Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 John Khu
Selling your expired domains to a potential buyer could be a very tricky issue. Segregating a serious buyer from a casual one is very difficult as you may deal and interact with hundreds of them. Some of them may be very dedicated expired domain traders who are looking for very good domains expired while a number of others are not too serious in their buying intentions. In fact, non-serious expired domain traders keep looking for their domain names but never buy one. Finding a potential buyer is very difficult when someone does not learn and master the techniques of domain trading. Here are five important things that you must remember before selling your stock of domain names:
1. Finding the location where your buyer lives could be a tough task. Most of them are almost anonymous when they quote their price. Most of them also send their messages through their email ID's. Hence, you will need to know from which location your prospective buyer is sending his or her e-mail. Make sure that you are checking for clues about the origin of e-mails you receive from the buyers. To find out the location from where you are getting e-mails from, you can use tracking software to check the origin of the mails. However, the sender can send e-mail from a location that is entirely different from his or her place of actual residence.
2. Most of the newbie or minor domain traders bid or buy domains on their own. However, some traders solicit the professional help of a broker or a lawyer while buying domain names. You will need to know whether the buyer who is showing an interest in your domain is using professional help. Such buyers could be very choosy and methodic as they look for every detail about the domain name, its origin, previous history, legal status and registrar details.
3. Some expired domain traders make it a point to call their buyer to talk to them about the domain and its price. When you interact with a buyer through a telephone, you can make out if they are really showing an interest in your domain. Their voice and the confidence with which they talk can provide many clues.
4. Does the potential buyer ask for precise details about your expired domains? If yes, he or she is sending a clear signal that your expired domains are good enough for buying.
Whatever the case, never sell your domain names for a price that you feel is very low for its perceived quality. If you are happy with the price offer, you can definitely sell your domains almost immediately. If possible request your buyer to chat with you about the purchase; video chatting is possibly the best and the safest way to sell your domain names. Once you strike a deal, you can ask your buyer to deposit the money in an escrow account; an escrow account can safeguard the deal for both of you with mutual guarantees.
About the Author:
John Khu is an author and also a seasoned professional with vast experience in expired domain name business. He is also the owner of the path breaking web sites called http://www.expireddomainsecret.com and http://www.expireddomaingains.com which provides complete and up-to-date information on expired domains and their eternal secrets.
Read more of John Khu's articles.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
For Word of Mouth Marketing, Make Sure Your New Company Name is Sayable
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Marcia Yudkin
Take it from someone who often has to rescue someone from mispronunciation or suffer silently when someone reads my last name out loud for the first time: There is huge value in having a name that people can look at and have no doubt about how to pronounce.
That's why I shook my head sadly when I saw the following line in a magazine ad:
"Vovici [vo-vee-see] - the future of online surveys"
For English speakers, pronouncing the company name "Vovici" is totally unintuitive. One uncertainty would be bad enough, but it actually has four trouble spots for someone seeing the name and trying to pronounce it. The "o" could be long or short, the first "i" could be long or short, the emphasis could belong on either the first or the second syllable, and the "c" could be pronounced either like an "s" or like "ch," as in Latin.
But if you instruct people how to pronounce it, as in this magazine ad, isn't that OK? No, not unless you have the budget to make that pronunciation famous through radio or television ads. You'll constantly be fighting several handicaps.
1. With a name that's hard to pronounce, fewer people will say it. Most people hate making mistakes, dislike being corrected and therefore would feel embarrassed to be tripping over pronouncing a six-letter company name. So, many will simply avoid saying it. That means fewer people will recommend the company to others in conversation. People might even go so far as to avoid situations in which they need to confront their uncertainty about the name's pronunciation - like avoiding the company's sales reps.
2. A name that's hard to pronounce is also often harder to remember. That means less impact from many of the dollars spent on marketing. It will cost more to get the same results than with a name that's easy to pronounce.
3. You need to spend considerable time and energy on the issue of pronunciation rather than on what the company does. Very often you also need to explain the derivation or meaning of the name, not just how to say it. For instance, Cuil, the name of the search engine, looks like a nonsensical and unpronounceable combination of letters to most Americans. "Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge," says the company on its About page. Strangely, they do not say there that it should be pronounced "cool," though they do so in their press releases.
4. People won't know how to spell an unpronounceable name. And on the web, that is disastrous. If someone overhears buzz about a new search engine called "cool," they are going to look it up at cool.com or maybe at kool.com. Not one in a billion would look for it at cuil.com unless they were previously clued in.
Saddling your company with a name that you need to instruct people how to pronounce means putting it at a distinct disadvantage. Spend a little more time and selectivity in naming to give your organization the comfortable boost it deserves.
About the Author:
Marcia Yudkin is Head Stork of Named At Last, a company that brainstorms creative business names, product names and tag lines for clients. For a systematic process of coming up with an appealing and effective name or tag line, download a free copy of "19 Steps to the Perfect Company Name, Product Name or Tag Line" at http://www.namedatlast.com/19steps.htm
Read more Articles written by Marcia Yudkin.
Copyright © 2009 Marcia Yudkin
Take it from someone who often has to rescue someone from mispronunciation or suffer silently when someone reads my last name out loud for the first time: There is huge value in having a name that people can look at and have no doubt about how to pronounce.
That's why I shook my head sadly when I saw the following line in a magazine ad:
"Vovici [vo-vee-see] - the future of online surveys"
For English speakers, pronouncing the company name "Vovici" is totally unintuitive. One uncertainty would be bad enough, but it actually has four trouble spots for someone seeing the name and trying to pronounce it. The "o" could be long or short, the first "i" could be long or short, the emphasis could belong on either the first or the second syllable, and the "c" could be pronounced either like an "s" or like "ch," as in Latin.
But if you instruct people how to pronounce it, as in this magazine ad, isn't that OK? No, not unless you have the budget to make that pronunciation famous through radio or television ads. You'll constantly be fighting several handicaps.
1. With a name that's hard to pronounce, fewer people will say it. Most people hate making mistakes, dislike being corrected and therefore would feel embarrassed to be tripping over pronouncing a six-letter company name. So, many will simply avoid saying it. That means fewer people will recommend the company to others in conversation. People might even go so far as to avoid situations in which they need to confront their uncertainty about the name's pronunciation - like avoiding the company's sales reps.
2. A name that's hard to pronounce is also often harder to remember. That means less impact from many of the dollars spent on marketing. It will cost more to get the same results than with a name that's easy to pronounce.
