Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 John Khu
Successful businesses always choose a domain name that is easy to remember, catchy, attractive, memorable and easy to brand. If you are operating a business, then you will need to choose a business name that best represents your business goals. On the other hand, if you are running a personal web site, then you will need to register a personal domain in your own name. Here, you can choose any domain extension like .com, or .net. However, you can choose a .com name for your personal web site too. Many first time web site builders commit the mistake of choosing the wrong type of names for their web sites. Here are some of the prominent mistakes that you should avoid while registering your domain name.
Avoid hyphens and numbers: These extra characters can cause confusions in the mind of the web users. It is also very difficult to remember such names. If possible, choose a very short name with very few letters and keyword phrases. In this way, you can avoid the possibilities of someone entering wrong domain names. It is also possible that your web users will never forget such names. Hyphens and numbers also allow your web users to enter them that may take you to your competitor's web sites.
Choosing words that have many meanings: You may choose some names with good intentions that they will do very well in a search engine. However, words can be very deceptive and misleading. Never ever, choose a name that has a number of meanings.
For example, the following names can be very deceptive and misleading.
ExpertSexchange.com instead of ExpertsExchange.com
WhorePresents.com instead of WhoRepresents.com
ChoosesPain.com instead of ChooseSpain.com
PenisMightier.com instead of PenIsMightier.com
MolestationNursery.com instead of MoleStationNursery.com
ViagraFix.com instead of ViaGrafix.com
Choosing unreliable registrar: Always choose a reliable registrar with a proven record of accomplishment. Let the registrar you choose be efficient enough to provide the best service. Most established domain name registrars offer you a number of free services like domain forwarding, domain-linking services. The service quality that they offer is always satisfactory. Price alone is not a big criterion for choosing a name registrar.
If you choose a wrong domain name by fault, you can still fix it to rectify the mistake. You can create a new domain name (keyword enriched) and later link it to your main domain. It is also possible to link the original domain name with new one that has a web portal attached to it. You can mix and match many domain names to lead to a common web site.
Never ever, commit a silly mistake like finding a very good domain and delaying its registration and later finding that someone purchasing that same domain much before you did. You will be cursing your stupidity when you lose a very good domain name. The general rule of thumb is to register your domain name as soon as possible without hesitation.
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.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Why Most Business Owners Aren't Productive
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 Scott Bywater
I made a post on facebook the other day - http://www.facebook.com/scottbywater - which read...
"One of the secrets of life is making stepping stones out of stumbling blocks" And a number of people liked it, so I want to talk about that now.
Recently, I lost my assistant for a few months over the festive season due to personal and health reasons.
And that means I have been handed several hours of administration tasks a week I wouldn't normally have to do.
That's painful because there are so many other areas of my business that I want to focus on.
But I cannot ignore things like responding to phone calls... paying bills... sending out invoices... etc. or the business wouldn't run very efficiently.
Initially, I was frustrated. And to be honest, I still am.
But I also believe this could be one of the best "stepping stone" opportunities I'll ever receive.
Why?
Because it's so painful to do all of this stuff I don't normally do I am systematising it. That's right.
Every time I do something, I ask the question:
"Will I need to do this again?"
And if the answer is yes, I put it in a little folder I've added to my computer called "systems and procedures."
Now what I've also started doing is passing these jobs across to my virtual assistant as I systematise them.
And as I am doing this, I am also realising there are things I have done in the past which I could have outsourced.
Now I was chatting with google adwords expert, Mike Rhodes yesterday (who is a former e-Myth consultant) and he was saying this act takes a lot of discipline.
And it's so easy to say "I'll just do it myself for now. It will be quicker than training someone up."
But the reality is your results are very different short term than long term.
And just like if you stuff your mouth with chocolate now, you'll feel great for a few minutes only to suffer the effectst later.
If you do the job yourself now, don't systemise it, and just get on with business - you'll get it done faster. But you'll be suffering through that job for the rest of your business life. And that's why most business owners (including me) aren't as productive as they could be.
Systems are the key to greater productivity. But very few people do it because it takes more hard work.
It's the same with marketing systems. Most people fumble along making cold calls and doing things "off the cuff" and ineffectively, rather than getting the knowledge they need and taking the time to implement something which will make the phone ring week in, week out for the rest of their business life.
So what will you do?
Take the short term pleasure, long term pain approach of cold calling and off-the-cuff marketing?
Or get your hands on http://www.morecustomersmadeeasy.com and set up the customer generating systems which will generate consistent profits for your business over the coming years?
About the Author:
Scott Bywater is an income boosting, results focused direct response copywriter and the author of Cashflow Advertising and More Customers Made Easy. His popular ebook "7 ways to get more customers" has been downloaded by over 8,247 business owners over the past five years. You can get your hands on it by heading on over to http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/
Read more Articles written by Scott Bywater.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Scott Bywater
I made a post on facebook the other day - http://www.facebook.com/scottbywater - which read...
"One of the secrets of life is making stepping stones out of stumbling blocks" And a number of people liked it, so I want to talk about that now.
Recently, I lost my assistant for a few months over the festive season due to personal and health reasons.
And that means I have been handed several hours of administration tasks a week I wouldn't normally have to do.
That's painful because there are so many other areas of my business that I want to focus on.
But I cannot ignore things like responding to phone calls... paying bills... sending out invoices... etc. or the business wouldn't run very efficiently.
Initially, I was frustrated. And to be honest, I still am.
But I also believe this could be one of the best "stepping stone" opportunities I'll ever receive.
Why?
Because it's so painful to do all of this stuff I don't normally do I am systematising it. That's right.
Every time I do something, I ask the question:
"Will I need to do this again?"
And if the answer is yes, I put it in a little folder I've added to my computer called "systems and procedures."
Now what I've also started doing is passing these jobs across to my virtual assistant as I systematise them.
And as I am doing this, I am also realising there are things I have done in the past which I could have outsourced.
Now I was chatting with google adwords expert, Mike Rhodes yesterday (who is a former e-Myth consultant) and he was saying this act takes a lot of discipline.
