Introducing Live Online Meeting
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If you’ve got a need to meet with customers, prospects, team members or practically anyone else, then Live Online Meeting offers a viable alternative to live meetings.
If you’d like a tour of the product, or you want to explore how Live Online Meeting can help you in your business, please give me a shout, toll free from anywhere in North America, at 1-877-522-6616. I’ll be happy to take you through the system and show you how it works. If you’d prefer, or you’re from outside North America, please send me an email and we’ll arrange a time for you to look at the system. Don |
July 24, 2009
Posted in: Featured Articles 
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Why Home Business?
Why are we hearing so much about home business lately? What’s driving the uncertainty surrounding traditional employment and getting people thinking about things of an entrepreneurial nature?
Our society is moving into a new era, and this change is having a profound effect on the way that people are able to earn a living.
We now live in a time where information, not industry, is king of the employment hill. One of the side effects of this change is that the information work force is a much more mobile entity than it’s industrial counterpart. As a result, the information worker can be, literally, any capable person living anywhere in the world. The immediate and most disruptive effect of this mobility is that jobs quickly migrate to the lowest cost worker.
Unfortunately, there exists a great discrepancy between what an information worker in a developing country is paid compared to a similarly skilled worker in, say, North America. Many organizations are taking advantage of this difference in wages and moving whole information based departments, such as call centers, to these lower cost areas.
So what does it mean for the workers left behind? Quite simply, it means no work or work of a much less lucrative nature.
Many skilled individuals, in areas of the world that used to be homes to the highest paying positions, are now finding no market for their talents and are being forced to accept jobs that they didn’t train for and for which they have little desire.
If they do take these jobs, they often fill positions that could have been taken by someone with fewer skills or training. These people, in turn, end up taking jobs even further down the skill ladder until, at some point, you get one of two situations arising:
- You have a workforce of people who are over-qualified for the positions that they find themselves in, and a lot of people who could be working these jobs finding themselves on the streets.
- You have a lot of skilled people, who can’t or won’t take the lower-skilled positions, now finding that they, themselves, are facing unemployment.
Either way, the result is fewer jobs available and more unemployment.
The question is, what can be done about it?
Home business opportunities offer a solution to those who are willing to put forward the effort of learning new skills.
The true up-side is that it’s now, more than ever before, and due to the same conditions that have created the job migration problem, an extremely simple process to start a business in your home and reach, almost immediately, a literally global market.
The Internet, combined with low-cost technology, and an ever increasing acceptance of the legitimacy of doing business online, is creating a ripe environment for those with the will and determination to adapt their skills and learn new ones.
There now exist many different opportunities to develop a lucrative online business right from your home. These include, network marketing or direct sales, eCommerce, affiliate marketing and information marketing, to name a few.
The opportunities are there, however, the trick is finding the good and legitimate ones while avoiding the bad deals and scams that always lie in wait for those looking for a quick fix or who don’t take their time to learn and discriminate between the true opportunities and the crooks and want-to-be’s.
If you’re seeing less and less security in a 9-to-5 occupation, whether it be information based or not, and are considering a change of career, I encourage you to look into the opportunities available to you in starting your own, home-based business.
The time is right and the technologies are there. Just be sure that you do your homework first. There are many individuals out there who are willing to take you for as much as they can get and offer little or no value in return.
On the other hand, there are also those who are willing to help. Find those, and you’re well on your way to taking control of your financial and occupational future, instead of riding the wave of uncertainty as we move further into the new reality of employment in the information age.
June 7, 2009
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The $Million Skill
As an online entrepreneur, there are many skills to learn and master.
Many can be outsourced, and this is something to seriously consider as your business grows and places more and more demand on your time.
But there is one skill, I believe, that you, personally, should work on the mastery of. It’s been called the Million Dollar Skill, by some, and it’s enabled them to create that income, and more. Do you know what the Million Dollar Skill is?
If you said writing copy, or copy writing, you’re absolutely right!
All successful online marketers work on the mastery of this particular skill above all others. Notice I said that they, “work on the mastery…” of this skill. Copy writing isn’t something you can read a couple of books on and be proficient at. It’s a skill that needs to be developed through study, use, testing, reworking and repetition.
