Thursday, December 21, 2006

Happy Holidays

It is important to note that gaining time is not about doing more; it's about doing what matters most efficiently.

How many of these smart working are on your list?

Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Overworking can 
lead to burnout and decreased productivity.

Practice Self-Care: Prioritize self-care activities like exercise, meditation, and adequate sleep. Taking care of your physical and mental health can improve your overall efficiency.

Continuous Learning: Invest in learning time management and productivity techniques. There 
are many books, courses, and resources available to help you improve your time management skills.

Evaluate and Adjust: Regularly review your time management strategies to see what's working and what's not. Be willing to make adjustments as needed.

Outsource: For personal tasks or business-related tasks that can be outsourced, consider 
hiring professionals or using services that can save you time, such as hiring a virtual assistant.

Use Technology Wisely: While technology can be a time-saver, it can also be a timewaster. 
Be mindful of how you use technology and make it work for you, not against you.

Set Realistic Expectations: Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given day or week. 
Setting overly ambitious goals can lead to stress and burnout.

Consider these Top 10 New Years Resolutions

1) Lose Weight and Get in Better Shape
2) Stick to a Budget
3) Debt Reduction
4) Enjoy more Quality Time with Friends and Family
5) Find My Soul Mate
6) Quit Smoking
7) Find a Better Job
8) Learn Something New
9) Volunteer and Help Others
10) Get Organized

How many of these resolutions are on your list?

To your Health and Wealth in 2007 and beyond!
Happy Holidays to you and your family

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Online Community

An online community is a group of people who interact with each other, share common interests or goals, and communicate primarily through digital platforms. Online communities come in various forms, ranging from forums and social media groups to specialized platforms designed for collaboration and discussion. Creating and participating in online communities has become an integral part of digital culture, providing individuals with opportunities to connect, share information, and build relationships. Here are some key aspects of online communities:

1. Types of Online Communities:
Forums: Traditional discussion platforms where users can post messages, ask questions, and engage 
in conversations.

Social Media Groups: Groups on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Reddit where users with common interests come together.

Niche Communities: Specialized platforms catering to specific interests, industries, or activities.

Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams that facilitate communication and 
collaboration within teams or organizations.

Gaming Communities: Groups of gamers who interact within online gaming environments or on dedicated gaming platforms.

2. Benefits of Online Communities:
Knowledge Sharing: Members can share information, experiences, and expertise, fostering a 
collaborative learning environment.

Networking: Opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, professionals, or potential 
collaborators.

Support and Advice: Members can seek and provide support, advice, and guidance on various topics.

Community Building: Online communities help build a sense of belonging and camaraderie among members.

Crowdsourcing: Members can collectively solve problems, generate ideas, or contribute to projects.

Professional Development: Industry-specific communities can serve as platforms for professional development and career growth.

3. Creating an Online Community:
Define Purpose and Goals: Clearly outline the purpose of the community and the goals you aim to achieve.

Choose the Right Platform: Select a platform that aligns with the nature of your community. This could 
be a social media group, forum software, or a specialized platform.

Establish Guidelines: Create community guidelines to set expectations for behavior, content sharing, 
and interactions.

Encourage Engagement: Foster engagement by asking questions, facilitating discussions, and 
recognizing active members.

Provide Value: Offer valuable content, resources, or exclusive perks to incentivize participation.

Moderation: Implement moderation strategies to ensure a positive and respectful environment.

4. Participating in Online Communities:
Be Respectful: Treat others with respect and follow community guidelines.

Contribute Meaningfully: Share your knowledge, experiences, and insights to enrich the community.

Network: Connect with others, build relationships, and expand your network.

Learn and Grow: Use the community as a resource for learning and personal development.

Stay Informed: Keep up with discussions, announcements, and updates within the community.

5. Challenges:
Managing Conflict: Address conflicts or disruptive behavior promptly to maintain a positive environment.

Sustainability: Ensure ongoing engagement and activity to prevent communities from becoming stagnant.

Balancing Freedom and Guidelines: Striking a balance between allowing free expression and maintaining a respectful community environment.

Online communities play a vital role in connecting people globally, providing platforms for collaboration, learning, and social interaction. Whether you're creating a community or participating in one, fostering a positive and inclusive environment is essential for the success and sustainability of online communities.

I wish You Success.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The value of time.


Your goal as an entrepreneur isn't to work forever - it's to create a business that will generate the money you need. You need to be thinking about HOW to replace yourself. 
The first thing you need to replace is your customer support. Then follow it with website design, 
writing, research... anything and everything else you can until your business can run without you. 
That should be the end goal of your business. 

Replace yourself by either outsourcing the tasks you currently do - or hire employees.

Outsourcing is the practice of contracting out certain business functions or processes to external service providers. This can include tasks ranging from customer support and information technology to manufacturing and back-office operations. Outsourcing is commonly used by businesses to access specialized skills, reduce costs, and focus on core competencies.

Benefits of Outsourcing:
Cost Savings: Outsourcing can often be more cost-effective than handling certain functions in-house, 
especially when labor costs are lower in the outsourcing destination.

Access to Specialized Skills: Companies can tap into the expertise of external professionals, 
accessing specialized skills and knowledge.

Focus on Core Competencies: Outsourcing allows businesses to concentrate on their core activities and 
strategic objectives while external partners handle non-core functions.

Flexibility and Scalability: Outsourcing provides flexibility to scale up or down based on business needs without the challenges of hiring or downsizing internal teams.

Global Reach: Outsourcing allows businesses to leverage a global talent pool and expand their reach beyond geographic boundaries.

Finally.

Charge for your time. You should not be giving away your most valuable asset for free. Every second that you are spending with a client, you are not able to spend with your family.
... how much is your time worth? 
As you grow in your niche, people will start trying to get your time for free.
Beware of this - because it will quickly kill your productivity and your business.

Every time you start into a project, you are interrupted by email, phone calls, instant messages....
Learn to cluster your time - take 60 minutes at the end of your workday when you are less productive... and then (and only then) answer your emails - and make phone calls back.

I wish You Success.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Ways to Create a Product

Creating a new product involves a series of steps from conceptualization to market launch. 
Understand the market and identify a need or problem that your product can solve.
Engage in creative brainstorming sessions to generate and refine product ideas.

A few product ideas:

1- Software Creation - Creating software is one of the easiest ways to create a product fast. 
You can create something for almost any niche. I have one client who had a public domain book about dream interpretation - so he had someone create a software program for under $100 where the user could type in a word, and if found that interpretation in the book and displayed it. 
for the end user.

2- Public Domain - These are "works" where the copyrights have expired. You are able to take these and re-package them and sell them as your own products!

3- Interviews - interview an expert in ANY field and sell the recordings and/or the transcripts. 
This is the best way to become an expert in any field - just interview the experts and people will see you as one of them.

4- Seminar Videos - put on your own seminar, record it with a video camera and sell the footage.

5- Re-niche content - if you're selling a product (or bought rights to a product) - you can re-niche 
it for a different audience. Example would be if you sell a book about speed reading, re-niche it to "speed reading for students."

6- Book on CD - record yourself reading your book and sell it on cd.

7- Resource CD - compile a list of resources for a specific niche and sell the directory. I've 
personally bought resources on supplements directories and also one on "spy" stuff. (I know - I'm a geek)

8- Recycle content - take products or content you've created in the past and re-use it. I'm using this blog post as a newsletter, an article, probably a chapter in a future book... Recycle what you're doing now.

