Saturday, December 27, 2008

Seasonal Key Phrases

At this time of year, there's a substantial increase in searches based on gift-related keywords, as shoppers look for presents for their loved ones. For example...
Hobby-Related Key Phrases:
Golf gift idea.
Fishing gift idea
Video game gift idea
 
Individual - Specific Key Phrases:
Christmas gift for Fisherman
Christmas gift for Plumber
Christmas gift for Student

So, make sure you've set up a pay-per-click campaign to take advantage of these seasonal searches -- and you'll increase the number of holiday shoppers to your site almost IMMEDIATELY. But don't just write your ads and call it a day!

To get the highest possible conversion rate from your PPC campaign, you need to continue the theme of the keywords you're bidding on in the salescopy. So, if someone comes to your website after searching with the key phrase "Christmas Gift for Student," your copy on the landing page needs to explain why your product will make a good gift for a student. If there isn't a direct connection between the copy in the ad, and the copy on the page, visitors can easily feel they've landed on the wrong page... and leave again.

One final word of advice: Avoid more general keywords and phrases, such as "Christmas Gift". You won't get the kind of qualified traffic that you need.

See You at the Top

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Close the Sale

Closing the sale is perhaps the most stressful and challenging part of the sales process.
There are secrets that can unlock your very own selling skills.

Here are 3 closing secrets that can easily triple your sales.

#1: The Preference Close- Also called alternative close is based on the fact that people like to have choices. They don't like to be given an ultimatum to either buy it or not buy it. To apply this technique, you simply structure your close by saying, 
"Which of these would you prefer, A or B?"
You should always try to give the customer two choices. Even if you are selling a single product, you can give him two choices with regard to payment, or delivery. 
For example, 
"Would you like this delivered to your office or to your home?" 
"Will that be MasterCard or Visa?"

#2: The Secondary Close- Also called incremental Close, it is extremely popular. It is a way of helping the customer make a big decision by having him make a small decision first. Instead of asking the customer to go ahead with the product or service, you ask a question about a peripheral detail, the acceptance of which means a sale.
For example, you could ask, 
"Would you want this shipped in a wooden crate, or would cardboard be all right?" 
"Would you like us to include the drapes and rods in the offer?" 
"Did you want the standard rims or would you like the customized racing rims on your car?"

In each case, if the customer agrees to or chooses the smaller item, he has indirectly said, "yes" to the entire offering. People often find it easier to agree to small details than they do to making a larger commitment. You get commitment bit by bit to the entire offer.

#3: The Authorization Close- This is often used to conclude multimillion-dollar transactions. 
At the end of the sales conversation, the salesperson simply asks if the prospect has any questions or concerns that haven't been covered. If the prospect has no further questions or concerns, the salesperson takes out the contract, opens it up to the signature page. 
"If you will just authorize this, we'll get started on it right away." 

The word "authorize" is better than the word "sign."  
Offering to "get started right away" is better than sitting there hoping for the best.

Whatever you do, just be prepared to ask for the order.

I wish You Great Success.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Strategies for New Business

There are four strategies you can use to find a new product or service to start or build your own business. 

LOOK IN YOUR OWN FIELD: The first strategy is to find a new product or service in your own field or skills. You may have a million dollar idea in your own mind. Many people have had the experience of having an idea for a product or service nag at them over and over again that you keep ignoring it. 
The average person has four ideas each year, any one of which would make them successful if they would just follow through. So, look into your own field or skills. Look into your own mind. Look into your own ideas.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHEN YOU TRAVEL: The second strategy is to find a new product or service while you travel. Keep your eyes open for opportunities. An ordinary man started his fortune by traveling east and spotting opportunity in a unique type of orange drink called Orange Julius and then getting the exclusive rights to sell it in a large Western city. He developed a high positive cash flow from his Orange Julius business and expanded into real estate. Sometimes just finding a new product or service that is doing well somewhere else that hasn't come to your market area can make you wealthy.

GET THE RIGHTS TO SELL IT: Remember your objective, when you find a new product or service, is to acquire the rights to sell the product or service exclusively in your market area. Sometimes these rights are available for the asking. Peter Thomas got the rights for Century 21 to Canada simply by going to the offices and asking when it was a young company. From that, he turned Century 21 into one of the most successful real estate franchises in Canada. 

BE SURE IT IS ALREADY SUCCESSFUL: Sometimes just asking for the right to sell it in your market area is all you have to do. Here's the key, though. Before you bring a new product or service back to your market area, be absolutely sure that it sells well somewhere else. Many people advertise products outside their market area because they are not selling inside their home market, so make very sure that the product is selling well already in other markets.

DEVELOP A WEALTH-MAKING ATTITUDE: keep your eyes open and alert to new business opportunities occurring around you. Develop a wealth-making attitude. You can be very successful by building commercial property across the street shopping centers. The traffic from the shopping center will make your commercial space extremely valuable. So be alert to what is going on around you.

BE SURE YOU LIKE IT YOURSELF: Remember you will only be successful marketing and selling something that you believe in and use yourself. It is a critical mistake to sell a product or service that you can neither afford nor use. 
You must really believe in the product. 
You must be excited about the product. 
You must absolutely believe that this product can enhance the lifestyle of someone else. 

