Saturday, May 31, 2008

Handling Complaints Without Making Things Worse

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2008 Mark Silver



The email comes, or the phone rings, and there's an absolute flood pouring right at you. "Hey, you didn't do what you said you would do. This didn't work as advertised. You goofed!"

Yup, a complaint. Ahhh! A complaint?! But you poured your heart and soul into it, how could they complain?

Then you take a breath, and you read what they're asking for, and you realize... they were right. You DID make a mistake. Things are goofed up, perhaps badly.

Time to hang up your hat and go work in a cafe?

Well, no, not really. But it can sure feel that way. Why is it that when you get a complaint it always stirs you up?

I could say it's a gift from Source (and it is) but let's not go there immediately. Before you try to figure it out, take a moment, or two, or an hour, or even half a day, for yourself.

That's right, you don't have to respond immediately.

Not every complaint is going to shake you, but when they do resist the urge to respond immediately. Instead, take time for yourself to feel upset, to connect with your heart, and to realize that perhaps it's not as bad as you might think.

Once you catch up to your heart, then it's time to respond. Let's take a look, shall we?

We apologize for any inconvenience...

This is exactly what you -don't- want to say. Unfortunately, there's been 'corporate' language creeping into every day speech. Plus, as a small business owner, you don't necessarily see what other small business owners do in the dark of their email inboxes, so you don't have other examples.

You and I are only used to seeing the kind of emails/letters/phone calls that the big boys send out to their millions of customers.

This is not what you want to emulate. Not.

The three most important things in an apology response.

When someone complains, they are actually giving you an incredible testimonial. You see, trust and hope have been broken so often in our culture, that many people just take average or below-average as 'normal.'

For instance, our trash can broke just a year or two after we bought it. A trash can? It should last for years, really, but I didn't expect any better. And I didn't complain to anyone (except my wife.)

So, if you get a complain, that means they trust you enough to show you how much they wanted your offer/product/service to work for them. That they trusted you enough to handle them with care, even when they are upset. That they trusted that you will take care of them.

That's a lot of trust.

So, how about those three things that are needed in the response? Let's take a closer look at them.

Keys to Caring for Complaints.

  • Hear ye, O hear ye!

  • First and foremost they want to be heard. They want you to hear the facts of the matter, but even more importantly, they want you to get that they are upset to some degree.

    Read their email, or letter, or listen to the words they spoke carefully. Did they say they were "frustrated?" Or did they say they were "really upset!" Did their tone sound like it had a LOT of energy in it, or was it fairly mild.

    You want to let them know that you get exactly how upset they are, and the tone of the emotion. If someone says "really upset!" don't say: "Sounds like you're a little frustrated."

    They aren't a little frustrated- they are "really upset!" So let them know you see it: "Wow, I get that you are really upset! I'm glad you let me know how upset you are!"

  • It's 'me' not 'we.'

  • We've all been trained to say "we" in these kinds of situations. "We apologize for any inconvenience." But, seriously, who is "we?" Even if you have a company of 10,000, you are the person responding.

    They showed you trust by complaining, show them trust by being a little vulnerable here, don't hide behind the 'we' even if other people were involved.

    For instance: 'I'm sad about the goof, because I want you to get the best from me (or us if there is more than one of you), and I'm grateful you let me know so I can fix it.'

  • Accountability.

  • Tell them how you're going to fix the problem. Give details. Instead of 'We'll replace it for you.' try writing something like this:

    'I'm putting the replacement in the mail today by priority mail- you should have it in about three days. Please let me know when you receive it and if it's in good shape.'

    Most of all, respond to the people who complain as you would talk to a good friend, not to someone who you need to hide from or keep at an arm's length.

    An example.

    We received an email asking about an order- and, you know what, our system dropped the order, and we weren't tracking. We got paid, but we never shipped the item. Luckily, this happens rarely.

    The instinct from corporate examples is to respond like this:

    "We apologize for any inconvenience. We're sending you a replacement copy immediately, and you should have it very soon. We really appreciate your business, and we want to make this right with you.

    Sincerely,"

    It's perfectly fine, in some ways. And yet, here is how we like to respond:

    "Wow- I'm so sorry that we goofed your order like that! Ugh! I can imagine you've been frustrated, wondering where in the heck your order is, and here it is more than a week later!

    "I want you to know that I just put your book into a priority mail envelope and it's going out today. It should take about three days to get to you. If you don't have it by Tuesday, let me know.

    "apologies! appreciation!

    "Mark (or whomever is writing the email)"

    And, we also usually put a little extra gift in the package, as a surprise, when we goof.

    If you let yourself breathe through your initial reaction to a complaint, then you will see the deep trust that is being given, and you can return it in a way that will feel great to your heart.

    Stick with saying "me" instead of "we," being authentic, and show them how you are going to fix it, and you'll see how goof-ups can actually be doorways to creating deeper trust, and your upset clients just might turn into raving fans.

    The best to you and your business,

    Mark Silver


    About the Author:
    Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com


    Friday, May 30, 2008

    Your Next Deadline Can Bring You New Business, or It Can Take It Away - You Choose

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Acey Gaspard



    Deadlines are important in the business world. You, as a businessperson, must be strict about deadlines.

    Larry thought differently. He was to have 20 manuals printed and binded for 9:30 Monday morning. Larry had a little problem: his binding machine broke down and he was unable to repair it. So Larry thought, "Well, it's not my fault." He tried to get a replacement, but that would take three business days. Larry explained this to the customer when he came in for his materials. The customer was furious. Larry explained, "I tried to get a replacement, but that will take three days. There was nothing I could do. I did what I could. I think you're overreacting."

    The customer began to really get upset and raised his voice: "I have people coming down from the head office, and now they won't have any materials to work with. We've been planning this for months. You think it's not a big deal, but it is. My job is on the line. I trusted you! Just give me the originals." And the customer walked out, never to return.

    What Larry should have done was to get the job done no matter what. He could have easily gone to a printing shop and completed the job. Customers don't want to hear about your problems. They don't care, not because they're bad people, but because they have their own worries to deal with.

    The worst thing Larry did was to wait until the customer arrived. He could have at least called to let the customer know there was a delay or that his machine broke down and he was going to have the manuals done for him elsewhere. You can't take people for granted and say that it's not that important. There's no excuse. A deadline is a deadline.

    Here are some important tips to keep in mind when you agree to a deadline

  • If you can, take some extra time for your deadline. If you think you can have the work done by 2 p.m. Thursday, take an extra day in case something goes wrong. Ask for the customer's contact info, in case there's a problem.
  • Call the minute you know you have a problem that you can't clear up. Suggest solutions for clearing up the problem, and ask the customer what he would like you to do. Also, take any suggestions the customer has.
  • When problems occur, ask yourself, "What's the best way to resolve this?" You may need to go to a competitor to get the job done.
  • Never give excuses to customers when there's a problem. It's not their problem that you couldn't stick to the deadline.
  • If sticking to your deadline creates issues beyond your control, then make sure you're clear about your agreement to the deadline. For example, you could say, "I can guarantee the job for Friday morning, provided I receive the product from the finishing department on Thursday."
  • Always promise that you'll be on time, provided no circumstances beyond your control take place.
  • See if you can finish early. Contact the customer to let him know you were able to finish early. That will make him happy.
  • Place yourself in the customer's shoes. If you need something and you expect to get it, you don't want excuses.

  • You want what was promised. Sticking to deadlines is a good promise. It keeps you motivated, it helps you stay organized, and it keeps your customers coming back. It's best to keep your promise. After all, a deadline is simply a promise.

    That's the way I see it.
    To Your Success!
    Acey Gaspard

    Action Steps Regarding Deadlines

    1. Define the time you need, and take some extra time in case of a problem.
    2. Make sure everything is clear when you agree to a deadline.
    3. Take some extra time to make up for unforeseeable events.

    Important Points to Keep In Mind When Dealing With Deadlines

  • Deadlines are important in the business world.
  • You, as a businessperson, must be strict about deadlines.
  • Customers don't want to hear about your problems They have their own to worry about.
  • Take some extra time for your deadline.
  • Ask for the customer's contact info, in case there's a problem.
  • Suggest solutions for clearing up the problem, and ask the customer what he would like you to do.
  • If sticking to your deadline has issues beyond your control, then make sure you're clear about your agreement to the deadline.
  • Take some extra time to make up for unforeseeable events.




  • About the Author:
    Acey Gaspard has over 20 years of business experience. His site, A Touch of Business.com, http://www.atouchofbusiness.com is steadily growing with well over 1,100 original pages to help you run and market your small business. Get Tips you can use today! http://www.atouchofbusiness.com/tips.html


    Thursday, May 29, 2008

    How To Deal With 'Freeloaders' In Your Business

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2006-2008 Mark Silver



    'Can you give me your (class/product/offer) for free, or reduced cost? I'm in a tough situation, and need the help.'

    Have you ever had anyone ask you this in your business? If you haven't, it's either because you're invisible, you've only been in business for five minutes, or because you look mean. :-)

    Years ago, when I asked a business mentor about this, she told me:

    'These people are free-loaders. I don't even respond to them. They just want to take advantage of you.'

    Then, being newer in business, I thought I should take that advice on, but it rankled my heart. As much as I tried, and as many times as I've heard other people give similar advice, I just can't get my heart around it.


