Entries from May 2008 ↓
May 23rd, 2008 — Marketing, Marketing Niches, Viral Marketing
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I found something for you that you’re gonna love…
How would you like to have an empty Inbox and a full bank account?
The Internet Marketing Cure

I came across this killer report earlier today that was written by this guy who is well known for publishing highly controversial reports on internet marketing.
Well, he’s done it again and this one is totally off the charts…
He talks about all kinds of crazy stuff from ebola viruses, to gold rush miners, to a new breed of “silent assasin” he calls “DuRus”.
He also gives some of the best advice I’ve ever read on gaining true focus and clarity, and talks about
a no-nonsense plan for taking any business to the same income levels as the “real” big boys are doing.
The stuff just makes sense.
Gotta give him credit…he tells it like it is, and you certainly won’t hear anybody else saying this kind of stuff.
Best part is though, he’s giving it all away for nothing!
Go grab your copy now…not sure how long it will be available.
The Internet Marketing Cure
Let me know what you think!
May 23rd, 2008 — Finance
The term private equity refers to equity loans and processions that aren’t offered by a government lending agency. Instead they are offered by private businesses and even individuals. This could be an excellent option for those who are struggling to get a traditional equity loan due to their credit or the length of time their business has been established if they are self employed.
It is important to understand that obtaining a private equity loan from a private lender means you are high risk. Therefore you can anticipate having to pay a higher rate of interest. While you don’t want to be taken advantage of, you may really need to access the funds associated with the equity you have accumulated. Make sure you carefully weigh your options because it is to your advantage to work with a government backed lender when ever possible in the area of equity loans.
Make sure you carefully read over all of the information pertaining to a private equity loan. There may be stipulations that you don’t want to commit yourself to. Look for information on high charges for late fees or penalties for paying off the loan early. Many of the different lenders are predators looking for people who they can take for a ride. While it isn’t ethical, the terms and conditions are legally binding if you read them and you sign the documents.
You will find that as you and others struggle to meet your commitment under the terms of the equity loan, the lender continues to generate large amounts of profit. The really don’t have too much risk involved on their end because if you pay on time they earn a high yield of interest. If you pay late, they charge you ridiculous fees. If don’t pay the loan they will simply take control of the collateral associated with the loan.
Private equity loans should be avoided unless you simply have no other options. This is a risky process to get yourself caught up in so be very carefully about proceeding with it. On average, $135 billion in private equity loans is owed right now to various entities. While these types of loans are easy to obtain, you may find it to be a terrible financial decision for you in the long run.
May 22nd, 2008 — Planning, Productivity
Your career is likely very important to you because it provides you with a way to pay the bills and buy things you enjoy. Hopefully you have a career that you really like because too many years of a person’s life are spent in the working environment for you to dread being there.
In order to show you can handle the responsibilities of the job you have to be able to effectively manage your time on a project. Make sure you ask questions about the project you are to complete so there are no misconceptions. You don’t want to spend your time working on something and then discover it isn’t what your boss really wanted.
As soon as you know your project and the deadline, break the project into small pieces. This way you can accomplish parts of it and then move on to the next without feeling overwhelmed by the big picture. If you are working on the project with someone else make sure you both agree on the set deadline schedule.
If the project has a very long time frame you may be asked to present what you have completed to your supervisor along the way. Make sure you pay close attention to your deadlines so you don’t fall behind. In every type of business there are unexpected events that come up and eat away at your time. Make sure you allocate room for such issues to come up so you won’t be stressed out to finish the project on time.
While you are working on one segment of the project, think ahead to the next. If you need to make phone calls, order materials, or get something approved do it now. This way everything you need will be ready to go when you get to that phase of the project. It will save you time and you can keep moving along at a good pace.
You will likely need to be confident in your decisions when you are working on a project. It is fine to do some research but don’t waste your time second guessing yourself. Trust your gut instincts and run with them. Once you have completed a part of the project don’t go back and do it over and over again. You will just be spinning your wheels and struggle to get the project completed on time.
May 21st, 2008 — Marketing, Work At Home
Network Marketing
Network marketing is simply another name for multi level marketing. People prefer this term though as it is an accurate reflection of the way it works. You network with other people and get them to purchase products from you. At the same time you work to encourage the people in the network to sign up to sell them as well. This is going to result in you earning money for each sell they make. Many types of network marketing also allow you to earn from the people they get to sign up, so your earning potential continues to web out in multiple directions.