And it's so easy to say "I'll just do it myself for now. It will be quicker than training someone up."
But the reality is your results are very different short term than long term.
And just like if you stuff your mouth with chocolate now, you'll feel great for a few minutes only to suffer the effectst later.
If you do the job yourself now, don't systemise it, and just get on with business - you'll get it done faster. But you'll be suffering through that job for the rest of your business life. And that's why most business owners (including me) aren't as productive as they could be.
Systems are the key to greater productivity. But very few people do it because it takes more hard work.
It's the same with marketing systems. Most people fumble along making cold calls and doing things "off the cuff" and ineffectively, rather than getting the knowledge they need and taking the time to implement something which will make the phone ring week in, week out for the rest of their business life.
So what will you do?
Take the short term pleasure, long term pain approach of cold calling and off-the-cuff marketing?
Or get your hands on http://www.morecustomersmadeeasy.com and set up the customer generating systems which will generate consistent profits for your business over the coming years?
About the Author:
Scott Bywater is an income boosting, results focused direct response copywriter and the author of Cashflow Advertising and More Customers Made Easy. His popular ebook "7 ways to get more customers" has been downloaded by over 8,247 business owners over the past five years. You can get your hands on it by heading on over to http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/
Read more Articles written by Scott Bywater.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
ABCs of Article Marketing for Newbies
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 Paul Marshall
So, you're new to article marketing and you're not sure where to start?
You need to understand why you're writing and submitting articles for distribution. If you don't get the WHY, your plan won't work.
Why Writing And Distributing Articles Works
Articles work for 3 main reasons:
1. They can generate qualified traffic directly from the blogs and article directories your articles reside on, right to your website. With persuasive copywriting and website conversion optimization, you can convert these site visitors and get them to buy what you're selling.
2. If you use your resource box correctly, writing and distributing articles will help your SEO results (particularly with Google) and help you rank better in the search engines for your chosen keyword search phrases.
3. Writing articles can position you as an "expert" on your subject matter. For some businesses, that can be very important...and profitable.
About that second point above: I had a prospective client call me this week, who had been submitting articles. The trouble is she wasn't using her resource box correctly and so she wasn't having any SEO effect to her articles.
Get the training you need, so your efforts will pay off. You probably won't get this from visiting forums.
One option is to hire a good online marketing consultant or marketing coach, to insure you'll receive the results you want.
Another option is to pay for a quality Internet marketing | SEO course(s), offered by a reputable company with proven results.
Done correctly, writing articles is a win-win proposal.
You win because you have more exposure for your business at minimal cost of time and money. You can get direct traffic. You can improve your SEO results. You can be seen as an expert on your subject.
The blog or article directly posting your articles wins, too. They get free content for their site. And they have more pages to host contextual advertising on, usually Google AdSense.
Evaluate Your Competition
Remember, the main point of article marketing is to increase your rankings in Google. This requires a quantity of quality links.
So, how many links do you need? Can the number needed help you choose your keyword search phrases you wish to optimize for?
Yes, it can!
To know the number of links you will need for your SEO results to succeed, you must reverse engineer what your competition has done. How many links do competing sites have? What anchor text keyword phrases do their links contain?
Without evaluating your competition, you're shooting blind.
With proper SEO coaching and training, you should be able to determine a rough number of links you will need to rank well on Google for your keyword search phrases.
Write About A Topic Related To Your Business
What do you write about?
One idea is to take a topic already on your website and use that as a basis for your article. Don't use it word-for-word, but use it as an article idea, as a beginning.
Since your goal is about 600 to 900 words, you may want to provide a brief overview of a particular subject.
On the other hand, if you choose to go into more detail, you may need to limit the number of points you make in an article to 2 to 4, depending on the length and detail you go into.
Write in short sentences and short paragraphs. The white space this will create makes following change of subject, as you change paragraphs much easier for readers.
The number of articles you will need is determined by the number of keyword search phrases you are optimizing for, combined with the competition level for each of the phrases.
This is where working with an online marketing consultant, someone who has experience with link building and SEO, can really pay off for you.
What If You're Not A Good Writer?
If writing just isn't your thing, consider hiring a ghost writer to write (or at least edit) your articles. You could start with an idea, a few points and maybe a conclusion.
Make sure when hiring someone they have good English and grammar skills and they are trustworthy. You don't want to begin submitting articles only to find out that someone you've hired has "borrowed" the work from another author and that you're violating copyright laws!
Articles selling for $10 or so...well, you might want to be careful. If the offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Article directories and blogs want original content. Articles that you have reprint rights for usually won't be accepted. (Again, if it sounds really easy or too good to be true, it usually won't work.)
Online marketing consulting professionals who specialize in start up businesses and helping solo professionals often can write your articles for you or edit them. Then, those are your articles and are distributed under your name, so you're the author, you're the expert!
Wrapping It Up
First, please...you MUST be realistic. You need a budget to market. You need training or coaching. Consider hiring online marketing consultants.
Article marketing really isn't difficult. But it isn't as easy as some want you to believe (those who want to prey on newbies and separate them from their money).
Learn to detect language that falls into the "too good to be true" area and that will help protect you...your time and your money.
Follow the tips in this article and you can have a number of top positions in Google for your chosen keyword search phrases (and the income that comes with them)!
About the Author:
Marketing online since 2004, Paul Marshall can help you market on a budget. He's an Online Marketing Consultant offering marketing services (and d-i-y Coaching). He also offers Affordable SEO services. You can learn more about Paul at Strategic Web Marketing.net.
Read more of Paul Marshall's articles.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Paul Marshall
So, you're new to article marketing and you're not sure where to start?
You need to understand why you're writing and submitting articles for distribution. If you don't get the WHY, your plan won't work.
Why Writing And Distributing Articles Works
Articles work for 3 main reasons:
1. They can generate qualified traffic directly from the blogs and article directories your articles reside on, right to your website. With persuasive copywriting and website conversion optimization, you can convert these site visitors and get them to buy what you're selling.
2. If you use your resource box correctly, writing and distributing articles will help your SEO results (particularly with Google) and help you rank better in the search engines for your chosen keyword search phrases.