3. You need to spend considerable time and energy on the issue of pronunciation rather than on what the company does. Very often you also need to explain the derivation or meaning of the name, not just how to say it. For instance, Cuil, the name of the search engine, looks like a nonsensical and unpronounceable combination of letters to most Americans. "Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge," says the company on its About page. Strangely, they do not say there that it should be pronounced "cool," though they do so in their press releases.
4. People won't know how to spell an unpronounceable name. And on the web, that is disastrous. If someone overhears buzz about a new search engine called "cool," they are going to look it up at cool.com or maybe at kool.com. Not one in a billion would look for it at cuil.com unless they were previously clued in.
Saddling your company with a name that you need to instruct people how to pronounce means putting it at a distinct disadvantage. Spend a little more time and selectivity in naming to give your organization the comfortable boost it deserves.
About the Author:
Marcia Yudkin is Head Stork of Named At Last, a company that brainstorms creative business names, product names and tag lines for clients. For a systematic process of coming up with an appealing and effective name or tag line, download a free copy of "19 Steps to the Perfect Company Name, Product Name or Tag Line" at http://www.namedatlast.com/19steps.htm
Read more Articles written by Marcia Yudkin.
Online Fax - Five Super Reasons To Fax Online
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins
Internet or Online fax has become extremely popular in the last four or five years. Countless individuals have suddenly discovered this new way of faxing and have truly embraced it. Over the same time frame, many businesses, both big and small, are switching over to this new faxing technology.
But what exactly is online faxing and why has it become so popular so quickly?
Simply put, Internet fax is using your email system and the web to send and receive all your faxes. First, you have to sign-up to an online fax service provider which acts as an intermediary to handle all your faxing. You are given your own local or Toll-Free fax number and your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF format.
You can send your faxes in several different ways, you can logon to your fax service account (interface) where your faxes are stored and send your faxes from there. Some fax services have a desktop application for faxing or you can use your own email program. Plus you can still use a traditional fax machine to send and/or receive your faxes.
More and more individuals are dishing the old fax machine in favor of their computer and the Internet. Many faxes are now simply sent and received by computers via the web - bringing this common business task into the modern age.
Here are five super reasons why online faxing has become so popular:
1. Convenience
Online fax is very convenient to use because it is paperless and inkless. Because there are no more paper jams or messy inks to fool around with - it is quick and fast. Creating your faxes can also be more expedient because you can prepare them on your computer and then quickly send them without bothering with the old traditional fax machine.
2. Accessibility
Your faxes are accessible anywhere, anytime. Since it is web based, your faxes are available wherever you have Internet access and these days that's just about everywhere. Plus, your old faxes can be stored online or on your computer, so you can access them at any time, whether it is yesterday's fax or one from last month.
3. Security
Internet faxing is more secure than the traditional way of faxing. Your faxes can be sent encrypted over the web and only you can access them. Unlike the old fax machine, where anyone can read your faxes, online faxing does offer a great deal more privacy.
4. Easy to Use
Sending a fax is as easy as sending an email. You simply attach your fax as a TIFF or PDF file. Viewing your faxes is as easy as reading any PDF file on your computer. Plus, all your old faxes can be stored and ready for your use at any time.
5. Cost-Effective
Perhaps, one of the major reasons online faxing has become so popular, is because of the low price. Internet faxing is much cheaper than the old way of faxing - you don't need all that paper, inks and toners which you have to constantly keep in stock with a regular office machine. Plus, you don't need an extra phone line since all your transactions take place over the Internet. Online fax services are relatively inexpensive, monthly plans run for around $4 to $15 a month, depending on your faxing requirements. If your faxing is very minimum, you can get a simple plan for around $20 a year.
Some of the major online fax providers are: eFax(r), MyFax, RingCentral, TrustFax, Faxage, MetroFax, RapidFax, Send2Fax... among others. Since this is an on-going business expense, it pays to do your homework now before you sign-up so that you get the right service to perfectly match your needs. It can result in major savings, especially over the long haul.
Regardless of which service or plan you choose, perhaps another underlying reason why Internet fax has become so popular has to do with competitiveness. If your business or company depends on faxing to bring in sales, to deliver orders, to attract new clients, or just for quick business communication; then using a faxing system that's available 24/7, no matter where you're located does make any business more competitive than some one not using this service. In this present business climate and in our "dog-eat-dog" commercial environment; you do need every advantage you can muster. Can you or your company afford NOT to use online fax, that is the real question you have to ask?
It's your call!
About the Author:
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to get your own: online fax service. Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax services.
Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins
Internet or Online fax has become extremely popular in the last four or five years. Countless individuals have suddenly discovered this new way of faxing and have truly embraced it. Over the same time frame, many businesses, both big and small, are switching over to this new faxing technology.
But what exactly is online faxing and why has it become so popular so quickly?
Simply put, Internet fax is using your email system and the web to send and receive all your faxes. First, you have to sign-up to an online fax service provider which acts as an intermediary to handle all your faxing. You are given your own local or Toll-Free fax number and your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF format.
You can send your faxes in several different ways, you can logon to your fax service account (interface) where your faxes are stored and send your faxes from there. Some fax services have a desktop application for faxing or you can use your own email program. Plus you can still use a traditional fax machine to send and/or receive your faxes.
More and more individuals are dishing the old fax machine in favor of their computer and the Internet. Many faxes are now simply sent and received by computers via the web - bringing this common business task into the modern age.
Here are five super reasons why online faxing has become so popular:
1. Convenience
Online fax is very convenient to use because it is paperless and inkless. Because there are no more paper jams or messy inks to fool around with - it is quick and fast. Creating your faxes can also be more expedient because you can prepare them on your computer and then quickly send them without bothering with the old traditional fax machine.
2. Accessibility
Your faxes are accessible anywhere, anytime. Since it is web based, your faxes are available wherever you have Internet access and these days that's just about everywhere. Plus, your old faxes can be stored online or on your computer, so you can access them at any time, whether it is yesterday's fax or one from last month.
3. Security
Internet faxing is more secure than the traditional way of faxing. Your faxes can be sent encrypted over the web and only you can access them. Unlike the old fax machine, where anyone can read your faxes, online faxing does offer a great deal more privacy.
4. Easy to Use
Sending a fax is as easy as sending an email. You simply attach your fax as a TIFF or PDF file. Viewing your faxes is as easy as reading any PDF file on your computer. Plus, all your old faxes can be stored and ready for your use at any time.