Then be eager to tell them about it.

ACTION EXERCISES: 
1- New business mentality; Look around you for new products and services that people need, want and are willing to pay for.
2- Wealth making attitude; Look around you for opportunities to sell products or services that 
are not currently being offered, at either higher prices or in greater quantities. 

The possibilities are everywhere.


I wish You Great Success.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Survey Designs



Surveys can be a useful source of information for planning and effective marketing.

Designing your survey takes a bit of skill, but with a small amount of consideration you'll have no problem putting an effective one together. Just be sure that you're putting the questions in a logical order, and not exhausting your customers by asking for too much detail.

Here are a few tips to help you design a better survey:

Start with the good stuff -- To ease your customers into the survey, start off with some simple questions they can answer without a lot of thought. This can be something as simple as basic demographic information (age, location, etc.), which also happens to be useful information.But don't load up the front end with all of the easy questions. Save a few for the end of the survey. That way, it won't get increasingly difficult throughout, which can cause some people to bail before they complete it.

Avoid asking too many questions -- 5-10 minutes is about the maximum length you can reasonably expect somebody to spend answering a survey, so be sure to limit your questions.At the same time, be sure to let your respondents know up front how much time will be required to complete it... and be honest! People will begin to drop out if it starts to take longer than you say.

Give your survey an introduction and ending -- It's a good idea to include an introduction to the survey, to clearly explain what people are required to do. At the same time, it's a nice touch to end the survey with a "thank-you" page, just to let people know you appreciate the time they spent taking the survey.

Respect people's privacy -- You may want to collect personal information like age, income, and occupation. If you do so, make sure to reassure your customers beforehand that you have a strict privacy policy, and remind them that their answers are all confidential. When it comes time to write the actual questions, make sure you write in a relaxed, conversational voice, and avoid things like abbreviations, acronyms, and double negatives.

You want to be sure that EVERY person who takes your survey clearly understands all of the questions.

Here are a few tips to help you write compelling and effective survey questions:

Avoid asking leading questions -- Be sure that your questions don't sway your customers toward answering them in a particular way, or giving an answer that's not actually true. For example, don't say: "How quickly did we resolve your problem? " This assumes that the problem was indeed resolved.The question you should ask is, "Was your problem resolved?"

Avoid questions that rate more than one thing -- Avoid asking questions that require people to rate more than one thing at a time.For instance, don't say: "How fast and accurate did you find our customer service representative?"While the service may have been fast, it may not have been accurate (or vice versa) so this question is impossible to answer accurately.

Focus on asking "close-ended" questions -- In a survey, a close-ended question is one that can be answered with a simple yes/no or other specific piece of information, or a selection from multiple choices.This makes the survey faster and easier for your customers, and the results more simple for you to manage.So instead of a question like "What did you think of your customer service experience?" try something like "Did you enjoy your customer service experience?"

Be consistent with your questions -- If you ask your customers to rate certain things on a numbered scale, make sure to use the same scale each time.So if they need to rate something on a scale of 1 to 5 in one question, avoid using a scale of 1 to 10 elsewhere.

Watch out for long questions -- If your questions are too long, your customers will soon get tired of answering them, and abandon the survey. Look for questions that can be broken into two or more parts.

Don't test your customers' memories -- Try not to ask your customers to recall a lot of information that happened far in the past. They'll soon get bogged down trying to recall specific details, and if they're in a hurry to complete the survey, will often abandon it.

Enjoy

See You at the Top




Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Online Marketplace

In the business world, change is essential for organizational improvement and competitiveness. 
Adapting to market trends, customer needs, and technological advancements is crucial for long-term success.

Change often involves reassessing processes and systems, leading to increased efficiency and optimization. It provides an opportunity to eliminate inefficiencies and enhance productivity.

Ebay is the world's LARGEST online marketplace, over $60 BILLION changes hands on eBay every YEAR. There's no better way to start making money online than to start your own eBay business!

A built-in market just waiting to buy what you're selling!

Unlike drop shipping and affiliate programs...... 
- You don't need a website to start.
- No startup money required.
- You can easily create an account with eBay. 
- Get your first listing up, for just a few cents.
- No business experience necessary.
- You don't need to be computer savvy.

You don't need to know ANYTHING about running a business to get started on eBay, so it's perfect for people who are just beginning to work for themselves.

All you need is a change of mindset.

The ability to deal with uncertainty is a valuable skill. Change often brings uncertainty, and learning to cope with it builds your mental resilience and emotional intelligence.

Evaluate Your Progress:
Periodically assess your progress toward your goals.
Adjust your learning plan as needed and celebrate your achievements along the way.

Seek Feedback:
Share your work or knowledge with others and seek constructive feedback. Feedback can help you refine your skills and understanding.

Practice Critical Thinking:
Develop your critical thinking skills by questioning information, seeking evidence, and forming well-reasoned conclusions.

ANYONE can start making money quickly and easily on eBay...... but to make really BIG financial change, you need to understand the more advanced strategies. 

I wish You Great Success.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Leverage on Ebay 2

Change prevents stagnation. Without change, many may become complacent and resistant to improvement. Embracing change ensures a dynamic and forward-looking approach.
Change fosters adaptability and resilience. Embracing change allows us to respond effectively to evolving circumstances, challenges, and opportunities. Change often catalyzes innovation and creativity.