9- Camtasia Video - this is one of the most powerful tools online marketers have. Create screen capture videos of anything you can do on your computer. Demos of software - PowerPoint slides, how to... 
anything computer related. Think how much moolah the "computer professor" makes by making "how to" videos for different Microsoft products.

10- Idea collection - Combine a list of ideas and sell those. I've got friends who sell list of ideas on how to make money quickly, how to clean your carpets, how to take care of lawns, etc...

11- Other experts submit content - get others to submit articles, or audios, or videos, and compile 
them into a product. I had people submit their best stories, pictures and poems and compiled them into a product.

12- Podcasts - like an online radio show that you can download. Have paid podcasts - or record a bunch,
 then take the recordings and put them onto CD's.

13- Membership sites - have residual income coming in when people pay you over and over again for 
access to your membership site. You can provide content in your membership sites - or create software programs that people have to pay monthly to use.

14- Teleseminars - just record yourself interviewing someone or teaching on a subject that you know 
a lot about. The majority of my products were created with some type of teleseminar.

15- Ghostwriters - hire someone (think outsourcing again) to write a book on the subject that you 
want to sell (guru.com).

16- Free coaching calls - do free coaching calls for your members, track their progress, then
 compile the recordings into a product.

17- Mastermind roundtables - get a group of experts together and have them discuss the subject - 
record the full thing and you've got an instant product!

18- Private Label - similar to public domain, but usually created with the intent to sell without a 
copyright. A million ways to use private label stuff. Most people fail at this because they try to sell the content "as is." Be sure to make it your own and you'll have a ton of success with 
these. 

19- Case studies - People teaching the course compiled hundreds of case studies for the subject we were learning about, and then explained how they all worked.

Ensure that your product complies with relevant regulations and standards in your industry.
Create a strong brand identity for your product and design packaging that is attractive, functional, 
and aligned with your brand.

I wish You Success.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Innovative Ways To Use Your Autoresponder

An autoresponder is a tool or feature used in email marketing that automatically sends predefined messages to individuals on your email list in response to specific triggers or actions. 
These triggers can include subscribing to a newsletter, making a purchase, or downloading a resource. Autoresponders are valuable for building and maintaining relationships with your audience, nurturing leads, and delivering timely and relevant information.

A few ideas:

1. Collect leads with your autoresponder. You will get an e-mail digest of everyone's e-mail addresses who requests information from your autoresponder.

2. Publish a price list of all the products and services that you offer. You could also include order forms,
product descriptions, and other sales material.

3. Publish free reports in autoresponder format. The reports should be related to your business or web site. Giving away free stuff will quickly increase your traffic.

4. Collect vital customer satisfaction information by publishing a survey in autoresponder format. This type of information will help you serve them better.

5. Instead of answering every customer question that's e-mailed to you, publish " Frequently Ask Questions" in autoresponder format. This will save time and money.

6. You could publish your testimonials or endorsements in autoresponder format if you don't have the room in your ad copy. It's more effective to include all of them.

7. Provide back issues of your e-zine archives in auto-responder format. This will give your subscribers and web site visitors easy access to them.

8. Publish your entire web site in autoresponder format. Sometimes visitors don't have enough time read your entire site. They could print it out and read it offline.

9. You could offer your eBook in autoresponder format. Your visitors won't have to download it or have the software to read it right away.

10. You could publish the terms and conditions to any business transactions in autoresponder format. This could include return policies, purchases, refunds etc.

Using autoresponders strategically can save time, nurture leads, and enhance the overall effectiveness of your email marketing efforts. Be sure to regularly review and optimize your autoresponder sequences based on performance metrics and subscriber feedback.

I wish You Success.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Stay Motivated

Ensure that you understand your work habits, preferences and long-term goals for the business.
Assess your risk appetite and tolerance. Understanding how comfortable you are with taking risks, 
this can help in making strategic decisions for the business.

Amazing Ways to Jump Start Your Sales:

1.Find a strategic business partner. Look for ones that have the same objective. Choosing the 
right business partner is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the success and dynamics of your business. You can trade leads, share marketing info, sell package deals, etc.

2. Brand your name and business. You can easily do this by just writing articles and 
submitting them to e-zines or web sites for republishing.

3. Start an auction on your web site. The type of auction could be related to the theme of 
your site. You'll draw traffic from auctioneers and bidders.

4. Remember to take a little time out of your day or week to brainstorm. New ideas are usually the difference between success and failure.

5. Model other successful business or people. I'm not saying out right copy them, but practice some of the same habits that have made them succeed.

6. Take risks to improve your business. Sometimes businesses don't want to advertise unless 
it's free, sometimes you have to spend money to get results.

7. Include emotional words in your advertisements. Use ones like love, security, relief, freedom,
 happy, satisfaction, fun, etc.

8. Ask people online to review your web site. You can use the comments you get to improve your web site, or you may turn the reviewer into a customer.

9. Outsource part of your workload. You'll save on most employee costs. You could outsource your 
secretarial work, accounting, marketing, etc.

10. Combine a product and service together in a package deal. It could increase your sales. 
If you're selling a book, offer an hour of consulting with it.

I wish You Success.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Business Plan

If you're thinking about starting a business, but you're not quite sure how, writing out a business plan can be a great way to get things moving. It's also a great way to evaluate how good that idea of yours 
really is. For many people, the process of writing a business plan shows them that their business can make even more money than they originally thought! Now that's motivation!

If you're already running an online business, the process of writing a business plan can help you decide exactly what aspects of your business are succeeding, and which areas could be improved upon. When you do an in-depth analysis of your marketplace, your customers, and your competitors, you'll be amazed by how much you can learn!
 
Business planning is a critical process that involves outlining the goals, strategies, and operational details of a business. It provides a roadmap for how the business will operate, grow, and achieve success. 

Here are the key steps involved in business planning:

Executive Summary:
Summarize the key elements of your business plan. Include the business concept, mission statement, and a brief overview of your goals.

Business Description:
Provide a detailed description of your business, including its mission, vision, values, and legal structure. Explain what sets your business apart from others.

Market Analysis:
Conduct thorough market research to understand your industry, target market, competitors, and trends. 
Analyze the demand for your products or services and identify opportunities and challenges.

Organization and Management:
Outline the structure of your business. Define key roles and responsibilities and introduce the management team. Highlight relevant experience and expertise.

Products and Services:
Clearly describe the products or services your business offers. Highlight their features, benefits, and 
unique selling points. Discuss any proprietary technologies or intellectual property.

Marketing and Sales Strategy:
Detail your marketing and sales approach. Define your target audience, marketing channels, 
pricing strategy, and sales tactics. Include plans for customer acquisition and retention.

Funding Request (if applicable):
If you're seeking funding, clearly state the amount you need, how you'll use the funds, and 
the expected return on investment. Provide financial projections to support your request.

Financial Projections:
Create detailed financial forecasts, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Project revenue, expenses, and profits over the next 3-5 years.

SWOT Analysis:
Conduct a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to assess internal and external factors that can impact your business. Use this analysis to inform your strategy.

Operational Plan:
Outline the day-to-day operations of your business. Discuss production processes, supply chain management, technology requirements, and facilities.