5. Cost-Effective
Perhaps, one of the major reasons online faxing has become so popular, is because of the low price. Internet faxing is much cheaper than the old way of faxing - you don't need all that paper, inks and toners which you have to constantly keep in stock with a regular office machine. Plus, you don't need an extra phone line since all your transactions take place over the Internet. Online fax services are relatively inexpensive, monthly plans run for around $4 to $15 a month, depending on your faxing requirements. If your faxing is very minimum, you can get a simple plan for around $20 a year.
Some of the major online fax providers are: eFax(r), MyFax, RingCentral, TrustFax, Faxage, MetroFax, RapidFax, Send2Fax... among others. Since this is an on-going business expense, it pays to do your homework now before you sign-up so that you get the right service to perfectly match your needs. It can result in major savings, especially over the long haul.
Regardless of which service or plan you choose, perhaps another underlying reason why Internet fax has become so popular has to do with competitiveness. If your business or company depends on faxing to bring in sales, to deliver orders, to attract new clients, or just for quick business communication; then using a faxing system that's available 24/7, no matter where you're located does make any business more competitive than some one not using this service. In this present business climate and in our "dog-eat-dog" commercial environment; you do need every advantage you can muster. Can you or your company afford NOT to use online fax, that is the real question you have to ask?
It's your call!
About the Author:
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to get your own: online fax service. Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax services.
Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
How Any Internet Marketer Can Make 10,000 NEXT Weekend
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Willie Crawford
Lately, I hear from a LOT of struggling internet marketers. Many of them are worried about paying next month's rent, or having their electricity turned off. In other words, I hear from a lot of internet marketers "with their backs against the wall."
The sad part is that if they've studied internet marketing for a year or so, this is completely unnecessary. They already possess the knowledge to generate as much as $10,000 (or more) in a single weekend. They just haven't learned to properly value and market their know-how.
How does a struggling internet marketer go from zero to $10,000 in a single weekend? You CHANGE who you are marketing to.
Instead of trying to convince other internet marketers that they need some $20 ebook, you market to people with money already budgeted for expertise similar to yours.
The customers that I propose you market your internet expertise to are local offline businesses. Many of the local businesses in your area are struggling, and need your expertise, and are willing to pay for it.
What am I proposing?
I'm suggesting that you put on a 1-day workshop where you TEACH local businesses to use the internet to drive more paying customers through their doors.
You charge a token fee of $100 - $200 (or more) to these local businesses, so that they value what you are teaching, but that's not where you cash in.
In your 1-day workshop, you teach these local businesses about things such as search engine optimization, long-tail keywords, and capturing the email addresses of their customers (and website visitors) so that they have an easy way to follow-up with them.
You teach the local beauty parlor that, if they noticed Thursdays are always slow, an easy way to fix that problem is to send out an email on Wednesday to all of their customers, telling them that if they come in on Thursday, they get a 10% discount. Then you teach them how to capture their customers' contact data so that they can easily contact ALL of their customers for free.
You explain the power of email to them as compared to say newspaper or radio advertising where there is considerably more preparation and lead time required. You teach them that email is practically instant AND free.
You spend the day teaching these local businesses how to really harness the power of the internet. You don't need to hold anything back - you can teach them everything that you know.
At the end of the 1-day seminar (you can make it 2 days if you prefer), you offer to do the things for them that you just taught them how to do. You'll be pleasantly surprised when 90% of them want you to do it for them (even though you just taught them how to do it).
These local business people are too busy running the day to day operations of their businesses to learn a whole new set of skill, so they will pay YOU handsomely to do it for them.
Here's the secret, you "outsource" that work. You charge the local businesses enough where you can pay someone else to do the work and still end up with thousands of dollars from the weekend.
You funnel the work to talented people that you've met online or find through sites such as Elance.com
It really is that simple and easy.
But what if you don't feel up to putting together a presentation? You can get a complete seminar in a box, with slides, script, handouts, everything you need, from several places online.
In fact, I didn't write the presentation that I use when I put on local workshops. I got the entire presentation at: http://TeachingEcommerceToLocalBusinesses.com
That "seminar in a box" package is so complete that it even has the ads you use to let local businesses know about the seminar. It is so complete that you "could" just hand the slides and script to an assistant and they could run the seminar for you.
I was so impresses with the completeness of that package, and how easy it was to just take it and host a seminar for local businesses, that I interviewed the two marketers who created that package on my radio show. You are welcome to grab the transcript of that show free. I entitled it "How to Make A Fortune Offering Freelance Consulting To Local Offline Businesses" and you can download it here: http://WillieCrawford.com/FreeTranscripts/
When hosting local seminars, you want to keep your costs low, so you want to use a meeting room in a local hotel, high school, or you can rent a meeting room very inexpensively from the local Knights of Columbus or Shriners. Lots of local civic and fraternal organizations have their own meeting place, and happily rent them out. You can even get some of these organizations to publicize your seminar for you :-)
Everything that you need to know about organizing a seminar for local offline businesses is included in the package mentioned above, and the free transcript shares a lot of great information too.
With just a little preparation, and the decision to share your expertise with the "right market" - business people who have already set aside funds for growing their businesses, you literally can earn $10,000 (or more) in a single weekend.
If you get into action now, you could literally do this next weekend, although I'd allow a little more lead time.
This IS something that you can do!
Take a look at the resources mentioned above, flow out the event, and then do it! You'll find yourself looking not only at your city, but at other nearby cities. It's that lucrative, and that much fun. You'll become a local celebrity, and a hero to local businesses too.
About the Author:
Willie Crawford has been teaching internet marketing and ecommerce since 1996. As founder of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle he now teaches his tactics in the membership site at http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com You are invited to join this community of serious marketers today!
Read more of Willie Crawford's articles.
Copyright © 2009 Willie Crawford
Lately, I hear from a LOT of struggling internet marketers. Many of them are worried about paying next month's rent, or having their electricity turned off. In other words, I hear from a lot of internet marketers "with their backs against the wall."
The sad part is that if they've studied internet marketing for a year or so, this is completely unnecessary. They already possess the knowledge to generate as much as $10,000 (or more) in a single weekend. They just haven't learned to properly value and market their know-how.
How does a struggling internet marketer go from zero to $10,000 in a single weekend? You CHANGE who you are marketing to.
Instead of trying to convince other internet marketers that they need some $20 ebook, you market to people with money already budgeted for expertise similar to yours.
The customers that I propose you market your internet expertise to are local offline businesses. Many of the local businesses in your area are struggling, and need your expertise, and are willing to pay for it.
What am I proposing?