Let's analyze eBay:
A company who already had a clear track record of success, with over 84 MILLION active users spending $2,000 a second (that's $60 BILLION a year).

Ebay is one of the true success stories in the short history of the Internet.
Clearly, eBay wasn't broken. 
So why fix it??
The need to adapt or improve leads to new ideas, technologies, and approaches that drives growth.

Over the past few months, they've been making some pretty radical changes.
- The biggest change is that they've revamped the way their customer feedback system works...
- They've also changed the way some listings get ranked during a search, 
- Played around with minimum bid amounts, 
- Changed the way you qualify for coveted "Power Seller" status, 
- and a bunch of other things.

There was an outcry from regular eBay sellers, who accused eBay of neglecting the "little guy" who made them successful in the first place. But these major changes that seem to have upset the little guy are turning out to be HUGE WINS for everyone!

By fine-tuning their system, eBay is slowly discouraging "hobby" sellers who list two-buck item once in a blue moon just for kicks...... and making it MUCH easier for serious professionals who want to use eBay to build a solid, full-time business.

It's a SMART move on eBay's part, because they know it's these pros who make them the most money!

An excellent lesson about the value of focusing your efforts on your best customers! 
So, if you've been thinking about making changes to your business, but you've been afraid of any negative fallout, remember that change even those that ruffles a few feathers at first can create new opportunity for you AND your customers.


I wish You Great Success.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Best Hands

An opportunity is only an opportunity depending on whose hands it's in...

A basketball in my hands is worth about $20. A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $50 million. A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a championship winning. A rod in my hands will keep the pets away. A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea. Nails in my hands will bleed. Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the 
entire world.......

As you can see now, it depends on whose hands it's in. 

So now this message is in your hands.
What will YOU do with it? 

Embrace Challenges and Failure:
-Don't be afraid to tackle difficult topics or projects. Learning often involves making mistakes and 
learning from them.
-Embrace a growth mindset, understanding that you can improve with effort and persistence.

Engage in Practical Application:
-Apply what you've learned in real-life situations. Practical experience reinforces understanding and 
retention.
-Consider volunteering opportunities related to your subject.

Join Communities and Networks:
-Connect with others who share your interests. Online forums, social media groups, and local meetups 
can provide valuable insights and support.
-Seek out mentors or experts in your field who can provide guidance and advice.

Take Notes and Reflect:
-Keep a learning journal to jot down key concepts, ideas, and reflections.
-Summarize what you've learned in your own words to reinforce understanding.

Stay Consistent:
-Establish a regular learning routine. Consistency is key to making steady progress.
-Set aside dedicated time for self-education in your daily or weekly schedule.

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Credibility of FAQ

Your FAQ page can actively attract traffic to your site, establish your credibility, and make sales for you. Not bad for a "functional" admin page! Lure traffic to your site with your FAQ page!

Have you optimized your FAQ page with keywords yet?

This is the perfect place:
You can use long-tail keyword questions about your product -- the questions people actually type in to 
the search engines when they have a problem that your item can solve. In fact, you can use those "problem statements" in both the questions AND the answers to make the search engines really sit up and take notice!

Your FAQ page is also a great place for product names and other specifics that people search on 
when they're ready to buy.

The more frequently you update your FAQ with your best-performing keywords, the more often the 
spiders will crawl all over it and boost your search rankings.

Use analytics tools to track FAQ traffic, user behavior, and conversions. Experiment with different website elements to determine what works best for your audience.

Design your FAQ with mobile users in mind, as mobile traffic continues to grow, ensure that all content, including images and videos, is optimized for mobile devices.

Integrate social media sharing buttons to encourage users to share your content. Display social media feeds. or links to your profiles to increase engagement.

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Search Rankings

Cultural and societal norms often define certain expectations. Understanding and navigating these 
limits can shape individual identity and influence collective behavior.
What is involved in getting top search engine rankings for the region you want?

1. Use "geo-keywords"
First, decide on how specific to be with your location. The smaller the geographic location, the more 
targeted your customers will be... although of course you will appeal to a smaller audience. The school 
in Los Angeles would want to include "Los Angeles" and "LA." But he'll also have to say exactly where he is -- the city, the neighborhood... even the street. Residents will use all those terms when they perform their searches. And here's a tip: When you're deciding on the location keyword, think about how locals would search for it. For example, Southern California is often referred to as "SoCal;" while residents of Port Coquitlam in British Columbia call it "Poco." If you're targeting locals, you definitely have to speak their language and use those keywords on your site. Make sure you work your location keywords into your copy and code wherever possible.

Use them in your headlines and subheads. And throughout your copy for extra impact. One of the pages on your website should be a directions page, complete with a Google map. By using location keywords often you'll tell the search engines that your site is relevant for those words.

2. Display your address and phone number
Have your full street address on the footer at the bottom of each page and on the side navigation bar. 
Include a phone number with a local area code. This will give the search engines all the information they need to nail your location.