Implementation Plan:
Break down your business plan into actionable steps. Create a timeline with milestones and deadlines. 
Clearly define who is responsible for each task.

Risk Analysis:
Identify potential risks that could affect your business and develop strategies for mitigating these risks. This could include market volatility, regulatory changes, or cybersecurity threats.

Monitoring and Measurement:
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success of your business. Regularly monitor and measure your performance against these indicators.

Exit Strategy:
Outline your exit strategy. This could involve selling the business, passing it on to family members, 
or going public. Having a clear exit plan is crucial for long-term business sustainability.

Appendix:
Include any additional information or supporting documents that are relevant to your business plan. 
This could include resumes of key team members, market research data, or legal documents.

Regularly review and update your business plan to ensure it remains relevant and aligned with your business objectives. If your sales are twice what you expected, go back and update the figures in your business plan. This ensures that your map to profitability is always right up to date.

Business planning is an ongoing process that should be revisited and revised as the business environment evolves. It serves as a dynamic guide for decision-making, helping the business adapt to changes and pursue opportunities for growth.

I wish You Success.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Holiday Offers

Creating compelling holiday offers is a great way to attract customers, boost sales, and create excitement around your products or services. 

It is time to cash in on the most active online season by applying these adjustments.

AN OPT-IN OFFER: Make an offer that speaks to the needs of holiday shoppers. For example, you could put together a "Holiday Buying Guide" that tells people more about your products and explains why they'd make great gifts.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS AND DISCOUNTS: Make sure you offer some special deals on your products to entice your visitors to buy! How about an early-bird deal if your customers make a purchase before a certain date? Or a special discount for those panicky last-minute shoppers? You could offer a two-for-one deal, or even a "holiday gift set" that combines two or more of your products in a gift-ready package!

YOUR SHIPPING INFORMATION: If you're able to offer free or discounted shipping, be sure to include some mention of it in the top fold of your site.

PROVIDE SHIPPING GUARANTEE: Customers should know their gifts will arrive in time. You'll want to put it where your customers can see it right away, at the top of your right- or left-hand sidebar.

PERSONALIZED OFFERS: Use customer data to create personalized offers based on their preferences or past purchases. This can enhance the relevance of your promotions.

YOUR RETURN POLICY: Be sure to let your customers know you offer a no-questions-asked return policy for a certain period after the holidays. It'll give them the extra boost of confidence they need to make a purchase.

CHARITABLE PROMOTIONS: Tie your holiday offers to a charitable cause. For every purchase made, donate a percentage to a selected charity or run a campaign to raise funds for a specific cause.

FREE GIFT-WRAPPING SERVICE: It's another great way to give your customers an extra perk without much additional cost to you. For the cost of some paper and ribbon, you can make any humble package look like a fabulous holiday gift!

REFER-A-FRIEND DISCOUNTS: Encourage your customers to refer friends or family by offering discounts or special deals for both the referrer and the new customer.

URGENCY BUILDERS: Another thing you could include in your first fold is a little "countdown" box that tells your visitors exactly how many days are left to Christmas, or to the shipping deadline for gifts to arrive in time. It might give them the extra "kick in the butt" they need to make a buying decision.
Alternatively, you could install a Hover Ad with an urgent holiday timing message that lets them know exactly how long they've got to make a gift purchase.

Remember to promote your holiday offers through various channels, including your website, email newsletters, social media, and in-store if applicable. Clear and appealing messaging, along with attractive visuals, will help grab the attention of your audience and drive engagement during the holiday season.

I wish You Success.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Time Management


Gaining time, or effectively managing your time, is a valuable skill that can help you achieve your goals. It involves optimizing the use of your time to increase productivity and reduce stress. 

Gaining control over your time requires a combination of planning, prioritization, and discipline. 
Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you and adapt your approach as needed.

Here are some strategies to help you gain time:

Prioritize Tasks- Start by identifying your most important tasks (MITs) for the day or week. 
Focus your time and energy on these high-priority items.

Set Clear Goals- Define your short-term and long-term goals. Knowing what you want to achieve helps you allocate your time more effectively.

Time Blocking- Schedule specific blocks of time for different tasks and activities. This can help you stay organized and ensure you allocate enough time for essential responsibilities.

Use a To-Do List- Create a daily or weekly to-do list to keep track of tasks. Check off completed items to provide a sense of accomplishment.

Eliminate Time Wasters- Identify and reduce activities that waste your time, such as excessive social media use, unproductive meetings, or multitasking.

Delegate- If possible, delegate tasks to others who are capable of handling them. 

Outsource- Consider outsourcing tasks that are not within your expertise or take up too much of your time. This can be particularly helpful for non-core business functions.

Reflect and Evaluate- Regularly reflect on your productivity and evaluate how you're spending your time. Adjust your strategies based on what works best for you.

The ability to gain 1-3 hours a day in productive time can translate into 7-21 hours a week, 
30-90 hours a month, 360-1180 hours a year. That is 1-3 hours a day!

Add 1-2 hours a day through delegating, skill improvement, multi-tasking and improved focus. 
These are things that anyone can do to add more time to their day.
Yes, there are only 24 hours in each day, but we can maximize those hours by working "smarter" rather than longer and employing other skills along with our time management.

I wish You Success.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Anchor more Sales

Anchoring more sales involves implementing strategies that not only attract potential customers but also guide them through the sales process effectively. Make the buying process as simple and straightforward as possible. Minimize steps and reduce friction to prevent potential customers from abandoning their purchase.

Additional Steps

1. Multiply your marketing and advertising efforts on the Internet. You can accomplish this by starting an affiliate program or using viral marketing.
Use online advertising, such as pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, to increase your product or service's visibility. Target specific demographics to reach your ideal customers.

Identify opportunities to cross-sell complementary products or upsell higher-value options. This can increase the average transaction value.


2. Utilize Social Proof; Increase your ratio of visitors that purchase your
product(s) Showcase customer testimonials, reviews, and case studies to build credibility and reassure potential buyers that others have had positive experiences with your offering. 

You could also change your headline, offer a stronger guarantee, etc.


3. Find out who are your strongest leads for buying your product by offering a free ezine. The visitors that are very interested will subscribe to it. Implement targeted email campaigns. to nurture leads and guide them through the sales funnel. Use personalized and relevant content to keep your audience engaged.


4. Team up with your competition by starting an association for your specific industry. It could lead to a profitable partnership with them. Collaborate with influencers in your industry to promote your products. Influencers can help expand your reach and validate your offerings.


5. Know your target audience and understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. Tailor your sales approach to address their specific concerns. Publish an e-zine for your employees. This could motivate them to do a better job. 


6. Clearly communicate the value of your product or service. Use language that resonates with your audience and emphasizes the benefits they will receive. Search for your business' name in newsgroups and discussion boards. Some of the comments you find could help you improve your business.


7. Develop compelling offers and promotions that encourage customers to make a purchase. Limited-time discounts, exclusive bundles, or added bonuses can be effective incentives.

Attract people to link to your web site. You could offer them a discount on the products you sell or give them free stuff for linking.


8. Offer excellent customer service throughout the entire sales process. Respond promptly to inquiries, address concerns and provide assistance when needed. Develop your own opt in email list by giving your visitors a reason to give you their e-mail address. Allow them sign up to free stuff and contests.


