Monday, December 21, 2009

Mentor 2


Selecting a mentor should be taken seriously, it is not just a matter of finding someone you like. Choose mentors that have genuine history of success.

There are several people who look only at superficially successful people as role models for their own goals, do not make such mistake.

For instance, there is a good chance that some of the companies cited as models of efficiency in the top selling business books and magazines will be out of business in the next five years. There is a need for great care in selecting a mentor whose success will stand the test of time. Choose based on their achievement of goals that are similar to yours, they should have overcome some of the obstacles you are facing.

Ideally, a mentor really represents both the challenges you face and what you intend to become in a particular area of your life.

Benefits of a mentor
Learning from Experience- Mentees can learn from the mentor's experiences, including their successes and failures, which can save time and avoid common pitfalls.

Career Advancement- A mentor can provide insights and advice on how to advance in a chosen career or field.

Confidence Building- Having a mentor can boost a mentee's confidence by validating their abilities and potential.

Networking- Access to the mentor's professional network can open doors and create opportunities.

Personal Growth- Mentors can help mentees develop personally as well as professionally, promoting a well-rounded approach to life and work.

Long-term Perspective- Mentors often provide valuable insights into long-term career planning and development.

Merry Xmas. Enjoy the festive season, get close to family, make new friends and find a mentor. 

See you in the New Year

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tax Knowledge

Certainly! Tax knowledge covers a wide range of topics, including tax laws, regulations, and procedures. 

Types of Taxes:
Income Tax- Tax on an individual's or entity's earnings, including wages, salaries, dividends, and interest.
Corporate Tax- Tax levied on the profits of businesses and corporations.
Sales Tax- Consumption-based tax imposed on the sale of goods and services.
Property Tax- Tax on the value of real estate or personal property.
Excise Tax- Tax on specific goods like alcohol, tobacco, and gasoline.

How much tax knowledge do you have? 
How effectively can you answer the following questions?

- Should you own properties in your own name, via a limited company, a partnership or another structure?
- Do you know the Key changes to the tax treatment of investment properties.
- How to become non domiciled for tax purposes and how this tax status can help you pay virtually no tax.
- How rental income is treated by the revenue and how to minimize your tax bill.
- Which expenditures related to your property business you can legitimately offset and which you can't.
- Tax loopholes that apply when carrying out maintenance on your properties - understanding the difference between a repair and a capital improvement.
- How to properly offset interest paid on loans including mortgages.
- Why do so many professional property investors set up property management businesses and how are they using them to help them save tax?
- Advanced strategies for reducing your income tax bill.
- How to pay less tax when purchasing properties - stamp duty strategies for the smart property investor 
including tips for mitigating stamp duty.
- The rent a room relief and how to use it to reduce your tax bill.
- What is capital gains tax? When does it apply?
- How to use PPR relief to completely mitigate capital gains tax.
- How to time your property purchases and disposals to minimize the amount of tax that you will have to pay.
- Husband/wife strategies for reducing taxes.
- How to quickly and easily calculate your capital gains tax liability.
- How and why are holiday lets are treated differently to buy to lets and why do so many smart property 
investors choose to own holiday lets.

You should have an understanding of Tax Ethics:
Ethical Considerations- Adhering to ethical standards in tax planning and reporting.
Tax Evasion vs. Avoidance- Understanding the distinction between legal tax planning and illegal tax evasion.

Staying informed about tax laws and regulations is crucial for individuals and businesses to ensure compliance and make informed financial decisions. Consulting with tax professionals can be beneficial, especially when dealing with complex tax situations. Additionally, tax knowledge is subject to change, so it's essential to stay updated on relevant developments.


I wish You Great Success.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Business of Marketing

As a business owner, you are in the business of MARKETING.
What % time do you spend on the following?

Production- the creation of the product/service. Most people 30%
Operation- the running of the business. Most people 50%
Marketing- the marketing of the product/service Most people 20%

For a new business the stats should be:
Production: 20%
Operation: 20%
Marketing: 60%

What is the size of your backend:

Many business owners have a front-end product or service, but they have no backend, where most of the profits are really made. The business of marketing is to retain and service your old customers, one of the ways to ensure you have a successful business is to think about what the customer would like next.

