Is the Goal to Reach the Goal?
December 31, 2007
In this fast and crazy world, we want to multi-task at every given moment. After all, how else can we accomplish all that needs to be done in only 24 hours? We’ve been taught that if we reach all of our goals in a day, week, month, or year, we are successful. What we haven’t been taught when achieving goals is that quality counts and so does the amount of effort exerted.
Our tendency is to set many goals especially at work for any given day or week, and then we feel discouraged or disappointed when we don’t achieve all of them. In fact, we usually have to carry them over to the next day or the next week. The first step in feeling a sense of accomplishment and completion is to set only 3 goals for a day, for a week, for a month that HAVE to be accomplished. Why only 3? In an average day, we can’t anticipate all of the other things that will snag our attention. We get called into a meeting, we get a time-consuming phone call, we get a request that requires some searching, we notice an article of interest that we want to read, etc. If we don’t allow for these other time-consuming things, then we’re not being realistic about what we can accomplish in a day. Same goes for a month ? unexpected family situations, travel, illness, new projects, etc.
Google Adsense for Photography Websites - Earn $$$ While You Sleep
December 31, 2007
Google Adsense for Photography Websites - Earn $$$ While You Sleep
by: Sean David Baylis
The Pros and Cons of Google Adsense for Photography Websites - Earn $$$ while you sleep.
Many photographers have a website these days. It is an important tool for promotion and marketing in a highly competitive field. Photography websites are very popular with many sites receiving several hundred visitors a day. Google Adsense is a program of Pay Per Click (PPC) whereby you place ads on your site and earn revenue every time someone clicks an Ad.
In order to participate in the program you must apply to https://www.google.com/adsense/.
Not all sites are accepted into the program, any sites with pornography, gambling or pharmaceuticals are not allowed. If your site is not in one of these categories you are sure to be accepted.
Once accepted it is a simple matter of adding a few lines of code to your site. Google Adsense’s web based user interface is easy to use and allows you to customize the look of your ad units. You simply log in to your account select from a number of ad formats such as banners, boxes and link units, in different sizes and that will display a different number of ads in each box. Once you have the code that Google Adsense generates you simply copy and paste the code into your pages and upload them to your server.
Growing Your Small Business Through Alliances and Joint Ventures
December 30, 2007
– Beyond Cold Calling, "Warm" Calling and Sending E-mails –
Many Solo Entrepreneurs work from a home office. Our only connections to the outside world are the internet / e-mail and the telephone. Cold calling, "warm" calling and sending e-mails may seem like the most obvious way to let people know about us and to generate sales. But, there’s another way that works even better.
An alliance is usually an agreement between two businesses whose services or products compliment each other. Each agrees to recommend the other’s services to their respective clients and to pay a percentage to the other if the referral results in paying work. Let’s say you’re a marketing expert, but you don’t do public relations. However, sometimes your clients require public relations as part of their marketing strategy. You meet with several public relations experts who specialize in different fields, but who don’t offer your type of marketing services, and you form 3 alliances. A 10% commission is what you agree on for mutual referrals that result in work. Now, both you and your alliance partners are more "full service" providers. You can offer PR services to your clients and your partners can offer marketing services to theirs through you. In addition you could add them as "partners" on your website, giving your company the advantage and versatility of an expert team. It’s a win - win situation.
The Background on Background Checks
December 29, 2007
In one of my past lives I held a Top Secret clearance as a Civil Service employee working for the Air Force. So I am familiar with background checks. But many job seekers are not. Here’s a little background on background checks…
More companies are doing background checks on potential employees these days than ever before. Why? Here are justa few of the reasons:
1. Studies show that 30-40% of all job applicants put false information on their resumes or applications, and “exaggerate” their qualifications during interviews. Can you blame employers for wanting to verify claims made by desperate job seekers?
2. Lawsuits for “negligent hiring” are on the rise. If an employee’s actions hurt someone, the employer may be liable. So when considering an applicant, it’s in the company’s best financial self-interest to find out if that person has done anything in the past which might indicate future problems.
3. Child abuse and abductions have resulted in new laws in almost every state that require criminal background checks for anyone who works with children.
4. The September 11th attacks have resulted in heightened security and identity-verification strategies by many employers.
Importance of Endorsements And How To Use Them
December 28, 2007
Customer endorsements are an inexpensive and easy sales tool, particularly for someone just starting out.
Here are some tips on how to get them and use them:
Send follow-up letters. Two to four weeks after working with a customer, send a survey letter or postcard. Be sure to leave space for them to write in their own words what they liked best about your company, product or service. Don’t forget to pay for the postage so they can easily return it to you. This is something we do for both sellers and tenant/buyers. In addition we also ask our coaching students and customers who purchase other products for endorsements.
