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CONTENTSStuff we put loads of effort into

Developing Realistic Financial

Assumptions in Your Business Plan

3 Effective Tactics Every Business

Should Implement

$3 Million in 6 Months

Do You Have What It Takes?

Back-End Products…

Business Plan Writers

Hello Im Johnny Cash

How to Make Your Computer your

Personal ATM

Define Social Marketing

Enhance Your Social Marketing Campaign

Mobile Marketing- Text Message

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1314

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OFFLINE MAGAZINE

Small Business Tips

Analyzing Customers In Your Business

7 Online Business Plan Scams and 1

Real Deal

Are you Satisfied with your Business

just as it is?

Checklist For Starting A Business

Finance Your Small Business

Franchise Opportunities

Alternatives to Credit Cards

100,000 Subscribers in 30 Days?

5 Mobile Marketing Productivity Tips

Social Marketing Jobs

More stuff we put loads of effort into

161719

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CONTENTS

INTERNET MARKETING DIGEST

Editor’s NoteHi Readers

Welcome to this edition of Offline Magazine. In Offline

Magazine we teach you everything you need to know to

make your business a success online.

Every month, we cover topics like:

Social Marketing

Small Business marketing

Mobile Marketing

Franchising

and more…

Your contributions and feedback to this publication are

highly valued, so please use the links to our Facebook

page, twitter feed, email and our website to keep in touch

and help keep us on track to make this the best publication

possible.

We also specialize in helping small businesses become

hugely successful online. Should you require any

professional assistance with your online strategy, please

get in contact with us, as we’d be happy to give you a free

appraisal of your current online performance and suggest

some improvements to help boost conversion of your

prospects into customers.

Thanks for investing your time to educate yourself by

reading our publication. We look forward to serving you

and your business now and well into the future.

Have fun,

The Editor

Developing Realistic Financial Assumptions in Your Business Plan

Many investors skip straight to the

financial section of the business plan. It

is critical that the assumptions and

projections in this section be realistic.

Plans that show penetration, operating

margin and revenues per employee

figures that are poorly reasoned,

in ternal ly inconsistent or s imply

unrealistic greatly damage the credibility

of the entire business plan. In contrast,

s o b e r, w e l l - r e a s o n e d f i n a n c i a l

a s s u m p t i o n s a n d p r o j e c t i o n s

communicate operational maturity and

credibility.

For instance, i f the company is

c a t e g o r i z e d a s a n e t w o r k i n g

infrastructure firm, and the business plan

projects 80% operat ing margins,

investors will raise a red flag. This is

because investors can readily access the

operating margins of publicly-traded

networking infrastructure firms and find

As much as possible, the financial assumptions

should be based on actual results from your or

other firms. As the example above indicates, it is

fairly easy to look at a public company’s

operating margins and use these margins to

approximate your own. Likewise, the business

plan should base revenue growth on other firms.

Many firms find this impossible, since they

believe they have a break-through product in

their market, and no other company compares.

In such a case, base revenue growth on

companies in other industries that have had

break-through products. If you expect to grow

even faster than they did (maybe because of

new technologies that those firms weren’t able to

employ), you can include more aggressive

assumptions in your business plan as long as

you explain them in the text.

The financials can either enhance or significantly

harm your business plan’s chances of assisting

you in the capital-raising process. By doing the

research to develop realistic assumptions, based

on actual results of your or other companies, the

financials can bolster your firm’s chances of

winning investors. As importantly, the more

realistic financials will also provide a better

roadmap for your company’s success.

3 EFFECTIVE

TACTICS

EVERY%BUSINESS%SHOULD%IMPLEMENTDo you remember your first day as a business owner? You

were probably just like the rest of us... pretty darned happy

and bit on the proud side. Yeah, back then we thought we

could conquer the world. Now we're too busy conquering

our own little corner of the world to pay a lot of attention to

the rest of the world... unless it's to learn a few tips from

successful marketers just like us who have made it big. Tips

just like these... that will apply to every market - regardless

of the product or service - are a great motivators to try

something new. Yeah, you never know when the next idea

will be worth a million dollars!

1. Create a Special Offer

A special offer is exactly that... an offer that is special.

Normally, customers would not be able to purchase this

product or combination of products, and once the products

are gone... sorry!

You don't have to go out and order a bunch of new

products to put together a special offer. It don't take a whole

lot... just use what you've got. Grab a few items that are

related, group them together, discount the price, and your

customers will be excited to be getting a good deal. Think

about it from your standpoint... you've sold three or four

items rather than one. Yeah, combination offers are winning

deals for everyone!

2. Address the Small Customer Groups

Niche markets are everywhere, right under your nose!

Within the customer audience that you serve right now are

groups of people who share common traits. Think about it...

maybe you have a group who speaks Spanish, a group of

teens, and a group of middle class family men and women.

Evaluate these classes of people, and discover the unique

needs and desires they share. That will set you up to

customize your advertising campaign directly to them. It’s

not hard to take your current ads, and make a few changes

to adjust to the niches. They’ll be impressed that you

understand THEM, and the increase in your profits will be

the best thanks you can get.

3. Set Up a Winning Referral Program

Successful marketers develop the ability to turn their

customers into advocates. Often, they don't even

have to directly ask customers to refer them to

others. Their willingness to go the extra wins

customer loyalty and support. Naturally, satisfied

customers refer their friends and family to the place

that will take good care of them.

Quality service and is the first step toward referrals,

but you can easily take it one step further. Studies

show that every satisfied customer tells three people

about you. What would happen with a little incentive

added to the picture? Yeah, a lot more. Give

customers who refer friends a thank you - whether it's

a discount, special gift item, or a simple thank you

card - and watch the referrals spiral!

You can get two birds with one stone by implimenting

customer surveys. A few quick questions about what

the customer does and doesn't like about your

product, followed by a request for the names and

addresses of friends and family who would benefit

from the product, and you're all set to go with the

contact information of a prospective customer!

IMD 5

$3 MILLIONIN 6 MONTHS

WITH ADSENSE!Markus Frind, the creator of Plentyoffish.com is a success

story worth noting, as he has managed to take a niche

formerly ruled by giant corporations and give it his own brand

of marketing savvy. A case of David vs. Goliath, where the

little guy comes out on top in the end. Markus is the top

"individual" adsense publisher in terms of pageviews. Lets

find out what some of his secrets are as he shares some

advice with our readers. Feel free to comment!

Markus, what is your experience in computer programming

and how did it prepare you for becoming a webmaster?

The average pageviews a day is around 14 million for the last

week. I'm getting another 80 million pageviews a day from

users polling the site to see if they have new messages.

Really intensive bandwidth wise!

When I go to your website, I notice that the ads are targeted

to my region, yet I have not even registered- can you explain

to our readers how you accomplish this feat?

I'm just using ip2location.com- Basically i take your IP, look it

up in the database and it tells me what your city is. I then

bring up a list of users in your city, nothing magical about it at

all.

Are most of your visitors coming primarily from search

engines (SERPS), or are you finding that they come from

other avenues? Do you actively advertise in the media?

Search engines account for something like 2% of my traffic.

The vast majority of my traffic, like any other site with over 5

million pageviews a day comes from word of mouth, and

repeat visitors.

The services on your site seem to be offered at no cost to the

registrants. Is there some advantage you have over your

competitors that allows you to do this?

I've developed new algorithms that allow me to create a mega

site for next to no cost. Several years ago I created algorithm

that was thousands of times faster then the algorithm used in

the 1990's to find a string of 22 prime numbers. At the time a

professor used several super computers and hundreds of

regular computers over the course of several years to find a

record. I did the same thing on 1 computer in 2 weeks.