9. Create a "PR" web page for your business. Clearly articulate the value your product or service provides. Help customers understand how it solves their problems or fulfills their needs better than alternatives.

List information that could be considered newsworthy for e-zines, newspapers, magazines, etc.


10. Give your business and products credibility by linking to web sites that have written positive stories about your business.

Focus not only on making the sale but also on providing an excellent overall experience that encourages customer loyalty and repeat business.

I wish You Success.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Be a Better Blogger

Creating a better blog involves a combination of engaging content, effective design, and strategic promotion. 

1: Define your Niche
The first step is to clearly define your blog's niche and target audience. 
This helps you create focused and relevant content that appeals to your readers. 
It will also help you determine the voice and writing style that's appropriate for those you're addressing.

In keeping with your blog's niche/purpose, you should have a defined theme. For example, if the purpose of your blog is to express political opinions, the theme might be to promote a low-tax, nonintrusive government.


#2: Create visual appeal.
Your blog site should also be visually appealing, use relevant images to enhance your blog posts. Consider using infographics, videos, and other multimedia elements to make your content more engaging.

You can use color and font styles to set the mood and tone--just make sure the tone. 
matches the content. Whatever your theme, it's best to avoid dark letters on a dark background, tiny or overly fancy typefaces, and other elements that make your blog hard to read.

If your blog is hosted on a public blog site, you may be limited in how much you can change the design, but there will usually be a number of preconfigured visual themes you can choose from. 

#3: Use the proper tools.
Blogging is made much easier, faster, and more convenient if you use a dedicated blogging program or the features of a blogging Web site that lets you compose posts in the Web browser or via e-mail.
Use analytics tools to track the performance of your blog. Understand which content resonates with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

#4: Make it easy to navigate.
If you're designing your blog site from scratch, Create a user-friendly navigation structure. Make it easy for visitors to find the information they're looking for by organizing your content logically... For instance, if you're using comments and RSS feeds, make sure it's clear to readers how to post a comment or subscribe to the feed.

You should also make it easy for readers to find past posts. Make sure archives are organized not just in chronological order but in categories to make it easier to find particular posts.
 
Keep clutter to a minimum but be sure to include the elements that readers need.
Make your site searchable, if possible, so users can find posts using keywords. You can put a free Google search box on your site see (google.com/searchcode.html#both).


#5: Stay in one place.
Many bloggers experiment with different blog hosting sites and/or with hosting their own sites, especially early on in their blogging experience. It may take you awhile to find the best setup but try to do so as soon as possible and then stay in one place so your readers can find you. 

Moving around to different URLs too often is sure to lose you some readers.
If you have an established blog and it's necessary to move it to a different address, try to publish a last post on the old blog that points readers to the new blog and leave it up as long as possible.


#6: Engage your readers.
Perhaps the most important factor in attracting and keep readers is establishing a relationship with them. Encourage reader engagement through comments, social media, or email. 

Respond to comments promptly and foster a sense of community on your blog.
If you don't have a reason to keep your identity confidential, you may be able to benefit (attract the attention of headhunters in your field, become recognized as an expert in a particular area, etc.) by using your real name and providing contact information.

Engaging readers involves winning their trust and thinking of the reader first. If you make claims, back them up with cites and links. If possible, don't link to sites that require a subscription or free registration. 


#7: Establish a blogging schedule.
Blog readers are a fickle bunch. Once you've drawn an audience, they expect to find new content when they visit your blog. That doesn't mean you have to post every day, but you should establish a minimum blogging schedule and stick to it. Let readers know, preferably in a static text box at the top of your blog page, that you will update the blog daily, weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, 

Regular updates help build trust and keep readers coming back for more.
If you need to deviate from your schedule (for example, you're going on vacation), 
let readers know that you won't be posting at the regular time and give them an idea of when you'll be back.


#8: Keep it concise.
 In truth, most readers have short attention spans and/or crowded schedules themselves and would prefer to read a short, pithy post rather than a long, complex one.

Write in a clear and concise manner. Break up large blocks of text with subheadings, bullet points, and images to improve readability.

You'll also attract more readers with common words than with obscure ones, so unless you're writing for a particularly scholarly audience, follow the old KISS advice: Keep it simple, sweetheart.


#9: Proofread before publishing.
Even if you're an English professor, it's easy to end up with typographical errors, misspellings, and grammatical flaws in your posts if you don't proofread before you hit the Publish button. 

It's difficult to catch mistakes in your own writing, because you tend to fill in what you thought you typed, rather than see what's really there. This is particularly true immediately after writing. 

If possible, have someone else proofread your post before you publish it. Otherwise, let it "cool off" for an hour or a day so you can approach it with a more objective proofreader's eye.

And although it's best to catch mistakes before they're published, one huge advantage of Web content is that, unlike print copy, it's easy to change if you discover a problem after publication.


#10: Go syndicate yourself.
You don't have to wait for readers to come to your blog every day or every week. Instead, you can take your blog to them. Use RSS to feed your new blog posts to readers who sign up. This makes it easier for your readers, who don't have to remember to visit your blog Web site to check for new posts--and whatever makes it easier for readers is good for authors. 

You can syndicate just your post titles, short summaries, or entire posts.
Most public blog hosting sites give you the option to syndicate your blog, and it's usually as easy as clicking a button or two in the configuration interface.

Finally Develop a strong brand identity for your blog. This includes a memorable logo, consistent color schemes, and a distinctive writing style. It is also a good idea to Explore different monetization strategies, such as affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts.

I wish You Success.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Socialize for Search Engine


Networking on social media is an effective way to build professional relationships, expand your professional network, and enhance career opportunities.

The key to getting the most out of these social web sites is to start small.
By spending time at these sites, you'll discover what type of information is popular, get tons of ideas for new articles, and find out exactly what's on the minds of regular Internet users. Eventually, start creating some valuable and interesting content of your own,

Identify the social media platforms most relevant to your industry and professional goals. LinkedIn is a primary platform for professional networking, but other platforms like Tiktok and even Instagram can also be valuable depending on your field. 

The main things you should be doing on social media sites:
* Do create a profile with a link back to your web site
* Do tag your articles with relevant keywords 
* Do participate in victual events, webinars and discussions to build your credibility
* Do contribute to the growth and value of these sites by creating and submitting content that is entertaining and solves problems
* Do get a good grasp of what's receiving attention on that specific site before submitting content
* Do invite your friends to go online and vote for your links -- within reason
* DO Offer recommendations to others, as it can foster positive relationships.
* Do give your articles intriguing headlines that will get people to read further
* Do be yourself -- these communities don't reward fakers 

Here are a few things you shouldn't be doing on social media sites:
* Don't spam sites with links only to your own articles, or bookmarks pointing only to your site 
* Don't go overboard when encouraging friends to vote for your links -- organized "gangs" of voters often get discovered and "booed off" these sites
* Don't submit boring or irrelevant content -- this will only hurt your reputation
* Don't be there just to promote yourself -- nobody wants to be friends with people who are only out for themselves! 

By following these rules, you'll become part of the online community, and people will begin to value your opinion and see you as a credible source of information.

I wish You Success.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Formula For Success

Ability and Difficulty are two sides of the same coin, a change in ability (through training) is equivalent to altering the difficulty of the task – by making it easier to accomplish.

The Quick nuggets that date back to at least the old Greeks. And it's still being used today by most everyone who achieves huge and lasting success.