3. Writing articles can position you as an "expert" on your subject matter. For some businesses, that can be very important...and profitable.
About that second point above: I had a prospective client call me this week, who had been submitting articles. The trouble is she wasn't using her resource box correctly and so she wasn't having any SEO effect to her articles.
Get the training you need, so your efforts will pay off. You probably won't get this from visiting forums.
One option is to hire a good online marketing consultant or marketing coach, to insure you'll receive the results you want.
Another option is to pay for a quality Internet marketing | SEO course(s), offered by a reputable company with proven results.
Done correctly, writing articles is a win-win proposal.
You win because you have more exposure for your business at minimal cost of time and money. You can get direct traffic. You can improve your SEO results. You can be seen as an expert on your subject.
The blog or article directly posting your articles wins, too. They get free content for their site. And they have more pages to host contextual advertising on, usually Google AdSense.
Evaluate Your Competition
Remember, the main point of article marketing is to increase your rankings in Google. This requires a quantity of quality links.
So, how many links do you need? Can the number needed help you choose your keyword search phrases you wish to optimize for?
Yes, it can!
To know the number of links you will need for your SEO results to succeed, you must reverse engineer what your competition has done. How many links do competing sites have? What anchor text keyword phrases do their links contain?
Without evaluating your competition, you're shooting blind.
With proper SEO coaching and training, you should be able to determine a rough number of links you will need to rank well on Google for your keyword search phrases.
Write About A Topic Related To Your Business
What do you write about?
One idea is to take a topic already on your website and use that as a basis for your article. Don't use it word-for-word, but use it as an article idea, as a beginning.
Since your goal is about 600 to 900 words, you may want to provide a brief overview of a particular subject.
On the other hand, if you choose to go into more detail, you may need to limit the number of points you make in an article to 2 to 4, depending on the length and detail you go into.
Write in short sentences and short paragraphs. The white space this will create makes following change of subject, as you change paragraphs much easier for readers.
The number of articles you will need is determined by the number of keyword search phrases you are optimizing for, combined with the competition level for each of the phrases.
This is where working with an online marketing consultant, someone who has experience with link building and SEO, can really pay off for you.
What If You're Not A Good Writer?
If writing just isn't your thing, consider hiring a ghost writer to write (or at least edit) your articles. You could start with an idea, a few points and maybe a conclusion.
Make sure when hiring someone they have good English and grammar skills and they are trustworthy. You don't want to begin submitting articles only to find out that someone you've hired has "borrowed" the work from another author and that you're violating copyright laws!
Articles selling for $10 or so...well, you might want to be careful. If the offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Article directories and blogs want original content. Articles that you have reprint rights for usually won't be accepted. (Again, if it sounds really easy or too good to be true, it usually won't work.)
Online marketing consulting professionals who specialize in start up businesses and helping solo professionals often can write your articles for you or edit them. Then, those are your articles and are distributed under your name, so you're the author, you're the expert!
Wrapping It Up
First, please...you MUST be realistic. You need a budget to market. You need training or coaching. Consider hiring online marketing consultants.
Article marketing really isn't difficult. But it isn't as easy as some want you to believe (those who want to prey on newbies and separate them from their money).
Learn to detect language that falls into the "too good to be true" area and that will help protect you...your time and your money.
Follow the tips in this article and you can have a number of top positions in Google for your chosen keyword search phrases (and the income that comes with them)!
About the Author:
Marketing online since 2004, Paul Marshall can help you market on a budget. He's an Online Marketing Consultant offering marketing services (and d-i-y Coaching). He also offers Affordable SEO services. You can learn more about Paul at Strategic Web Marketing.net.
Read more of Paul Marshall's articles.
Don't Be A Toxic Twitter Termite
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 Willie Crawford
Two weeks ago, I noticed that termites were eating the wood around my front door. I was concerned, but not alarmed, since my house is bricked all around the exterior.
I called an exterminator who came out and eased my mind even more. He explained that while I did have a termite infestation they were the subterranean termites rather than the feared Formosan Termites.
If you Google the term "Formosan Termites," you'll come across pictures of a creature so veracious that houses infested by them often fell in half. House that are really infested by them often cannot be saved.
So, I felt lucky to have a less serious termite, and simply arranged for the exterminator to send a technician out to treat my house.
When the very polite exterminator came, he explained that he was going to drill holes near the sides of the house, every eight inches wherever there was a concrete slab (such as front porch, back patio, and driveway). He pumped poison into those holes and filled them back in, forming a barrier.
Next he dug a trench, all the way around the house, right against the foundation. He pumped poison into this trench, and filled it in.
Then he asked me to sign a paper, saying that he was finished and that soon my termite problem would be GONE.
He went on to explain that the termites would actually kill each other by being too social. Termites groom each other, and so what happens is that a few termites get the poison on them, and they take it into the colony. Then by grooming each other, they spread it throughout the colony, whereby they eventually wipe out the entire colony.
This is a case where being social is deadly.
I spend time in another world where being social can be deadly, and where you have to watch out for creatures carrying poison. That world is the world of online social networking. Fortunately, if you follow just a few rules, you avoid the poison, most often spread in the form of negativity.
Here are the very simple rules that I follow when interacting on social networking sites and why.
1) Avoid negative people. I control my thoughts and feelings. I don't let people filled with negativity "rub off" on me. When someone that I encounter on a social networking site comes across as overly negative, I simply remove myself from their world. I stop following them.
2) Don't talk religion. My religious beliefs were passed to me by my parents, grandparents, and other elders, while I was still a child. As I grew older, I examined what they taught me, and developed my own belief system, still based largely upon what they taught me. That's how most of us arrive at our current religious beliefs, or lack thereof.
During my 50 trips around the sun, I've noticed that no matter what you say to many people you will never change their religious beliefs to the same as yours... and I personally don't believe that you should try to. I've also noticed something VERY strange about many of us... we naturally assume that other people that we interact with believe the same as we do.
People KILL each other over differences in religion, and it's a topic that I simply choose not to engage in on the social networking sites.