3. Get inbound local links
Search engines reward you for having links pointing to your website from other reputable sites and 
organizations. Local directories give you an easy way to build up your inbound links... and get your 
site seen by highly targeted groups of local buyers! You can submit your site to:

Goog411 --
Yahoo Local Business --
TrueLocal.com --
Switchboard.com Yellow Pages --
Ask Local --
MSN Local/Live Maps/InfoUSA --
CitySearch --
SuperPages --
Internet Yellow Pages --
Better Business Bureau --
Chambers of Commerce --
Yelp.com --

4. User Experience 
Responsive Design- Ensure your website adapts to different screen sizes and devices.
Navigation- Simplify website navigation to help users find information easily.
Accessibility- Make your website accessible to people with disabilities by following WCAG guidelines.
Clear Calls to Action (CTAs)- Use compelling CTAs to guide users toward desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

5. Content 
Content Quality- Regularly update and improve your content to keep it relevant and valuable to your audience.
Keyword Usage- Use keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing. Focus on providing value to users.
Multimedia- Incorporate images, videos, infographics, and other multimedia elements to enhance content.

I wish You Great Success.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Marketing Fundamentals

Wrong location means wrong audience. Take your pitch to the City where there are plenty of prospect with disposable funds. Know the target market you want and take your products to them.

Fundamentals:

1. Good product knowledge:
As good salesperson, you need to know your product's benefits inside out. Even if you don't have any interest, you will need to step outside your comfort zone and immerse yourself in the product.
What are the end benefits to the user?
-What differentiates your product or service?
-What makes your offer unique?
-What makes the offer urgent?
-How rare is it?
-How fast does it go?

2. Engage the prospect:
This is one of the simplest sales techniques - never ask a question that expects a simple yes or no answer. 
"Would you like to hire this Porche for the day?" "Er, not today thanks!" Much better to try something like . . . "How would your mates feel if you pulled up in this beauty tomorrow morning?"

3: Respect your prospect:
Never intimidate, disrespect or bully your prospect. 
In fact, do not hard sell at all. Be a friend.
David Ogilvy said: "The consumer is not a moron; she is your wife. Never write an advertisement you would not want your own family to read. You would not tell lies to your wife. Don't tell them to mine."

If your product is strong, your pricing is right, and your benefits clearly expressed then you can let the 
prospect make their own decision. 

I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Secure your Data

Encrypting your entire hard drive, something you should certainly do for security in case your computer is lost or stolen, or even interborder travels.

The border agent is likely to start this whole process with a "please type in your password." Of course you can refuse, but the agent can search you further, detain you longer, refuse you entry into the country and otherwise ruin your day. You're going to have to hide your data. Set a portion of your hard drive to be encrypted with a different key and keep your sensitive data there.

Lots of programs allow you to do this. I use PGP Disk (from pgp.com).
TrueCrypt (truecrypt.org) is also good, and free.

While customs agents might poke around on your laptop, they're unlikely to find the encrypted partition. (You can make the icon invisible, for some added protection.) And if they download the contents of your hard drive to examine later, you won't care. Be sure to choose a strong encryption password. 

A customs agent can't read what you don't have.
You don't need four years' worth of email and client data.
You don't need your old photos and love letters.

Delete everything you don't absolutely need using a file erasure program. Delete your browser's cookies, cache and browsing history. Turn your computer off - don't just put it to sleep - that deletes other things.

Some organizations now give their employees forensically clean laptops for travel and have them download any sensitive data over a virtual private network once they've entered the country. 
They send any work back the same way and delete everything again before crossing the border to go home. 

Also, you can consider putting your sensitive data on a USB drive or a memory card: Encrypt it because it's easy to lose something that small. Slip it in your pocket, if custom discovers it, you can try saying: 
"I don't know what's on there. My boss told me to give it to the manager." With a strong encryption password, you won't care if he confiscates it.

Finally, don't forget your phone and PDA. Delete: emails, your phone book and your calendar. 

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, May 05, 2008

Standards and Self Education

Self-education, also known as self-directed learning or autodidacticism, is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and expertise on your own initiative without the guidance of a formal teacher or institution. It is a valuable and empowering approach to learning that allows individuals to take control of their own education and pursue their interests and goals. 

Here are some steps and strategies for effective self-education:

Set Clear Goals:
Determine what you want to learn and why. Setting specific goals will give your self-education purpose and direction.

Create a Learning Plan:
Break down your goals into smaller, manageable objectives. Create a schedule or timeline for your learning journey.
Identify the resources you'll need, such as books, online courses, videos, or mentors.

Use a Variety of Resources:
Books- Read books related to your chosen subject. Libraries and online resources like e-books can be invaluable.
Online Courses- Enroll in online courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, or Khan Academy.
Videos and Tutorials- Platforms like YouTube offer a wealth of educational content.
Websites and Blogs- Explore reputable websites, blogs, and forums that cover your area of interest.
Podcasts and Audiobooks- Listen to podcasts or audiobooks while commuting or exercising.

Start Reading:
Standard education will get you jobs but self-education will make you fortunes. This is no doubt true, and I believe that reading is an important key to self-education. Statistics say the average CEO reads 4-5 books per month while the average American reads 1 book per year! This same statistic goes on to 
say that 60% of those average Americans don't even get past the first chapter in that one book. 

So here is another interesting fact: The average CEO of a Fortune 500 company will earn an average of 536 times the salary of the average employee of the company he runs. 