    Are These People Really Freeloaders?

    Let me answer that question with a question: have you ever been in a tight situation, and needed help, and felt like you had nothing to offer in return?

    I have. Many times. Many, many times. My old way was to just suck it up, and pretend I was okay, hide my challenges. I've been learning, slowly and painfully over the years, to ask for help.

    If someone's asking you for a 'freebie,' I'm going to make the outrageous guess that they aren't trying to freeload or con you. I'm going to assert instead that they probably feel like they're at the end of at least one of their ropes, and that they are feeling some shame or embarrassment.

    I'm betting that it took quite a bit of effort for them to reach out and ask you.

    What would Jesus do? Or the Buddha?

    Or any of the saints, holy teachers, or good samaritans? What would any of them do? Do you think they would just call someone who asked for help a 'freeloader?' I don't think so. So why should we?


    But How Do I Make A Living If I Keep Giving Everything Away?

    Ahhh... grasshopper. If you notice, Jesus, Buddha, and the saints weren't 'free' boxes- they didn't just give whatever someone asked for. They gave the right thing to the right person in the right amount. Some people got a smile. Others were resurrected from the dead.

    Sing this song to someone who asks: "You don't always get what you want.... but, you get what you need..." (Feel free to add in air guitar if you like.)

    When someone asks for free help, don't turn your back, and don't just hand them the keys to the treasury. So, how do you figure out what to tell someone who asks?


    Keys to Opening the Treasury

    One, two, three...

    In my spiritual lineage there is a teaching: the first instinct you have is from God, the second is from your ego, and the third is from the devil.

    The trouble is, the first one is usually quiet and quick, unless you're used to listening for it. Next time someone asks you for something, see if you can track your three responses. You might need to track backwards, because you may only be aware of the second and third ones.

    Example: "Hey, can I have a free slot in your class?"

    First instinct: ??? (Ran right past the first instinct.)

    Second instinct: No way, I'm not giving it away for free. (Ego in self-protection.)

    Third instinct: Man, why do I always get hit with the freeloaders? Piss off. (The 'devil' in judgement and attack.)

    Taking a moment with your heart may reveal the First instinct: Compassion, a desire to help.


    What Is The First Path?

    We run past the first instinct, because it scares us. We get a sideways glance at 'Compassion and a desire to help,' or whatever it was for you, and run past it because we don't know what it means. If you stop, return to your heart, and back up, you can follow the First Instinct down the First Path.

    This means that if you say 'Yes' to your first instinct, you can then ask your heart: What does that look like? It may look like a smile and a website link for the person, as one friend of mine did recently for someone who asked (that person then apologized and bought my friend's book). Or, you may end up giving them a free slot, as I've done once or twice in the past, and seen that person go on to get amazing results, and sign up for my other offers at full price.

    The example can go the other way.

    I've listed the First Instinct example as: Compassion and a desire to help. But, for you it could easily be the other direction. Maybe your ego is always wanting you to give and give and give... because you are afraid of rejection. So, maybe your First Instinct is to firmly, compassionately say "No."

    You won't know unless you take the time to ask.

    The real lesson is that we're all here to make life more wonderful for each other. And, what that looks like changes from moment to moment. When someone asks you for help, see if you can back up from your second instinct, and find your First Path.

    And let me know if you are surprised by the results.


    About the Author:
    Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com


    Tuesday, May 27, 2008

    Why Less Passion Is Better For Business

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2006-2008 Mark Silver



    I just googled 'Passion in Business' and came up with 82,900,000 hits. And, according to the first several pages of hits, everyone says that you must have passion to succeed in business. 'Fuel your passion' is the watchword. Why this quest for passion? Of course, passion can feel wonderful, but do you really need it to succeed in business? What happens when you don't have it? Surprisingly, your business can do better with less passion. Why?

    To understand, you have to get past the gobble-gobble-gobble of everyone who says you're doomed if you don't fuel your passion to see the deeper spiritual truths that are in motion. But first, what in the heck IS passion?

    According to the dictionary:

    Passion: a powerful emotion or appetite, such as love, joy, hatred, anger or greed.

    Plus, the word evidently originally comes from the Latin "passus" which is the past participle of "pati" meaning 'to suffer.' It began to be used more widely in the Western world when the Catholic Church used it to describe Jesus' sufferings on the cross: the passion of Christ.

    Do you get it? 'Passion' is just another way to say 'strong emotional appetite.' And depending on strong emotional appetites for too long, even if they start out by feeling really good, tends to end in... suffering.

    I want to let you know that you don't really need to fuel your passion to succeed. Many times when I hear someone talk about 'fueling their passion' they're really talking about what I call the 'honeymoon' syndrome.

    You see, when two people newly fall in love with each other, they're in the throes of the 'honeymoon'- they want to be around each other all the time, they can't get enough of each other. Their emotions and pheromones are going crazy- they're insatiable. It lasts a few months, or, at most, a year.

    Boy the honeymoon is fun. And it can help set the stage for a wonderful long-term relationship. But if you're depending on those crazy honeymoon emotions and appetites to make it to your 50th anniversary... well, all I can say is, I wish you luck.

    Your business is no honeymoon.

    Your business, in order to stand the test of time, and to grow into something that can carry you, provide for you, and shelter you, needs to get beyond the 'passion-only' honeymoon stage.

    Recently one of the participants in my marketing class was experiencing some very strong fear and overwhelm. That's passion- but not helpful for the business. She had been busy chasing certain business outcomes, and the fear about it was too much. I recently went through a similar spin.

    Both she and I had switched over to the passion/appetite fuel, and it was burning us up. We had to switch back to the only fuel that lasts for the long term.

    What is that fuel? And how do you switch?

    Keys to Reining Your Passion

  • Love is the fuel- passion is the derivative.

    There is a Sufi teaching: "Know that the human has a quality that has no end to it, and this is covetousness, and because the human is forever seeking, this is a quality that is derivative of love... Love causes seeking..."

    Covetousness is the passion-driven (read: appetite-driven) derivative of love, and it just ain't as good as the original. Begin to notice in yourself the difference between your heart's longing for love, and your ego coveting more money, or more clients. Take a moment now- can you feel the difference in your own body?

  • Put your ego on a starvation diet.

    If you can tell the difference between love and covetousness, now keep one and throw out the other. Put off feeding your coveting hunger- for a minute, an hour, a day. This is the wisdom behind the spiritual practice of fasting- abstaining from material sustenance. This abstaining weakens your ego's hunger, and strengthens your heart's contentment.

    Don't believe me? Try it out. You don't have to do a 40-day retreat in the desert- just try skipping a meal. Or even simpler: noticing a hunger you have, and spending time with that hunger, instead of feeding it. What happens for you?

  • Now, apply it to your business.

    Instead of focusing on what you want- more money, a bigger business- put those appetites aside. Instead, take a moment with your heart and ask 'What is your heart truly longing for?'

    Once you get an answer to that question, ask your heart another one: 'How can your business support this longing?' Let yourself be willing to be surprised. And let me know what comes up for you.


    My very best to you and your business,

    Mark Silver


    About the Author:
    Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com


  • Beware The Internet Marketing Value Vampires

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Willie Crawford



    Thousands of aspiring Internet marketers come online every year, filled with hopes of earning a full-time living from the Internet. They learn HOW to actually accomplish that, yet they never reach their dreams.

    Many get so close, and yet they are stopped by ONE thing.

    They are stopped by an insidious poison that is so subtle that it kills all chances that they have of success in a way that leaves them with a smile on their faces.

    That success killer is a "class of poisons" called "The Value Vampires."

    Value vampires are people and things that allow you to gradually master a valuable skill, and then act as if that skill has no value. It's people and thoughts that cause you to undervalue things that you create.

    Symptoms of value vampires operating in your universe include:
  • You spend countless hours writing ebooks and then give them away, or don't even distribute them, because you become convinced that the information that they contain is "common knowledge."

  • You host teleseminar where you teach people things that they need to know, and you don't charge anything for the teleseminars or recordings because you consider what you teach "common knowledge" or "common sense."

  • You record interviews or teleseminars and then give away the MP3's, and PDF's that you pay to have created, because you become convinced that the information they contain is "common knowledge."

  • You spend countless hours creating Camtasia videos showing how to do things such as configure scripts, generate website traffic, or create products, and then you give the videos away because you assume that "everyone already knows what you teach."

  • STOP for a moment and examine what you're doing!

    You're undervaluing your unique knowledge, experience, and skills. You're concluding that because what you're sharing is actually easy for you now, it can't have any real value.

    After acknowledging what's keeping your from actually earning a living from sharing your knowledge and skills, you need to ask WHY you behave that way.

    If you are like many Internet marketers with a wealth of valuable information, but aren't earning a decent living from it, the problem is very likely caused by value vampires that you can readily "identify."

    These are people that you interact with everyday who tell you "point blank" that you should give away your hard work.

    They imply that it can't possibly have any real value.

    They subtly hint that you should feel guilty having the audacity to charge someone for your ebooks, audios, videos, teleseminars, and even LIVE events.

    At the same time, these value vampire consume virtually EVERYTHING that you produce. They value what you produce enough to ask for a steady supply of it, yet lead you to believe that it has no value.