3) Don't talk politics. In American society, and in many other societies, it's actually our civic duty to participate in electing our leaders, and making sure that they serve the will of the people.
The problems with discussing politics are the same as with religion... people assume that you believe the same as they do. Just as in religion, they are so convince that they are right, and they assume that you are a rational, intelligent creature... therefore how could you NOT see the world the same as they do.
As I watched the conversation on Twitter during the most recent presidential elections, one thing was really reinforced. It's very difficult to change a person's point of view. People watched the presidential debates, and their comments on Twitter were basically that their candidate had won...regardless of which candidate they supported.
4) Connect with those interested in the same topics as you are. When you follow, and are followed by those interested in, or even passionate about, the same topics that you are interested in, you'll naturally discuss things interesting to both parties. This makes for a satisfying interaction.
You'll naturally share fact and resources of interest to both you and your followers.
Speaking of sharing resources, be yourself and you'll say the right thing most of the time. When the authentic YOU shines through, networking on the social networking sites is effortless. I often have people who are new to social networking ask me what they should say. My answer is be authentic!
Back to sharing resources, I see no problem with sharing links to useful resources that you feel will be of interest to your followers. That's where connecting with others with like interests becomes important though.
I also don't see anything wrong with sharing affiliate links. When you are recommending something that you really believe in, what's the problem? The "purist" who DO have a problem with your periodically having links in your posts will simply exit your world - they'll unfollow you. That's not a bad thing, since you don't really resonate with them.
You DO need to study the culture of the social networking platforms that you are on. Some are more open to certain types of interactions.
As an example, if your primary purpose in being on the social networking sites is to promote your business (if you are a Type-A personality... all business) then you want to seek out sites where a lot of people like you hang out. Those sites do exist. An excellent example, is the site Sokule, pronounced "So Cool." Sokule was set up by marketers, for marketers. You are actually encouraged to advertise on the site.
Sokule has several levels of memberships, starting at free, but with upgrades that give you more built-in applications at each level. I am a member at the top level (a "Founder") and the tools that I have even allow me to direct message ALL of my followers every three days. That in effect even means that I can consider my Sokule followers, those who choose to connect with me, as being a quasi-list.
You can check out Sokule at http://budurl.com/fjnk
Go ahead and grab a free Sokule account if you market anything online. It's the perfect platform for marketing your business. As you dig into Sokule, you'll discover that within three weeks of my starting to actively promote Sokule, I was in the top THREE all-time referrers, and the NUMBER-1 referrer of upgraded members. So, I'm telling you about a platform that I know like the back of my hand and generate a LOT of business from.
I also know Twitter well. As I rapidly approach 30,000 followers, I am getting the hang of being a good citizen on "Planet Twitter." That's why I felt compelled to share this article with you.
I saw a lot of Twitter users who, like the termites, are unknowingly taking poison back deep within the colony, and spreading it onto the community members that they interact with. Don't you be one of those people poisoning the community. Awareness, is the key to not being a spreader of Twitter toxins.
I'll close with one final reason that you don't want to come across so toxic on ANY social networking platforms, with Twitter being the one garnering all of the buzz right now... when many companies are considering hiring an individual, a routine part of their pre-employment investigation is to see if you are on the social networking sites, and if so, what you are like there.
Companies, potential business partner, etc., understand the importance of NOT bringing those with toxic personalities into their folds. Now hopefully you do too. Now, hopefully you also understand why you absolutely must not be a "Toxic Twitter Termite."
About the Author:
Willie Crawford is a 13 year veteran of internet marketing who was voted one of "The 50 Most Powerful and Influential Men In Social Media" in 2008. You'll find Willie on most of the major social media sites using the username WillieCrawford. Willie also shares his thoughts, experiences and internet marketing advice at http://WillieCrawford.com/blog2/
Follow Willie Crawford on Twitter.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Willie Crawford
Two weeks ago, I noticed that termites were eating the wood around my front door. I was concerned, but not alarmed, since my house is bricked all around the exterior.
I called an exterminator who came out and eased my mind even more. He explained that while I did have a termite infestation they were the subterranean termites rather than the feared Formosan Termites.
If you Google the term "Formosan Termites," you'll come across pictures of a creature so veracious that houses infested by them often fell in half. House that are really infested by them often cannot be saved.
So, I felt lucky to have a less serious termite, and simply arranged for the exterminator to send a technician out to treat my house.
When the very polite exterminator came, he explained that he was going to drill holes near the sides of the house, every eight inches wherever there was a concrete slab (such as front porch, back patio, and driveway). He pumped poison into those holes and filled them back in, forming a barrier.
Next he dug a trench, all the way around the house, right against the foundation. He pumped poison into this trench, and filled it in.
Then he asked me to sign a paper, saying that he was finished and that soon my termite problem would be GONE.
He went on to explain that the termites would actually kill each other by being too social. Termites groom each other, and so what happens is that a few termites get the poison on them, and they take it into the colony. Then by grooming each other, they spread it throughout the colony, whereby they eventually wipe out the entire colony.
This is a case where being social is deadly.
I spend time in another world where being social can be deadly, and where you have to watch out for creatures carrying poison. That world is the world of online social networking. Fortunately, if you follow just a few rules, you avoid the poison, most often spread in the form of negativity.
Here are the very simple rules that I follow when interacting on social networking sites and why.
1) Avoid negative people. I control my thoughts and feelings. I don't let people filled with negativity "rub off" on me. When someone that I encounter on a social networking site comes across as overly negative, I simply remove myself from their world. I stop following them.
2) Don't talk religion. My religious beliefs were passed to me by my parents, grandparents, and other elders, while I was still a child. As I grew older, I examined what they taught me, and developed my own belief system, still based largely upon what they taught me. That's how most of us arrive at our current religious beliefs, or lack thereof.
During my 50 trips around the sun, I've noticed that no matter what you say to many people you will never change their religious beliefs to the same as yours... and I personally don't believe that you should try to. I've also noticed something VERY strange about many of us... we naturally assume that other people that we interact with believe the same as we do.
People KILL each other over differences in religion, and it's a topic that I simply choose not to engage in on the social networking sites.