Check your files. Look for recent letters from satisfied customers. You may be able to use excerpts in your sales literature. But make sure you first get written permission from the person who sent the letter. Ask to edit. When getting written permission, ask to edit your customers’ remarks. Responses may be too long for your promotional material, or contain irrelevant information.
How To Prepare A Business Plan That Guarantees Big Profits
December 27, 2007
It is always said “If you Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail”
Success in business comes as a result of planning. You have to have a detailed, written plan that shows what the ultimate goal is, the reason for the goal, and each milestone that must be passed in order to reach your goal.
A business plan is written definition of, and operational plan for achieving your goal. You need a complete but success tool in order to define your basic product, income objectives and specific operating procedures. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN to attract investors, obtain financing and hold onto the confidence of your creditors, particularly in times of cash flow shortages–in this instance, the amount of money you have on hand compared with the expenses that must be met.
Aside from an overall directional policy for the production, sales effort and profit goals of your product–your basic “travel guide” to business success–the most important purpose your business plan will serve, will be the basis or foundation of any financial proposals you submit. Many entrepreneurs are under the mistaken impression that a business plan is the same as a financial proposal, or that a financial proposal constitutes a business plan. This is just a misunderstanding of the uses of these two separate and different business success aids.
Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur
December 26, 2007
Want to know why certain people succeed and others don’t. Well successful people have certain traits? Do you have them?
Business has changed a great deal over the years. We now have computers, the internet and because of the internet - web pages, email and everything else that comes with it. Our telephone system has changed dramatically with the advent of cell phones and voice mail. However, even with all the technological advancements the traits that make a person successful in business can be traced way back when to our grandfather’s day. So before you decide you want to go into business for yourself, check and see if these traits are part of your make up.
Are you a person who sets goals? Most successful people have always set goals. They started at a very early age. They might have set the goal to be the best in a certain sport, or in a specific subject in school. Or if they wanted something, and knew that their parents couldn’t afford it, or wouldn’t spend the money for something, they earned the money themselves. They did this by setting up the lemonade stand, mowing lawns for neighbors, or delivering newspapers.
4 Easy Ways to Boost Your Sales
December 26, 2007
Here are 4 easy ways you can boost your sales for little or no new expense …and without making major changes in your selling process.
1. Focus on What Your Customers Really Want
Your customers really don’t want your products or services. They don’t even want what those products or services do for them. What they really want is to gain the specific feeling they get after buying and using your products or services.
Keep this in mind when you create web pages, sales letters and other selling presentations. Emphasize the feelings produced by using your product instead of talking about what your product is - or how it works.
Tip: Convert the benefits delivered by your product or service into vivid word pictures. Then put your prospect in the picture by dramatizing what it feels like to be enjoying those benefits.
Example, if you sell financial products, describe what it feels like to enjoy an affluent life style without debt.
2. Keep Communicating With Your Previous Non-Buyers
You’ve heard it before - but I’ll say it here again. Most prospective customers will not buy the first time they see or hear about your product or service. You’re losing a lot of sales if you do not persistently follow up with those prospects.
The Anatomy of a Sales Letter
December 25, 2007
When Dr. Frankenstein exclaimed “it’s alive… it’s alive,” he thought he had brought wonderful new life to the world. What he really did was create a monster. He took a bit from here and another piece from there and sewed it altogether. Then he was distressed to see how things turned out. Many marketers create their own monsters in the form of sales letters. They throw everything into them and then are distressed at the response.
Sales letters work best when you have something to sell. You make an offer. Too many sales letters from smaller businesses are of the “Hi my name is…” school. When it comes right down to it, I’m busy; I don’t care if you just started this wonderful venture because you love to serve people. What can you do for me right now? Why should I take time reading any of your letter? Make me an offer I can’t refuse. Quickly convince me that I need what you have to offer.
When creating a better monster–er sales letter–start off where Frankenstein made his biggest mistake. He used the wrong head.
4 Easy Ways To Improve Your Response Rate
December 24, 2007
4 Easy Ways To Improve Your Response Rate
by: Susan Carroll
If you’ve been studying online marketing for awhile you’re familiar with the term ‘AIDA’ since it’s the standard formula for creating a sales or signup page.
But just in case you’re not here’s what it stands for:
1. Grab the reader’s - Attention - .
2. Get the reader’s - Interest - .
3. Create a - Desire - for your product or service.
4. Call for - Action. (Tell your reader what to do.)
So you write a catchy headline and try to use 1 or more of the latest ‘buzz’ words.
Then you write something you hope will get the reader’s interest and describe the ‘benefits’ of your offer.
And of course you’ve put a signup form or a payment link on your site.
But …
Nothing’s happening. No sales - No signups.
Well the first thing you have to check is to make sure you’ve got some traffic to your site.
Ok, you’ve got some decent traffic so what’s the problem?
There are lots of possibilities and I am going to list 4 of the biggies.