    Do you see the inconsistency?

    I'm not implying that you need to charge for everything that you produce and share.

    I AM pointing out that if you've been in business online for years, know how to do lots of things, and teach others how to do lots of things, and you're still struggling, you MAY be a victim of the value vampires.

    I AM pointing out that if people are constantly asking you for files that you create, then they're confirming that your "output" has real value, and that you should probably be charging for some of it.

    Step back and examine your online activities today. Ask yourself if you are falling prey to "the value vampires." The first step to protecting yourself from them is learning to recognize them.

    After recognizing the problem, the next logical step to finally building a profitable online business, is treating it like a business. Ask yourself if you'd behave the same way if your products were meals in a brick and mortar restaurant.

    Now that you've become aware of the Internet marketing value vampires, the only reason you need be victimized by them is that you enjoy it :-)


    About the Author:
    Willie Crawford is an internationally-acclaimed speaker, author, seminar and radio show host, and leading Internet marketing expert. When not out fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, Willie can be found sharing his 11 1/2 years of online marketing experience with members of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle. Join them today at: http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com


    Lessons From Best Broadcasters

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2006-2008 Bill Lampton Ph.D.



    I love to work with clients--individually, as their coach-- who want to communicate more clearly and convincingly.

    Some have established the goal of improving their one-on-one or small group interactions, because they concentrate on sales or customer relations. Others want to build reputations as spellbinding speakers with large audiences, because they aspire to top leadership positions.

    In both cases, during the first coaching session I say: "We learn by watching experts in action. You learned to walk by watching your parents' steps. You learned to talk by observing how they moved their mouths. Later in life, you learned ice skating, ballet, golf, baseball pitching, dancing, driving a car and many other activities by watching people who did those activities well."

    Then I comment: "To become a top-level communicator, start watching and listening to the role models you can tune into for free at your convenience--the broadcasters who deliver the news, interview guests, predict the weather, report on sports, give commentaries, and summarize the day's stock market movements."


    For specific examples:

    Carol Costello, CNN

    On "America in the Morning, "Carol shows us exactly what "animated" means. I cannot imagine anyone becoming distracted when Carol appears on the tube. Her hearty laugh seems completely unplanned, certain to help you come to life at 6:00 a.m. Yet in her serious moments, you believe she is talking with you privately, rather than to millions of viewers. Always, her facial expressions reflect the mood she wants to convey.

    Another admirable trait: During interviews, she listens intently, without shuffling through notes looking for her next question. Carol Costello provides a stronger jump-start than three cups of high test coffee.


    Brian Kilmeade, FOX and Friends

    Although he launched his career as a sports guy, Brian has become well versed in world events. Pay special attention to his rapid-fire delivery. Why? Because most of us plod along with a rate so ponderous that listeners start daydreaming. The average person speaks at 125-50 words per minute, yet we can understand a person who speaks up to 400 wpm (picture the used car salesman giving his TV commercial). Note that Brian's pace keeps you alert and interested.


    Paul Harvey, ABC Radio

    The most durable broadcaster in history, Paul Harvey signed a ten-year contract at age 82--and that was six years ago. I attribute Paul Harvey's widespread appeal and longevity to four factors.

    First: His trademark use of the pause. Other broadcasters have tried to imitate his well-timed pauses, but they come across as second rate mimics.

    Two: His stories. Usually his broadcasts consist of a series of true-to-life stories, giving behind the scenes visits with the famous and the ordinary.

    Three: His simple language. You don't need a dictionary handy when you hear him. Paul Harvey knows that eloquence means that people get your meaning quite easily.

    Four: His incredible voice. That's a rare gift we won't have. Even so, through coaching and practice we can make the most of the voices nature gave us.


    Oprah Winfrey, ABC-TV

    One word accounts for Oprah's worldwide acclaim: Trust. Her guests trust her enough to tell their most sacred secrets. Her viewers trust her enough to believe that she is sincere. Centuries ago, Aristotle taught that ethos (credibility, in our lingo) may well be the orator's most powerful tool. If your listeners trust you-- whether they be family members, employees, bosses, or prospective clients--you enjoy a remarkable advantage.


    Stone Phillips, Dateline NBC

    This former Yale quarterback has all the right moves for TV, too. In addition to his central casting looks and poise, I applaud his focus on facts. You never have to wonder, "What reason does he have for that assumption?" Phillips documents every report. The lesson: Research your topics from every angle. Become a renowned authority, and you will make sales no one else could make, or explain quite clearly a complex issue at a department-wide meeting.


    Which Favorite Broadcaster Would You Add?

    "But Bill," you may be thinking, "how can you possibly leave out __________________or _________________?" If you want to tell me about a broadcaster who has given you valuable lessons in "championship communication," then please do this:

    1. E-mail me the name of another broadcaster you admire as a communication model.

    2. Tell me--specifically-- what the broadcaster has demonstrated as a dynamic communication principle.

    Please title your E-mail: Favorite Broadcaster Send to: mailto:drbill@ChampionshipCommunication.com

    In my regular monthly newsletter, I will list the broadcasters mentioned in reader responses.


    About the Author:
    Bill Lampton, Ph.D., helps organizations "Finish in First Place," by strengthening their communication, motivation, customer service, and sales. His speeches, seminars, coaching and consulting client list includes the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Celebrity Cruises, CenturyTel, The Gillette Company, Krystal Company, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Visit his Web site to sign up for his complimentary monthly newsletter, and to order his popular book, The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication, Change Your Life! His Web site: http://www.ChampionshipCommunication.com Call him at 770-534-3425 or 800-393-0114. E-mail: drbill@ChampionshipCommunication.com


    Monday, May 26, 2008

    The Sims Don't Face Energy Cost Issues

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF



    Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in an entirely electronic world like the characters in the popular game The Sims do? That way we would never be faced with difficult financial challenges like the enormous rise in energy costs that we're all battling these days. Although most businesses face some additional challenges due to the rising cost of fuel, the floral industry is particularly hard hit because of the enormous impact prices have on greenhouses.

    Greenhouses all over the country are watching their monthly energy bills take enormous leaps. Don Howell of Pajaro Valley Greenhouses in Watsonville, California said, "Natural gas prices have risen dramatically, with a very large spike after Hurricane Katrina. Last winter was tough for us, with gas prices in many cases twice [as high] as the year before."

    Pajaro isn't the only one to experience such large increases. Mark Leider of Leider Horticultural Companies in Buffalo Grove, Illinois reports that the cost to heat his 600,000 square feet of greenhouses using natural gas has risen a whopping 350 percent over the last six years. He said, "Last January it cost $3,000 a day to heat the greenhouses. We just raised our prices and did not talk about it much-our best customers understood. They accepted the prices because they realized how much their home heating bills have increased."

    Because of such enormous increases, greenhouses all over the world are looking for alternative, less expensive methods for heating. Dutch greenhouses are even looking into developing greenhouses that will produce energy that can be sold to the general public. Other growers are looking to alternatives like biomass boilers, which grow coal, beans, and waste products from other countries. Carroll Farms in Ontario has made the change from natural gas to a biomass boiler of which Russ Carroll says, "The cost of our heat has been reduced by two thirds with very little work. The cost of the boilers and plumbing has a return on investment of one to two years. There is a readily available source of fuel as more and more companies hear of a way of burning their waste products."

    As great as alternative fuel sources are, the sad truth is that many businesses simply don't have the capital required to purchase the equipment necessary to make the transition. As a result, greenhouses are forced to make up the costs in other areas-and that means increased prices for flower buyers. That's just one more reason it would be nice to be an electronic character like one of The Sims-but then again, they can hardly stop and smell the beautiful fragrance of the roses with their electronic noses, can they? I guess I'll take those rising fuel costs after all.


    About the Author:
    Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. His shops provide flower delivery worldwide through Flower Delivery Express. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com


    Sunday, May 25, 2008

    Use Email Instead Of Spyware As A Marketing Tool

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF



    In a world where sneaky tactics like spyware are used to gather product preference information and other valuable marketing tidbits, you don't need to lower yourself to that level to help increase your sales. Email can be just as effective a marketing tool as any underhanded method-and probably more so since it won't annoy people. In fact, at a recent event for florists called SAF (Society of American Florists) Naples 2006, Rich Finstein of CommPartners Inc. offered some excellent advice not only for florists but for any businessperson hoping to attract customers and raise their sales levels.

    First of all, you must allow customers to sign up for email promotions and newsletters, and make sure they're aware of what they're signing up for. Otherwise, you're doing little more than spamming your customers, which could anger them and have the opposite effect of the one you're hoping for. Make sure your process for collecting email addresses includes asking your customers what kind of information they'd be interested in receiving. A florist might ask customers if they want information about arranging loose flowers, new gift items, or flower care. A store that sells software might ask customers if they'd like to receive information about educational software, business software, or entertainment software.

    Once you've collected the email addresses of interested customers, be sure to put them to proper use. One great way to do that is to track items customers have purchased and send them promotions or information specifically talking about something they recently bought. For example, a florist might send a customer who recently bought roses a promotional email for an upcoming event centering around roses, such as a sale or a class on caring for them. When customers receive just a few emails from you talking about things they are interested in, rather than many emails that contain little content they care about, they'll pay more attention to the ones they do receive and take action.