(1) Find someone who's successful doing what you want to do.
(2) Determine what they did to become successful and
(3) Duplicate the steps they took and the methods they used 

Achieving success in business is a complex and multifaceted endeavor, and there is no single formula that guarantees success. However, there are several key principles and strategies that can significantly increase your chances of building a successful business. 

Strategies you can Duplicate:

Clear Vision and Mission- Define a clear and inspiring vision for your business. Understand your 
purpose and the problem you aim to solve. Your vision should guide your long-term goals and decision-making.

Market Research- Conduct thorough market research to understand your target audience, competition, 
and industry trends. Identify gaps and opportunities in the market that your business can address.

Solid Business Plan- Develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines your business goals, strategies, 
financial projections, and operational plans. A well-structured plan will serve as a roadmap for your business.

Unique Value Proposition- Clearly define what sets your products or services apart from the competition.
Highlight the unique benefits you offer to customers.

Quality Products or Services- Ensure that your products or services meet high-quality standards and 
exceed customer expectations. Consistently delivering value will build trust and loyalty.

Adapt to Failure- Don't fear failure; embrace it as a steppingstone to success. Many successful entrepreneurs have experienced multiple failures before achieving their goals. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

Work-Life Balance- While pursuing business success is important, it's equally vital to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Balance and well-being contribute to long-term sustainability.

Give Back- Consider the impact your business can have on the community and the world. Many successful businesses also prioritize corporate social responsibility and give back to causes they care about.


I wish You Success.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Profit with A Business Plan

If you're serious about the success of your business, then you need to find ways to give yourself every advantage you can over your competition.

A business plan can serve a couple of main purposes: In the world of banking and venture capital, 
business plans play a huge role for people who are trying to secure start-up funding from banks or
investors. The better the business plan, the better the chances of landing that big initial investment.

For smaller companies, who do not need to rely on outside funding to get started, a 
business plan serves more as a company blueprint. It identifies the company's purpose, products, market, and goals, as well as the steps the company plans to take to reach those goals.

There are 7 main sections that should be included in every business plan.

Section 1: The Executive Summary
The executive summary is basically your entire business plan condensed down into a page or two (at the most). If and when you show your business plan to others, this is the only part that 75% of them will actually read. For this reason, you need to make this section as clear, concise, and exciting as possible.

Your executive summary should contain a few key items. 
what your business does, 
who your market is,  
what opportunity you've identified 
what sets your company apart from others.
financial information 
projected revenues 
how much money you need.
company's achievements, 
milestones reached to date.
register a domain name, 
a web site, 
a patent application, 

Section 2: Description of Business
This section will contain an in-depth description of your company, including what products or 
services you sell, who your customers are, what your operating structure is (Are you a wholesaler?
A reseller? A manufacturer?), the legal details of your company (Is it a corporation? A partnership? 
A sole proprietorship?), and your distribution methods.


Section 3: Market Strategies
Think of this section as your marketing plan. This is where you'll want to go into detail regarding who your target market is and how you intend to sell to them. This section will contain information about how big your audience is, how fast it is growing, and how large you expect your market share to be.

Some great sites where you can start this research are: CyberAtlas, Nua Internet Surveys, MarketResearch.com 


Section 4: Competitive Analysis
The competitive analysis section of your business plan is where you explain, in detail, the 
strengths and weaknesses of your main competitors. This will allow you to realistically determine where you can position your business in the market in relation to your competition.

Make sure to do an honest appraisal of who your competition is. If your site is selling board games, 
your main competition is NOT Toys 'R' Us. Instead, your biggest competitors are other niche sites that focus on selling board games. 

A great tool for doing competitive analysis is http://www.alexa.com, 

Section 5: Development Plan and/or Operational Strategy
If your company is still in the developmental stage (with no product and/or no revenues).
The best way to do this is to write out a development timeline with the projected completion dates for various milestones your company will need to reach before it can start making sales.

This is the section where you must plan to profit! Failing to do so is one of the most common mistakes made by businesses. All too often, people just set up shop without ever really planning exactly HOW they are going to become profitable!


Section 6: Management
I can guarantee that after a prospective investor reads through your Executive Summary, they will flip directly to your Management section before reading anything else. They'll want to get a clear idea of
"who" your company is -- after all, a business idea is only as good as the people behind it!

Make sure to go into detail about what makes you uniquely qualified to operate this sort of business. 
What special skills do you bring to the company? How do your areas of expertise give you a distinct advantage over people operating similar companies?


Section 7: Financials
The last half of these documents are filled with balance sheets, earnings projections, capital requirements, depreciation estimates, and dozens of other highly detailed financial statements. 

Unless you are going to be trying to land big investors, I really don't recommend hiring a professional 
to write your business plan for you. You'll learn so much about your business and your competitors doing it yourself that it would be a shame to let someone else go through the process for you!
Instead, focus on your monthly income and monthly expenses. The best way to do this is to put together a simple 12-month cash flow forecast.

If you are going to be using your business plan as a tool to attract capital from banks or investors, 
then your business plan will need to be MUCH more detailed than if you are preparing it for personal use. 

Business Plan Resources:
The United States Small Business Administration has an excellent resource online at 
sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html. 
The Annual Moot Corp Competition challenges top MBAs from around the world to submit their business plans to be evaluated by a panel of investors. The winning entries from the past 
few years are online at businessplans.org/MootCorp.html.

Once you've written your business plan, you'll be amazed at how often you refer to it. It will 
become your "battle plan," as well as the tool you'll use to measure how close you are to meeting your goals. A professional-looking business plan will give you a TON of credibility simply because most businesses never take the time to prepare one.

Be sure to make your business plan a perpetual "work in progress." Go back and review it. 

I wish You Success.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

The Pivotal Finances


The average person would not be able to live for more than three months if they were unable to draw an income. This means that they are dependent upon insurance, government programs, friends and family. 
The primary goal of savings is to provide a much higher level of personal independence and security.

You can make two million dollars a year but if you spend 2.5 million dollars, it doesn't matter how much money you made, does it? You will be saddled with debt.

One of the key components to long-term wealth building is the discipline of saving money on a regular basis.  One simple difference between the philosophy of the rich and the poor is: 
the rich save/invest their money and spend what is left. 
the poor spend their money and save/invest what is left.

Investing involves risk - calculated risk - and the possibility for much more reward. Investing is the 
maximizing of capital gain and the harnessing of compound interest. Saving is not the pursuit of aggressive growth of our resources. Saving and investing are done for different reasons and with different desired goals and outcomes.
 
Saving is an act of discipline. No matter how you slice it, saving money on a regular basis is a 
discipline. It is not "dependent" on income. Pick up any number of magazines and you can read about an athlete who made twenty million dollars over seven years and is now bankrupt. It isn't a matter of money. It is a matter discipline. On a regular basis, put a little away until it builds up. That is the savings game.

Saving builds self-reliance. Our ultimate goal financially should be to become independent, without 
relying on anyone else. We should be able to pay our bills and long-term, live off of the interest of 
the savings and investments we have. A solid base on which to build the rest of our financial independence.

So, through our diligent saving, we rely on what we have accrued. Then we become more able to help those in need. We are now the lender and not the borrower. A good savings goal is to have at least six months of living expenses set aside. For example, if your expenses are $2,000 a month, then you should set the amount of $12,000 as a savings goal. This gives you the ability to be self-reliant for those times when you may need it, and the peace of mind knowing you would be able to handle challenging circumstances if necessary.
 
