Credit Cards: The Perfect Pyramid Scheme and Legal

Credit Cards: The Perfect Pyramid Scheme and Legal

So, are you using a credit-card to fund your home business opportunity or entrepreneurial venture? I am and millions of other serious-minded entrepreneurs; likewise, use this lifeline of credit to fulfill the dream of financial independence.  Unfortunately, credit-cards are like marriage, both are institutions endorsed by government because once you sign the contract getting out will cost you more than what you invested in the first place.  Think about when you said, “I, do” then, you have agreed to sharing your debt and/or wealth with another individual and the cost of dissolving the partnership will often involve 50% forfeiture of current and future assets (bye-bye 401K).  Now, credit-cards and their interests rates on average are 20% of your existing balance (make sure your debt is low).  Seems that borrowing the capital to fund the enterprise is more expensive than the actual operational costs but, that’s the economic reality. 

Funny, how the concept of Free Market Economics in the bedroom and kitchen can frequently resemble a criminal enterprise involving extortion and being made an offer you cannot refuse if, you value your health, wealth and personal freedom.  Hey, credit is part of all westernized economies, while fewer and fewer people make purchases using raw fiat currency.  In fact, you get scrutinized when you insist on paying cash and have no history of credit which puts you on the radar of Homeland Security or some other intelligence agency.  It’s no accident that credit-cards, bank debit cards or plastic are the standard method of payment, because paying cash or by cheque forces us to live within our means.  Businesses cannot profit by people who are disciplined shoppers; hence, no financial education in our schools because they want the kids to be as reckless as their parents who are currently in debt from spending (yes, this includes me).  Credit-cards are the middle-class version of welfare and like the poor, both credit-card companies and government cannot afford to allow their respective audiences to be educated consumers that use their product in a responsible manner that results in short-term use.                  

I am addressing this issue because a mentor of mine Jeffrey Combs of Goldenmastermind.com once said; “credit card companies are brilliant because they get people to pay interest on money that doesn’t exist”.  In essence, people are paying legal tender to access a line of credit that they don’t see, can’t smell nor touch.  Additionally, countless new transaction fees are implemented by credit-card companies and approved by government finance committee members because, “you NEVER bite the hand that gives you a bribe, I mean a financial contribution, I mean political donation and then, after your political career seek employment from the same industry you were regulating  as government official because their salary is higher and you as former regulator know how to circumvent that laws that are designed to protect the consumer”.   

Now, the concept is brilliant from a business/entrepreneurial perspective because when a product/service is intangible; yet, millions of people want it then, a collective sense of trust in the product has been established (at least in the past, but may be not today).  Well, credit-cards are no longer perceived as a positive but, more of a necessary evil; yeah, like marriage.  Oh yes, if, you tie the NOOSE, her debt will become yours so be careful.  Oh yes, learn about the danger of “compound” interest with credit cards because it exposes the true quasi-criminality of credit.

Now, if the credit card companies were prohibited by law from charging ridiculous interest rates to the loans of their millions of customers then, the national problem of credit-card debt would be significantly reduced.  Unfortunately, government and business have a relationship where “business lobbyist write legislation that is supposed to regulate the conduct of the same industry they represent”, yes a clear conflict of interest …forgive the pun but, business is business.  Now, in 2008, the US Mortgage and Financial Industries prompted by previous federal administration to extended home loans (line of credit) to people, who didn’t meet the financial litmus test and in reality couldn’t afford the monthly payments resulting in most defaulting. 

Hence, this Pyramid Scheme collapsed because no revenue was coming in and no interest could be charged so as to generate profit for the companies.  Basically, the gamble that people with marginal credit histories could pay their monthly bills plus interest proved to be wrong.  In retrospect the idea was poorly conceived but, when you make deals with politicians for special business privileges who are also, fighting for re-relation then, you sometimes are forced to offer loans to people who are on default.  Additionally, taxpayers always end up paying through a government bailout (you know, too big to fail) or increased fees passed on to them.  It’s safe to say much of Corporate America functions like a pyramid scheme with respect to unethical business practices and government regulations that in truth, fail to correct conduct the average individual would suffer criminal and/or civil sanctions but, “you get as much justice as you can afford”.  Needless to say, financial criminality remains more of a regulatory issue than criminal.      

“The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 or Credit CARD Act of 2009 was signed by President Barack Obama on May 22, 2009”. “It is comprehensive credit card reform legislation that aims "...to establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan, and for other purposes."^[1]

One of the critical reforms (lol) absent from The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Right was any provision for price controls.  So, the most important feature of credit card reform is absent and consumers continue to complain and pay exorbitant fees they were complaining about in the first place.  We shouldn’t be surprised because a common practice for committee members who regulate industries involves them seeking employment at the same companies they once regulated after their political term expires.  Again, conflict of interests is like a bloody virus that gets worse.    