The major difference between the CEO and the average employee is that the CEO reads a lot of books and the employee doesn't, however, that is not the only difference.

I wish You Great Success.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Threat Contest

When discussing "threat possibilities," it typically refers to potential risks or dangers that could negatively impact individuals, organizations, or systems. Threats can manifest in various forms and 
contexts. Here are some common threat possibilities:

Cyber Threats:
Malware: Viruses, ransomware, and other malicious software.
Phishing: Attempts to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information.
Hacking: Unauthorized access to computer systems or networks.

Physical Security Threats:
Burglary: Unauthorized entry with the intent to commit theft or vandalism.
Vandalism: Deliberate destruction or damage to property.
Terrorism: Acts of violence with the intention of causing fear or intimidation.

Natural Disasters:
Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes, Fires: Environmental events that can cause significant damage and disruption.

Financial Threats:
Fraud: Deceptive practices for financial gain.
Economic Downturn: Economic conditions that negatively impact businesses and individuals.

Health Threats:
Pandemics: Widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Biological Threats: Deliberate use of biological agents for harm.

Supply Chain Disruptions:
Logistical Issues: Interruptions in the supply chain that affect the flow of goods and services.

Geopolitical Threats:
Political Instability: Unrest or political changes that can impact stability.
Trade Disputes: Conflicts affecting international trade relations.

Social Engineering:
Manipulation: Psychological tactics to deceive individuals into divulging confidential information.
Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else to gain access or trust.

Environmental Threats:
Pollution: Contamination of air, water, or soil.
Climate Change Impact: Long-term changes affecting ecosystems and communities.

Human Error:
Accidents: Unintentional actions that lead to negative consequences.
Misconfigurations: Errors in system configurations that may lead to vulnerabilities.

Legal and Regulatory Risks:
Non-compliance: Failure to adhere to laws and regulations, leading to legal consequences.

Understanding these threat possibilities is crucial for risk assessment and the development of 
mitigation strategies
For threat contest, the goal is to create fear that you can alleviate through the sale of your 
new product idea. There are lots of risks out there, some of them serious, some of them so unlikely that we shouldn't worry about them, and some of them completely made up. And there are lots of products out there that provide security against those risks. The task is to invent one.

First, find a risk or create one. It can be a terrorism risk, a criminal risk, a natural-disaster risk, a common household risk, whatever. The weirder the better. Then, create a product that everyone simply will buy to protect themselves from that risk. 

It's okay if the product you invent doesn't actually exist, but this isn't a science fiction contest. You will be judged on creativity, originality, persuasiveness, and plausibility.

Sample example products:
-Acoustical devices that estimate tiger proximity based on roar strength.
-GPS-enabled wallets for use when you've been pickpocketed.

Fear offers endless business opportunities.

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Thoughts of Limitation

"Keep reminding yourself that you have tremendous reservoirs of potential within you. All you must do is figure out how you can do it, not whether or not you can. And once you have made your mind up to do it, it's amazing how your mind begins to figure out how."----------- Bob Proctor

The philosophy of limitation is a broad concept that can be approached from various perspectives, including philosophical, psychological, and practical viewpoints. 

Here are two angles to consider when contemplating limitation:

Embracing Constraints:
Some philosophical perspectives encourage embracing limitations as an inherent part of the human experience. Constraints can foster creativity and innovation by requiring individuals to find unique solutions within defined boundaries.

Existentialism and Freedom within Limits:
Existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus explored the idea of human existence and the concept of freedom. Within this framework, individuals are seen as having the freedom to make choices within the limits imposed by their circumstances.

As a college student, George studied very hard and always late into the night. So late that he overslept one morning, arriving 20 minutes late for class. He quickly copied the two math problems on the board, 
assuming they were the homework assignment. It took him several days to work through the two problems, but finally he had a breakthrough and dropped the homework on the professor's desk the next day.

Later, on a Sunday morning, George was awakened at 6 a.m. by his excited professor. Since George was late for class, he hadn't heard the professor announce that the two unsolvable equations on the board were mathematical mind teasers that even Einstein hadn't been able to answer. But George Dantzig, working without any thoughts of limitation, had solved not one, but two problems that had stumped mathematicians for thousands of years.

Simply put, George solved the problems because he didn't know he couldn't.

In summary, the philosophy of limitation involves grappling with the constraints inherent in life and 
seeking ways to navigate them with purpose and resilience. Whether viewed as challenges to be overcome or as intrinsic aspects of existence, limitations can shape individual character, foster creativity, and contribute to the broader fabric of human experience.

I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Good Communications

Effective Communications is a major key to your personal and business success. Knowing when to initiate a conversation, keeping it interesting and asking effective questions.

Create effective communications by following these seven steps:

Step 1: Exude confidence. When you're comfortable in your own attributes, you make others comfortable. If you take the attitude that you bring something to the table, you will see that attitude reflected in others. Enthusiasm is infectious.

Step 2: Show up with something to say. Always be on the lookout for material. Although it may sound contrived, read Journals for interesting, timely information that you can share at a party, meetings or business. Think about keeping a file that you can review before your next event.