Saving money in a standard savings account or money market account will pay a nominal sum, say 2-4 percent, depending upon interest rates. There is something called the rule of 72, which says that whatever interest rate you average, divided into 72, will determine how many years it takes to double your money. So, even at 3 percent, your money will double in 24 years. 

That isn't extraordinary by any means, but it does happen. Your money is working for you. You get more money simply by letting it sit there and letting compound interest do its work. With saving, this is a 
seemingly small beginning, but it is the strong foundation of security that allows you to build the future of your dreams and goals and provides the anchor to help you weather financial storms that can come your way. 

The exciting news is that you now have a solid base to start your investment drive. 

I wish You Success.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Making That Change

If you want to get more out of a team or group, don’t just push harder – think what’s holding them back.

Different forces at play, it was the renowned German-born psychologist, Kurt Lewin, who most clearly identified that the regular pattern which emerges in these activities, or ‘processes’, is determined by the interplay of a wide variety of different ‘forces. 

The forces themselves can be categorized into two opposing types: driving and restraining forces. 
Driving forces may be ambition, goals, needs or fears. They may act as ‘forces toward’ or 
‘forces away from’ something. A restraining force, on the other hand, is different in nature: 
it merely opposes the driving forces. 

In the context of organizational change and development, restraining forces refer to factors that resist or hinder the implementation of change initiatives. These forces act as obstacles, barriers, or resistance 
mechanisms that work against the desired changes within an organization. Identifying and understanding these restraining forces is crucial for change leaders to develop effective strategies to overcome them. 

Here are some common restraining forces:
1- Existing organizational structures, processes, and systems may resist change due to their inherent inertia. Bureaucratic structures, in particular, can be resistant to modifications that may disrupt established workflows.

2- Poor communication about the reasons for change, the expected outcomes, and the implementation process can contribute to resistance. Ambiguity and misinformation can lead to distrust and resistance among employees.

A forcefield operates in such a way that the opposing forces balance out at a point where the driving and restraining forces are equal. This is the point at which the usual rhythm and pattern of human activity becomes established. 

To create change, therefore, Lewin suggested that two questions have to be answered: 
1- why does the process, under its present circumstances, carry on at this level 
2- what are the conditions for changing those present circumstances?

Although change is always going on within any group of people, life has a tendency to settle down, 
and activities develop a rhythm and pattern of their own. It happens in our personal life too – 
we develop habits that we hardly notice; for example, where we shop for food. Typically, the same 
supermarket is visited and a broadly similar range of food is bought each time.

Make that Change.

I wish You Success.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

What is a strategic alliance

When you're running a business, you ALWAYS have to be on the lookout for ways to add new streams of income. And one of the BEST ways to do this is by entering into "win-win" relationships with other businesses!

Strategic alliances are formed to achieve specific goals or objectives that benefit all parties involved.
Common objectives may include entering new markets, developing new products, sharing technology, 
or improving operational efficiency.

You never know WHERE you're going to find your next business partner!

How do these arrangements benefit the businesses? Think about it... When Starbucks has a shop inside a big bookstore like Barnes & Noble, it gets to put its products within the eyeballs of a lot of potential customers.

Barnes & Noble, meanwhile, is happy to play host to Starbucks because its customers won't have to 
leave the bookstore to get their daily caffeine fix. The more time people spend inside the store, 
the longer they're exposed to all those books -- and the more likely they are to make a purchase!

Types of Strategic Alliances:

Joint Ventures- Two or more companies create a separate legal entity to pursue a 
specific project or business opportunity.

Equity Alliances- Companies acquire equity stakes in each other, creating a financial 
interest and alignment of long-term goals.

Non-equity Alliances- Partnerships where companies cooperate without forming a new entity or exchanging equity.

The point is strategic alliance and joint venture opportunities are EVERYWHERE. If you keep 
yourself open to the possibilities, there's no limit to where you can take your business! Strategic alliances provide a level of flexibility that allows organizations to adapt to changing market conditions without the complexities of mergers or acquisitions.

Just make sure you research your potential partners carefully and contact them in a professional manner.
Partners should have well-defined exit strategies in case the alliance does not meet expectations or 
if market conditions change.

Strategic alliances can be powerful tools for anyone seeking to enhance their competitiveness, 
expand their reach, and innovate. However, they require careful planning, effective communication, 
and ongoing management to realize their full potential.

I wish You Success.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Things You Should Know Before You Bid

Online auction is an e-commerce model that allows users to bid on and purchase items through the internet. These auctions can take various forms, and they provide a dynamic and interactive platform for buyers and sellers. 

Types of Online Auctions:
English Auction- Also known as an ascending-bid auction, participants place increasingly higher bids.
The item goes to the highest bidder when the auction ends.

Dutch Auction- Starts with a high asking price that is gradually lowered until a bidder accepts.
The first bidder to accept the price wins the item.

Reverse Auction- Buyer's post what they are willing to pay, and sellers compete to offer the lowest bid.
Often used in business-to-business transactions.

Sealed-Bid Auction- Bidders submit concealed bids, and the highest bidder wins.
The bids are not revealed to other participants.

Valuable Auction Tips:
1. Know the value of the product before you bid. If the product is brand new, check to see what price
retailers are charging for it. If the product is used or reconditioned, you will want to pay way less than the retail value.

2. If the product's description or picture isn't detailed enough for you, contact the merchant to get more
information before you bid. You don't want to take a chance to waste your hard earned money.

3. Know the highest price you will bid for the product and stick with it. Don't get caught up in a bidding war; you may end up paying more than the product's worth. Don't forget to add in the shipping price with your bid.

4. Visit a few online auctions before bidding because some merchants auction the same product in many
auctions. You usually can purchase the product for a lower price in a unpopular auction because there are less bidders.

5. Know the time the auction begins and ends. You also want to know how long it will take to ship. If
you need the product by a certain date, you'll want to estimate the time it will take to receive it.

6. Know the payment options the merchant accepts before you bid on their product. If they only accept
checks or money orders, it may take even longer to get the product because the payment has to clear. If
they accept credit cards make sure they have a secure server.


7. Know if the merchant offers a warranty or money back guarantee or before bidding on a product. You
don't want to get stuck with a product that does not work, or you're not satisfied with.


8. Online auctions will, sometimes, allow you to check the merchant's history with their auction. Check to see if people have complained about their products or business practices before you decide to bid.


9. It's important to place a bid early in the auction to show other bidders you are interested in the product. If someone does out bid you, don't be afraid to outbid them. Remember not to go over your maximum bid price.


10. Another reason to know when the auction ends; you can place a last-minute bid. The other bidders
may not be keeping track of when the auction ends or may not have the time to bid again.

I wish You Success.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Profitable Ways To Recycle Your Content

Repackaging involves collaborating with other businesses or websites for cross-promotion.
Guest post on industry blogs or participate in joint marketing initiatives. Offer exclusive discounts or promotions in partnership with other businesses.

1. Repackage your web site content into different products to sell. You could create speeches, audio books, classes, and video tapes with your content.


2. Divide your content up and use it for promotional articles. You could submit them to other web sitesor ezines for publicity. Just add your resource box.