    Be sure to make your email campaign as professional as your other marketing strategies. Put the necessary time and effort into making sure the right messages reach the right people, and that they are well written and appealing when they get there. If you find that your click rates are declining, take a good look at the emails you're sending. Is there a way they could be improved? Or, perhaps you're sending too many emails and should cut back.

    Finally, all emails should include a link for customers to follow to unsubscribe if they decide they no longer want to receive emails from you. Be sure you have a system in place for promptly removing anyone who clicks unsubscribe from the email list-continuing to send unwanted emails is almost as frustrating to customers as spam and spyware.


    About the Author:
    Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a member of the Henry Ford Hospital Community Relation Board he has contributed to the community at large. He owns both a brick and mortar and an internet flower delivery business. Visit Wesley Berry Flowerson the web at www.800wesleys.com.


    Friday, May 23, 2008

    The Future Of Inkjet Cartridges - Could it be Without Cartridges?

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2007-2008 Rich Martin



    I do not know about you, but I do remember the days of the first Polaroid camera that would develop a black and white or color picture in just one minute. Wow, at that time, it was great. You did not have to wait days to receive your pictures. I know I am dating myself, but there is a reason why I am telling you this story. There could be a similar story brewing for the future of inkjet cartridges.

    Have you heard of "Zink"? No not Zune, Zink. Well, you may hear of this a lot in the not so distant future. ZINK Imaging's patented technology, being shown for the first time at the DEMO 07 conference, shifts the printing paradigm from an ink cartridge or ink ribbon, to a totally ink- less system. Images magically appear on the ZINK paper without a drop of ink. "DEMO has made its reputation by introducing disruptive technology to the marketplace and ZINK is definitely one of the most exciting new technologies we have ever had at DEMO."

    Zero Imaging, or as it is referred to as zero ink (ZINK), is a new technology that is literally inkless. It is creating the future of digital printing. You will be able to produce high quality prints and photos without a ribbon or ink cartridge. So how do they do it? What is their secret?

    The secret is their patented paper. This technology houses dye crystals inside the paper with a polymer layer outside. Before printing, the embedded dye crystals are colorless, so Zink paper looks like regular white photo paper. The Zink printer uses heat to activate and colorize these dye crystals. The printing process is now radically simple. Just add paper and press "print". The result is high quality, long-lasting, durable, and affordable images.

    What is so unique about this company is that it is going mobile. Mobile you say? Yes. Zink plans to make it possible for you to be able to take pictures using your cell phone and printing the result instantaneously, at that moment, not when you get home in front of your inkjet printer. This is a market that could potentially be huge! I will be writing more about this technology, what products are in the pipeline to deliver this technology and also will try to measure the impact on the ink cartridge industry and the companies that might be affected, like a Lexmark or a Hewlett Packard. So, if you would like to add your feelings about this technology or comments, either email me through my web site or my blog.


    About the Author:
    Richard J. Martin is the owner of the http://www.tonerr.com/ web-site. His newsletter monitors current trends and analyzes future trends in the ink cartridge industry. Through his newsletter, Richard also offers tips and tricks to get the most use from your cartridges and to share advice on how to get the best prices for replacement ink toner cartridges. Richard may be contacted through his website at http://www.tonerr.com/ or at his blog http://tonerr.blogspot.com/


    Thursday, May 22, 2008

    Expired Domain Traffic-Is It A Bane Or Boon?

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 John Khu



    There are two or three different classes of expired domain traders and they always look for different things when buying their preferred expired domain names. What one works for a domain trader may not really work for others! One class of traders may choose and buy names for future web site development, while the second class of traders make it a point to buy an expired domain name with a specific future customer in mind.

    However, there is a third group of traders, who consistently buy expired domains with plenty of expired domain traffic or expired traffic. These traders value expired traffic immensely and for them, an expired domain with plenty of expired traffic is a god-sent opportunity and a great money making option.

    Traders buy expired domains just for their expired traffic and they park their domains at highly lucrative places that provide them an opportunity to earn some form of income. These domains parked on web portals like Sedo ensures an ongoing income just enough to sustain the cost of maintaining the expired domain. Domains that come with considerable amount of expired traffic are always premium and costly given their immense commercial value and importance.

    Now, the most important and critical question is how can one find an expired domain with plenty of expired traffic? Right now, there are just a few methods that will help you to find the amount of traffic. But, you can be assured of its traffic, once you find an expired domain and track the traffic statistics over that domain. Most of the traffic associated with a given expired domain could be useless and commercially unviable. Some amount of traffic can come from either links or type-ins. For example, absolutelyenhanted.com is not that sort of domain that a person will automatically type on the browser window. However, this type of domains could have a substantial amount of traffic associated with it. You can use a convenient tool that will allow you to find out how many links a well known web portal like Alexa.com shows, to see if the domain still has a traffic ranking, or you can alternatively use PageRank.net to see, if the domain has a Google PageRank or not.

    However, you should be extremely cautious, while buying an expired domain exclusively for expired domain traffic. In many cases, people like you may be just trying to see, if the domain you are trying to buy has an established expired traffic. This type of traffic is not the real traffic and search engine may never recognize this traffic. Again, if the expired domain that you buy has a number of traffic it does not mean that the traffic is real. May be the links point to dead sites or to a place where no one ever visits.

    Thus, to identify whether an expired domain has a verifiable source of traffic or not is actually quite difficult. You will also need to try and use a number of tools and utilities to verify the expired domain and its expired traffic.


    About the Author:
    John Khu is an author and also a seasoned professional with vast experience in expired domain name business. He is the owner of the path breaking web site called http://www.expireddomainsecret.com which provides complete and up-to-date information on expired domains and their eternal secrets.


    Tuesday, May 20, 2008

    Why Joint Venture Partners Don't Promote Your Product

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Willie Crawford



    You spend months creating a product, designing a website, and having copy written and tested. You spend countless hours schmoozing joint venture partners. Then your launch day comes, you "push the button" and...

    The silence from lack of orders is deafening.

    What went wrong? Where are all those customers that you knew your 300 joint venture partners would send you?

    Chances are, 95% of those joint ventures partners didn't promote, or didn't promote to the extent that you anticipated. Let's look briefly at why the sad sequence of events described above happens all too often. Here are four common reasons:

    1) Your JV Partners Promised To Promote Too Many Products

    If you are approaching all of the biggest players in your niche, and if there are a lot of product launches happening in your niche, your JV partners may have simply over-promised.

    It's not uncommon for may super-affiliates to be approached with joint venture offers dozens of times per week. Some are so bombarded with repeated request from the same people that they often find it easier to give a "tentative yes." The problem is that if it's your launch, you may not know that it's a tentative yes.

    The way to avoid this problem is to ask for a definite commitment. Just be frank and ask your joint venture partners "if you can depend upon them?" Another way to avoid this problem is to seek joint venture partners that aren't bombarded with constant joint venture requests. There are many times more less-visible potential joint venture partners who have very responsive lists, than there are overwhelmed "super affiliates."

    A good place to have some of these potential joint venture partners actually FIND YOU is The International Association of Joint Venture Brokers. Just get your projects and launches into their database, and JV partners in your niche will find you!

    2) Your Sign-up Process Is Too Convoluted

    It's unbelievable how complex many people make the process of just registering as a joint venture partner and getting an affiliate link.

    Don't make your potential joint venture partners register at three different places JUST so that they can help you with your launch. If you do... they'll say yes initially, but drop out when they see how many hurdles they have to jump.

    3) You Don't Provide The Right Tools

    Most successful affiliate marketers have favorite tools that they prefer using. For some it's videos, for others it's rebrandable ebooks, for others it's articles that they can change the urls in, and for others it's pay-per-clicks.

    You absolutely must provide the tools that your affiliates prefer using. Don't expect them to change how they market to conform to your launch plans. They usually know from experience what works best with their customers.

    You also need to provide some tools that allow a "soft sell" rather than high pressure tactics. Some affiliates will not use high pressure tactics on their subscribers. For affiliates like that, tools such as rebrandable ebooks (that actually teach something) which sell your product as a solution to problems mentioned in the ebook, work MUCH better. Use rebrander software such as Viral Document Toolkit to allow your affiliate to rebrand links, and even text in these ebooks.

    4) Your Timing Is Incredibly Poor

    If you are in a niche where there are hundreds of new product launches each month, such as Internet marketing, then your timing is critical! If your launch coincides with another MAJOR big ticket launch, your launch may simply be drowned out by all of the "noise" made by those promoting the other product. Your list members may be bombarded by some much email for the other product that they don't even SEE yours.

    To avoid this, you need to consult launch calendars, such as the one available through The International Association of Joint Venture Brokers. Savvy product owners make sure that THEIR product launches, events, and even free giveaways are in this database.

    Those planning product launches who don't want BIG disappointments consult this database to see what else is planned for the days, or weeks that they plan to do their launch.

    Consulting a database such as one provided by IAJVB also uncovers another opportunity. When you see other launches in your niche, you are also looking at events where you can piggy-back or dove-tail your launches.

    Instead of competing head-to-head with product launches in your niche, why not contact some of the other product owners and propose working together. Use their product as a backend to your product and ask them to do the same. Maybe ask them to offer your product to their exit traffic that doesn't convert.