Fascinating! Are there any other sites you currently maintain,

or is plentyoffish.com the only one?

Its the only site at the moment. I've got a few other sites I

registered for friends so they could learn to do marketing/

affiliate stuff. At this point i think 1 site is enough.

Any tips for those looking to create a profitable endeavor on

the internet?

IF someone else thinks what you are doing is a cool idea I'd

say it isn't... Find something no one else thinks is important

and build up a site with big traffic in that area. Also keep in

mind, sites that have low monetization today but have traffic

may be the gold mines of tomorrow. In the internet world

anything and everything will be monetized at some point and

traffic is king.

Traffic is King- very wise advice, Markus. One last question-

How do you find the time to maintain such a large commodity

on the internet? Surely you must have some other interests in

life besides programming and website monitoring?

It only takes a hour a day on average, but its very tiring work. I

spend the other couple of hours reading and seeing what is

going on.

IMD 6

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKESDo%you%have%what%it%takes%to%be%really%successful?

Have%you%ever%thought%about%what%you%must%be%prepared%to%endure%and%do%in%order%to%be%successful%in%business%or%your%career?

I%think%I%have%been%asked%at%least%5,000%Omes%what%it%really%takes%to%be%successful%in%business,%so%I%joQed%down%10%quesOons%you%can%use%to%gauge%whether%you%already%have%what%it%takes,%or%if%you%need%to%do%a%liQle%“work”%to%get%there.

Many%years%ago%I%heard%Jim%Rohn%say%that%you%either%pay%the%price%of%discipline%or%the%price%of%regret.%Discipline%weighs%ounces…regret%weighs%tons!

With%that%said,%here%are%10%quesOons%to%ask%yourself:%

•%Are%you%disciplined?%

•%Do%you%take%rejecOon%personally?%What%about%criOcism?%

•%Do%you%bounce%back%quickly%from%making%errors%or%failing%over%and%over%again?%

•%Are%you%a%planner%or%do%you%do%things%by%the%seat%of%your%pants?%

•%Are%you%prepared%to%take%risks?%Moderate%or%Big?

•%Do%you%stay%focused%on%one%thing%and%one%thing%only%unOl%the%result%you%want%is%achieved?%

•%Do%you%have%the%stamina%to%keep%going%long%a]er%everyone%else%is%Ored?%

•%Can%you%delegate%well,%or%are%you%the%only%one%who%can%do%things%right?%

•%Do%you%wait%for%things%to%happen%or%do%you%aggressively%go%a]er%what%you%want?%

•%Do%you%do%whatever%it%takes%to%achieve%your%goals%or%just%what's%convenient?%

These%quesOons%are%criOcal%for%you%to%ask%yourself%in%order%to%get%a%true%picture%of%your%nature%and%behavior.

What%I%have%found%is%that%successful%people%are%aware%of%the%consequences%of%not%being%efficient%in%these%areas,%and%find%other%ways,%resources%or%people%to%manage%for%them.

Food%for%thought?

Remember%to%create%a%masterpiece!

You%have%permission%to%publish%these%arOcles%electronically%or%in%print,%free%of%charge,%as%long%as%the%bylines%are%included.%A%courtesy%copy%of%your%publicaOon%would%be%appreciated

?

t%Below%are%ten%killer%strategies%you%can%use%to%sell%your%backcend%products%to%your%exisOng%customers:

Back-End Products.The Key To Lasting Profits

If%you're%not%trying%to%sell%backcend%products%to%your%customers,%you're%making%a%big%mistake.%It%is%easier%to%sell%to%exisOng%customers%than%it%is%to%sell%to%new%ones%who%don't%trust%your%business%yet.%

1.%When%you%ship%people%the%first%product% they%bought,%insert%a%flyer%or%brochure%for%your%backcend%product%in%the%package.%

2.%Give%customers%a%free%subscripOon%to%a%customers%only%eczine%when%they%buy%your%product.%You%could%include%your%ad%for%your%backcend%product%in%each%issue.%

3.%Send%your% customers%greeOng%cards%on% holidays% or% on% their%birthday.%Include%a%small%adverOsement% inside%the%card%for% your%backcend%product.%

4.% A]er% people% order% your% first% product% from% your% web% site,%take%them%to%a% "thank%you"% web% page%and% include%your% backcend%product%ad%on%that%page.%

5.%Send%customers%a%free%surprise%gi]%a]er%they%order%your%first%product.%You%could%aQach%another%ad%with%the%free%gi]%for% your%backcend%product.

6.% If% you're % selling% an% electronic% product,% like % an%ebook,% include% your% ad% for% your% backcend% product%somewhere%inside%the%electronic%product.%

7.%Give%your%customers%a %free %membership%into%your%"customers %only"%private %site.%You%could%include%your%ad%for%your%backcend%product% somewhere %inside%the%private%site.%

8.%Contact%your%customers%by%phone%and%ask%them%if%they%were%happy%with%their%purchase.%You%could%tell%them%about%your%backcend%product.%

9.%Send%your%customers %a %thank%you%leQer%by%mail %or%ecmail.% You% could%menOon% your% backcend% product%somewhere%on%the%leQer.%

10.%Ask%your%customers%if%they%want%to%be%updated%in%the%future%when%you%have %new%product%offers.% You%could% have%them%sign%up% to% receive %ecmail %or% snail%mail%updates.%

Your%business %will %have%a%greater%chance%of%surviving%when%you%aQempt%to%sell %backcend%products %to%your%exisOng%customers.

Below%are%ten%killer%strategies%you%can%use%to%sell%your%backcend%products%to%your%exisOng%

Your%Advert%Here?Contact%us%at

sales@creatability.com

BUSINESS PLAN WRITERS: SHOULD YOU HIRE ONE?

Are% you% interested% in% star8ng% up% your% own%business?% %If%so,%you%should%carefully%consider%wri8ng% a% business% plan.% % The% thought% of%preparing% a% business% plan% tends% to% fill% most%business% owners% with% dread;% it% can% be% a%difficult,% stressful,% and% 8me% consuming%process.% %For%this%reason%alone%you%may%want%to%think%about%seeking%assistance.

One%of%the%many%ways%that% you%can% seek%help% to%write%your%plan%is%by%hiring%a%professional,%who% in%this%case%is%a%professional%business%plan%writer.

What%Is%a%Professional%Business%Plan%Writer?

Before% deciding%whether% or% not% you% should% hire% the%services%of%a%professional% business% plan% writer,% you% should% first% clearly%understand% what% they% are.% % In% most% cases,% you% will% find% these%individuals% to% be% experienced,% professional% writers% who% are% well%versed%in%business%terminology%and%who%can%effecOvely%understand%the% needs% of% businesses.% % It% is% important% to% understand% when%wriOng%anything,%even%a%business%plan,%that%it% is%the%wording%which%makes% all% the% difference;% the% words% used% can% be% the% difference%between%success%and% failure.%That% is%why%a%large%number% of% small%business%owners%turn%to%professional%writers%for%assistance.

What%a%Professional%Business%Plan%Writer%Can%Do%For%You

When%it%comes%to%searching%for%a%professional%business%plan%writer,%you% will% find% that% different% writers% perform% different% duOes.% For%example, %a% large% number% of% writers% will% merely% take% your% ideas,%which% you% have% already%thought% out% and% developed, %and% present%them%in%a%professional%maQer;%they%will% just%present%your%plans%in%a%more%professional%way%than%you%could.