If a customer is happy with your first offering, then there is a good chance they will purchase something of a higher value. Create a product to market to your customers once they are happy with your first offering.

This could be your most lucrative product.

Always be upselling and downselling!
When a customer says yes to a product, what do you have to offer them during their 'buying mood'?
Mc Donalds, 'would you like chips with that?' to which most people say 'yes'.
Italian Restaurant, 'would you like garlic bread to start' to which most people say 'yes'.

What can you offer instead of your primary product?
What can you offer at 'point of sale'?
What can you offer that beats your competitor?
What if they say 'no' to your first offer? 

Always downsell something of less value, that way they may buy something as opposed to leaving without a purchase.

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Selecting a Book Title

Finding a great title for your book can be one of the most challenging yet satisfying.
processes you will go through. The title is the purpose of your book and very
important that it presents your book’s subject in the best way possible. It needs to
grab your audience's attention, make them question and think and act by picking up
the book and start reading. Then eventually buy.

You’ll need to go through a series of questions, digging deep into the why, how and
what motivated you to write the book in the first place… 

Then dialogue with as many arguments and questions as possible to unearth the
underlying concept.

One way is to write down a bunch of possibilities and have people vote, another way is to go through the manuscript. looking for ‘themes’ and any re-occurring words.

You can start by creating phrases of 3-5 words, short preferable. 
Look at them over and over and keep reworking them until you get what you want. 

Remember, do something every day toward your book and promotion.

You can get a Title before writing the book. However, if you decide to write the book first.
consider the following creative genres!
Travel Writing:
a. Share your travel experiences and tips for a specific destination you've visited.
b. Write a fictional travelogue set in an imaginary or fantastical location.
c. Create a "bucket list" of places you dream of visiting and explain why each one is on your list.

Fantasy:
a. Build a magical world with unique creatures, rules, and cultures. Create a story set in this fantastical realm.
b. Explore the life of a character who discovers they have extraordinary magical abilities and must learn to harness them.
c. Write a fable or allegory that imparts a moral lesson through fantastical elements.

Personal Development:
a. Share your strategies for overcoming procrastination and boosting productivity.
b. Write about a challenging personal experience and the lessons you've learned from it.
c. Create a guide on achieving work-life balance in today's fast-paced world.

Remember that the key to successful title and writing is practice. 
Choose a topic that resonates with you, and don't be afraid to experiment with different genres and styles. 

Happy writing!

I wish You Great Success.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Perfect Press Release 2

Businesses need to get their press releases read by the media. But first they need a catchy subject line for those press releases.

So, how do you draft the perfect headline?
Follow these steps:

1. It needs to be short with few words.
2. Write for your targeted audience.
3. Abbreviations and slang are good for Headlines
4. You can make a statement, a prediction, raise a question, state a statistic or report news
5. The statement is something bold: Donald Trump Must Resign, says economist
6. The question makes you think: Should Trump resign? asks economist
7. The statistic paints a picture: 62% say Trump should resign
8. News hits hard: Trump Is One Step Away from Resigning
9. Predictions have lots of flexibility: Trump Could Resign Tomorrow
10. Referencing something in the news is always helpful
11. Link your headline to things that matter most: love, health, wealth, fun, beauty, art, business.
12. Start your story with the word: EXCLUSIVE

Content and Style:
Lead Paragraph- The first paragraph should answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. This is where you provide the most critical information.

Quotes- Incorporate quotes from relevant individuals within your organization or experts in the field. Quotes add credibility and a human element to the press release.

Body Content- Elaborate on the main points, providing supporting details and context. Keep paragraphs short and use bullet points or subheadings for readability.

Objective Language- Write the press release in a neutral and factual tone. Avoid exaggerated or promotional language.

Conciseness- Keep the press release to one page if possible. Journalists appreciate brevity and clarity.