I'm suggesting that you put on a 1-day workshop where you TEACH local businesses to use the internet to drive more paying customers through their doors.
You charge a token fee of $100 - $200 (or more) to these local businesses, so that they value what you are teaching, but that's not where you cash in.
In your 1-day workshop, you teach these local businesses about things such as search engine optimization, long-tail keywords, and capturing the email addresses of their customers (and website visitors) so that they have an easy way to follow-up with them.
You teach the local beauty parlor that, if they noticed Thursdays are always slow, an easy way to fix that problem is to send out an email on Wednesday to all of their customers, telling them that if they come in on Thursday, they get a 10% discount. Then you teach them how to capture their customers' contact data so that they can easily contact ALL of their customers for free.
You explain the power of email to them as compared to say newspaper or radio advertising where there is considerably more preparation and lead time required. You teach them that email is practically instant AND free.
You spend the day teaching these local businesses how to really harness the power of the internet. You don't need to hold anything back - you can teach them everything that you know.
At the end of the 1-day seminar (you can make it 2 days if you prefer), you offer to do the things for them that you just taught them how to do. You'll be pleasantly surprised when 90% of them want you to do it for them (even though you just taught them how to do it).
These local business people are too busy running the day to day operations of their businesses to learn a whole new set of skill, so they will pay YOU handsomely to do it for them.
Here's the secret, you "outsource" that work. You charge the local businesses enough where you can pay someone else to do the work and still end up with thousands of dollars from the weekend.
You funnel the work to talented people that you've met online or find through sites such as Elance.com
It really is that simple and easy.
But what if you don't feel up to putting together a presentation? You can get a complete seminar in a box, with slides, script, handouts, everything you need, from several places online.
In fact, I didn't write the presentation that I use when I put on local workshops. I got the entire presentation at: http://TeachingEcommerceToLocalBusinesses.com
That "seminar in a box" package is so complete that it even has the ads you use to let local businesses know about the seminar. It is so complete that you "could" just hand the slides and script to an assistant and they could run the seminar for you.
I was so impresses with the completeness of that package, and how easy it was to just take it and host a seminar for local businesses, that I interviewed the two marketers who created that package on my radio show. You are welcome to grab the transcript of that show free. I entitled it "How to Make A Fortune Offering Freelance Consulting To Local Offline Businesses" and you can download it here: http://WillieCrawford.com/FreeTranscripts/
When hosting local seminars, you want to keep your costs low, so you want to use a meeting room in a local hotel, high school, or you can rent a meeting room very inexpensively from the local Knights of Columbus or Shriners. Lots of local civic and fraternal organizations have their own meeting place, and happily rent them out. You can even get some of these organizations to publicize your seminar for you :-)
Everything that you need to know about organizing a seminar for local offline businesses is included in the package mentioned above, and the free transcript shares a lot of great information too.
With just a little preparation, and the decision to share your expertise with the "right market" - business people who have already set aside funds for growing their businesses, you literally can earn $10,000 (or more) in a single weekend.
If you get into action now, you could literally do this next weekend, although I'd allow a little more lead time.
This IS something that you can do!
Take a look at the resources mentioned above, flow out the event, and then do it! You'll find yourself looking not only at your city, but at other nearby cities. It's that lucrative, and that much fun. You'll become a local celebrity, and a hero to local businesses too.
About the Author:
Willie Crawford has been teaching internet marketing and ecommerce since 1996. As founder of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle he now teaches his tactics in the membership site at http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com You are invited to join this community of serious marketers today!
Read more of Willie Crawford's articles.
Taming the Monkey Mind
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Rochelle Melander
Huston Smith wrote the following about meditation. He could have been talking about writing. See what you think:
The restless mind can be likened to a crazed monkey cavorting about its cage. Or rather a drunken crazed monkey. But more! — a drunken crazed monkey that has St. Vitus' Dance. Even this is insufficient. The mind is like a drunken crazed monkey with St. Vitus' Dance who has just been stung by a wasp. Those who have tried to meditate will not find this metaphor extreme.
What happens in your brain when you try to write? My clients report a number of distractions and doubts. Listen in:
I need to do more research.
I'm not a real writer. I should quit.
Maybe I could create a product for . . .?
I wonder if I could find those shoes online?
I need to update my status on Facebook.
Oh, oh, oh! I have a great idea for a book.
Did I ever answer that email to . . .?
Take the distracting thoughts, add in a couple of ringing phones, the ping of mail coming in, kids or coworkers stopping by with questions—and be amazed that anyone writes anything.
Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell calls this Attention Deficit Trait. He says, "It's a condition induced by modern life, in which you've become so busy attending to so many inputs and outputs that you become increasingly distracted, irritable, impulsive, restless and, over the long term, underachieving. In other words, it costs you efficiency because you're doing so much or trying to do so much, it's as if you're juggling one more ball than you possibly can."
Fortunately, the fix is easy.
1. Schedule time to think. Anyone who creates needs quiet time to mull over ideas and organize their thoughts. It's tough to do that when machines and people are vying for your attention. Commit to giving yourself at least 30 minutes of quiet time each day. Do not use this time to read, write, or talk on the phone. Just be. Go for a walk, take a drive, or simply sit in a chair and stare out the window.
2. Change your environment. When we spend 90% of our computer time responding to the ping of our email or playing games on Facebook, it can be difficult to use the same space to write a sales letter or a poem. If possible, take your writing to a new environment. Use a local library or coffee shop as your writing studio. If you need to write at your computer, find ways to make writing time different from work or play time. For example:
Shut the door of your office and turn off your phones.
Turn off all Internet access and close your email.
Set aside or clear away the rest of your work from the space.
Change your desktop's wallpaper for your writing time.
Use music or lighting to help define your writing time.
3. Keep a Monkey Mind file. When you write, keep open a separate document to record the thoughts of your monkey mind. That's where you can jot your wild ideas for new projects, possible future careers, reminders to get gifts for your in-laws, and anything else that your brain throws at you. At the end of your writing time, review the monkey mind file and transfer information to the appropriate place (your to-do list or another project file).
Readers, take heart. Everyone who writes needs to learn how to tame the monkey mind. Don't believe that some writers are immune to this. They're not. They're just more experienced at getting their minds to quiet down for a few minutes a day. Learning these skills takes time and effort. But guess what? The more you write, the easier it gets!
About the Author:
Right Now! Coach Rochelle Melander supports people in writing to transform their lives and businesses. If you're ready to establish credibility, make more money, and market your work by writing a book, blog, or Web site, get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.rightnowcoach.com
Read more Articles written by Rochelle Melander.