3. Allow people to link to your web site's content. This is a fast way to get hundreds of people linkingto your web site.


4. Add to your content and create an eBook to sell. You don't want to sell your free content, but if youadd to it you can. It's an extra profit stream.


5. Compile it into a free eBook. You could submit it to free eBook directories. Use it as a bonus for when people subscribe to your e-zine.


6. Use your free content as a lead in product for your fee based content or private site. Just allow them the option of up grading to the paid version.


7. Place it on follow-up autoresponders from your web site. This is a great way to remind people to come back and revisit your web site.


8. Create a free bonus out of your content for your main product. When you add new content, remove the old content and create a bonus product with it.


9. Use the content to create a press release. This works well if you need extra information for your press release announcement.


10. Trade content with other web sites. It will give you the chance to get new content and promote your web site at the same time.

Finally collaborate with influencers in your industry to reach their followers.
Identify influencers who align with your brand and target audience.
Leverage influencer partnerships for sponsored content or product endorsements.

I wish You Success.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Streams of Revenue to Your Business

 
If you're just getting started on the Internet -- or simply looking for ways to add new revenue streams to your business -- you might consider the option of
placing ads for other companies' products on your web site.

When you're just starting out, your primary focus needs to be on promoting your OWN business -- not someone else's.

It's far better to build a relationship with your target market and generate interest in your own products than it is to try generating profits by advertising another company's items.

If you don't have a regular flow of visitors to your site, no one is going to be checking out YOUR products, let alone the ads you have for other people's products!

It takes a lot of research and testing on an already ESTABLISHED site to make even the best Internet advertising strategies truly pay off.

Content Marketing:

Develop a content strategy that provides value to your target audience.
Regularly publish blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, and other content.
Share your content on social media platforms and encourage social sharing.

Social Media Marketing:

Establish a strong presence on social media platforms relevant to your audience.
Share engaging content, participate in conversations, and build relationships.
Use paid advertising on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to reach a wider audience.

Email Marketing:

Build an email list by offering valuable content or incentives.
Send regular newsletters with updates, promotions, and relevant information.
Personalize your email campaigns to enhance engagement.

Interactive Content:

Create quizzes, surveys, contests, or interactive tools to engage your audience.
Encourage social sharing and participation to expand your reach.
Use interactive content as a way to collect user data and feedback.

You may also find that you have a target audience that resists the presence of ads on a web site. If you're putting them off by placing affiliate ads or google AdSense on your pages, then you could end up losing more customers and revenue than you actually gain!

To make sure this doesn't happen, remember to always TEST every single aspect of each new ad campaign you run.

Only try one technique at a time -- that's the ONLY way to effectively track how successful the advertising is for you AND the company whose products you're promoting.

Once you can tell how a certain strategy is working, you can make an informed decision on whether or not it truly suits your site, your visitors, and the company you're running the ads for.

I wish You Success.

Monday, June 19, 2006

The Secrets of Persistance

"The person of good and lawful purpose cannot fail. It only needs that he daily renews the fire and energy of his fixed resolve, to consummate his object."

Persistence is the great equalizer for all of those reaching for success.

It overcomes lack of education, money, talent, intelligence, looks and all other seeming advantages. President Calvin Coolidge said nothing could take its place.

I cannot think of one victory I've ever had that I won without persistence. For a 
while I just thought that I had to work harder and longer than anyone else in order
to achieve the same thing. 

Then I really looked around and noticed that everyone else was just like me. 
Every mentor and every successful person I've ever known has their own story of how persistence was the key to their success.

Here's what Bob Proctor teaches: "This law decrees that all seeds (ideas are spiritual seeds) have a gestation or incubation period before they manifest. In other words, when you choose a goal or build the image in your mind, a definite period of time must elapse before that image manifests in physical results."

My most favorite inspirational example about persistence is the story of an Asian 
Bamboo species that even after five years of watering, weeding and fertilizing is barely visible. Then in a span of about six weeks it grows two and a half feet a day to 90 feet and higher. It grows so fast that you can literally "hear" it growing. The question to ask is did the bamboo grow 90 feet in six weeks or did it grow 90 feet in 
five years?

Obviously, it grew 90 feet in five years, for all the time when growth wasn't visible it was developing a massive root system that would later support its magnificent growth.

While pursuing business success is important, it's equally vital to maintain a healthy 
work-life balance. Balance and well-being contribute to long-term sustainability.

Consider the impact your business can have on the community and the world. Many successful businesses also prioritize corporate social responsibility and give back to causes they care about.

Remember that everyone's journey to business success is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all philosophy. It's essential to define your own principles and beliefs that guide you in your pursuit of success while remaining adaptable and open to new ideas and experiences along the way.


I wish You Success.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Business Lessons

Honestly, I could write a book about what it was like teaming up with a mentor ...... and perhaps one day I will. 

Success often begins with a choice and deep passion for what you do. Find a business or career path that aligns with your passions and values.

Resilience and Perseverance: Success is rarely immediate. Be prepared for setbacks and challenges. True success often comes to those who persist through difficulties with determination and resilience.

Integrity and Ethics: Build your business on a foundation of honesty and ethical conduct. Trust and reputation are invaluable assets that can lead to long-term success.

Innovation and Creativity: Encourage a culture of innovation within your organization. 
Be open to new ideas and creative solutions. Innovation can set your business apart from competitors.

Lesson 1: Failure doesn't "happen"; it's a choice.

There were only two ways you could "fail." You could give up and quit. Or you could decide not to learn from your mistakes.

Test new ideas, learn from what works, and what doesn't. Then apply those lessons to your next test or idea, do this until you get a satisfactory result. Even when mistakes occur, seek out the positive in every bad situation and say, "Well, what did we learn from this?"

... And, more important, "Will we do it again?"

Every costly lesson was going to result in exponentially greater success in the long term.


Lesson 2: Assume nothing, test everything.

Theories, assumptions, and guesses were the enemies of success you should either go straight to the source for the answers or test it yourself. Sometimes you even need to test the
"Facts." For example...
  • The customer demographics you collected through a survey last year may have drastically changed. 
  • And some of the most interesting statistics may be based on flawed data. (Always read the "fine print," and if there isn't any, ask for it!)
Before you make decisions, ask questions. Assume nothing. Test everything.

And don't be afraid of offending someone -- even an "expert"-- by questioning their logic. The true experts will applaud you for this. And your questions will expose the fakes.


Lesson 3: Make opportunities to learn and take notes.

Be absolutely relentless in reading. Always look for new strategies and marketing ideas that you could pluck from other industries.

The secret is making notes about everything you read and keeping all your thoughts in a couple of "master project documents" that you could refer back to every month.

The "genius" ideas... comes from these notes.

That way, even if an idea didn't work today, you could refer back to it sometime in the future.

"genius" doesn't just happen -- you need to look for opportunities to learn and keep track of your thoughts. Your best ideas will frequently be sparked by new information, or 
new approaches to old information.

Lesson 4: Seek out great teachers and be a great listener.

Never be afraid to ask "great people" for advice...
Never be concerned about looking dumb. There is absolutely no need to be the smartest guy in the room, always be focused on learning. Be a student of everything...and everyone.

If you want to fast-track your success, it's critical to learn from those who have gone before you... even if you just have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

Find people who are getting the results YOU want to achieve and ask them to mentor you. even if that meant paying hefty consulting fees for their guidance.