Then%there%are%the%professional%business%plan%writers%who%will%work%with%you%to%develop%your%plan%from%the%incepOon%of%the%basic%ideas%for% your% business% to% the% finish% document. % % Naturally% since% more%work%and%Ome%goes%into%to%assisOng%you%with%developing%a%business%plan% from%the%boQom%up%you%will%probably%find%that% the%services%of%these%writers%cost%more%than%tradiOonal%ones.

Why%Hire%a%Professional%Business%Plan%Writer?

There% are% a% number% of% different% reasons% why% small% business%owners%turn%to%professional%business%plan%writers.%One%of%the%key%reasons%is%of%lack%of%experience%when%it%comes%to%purng%ideas%on%paper% and% not% knowing%what% format% a%plan%should% take. % %If%you%have% never% created% a% business% plan% before% you% can% easily% find%yourself%staring%at%a%blank%piece%of%paper%for%hours%on%end!

Although% it% is% relaOvely% easy% to% learn% how% to% create% your% own%plan, % it% can% be% a% Ome% consuming% process% to% undertake% the%research% and% get% into% the% appropriate% mindset.%With% the% right%experience,% a% professional% business% plan% writer% will% be% able% to%create%a%detailed,%professional%business%plan%in%half%the%Ome%that%it%would%take%you%to%create%the%same%plan.

How%Do%You%Find%Someone?

If% you% are% interested% in% acquiring% the% services%of% a%professional%business% plan% writer,% you% have% a% number% of% different% opOons.%%One%of%those%opOons% is% to% search% for% someone%locally.% %Dealing%with%a%local%business%plan%writer%is%great,%especially%if%you%want%to%deal%with% someone% facectocface.% %Your% search%can% focus%on%your%local% government% business%advice%centers% or% even% asking%fellow%business% colleagues.% If% there% is%a%wriOng%group%or% circle% in% your%locality%then%you%can%approach%them%for%potenOal%names.

The%only%problem% that%you%may%find%is% that%not%all% areas%of% your%country%will%have%professional%business%plan%writers.%%This%means%you% may% have% to% turn% to% the% Internet% for% assistance.% By%conducOng% an% online% search% you% will% find% a% large% number% of%professional%writers%who%specialize%in%creaOng%or%wriOng%business%

IMD 10

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" -

Surprising Lessons For Work At Home

Moms

I've%unearthed%some%surprising%bits%of%wisdom%for%new%wahms%by%listening%to%Johnny%Cash%lately.%I%thought%I%would%share%some%of%these%Odbits%from%the%Rockabilly%legend.

1)%Understand%Your%Man%...er,%target%market!

That's%right.%Do%you%understand%your%target%market?%Are%you%aware%of%her%needs,%desires%and%driving%ambiOons?%Does%your%website%speak%to%your%target%audience?%If%not,%perhaps%you%should%make%some%changes%or%your%website%visitor%or%customer%will%be%"as%gone%as%a%wild%goose%in%winter"%too!

2)%A%Boy%Named%Sue

Life%ain't%easy%for%a%boy%named%Sue...and%life%ain't%easy%for%a%wahm%either.%In%your%business%you%will%have%those%confidence%killers,%dream%stealers,%fun%suckers...whatever%you%want%to%call%them.%You%will%have%people%who%try%to%tell%you%that%you%can't%achieve%your%goals,%that%what%you%try%won't%work.%Don't%let%them%get%you%down!%

Sue's%father%told%him,%"This%world%is%rough,%and%if%you're%gonna%make%it,%you've%goQa%be%tough."

How%can%you%get%tough%in%your%business?

3)%Man%In%Blackc%or%Branding%101

J.R.%Cash%didn't%don%the%all%black%suit%because%he%didn't%have%anything%else%to%wear.%It%was%his%trademark.%He%wore%all%black%for%a%reason.%

What%about%you?%Are%you%working%on%your%brand?%In%a%world%full%of%Elvis%Presleys%and%Jerry%Lee%Lewises,%how%will%you%stand%apart?%And%remember,%your%target%market%doesn't%have%to%be%just%like%youc%Johnny%Cash%wrote%Folsom%Prison%Blues%and%connected%with%inmates%when%he%had%never%yet%step%foot%in%jail!%

4)%The%Legend%of%John%Henry's%Hammer

This%song%has%two%bits%of%wisdom:%

John%Henry's%Daddy%told%him%to:%"Learn%to%a%turn%a%jack,%learn%to%lay%a%track,%learn%to%pick%and%shovel%too."%Are%you%learning%all%you%can%about%Internet%MarkeOng%so%that%you%can%succeed%in%your%business?%Do%you%reinvest%in%ebooks,%coaching%and%mentoring,%and%so]ware%like%John%Henry's%hammer?

b)%Technology%has%its%place%but%it%can't%take%the%place%of%humans.

When%the%steam%engine%threatened%to%take%the%place%of%men,%Johnny%proved%that%in%the%end,

humans%are%more%valuable.%Learn%to%use%technology%(like%autoresponders)%but%remember%that%your%website%visitor%is%a%human%and%inject%some%of%yourself%into%your%markeOng%efforts.

5)%One%Piece%at%a%Time

This%ballad%is%about%a%man%who%decides%to%build%a%Cadillac.%He%steals%one%piece%at%a%Ome%from%the%assembly%line%"and%it%didn't%cost%him%a%dime".%But%in%the%end,%it%didn't%work%out%exactly%like%he%planned!

Does%your%website%look%like%a%pieced%together%jalopy?%Are%you%unwilling%to%spend%any%money%on%your%own%domain%and%hosOng,%content%with%a%free%site%cluQered%up%with%ads?%

6)%In%The%Jailhouse%Now

Please%don't%throw%away%your%hard%work%by%doing%one%of%the%following%things:

Spamming%

Copying%other%people's%arOcles%or%content

Stealing%graphics

Clicking%on%your%Adsense%ads

Not%keeping%records%and%neglecOng%to%pay%taxes

It%just%isn't%worth%it,%and%you%may%find%yourself%in%the%jailhouse.%Much%beQer%to%Walk%the%Line%so%you%can%sleep%at%night.%

How to Make your Computer your

P e r s o n a l A T M

Do%you% think% that% ATM’s%are%only%available%at%banks%and% credit%unions?% % Think% again.% % Your% computer% can%become% your% own%personal%ATM%machine.%%How%can%you%turn%your%computer%into%a%money% making% machine?% % Jump% into% the% world% of% internet%markeOng.%%An%Internet%markeOng%business%is %not%only%profitable,%but%can%be%started%quickly%and%affordably.%%

What%should%you%do%first%to%help%you%start%an%Internet%markeOng%business?% %You%need%to%create%a%website%that%reaches %millions%of%potenOal%customers%all%over% the%globe.% % There% are%hundreds %of%so]ware%programs,%companies,%and%offerings%out%there.% % If% you%are%not%familiar%with%Internet%infrastructure%then%you%may%have%a%difficult% Ome% trying% to% find% the% right% company% to% host% your%website.% %We%have%taken%the%confusion%out%of% this%situaOon%for%you%by% providing% references%for%the%best%so]ware%tools%to%help%get%you%started.

First,%you%will%need%a%domain%name.%%Domain%names%are%the%text%that% users% will% type% into% the% Internet% to% access % you% website.%%Think%carefully%about%your%domain%name%so%that%it%is %relevant%to%your%product%or%service.