    There are dozens of ways that you can work WITH others in your niche when you know what they have planned, and you'll get much better results.

    Another major thing that you'll accomplish is that you'll get more affiliate who actually promote your product. That's because you won't be forcing affiliates to choose between competing launches... instead you can coordinate for them to promote both launches... sometimes even with one email :-)

    You put far too much blood, sweat, and tears into your product launch to allow it to hit a brick wall. Go back and read the common reason that joint venture partners DON'T promote launches... even after they've indicated that they will. Eliminate as many of those reasons from your product launch sequence as possible.

    Doing a successful product launch with dozens, or even hundreds, of joint venture partners is not rocket science. However, like any "science" it does involve careful observation of what is actually happening, and responding appropriately. Now you know how to respond to the reasons joint venture partners often don't promote.


    About the Author:
    Willie Crawford is founder of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle, and Executive Directory of The International Association of Joint Venture Brokers. An accomplished joint venture broker, and affiliate marketer for over a decade, Willie shares his experience at: http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com


    Saturday, May 17, 2008

    Why Giving Clients More Choices Means They'll Never Buy

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Mark Silver



    You're really wanting to be thoughtful and accommodating. You want to make your clients and customers comfortable, so they can have things the way they like it.

    So you start making up offers, each with different options and flavors. Eventually you have a menu of ten options.

    And no one's buying. Is it your marketing? Or your menu?

    A child with no ice cream.

    Hot summer day. Cool ice cream shop. An eager child. The sign says '37 flavors.'

    What happens next? That's right- you sit there while this little cherub thinks, and wonders, and decides, and goes back and forth wondering which flavor of ice cream to get.

    Either that, or he just ignores all the many flavors and gets the old-standby: chocolate, with sprinkles.

    What are choices?

    Choices are where we express power. By making a choice, you're expressing how you'd like things to be. This requires a certain confidence and clarity.

    Add to this problem the fact that most of us in Western culture have had our imagination squashed out of us. In school, in jobs, we're taught to regurgitate what we're told, to maneuver through multiple-choice tests, and to pick our path from limited options.

    This may seem like a bad thing, and it can certainly be painful if someone is limiting your options in an artificial manner. But the truth is that your clients like limits.

    Huh? That's nutty- they don't want limits, they want to get past the limits of the problem they are facing.

    Well, sure, that's true. They do want to solve their problem and keep moving. But, when faced with a problem, a problem they can't solve, do you think they are feeling much clarity or confidence in their heart?

    Probably not. And yet, what are the two main qualities that are needed to make a choice? Clarity and confidence.

    Hmmm... do you see the same problem I see?

    Limiting choices creates more safety.

    Don't give your clients a menu of ten different options, even if they are similar to one another. As Henry Ford said, "They can have the Model T in any color they want, as long as it's black."

    Ol' Henry set that up to keep his costs down in the assembly line factories he had. However, this principle applies even more strongly to businesses in the limitless choice world of seventy million Google results.

    By limiting choice for your clients, they only have to muster up enough confidence and clarity to do one thing- hire you, instead of having to wend their way through all 37 flavors of your offers.

    It works. But isn't it kinda boring to just have one or two offers? What happens to the creativity in your business? And how do you handle different types of clients?

    Hold on to your ice cream cone. I've got some ideas for you.

    Keys to Dishing out the Options.

  • Limit the recommended intro offers.

  • If you have one or two specific offers where you recommend beginners start, that's the place to send'em. Foundational offerings that cover the basics, and begin to walk them into your world.

  • Create a gazillion offers, but understand the sequence.

  • If you have a hundred offers, that's great. But then organize them in some kind of a sequence, at least for the first few. Understand how one of your offers links to the next links to the next.

    Now, your clients' progress won't always be linear, and so you don't have to put all one hundred offers in sequence. There will come a point where, through the help they've received from you and elsewhere, that they regain some of their lost confidence and clarity, which will give them greater decision-making ability.

    Plus, after they've done the first two or three offers, they'll have more familiarity with what you do, and how you do it, so it will be easier to choose from many offers.

  • For custom consulting, still limit your offers.

  • When you are quoting out a custom consulting project to someone, you still don't want to overwhelm them with options. The same lack of clarity and confidence applies to these decision-makers, no matter how sharply they're dressed.

    By setting one or two options in front of them, you're showing your own expertise and confidence, and that is one more bit of trust they will have in you.

    Although it's tempting to want to create a groaning board table full of all kinds of delicious offers, it will lose you clients. Instead, limit their choices, and watch them happily walk out with your chocolate ice cream cone.

    The best to you and your business,
    Mark Silver


    About the Author:
    Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com


    Friday, May 16, 2008

    The Surprising Variety and Vitality of Franchise Opportunities

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Regis Murray



    Pretty much anyone who has ever investigated franchising, as a business opportunity, understands that McDonald's has been one of the most successful franchising opportunities available. They also understand that McDonald's requires a minimum of $250,000 of non-borrowed personal resources just to start the discussion process with McDonald's.

    Other franchise opportunities exist in many industries, and most people assume that the start up cost will be pretty steep. But the truth is that there are many opportunities that are really affordable for the potential new business owner.

    The beauty about the franchise opportunity is that it is the franchisor's responsibility to secure a location for doing business, and they present their franchisees with a blueprint to success. It is a fact that few McDonald's franchises go under, and the reason for that is the McDonald Corporation's commitment to the success of their franchisees.

    For the person who wants to own his or her own business, the franchise opportunity makes the most sense in a lot of cases. Since the franchisor does all of the legwork to ensure the success of the franchisee, and since the franchisor provides a blueprint for success and national advertising, the chance of the franchisee succeeding is greatly improved.

    But a potential franchisee does not need to think only in terms of restaurants. If he or she were to shop the marketplace, they will find many business opportunities in many industries, at many different price-points.

    Franchises in the service industry are booming now, with franchise opportunities being offered in a diverse range of service industries. Pet care has been one of the fastest growing areas with franchises available in pet grooming, pet supplies and pet accommodation, to name a few. If you don't like the idea of working with animals, you could pursue a franchise in the pest control sector. This is another rapidly growing industry. Who doesn't have pests of some type that they would like to eliminate?

    What about home services? Franchise opportunities abound in services such as gardening, lawn care, home maintenance, window cleaning, general cleaning, interior decorating; the list goes on. Every area of the home that you have chores, there is bound to be a business opportunity available.

    With so many opportunities available, you may wonder if it is possible to earn a good or reasonable living by purchasing a franchise. The reality is that the franchisor does not make any money unless you are successful with the franchise. Well-managed franchise operations carefully map out territories to ensure that the franchise operators will have enough potential customers to succeed.

    Furthermore, franchisors have a business model that is already proven and profitable. You have your franchise territory, you have your franchise model, and you will most likely have a franchise manager or coach to help you along the way. Follow the model, do the hard work and develop your client base, and your franchise will not only boom, your franchise will become a valuable asset that can be sold at a later date if you should choose to sell it.

    If you feel that you do not have the skills to run a franchise business, then think again. If you can start a lawn mower, you can buy into a lawn care franchise. If you can wash and groom pets, you can buy into a pet grooming franchise. With the diverse range of franchising opportunities available, you only need to look at what type of business you would be interested in owning, then find the right franchise business opportunity to suit your goals.

    With the support of the franchisor, you will be well on your way to running a successful business and becoming another local success story in a long line of successful franchise owners. Your future business success will be enhanced by its participation in a successful network of franchise operators who, over time, like the McDonald's franchise example, may develop a national and perhaps international reputation as a respected business and business model.

    The franchise world is full of opportunities, but the franchising opportunity will not drop into your lap. It is up to you to take the steps necessary to research the possibilities and find a franchising opportunity that you will be happy to participate.

    Find an industry that suits your skills and interests, and then find a franchise broker or franchise agent who can help you find and secure the business of your dreams. Brokers and agents can connect you to a franchise opportunity that meets your budget, your skills, and the level of commitment you are required to bring to your new business. Buy a franchise - it's the first step to whole new career, income level, and lifestyle.


    About the Author:
    Regis Murray writes for the BusinessMart.com, the Business For Sale Search Engine. In addition to searching for businesses for sale and franchises, you can search for business brokers in your area in the Business Broker directory. Looking to sell your business? List your business for sale for one low fee, no commissions and everything is 100% confidential. http://www.BusinessMart.com


    What Your Customers Really Crave

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Andrea Conway



    Your customers want something from you. It's not your rock-bottom prices. Not your wacky publicity stunts. Not your mastery of Google ads, social networking sites, or brilliant podcasting techniques.

    Sure, that stuff gets their attention. And I hope it goes without saying that you must offer a quality product with excellent customer service.

    But beyond those givens, what customers really crave is ... you.

    Your originality.

    To keep customers, allow them to see into your heart and soul. They want that connection. We all do.

    In this attraction-based universe, your perfect customers are drawn to your energy and you to theirs. But they can't be drawn if you're not beaming an original signal to attract them.

    Back in the early 90s I did a lot of copywriting for huge corporations about "customer retention," "customer loyalty," and "customer satisfaction."

    The VPs of marketing who hired me didn't want to hear about heart, soul and deep connections.