Follow-Up:
After sending the press release, follow up with key journalists or media outlets to ensure they received it and to answer any questions. Remember that a well-crafted press release is more likely to capture the attention of journalists and get coverage. Tailor your press release to the interests of your target audience and the media outlets you're reaching out to.
 
Finally, consider the news value of your announcement to ensure it is newsworthy and relevant to the media and the public.

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Adverting and Promotions 3

Consider conducting market research to understand your audience's pain points, desires, and motivations. Craft your advertising messages to address these aspects, showcasing how your offering provides a solution or fulfills a desire, making it more appealing to potential customers.

Example:
Feature- "Our new smartphone has a 16-megapixel camera."
Benefit- "Capture stunning, high-resolution photos with our new smartphone and relive your memories with crystal-clear clarity."

Incorporate customer testimonials or success stories that highlight how your product or service delivered on its unique promise. Real-life experiences can be powerful in reinforcing your USP.

Carefully proofread and edit the advert for grammar, spelling, and clarity. It should be error-free and polished. Timing is crucial. prepare the advert well in advance of the event or announcement to give time to review and plan coverage.

"PPC" ('pay-per-click') adverts...The interesting thing about these adverts is the fact that you can actually pay less than someone else competing on the same keywords- even if your search result is placed higher which traditionally should cost more.

The question is Why?

If you are more 'relevant' than they are, then you will pay less than they do...all other things being equal i.e your main site is relevant.

How is 'relevancy' determined?

The more people who click your advert as compared with the number who see it will suggest that you are more relevant. In other words, if your advert is shown 1,000 times and you get 100 people clicking through and your competitor only gets 50'click throughs' per 1,000 ad times -then you're more 'relevant' and you pay less.

This kind of logic applies to eBay too - the more relevant you are the higher you are in the search results.

I wish You Great Success.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Perfect Press Release 1

A press release is a written statement issued by an organization or individual to announce news or information to the media and the public. It is a valuable tool for conveying important developments, events, or announcements and is commonly used by businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and individuals to generate media coverage and public awareness. 

Here's how to write an effective press release:

Formatting and Structure:
Header- Include your organization's letterhead or logo at the top, along with your contact information (name, title, organization, address, phone number, and email).

Release Date- Specify the date when you want the press release to be published or made public.

Headline- Craft a clear and attention-grabbing headline that summarizes the main news or announcement in a few words.

Sub headline (optional)- Provide a brief sub headline that expands on the main headline.

Dateline- Include the city and date of the press release.

Body- Write the main content of the press release in a clear and concise manner. Use the inverted pyramid style, with the most important information at the beginning and less crucial details following.

Include a brief paragraph about your organization at the end of the press release. This paragraph provides background information about your company or entity.

Press Releases can be submitted to press release sites. Press releases have two broad purposes:

1- To attract the attention of the media and generate free publicity.
2- They can also be used for search engine optimization purposes.

When searching for an expert on a given subject, the media often search the internet. So, if your press releases are keyword optimized, the media will find them. To rank highly for the chosen keywords, it is important to put your most important keywords in your press release titles and throughout the body of the press release.

The search engines constantly crawl leading press release sites, they know that this is where breaking news are often first posted, and they want to have the content listed for their users. A properly keyword-optimized press release submitted to the leading press release sites, can give you the top ranking for your keyword.

I wish You Great Success.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Emotional Words

People don't buy things for rational reasons. They buy for emotional ones. They want to feel good... hopeful... satisfied... proud... relaxed... acknowledged... secure... .... If you can identify the underlying emotional needs your product or service satisfies, you can write copy that identifies with your reader in a very intimate way. 

With the right emotion expressed with words you can connect in a way that says you've found the solution to the very problem their emotions are driving them to solve.

That's powerful stuff.

So how can you write emotionally charged sales copy that connects with your reader? 
Start by looking at the problem your product solves. What's the underlying emotion it addresses?

The first step to writing emotionally charged copy is to identify which "power" emotions are at the core of your product. Then use those words to write sales copy that converts the MAXIMUM number of visitors into paying customers...