3) Don't talk politics. In American society, and in many other societies, it's actually our civic duty to participate in electing our leaders, and making sure that they serve the will of the people.
The problems with discussing politics are the same as with religion... people assume that you believe the same as they do. Just as in religion, they are so convince that they are right, and they assume that you are a rational, intelligent creature... therefore how could you NOT see the world the same as they do.
As I watched the conversation on Twitter during the most recent presidential elections, one thing was really reinforced. It's very difficult to change a person's point of view. People watched the presidential debates, and their comments on Twitter were basically that their candidate had won...regardless of which candidate they supported.
4) Connect with those interested in the same topics as you are. When you follow, and are followed by those interested in, or even passionate about, the same topics that you are interested in, you'll naturally discuss things interesting to both parties. This makes for a satisfying interaction.
You'll naturally share fact and resources of interest to both you and your followers.
Speaking of sharing resources, be yourself and you'll say the right thing most of the time. When the authentic YOU shines through, networking on the social networking sites is effortless. I often have people who are new to social networking ask me what they should say. My answer is be authentic!
Back to sharing resources, I see no problem with sharing links to useful resources that you feel will be of interest to your followers. That's where connecting with others with like interests becomes important though.
I also don't see anything wrong with sharing affiliate links. When you are recommending something that you really believe in, what's the problem? The "purist" who DO have a problem with your periodically having links in your posts will simply exit your world - they'll unfollow you. That's not a bad thing, since you don't really resonate with them.
You DO need to study the culture of the social networking platforms that you are on. Some are more open to certain types of interactions.
As an example, if your primary purpose in being on the social networking sites is to promote your business (if you are a Type-A personality... all business) then you want to seek out sites where a lot of people like you hang out. Those sites do exist. An excellent example, is the site Sokule, pronounced "So Cool." Sokule was set up by marketers, for marketers. You are actually encouraged to advertise on the site.
Sokule has several levels of memberships, starting at free, but with upgrades that give you more built-in applications at each level. I am a member at the top level (a "Founder") and the tools that I have even allow me to direct message ALL of my followers every three days. That in effect even means that I can consider my Sokule followers, those who choose to connect with me, as being a quasi-list.
You can check out Sokule at http://budurl.com/fjnk
Go ahead and grab a free Sokule account if you market anything online. It's the perfect platform for marketing your business. As you dig into Sokule, you'll discover that within three weeks of my starting to actively promote Sokule, I was in the top THREE all-time referrers, and the NUMBER-1 referrer of upgraded members. So, I'm telling you about a platform that I know like the back of my hand and generate a LOT of business from.
I also know Twitter well. As I rapidly approach 30,000 followers, I am getting the hang of being a good citizen on "Planet Twitter." That's why I felt compelled to share this article with you.
I saw a lot of Twitter users who, like the termites, are unknowingly taking poison back deep within the colony, and spreading it onto the community members that they interact with. Don't you be one of those people poisoning the community. Awareness, is the key to not being a spreader of Twitter toxins.
I'll close with one final reason that you don't want to come across so toxic on ANY social networking platforms, with Twitter being the one garnering all of the buzz right now... when many companies are considering hiring an individual, a routine part of their pre-employment investigation is to see if you are on the social networking sites, and if so, what you are like there.
Companies, potential business partner, etc., understand the importance of NOT bringing those with toxic personalities into their folds. Now hopefully you do too. Now, hopefully you also understand why you absolutely must not be a "Toxic Twitter Termite."
About the Author:
Willie Crawford is a 13 year veteran of internet marketing who was voted one of "The 50 Most Powerful and Influential Men In Social Media" in 2008. You'll find Willie on most of the major social media sites using the username WillieCrawford. Willie also shares his thoughts, experiences and internet marketing advice at http://WillieCrawford.com/blog2/
Follow Willie Crawford on Twitter.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 Scott Bywater
Thomas Edison once said "Vision without execution is hallucination."
And I couldn't agree more.
So if you have been reading my emails over the years without acting on them, hopefully this little success story will give you the kick up the butt to get into action so you don't look back on your business 5 years from now... 10 years from now... or even this time next year and say...
could... shoulda... woulda...
It comes from one of my subscribers, Kristy Middlemass who is a graphic designer.
And it supports yesterday's email as well as Woody Allen's success principle:
"80% of success is just showing up"
Here is the unedited version of what Kristy had to say...
Hi Scott,
I've been receiving your emails for quite some time now, 18 months perhaps.
I keep them all in a folder, because sometimes I'm just too busy to get to it but never want to miss what you have to say.
I'm ex-retail, 20 years of newsagency life in Perth, including managing and owning. Thousands of customers and dozens of staff over the years, so you can imagine the 'challenges' I used to face and the experience I have in data bases, networking, etc.
Many things you mention I already knew but it's that little smack around the back of the head that you give me which makes me think twice and do once.
I guess I'm trying to say, thank you for all your words of wisdom, experience (in work and life in general) you've put a smile on my face and other times you've made me see things from a different angle.
I got out of retail and studied to be a graphic designer. And that's the reason for this email.
The email I received today was for me! You didn't know it, but it was all for me. I'm doing my data base, contact every month at least to say hi, drop by their office to check if anything needs doing and on occasions, dropped in a few samples, ideas without being asked or prompted. It's a surprise to them, makes them feel special, makes me feel good and generates more business for me.
I have a massage/acupuncture client who hasn't been operating very long.
I had suggested gift vouchers for the xmas period, but his bank balance was wearing thin, and to be honest, he didn't see a need for them and I couldn't change his mind.
I decided to printed of a little booklet of a dozen vouchers anyway, using his logo and colours that I used for his signage, brochures and business cards.
I turned up at his store and just handed them over and said 'Give them a go.
If there's any time to try them, now is it. This exercise won't cost you a cent, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.'
He was pleasantly surprised, and in the weeks after, he referred two new potential clients, and he has decided in the new year to organise vouchers, envelopes and a loyalty system.
Just wanted to share that, I was pretty excited about the result of the exercise, and just proves even further what you've said today.