Now don’t let that last bit scare you. It’s not going to be a never-ending grind, from early morning to late at night, for the rest of your life. But it will require your diligence if you want to start to master this life-changing skill.
In this series of articles, I’m going to go through the basics of the Million Dollar Skill with you and get you started on the road to becoming a master copywriter. This is going to be fun, and I hope that you’ll continue with the series to it’s conclusion.
I can’t claim to be a master of copy writing, but I am working to master the art, and have been doing so now for a couple of years. During this time I’ve encountered some wonderful copywriters and I’ll introduce you to them here as well.
I truly hope you’ll find this series to be of benefit, and I invite your comments as we work through learning the Million Dollar Skill together.
You can access the first installment by simply clicking here.
Don
June 7, 2009
Posted in: Featured Articles No Comments
Added Two Great Community Links To Internet Business Resource Page
There are many different groups that you can join in the Internet Marketing world. I’ve just added links to two that I’ve found most helpful. Both are completely free to join so check ‘em out here.
June 7, 2009
Posted in: Home Business No Comments
New Item Added To Internet Business Resources
Just added a new item in the Traffic/Lead Generation section of the Internet Business Resources page.
Jump directly there by clicking here.
Don
June 2, 2009
Posted in: Home Business, Internet Marketing No Comments
New Resource Added to Internet Business Resource Page
Just added a new resource to the Internet Business Resource Page. Anyone doing Adwords will benefit from this one, so go check out the Adwords Accelerator, in the PPC Advertising section.
May 21, 2009
Posted in: Home Business, Internet Marketing No Comments
The Google “Wonder Wheel”
Just got the heads-up on this cool tool from Google. The notice came from Mr. Jim Yaghi, at Jim’s Coffee Adventures, and I want to thank him for posting it.
The wonder wheel can help you discover related search terms in a visual, interactive manner. For example, if I’m searching on video chroma-key effects with a green screen, I might start out with a search for,
“video green screen”
When I do that (or for any other search, for that matter)Â I’ll find an “options” link that will, among other things, give me access to the Wonder Wheel.
When I click this link, a sidebar at the left of the screen gives me access to the wonder wheel via a link near the bottom.
When I click the Wonder wheel link, it opens to reveal the term I searched for, surrounded by related terms that I can then click to expand my search and brainstorm new options.
To enable access to the Wonder Wheel, you must paste the following code into your browser’s address bar:
javascript:void(document.cookie="PREF=ID=4a609673baf685b5:
TB=2:LD=en:CR=2:TM=1227543998:LM=1233568652:DV=AA:GM=1:IG=3:
S=yFGqYec2D7L0wgxW;path=/; domain=.google.com");
This will drop a cookie on your system that will enable the options link anytime you do a search. Obviously, if you’ve got cookies disabled, or you clear your cookies, you won’t see the link, so keep this code handy.
I’ll be providing more info shortly on the use of the Wonder wheel, so stay tuned.
May 20, 2009
Tags: Google Adwords, search, wonder wheel Posted in: Google Adwords No Comments
What Home Business Is Really About
When you think, “Home Business”, what comes to mind? The kind of work? Setting up a home office? Welcoming clients to your home?
All of these are practical aspects of running a business from home, but what comes to my mind when I think of home business is a single word: “Freedom”
To me, running my home business isn’t so much about the activities as it is about the benefits those activities produce, and the most valuable benefits, to me, are the freedoms that I gain.
- Freedom to control my schedule,
- Freedom to control my activities,
- Freedom to control my income level,
to name a few.
Before I got into business for myself, I considered these freedoms as “not for me”. After all, aren’t these freedoms, we are told, reserved for the rich and privileged?
Our society prepares us, from the earliest school years, to accept that getting a job and letting someone else dictate our freedom is normal and something we should strive for!
To me, this is nothing less than encouraging young people to become modern-day slaves.  A job is one thing, but to dedicate the best years of your life to working for someone else, with no assurance of security, or what you’ll have at the end, is so totally scary to me, that I can’t imagine actually encouraging someone in that direction.