Step 3: Begin with a question/joke. Besides showing interest in someone, one simple question or a joke can start an entire conversation. Asking something a bit unusual sets you apart from the crowd. Rather than, "What do you do?" ask, "How do you enjoy spending your weekends?". A joke can drop all the initial barriers against you.

Step 4: Find common ground. The surest way to build rapport is to find something you have in common and build on that interest. Don't shy away from topics that have nothing to do with business. They often create the perfect connection.

Step 5: Focus on others. Putting your energy and interest in another person marks you as a great conversationalist. Build a bridge by connecting with their problem.

Step 6: Be inclusive. Excluding others in the group is a conversation killer. Make eye contact with everyone in the group, not just the person who asked you a direct question.

Step 7: Close a conversation with style, take advantage and say, "It's been my pleasure talking with you, I hope our paths cross again soon." Before leaving, be certain to thank the hosts.


I wish You Great Success.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Passive Income

If your job disappeared tomorrow, or if something happened that made it impossible for you to perform it, your financial life would be virtually destroyed. Passive income releases you from job dependence and makes you truly financially free. It’s like having a wealth-building machine that runs all on its own and makes money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CAREER MODEL:
- Works best when focused on what the marketplace wants to buy
- Income is entirely dependent on time spent working
- The goal is to work as hard as possible
- Income potential is inherently limited

Finite, non-replenishing capital sources will support you for a limited length of time beyond retirement.

PASSIVE INCOME MODEL:

- Works best when you first focus on what you know and what you love
- The amount of money you make is not tied to the amount of time you work
- The goal is freedom from work
- No limit to the amount of money you can generate

Unfixed, continually growing revenue sources will support you indefinitely, whether you work or not.

Passive income is money that is generated AUTOMATICALLY and REGULARLY, from a source or MULTIPLE SOURCES other than your job. And it’s exciting for a number of reasons.

Building wealth through passive income:
• Doesn’t require you to change careers or work two jobs. 
• Minimizes your taxes and keeps more cash in your pocket. Because it isn’t subject to the same tax rates. 
• A good passive income source requires very little of your time and energy to initially set up or to maintain

When you’re spending time at your regular job, your passive income is working for you or when you enjoy the weekend doing what you love, you’ll love all the extra cash as your passive income is wide awake even while you sleep.


I wish You Great Success.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Search Engine Optimization


Site optimization, also known as website optimization, refers to the process of improving various aspects of a website to enhance its performance, user experience, and achieve specific goals. Optimizing a website involves making strategic changes to various elements, including content, design, speed, and functionality, to make it more effective, efficient, and user-friendly. Here are some key areas to focus on when optimizing a website:

Performance Optimization:

Page Speed- Ensure that web pages load quickly. Slow-loading pages can lead to a poor user experience and negatively affect search engine rankings.
Mobile Optimization- Make sure your website is responsive and works well on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.
-Content Delivery Network (CDN)- Use a CDN to distribute website content to servers geographically closer to users, reducing latency and load times.

Use the following on and off-site strategies for effective SEO optimization!

Onsite Optimization:
- Keyword Research and Selection
- Titles tags Generation
- Meta tags Optimization
- ALT tags Optimization
- Hyperlink Optimization
- Sitemap Generation
- XML Sitemap creation and submission in Google
- Proper linking structure
- W3C validation of homepage

Offsite Optimization:
- Link popularity analysis
- Link Generation by one way links.
- Analysis and Reporting

I wish You Great Success.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Online Toolbox 2

The great news is, there are tons of tools available online!

Here are some popular marketing tools across various categories:

Email Marketing:
Mailchimp: Offers email marketing, automation, and CRM tools.
Constant Contact: Provides email marketing, social media posting, and ads.

Social Media Management:
Hootsuite: Allows scheduling posts across multiple social media platforms.
Buffer: Facilitates social media scheduling and analytics.

Content Marketing:
HubSpot: Provides a comprehensive platform for inbound marketing, including content creation and management.
CoSchedule Headline Analyzer: Helps optimize blog post headlines for SEO and engagement.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
Moz: Offers tools for keyword research, link building, and site audits.
Ahrefs: Provides SEO tools for backlink research, keyword tracking, and site analysis.

Analytics:
Google Analytics: A powerful tool for website analytics, user behavior tracking, and conversion analysis.
Adobe Analytics: Offers advanced analytics and reporting for in-depth insights.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management):
Salesforce: A widely used CRM platform for managing customer relationships and sales.
HubSpot CRM: Provides a free CRM with options to upgrade for more advanced features.

Marketing Automation:
HubSpot Marketing Automation: Integrates with CRM and offers automation for email marketing, 
lead nurturing, and more.
Marketo: A comprehensive marketing automation platform for B2B marketers.

Graphic Design:
Canva: An easy-to-use graphic design tool for creating visuals, social media posts, and marketing materials.
Adobe Creative Cloud: Offers a suite of professional design tools, including Photoshop and Illustrator.

When selecting marketing tools, consider your specific needs, budget, and the integrations that align with your existing technology stack. Many tools offer free trials, so you can test them before committing to a subscription. Additionally, ensure that the tools you choose comply with data protection and privacy regulations in your industry.

I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Ideas from Forums

Forums are a great avenue to harvest new ideas for niche products. They can cut down years of product research into just few weeks.