Long-term consumer activist Ralph Nader has spoken, lectured and testified countless times about the unholy and corrupt relationship between credit card companies and government at the annual meeting at Center for the Study of Consumer Financial Services (CSCFS).  Mr. Nader spoke about his experience not having any credit-cards and provided the following 10 reasons why he refuses to allow corporation to stop him from using legal tender:

·         Plastic lays the groundwork for massive, daily invasions of privacy

·         Once you enter the credit economy you fall under the controls of arbitrary credit rating and credit scoring merchants

·         The credit card economy, with its anti-competitive no-surcharge rules, etc. is inflationary and affects negatively consumer purchasing power as well as lower savings rates

·         Credit cards encourage impulse buying

·         Credit card terms…You sign on the dotted line, shut up and shop

·         Using cash/check encourages consumers to live within their means and not get caught in an ever deeper cycle of debt

·         Paying by cash/check avoids the gouging of fees, penalties, termination charges, and of course, sky-high interest rates for consumers

·         Paying by cash/check….it prevents the addition of any fraudulent charges to the bill.

·         Paying by cash/check avoids having to give away your personal property to the likes of internet companies

·         Credit card issuers often approve consumers for credit cards with maximum spending limits that are too high considering their salary or lack thereof

It would appear that Ralph Nader recognized long ago the culture of failure and economic control credit-card companies attempted and successfully continue to impose on the mases through daily financial commerce via plastic. Unfortunately, the situation continues to get worse not only with crerdit-cards but, with proposed laws like “Trade Secrets Protection Directive”, that serves to increase the secrecy of corporate criminality.    

Vaurn James

Contributor

Inbound Marketing: How to Connect with Millennials

Inbound Marketing: How to Connect with Millennials


“So, Content is King but, millennials demand superior content quality for their money” …. Vaurn James

So, do you smell the money and if not then, your olfactory senses require immediate medical intervention because “there are currently 80 million millennials in the U.S., and with an annual buying power of 200 billion, they are the most lucrative segment of the us market”.  Clearly, it’s in the interest of both marketers and corporations to better understand this audience so as to provide them value rich content, while addressing their interests, needs, wants and problems for this segment of the population between 18-34 years old.  So, how do you go about understanding the behavior of Generation Y in the digital age and build a trusting relationship where commerce results in a WIN-WIN for all involved?  Truth be told, I had no bloody idea and that’s why I deferred to Google, Hubspot, Markethive, life experience, millennials, marketers and pure guesswork.  It’s like being a parent but, you still don’t understand the kid because your knowledge and experience are both inadequate so you seek help.  Hence, I sought professional expertise in the arena of what is called Inbound Marketing to millennials and learned much about this new generation of consumers.  To connect involves understand how they behave and think. 

According to the experts creating a Buyer Persona is the best approach to connecting with this desired target market.  Now, a buyer persona is a multi-dimensional profile that identifies the way your ideal consumer thinks, feels, motivations and problems, that you will resolve by providing a solution.  Remember, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them…Albert Einstein”.  The more detailed the profile the greater the odds of success increases.  Think of today’s inbound marketing specialists as behavioral analysts or more commonly known as profilers who analyze significant sums of data detailing past sales patterns and contact databases (surveys, interviews, etc) to uncover trends about how certain leads or customers find and consume your content.  It’s all psychology; therefore, to better influence anyone then, it starts with understanding their behavior through how they think.  Without a doubt critical thinking, research and posing the right questions are key factors in the assessment process that helps create an evaluation narrative of your ideal buyer persona.

This is especially true when dealing with millennials because they are highly educated but, also technologically dependent and use social media as a daily interface with other millennials to interact with each other, while developing their own individual identity through the use of technology.  Today’s corporations still continue to struggle to connect with flavor of the month demographic because they are very frugal and skeptical because of how business is conducted in such a mercenary manner.  In today’s economy millennials have little expectation of long-term employment with the same company; hence, they have no loyalty to brands that have not been approved by fellow millennials which creates the challenge of gaining them as long-term customers.  As a growing and powerful segment of the economy millennials demand what they want and can leverage by using the digital tools that have become part of their daily routine.   