To be sure, a job is important, but only as a temporary stepping stone. A person must pay the bills and provide for their needs, but beyond that, I believe that people should be encouraged to strive for something more. To take control of their personal and financial well-being and to enjoy the freedoms that result.
Will everyone do this? No. It’s not for everyone. There’s hard work, a degree of risk, and no assurance of success, so many will choose what they believe is the “safe” path of traditional employment. In my mind, it’s riskier to rely on someone else for my future well-being than to take control as a home business owner. But not everyone would agree with me.
There are those who’s definition of success includes what they see as the “security” of a permanent, paying position as an employee.
Without doubt, there will always be a place for skilled, competent employees. They are valuable and necessary individuals, who just happen to define their success differently than I do. That’s OK, and it’s what makes this world a diverse and wonderful place.
A large part of what I put into this blog and website will revolve around the running of a home business. It’s my hope that, as you explore the materials here, that you’ll be encouraged to at least consider the possibility of starting your own, home business.
It’s never too late and there’s no better time than now. This wonderful tool called the Internet has made it possible for average people to achieve their dreams of business ownership for far less investment, of both time and finances, and in a far shorter time span than has been traditionally possible.
It’s this combination of working from home, and tapping into the power of the Internet, that’s the key to achieving the freedoms I discussed earlier. In fact, the Internet can provide another freedom – Freedom of Place. As long as you have an Internet connection available to you, you can run most home businesses from anywhere in the world!
Imagine the satisfaction of being able to maintian your profit-making business activities while out and about, doing the things you enjoy.
May 20, 2009
Posted in: Home Business No Comments
From The Great Marlon Sanders – Marlon’s 21 Step Cheat Sheet To Profiting From Twitter
If you’ve got any interest in online marketing, and you’ve been using the social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc., then you might be wondering what’s the best way of utilizing these services in promotion of your business.
The following is a great article from marketing master Marlon Sanders, reprinted with his kind permission.
So, without further preamble, please enjoy,
Marlon’s 21 Step Cheat Sheet To Profiting From Twitter
Two New Conversion Formats You Can Use
To Promote Affiliate Offers Or Your Own Products
By Marlon Sanders
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In this article I’m sharing my cheat sheet for profiting
from Twitter.
I want to share with you how to obtain joint ventures,
meet people you can produce products with, get people to
promote your products and jump start your business — all
without forking over even a dime.
And you can do all of this starting 60 minutes from now –
even if you don’t know anyone to start, even if you don’t
have any sort of list to begin with, even if you’re a
newbie, even if you’re a Mac user, even if you can’t
attend seminars, even if ….
You get the idea.
By using Twitter, you will:
* Meet people who have lists and can promote your product.
* Meet people who have the know how to move your business
forward.
* Connect with people like you, so you don’t have that
feeling you’re in this all alone.
* Avoid the bickering, arguing junk that goes on in forums.
One thing I hate about forums is a few people post all the time
and become power brokers — even if they’re obnoxious, don’t
have any clue what they’re doing and so forth.
Forums also attract a lot of negativity.
Twitter is a totally different and refreshing experience.
I’ve officially been on Twitter hard core for a few weeks now.
I still have lots to learn. But let me share the amazing things
I HAVE discovered about it that can benefit you greatly and almost
immediately.
==> You’ll meet and connect with wonderful people
I’ve met some really neat people I normally would have never
connected with.
==> You’ll get to discuss things with people you might not
know about them in other venues.
==> You can interact with a lot of people quickly.
==> Your Twitter list builds virally
People will retweet (explained below) things you say. This
virally spreads your info through other people’s networks.
This is the most powerful aspect of Twitter.
Now, here are my best tips on getting the most out of
Twitter.
1. Sign up at Twitter.com
That’s step one, of course. It’ll take you about 30 seconds.
2. Download Tweetdeck
It’s a freebie download for pc’s and Macs from Tweetdeck.com.
Tweetdeck will make your tweeting an unbelievable experience.