    Fortunately, today is the era of the individual entrepreneur. Most creative people these days want to have their own businesses and control their own time and destiny.

    It's finally OK to express our authentic selves in business! In fact, it's imperative that we do so.

    Why imperative? Because the Internet has created one vast marketplace in which millions of individual entrepreneurs compete.

    Stressing out about competition isn't necessary when you express who you really are. The Law of Attraction broadcasts your originality to everyone you can serve.

    Take Dave, the enthusiastically original owner of the UPS store franchise where I receive my mail. His sincere interest in his business keeps me from switching to any of his rivals, though there are half a dozen mailbox store franchises within two miles of me.

    Dave knows my name, greets me cheerfully, offers to take care of my copying jobs while I run other errands, and forwards my mail religiously when I'm in Arizona for the winter.

    Two years ago, when Dave's youngest son died unexpectedly, he bravely expressed his grief and agony to his customers. That took guts.

    People often ask me for "tips and techniques" they can use with the Law of Attraction to become more successful. Their requests come from an outdated business model based on manipulation.

    Why struggle to manipulate? Relax, be your original self, and allow the Law of Attraction to bring your perfect customers to you.


    About the Author:
    Andrea Conway, M.Ed., C.C., is the law of attraction success mentor for solopreneurs and small business owners ready to make all the money they want at the business they love. Get an instant bonus e-report, "Fire Up Your Business Success Using the Law of Attraction," when you subscribe to her free e-zine at http://www.succcessfulselfemployment.com. You could qualify for a free 30-minute coaching session!


    Thursday, May 15, 2008

    How To Get And Keep More Loyal Ezine Subscribers

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Willie Crawford



    When I noticed an automatically generated note from one of my email list hosting accounts at ProfitAutomation warning me that the account was approaching the 200,000 subscriber limit, and that I needed to increase its size, I realized that I finally had all of the subscribers that I really "needed." That account is one of five that I have with ProfitAutomation, and I also have one with Aweber.

    So, while I still have a goal of building my database to over 1 million subscribers before the end of 2008, subconsciously I have to admit... that's somewhat for "bragging rights."

    As I studied list building over the years, I eventually realized

    that a more important question than how to grow your list is "How do you keep loyal subscribers."

    Growing a large list is fairly simple... depending upon your definition of large.

    It's as simple as:

  • Having a subscribe box on every page of your website

  • Having a subscribe box somewhere in the backend of each sales processes

  • Giving people a very specific reason for subscribing (telling them what benefit they'll gain from being on your list)

  • Using testimonials from happy subscribers to prove that other already enjoy your ezine

  • Focusing your ezine on a tightly niched topic that your audience has a real interest in

  • There are other things that you can do such as joint ventures, and finding ways to get in front of other publishers' audiences, but it all centers around answering the question of "What's in it for me?" that all of your potential subscribers have.

    Once you get subscribers though, how do you keep them?

    My friend Paul Myers, in his ebook, "The Amazing List Machine" taught me that you simply deliver to your subscribers what you promised them when they first joined your list.

    If your ezine is on affiliate marketing, then your content teaches them affiliate marketing.

    If your ezine is on website traffic generation then your content teaches them about website traffic generation.

    If your ezine is on cooking (as one of mine is) then you teach them to cook.

    Sounds fairly simple doesn't it?

    If you give your subscribers what you promised them when you enticed them to join your list, they should stay on your list, and read your newsletters, provided their needs don't change.

    For many ezine publishers, the tougher question becomes "How do I monetize my list without driving off subscribers." After all, isn't that why most of us started a newsletter?

    Yes, it's fun writing something that people enjoy reading. It's nice getting emails telling you how long they've been a subscriber, and how much of a difference your lessons have made in their lives.

    However, that won't put food on your table. So, how do you monetize your list?

    The answer is that you offer them goods and services directly related to the topic of your list. If your list is on cooking, then you offer them cookbooks, and cooking gadgets, and perhaps cooking videos... or live workshops.

    If you ezine is about list-building then you offer them supplemental courses on list-building. You offer them software that automates the process more. You offer them case-studies that show how others are building large, responsive lists.

    The whole process is fairly simple when you step back and look at it. You entice subscribers to join your list by promising them exactly what they want (that you can deliver). You keep them by delivering what you promised. Finally, you monetize your list by selling them things that make it easier for them to get what they were looking for when they first joined your list.

    Take a few minutes now and examine your process. Honestly look for weak points in your system... and then fix them. Then you too will one day realize the you no longer need to focus on growing your list. Then the challenge becomes deepening the relationship that you have with list members, although you should have been focused on that all along too :-)


    About the Author:
    Willie Crawford has been running an online business, largely driven by email marketing, since late-1996. He is the author of the popular ebook "How I Boosted My Ezine Sign-Up Rate By 5200 MORE Subscribers Per Month - Virtually Overnight - And You Can Too." Get your copy now at http://TheRealSecrets.com/5200/


    Monday, May 12, 2008

    How To Run A 50,000 Advertising Campaign On A 1,920 Budget

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Lei Wang



    Has this ever happened to you? You have been chasing a prospect for the last few months, waiting and waiting to hear from them. Finally, you receive a long awaited email. Or, someone has finally returned your call after you left the twenty-seventh message on their phone?

    You were over the moon! Jumping up and down...and ka-ching...ka-ching....

    You can already hear the cash register ringing - you know it's time to get paid!

    Then next thing you hear...

    "I'll need sometime to think about it and will get back to you..."

    "I'll need to discuss it with my wife..."

    Have you ever asked yourself, "Why is it so damn hard to get people hand over their credit card details?"

    And remember the first time you ever run an ad in the local newspaper, trade magazine, or purchased a spot on the local radio station?

    You were so excited and nervous at the same time. You were holding your breath and praying for the phone to ring...

    Then as the clock ticked and days slowly drifted by...finally the phone rings.

    You rush to pick up and ahaaa...

    Someone has answered your ad, expressed interest, and asked you a few questions...

    Then, they disappear off the face of the earth and you never hear from them again...

    Has it ever crossed your mind...?

    Maybe it's easier to just give up...and find a job that offers some security. You can pay off your mortgage, work another thirty or forty years, and then retire comfortably.

    Well...I don't blame you for thinking that way. We have all had days where nothing seems to work out.

    If you are devoting a lot of time talking to skeptical or mildly interested prospects, and then wondering why they never call back...

    You failed to address their biggest concern.

    Most people are terrified of putting out money and getting no where. They have seen hundreds if not thousands of ads similar to yours and companies that come and go like a circuit. They have been burnt enough times by snake-oil salesmen selling get-rich-quick scheme, masterminded by some amateur running their business in a spare bedroom, hoping to make a few quick bucks.

    It all comes down to one key element C credibility, and this is the first and foremost concern you need to address in your sales pitch.

    For that exact reason, your competitors with deep pockets are willing to fork out millions upon millions of dollars on advertising and brand building.

    They are happy to repeatedly run ads in magazines, newspapers, on TV, and on the radio. There may not be a single soul who picks up the phone to make an enquiry, but they keep the ad machine rolling. It doesn't hurt them one bit because they have plenty of money to show around, and it's a great a credibility booster.

    Now...

    If you are a hard-working small business owner struggling to make ends meet, or just starting out and barely affording an office and a desk....imagine trying to take business away from them. It's like competing with sharks in a small pond with no way out!

    In your battle for survival, you might lower your prices or provide better service. Sometimes you might work sixteen hours a day., seven days a week. This might give you just enough to cover the overheads and pay the employees. You re-invest the little left over back into your business to keep it going...

    Not a very bright picture, wouldn't you say?

    But the good news is...

    You are certainly not alone in this situation. Most businesses have a short life because of these two problems...

    The primary reason for failure in the first year is a lack of funding. The primary reason for failure over the next five years is burn-out.

    My client, Scott Bywater, transformed from being a struggling start-up to one of the highest paid copywriter in just a few years, because he knows how to make his money work harder instead of himself.

    If you want to run a $50,000 advertising campaign on a $1,920 budget, you must be smart with your money...

    Instead of paying a few thousands for a single media placement, why not use educational content in an editorial style?

    For starters, you get equivalent ad placement for free. People read editorials with pen and paper in-hand to capture interesting tidbits of information. You won't see that with advertisement.

    If you are a marketing executive and strapped for time, outsource the task by finding a writer for less than $0.20/word. You can have an 800 word article done for little over $160.

    Just think how much you normally pay for an ad....

    $3,000 - $5,000 for a single issue ad in any trade publications $60,000 and up in a major national publication

    Doesn't that seem like a pretty darned good deal?

    Take out your calculator and let's do the math...

    At the rate of $4200/ad, within a single year you will be running $50,000 in debt. If you commission 12 editorial articles, all you will ever pay is $1920. That's less than 4% of the cost of the traditional ad.

    if you are really strapped for cash, just recycle any existing files you have like brochures, sale letters, newsletters, ebooks, seminar handouts, or blog posts. You can have an article ready under 10 minutes.

    I hope you walk away with something valuable from this - strategies you can immediately apply to boost your profit. And if you have any questions or a burning problem and you can't figure out, feel free to send me an email. I'm looking forward to helping you on your journey to success.