Now, interruption or outbound marketing tactics appear to be no longer effective because the approach isn’t permission based.  Traditionally, marketing involved the following methods: buying TV ads, flyers, popup ads, radio ads, mass emails and other intrusive methods that try to interrupt an individual’s daily routine to buy.  Clearly, a permission-based method of marketing where attention of your audience is earned increases the chances of successful sale.  Since, millennials were raised in the digital-age with new technology available to them and increasing in sophistication their attention is often restricted to products and services that they and peers identify with.  Old school marketing tactics are less effective and this is why inbound marketing that focuses on the interests of their audience functions as superior approach in developing a long-term trusting relationship.  Nobody will buy if, they don’t trust you nor your company.

So, are you engaging in direct advertising or educational marketing where an informed decision can be made regarding potential purchase?  If, it’s the former then, your content is wasted because purchases in today’s economy often go through a vetting process by consumers via YouTube, blogs, snapchat and other social media devices where people express their likes or dislikes of a product.  Want people back at your website for purchase then, content must show the benefits; otherwise, the miserly millennials will keep their shekels in their pouch.

“In a nutshell, inbound marketing is about making meaningful relationships with consumers via the internet, primarily through content. It’s about creating and sharing content that your audience seeks. It’s about positioning your brand as a thought leader that can be trusted”.  “In addition, inbound marketing will help you to create opportunities for participation and interaction—through likes, comments, and shares, your audience can better connect with your brand on social media, through your blog, and through other means”.

Vaurn James
Contributor

Millionaire Mindset: The Way You Think, Wealth or Poverty.

“Today, you have the opportunity to transcend from a disempowered mindset of existence to an empowered reality of purpose-driven living. Today is a new day that has been handed to you for shaping. You have the tools, now get out there and create a masterpiece.”
― Steve Maraboli, The Power of One

Being a successful entrepreneur is one of your goals; however, before it can be achieved belief in your success begins 6-inches between your ears; otherwise, a few defeats will yield a self-defeating mentality and confirm your inevitable arrival in the MLM Cemetery.  In essence, “The Way You Think” is critical to your ability to generate consistent, predictable and long-term residual income.  More Importantly, your mindset is core to the life you ultimately build and this means no excuses because the outcome is put squarely in your hands so, what do you do now?

Now, winners who think positively and achieve their goals, possess or develop what is commonly known as a Champion or Millionaire Mindset.  Now what role does a Millionaire Mindset play in entrepreneurship, business, home business or life?  Millionaire Mindset is “a way of thinking and acting that invites and maintains an overflow of abundance; a special way of relating to money in a way that attracts it to you”.  I highly recommend the book, Money Is My Friend by Phil Lant.  Yes, people obsess about money but, it’s only a tool and it’s about thought.  So, how does one develop a Millionaire Mindset?  SOLUTION is quite simple and that involves being trained by a multi-millionaire, who believes in success development. 

Okay, don’t have access to your local multi-millionaire then, follow a skill-model who has proven or demonstrated daily habits he/she are on the road to prosperity.  When you think like a winner and execute habits that ensure future success then, the outcome is predictable because you think the way you feel.  So, it’s safe to say, that entrepreneurs and/or successful businessmen like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and countless others don’t embrace self-limiting belief practices nor engage in conduct that would reinforce a destructive mindset that is repeated by the working poor and middle-class on a daily basis (consistently having more bills at the end of the month than money or living pay cheque to pay cheque).  When you set limits to your potential then, “you’re just another ham and egger”…..Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

Millionaire Mindset is critical not just to the average Joe and Jane but, especially to business as indicated by the 50% failure rate within the first 5-years of existence.  Believe it or not many CEO’s contribute to the failure of their company due to their resistance to better innovation processes that would enhance the production, efficiency and quality, while driving down costs of a product or service.  Seems anti-capitalist but, this is certainly true in technology/Internet based companies. 

Unfortunately, political correctness or just plain FEAR has negatively impacted the greater society and businesses/entrepreneurs are not exempt.  It seems Economic Darwinism will identify the winners and losers in the greatest sport in the World known as business.  Those who make the necessary adjustment in relations to changing market conditions (Inbound Marketing) and more importantly, satisfying their customers increase their odds of success, while those entrenched in old methods of production (Outbound Marketing) despite a changing market and fail to listen will eventually, become another stat.  Keep an open mind or suffer the consequences.              

As consumers become more sophisticated business owners have become or forced to recognise they must cater to the interests of their target market.  This is why Inbound Marketing is rapidly becoming the norm because it’s about connecting with the internal needs of the customer by bringing value and earning the right to occupy their time.  So, are you embracing and internalising inbound marketing in your daily interactions or you more the outbound marketer where it’s more superficial and no real work on the inside?  This question is critical because it circle backs to the way wealthy people think versus those who are working-poor or middle class.  Want real success in anything then, it starts working on the internal you and this is why Inbound Marketing must become your standard method of thinking and execution in business.  Below, I have provided a few examples of how the wealthy are Inbound Thinkers and the related benefits.    
      