Copyright © 2009 Rochelle Melander
Huston Smith wrote the following about meditation. He could have been talking about writing. See what you think:
The restless mind can be likened to a crazed monkey cavorting about its cage. Or rather a drunken crazed monkey. But more! — a drunken crazed monkey that has St. Vitus' Dance. Even this is insufficient. The mind is like a drunken crazed monkey with St. Vitus' Dance who has just been stung by a wasp. Those who have tried to meditate will not find this metaphor extreme.
What happens in your brain when you try to write? My clients report a number of distractions and doubts. Listen in:
Take the distracting thoughts, add in a couple of ringing phones, the ping of mail coming in, kids or coworkers stopping by with questions—and be amazed that anyone writes anything.
Psychiatrist Edward Hallowell calls this Attention Deficit Trait. He says, "It's a condition induced by modern life, in which you've become so busy attending to so many inputs and outputs that you become increasingly distracted, irritable, impulsive, restless and, over the long term, underachieving. In other words, it costs you efficiency because you're doing so much or trying to do so much, it's as if you're juggling one more ball than you possibly can."
Fortunately, the fix is easy.
1. Schedule time to think. Anyone who creates needs quiet time to mull over ideas and organize their thoughts. It's tough to do that when machines and people are vying for your attention. Commit to giving yourself at least 30 minutes of quiet time each day. Do not use this time to read, write, or talk on the phone. Just be. Go for a walk, take a drive, or simply sit in a chair and stare out the window.
2. Change your environment. When we spend 90% of our computer time responding to the ping of our email or playing games on Facebook, it can be difficult to use the same space to write a sales letter or a poem. If possible, take your writing to a new environment. Use a local library or coffee shop as your writing studio. If you need to write at your computer, find ways to make writing time different from work or play time. For example:
3. Keep a Monkey Mind file. When you write, keep open a separate document to record the thoughts of your monkey mind. That's where you can jot your wild ideas for new projects, possible future careers, reminders to get gifts for your in-laws, and anything else that your brain throws at you. At the end of your writing time, review the monkey mind file and transfer information to the appropriate place (your to-do list or another project file).
Readers, take heart. Everyone who writes needs to learn how to tame the monkey mind. Don't believe that some writers are immune to this. They're not. They're just more experienced at getting their minds to quiet down for a few minutes a day. Learning these skills takes time and effort. But guess what? The more you write, the easier it gets!
About the Author:
Right Now! Coach Rochelle Melander supports people in writing to transform their lives and businesses. If you're ready to establish credibility, make more money, and market your work by writing a book, blog, or Web site, get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at http://www.rightnowcoach.com
Read more Articles written by Rochelle Melander.
Credit Card Companies Reward Consumers Who Shop Around
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2007-2009 Braxton Heitz
With Ronald Reagan came mass deregulation in many industries. One of the industries that benefited from deregulation was the financial industry. As a result, hundreds of new financial companies were introduced to the American consumer during the 1980's.
With the sudden explosion of new competitors in this industry, credit card companies began to struggle with how to retain existing customers and to recruit new customers.
So, financial companies took their cue from the airline industry. The airline industry had preceded the financial industry in deregulation, and they had met the new increase in competition with Airline Miles programs to encourage brand loyalty and repeat customers.
Noting the successes in the airline industry, credit card companies soon began to offer their own clients Airline Miles for repeat business. But, Airline Miles were not attractive to the whole of the consumer credit card market.
Credit Card Providers Upped The Ante
Once the credit companies realized that Airline Miles could only offer them limited success, they began to spread their wings and to offer additional credit card reward programs to their potential customer base.
Banks eventually changed the name of their rewards from credit card miles to credit card points to address the fact that consumers could earn far more from their company than just free travel. Consumers began to sit up and really take notice of these new kinds of credit card offers.
Through the 1990's and into the new millennium, consumers began to find that most of the primary players in the credit card market were offering various mixes of credit card rewards. The most common credit rewards offered are still airline, travel, gas, and cash-back rewards.
Other types of credit card rewards offered to consumers include low-interest or 0-interest credit card balance transfers. Another type of reward is 0-interest or low-interest borrowing for the first six-months or one-year.
Credit Tip #1: Credit card balance transfers and early-bird credit card offers such as the no interest for six months will remain in effect for the full amount of time stated, so long as all credit card payments are made on-time. A single late payment on one's credit card payment will likely be viewed as a breach of contract, leading to a higher interest rate from the date of the late payment or even from the credit card sign-up date. Whatever you do, make all of your credit card payments on time for the entire amount due according to your monthly statement.
Expanded Travel Rewards Brought Real Value to Consumers
Credit card travel points were a real blessing for ordinary consumers. Family vacations are generally taken within 200 miles of home, so most consumers would never use the free airline travel offered with credit card miles programs.
Credit card points or travel rewards offered more options to consumers as to how the consumer rewarded themselves for their loyalty to the credit card company. In many cases, travel rewards can be extended to include fuel, hotel rooms, attraction entrance fees, and food at restaurants. As a result, consumers can expect to utilize their travel rewards, even if they jump in the car and drive down to the next major city.
Cash-Back Rewards Added A New Dimension To The Financial Game
Credit cards can be your best financial friend if you know how to work the system.
Cash back rewards range from one- to ten-percent of the amount spent on the credit card. Clever consumers make those cash-back rewards really count by using them for all of their purchases.
One can start the month by putting their paycheck into the bank and then use their cash-back credit card to pay for everything that can be paid with a credit card through the month. This might include groceries, food, fuel, utilities, car payments, house payments, etc. As each credit card purchase is transacted, the consumer should write down the amount of the expenditure in their checkbook. Then at the end of the month, when their credit card bill arrives, the consumer can write a check for the entire balance of their card for that particular month.
This way, the consumer can maximize their cash-back rewards and never carry a balance on their credit card. If one pays $3000 per month in bills, and all of those bills can be paid with their credit card, the consumer could very well receive an extra $30-300 back from their credit card company.
Credit Tip #2: The added benefit of using this method of bill paying is that you are building your credit rating as you pay off the entire balance of the credit card each month.
Selecting the Right Credit Card Offer
Don't be afraid to shop around to find the best credit card offers. Before you begin your search, sit down and sketch out some goals that you would like to reach using your credit card.
Perhaps you would like to transfer your credit card balance from one high-percentage credit card to one with a lower interest rate. Maybe you are more interested in the percentage value of cash-back reward. You might want to get a credit card that offers extra points or a credit card offer that will let you earn credit card points towards the purchase of a Sony big screen television. Whatever your financial goals might be, make sure you know what they are before you begin your search.