Ask people around you for feedback...How could you improve as a leader?
How could you be a better public speaker?

It takes guts to ask the people around you for feedback. But it takes wisdom to openly listen and learn from it.


Lesson 5: Define your own success and live with passion.

One of the most inspirational beliefs is that absolutely anyone can be successful.

You can learn anything... be anything... do anything.

If you decide that your age, background, and education limit your potential, they will. But if you decide that you can do anything, you will...

It's absolutely shocking what ONE step a day... just 10minutes a day... one hour a day... can accomplish over one month... three months... six months.

Just imagine where YOU would be in six months if you dedicated even 20 minutes a day to working on your business... learning new strategies... or building a "swipe file" of marketing ideas!

Success isn't determined by genetics. It's about Persistent, Consistent Action, Teamwork and Collaboration: 

Recognize that you can't do it all on your own. Surround yourself with talented and motivated individuals who share your vision and work together to achieve common goals.

These are personal philosophies I plan to continue.

I wish You Success.

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

What is link popularity

Link popularity is a term used in the context of search engine optimization (SEO) to 
describe the level of popularity or authority a website or web page has based on the
number and quality of links pointing to it from other websites. It is one of the many 
factors that search engines consider when ranking web pages in search results.


Why is it important?

Increasing the number of quality links to your web site is the single most efficient technique you can use to increase traffic to your web site and boost your search engine rankings. The benefits of having a large number of relevant web sites linking to yours
are two-fold....

1. Direct Traffic

Your web site will start to receive a consistent stream of highly targeted visitors. Unlike search engine rankings and paid advertising (banners, per click, etc.), traffic generated by link campaigns can usually be counted on for years to come, with no recurring cost. If you have a commercial site, an added benefit is that incoming visitors may perceive your site in a better light, since they have found it via a recommendation (link) on another web site.

2. Search Engine Rankings

Increasing the link popularity of your web site can dramatically improve your search engine rankings. Most major search engines have tailored their algorithms (internal rules used to decide which sites are given priority) to reward sites which have high link popularity. Why? Two reasons...

- Search engines have found that judging a site by who links to it is one of the best 
indicators of site quality. After all, not many webmasters make a habit out of linking to bad or less than useful web sites.

- In the past, search engines have played a continual cat and mouse game with many webmasters who try to 'trick the engines' or 'beat the system'. Link popularity is one of the few factors which is very difficult to abuse (a webmaster would have to have control of tens or hundreds of different sites located on different servers). As a result, it is a safe bet that the major engines will continue to rely on link popularity and reward 'well-linked' sites in the future.

It is this approach which has made search engines like Google the new standard. In fact, Google's entire approach relies heavily on link promotion and link quality. In describing their proprietary ranking system (PageRank), Google's web site says the following...

PageRank relies on the uniquely democratic nature of the web by using its vast link structure as an indicator of an individual page's value. In essence, Google interprets a link from page A to page B as a vote, by page A, for page B. But Google looks at more than the sheer volume of votes, or links a page receives; it also analyzes the page that casts the vote. Votes cast by pages that are themselves "important" weigh more heavily and help to make other pages "important."

It's not just quantity.... it's quality!

Anchor Text: The text used in the link (anchor text) can also impact link popularity. Relevant and descriptive anchor text can help search engines understand the content of the linked page.

Link Diversity: Having a diverse set of sources for your backlinks can be more beneficial than relying on just one or two sources. A variety of sources can indicate broader relevance.

In addition, links from these sites have the advantage of being considered 'more relevant' by the search engines and will help your own rankings improve.

I wish You Success.

How to Increase link popularity


Locating qualified link prospects

Learning how to find the right sites to approach is essential to increasing your link popularity.
Approaching the wrong sites can quickly sabotage your efforts
  
First you need to find sites which are relevant to your site. These are sites whose content is 
related to yours or whose visitors are likely to be interested in your site. Of these, many may 
not link to external sites. Others may not feel that your site is relevant to theirs. Weeding out 
these types of sites can be very time consuming. Luckily, there is a better way...

Running link popularity reports on competitors

This 'magic list' is the list of web sites which already link to one of your competitors!

For example, let's say the webmaster of Papa John's Pizza wanted to engage in a comprehensive link promotion campaign. He could spend days trying to locate different sites which would be interested in linking to a pizza company web page. Or he could run a Link Popularity report on one of his competitors (Dominos.com or PizzaHut.com) and find thousands of web sites who are related to 'pizza' in some way because they already link to a national pizza company.

Why it works

The list of sites which link to your competitors is extremely targeted. Since each of these sites 
already links to a competitor of yours, it is highly likely that...

1. These sites are relevant to your site.

2. They are willing to link to external sites in your field.

With this report in hand, you can quickly visit each of the sites 
(to verify that it is a quality, relevant sites), then introduce yourself to their webmaster 
and ask to be included on their site. In most cases, you will want to write a personalized message and mention that you noticed that they already link to sites in your field. This highly selective, personalized approach is one of the best possible ways to increase your site's link popularity.

Why approaching the right sites is critical....

1. Approaching the right types of sites will greatly improve your link request response rate. 
Webmasters who have an interest in your field are much more likely to be interested in opening and reading your link request letter. The majority of ignored or deleted link request letters are cookie-cutter messages sent to poorly selected sites. By selecting only specific pages which already contain very similar links, you will greatly increase the chance that your message will be opened and viewed favorably.

2. Relevant sites are much more likely to link to you. Targeting the right sites is the best 
possible way to increase the number of links to your site. If done properly, finding the perfect 
sites to approach will be a win-win situation for both your site and the sites you contact. 
Assuming you have a good site, you will be doing webmasters a favor by pointing out an extremely relevant site which may be of interest to their visitors. These webmasters are much more likely to link to your site and in many cases will thank you for taking the time to contact them.

3. Once they link to you, the visitors they send you will be more interested in your content. 
Since they are coming from a relevant site, these visitors are more likely to be interested in 
your content. They may perceive your site in a better light and even be more likely to do business with you since your site has been recommended (linked to) by another trusted site 
(as opposed to found via a banner ad or sponsored listing). Depending on the recommending site and the description of the link, you may find that these special types of visitors are much more profitable than your average visitor.

4. Increasing the number of relevant links to your web site can dramatically increase your search engine rankings. The major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, Altavista) reward sites which have high link popularity. However, just getting hundreds of random web sites to link to you will not help your search engine rankings. The relevance of the sites linking to you is extremely important. By focusing exclusively on gaining links from relevant web sites, you will be giving yourself a tremendous advantage over sites who take a more scattered, less effective approach.

Stay one step ahead of your competition: By analyzing who links to them, you can also determine...

1. Are they currently engaging in a link promotion campaign?
2. Are they purchasing banner advertisements or sponsoring related web sites?
3. Have they submitted their site to industry specific directories and resources?
4. Who their affiliates and joint venture partners are.
5. Are their customer's complaining about them?

Use this information to gain new insight into your competition and give you ideas to increase 
your own on-line marketing efforts. Being aware of who links to you competitors and using this information wisely can help you quickly build your link popularity. 

Natural vs. Manipulated Links: Search engines are against manipulative practices like buying or exchanging links solely for the purpose of improving link popularity. They prefer natural, organic backlinks that are earned through high-quality content and reputation.

I wish You Success.