3. Keep the negative junk off Twitter
Don’t use Twitter to try to get that refund or resolve disputes.
The purpose is marketing. Use it to bring positive energy and
meet people.
People have asked me, “Marlon, why can’t I publish info if
someone rips me off?”
The reason is because the PURPOSE of being on Twitter is to
network with people who can promote your products for you.
When you complain about other people, it REPELS positive
people, exactly the ones you are hoping to ATTRACT.
4. Follow people who are in your niche.
Go to Twitter.com. Click on “find people.” Type in names of
people who write blogs in your niche, who have affiliate
products and who are influencers.
Click the “follow” link under their photo. This will let you
see their tweets with other people.
5. Make friends
Do NOT go onto Twitter pitching people. Make friends. Be a
sociable person.
6. Learn the art of the RT
RT stands for “retweet”. There’s a little icon that says RT.
When you retweet someone’s messsage, you’re passing it on so
the people on your list can see it.
This is the ultimate form of sharing. You give before you
get.
Even if you only have 10 people on your list, use the RT.
But watch how others do it first. Don’t just jump in.
7. Observe for a week
Spend a week or so just watching others and learning what
happens on Twitter before you jump in head over heels.
8. Anything and I do mean anything you say can and will be
retweeted.
It’s crazy. People RT things you wouldn’t think they would.
So be aware that anything you say can be spread. So be
very cautious about saying anything negative about anyone.
9. Share your positive energy
I said this before. But I’m going to repeat. Positive energy
attracts other positive people.
10. Give first
Do NOT ask people to promote you or your product. GIVE first.
Offer to promote THEM!
How? I don’t know. Be creative. Think of something. Anything.
Even if it’s just republishing their article on your blog. Or
retweeting them.
Let me repeat — give first. Offer to promote others first.
By law of reciprocity many will give back to you.
The #1 mistake people make is to ASK before they give.
11. If someone really annoys you, you can go to twitter.com,
find their name and on the right side is link where you can
block them.
12. Go to associateprograms.com and search for affiliate
programs in your niche market. Find the names of the product
creators and look ‘em up on Twitter.
People who have products with affiliate programs also have
lists. Make friends with ‘em. Do something to promote
their product and tell ‘em about it. That WILL get a response
in most cases.
13. Offer viral ebooks and reports on Twitter.
Instead of blatantly promoting your product, it’s better
to offer a little report or ebook with a decent chance
of others retweeting it.
Use Twitter to PULL more than to PUSH. This is PULL
marketing.
14. When you run across a cool web site or resource tweet
it to your list.
15. Do NOT send a lot of messages without the @ symbol.
You want to send most of your messages to individuals
using the @ symbol.
16. Go out of your way to promote others to your Twitter
list. They’ll reciprocate some time in some way.
17. When you find a good blog post on someone’s blog,
pass it along to your Twitter list.
This endears you to the blog owner. Even if they aren’t
on your Twitter list, there’s a decent chance word will
spread back to ‘em.
This IS the age of instant communication.
18. Learn to Twitter on your iPhone or cell. Yes,
you can do that too.
19. Understand that in the big picture your goal is to
find people who have lists and can promote your products
then make friends with ‘em.
That’s your ultimate objective. But you don’t get there
by ramming your product down people’s throats. You get
there by being an ATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY that others
gravitate to.
It helps if you pass along cool resources and on
occasion say things that are profound or retweetable.
20. Inspire others to go for it and pursue what they
know they should pursue but don’t have the courage
to do it.
Be a cheerleader for people’s highest and best
interests.
21. Use Twitter strategically to meet and network
with list owners.
Do NOT end up twittering away time you really should
be using to create products or do other promotions.
Use Twitter. Don’t let it use you.
Please pass this cheat sheet along to others with the
resource box below. And then hit me with your feedback
and comments on my blog.
Let me know if this helped or inspired you:
http://www.marlonsnews.com/?p=197
———————————————————–
Marlon Sanders is the author of “The Amazing Formula That
Sells Products Like Crazy.”
Check out all my products here: Resources by Marlon Sanders
March 3, 2009
Posted in: Internet Marketing No Comments