Follow the steps below for quick success: 

1. Go to Google or yahoo groups and use the search facilities to find forums related to the 
market you want to create a product for.

2. Sign up to a few of the forums and make a few posts. Don't instantly start posting asking for help with your 
research you'll be shot down by all the forum regulars. A good way to avoid being shot down is to be a "research ninja". Stay under the radar and don't give away that you are an entrepreneur looking for a few ideas.

A great way to do this is make a "newbie" post introducing yourself. So, for example let's say you wanted to find out what problems pregnant women want solved. You could go to Groups.Google and type in "pregnancy". Then you could sign up to these free forums and make a "newbie" post like this one:

"Hi, my names Jane and I'm new to the group. I'm pretty nervous about the whole pregnancy thing so thought I'd come here for support. My husband's great, but he just can't seem to understand why I'm so worried about every little thing (like are you allowed to eat pizza? Is it o.k. to use the cheese with rose oil in it?). I seem to spend my whole time checking what's 'safe' and what isn't, and he thinks that's crazy! Hopefully some pregnant women here will be a bit more understanding."

See how you'll be "under the radar" due to that post? After that make a couple of posts a day for a week or so. Then you're ready for the research.

3. Make a post asking people what their biggest problem or question they have in your chosen niche market is. An example might be this:

"Hi all. I was just wondering what problems you've encountered with being pregnant that you'd like to be able to overcome? For me it's back ache!"

What you'll find is people will start posting like crazy to what you ask. These online communities are desperate to help "one of their own", whereas if you go in there as an entrepreneur, they'll be a bit stand offish. When you do it in this under the radar way, you'll find people will tell you all of their problems.

4. You leave the forum for a week or so and then come back. I assure you you'll be stunned at the results you get. All you need to do is go through the answers people have given you and identify the common problems they are having.

Finally, you create a product that answers those questions or solves the problems they have - easy!


I wish You Great Success.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Business Continuity Manangement

The BCM objectives as defined within the standard are “to counteract interruptions to business activities and to protect processes from the effects of major failures of information systems or disasters and to ensure timely resumption”. 
Usually, the better prepared you are, the more likely you will be to meet this objective, and the more effective will be your recovery.

Unfortunately, many organizations do not properly embrace risk assessment, and often start their business continuity project ill prepared.

PREPARATION: It is important at the outset to have the full commitment of the Board or Governing Body of the organization. Without this, problems downstream are inevitable. An awareness campaign should follow, to ensure that all staff are notified of that commitment. The business continuity project can then be initiated (central to which is the delivery of a business continuity plan). 
It is essential, however, that this project is formal and structured. Initial steps for the project itself will 
include defining scope and obtaining copies of all appropriate documents and information.

A formal risk assessment exercise must follow.

RISK ASSESSMENT: Initial emphasis on effective risk assessment will enable you to predict different types of incidents with more accuracy. It will help ensure that focus is applied to those areas to which it is most needed.
This aspect of BCM involves analyzing the business processes and identifying vulnerabilities through risk assessment and probability analysis. It includes the establishment of critical business timeframes including recovery time objectives (RTO) and maximum tolerable period of disruption (MTPD).

The RTO will represent the time interval between the incident occurring and the time when a measurable negative impact will result on the business whereas the MTPD will represent the time interval between the incident occurring and the time when the impact from the incident will become extremely serious for the business.

Following a detailed risk analysis of the business and its processes, suitable levels of safeguards and controls should be implemented that will protect the business processes and product delivery. It is important to understand that none of the above tasks can be short cut.

Proper planning and preparation may seem to be a burden, but the pay back could well be the survival of the organization itself. Fortunately, this is a well-trodden path, and specialist portals like the 
Disaster Recovery Planning Guide provide sound advice on how to take the initial steps described above.


I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Partnering for Profit

The way you can stand out from your competitors is for you to position yourself as a business partner, 
always looking for ways to improve your customer's business.

Assist Your Customer's Business: When you deal with a businessperson, his business is very close to his heart. Relate with your customer in such a way to help him run his business better. The customer is going to be appreciative and will want to be associated with you and your company.

Differentiate Yourself: As a partner, you should always look for ways to cut costs and improve results for your customer. You should position yourself as someone who cares about their success more than you care about selling your product or service. This partnering approach will differentiate you and to keep your customers loyal.

Use Reciprocity Principle: A powerful business principle. 
You should be looking for opportunities to go the extra mile, to do more than you are paid for, to put in more than you take out. By extending yourself, you improve your positioning with the customer, and they would feel obligated. If you do this long enough and strong enough, you will eventually develop the a lasting partnership. 

Action Exercises: 
1- Think about how you can help your customer's customer with your product or service.
2- Focus on increasing your customer's profits and financial results. 

I wish You Great Success.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Ebooks for Marketing

There are numerous marketing tools available to help businesses streamline their marketing efforts, 
manage campaigns and analyze performance. The choice of tools depends on the specific needs and 
goals of your marketing strategy.

Focusing on eBooks, here are proven ideas you can use to get started: 
Idea #1: Industry update report. If major changes have recently happened in your industry or if there are any major developments on the horizon. An industry update report can be a great way to get your name associated with new trends and developments.