    P.S. If you want to find out how Scott Bywater "banked in $1,500 within 48 hours with just a phone call", visit my website.


    About the Author:
    Lei Wang is a leading education marketer who focuses on reducing advertising expenses for business owners. Get instant access to her 17 page report "How to Advertise Without Spending $1 On Advertising and Reduce Your Ad Expenses By 80%" (Valued at $39.95 - Yours FREE). Visit http://www.paynoadvertising.com/report_pw.html


    Saturday, May 10, 2008

    5 Simple Steps to Selling Online - How to Convert Visitors Into Buyers

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 Sophie Baxter



    Step 1 - First impressions DO Count! First impressions are fundamental to building trust online - even more so if you have an e-commerce site. Your site needs to look professional and inspire trust: the slightest doubt and the customer will leave your site for a competitor's.

    So make sure that your graphic and pictures are good quality and your text is clear and informative.

    Remember that you are asking people to leave their credit card details and trust you with their money!

    Step 2 - Write good content and products descriptions You need to provide visitors with enough information about your product to allow them to make an informed buying decision.

    Try not only be descriptive but also appeal to the customer's feelings. Would you widget make him feel amazingly confident, look good dinner parties, allow them to do their work quicker and spend more time with their family?

    The text needs to be conversational, punchy easy to read and interesting.

    You will find yourself spending a considerable amount of time writing - but the benefits - higher conversion rates and better search engines results, should be worth it.

    Step 3 - KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid!) Don't assume that everyone knows everything. Make it clear where they need to go to find what. Label the navigation titles clearly and make it clear how to buy.

    Amazingly "add to basket" or "buy now" signs on some sites are almost impossible to find... and guess what? People shop elsewhere. Keep the layout clear and simple and make sure navigation is obvious to all users (not just to you) by testing your website on friends and family - watch how they use it, you could be amazed at what you learn!

    Step 4 - Forget Flash (and large images, Splash pages or other gimmicks) Lots of graphics and moving images might look impressive but they can take too long to load and annoy you visitors. All customers are interested in is accessing relevant information as quickly and easily as possible so that they can see what you have to offer. What's more they look like at adverts and at best customer ignore them.

    Too many companies are tempted to go for a 'wow' effect website with lots of graphics that take a lifetime - or at least longer than the average browser is prepared to wait - to load and don't bring any "value" to the site.

    Remember, the web is an information-based medium and wouldn't you prefer your site to be remembered for its great products and services rather than its design?

    We're not saying that design is irrelevant - just try to keep things simple. This leads us nicely to our next step.

    Step 5 - Make your promises clear... and keep them. All return and guarantees policies should be stated clearly on the site. You need to maintain trust and continue to build relationships with your clients even after you've made the sale. Answer all queries and emails personally. Automated answers are likely to make customers feel like 'just another number'. A prompt and warm personal answer, however, will make them feel valued.

    Keep them informed of the delivery status, especially if delivery is delayed. They might not be happy but they'll be even more upset if they feel you've let them down. Similarly, if you've made a mistake admit it, apologise and fix it - as quickly as possible!

    REMEMBER - unhappy people tell two or three times more people than happy ones do! The old saying that new customers are much harder (and much more expensive) to sell to than new ones is true and customer retention will be key in the long term success of your business.


    About the Author:
    Sophie Baxter is the Managing Director of http://www.bigfatballoons.co.uk a company devoted to selling balloons, teddy bears, chocolates and cheerful gifts with the 'wow-factor'. On the birth of her baby, Sophie was given an helium filled balloon in a gift box, that made her go 'WOW' and kept both baby and Dad entertained. A few months later, she organised a helium balloon delivery for a friend's 50th birthday which went down so well that Sophie realised that she had stumbled across an idea that made giving and receiving gifts easy, enjoyable and great fun.


    Surviving Expired Domain Name Industry

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2008 John Khu



    As a newbie and fresher to the expired domain industry, you may commit plenty of mistakes and blunders until you read, learn and understand the basic aspects and principles of expired domain industry.

    The first mistake that every one of us invariably make is to buy expired domain names that are useless and devoid of any real quality. Rarely will you be able to buy a great-expired domain for a very low price and later sell it at an exorbitant cost; in fact, you may even loose your hard-earned money by buying inconsequential expired domains and subsequently sell them at very low selling prices. There are many instances, when you will buy a series of domains expired, which others are not even ready to touch with a bargepole.

    These are all quite common mistakes and blunders that a new and fresh expired domains dealer will unknowingly do and commit. It is quite common too! As an expired domain name trader, your sole aim must focus at buying great domains at reasonable prices and later use the purchased domains to make money and a residual stream of passive income.

    Here are some ideas and practical suggestions that will help you buy good expired domains:

    Get out of comfort zone and start working: Most of us always believe in only good things and we never try to look at the bad part them. More often, we also like to remain in our comfort zone, by believing that expired domain name can provide us an unlimited income. Get out of that ugly comfort zone and try to understand what an expired domain industry really is. Neglect and ignore all those myths that surround the expired domain name industry. Instead, focus on the possible disadvantages and negativities of the industry. Go to an internet forum on expired domain names and start learning more about expired domain names. When you learn more about expired domain name industry, you will be saving both time and money.

    What do I want to do with the expired domain names? What exactly do you need from this challenging industry? Are you just looking for a good domain and sell it for a small profit? Are you searching to find a great domain with plenty of traffic and inbound links? These are some of the simple questions and queries that will help you establish your presence in the industry.

    Am I ready to spend some money appraising expired domain names? Appraisal is one of the most critical aspects of expired domain industry. A good appraisal report will inform whether the expired domain name that you wish to buy is really good or not. An appraisal report is an invaluable document that gives a series of very vital and sensitive data about a particular expired domain name.

    Expired domain name industry can provide you an excellent opportunity to earn some decent income. However, you will need to know the industry inside-out, so that you will not waste your time and money by committing avoidable blunders and mistakes. The most favorable approach to pursue this business is to empower yourself with the latest knowledge and skills of the industry.


    About the Author:
    John Khu is an author and also a seasoned professional with vast experience in expired domain name business. He is the owner of the path breaking web site called http://www.expireddomainsecret.com which provides complete and up-to-date information on expired domains and their eternal secrets.


    Friday, May 9, 2008

    The Clash Of Titans: Article Directory Owners Vs. Automated Article Submission Services

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2007-2008 Bill Platt



    Article marketing has been considered a useful method of promotion on the Internet, since the very early days of the Internet. By writing an informative article, writers have been able to get their sales message read by millions of online consumers, through their resource box that follows their articles. Until 2005, the whole point of article marketing was for the purpose of attracting huge numbers of readers as a result of the articles being published in ezines that had a large reader base.

    A New Kind Of Article Marketing For Link Popularity

    In 2005, Jason Bradley, owner of Article Dashboard, released his free article directory software. Websites that use his software are commonly referred to as AD sites.

    During the same time frame, people began turning to article marketing in droves, based on its promise for building link popularity with Yahoo, MSN, and primarily Google. Most people who jumped on the bandwagon in 2005 to endorse article marketing for link popularity purposes promoted a very limited view of this promotional technique.

    Their thoughts went along the lines of "the only purpose for article marketing is link popularity." There was no other role for article marketing, they said. And since one only needed to type enough words to get a link into an article directory, the most common recommendation was that articles should only be 300-400 words in length.

    It was also commonly recommended that most article directory owners do not review the content submitted to them, so it was not important that the article made sense or pleased the article's readers. After all, the recommendation being made was not for the possibility of generating traffic from articles; it was only for the purposes of influencing the search engine algorithms, which are not capable of actually reading articles for grammar or understanding.

    People flocked to this new kind of article marketing, and they were more concerned with "quantity than quality" – quantity of links that is.

    Software Developers Rallied

    With the mass deployment of websites under the Article Dashboard software, and others since, programmers jumped through hoops and developed new article distribution systems that relied on computers instead of people for the distribution process.

    Soon, these programmers had systems in place to mass submit articles to the new breed of article directories. They told the new article directory owners that if they would add a simple script to their website, then the submission service would populate their directories with article content.

    Hundreds of directory owners flocked to this new kind of article distribution system.

    Early on, people who used article marketing to promote their businesses were elated. They were getting links all over the place.

    The Realities Of Article Directory Management Sank In

    In September of 2005, one company bought nearly 200 domains and installed the AD software on all of them. By May of 2006, their operation had never actually gained a foothold in the profit sector of the Internet, so they sold their domains to another company. In early 2006, I had documented a list of 180 websites owned by this operation. On a recent review, I was unable to locate a single one of these 180 AD sites still running the AD script, and most were offline completely.

    In order to fully understand the job of the article directory manager, the manager must manually approve or reject every article submitted to an AD site. Many AD directory owners realized that the approval process was a long and tedious affair, especially when they were receiving hundreds of articles per day from these automated distribution systems. For testing purposes, I had set up my own AD site and subscribed to receive articles from these automated systems. I let go the approval process for one week and returned to find 800 articles waiting for approval. It does not take long to get overloaded with articles that require manual approval.

    After only a few months of operation, many Dashboard sites stop approving articles for one of two reasons: 1) it took too much time to manage their article directory website, or 2) the amount of income generated from the process did not match the time requirements of the directory.