Once%you%have%a%domain%name%in%mind,%you%need%to%make%sure%that%it%is%not%taken.%%You%can%type%it%into%your%Internet%browser%and%see%if%anything%comes%up.%%However,%it%is%good%to%check%this%through%the%domain%provider%we%recommend%which%is%www.godaddy.com.

When%you%purchase%a%domain%name%at%www.godaddy.com,%make%sure%that%you%only%purchase%the%domain%name%and%none%of%the%extra%services.%%Godaddy%has%a%tendency%to%jack%up%the%prices%on%these%services%when%you%can%find%them%much%more%affordably%at%www.fronOerpowerhosOng.com.

FronOerpowerhosOng.com%will%be%your%web%hosOng%service.%%This%web%hosOng%Service%Company%is%top%notch%because%you%receive%your%OWN%IP%address.%%It%is%criOcal%to%have%your%own%IP%address%so%that%your%emails%are%never%blocked%due%to%an%email%spammer%that%has%the%same%IP%address.%%FronOerpowerhosOng.com%also%has%excellent%customer%service%phone%support.%%In%addiOon,%FronOerpowerhosOng.com%provides%an%“Email%Tracker”%feature%which%enables%you%to%track%your%emails.

FronOerpowerhosOng.com% also% will% provide% you% with%informaOon% regarding% the% deliverability% rate% for% any%emails %you% send.% % This% informaOon%will%help% you% tailor%your%markeOng%efforts.

Next%you%will%need%to%setup%a%“smart%Autoresponder”.%%A%smart% Autoresponder% is% one% that% automaOcally% sends%emails % or% forms% to% users% in% order% to% capture% their%personal% informaOon.% % Make% sure% that% your%Autoresponder%captures%the%following%informaOon:% %first%name,%last%name,%email%address,%Ome%and%date%stamp.

An% effecOve% smart% Autoresponder% is% called% “Auto%Responder% Plus”%which%you%can% find%at%www.arp3.com.%%Auto%Responder%Plus%is %so]ware%that%you%can%download%on%your%web%hosOng%account.

Once% you% have% these% tools % in% place,% you% are% ready% to%create% your% website.% % Change% your% personal% computer%

IMD 12

Define Social Marketing?-Old Wine in A

New Bottle

Generally, social marketing can be defined as a new

concept (not so new though) to market or promote an

endeavor using the internet and the web2.0 based tools.

Started with this small approach, social marketing has

now gained a new level as many people across the world

are joining the worldwide business chain with several new

ideas and strategies. The purpose of social marketing is

to provide fast and quality service using the World Wide

Web. All the enterprises of online business market are

aiming to be part of global economy and take their

business to next level with the help of social media

marketing. In essence, social marketing is the key word to

get a worldwide platform and succeed in business. Apart

from this brief definition social marketing has different

other wings that needs a proper co-ordination for proper

marketing.

Social media sites were basically created an online

network of people who wanted to communicate with each

other and stay in touch. Business owners and corporate

houses used the social media tools for marketing their

businesses, services or products. Just from its beginning,

social marketing has succeeded to create a difference in

the world of business. Businesses houses that made

careful and strategic use of social media sites created a

revolution in the marketing world but at the same time

careless and casual dealing spelled doom for many

businesses.

If you are a newcomer to the world of social media

marketing then you need not worry a lot about the results

of your efforts because there are thousands of online

resources from where you would be able to learn some

vital tips and tricks to crack the social networking or social

marketing nut. Online reviews, e-books available on

"soc ia l market ing" would prov ide you wi th a

comprehensive picture of social media marketing world.

The pros and cons of this business and survival strategies

are also discussed thoroughly in these books, journals or

articles. Here, in this blog we will discuss the two most

potential social media - Facebook and Twitter and

strategies that would get surprising fast results from.

Facebook:

Let's start with Facebook that has been ranked as the

second most popular (Google is still number 1) social

media site for its popularity. With the introduction of

Facebook, social marketing has taken a new turn and

the generation now defines social marketing in a

single word, which is Facebook.

Business owners are making the most out of

Facebook and taking the opportunity to measure their

performance from both positive and negative

comments on their products and services. Using

Facebook, clients can research on the needs and

demands of customers, which changes frequently. At

the same time one can provide updates on the

upcoming services or products fan pages to keep the

visitors engaged. Spending a few extra dollars on

Facebook and let visitor's know about your company

directly from Facebook.

Twitter:

As a social media site, Twitter has been ranked tenth

and is being used widely to deliver short messages at

incredible speed. A short message of 140 characters

reaches the inbox of your consumers in a minute and

the tweets will spread to the mass in an explosive

manner. There is no other cost-effective and time-

saving marketing idea than tweeting about a product.

Twitter has more preference among the busy users

who prefer to get product updates just right to the

point. The most important fact about twitter is that it

always contains relevant messages, so the customers

will read them thoroughly, instead of just ignoring

them.

Now, it depends on your business and the product

when you get down to choosing between Facebook

and Twitter - choose the one that suits your business

needs perfectly.

Enhance Your Social Marketing Campaign

Social Media marketing has ushered in a new

age of advertising and promotion that business,

groups and organizations around the world have

readily adopted. Today social media campaigns

are actively promoted on various networking

engines through onl ine promotions and

marketing. So the question is, among numerous

brands how does one stand out in social circles?

I want to bring to your attention a new article by

John Jantsch and Hugh at Hide and Seek media

titled "5 Tips to Enhance Your Social Media

Marketing Campaign". The article is essentially a

how to guide to build and develop your own social

media marketing campaign.

The 5 tips are Integrate, Amplify, Re-purpose,

Generate Leads, Learn. For a detai led

understanding of each of these areas I suggest

(and highly recommend) that you read the

original article. I would however like to take a

moment and summarize each area.

Integrate: This is in my opinion the starting step

for any successful marketing campaign.

Remember every social platform has its benefits

and drawbacks, so it's important to understand

the needs of your business and what online

marketing tools will give you the best bang for

your buck.

Amplify: I cannot stress the importance of

amplifying social profiles. This is the key

between a successful campaign that will lead

to consistent growth for your business and a

one-time spike in your online traffic. People

that are a part of your social graph want to

know that you care about their opinions and

genuinely want their attention. A lack of

follow through can cripple a social marketing

campaign before it even starts.

Repurpose: Its all about marketing in as

many ways or methods as possible. With any

news or update, you should be writing blogs,

actively posting on your Facebook fan page,

creating podcasts, essentially building your

brand in as many ways as possible.

Remember, just about any medium you can

think of can be and should be used to

market your business.

Generate Leads: The key here is to make

sure you generate leads elsewhere, you

don't need to be actively selling on your

campaigns, instead these campaigns should

provide links to an area where prospective

buyers' needs can be fulfilled.

Learn: Don't reinvent the

wheel, learn from those

who have done a good job

marketing their brands.

Learn not only about how

they do it but where they

do it. Is there a new social

network where you can

market? Is there some

unique way to market

brand? Do your research!

Mobile Marketing - Text Message, the Leading Medium

Mobile Marketing is the fastest growing advertising

technique and can communicate instantly with customers.

Businesses may send a text message blast to all

customers that have given permission to receive them,

offering a keyword or promotional offer. Customers will view

the text message moments after being sent containing a

link to the website or simply by reading the message and

showing it to the business. Compared to other types of

mediums such as TV, print, and radio, mobile marketing is

less expensive, personable, and instant.

