before taking you to anything really useful. It would be brilliant if you could just click a button on your computer for the information you need to appear on your screen.
[2003-05-05] Making Sense of your Sentences
One of the aspects of good writing is getting the various parts of a sentence to agree with one another, and a common mistake is starting off with an introductory clause that doesn't agree.
[2003-05-05] Setting The Tone
One of the most important things to get right when writing your ads, your ezine articles or your e-books is the 'tone of voice'. You want to catch your readers' attention - so that they don't delete your message out of boredom or immediate lack of interest - but neither do you want to be 'in their face', so that they still delete your message but this time out of annoyance or irritation.
[2003-05-05] Your And You're
The mistake I see more often than any other online is confusion between "your" & "you're". How many times have you seen an e-mail appear in your inbox which begins: "If your serious about your online opportunity..."? Don't know about you, but that makes me hit the delete button at once.
[2003-05-05] More On Apostrophes
Following on from last week's article about "your and "you're", I now want to look some more at the apostrophe, and in particular at whether an apostrophe should come before or after the "s" (or whether it shouldn't be there at all).
[2003-05-05] Traffic Analysis - Turning Traffic Into Sales
Question: About 5 months ago I started on a quest to make the best site possible, with the best content for the users that I wanted there. My URL is http://www.skateservice.com. Now that I'm actually getting traffic, I can't turn it into sales. I am an affiliate of the #2 online skateboard shop, but I'm not seeing any turn around from it. I place banner ads, and feature ads on my site, but no one seems to be buying anything. The whole purpose of the site is to make it an E-Zine type, with the option to buy products that I know the customer is in the market for. Any ideas or thoughts would really help me out here.
[2003-05-05] This Was Not Addressed In The Workplace…
So you're working at home now! No more of those annoying workplace issues that have filled several volumes of professional journals. They're all behind you, a faint, unpleasant memory. Of course, working at home has no such…challenges?
[2003-05-04] Why You Don't Get Things Done - And How You Can.
We humans are a funny lot. We are so diverse that any generalization usually has more exceptions than you can count. And that generalization is no different!
[2003-05-04] Realtors – How to Make Sure Your Prospects Don’t “Trash” Your Email
Every morning, I drop into my office, chair fire up my email program and wait, and wait, and wait.
[2003-05-02] Six Secrets to Ensure Success
If there were only six secrets and they did ensure success, would you want to know? It brings a responsibility with it. Once you know the secrets, you will never be able to ignore them, or, to complain about the lack of success in your life.
[2003-05-02] Prophesying Profit in CyberSpace . . .
Many business owners rushed into creating Web sites, perhaps because "my competition has one", or because "it's the hot thing right now".
[2003-05-02] How to Make Your Website Visitor Trust and Like You
What I am about to share with you could mean the difference between making or losing potential sales.
[2003-05-01] Build Your E-Newsletter List With Your Current Contacts
Building an email list can be an involved process. This reader wrote in to Michael Katz, e-newsletter expert, asking about the best ways to build the list for her stress relief site. Michael's suggestions will work for your site too.
[2003-05-01] Tame The Marketing! E-Newsletters Grow With Content
In this e-newsletter review, Michael Katz, e-newsletter expert, has a few key suggestions for Darryl Antonio's travel newsletter: tame the marketing and boost the content! Read this review for some specific suggestions that may apply to your own newsletter.
[2003-05-01] Streamlining Project Management for the Web Designer
The project management of a web design job can make or break the project. If you are a web designer who has to perform your own project management, the following guidelines can help you to stay on budget and hit your deadline.
[2003-05-01] Marketing An Online Business: Your Time or Your Money?
We've heard it time and time again: starting a business on the internet can be very affordable when compared to the traditional 'brick-and-mortar' business.
[2003-05-01] ON GUARD! – The Oldest Scam
You've seen the ads in newspapers, magazines - even on the Internet: "Get paid to stuff envelopes!" It seems the ultimate work- at-home opportunity. You figure it can't be a scam because you see these ads all the time. Someone must know something you don't; someone must be making money stuffing envelopes. Should you try it?
[2003-05-01] Take Effective Actions to Solve a Problem
There are going to be times when you experience problems either in your personal or professional life. They may be few and far between or occur more often. You can choose whether to see these as problems that keep you stuck or opportunities for growth that you respond to. The opportunity for growth comes from being willing to apply a formula that brings about a solution. A formula that can be applied to many different situations.
|
|