On your first pass, eliminate the credit card offers that do not provide the kinds of rewards that you are looking to achieve. Your first selection round will generally narrow your field by two-thirds.
Once you have knocked down the list of offers, then get out a pencil and paper and develop a checklist that will allow you to compare each offer side-by-side. This phase will let you determine which credit card will best serve all of your desires. Of course, you may have to make compromises with yourself, but when you are done, you will have found the best credit card offer for your situation.
If you have the bank's brochure in front of you, it will likely have a credit card application inside of it that you can fill out and send in to the company. If you are relying upon credit card applications by mail, make sure you keep your list handy until you have gotten a card you are happy with using.
If you have an Internet connection, you will be able to shop a huge variety of credit card offers. By following the method shown above, you can make a good decision about the cards you want to try to acquire, and you can file an online credit card application with the expectation of getting an answer on that card within just a few minutes. If you are turned down on your top pick, then move on to your second top pick. By using the Internet, you can actually reduce your credit card shopping time by as much as weeks.
About the Author:
Braxton Heitz writes about family finances and the struggles of the job search. If you are looking for a job or looking to make a career move in the current troubled economy, then visit the Jobs And Paychecks website at: http://www.jobsandpaychecks.com/
Read more Articles written by Braxton Heitz.
Copyright © 2007-2009 Braxton Heitz
With Ronald Reagan came mass deregulation in many industries. One of the industries that benefited from deregulation was the financial industry. As a result, hundreds of new financial companies were introduced to the American consumer during the 1980's.
With the sudden explosion of new competitors in this industry, credit card companies began to struggle with how to retain existing customers and to recruit new customers.
So, financial companies took their cue from the airline industry. The airline industry had preceded the financial industry in deregulation, and they had met the new increase in competition with Airline Miles programs to encourage brand loyalty and repeat customers.
Noting the successes in the airline industry, credit card companies soon began to offer their own clients Airline Miles for repeat business. But, Airline Miles were not attractive to the whole of the consumer credit card market.
Credit Card Providers Upped The Ante
Once the credit companies realized that Airline Miles could only offer them limited success, they began to spread their wings and to offer additional credit card reward programs to their potential customer base.
Banks eventually changed the name of their rewards from credit card miles to credit card points to address the fact that consumers could earn far more from their company than just free travel. Consumers began to sit up and really take notice of these new kinds of credit card offers.
Through the 1990's and into the new millennium, consumers began to find that most of the primary players in the credit card market were offering various mixes of credit card rewards. The most common credit rewards offered are still airline, travel, gas, and cash-back rewards.
Other types of credit card rewards offered to consumers include low-interest or 0-interest credit card balance transfers. Another type of reward is 0-interest or low-interest borrowing for the first six-months or one-year.
Credit Tip #1: Credit card balance transfers and early-bird credit card offers such as the no interest for six months will remain in effect for the full amount of time stated, so long as all credit card payments are made on-time. A single late payment on one's credit card payment will likely be viewed as a breach of contract, leading to a higher interest rate from the date of the late payment or even from the credit card sign-up date. Whatever you do, make all of your credit card payments on time for the entire amount due according to your monthly statement.
Expanded Travel Rewards Brought Real Value to Consumers
Credit card travel points were a real blessing for ordinary consumers. Family vacations are generally taken within 200 miles of home, so most consumers would never use the free airline travel offered with credit card miles programs.
Credit card points or travel rewards offered more options to consumers as to how the consumer rewarded themselves for their loyalty to the credit card company. In many cases, travel rewards can be extended to include fuel, hotel rooms, attraction entrance fees, and food at restaurants. As a result, consumers can expect to utilize their travel rewards, even if they jump in the car and drive down to the next major city.
Cash-Back Rewards Added A New Dimension To The Financial Game
Credit cards can be your best financial friend if you know how to work the system.
Cash back rewards range from one- to ten-percent of the amount spent on the credit card. Clever consumers make those cash-back rewards really count by using them for all of their purchases.
One can start the month by putting their paycheck into the bank and then use their cash-back credit card to pay for everything that can be paid with a credit card through the month. This might include groceries, food, fuel, utilities, car payments, house payments, etc. As each credit card purchase is transacted, the consumer should write down the amount of the expenditure in their checkbook. Then at the end of the month, when their credit card bill arrives, the consumer can write a check for the entire balance of their card for that particular month.
This way, the consumer can maximize their cash-back rewards and never carry a balance on their credit card. If one pays $3000 per month in bills, and all of those bills can be paid with their credit card, the consumer could very well receive an extra $30-300 back from their credit card company.
Credit Tip #2: The added benefit of using this method of bill paying is that you are building your credit rating as you pay off the entire balance of the credit card each month.
Selecting the Right Credit Card Offer
Don't be afraid to shop around to find the best credit card offers. Before you begin your search, sit down and sketch out some goals that you would like to reach using your credit card.
Perhaps you would like to transfer your credit card balance from one high-percentage credit card to one with a lower interest rate. Maybe you are more interested in the percentage value of cash-back reward. You might want to get a credit card that offers extra points or a credit card offer that will let you earn credit card points towards the purchase of a Sony big screen television. Whatever your financial goals might be, make sure you know what they are before you begin your search.
On your first pass, eliminate the credit card offers that do not provide the kinds of rewards that you are looking to achieve. Your first selection round will generally narrow your field by two-thirds.
Once you have knocked down the list of offers, then get out a pencil and paper and develop a checklist that will allow you to compare each offer side-by-side. This phase will let you determine which credit card will best serve all of your desires. Of course, you may have to make compromises with yourself, but when you are done, you will have found the best credit card offer for your situation.
If you have the bank's brochure in front of you, it will likely have a credit card application inside of it that you can fill out and send in to the company. If you are relying upon credit card applications by mail, make sure you keep your list handy until you have gotten a card you are happy with using.
If you have an Internet connection, you will be able to shop a huge variety of credit card offers. By following the method shown above, you can make a good decision about the cards you want to try to acquire, and you can file an online credit card application with the expectation of getting an answer on that card within just a few minutes. If you are turned down on your top pick, then move on to your second top pick. By using the Internet, you can actually reduce your credit card shopping time by as much as weeks.
About the Author:
Braxton Heitz writes about family finances and the struggles of the job search. If you are looking for a job or looking to make a career move in the current troubled economy, then visit the Jobs And Paychecks website at: http://www.jobsandpaychecks.com/
Read more Articles written by Braxton Heitz.