It has become effective due to the technological cell phone

age that has created an instant gratification public. Text

messages are more likely to be opened and responded to

than emails or direct mail, primarily because customers

must opt-in for the mobile promotions. These customers

want to be advertised to and are more likely to use the

coupon promotion bringing customers to the business more

effectively. With customers providing permission to contact

them, they are trusting businesses leading to brand loyalty.

Cell phones are a very personable item that people

continuously use 24/7, allowing advertising to reach

consumers at a high rate.

The reach of mobile marketing not only advertises to smart

phone users but to traditional cell phone users also. Mobile

traditionalists comprise 60% of mobile users that website

advertising cannot reach. Text messages can reach an

audience of 100.7 million compared to the web at 34.1

million. People have their devoted attention to their cell

phones and interact with them uninterruptedly. With web

and TV, the audience is most likely distracted by numerous

attempts to gain attention. Mobile marketing breaks through

the clutter and advertises to customers as an individual.

Cel l phones have become personable through

individualized apps and reflect an active user perspective

on consumers. Marketing professionals can detect where a

customer has been, what they've been doing, and

essentially know that customer. This allows businesses to

better fulfill the needs of their customers, relating their

product specifically to their habits. People use their cell

phone for just about everything now, carrying it

everywhere, checking their personal accounts, and leaving

intimate details about themselves. Businesses can relate

relevant and valuable information to customers creating a

deep relationship.

GPS location is also a successful tool that mobile marketing

utilizes. It can direct the text message blast within a certain

mileage of the business or target certain demographics

specifically. By reaching a more precise target, there is no wasted

circulation and the message is delivered to the intended target

audience. Through the help of mobile carriers, there may be user

profiles to better pinpoint a target audience. Mobile marketing

uses geography to make advertising integrate into a campaign,

focusing at home or away.

The use of an effective mobile marketing campaign has the

chance to double a business' revenue but at the cost of $100,000,

in 2007. In a recent campaign I conducted for a counseling

business, the use of text message appointment reminders and

online booking doubled the profit intake for the business. Since

mobile marketing is a recent advertising campaign, there are still

challenges to be considered. But, it has proven to be an effective

and upcoming marketing medium.

The beginning of mobile marketing has been successful and

shines hope on upcoming advances for companies such as

AdMob, Quattro Wireless, Millennium Media, JumpTap, and

InMobi. Future mobile marketing may include video messages,

advertising with games, screen savers and coupons. Mobile

marketing has proved to be a success for many businesses, and is

an upcoming leading medium in the advertising world.

IMD 15

Small Business Tips

Owning and running your own small business

is a great thing to do, but it is not always easy.

If you want to have success with your small

business, there are some ways to do it, though.

Here are some small business tips to maximize

your profits and minimize your headache, even

early on with the business.

The first of the small business tips that you

need to remember is that in the early time of

the business, you want to keep your profits as

high as possible. This is not always an easy

thing to do because often, especially when your

business has first opened, your customers are

pretty low, and therefore your money is pretty

low. In order to make this happen, keep your

spending as low as you can. Avoid buying

anything that is unnecessary in order to keep

all the money that you can.

Another of the great small business tips that

you can use is about advertising. If you want

to get customers, which are necessary for

the success of many businesses, you will

have to advertise in order to get them.

Advertising is something that you should

always make room for in your budget. Of

course, finding the most affordable methods

of advertising early on will make quite a bit of

difference. It may take more work, though.

If you want to start your own small business,

the market for a business is something you

should consider. If there is no market for your

business, you will not have any success with

it. So, make sure that the people in your area

will want to purchase the products or

services that you will offer them. This is a

very important part of having any sort of

success with a business - possibly the most

important in some cases, because it can

often determine the success or failure of a

business.

Another of the great business tips that you

can use is to always take advantage of the

Internet. Even if your business is not one

that would benefit in any way from a website,

it is a great idea to advertise on the Internet.

This can greatly expand your ability to get

customers. And what's even better - Internet

advertising is far more affordable than many

local newspapers. This is advantageous for

additional advertising at a great price, which

is especially great for young businesses that

don't have a lot of money to spend on

advertising.

If you have a successful small business,

then you will experience all of the great

advantages of it. But, you have to have a

successful small business in order for that to

happen. These small business tips will help

you make your business more successful so

that you will actually make money. Keep all of

these in mind when you buy a business or

when you start one of your own. They will be

helpful in both cases to get your business

established and help you actually make

money.

Analyzing Customers in

Your Business PlanThe Customer Analysis section of the business

plan assesses the customer segments that the

company serves. In it, the company must 1)

identify its target customers, 2) convey the needs

of these customers, and 3) show how its

products and services satisfy these needs.

The first step of the Customer Analysis is to

define exactly which customers the company is

serving. This requires specificity. It is not

adequate to say the company is targeting small

businesses, for example, because there are

several million of these types of customers.

Rather, the plan must identify precisely the

customers it is serving, such as small

businesses with 10 to 50 employees based in

large metropolitan cities on the West Coast.

Once the plan has clearly identified and defined

the company’s target customers, it is necessary

to explain the demographics of these customers.

Questions to be answered include: 1) how many

potential customers fit the given definition? is

this customer base growing or decreasing? 2)

what is the average revenues/income of these

customers? and 3) where are these customers

geographically based?

After explaining customer demographics, the

plan must detail the needs of these customers.

Conveying customer needs could take the form

of past actions (X% have purchased a similar

product in the past), future projections (when

interviewed, X% said that they would purchase

product/service Y) and/or implications (because

X% use a product/service which our product/

service enhances/replaces, then X% need our

product/service).

The business plan must also detail the drivers of

customer decision-making. Sample questions to

answer include: 1) Do customers find price to be

more important than the quality of the product

or service? and 2) are customers looking for the

highest level of reliability, or will they have their

own support and just seek a basic level of

service?

There is one last critical step in the Customer

Analysis -- showing an understanding of the

actual decision-making process. Examples of

questions to be answered here include: 1) will

the cus tomer consu l t o thers in the i r

organization/family before making a decision?,

2) will the customer seek multiple bids? and 3)

will the product/service require significant

operational changes (e.g., will the customer

have to invest time to learn new technologies?

will the product/service cause other members

within the organization to lose their jobs? etc.).

It is essential to truly understand customers to

develop a successful business and marketing

strategy. As such, sophisticated investors

require comprehensive profiles of a company’s

target customers. By spending the time to

research and analyze your target customers,

you will develop both enhance your business

strategy and funding success.

IMD 17

Angel Investors:7 Online Business Plan Scams

and 1 Real DealWe've all seen the hype: "We'll put your plan in front of thousands of investors!" "We'll write you an award-winning online business plan!" "Only $3,000 for thousands of investors to learn about your company!"

I cringe every time I see one of these ads. Vultures are preying on honest business people who want to fund their businesses. Here are some ways to spot them:

1. "Only qualified investors see your business plan." Yeah, sure. And

who "qualifies" them? Have a friend try to sign up as an investor (that

part is usually free). How is she "qualified"? Is there a background

check? Does she submit a financial statement? Odds are that she

will be asked to do nothing more than sign a statement that she has

a certain net worth. That's no "qualification" in my book. So who are

these "investors"? Who knows. One could be your strongest

competitor.

2. "You approve anyone who sees your business plan." Okay. So

what are you going to do to qualify the potential investor? Are you

going to run a background check? ask for ID? ask for tax returns? or

just be so happy that anyone wants to see your business plan that

you jump on the idea? (That's how these scams get away with

charging thousands of dollars -- too many entrepreneurs are

desperate for funding.)