Most network marketing companies require you to pay to get a membership. This is a standard practice, but in most cases the fees are very minimal. Since you will be considered an independent business consultant and not an employee of the company, you need to keep very good track of such expenses. Keep your canceled checks and receipts so that you can deduct these expenses on your tax return. Make sure you keep a good record of your income too. The majority of IRS audits are done on company’s that are independently owned.
Not all network marketing companies are legitimate, and each year people get ripped off from the membership fees they send in. It is in your best interest to contact the Better Business Bureau and make sure you are working with a legitimate company. Network marketing can work for you but it is vital that you start out with a company known of longevity, quality products, and fairness. If it sounds too good to be true, then it likely is.
If you feel you have fallen for a scam involving a network marketing company, make sure you report it immediately. While there is little that can be done about it in most cases, the information can go on record and you can prevent others from suffering the same fate. If you come across a network marketing company with little information, you should view it as a red flag. It could be a scam that has just started to contact people. It can also be one that continues to change their name frequently to stay under the radar.
We would love to hear some comments about your experience with network marketing - bring on the good, the bad and the ugly…
May 9th, 2008 — Management, Small Business
Your Business Checkup
Whether you’re thinking it’s Spring Cleaning Time or time for an annual checkup, your business needs to undergo a checkup each year. No matter how large or small your business is, you cannot gauge the effectiveness of any changes you’ve made without analyzing the benefits and bottom line.
Here are 10 questions to get you started:
• How do your year-to-date sales compare to the last couple of years? Don’t be satisfied if you managed to match them because if sales stayed the same then you’ve achieved zero growth. With inflation, this flat growth line is a warning sign for more trouble down the road.
• What percentage of your business is from repeat customers? This is important to know because if it’s too low, then it needs to be improved. The estimated cost of getting a new customer versus retaining an existing one can be as much as five to one in terms of dollars spent. Keeping customers is more cost-effective than constantly seeking new ones.
• How long has it been since you offered a new product or service? Loyal customers like to see you changing and progressing with the times. If you’re stuck for an idea, ask your customers what they need.
• Do you consider marketing and advertising expenses or investments? How you look at the money spent in these areas affects your willingness to spend money at all. Would you look at prescriptions as a waste of money? Marketing is really investing in you, your vision, and your company. The old adage that you must spend money to make money is true, but you must spend it wisely. Spend it on ads that are pulling responses and orders, and if they’re not maybe you need to change publications.
• Do you know what PR is and how to use it to positively position your business in the media? I’ll bet that at least one of your competitors does. Nearly every mention of a company or business in the newspapers and magazines is a direct result of publicity efforts. Being quoted or featured in an article speaks volumes to your clients and readers who are your potential prospects. A good PR consultant can do that for you and show you ways to extend the shelf life of that article beyond its publication.
• Are you listed in the yellow pages? If you only have a line listing, consider including a small ad in the yellow pages. If you can afford it, it will pay dividends throughout the year.
• Do you teat your regular customers better than your drop-ins? You should. If your customers don’t feel special when coming to you for products of services, why should they remain loyal to you? Have a customer appreciation day or a special invitation only sale for your regulars. Create a mailing list of your regulars. Send occasional post cards or greeting cards for special events or just to keep in touch. Learn to recognize them on sight and greet them by name when they visit you.
• How long has it been since you really talked to one of your customers? Just as you appreciate when your Doctor takes time to talk to you, your customers will appreciate you if you take an interest in their needs. If you have a service business, have lunch or coffee periodically with some regulars – even if they only contact you once or twice a year. The personal touch in an impersonal world will be remembered.
• How is your business doing compared to your competition? Every company, no matter what the size, has competition – even home-based businesses. Is their business growing or downsizing? Is their pricing or service better than yours? If so, what can you tell potential customers about the price difference? Think about how you can improve your service to meet or exceed your customer’s expectations.
• Are your employees happy? Don’t ask them directly, but observe them throughout the day. Watch, listen and learn. Employees who like their jobs don’t watch the clock for quitting time, aren’t habitually late, don’t have poor body language, don’t spend time on personal phone calls, and don’t look like they never smiled. Observe how they interact with customers. Not everyone is a match for direct contact with the public, so make sure you don’t have an employee who is driving business away.
I can remember when I was working at my very first job out of school. It was a service business with just the owner and me at work. There was direct contact with the clients, and there was never a problem with smiling when talking face to face with them. I was given the best business tip of my life by that employer, when he pointed out to me that when talking to clients on the telephone I should smile too. For some unexplainable reason, when you smile as you talk on the phone, the exchange with the client becomes more pleasant and more productive. It’s as if that smile went right through the phone wires to the person to whom you’re talking.