5 Reasons Why Most Internet Marketers Fail
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins
When it comes to starting any endeavor, whether it be learning a new hobby or starting an online business, we all have to start at ground zero. We all have to start at the very beginning from the very same place. Granted, we each bring different skills and backgrounds into the mix, but for the most part we are all on equal footing at the starting line.
If this is the case, then we really have to ponder why is it only a choice few go on to succeed, while most people don't. Just what are the reasons why most online marketers fail? This is the core question that has to be answered if you want to fully understand Internet marketing and how it works.
What are these basic reasons?
What are the causes or stumbling blocks that hold many marketers and webmasters from reaching their full online potential? If we know these factors, we can learn how to avoid them and even overcome them in our own online marketing. These reasons can be a solid reference point or even a source of inspiration for any online marketer just starting out.
Speaking from the viewpoint of someone who has started from the very beginning with little to no knowledge of computers or even marketing for that matter, I can honestly relate to the beginning marketer. I even had to learn HTML from scratch in order to construct my own webpages. Probably my only advantage, I did have a background in art but designing webpages was completely different from anything I had done previously to starting in online marketing.
Nor did I have any formal training in business or marketing, just an art teaching background which really doesn't help with the day to day running of an online business. I had to learn as I went; struggling with hundreds of marketing decisions before my sites became profitable. Don't get the wrong impression, I have probably made hundreds of mistakes along the way and I am still making them!
But from my own experiences I have drawn some general conclusions about Internet marketing and why some people succeed while most people fail. So here in my honest opinion, are some of the main reasons why many online marketers fail:
1. Overwhelmed With Information
Perhaps, one of the biggest obstacles I faced when I first started my website - I was bombarded with so much information on how to proceed I didn't have a clue which direction to take or who to believe. Thousands of different info products telling you to do this, not to do that... so much marketing information to absorb that you end up scratching your head and looking like someone auditioning for a zombie movie.
Completely overwhelmed with so much information, many marketers or webmasters enter a state of paralysis where nothing gets done. You go from one course to another or from one method to another, without any real understanding of how to proceed or how to get a detailed blueprint to follow.
Been there, done that!
Information overflow can effectively crush all that novice enthusiasm and literally kill even the most eager of entrepreneurs. Anyone starting out must be aware of this obvious but insidious pitfall you have to avoid at all costs. One of the best remedies, simply try concentrating on just one or two marketing plans/marketers for all your information. Try to eliminate the clutter by just working on one marketing system. Just have a few key marketing resources you go to for information, not a hundred! And do your homework, only pick marketers who can back up their claims with observable results on the web. One obvious checkmark - just see if those marketers have top rankings for their sites for popular profitable keywords associated with their sites or products.
2. Lack Of Key Marketing Basics
There are some key marketing basics or fundamentals you must learn about marketing online. Internet marketing has some key elements you must get right or you will have a difficult task in succeeding on the web. Just simple factors you must get right or it's game over before you even get started.
Most marketers fail to realize the web is "information driven" and you must supply quality information or content in order to truly succeed. You must provide a valuable service or function to your visitors. You must help solve their problem. You must give them a solid reason to use your site or product. Quality content is and always will be King on the web.
You must also understand much of the web is "keyword driven" and you must construct your webpages to take full advantage of these keywords. You must have at least a rudimentary understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how you can use it to get top rankings for your keyword phrases.
3. Lack Of Time And Resources
Another major reason why many marketers fail is because they simply can't afford the time to learn and build their online business. Most people just can't stop everything and work full time online because they have bills to pay and families to support. It may take months, probably years, before you can build up a successful online business that gives you a comfortable living. The average person just doesn't have the time or the resources to spend months learning how all this works.
Keep in mind, getting a business or website going is probably the most inexpensive way to start your own business. Domains are cheap. Web hosting is cheap. Web design is cheap if you can do it yourself... compared to starting a business in the "real" world, creating an online business will only cost a faction of the normal expenses connected with starting a business. But the main problem is having the resources to pay your living expenses until your online business is profitable. Many beginning online marketers don't have these resources and the main complaint from these marketers: "I Simply can't afford the time to work at this online stuff."
One solution is to work at your online marketing in your spare time and gradually build up your business until you can afford to do it full time. It will obviously take longer but you can still get to the same end goal.
4. Lack Of Necessary Skills
Actually, you don't need many skills to succeed online. However, one of the major skills you must have or you must learn is communication. You must learn how to communicate. The web is all about communicating your points to your visitors or viewers so you must acquire good communication skills.
It really helps your marketing if you are a good writer because you can easily get your points across with written text or copy on your site. Writing skills can be learned but many beginning marketers don't fully understand how important their writing skills will be to their success. You must be able to communicate on your site, in your newsletters, with your customers... might sound a bit obvious but you would be surprised at how many marketers lack this simple, yet necessary skill.
But don't fret, because once upon a time, the written word was king online - but not any more. Videos are rapidly taking the place of the printed word so anyone with a camera can now be a success online. Of course, you still need good communication skills even using videos, but many marketers have found this is a much easier way to communicate information about their site or product.
5. Lack Of Persistence
For me, one the most significant reasons most online marketers/webmasters fail, is because of a lack of persistence. They simply give up too soon. They try something for a few weeks, even for a few months and then they conclude this is not working and they give up.
Building a solid online business or viable website takes time, a lot of time. Just because your business is online, doesn't mean everything will fall into place overnight, it takes time to establish a customer base. It takes time to build your business relationships and partnerships with others in your field.
Sometimes, it may take years before you see some solid returns. It was three years before I saw any significant revenue coming from my online ventures, and another year before I could summon enough courage to do this online marketing full time. If I had given up and not persisted at this web stuff, I would not be writing this article right now.
Building top rankings for your keywords in the search engines (especially Google) can take months, even years before you see any results. The real key is to be persistent and keep at it, day after day, until you get those top rankings. You simply must be persistent or you will fail.
In conclusion, having said all that, you must also realize there are plenty of exceptions to all of the above. There have been countless success stories on the web where someone has come up with a novel idea or product and become successful overnight. The web can offer immediate success for some but for most of us, it will take some time and hard effort on our part to build a successful online business. Just try to avoid many of the pitfalls or reasons listed above and you will have a better chance of placing yourself in the success column.