3. "It's only $500 (or $300 or $100) to register." What does it matter if

it's free? If it is diverting your time and energy and resources away

from finding a viable investor, it's not worth it.

4. "Your idea is great, but we need to put it into our format. This will

only cost $800." Don't walk -- run from these guys.

5. "Your idea is so great that we want to invest $2,000 in it." (That's

after you spend $5,000 to put it into "their" system.) Do I really need

to comment on this?

6. "Talk with a satisfied customer, or 2 or 3." Here's this entrepreneur

who just got $2 million in funding, and he has nothing better to do

than sell the web scam to you? Trust me, entrepreneurs who just get

funded barely have time to eat, let alone talk.

7. "Look at all these written testimonials." This is harder to disprove

because the testimonials look so real -- even the companies might

be real. But unless the testimonials, and the companies, can be

verified independently, I wouldn't trust them. And I'll lay odds that

they cannot be verified independently.

There is one huge exception to this: ACE-Net (http://

activecapital.org). This is more properly the Access to

Capital Electronic Network run by venture capitalists,

institutional investors and individual accredited investors.

It was developed by the U.S. Small Business

Administration's Office of Advocacy to encourage the

creation of a national marketplace for investors to find

and invest in equity offers by small companies.

ACE-Net isn't for all companies. Those seeking under

$1 million will probably find the paperwork daunting.

Those seeking over $5 million won't qualify. There are

special qualifications, and of course lots of forms to fill

out -- but nothing like the forms required for a formal

initial public offering.

But for those who do qualify, it's an amazing tool in

raising financing. Spend some time with the website and

the forms, and see if your local SBA office can put you

in touch with another company that went through the

process.

As with any investor tool, don't rely exclusively on ACE-

Net. Use it in conjunction with your personally

developed targeted funding search. This, combined with

an exceptional business plan, doesn't guarantee

success but it places your company head and shoulders

above all the rest.

IMD 19

Are You Satisfied With Your Business Just As It Is?Did you know that satisfaction is the number one emotion

people want to experience about their life and business?

Yes, fame and fortune are up there, but satisfaction is

the key. Satisfaction is about contentment, gratitude and

pure joy. Are you satisfied with your business and your

life? If not, read on and see how you can transform your

life in the simplest method possible.

To be satisfied is to enjoy each step along the way, to

be able to integrate the practical with the fanciful, to

continually refine your dream or vision.

You need a vision for your business. You had it at least

once in your life, especially if you chose to go into

business for yourself. You may be making the money

that you want, have fame in your community, but still

are unhappy and wonder - "Is that all there is?"

If you are in any way unhappy or dissatisfied with your

life or your business, you need to re-ignite your original

vision or create a new one. But wait, you say, you already

have a business plan. Isn't that sufficient for your

business success?

Why Isn't a Business Plan Enough?

A business plan is for banks and credit institutions, but

outcomes are based more on desire than on business

plans. Vision with a Capital V is bigger than a business

plan. The difference is, if your vision is not articulated,

you cannot include it in your business plan.

Who Besides Me Benefits from My Business Vision?

Customers know when you have a clear, passionate

business vision. The benefits clients, customers and

vendors receive are a result of your clarity about the

dream of your business. The more you can relate your

vision to your family and community, the more you can

excite everyone. More excitement attracts the customer

of your dreams.

Lance Armstrong wanted to win the Tour de France. Once

he achieved this goal, his vision was to win more Tour de

France's than anyone. He did just that; he created a World

Record of six wins. What he also did benefited the country

of France, even though he is an American. France's

tourist dollars increased. American television advertising

grew as more people tuned into these races. Armstrong's

battle with cancer increased donations to the American

Cancer Society. Benefits abounded for anyone connected

to bicycle riding, including manufacturers and sports

clothing providers.

Do Independent Professionals and Micro Businesses Need

a Vision Too?

Definitely! Independent professionals and micro businesses

require the clarity of a vision. Martha Stewart started

small. She was a caterer after she completed her career

as a model. A product of her times, the 1950's, Martha's

first thought was to make a home look warm and inviting.

As a great cook, Martha created elegant, well-designed

meals and events. She had her vision for success.

When Martha Stewart dreamed well into the future, she

had a vision of a conglomerate business, with far-reaching

rewards. She created OmniMedia, with her own magazine,

television shows and products; all sold worldwide. From

small business visions, big business visions grow. Even in

prison, Martha continued to expand her Vision with a Capitol

V to include two new television reality shows. Martha

never stops expanding her Vision with a Capital V.

You now have the key to your business future, the joy that

can make your efforts worthwhile. You will also achieve

fame and fortune as an outcome, but satisfaction is the

key. Be satisfied with yourself. Create a Vision that helps

move you forward.

Enjoy yourself, your business and your life.

IMD 20

Use this comprehensive checklist to plan each step of your new business and transform your dream of entrepreneurship into reality. These steps may not necessarily be completed in the order listed; however, you can use them as a guideline for completing all of the necessary business startup tasks.

-Determine what kind of business you want to start.

- Learn about the industry for your business.

- Analyze the market for your business.

- Study your competition.

- Educate yourself on running a business.

- Join trade associations.

- Name your business.

- Perform a trademark search.

- Register a domain name.

- Design a website.

- Obtain a logo.

- Determine business structure (sole proprietor,

partnership, or corporation).

- Evaluate your personal budget.

- Write a business plan.

- Write a marketing plan.

- Locate financing.

- Create a list of start-up supplies with budget.

- Set up a system for accounting and payroll.

- Apply for business license, fed tax ID, fictitious

business name.

- Select a location and set up shop.

- Order signage.

-Obtain business tools (computer, printer, fax, postage,

office supplies, and fixtures).

- Order business stationery (business cards, letterhead,

brochures).

- Obtain inventory.

- Create an operations and employee manual.

- Hire employees.

- Set a launch date.

- Plan a grand opening event.

- Send announcements to everyone you know.

- Send press releases.

- Turn on the OPEN sign!

- Revisit your business plan and update often.

- Evaluate your marketing strategy often.

- Prepare a realistic business plan.

Do not expect to conquer the world with your first year's business returns. Starting a business is a life changing undertaking and one you must be patient with. The rewards are there, but make sure you set yourself achievable targets - when you reach them they will give you the confidence and satisfaction to set

new goals and to continue building your business' success.

Checklist for starting a business

FINANCE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS: SO MUCH MONEY – SO LITTLE TIME

$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4

million funded yesterday. $51.4 million funded the day

before.

These numbers are not made up. They are actual

numbers from actual reported venture capital funding. I

get these notices emailed to me day after day, rain or

shine.

I’m not personally looking for business financing – but

the entrepreneurs who read my website are. These

numbers are a constant reminder to me that companies

– lots of companies – are getting funded every day.

And these numbers just reflect the reported venture

capital funding. There is probably double that amount

from angel investment and unreported fundings, and

millions more from the $16 billion pool that SBA has this

year.

All in all, it’s a lot of money. That’s a lot of companies

and banks and groups and individuals actively investing

in small business.

So how come you’re still looking for financing?

Perhaps you aren’t presenting your company effectively.

Or perhaps you haven’t located the right lender.

It’s also possible that your concept just isn’t very good,

but I doubt that. The fact that you are reading this article

means you are a serious entrepreneur, with a serious

business.

So where do you go to find all these investors? Here are

some starting points:

For standard business financing, talk with the local office

of the Small Business Administration.

It’s a new agency, with new programs and services, and lots of money

to lend. Although much of the focus of the SBA is on minority

business enterprises, the SBA still has a lot to offer non-minority

companies.