Here is one powerful emotion.

Fear of Loss:
One of the most powerful human drivers of change is fear. Fear of losing those things that are most important to us. It could be our sense of security that's at stake. Our money. Our health. Or even our happiness. When you identify fear, you can write salescopy that speaks to that emotion, and indicates how your product will overcome that fear. 

Here are some examples of copy that recognizes fear and offers a solution to it:
- "Lose $5,000 tomorrow without this advice…"
- "Protect your computer from viruses that can wipe out your entire hard drive."
- "Selling your home? Avoid the top 3 mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars!

"Notice how these examples use words like "protect" and "avoid"? 
Just as there are power emotions, there are power words that correspond to those emotions! 

What are some other power words? 
- Save
- Secure
- Safety
- Clinch
- Red flag
- Defend

Keep in mind that when you identify negative emotions like fear, your ultimate goal is to show how your product or service takes away these fears. Your job is to identify the fear that is there, relate to your reader based on that emotion, then provide relief from that unpleasant emotion. That's why the power words related to fear are positive.

I wish You Great Success.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Tackling Worklessness

Quakers (A Christain religious group) formed 1650 believed Business and Marriage is a form of worship and in the depth of recession formed businesses like Sony, Barclays Bank, Lloyds Group, Clarks, Cadbury, Oxfam, Imperial Oil (Exxon) which are still very successful to date.

"A Success Story, I believe for most people has been and still is to provide an adequate living for themselves and their family: that means a home, a measure of financial security, to have hope, to have opportunities and have time for their friends. Planning, preparation, persistence, and opportunity are still very much part of the formula to achieve that Dream. Today, it may take several career changes, several new disciplines, several new associations and plenty of brainstorming during one's lifetime. It may mean moving to a different part of the country or starting one's own business. Whatever it is, keep on the pursuit of your own success story." 

Brainstorming is an extremely good way of scanning through your resource of knowledge to achieve that success. A brainstorm can work with an individual or a group. This technique requires the generation of as many ideas as quickly as possible without criticism. 

Sometimes stepping away from the stress point for a while can help refresh your mind. Take breaks, go for a walk, or engage in activities that allow your mind to wander creatively. Draw inspiration from movies, music, art, or other forms of media. Sometimes, a song, film, or painting can trigger creative ideas.

Your success story starts with:
1- Discovering your Passion
2- Communicating your Passion
3- Monetizing your Passion
4- Managing your passion
 
Learn to turn your Passion into Business as we tackle Worklessness and Youth Crime.

I wish You Great Success.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Accumulate Ideas

Pay attention to your surroundings and experiences. Observe people, places, and events. Sometimes, a simple observation can spark an idea for a story, article, or essay. As you go about your day, try to accumulate ideas for articles in your mind. You can use this time to consider various titles for your articles and to recall relevant events. Keep a notebook for ideas. 

I find that an article becomes quite easy to write if I have;
a. A good title
b. key points
c. knowledgeable on the subject

Having written many articles on different topics, I know how difficult it can be to write on a subject I have very little experience on. When writing on new topics it can be hard to offer something unique and original. So, when starting out stick to what you know and wait until you have developed a good background on a new subject before writing.

Find writing prompts online or create your own. Prompts can provide a starting point when you're feeling stuck and help you explore new themes or perspectives. You can also use mind maps to visually organize your thoughts and make connections between different concepts. This can help you see the bigger picture and identify potential writing avenues.

Here are some writing ideas across different genres and topics to inspire your creativity:

1. Fiction:
a. Write a short story that begins with the line, "The old, dusty book sat on the shelf for years, untouched, until..."
b. Create a futuristic world where technology controls every aspect of daily life. How does one character rebel against it?
c. Write a mystery story where the protagonist tries to solve a crime with an unusual or unexpected detective, like a child or a pet.