Thanks again.
Kristy Middlemass - LadyBird Design Print and Media
===
So today, take a leaf out of Kristy's book and start to TAKE ACTION on what you read here on a daily basis because as you can see at http://www.scottbywater.com/proof - this stuff works.
About the Author:
For quick results, you'll want to get your hands on this leading direct response copywriter's ebook "7 Ways To Get More Customers" at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/ Scott Bywater shows you how to get all the customers you need in just 60 days. This popular ebook has been downloaded by over 8,247 business owners over the past five years. Packed with information, this ebook will show you copywriting and marketing strategies which could have you getting new clients within just a couple of days.
Read more Articles written by Scott Bywater.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Scott Bywater
Thomas Edison once said "Vision without execution is hallucination."
And I couldn't agree more.
So if you have been reading my emails over the years without acting on them, hopefully this little success story will give you the kick up the butt to get into action so you don't look back on your business 5 years from now... 10 years from now... or even this time next year and say...
could... shoulda... woulda...
It comes from one of my subscribers, Kristy Middlemass who is a graphic designer.
And it supports yesterday's email as well as Woody Allen's success principle:
"80% of success is just showing up"
Here is the unedited version of what Kristy had to say...
Hi Scott,
I've been receiving your emails for quite some time now, 18 months perhaps.
I keep them all in a folder, because sometimes I'm just too busy to get to it but never want to miss what you have to say.
I'm ex-retail, 20 years of newsagency life in Perth, including managing and owning. Thousands of customers and dozens of staff over the years, so you can imagine the 'challenges' I used to face and the experience I have in data bases, networking, etc.
Many things you mention I already knew but it's that little smack around the back of the head that you give me which makes me think twice and do once.
I guess I'm trying to say, thank you for all your words of wisdom, experience (in work and life in general) you've put a smile on my face and other times you've made me see things from a different angle.
I got out of retail and studied to be a graphic designer. And that's the reason for this email.
The email I received today was for me! You didn't know it, but it was all for me. I'm doing my data base, contact every month at least to say hi, drop by their office to check if anything needs doing and on occasions, dropped in a few samples, ideas without being asked or prompted. It's a surprise to them, makes them feel special, makes me feel good and generates more business for me.
I have a massage/acupuncture client who hasn't been operating very long.
I had suggested gift vouchers for the xmas period, but his bank balance was wearing thin, and to be honest, he didn't see a need for them and I couldn't change his mind.
I decided to printed of a little booklet of a dozen vouchers anyway, using his logo and colours that I used for his signage, brochures and business cards.
I turned up at his store and just handed them over and said 'Give them a go.
If there's any time to try them, now is it. This exercise won't cost you a cent, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.'
He was pleasantly surprised, and in the weeks after, he referred two new potential clients, and he has decided in the new year to organise vouchers, envelopes and a loyalty system.
Just wanted to share that, I was pretty excited about the result of the exercise, and just proves even further what you've said today.
Thanks again.
Kristy Middlemass - LadyBird Design Print and Media
===
So today, take a leaf out of Kristy's book and start to TAKE ACTION on what you read here on a daily basis because as you can see at http://www.scottbywater.com/proof - this stuff works.
About the Author:
For quick results, you'll want to get your hands on this leading direct response copywriter's ebook "7 Ways To Get More Customers" at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/ Scott Bywater shows you how to get all the customers you need in just 60 days. This popular ebook has been downloaded by over 8,247 business owners over the past five years. Packed with information, this ebook will show you copywriting and marketing strategies which could have you getting new clients within just a couple of days.
Read more Articles written by Scott Bywater.
The Passing Of A Legend
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 Scott Bywater
I remember attending an Anthony Robbins seminar when I was about 16. I begged and pleaded to go and eventually my parents gave in and my mother and I went to Darling Harbour for the weekend to check the "BIG MAN" out.
Fantastic event. And I enjoyed it so much I ended up promoting Mr. Robbins several years later.
After that, I had learnt what I feel I needed to learn and haven't attended any of his events since.
But he was someone who influenced my thinking and progress along the way.
Now what most people don't realise is that Anthony Robbins mentor was a guy named Jim Rohn.
And you might have heard that Jim Rohn passed away yesterday.
That made it a sad day.
Over recent years, we have lost some true legends.
Gary Halbert in the world of copywriting.
Michael Jackson in the world of music.
Patrick Swayze in the world of acting.
Christopher Reeve, the world's Superman.
And now Jim Rohn in the world of motivation.
So I thought I would dedicate today's email to Jim Rohn, the father of motivational speaking and the guy who has influenced many thousands of people over the years.
And what better way of doing so than by talking about one of his famous quotes:
"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better."
After all, that's the way it can feel in business sometimes, can't it?
You find it tough to get customers.
Client don't pay on time.
Jobs fall through.
Employees leave you in the lurch.
The reality is business can be very, very tough at times.
I can remember my first year in business... wondering where the money was going to come from every single week... living from hand to mouth... it all felt like an uphill struggle.
I got locked out of one business.
I almost got kicked out of my apartment.
I sometimes felt like throwing in the towel.
But I was inspired by mentors like Jim Rohn to keep going, even when I felt like giving up.
I knew that if I could just get that piece of knowledge... if I could master the art of getting more customers... of getting my message across... then I would succeed.
And a lot has changed since then.
But let's face it. Business never gets any easier.
Those who succeed just get better.
They put in the discipline...
"For every disciplined effort, there is a multiple reward" - Jim Rohn
They manage their time because they understand that
"Either you run the day or the day runs you" - Jim Rohn
They take time to learn something new every day because
"Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune" - Jim Rohn
They start to give more, understanding that
"Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process" - Jim Rohn
They learn to have discipline. After all...
"Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion" - Jim Rohn
They ask for what they want. Think about it...
"Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won't laugh at you" - Jim Rohn
And the understand the power of ideas, because...
"Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea." - Jim Rohn
Note: if you need more ideas on getting more customers, you can find plenty of them at http://www.morecustomersmadeeasy.com
Yesterday was the passing of a legend.