Also talk with your local banks. (That was plural “banks”, not “bank”.)

Talking with a number of local bankers will rapidly bring into focus the

wide ranging priorities of the various banks, and where your company

fit in.

As for venture capital and angel investors, there are several options.

One option is to go to online sources. There are a number of online

services, such as VFinance, that sell the names and addresses of

possible investors. It’s not expensive, perhaps $2-5 per name. The

idea is that once you get the list of 200 or 2,000 names in hand that

you will contact each with a written executive summary or business

plan, and then wait to hear from one of them. This is a very passive

approach, roughly akin to throwing paint on the wall and hoping that

something will stick.

If you are like most entrepreneurs, patience is not your strong suit, so

sitting and waiting for a response is not quite your cup of tea.

Another option is to go to one of the many directories of venture

capital firms. These directories typically include addresses, phone

numbers and emails, along with the geographical areas of interest

and the types of investment that each is seeking. Most businesses

can narrow down their list of prospective investors to several hundred

venture capital firms this way. And again you are faced with the

prospect of sending out written material for each one, and waiting for

a response.

A third option is to take a more proactive approach. Identify your best

prospects yourself from a number of reliable sources. Get

introductions where possible. Learn everything you can about your

target investors, and then go after it. Typically a phone call is the first

contact, not an anonymous executive summary. Knowing that you are

calling your best prospects, you know too that they are open to

hearing from you. You have names, you have investment histories, you

have everything in hand to make a real connection with the target

investors. Then go do it.

IMD 22

Franchise Opportunities

Are Not Always As Good As

They SoundFranchise opportunities are out there and if you look, you’ll find more than you can count. In order to find out if a business franchise truly is an opportunity of a lifetime, there are a few points that you must evaluate.

Point 1: Market Trend Most franchise opportunities are based on current market trends. You will see a lot of franchises that promote the current size of the industry along with potential market. But just because it’s a large industry does not automatically guarantee opportunities for success. In cases like this, you should check with industry associations to determine two things. Firstly, the growth stage of the industry you are interested in, and secondly, whether or not that industry has experienced a positive growth over the last few years.

Point 2: Territory Coverage As you know, if a franchise decides to spread itself too thin, it won’t do well. Over saturation and rapid growth are not necessarily good things. Having a protected territory is important when you sign up for franchise opportunities. This is because being protected means that your competitors will remain outside the franchise company. So before you sign up with franchise businesses, check your contract and find out if you have first refusal rights if or when a franchise becomes available in your local market.

Point 3: Company Support

As you might have guessed, success comes with a

strong support network and good franchise

opportunities provide a full level of support. This is

to ensure higher success rates for your franchise

business. Support can come in terms of training,

marketing, management and even field support.

Signing up for a business franchise that does not

offer these things might have you running a

franchise without heads or tails. This in turn leads

to a low chance of success with your franchise.

Point 4: Exit Strategy

As with all contracts, they will not run indefinitely

so it’s important that you determine early on the

terms and costs to end your business franchise

contract. Before signing up for anything, find out

the franchise company’s expectations when it

comes to the renewing of the franchise contract in

the future.

Point 5: Franchise Business Plan

Franchises are considered great business

opportunities simply because they have a higher

success rate than regular start up businesses.

However this does not mean that a business plan

is not required. Having a franchise business plan

will be invaluable as it will help you understand

your franchise business better as well as the

market you are about to tap into.

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ALTERNATIVES TO CREDIT CARDS

Are you one of those people who only ever got a credit card for the convenience of being able to pay

without cash, or because you weren’t aware of any other easy way to borrow money? Millions of us

are, thanks to the unavoidable advertising of the credit card industry, and few people realise just how

many alternatives to credit cards there are. Let’s take a look at a few.

Debit Cards

Debit cards are often used in many

European countries, but are relatively

unheard of elsewhere. Basically, they’re

just like credit cards and are accepted

everywhere credit cards are accepted -

the only difference is that they take any

money you spend directly from your

bank account, instead of you getting a

bill at the end of the month. You should

be aware,though, that you aren’t as well-

protected from fraud with a debit card as

you would be with a credit card.

Pre-Paid Credit Cards

These are cards that work just like credit

cards, except that you can’t have a negative

balance - you have to put money on the

card before you can spend it. That means

that you ‘top-up’ the card, like you would a

mobile phone. This is good if you want to

know how much you’re spending, not to

mention that you can even give the cards to

children. They’re also safer than debit

cards, since someone who stole the card

could only spend whatever money was on it

at the time.

Real Loans

When you’re buying one big thing at a

fixed price (like a car), or you’re going to

spend all the money on one type of

thing (home improvements, for

example), it’s worth budgeting it all out

and going to a bank or another loan

company. They’ll be able to lend you the

money at a much better rate than a

credit card would, simply because they

know why you’re taking the loan and

can set regular monthly payments for

you to repay it.

Bank Overdrafts

A good bank overdraft, used together with a credit card, can be a far

better way of borrowing money than using a credit card. Your

overdraft limit is set by the bank according to how much you gets paid

into your account each month, and you don’t need to pay it off until

you want to.

Basically, it just gives your account the facility to go into minus

numbers, if you want it to. Many banks charge relatively high interest

rates for overdrafts, but rarely as high as a credit card - and they will

give much better rates for good customers.

Credit Unions

Credit unions are like banks, only more local. They are co-

operative, owned by their members and run by the community,

and are a great place to borrow money. This is because there

are limits in law on how much interest credit unions can charge,

and they don’t need to make a profit for owners or

shareholders, because they don’t have any. It’s well worth

checking if there’s one in your area.

IMD 25

100,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 30 DAYS?Two years ago, I sat in Joel Christopher's "Master List Builder

Seminar" listening to ideas on how to build my list faster. The

room was filled with seasoned on-line and off-line marketers. They

all told us that the money was in the list... something we all

knew intuitively.

People in the room shared just about every method imaginable

for building a list. They covered what worked, what didn't, and

what you definitely should not do. They shared their personal

experiences and the results of their latest list building tests.

A few of the speakers had tremendous impact on me. One was

Paul Myers, whom I previously knew primarily from on-line

discussion forums. I had also enjoyed several LONG phone calls

with him. The other speaker whose message intrigued me was

Frank Garon. Frank spoke of buying lists of new subscribers for

less than a penny a name. He spoke of something called

"co-registration."

Terry Dean also validated for me the impact writing good ezine

articles can have at that seminar.

Frank Garon REVEALED that he and other top marketers

regularly joined together and bought batches of tens of

thousands....

maybe 100,000 names. These names were gathered via on-line

forms

placed on high traffic websites. The forms offered more information

on the types of products and services that Frank and his friends

offered. The websites' visitors checked this box requesting more

information, and these names (along with datestamp, IP address

and other relevant information) was passed to the opt-in

name purchasers.

As I listened to this talk of building a list of 100,000 in a month

or less, I wondered, if it's so great, why isn't everyone doing

it? The answer that later became clear is that many of the top

marketers ARE doing it. It's not their only method of building

a list, but it's definitely one of their most profitable.

The next question that popped into my tiny mind was, "Are

these really subscribers or will I be accused of spamming if

I send emails to these people?" These people do actually opt-in

to receive more information about starting an on-line business.

They do physically check a box requesting more information

be sent to them. That does technically make them opt-ins.

Later, my coaches and mentors would share with me many

SECRETS. One was that when you have access to one of

these list, it's all about return on investment. We all know

that names purchased via co-opt systems are less responsive.