    The Clash Of Titans

    Things really began to change in the AD directory ownership game a few months into the project. Directory owners began to realize that in order for them to profit from their article directories, they must do something that brings readers to their websites and encourages loyalty from their site's visitors.

    Since most article directories rely on advertising to drive their revenue stream, the directory owners had to do something that the other directory owners were not doing. They had to distinguish themselves from the masses.

    The AD owners who have survived the early explosion of AD sites have generally taken the attitude that they should focus on "quality over quantity".

    This one step has set the goals of the software developers' article distribution systems and their customers (quantity over quality) in conflict with the best interests of the article directory owners (quality over quantity).

    Directory Managers Began To Implement New Submission Rules

    Early on, many of those article directory owners who were intent on survival took actions to reduce the garbage flowing into their directories. Directory managers noticed trends in the articles that consistently failed to measure up to their new standards.

    The owner of Invisible MBA, an educational article directory, told me that he had to review ten articles to find one he wanted to use. He also regularly complained about people who did not follow even the simplest instructions about appropriate content on his website. He eventually resorted to banning 70% of the people submitting articles to his website, including the automated article submission services, because they simply could not follow his category guidelines for submission.

    His whole issue is a common complaint among the article directory managers. They insist that writers should take the time to appropriately categorize the articles they submit. Since it takes so long to approve articles manually and to select the correct category, directory managers have resorted to deleting articles instead of categorizing those articles for the writer.

    Article Dashboard, Article Garden and many others have taken the step to prohibit the submission of articles that only point to affiliate websites. Article Express had gone one step further to prohibit affiliate links, even if the affiliate programs are advertised from the writer's domain.

    Across the board, directory owners have stomped on Private Label Rights (PLR) articles. When article directory managers began to realize that their websites housed dozens of copies of a single article, each of which had been signed by different people as the stated author, they realized that they had a serious quality problem. They instinctively knew that those PLR articles created a trust problem with their readers. When one article has been claimed to have been written by twenty people, it makes one wonder how the website owner can claim to have a quality website. And if the trust factor has already been raised as an issue, why would the reader want to trust anything else on that website?

    Lee Asher who owns Articles-Galore and a couple of other AD sites was one of the first to come down hard on software submissions to his website. His guidelines state in no uncertain terms that if someone uses software to send articles to his websites, the person will have all of their articles removed from his website.

    Some AD site owners have implemented minimum word count guidelines as a measure to break some of the junk article peddlers. After all, the people focused on writing articles for link popularity are driven by the concept of 300-400 word articles. I have seen word count restrictions that include the minimum of 500, 600 and 700 words. 80% of what is submitted to my AD site does not even have the number of words I require.

    Proper Category Placements Is A Consistent Issue For Article Directory Managers

    Article directory owners want to impress their readers and the search engines. But, they need the properly categorize articles primarily for their human readers, who are looking for specific information on their website.

    In order to help their website visitors, the directory managers frequently update their category arrangements. For example, on my AD site, I provide several well-defined subcategories for the health category. In the cancer subcategory, there is a wide range of cancers that needed their own child categories. Since the AD software only shows 30 articles per listing page, and since there is one writer who has written more than 400 articles just on the topic of mesothelioma, it made sense to subdivide my cancer category so that it was not an advertisement for only one writer.

    One of the main problems with the auto-submission software is that the software does not accurately address the up-to-date category hierarchy for each article directory. This creates a real quality issue for the directory owner and managers. In order for the directory manager to stay true to the formatting of his or her directory, he or she must either complete the category selections for the auto-submitters or delete the articles submitted through them. Manual deletions take as much time as manual approvals, unless the manager has to choose the category for the article, then it takes longer.

    Article Marketing Still Works For Those Who Care About Quality Over Quantity

    If you still like article marketing for its ability to get your business seen by ezine readers, then it is as effective as it has always been. If you only like article marketing for its ability to influence your link popularity, it can still be effective, if you do it right.

    It is true that those automated article distribution services can get your article to a lot of websites, but on a percentage basis, how many of those submissions are getting approved?

    For my own use, I use my own article distribution service to reach ezine publishers. And for mass directory submission, I prefer to submit articles to the directories by hand, because hand submission permits me to get the category right every time, which in turn permits my articles to get approved more often.

    In the end, it is a karma thing – if I treat the directory managers right, they will treat me right by approving more of my articles. Since it is not uncommon for me to spend six to seven hours to write an article like this one, it makes a lot more sense for me to spend the extra time to get a wider reach for my articles, by honoring the desires of the more substantial article directories.


    About the Author:
    Bill Platt is the owner of thePhantomWriters article distribution and ghost writing services. In business since 2001. http://thePhantomWriters.com


    Grief - Your Surprising Tool For Business Momentum

    Article Presented by:
    Copyright © 2006-2008 Mark Silver



    Business momentum is when a series of "events" build upon each other, and multiply their efforts. It's when your business starts to have some steam of its own, and you get carried along for the ride. For instance, we had some February sunshine here in Portland, and I went bicycling. Each time I pedalled was an "event."

    But, that pedaling only creates momentum that carries me forward when I'm not peddling IF...

    IF I don't stop after every time I pedal. IF I choose a destination and move towards it. Every time I stop, or make a sharp turn, I lose the momentum I've been building.

    To build momentum in your business you need: 1) a direction and destination, 2) a vehicle, and 3) a continuous series of "events" - similar to pedaling.

    Okay, got it. What's grief got to do with it?


    To work towards momentum requires you to make what is often a very difficult choice -- to say "Yes" to one thing, and to say "No" to something else, usually several somethings.

    No matter how great the "Yes" is, the "No" still registers in your heart as a loss. As much as you might want to only focus on how good the "Yes" feels, the grief of the "No" is there, whether you acknowledge it or not. Collect enough unacknowledged "No"s, and your decisions become harder and harder, as you are trying to move forward through more and more grief-sludge.

    Because the feeling of loss can be uncomfortable, it's easy for it to go underground, and may be part of why you are finding it difficult to do the things you know you need to do to create business momentum. Look for grief in these two areas:


    First Grief: Time lost

    Like me, you've no doubt imagined that you would be living a life that looks a little different than the one you have. You thought your business would be further along, your love life settled, your bank account bigger, your novel published. Whatever it is, you cherish hopes and dreams, and they haven't all come through yet.

    The illusion that you should already already be there, gets in the way of actually accomplishing those dreams. It will be far easier to move forward if you grieve how it feels to have spent so much time and still not have your dreams, than to continue carrying the burden of your illusion. Once grieved, the path to your dreams will be a lot easier to walk.


    Second Grief: Choices Lost

    If you live to be 80 years old, you'll have lived 960 months. At age forty, you've got 480 left. It's a sobering truth that you can't do everything you want. You probably can't even do half of all your dreams. But, you can accomplish some of them IF you choose.


    The Ocean or The Mountain?

    In my bicycling adventure, I can't ride out to both Astoria on the Oregon coast and inland to Mount Hood on the same day. Because those rides are each a day or more, I need to choose. If on Saturday I'm attached to both Astoria and Mount Hood, tough luck. I need to choose one, grieve the other, or be left with not deciding at all, and not getting to either of them.

    It's the same in your business. You may have two different directions you can go in: trying to sell your product to big companies, or to small business owners. Take it from me: you can't do both at the same time. Once you build one up successfully, you can switch to the other. But the marketing message and methods are going to be different for each. You need to choose one, and grieve the other. If you try to do both, you won't get anywhere.


    Grief Equals Freedom.

    Grieving in a healthy way is actually incredibly freeing. And that freedom is what you need in order to start working towards momentum.

    How does grief work in these situations? How do you keep from getting caught in the undertow?


    Keys to Momentum-Building Grief

  • The first step is identifying the decision you've been avoiding.

    Is it target market? Is it business structure? Is it your website? It can seem challenging to make a decision when you aren't sure what's right. I recommend making the best decision your heart can show you, and then noticing what happens. When you make a clear choice to let something go, even if it's sad, it feels clean. But avoiding that choice can leave you feeling 'tangled' and dead.

  • Anger is a natural part of grief. Retribution isn't.

    It's definitely normal to feel angry when things aren't the way we thought they would be. The best thing to do is use the anger to help you find the real sense of loss, and let the sadness and grief come out.

    You know you are avoiding the sadness and grief if you start running continual stories of blame and/or fantasies of retribution. While addictive, these stories aren't satisyfing, and they don't change the situation. Every time you feel anger, question yourself: "Is there a loss of some sort that I don't want to face?"

  • Grief is messy. It's okay to be messy.

    If you really are grieving something, you'll go through cycles of blame, anger, denial, bargaining, and sadness. And, you may feel great one day, down the next, great the day after. It probably won't be nearly as big as if someone you love has died, but don't underestimate the impact of grieving your dreams.

    If you really let yourself go through this process, you'll get to find some clarity, and you may be surprised to find your business moving into momentum, and living your dream!

    Once you've let go of the "No"s and followed the "Yes" all the way through to your dream, you get a second chance. You can either go back and pick up one of your earlier dreams that you let go. Or, more likely, move forward into your next dream which you couldn't have even imagined before.


    My very best to you and your business,

    Mark Silver


    About the Author:
    Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com


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