About the Author:
The author is a full-time online marketer who has numerous websites. For the latest web marketing tools try: Marketing Tools If you liked the article above, why not try this Free 7 Day Marketing Course here: Internet Marketing Tools
Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins
When it comes to starting any endeavor, whether it be learning a new hobby or starting an online business, we all have to start at ground zero. We all have to start at the very beginning from the very same place. Granted, we each bring different skills and backgrounds into the mix, but for the most part we are all on equal footing at the starting line.
If this is the case, then we really have to ponder why is it only a choice few go on to succeed, while most people don't. Just what are the reasons why most online marketers fail? This is the core question that has to be answered if you want to fully understand Internet marketing and how it works.
What are these basic reasons?
What are the causes or stumbling blocks that hold many marketers and webmasters from reaching their full online potential? If we know these factors, we can learn how to avoid them and even overcome them in our own online marketing. These reasons can be a solid reference point or even a source of inspiration for any online marketer just starting out.
Speaking from the viewpoint of someone who has started from the very beginning with little to no knowledge of computers or even marketing for that matter, I can honestly relate to the beginning marketer. I even had to learn HTML from scratch in order to construct my own webpages. Probably my only advantage, I did have a background in art but designing webpages was completely different from anything I had done previously to starting in online marketing.
Nor did I have any formal training in business or marketing, just an art teaching background which really doesn't help with the day to day running of an online business. I had to learn as I went; struggling with hundreds of marketing decisions before my sites became profitable. Don't get the wrong impression, I have probably made hundreds of mistakes along the way and I am still making them!
But from my own experiences I have drawn some general conclusions about Internet marketing and why some people succeed while most people fail. So here in my honest opinion, are some of the main reasons why many online marketers fail:
1. Overwhelmed With Information
Perhaps, one of the biggest obstacles I faced when I first started my website - I was bombarded with so much information on how to proceed I didn't have a clue which direction to take or who to believe. Thousands of different info products telling you to do this, not to do that... so much marketing information to absorb that you end up scratching your head and looking like someone auditioning for a zombie movie.
Completely overwhelmed with so much information, many marketers or webmasters enter a state of paralysis where nothing gets done. You go from one course to another or from one method to another, without any real understanding of how to proceed or how to get a detailed blueprint to follow.
Been there, done that!
Information overflow can effectively crush all that novice enthusiasm and literally kill even the most eager of entrepreneurs. Anyone starting out must be aware of this obvious but insidious pitfall you have to avoid at all costs. One of the best remedies, simply try concentrating on just one or two marketing plans/marketers for all your information. Try to eliminate the clutter by just working on one marketing system. Just have a few key marketing resources you go to for information, not a hundred! And do your homework, only pick marketers who can back up their claims with observable results on the web. One obvious checkmark - just see if those marketers have top rankings for their sites for popular profitable keywords associated with their sites or products.
2. Lack Of Key Marketing Basics
There are some key marketing basics or fundamentals you must learn about marketing online. Internet marketing has some key elements you must get right or you will have a difficult task in succeeding on the web. Just simple factors you must get right or it's game over before you even get started.
Most marketers fail to realize the web is "information driven" and you must supply quality information or content in order to truly succeed. You must provide a valuable service or function to your visitors. You must help solve their problem. You must give them a solid reason to use your site or product. Quality content is and always will be King on the web.
You must also understand much of the web is "keyword driven" and you must construct your webpages to take full advantage of these keywords. You must have at least a rudimentary understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how you can use it to get top rankings for your keyword phrases.
3. Lack Of Time And Resources
Another major reason why many marketers fail is because they simply can't afford the time to learn and build their online business. Most people just can't stop everything and work full time online because they have bills to pay and families to support. It may take months, probably years, before you can build up a successful online business that gives you a comfortable living. The average person just doesn't have the time or the resources to spend months learning how all this works.
Keep in mind, getting a business or website going is probably the most inexpensive way to start your own business. Domains are cheap. Web hosting is cheap. Web design is cheap if you can do it yourself... compared to starting a business in the "real" world, creating an online business will only cost a faction of the normal expenses connected with starting a business. But the main problem is having the resources to pay your living expenses until your online business is profitable. Many beginning online marketers don't have these resources and the main complaint from these marketers: "I Simply can't afford the time to work at this online stuff."
One solution is to work at your online marketing in your spare time and gradually build up your business until you can afford to do it full time. It will obviously take longer but you can still get to the same end goal.
4. Lack Of Necessary Skills
Actually, you don't need many skills to succeed online. However, one of the major skills you must have or you must learn is communication. You must learn how to communicate. The web is all about communicating your points to your visitors or viewers so you must acquire good communication skills.
It really helps your marketing if you are a good writer because you can easily get your points across with written text or copy on your site. Writing skills can be learned but many beginning marketers don't fully understand how important their writing skills will be to their success. You must be able to communicate on your site, in your newsletters, with your customers... might sound a bit obvious but you would be surprised at how many marketers lack this simple, yet necessary skill.
But don't fret, because once upon a time, the written word was king online - but not any more. Videos are rapidly taking the place of the printed word so anyone with a camera can now be a success online. Of course, you still need good communication skills even using videos, but many marketers have found this is a much easier way to communicate information about their site or product.
5. Lack Of Persistence
For me, one the most significant reasons most online marketers/webmasters fail, is because of a lack of persistence. They simply give up too soon. They try something for a few weeks, even for a few months and then they conclude this is not working and they give up.
Building a solid online business or viable website takes time, a lot of time. Just because your business is online, doesn't mean everything will fall into place overnight, it takes time to establish a customer base. It takes time to build your business relationships and partnerships with others in your field.
Sometimes, it may take years before you see some solid returns. It was three years before I saw any significant revenue coming from my online ventures, and another year before I could summon enough courage to do this online marketing full time. If I had given up and not persisted at this web stuff, I would not be writing this article right now.
Building top rankings for your keywords in the search engines (especially Google) can take months, even years before you see any results. The real key is to be persistent and keep at it, day after day, until you get those top rankings. You simply must be persistent or you will fail.
In conclusion, having said all that, you must also realize there are plenty of exceptions to all of the above. There have been countless success stories on the web where someone has come up with a novel idea or product and become successful overnight. The web can offer immediate success for some but for most of us, it will take some time and hard effort on our part to build a successful online business. Just try to avoid many of the pitfalls or reasons listed above and you will have a better chance of placing yourself in the success column.
About the Author:
The author is a full-time online marketer who has numerous websites. For the latest web marketing tools try: Marketing Tools If you liked the article above, why not try this Free 7 Day Marketing Course here: Internet Marketing Tools
Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)