They are less responsive because the subscribers don't know

you - they don't have a relationship with you.

These mentors went on to share that there was a proper

way to legitimately turn these opt-in "LEADS" into

subscribers. The method is very simple. In your first,

and every email to them, you remind them that they

requested more information of this type through an on-line

form. It doesn't hurt to include the date, IP address and

email address they subscribed from. Then you go on to

share some fantastic information with them... maybe in

the form of your ezine. In every contact with these

purchased names you also include an easy method for

them to unsubscribe.

If you provide genuine value, over time, you will build a

relationship with many of these leads. Many will

unsubscribe, but again - the important metric is return on

investment. that's what you need to track. If you start out

with 100,000 names but 6 months later that list has

dwindled down to 10,000 or maybe even 1000, what is the

lifetime value of those list members remaining? That's

the question you need to ask. You answer that largely

based upon what you currently earn for each subscriber

on your list.

Another concept that sank into my head at Joel's

workshop was the concept of building sub-lists. These

are lists that are kept separated based upon the source.

This allows you to send emails/offers to your lists based

upon list demographics or how they were acquired.

I now have many sub-lists. These sub-lists are from

articles I written, teleseminars I conducted, interviews

I given, course I've authored, website forms, joint ventures,

and co-registration purchases. Each list is generally

set up as an autoresponder that I can send select messages

to. My autoresponder system allows me to send out an

unlimited number of both scheduled and unscheduled

messages.

The primary system I use cost me $19 per month for

an unlimited number of autoresponders with an unlimited

number of messages. I can pre-schedule message for

up to 24 months. This fantastic autoresponder deal is

available through http://ProfitAutomation.com

ProfitAutomation.com does have very strict policies on how

these autoresponders can be used to prevent spam accusation

problems! There is also a limit on the number of new names

you can import at a time. For that reason, I recommend that

when dealing with co-registration emails you use the

autoresponders at: http://Therealsecrets.com/co-reg/

I also recommend that with co-registration names you not

email to them too often. I send them a few emails, spaced

over several months. In those emails, I provide information

of genuine value... on the topic of building an on-line

business AND I invite them to join my regular ezine list. In

each email, I inform them of how and why they are getting

the email AND provide a convenient unsubscribe link.

Over the years, I've spent many thousands of dollars on

co-registration lists. The quality has varied. The best deal

I have discovered is through the "Nitro Guys." They can

deliver 100,000 names in 30 days. If you want less, they

have an "auto-ship plan" where they send you 25,000 names

a month. These names are in CVS format which mean you

can import them directly into many list management and

autoresponder systems. Some systems, including

ProfitAutomation.com, mentioned above, do limit the number

of names you can import at a time... so read the terms

of service before signing up.

1. Have daily goals.

Every day have a set of goals that bring you closer to your grand

goals. May be as a mobile marketer you want to dominate your

chosen niche of text message marketing. You will need to do

something daily that moves you closer.

A goal that is written down is better than one that is in your mind.

The mind thinks in pictures and when you write a goal down it

brings conviction as more senses are involved when writing.

Keep your goals simple, realistic and attainable. This will require

honest self-analysis that will help you estimate the time it takes to

complete a task and the resources you require to do it.

2. Start with the toughest task first.

When you start with the toughest tasks you defeat procrastination

and your day becomes a success. Small wins motivate you to

conquer others.

Tough is relative and what's tough to someone may be easy to

another. In addition, what is tough today may be easy 6 months

from today after you are used to doing it. However, I think you know

what is tough to you. To some people its writing articles, for others

it calling customers, yet for others it is doing workout.

3. Maximize your peak times.

You need to identify your peak productivity cycles and schedule

your most important tasks during this period. Minor tasks can be

performed during off-peak times.

You may find that writing a newsletter to your clients is the most

important task and that your peak time is morning 6:00 am to 9:00

am. What you need to do is write the newsletter during this period

when your mind is fresh and alert. From my past experience, I have

noticed that, most people's peak times are in the mornings.

Therefore it would be unwise to reply emails or update your

Facebook pages during your peak time if these are minor activities.

It would also be wrong for you to watch an in-depth CNN coverage

of an earthquake in Iran. This certainly can be done during off-

peak seasons.

4. Learn to work in solitude.

Productivity is highest during long uninterrupted blocks of time

working solo. Sometimes it is difficult to work in solitude especially

for mobile marketers who work from home surrounded with their

family members. However, success is about solving problems. And

you can solve this by either working late in the night or early in the

morning when everyone is asleep or locking yourself in a room for

minimum 60 minutes.

This is especially important when you are doing key tasks that

require concentration. Your clients will not understand that when

you were writing them your 2-year old son was pulling your

trousers and you failed change their names on the emails. Now

John is receiving an email meant for Elizabeth.

5. Identify milestones.

You need to have small and big milestones on your work. A small

milestone may be to write 1000 words. A big milestone may be to

write a 150,000-word eBook. To boost productivity have a

milestone that you work towards and you don't stop till you hit it.

Once you pass the milestone you can reward yourself with a cup of

coffee or a pat on your back.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6737422

5 Mobile Marketing Productivity Tips You Need To Know

Making more money does not

necessarily mean working more hours.

You can increase your output and so your

income by being more efficient. You can

raise your productivity and income by

being focused. In addition, you can form

good habits that automatically enhance

your productivity. Apart from those

factors, here are five specific tips you can

use to boost your productivity.

SOCIAL

MARKETING

JOBSSocial marketing jobs have become more popular in recent

years. The popularity of social media web sites have caused

businesses to include jobs in social media marketing.

Traditionally, jobs in marketing focused on print, television, and

radio ads. Marketing professionals used these mediums to

influence the buying behavior of targeted markets.

Corporations are discovering that social marketing is less

costly and quite effective. People tend to buy products based

on recommendations from friends and family. There is a trust

factor that plays heavily into the buying behavior of

consumers, so marketing professionals can target the captive

audience on the internet.

Studies show that people are spending more time online than

ever. There are billions of users on the internet, and this

number continues to grow every day, so the potential market is

enormous. In addition, many forums are developing around

certain interests, so this leads to a captive audience that is

interested in certain activities and products. This is the perfect

environment for a marketer. Jobs in marketing depend upon

the professionals being able to reach and influence their target

audience. The internet has made this easier in some ways.

Social marketing also includes brand and reputation

management. A company must pay close attention to what

consumers are saying about their products and services. One

person having a negative experience can negatively affect the

public perception of a product or service; thus, social media

professionals have a duty to effectively manage the brand of

their clients.

Also, social marketing provides an environment where

consumers can communicate with companies. This

communication line opens up a direct method of active

dialogue. Customers can critique products and services, and

the corporation can use this market research to improve their

products and services.

Fo r e x a m p l e , o n e c o m p a n y

recen t l y c hanged the i r l o go.

Consumer s we re vehemen t l y

opposed to the change, and

ultimately, the company changed

back to the old logo. Customers

were ve r y unha ppy w i th the

change, and this company realized

that they should have done more

market research before making a

change of this nature.

This type of social interaction

b e t w e e n c o n s u m e r s a n d

companies is impor tan t . The

internet is a excellent way to

ex c h a n g e l a r g e a m o u n t s o f

i n f o r m a t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y .

Information can reach people

around the world within a few

seconds. This type of marketing is

cost efficient, and marketers are

able to track the effectiveness of

their marketing campaigns. They

can see the direct effect that a

social marketing campaign has on

the sales of a product or service.

Also, a campaign can be adjusted

quickly if it is not effective.

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