Someone once said "when you are born you enter the world crying while everyone else is rejoicing and when you die hopefully you have lived such a life that everyone will be crying while you are rejoicing."
And I believe Jim Rohn lived such a life.
About the Author:
For quick results, you'll want to get your hands on this leading direct response copywriter's ebook "7 Ways To Get More Customers" at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/ Scott Bywater shows you how to get all the customers you need in just 60 days. This popular ebook has been downloaded by over 8,247 business owners over the past five years. Packed with information, this ebook will show you copywriting and marketing strategies which could have you getting new clients within just a couple of days.
Read more Articles written by Scott Bywater.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Scott Bywater
I remember attending an Anthony Robbins seminar when I was about 16. I begged and pleaded to go and eventually my parents gave in and my mother and I went to Darling Harbour for the weekend to check the "BIG MAN" out.
Fantastic event. And I enjoyed it so much I ended up promoting Mr. Robbins several years later.
After that, I had learnt what I feel I needed to learn and haven't attended any of his events since.
But he was someone who influenced my thinking and progress along the way.
Now what most people don't realise is that Anthony Robbins mentor was a guy named Jim Rohn.
And you might have heard that Jim Rohn passed away yesterday.
That made it a sad day.
Over recent years, we have lost some true legends.
Gary Halbert in the world of copywriting.
Michael Jackson in the world of music.
Patrick Swayze in the world of acting.
Christopher Reeve, the world's Superman.
And now Jim Rohn in the world of motivation.
So I thought I would dedicate today's email to Jim Rohn, the father of motivational speaking and the guy who has influenced many thousands of people over the years.
And what better way of doing so than by talking about one of his famous quotes:
"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better."
After all, that's the way it can feel in business sometimes, can't it?
You find it tough to get customers.
Client don't pay on time.
Jobs fall through.
Employees leave you in the lurch.
The reality is business can be very, very tough at times.
I can remember my first year in business... wondering where the money was going to come from every single week... living from hand to mouth... it all felt like an uphill struggle.
I got locked out of one business.
I almost got kicked out of my apartment.
I sometimes felt like throwing in the towel.
But I was inspired by mentors like Jim Rohn to keep going, even when I felt like giving up.
I knew that if I could just get that piece of knowledge... if I could master the art of getting more customers... of getting my message across... then I would succeed.
And a lot has changed since then.
But let's face it. Business never gets any easier.
Those who succeed just get better.
They put in the discipline...
"For every disciplined effort, there is a multiple reward" - Jim Rohn
They manage their time because they understand that
"Either you run the day or the day runs you" - Jim Rohn
They take time to learn something new every day because
"Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune" - Jim Rohn
They start to give more, understanding that
"Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process" - Jim Rohn
They learn to have discipline. After all...
"Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion" - Jim Rohn
They ask for what they want. Think about it...
"Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won't laugh at you" - Jim Rohn
And the understand the power of ideas, because...
"Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea." - Jim Rohn
Note: if you need more ideas on getting more customers, you can find plenty of them at http://www.morecustomersmadeeasy.com
Yesterday was the passing of a legend.
Someone once said "when you are born you enter the world crying while everyone else is rejoicing and when you die hopefully you have lived such a life that everyone will be crying while you are rejoicing."
And I believe Jim Rohn lived such a life.
About the Author:
For quick results, you'll want to get your hands on this leading direct response copywriter's ebook "7 Ways To Get More Customers" at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/ Scott Bywater shows you how to get all the customers you need in just 60 days. This popular ebook has been downloaded by over 8,247 business owners over the past five years. Packed with information, this ebook will show you copywriting and marketing strategies which could have you getting new clients within just a couple of days.
Read more Articles written by Scott Bywater.
Using The Moment of Truth to Get Prospects Attention
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009-2010 Judy Murdoch
Not too long ago, I received an email from a business owner who was very unhappy about expensive marketing that wasn't producing results.
Her email went something like this:
"I'm a distributor for an exclusive skincare line and sell my products directly to customers. I recently paid several hundred dollars to place a small ad in an alternative weekly paper.
I'm so frustrated because the advertisement didn't result in a single call! Not one. I don't have much of a marketing budget so when I spend money it needs to work.
Am I doing something wrong? What do you suggest?"
When I asked the skincare distributor what she put in her ad, she said it was a short message about a recently introduced electronic device that helps aging skin look younger.
She was excited because her company said the product produces results faster than creams. And she assumed people reading the ad would be excited too.
So what went wrong?
=============================
It's All About Context
=============================
The best message in the world will fail if prospects read it out of context.
If prospects see your message at a time when they aren't concerned with the problem your product solves, they will ignore it. Your message might as well be invisible.
Context is about making sure prospects see your message at the "moment of truth": the time when they are most aware of their problem and looking for solutions.
Chances are the advertisement the skincare specialist didn't get seen by prospective customers at a time when they were worried and preoccupied by wrinkles and crows feet.
This means for your marketing to succeed, you need to know what your prospects are doing when the moment of truth occurs. Then you can make sure it's when they see your marketing.
=============================
Figuring Out "The Moment of Truth" for Your Customers
=============================
If your customers have a well-articulated process when it comes to making purchase decisions, the moment of truth for your customers is when they're accepting proposals or when they're creating a prospective vendor list.
This is typical for medium and large-sized companies.
If this is the case for you, it comes down to finding out when your prospects are going to be looking for vendors and making sure your marketing gets in front of them at that time.
Not so typical if you're selling to small business owners or consumers.
Let's take the example of the skincare distributor. Do people go through a step-by-step process when looking for help with their skin? Not usually.
Fortunately, there's an easy way to take an educated guess on when those "moments of truth" may be occurring: Life transitions.
=============================
Using Life Transitions to Identify Likely Moments of Truth
=============================
Life transitions such as marriage, babies, buying a new home, divorce, and death are times when people go through huge changes physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
When these changes occur, wants and needs change too.
For example, the skincare consultant's ideal customers are professional women 40+. What types of life transitions would create a "moment of truth" when these women would be especially sensitive to signs of aging?