Idea #2: Industry resource guide. A resource guide can be really helpful to people who are just getting started in your industry, or who are looking for new contacts, ideas, or opportunities. You can develop a strong reputation for yourself as a reliable "industry insider" whom people can approach when they're 
looking for resources. 

Idea #3: Interviews with industry experts. Everyone loves to hear what the leaders in their industry are doing. All you have to do is send out a few emails to people in your field to share their experiences with you. With this type of eBook, you'll have 100% exclusive, original content. You can also ask for their tips on how to solve common problems and obstacles in your field, which is sure to appeal to your potential readers!

Idea #4: "How-to" instruction guides. Go ahead and write your own eBook that teaches people a hard-to-learn skill or helps them get started in your field of expertise. You could create a user manual for a product or the alternate uses for common products.

Idea #5: Reviews of industry products. Product reviews are becoming indispensable resources in the 
online shopping community. People love to read reviews of products before they buy them. 

Great ideas, choose the one that appeals to you most and run with it!

I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Marketing Explained 2

You want to have many streams of traffic coming your way, diversification in this regard creates real and long-lasting quality lead flow and stability.
The goal is NOT to focus on the most obvious keywords it's to spend some real quality time brainstorming keywords that are less prominent, but even more targeted. You will find better quality leads this way.

Use Google's pay per click program to drive traffic, being number 1 in the listings doesn't guarantee you better results. Some of the best converting campaigns are in spot 6 through 8. The clicks are cheaper, and the lead cost is lower.

Some strategies to generate high-quality leads.
Marketing Automation:
Use marketing automation tools to streamline lead nurturing processes. This ensures that leads receive relevant content at the right time in their buyer's journey.

Customer Feedback and Surveys:
Collect feedback from your existing customers to understand their needs better. This information can 
help you tailor your marketing messages to resonate with similar prospects.

Analytics and Data Analysis:
Regularly analyze data to understand which marketing channels and campaigns are generating the most qualified leads. Use this information to optimize your marketing strategy.

Remember that the quality of leads is often more important than quantity. Tailoring your marketing efforts to attract and engage the right audience will result in more meaningful and valuable customer relationships.

I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Information Product

Information is by far the most profitable kind of product you can sell online. 
When you sell "hard" products that require physical delivery, you have to deal with the cost and hassle of manufacturing, stocking, and packaging -- not to mention shipping your product. And all those things take a serious bite out of your profit margin.

The vast majority of Internet users go online to search for information. Which means that by selling highly sought-after information on your website, you're giving people exactly what they're looking for! And that's a recipe for online success. 

You can set up your order form and "shopping cart" system to automatically process the order, put the money in your bank account, and electronically deliver your product to the customer.

Your customers will be especially attracted by the promise of instant gratification. They won't have to wait when you sell information in the form of an electronic "eBook,"

It's the perfect "hands-free" business! ... And you don't even have to be a writer!

- You can hire someone else to do the writing for you
- You can create an "interview compilation" book
- You can compile articles written by other people

How do you get permission from the authors? 
Simply explain to them that your eBook will provide great publicity for them with full credits and 
let them know the distribution channels for the final product.

Once your eBook business becomes profitable, you can start adding more products to the back end.
This is the fastest way to make a solid online income with your own products.

I wish You Great Success.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Advertising and Promotions 2

Advertisers, especially those with small budgets, can't afford to waste money on ineffective buys. 
In order to optimize your advertising buys, you need to concentrate on improving your creativity.

Here are some tips that might help:
Step 1: Define clear goals of your advertising campaign, the most important aspect of any advertising campaign is to have a clear objective in mind. You may be targeting a specific group of people, your 
initial aim may be to target at least 1000 views. Have a well-defined purpose.

Step 2: Identify the most effective sites for achieving your goals. Sites that are most relevant to 
your product or service will be your best bet; but also consider larger sites or networks if you have multiple products or services that appeal to various target markets. 

Step 3: Craft your message to fit the needs of the audience you're targeting. This comes down to understanding the audience of the sites you're advertising on. The message you use on a technology site to appeal to technologically savvy customers won't have the same appeal for social site. 

Step 4: Pay particular attention to the content of the Ad. The content should be such that it clearly distinguishes your product or service from your competitors'. Have a catchy headline. 
The headline is probably the most important part of the Ad.

Step 5: Formulate the specific promotional messages that correspond to your goals. The promotional 
messages should concentrate on the major selling points of your product or service and have a 
strong call-to-action.

Step 6: Make the desired action clearly visible.
This certainly doesn't mean the desired action should necessarily bounce or flip, but it should be visible within an accepted format for the media outlet. 

Step 7: Design the ad so it looks like it belongs on the sites where you're advertising for instance, you may want to use the site's font faces in your text, color schemes in your background, font color choices overall, and emulate images where appropriate. Try to conform to the environment so potential customers visiting the site don't gasp in shock when they see your ad.

Step 8: Produce multiple versions of each ad, changing the promotional message, call-to-action, font faces and color schemes. This is especially important if you're doing price testing or gauging reaction to specific promotions. By splitting your advertising buy among the various versions of your creative, you can then start to optimize your buy based on the message that works best.

With these tips, you will not only be able to create an ad, but you will be able to create an effective ad that does what it is supposed to do - sell your products and services.


I wish You Great Success.