2. Non-Fiction:
a. Share your personal experiences and lessons learned from a challenging life event, such as moving to a new country, overcoming a fear, or a personal achievement.
b. Explore a topic you're passionate about, whether it's a hobby, a social issue, or a niche interest, and write an informative article or essay.
c. Interview someone interesting in your community or field and write a profile piece about their life and experiences.

3. Poetry:
a. Write a poem inspired by a vivid dream you've had recently.
b. Create a poem using the theme of "rebirth" or "starting anew."
c. Write a series of haikus that capture the changing seasons or the beauty of nature.

Writing ideas can come from unexpected places, and it's essential to stay open to inspiration. The more you cultivate your creativity, the more ideas you'll be able to develop into engaging and meaningful writing projects.

I wish You Great Success.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Motivate your Affiliates.

There are a few things you can give your affiliates to keep them motivated to SELL:

Fair commissions: If you’re not giving your affiliates a significant portion of the business they refer to you, it’s simply not worth their while to promote you to their list and their visitors. After all, the credibility of their recommendation is on the line! You can offer 25% to 50% commission on every sale. It might seem like a lot, but you wouldn’t have had that sale otherwise... OR any of the other revenue you’ll generate when that customer buys AGAIN, straight from you!

Timely response: Provide great customer service. If they are having trouble with some element of your program, make sure to follow and get things sorted out quickly. Not only will you ensure that your affiliates stay active, but you’ll also avoid a bad public review of your program!

Salescopy: What’s so special about your product? make sure your affiliates have the answers! 
Give them plenty of benefit-rich copy to get your message across effectively to guarantee great conversions. 

Graphics and photos: Provide quality images and graphics for your affiliates so they can put YOUR best foot forward! That includes any banner or photos for reviews. The best way to provide both copy AND graphics is to set up an Affiliate Resource Center on your website where affiliates can sign in to get everything they need.

Special deals or offers: Make sure to think up a few special deals for JUST your affiliates to offer! 
If you’re offering discounts of any kind, make sure to let them know so they can use that angle to promote your products too!

Product updates: If you change any of your products in any way, (in terms of product features, pricing, etc.) let your affiliates know right away. They should not be misrepresenting what you offer. 

Timely payments: The payments should be automatic and reliable. Pay them commissions on time!
Many people who run affiliate programs find this to be the biggest benefit for using an affiliate management system...  

I wish You Great Success

Monday, January 26, 2009

Biometric Security

Biometrics are the oldest form of identification. Fingerprints have been used to identify people at crime scenes for more than 100 years.

What is new about biometrics is that computers are now doing the analyzing: thumbprints, retinal scans, voiceprints, and typing patterns. There's a lot of technology involved, in trying to both limit the number of false positives (someone else being mistakenly recognized as you) and false negatives (you being mistakenly not recognized). Generally, a system can choose to have less of one or the other; less of both is very hard.

Biometrics can vastly improve security, especially when paired with another form of authentication such as passwords. But it's important to understand their limitations as well as their strengths. On the strength side, biometrics are hard to forge. 

On the negative side, biometrics are easy to steal. You leave your fingerprints everywhere you touch, your iris scan everywhere you look. Regularly, hackers copy prints from objects touched, and posted them on the Internet.

Passwords can be changed; Passwords can be backed up but if someone copies your thumbprint or you alter your thumbprint in an accident, you're stuck. Biometric systems need to be analyzed in light of these possibilities. 

Biometrics are unique identifiers, but they're not secrets.

A stolen biometric can fool some systems. Remote logins by fingerprint fail, if there's no way to verify the print came from an actual reader, not from a stored computer file.

A more secure system is to use a fingerprint to unlock your mobile phone or computer. Because there is a trusted path from the fingerprint reader to the stored fingerprint the system uses to compare, an attacker can't inject a previously stored print. 

However, researchers have made false fingers out of rubber or glycerin. Manufacturers have responded by building readers that also detect pores or a pulse. The lesson is that biometrics work best if the system can verify that the biometric came from the person at the time of verification. 

Biometrics are easy, convenient, and when used properly, very secure. Understanding how they work, and fail is critical to understanding when they improve security and when they don't.

I wish You Great Success.