Weddings: being the mother of the bride or groom or just a key member in the wedding party
High school or college reunions
Divorce and having to think about dating again
Special presentation in which they're giving a keynote speech or accepting an honor
I bet you can think of others.
You can also include significant business and career transitions when looking for moments of truth. For example:
Promotions
Starting a new business
Changing careers
New job
Media attention
etc.
=============================
Making Sure Customers See Your Message at the "Moment"
=============================
Once you've identified likely life and work transitions that cause relevant moments of truth for your customers, the next step is to think about likely activities where they might be exposed to your marketing.
For example, let's say the skin care consultant decides that she wants to work women who are going to be part of the wedding party (mother of the bride and groom, bridesmaids, maybe even the bride.
How would she go about getting the word out?
I'd suggest she begin by brainstorming all the activities:
Picking out dresses, shoes, and accessories
Hiring a planner
Buying books and magazines on planning a wedding
Shopping for and buying invitations
Attending wedding shows and expos
Hiring a hair dresser and make up artist
Working out in aerobics classes, possibly with a personal trainer
Looking at this list of activities suggest a number of ways our skin care consultant might market to her ideal customers:
Giving her business card to businesses that work with wedding parties: retailers who specialize in special bridal and special occasion dresses, wedding planners, stationary stores, salons, spas, and fitness centers.
Attending perhaps even buying a booth at a wedding show (or sharing a booth with someone offering complementary services like a photographer)
Asking complementary businesses such image consultants, make up artists, hair dresses, etc to trade referrals and website links
Doing facials and presentations at specialty retailers, fitness centers, even bookstores.
=============================
Bottom Line
=============================
Even the most persuasive marketing message is useless if your ideal customers don't see it at the point when they are actively looking for solutions.
To make sure your prospects pay attention to your marketing:
Know how and when large/medium-size organizations identify vendors for upcoming projects
Know which life transition points are likely to make your small business/consumer prospects aware of problems and to seek solutions for those problems
Brainstorm specific activities ideal customers engage in to solve their problem
Use marketing that naturally fits into those activities
About the Author:
Judy Murdoch helps small business owners create low-cost, effective marketing campaigns using word-of-mouth referrals, guerrilla marketing activities, and selected strategic alliances. To download a free copy of the workbook, "Where Does it Hurt? Marketing Solutions to the problems that Drive Your Customers Crazy!" go to http://www.judymurdoch.com/workbook.htm
You can contact Judy at 303-475-2015 or judy@judymurdoch.com
Follow Judy Murdoch on Twitter.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Judy Murdoch
Not too long ago, I received an email from a business owner who was very unhappy about expensive marketing that wasn't producing results.
Her email went something like this:
"I'm a distributor for an exclusive skincare line and sell my products directly to customers. I recently paid several hundred dollars to place a small ad in an alternative weekly paper.
I'm so frustrated because the advertisement didn't result in a single call! Not one. I don't have much of a marketing budget so when I spend money it needs to work.
Am I doing something wrong? What do you suggest?"
When I asked the skincare distributor what she put in her ad, she said it was a short message about a recently introduced electronic device that helps aging skin look younger.
She was excited because her company said the product produces results faster than creams. And she assumed people reading the ad would be excited too.
So what went wrong?
=============================
It's All About Context
=============================
The best message in the world will fail if prospects read it out of context.
If prospects see your message at a time when they aren't concerned with the problem your product solves, they will ignore it. Your message might as well be invisible.
Context is about making sure prospects see your message at the "moment of truth": the time when they are most aware of their problem and looking for solutions.
Chances are the advertisement the skincare specialist didn't get seen by prospective customers at a time when they were worried and preoccupied by wrinkles and crows feet.
This means for your marketing to succeed, you need to know what your prospects are doing when the moment of truth occurs. Then you can make sure it's when they see your marketing.
=============================
Figuring Out "The Moment of Truth" for Your Customers
=============================
If your customers have a well-articulated process when it comes to making purchase decisions, the moment of truth for your customers is when they're accepting proposals or when they're creating a prospective vendor list.
This is typical for medium and large-sized companies.
If this is the case for you, it comes down to finding out when your prospects are going to be looking for vendors and making sure your marketing gets in front of them at that time.
Not so typical if you're selling to small business owners or consumers.
Let's take the example of the skincare distributor. Do people go through a step-by-step process when looking for help with their skin? Not usually.
Fortunately, there's an easy way to take an educated guess on when those "moments of truth" may be occurring: Life transitions.
=============================
Using Life Transitions to Identify Likely Moments of Truth
=============================
Life transitions such as marriage, babies, buying a new home, divorce, and death are times when people go through huge changes physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
When these changes occur, wants and needs change too.
For example, the skincare consultant's ideal customers are professional women 40+. What types of life transitions would create a "moment of truth" when these women would be especially sensitive to signs of aging?
I bet you can think of others.
You can also include significant business and career transitions when looking for moments of truth. For example:
=============================
Making Sure Customers See Your Message at the "Moment"
=============================
Once you've identified likely life and work transitions that cause relevant moments of truth for your customers, the next step is to think about likely activities where they might be exposed to your marketing.
For example, let's say the skin care consultant decides that she wants to work women who are going to be part of the wedding party (mother of the bride and groom, bridesmaids, maybe even the bride.
How would she go about getting the word out?
I'd suggest she begin by brainstorming all the activities:
Looking at this list of activities suggest a number of ways our skin care consultant might market to her ideal customers:
=============================
Bottom Line
=============================
Even the most persuasive marketing message is useless if your ideal customers don't see it at the point when they are actively looking for solutions.
To make sure your prospects pay attention to your marketing:
About the Author:
Judy Murdoch helps small business owners create low-cost, effective marketing campaigns using word-of-mouth referrals, guerrilla marketing activities, and selected strategic alliances. To download a free copy of the workbook, "Where Does it Hurt? Marketing Solutions to the problems that Drive Your Customers Crazy!" go to http://www.judymurdoch.com/workbook.htm
You can contact Judy at 303-475-2015 or judy@judymurdoch.com
Follow Judy Murdoch on Twitter.
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