The Millionaire Mindset: 6 Mistakes The Rich Never Make:

• It’s a Matter of Control, "The primary difference between the wealthy and the rest of us is that they're in control of their money -- they don't let money control them," says Jaime Tardy, a business coach and author of "The Eventual Millionaire," who has interviewed more than 150 millionaires on how they accumulated their wealth.  “If you approach your finances from a place of fear or ignorance, you'll be like a boat floating around the ocean without a motor."
• You Refuse to Face Facts, in the immortal words of Foghorn-Leghorn, “figures, don’t lie” and the wealthy know this as gospel, which explains why they invest the time in learning and scrutinizing their financial portfolio.  The attitude is that every financial transaction needs to be recorded and determined by its financial implication.
  You Overspend, credit card debt epitomizes the bad habit of over spending on products/services you cannot afford.  "Millionaires aren't out there buying Lamborghinis," Tardy says. "They make purchasing decisions based on their current financial status and their goals. They're rich because they're good at keeping money - not spending it.
  You Neglect to Adjust Your Finances Following a Big Life Event, when you tie the noose (get married) or suffer the death of a parent then, your finances will be impacted.  "Successful people understand that every transition you go through has a financial implication - and they make sure to build a plan for those turning points," says Pete Bush, a certified financial planner with Horizon Wealth Management in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
  You Waste Cash on Fees, late fees, service fees and miscellaneous costs that can be avoided if, you are diligent in maintaining your bills. 
  You Focus on Saving More -- But Not Earning More, Millionaires aren't in the business of wasting money, but they also recognize the greater importance of earning additional income as a way to attain financial goals faster. "[Wealthy people] understand that while there is a limit on how much you can save, there is no limit to how much you can make," Tardy says.          
  You Obsess Over Price- -- and Sacrifice Value, "Wealthy people understand that the cheapest route isn't always the most valuable," Bush says. "They are able to take the long view and consider how what they pay today compares with the worth over time."
  I invite you to examine our information.  After all, true Economic Independence begins with a MINDSET that embraces and most importantly, believes in Personal Development and avoids Governmental Dependence because it OFTEN limits Growth.
  Vaurn James
  Contributor
  
  

Your Business is Marketing and Not Sales: What... Impossible?

Your Business is Marketing and Not Sales: What… Impossible?

Sales is the highest paid and World’s Oldest Profession, contrary to popular opinion.  Any challenge is foolhardy because selling is the conclusion of any and all transactions between individuals involving product/services.  However, the conduit is really Marketing.  Now, what kind of IDIOCY is this being presented as Truth?  After all, isn’t all the about the Benjamins Lebowski, Cash is King and it's all about the lettuce; otherwise, why are you in business?  You don't want to be operating a Non-Profit Agency which 95% of marketers are actually operating which isn’t too encouraging.  So, what kind of marketing are you conducting and how effective is it?  It’s a critical question because different methods will yield different results at different times based on your audience’s interests.  Marketers and the industry have become more competitive and sophisticated due to increased demands by consumers.  In fact, to be effective they must function both like an economist and detective addressing what I call the W5s of a campaign (Who, What, When, Where & Why); otherwise, they will not see the pay-window.       

Now, before the core question can be answered let’s briefly examine the issue of Sales and its role in business.  Let’s look at a basic definition before we continue, “sales are sales, it’s converting any inquiry or lead into a contract or shipment”, while “marketing is not advertising.  Marketing is finding out what people want, why they want it and how much they’ll spend.  Don’t confuse marketing with advertising”.  Now, we got all the formalities out of the way, time to get to the real meat of this article.  Safe to say, sales are the final stage of the transaction but, why is the sale considered to be so important?  What was the process that motivated the buyer to complete the transaction?  There exist multiple stages involved between the start and finish and this is the sales process.  Basically, the sales process can be reduced to the following: Prospect, Connect, Research, Present and Close; however, a more in depth definition is best described by Mark Roberge at Hubspot.           

Well, it's hard to believe but, there exists an old term that holds TRUE and more importantly, an accurate measure of your ability to close a sale.  Have you heard the expression, “It’s all in the Presentation” or “you get once chance to make a first impression”?  Think about it, how do you make sales?  The process is SIMPLE (kind of); however, the execution often requires more skill to attain success.  Now, part of selling involves advertising, “promotion of a product, service or company. It features a strong call to action and promotes the benefits of that being advertised”.

The other component of the sales process involves connecting through various methods of communication featuring your product/service.  Let’s examine some of the methods of connection: e-zine marketing, email marketing, cold-calling, videos, live webcasts, blogs, banners, online ads, search engine marketing, social networking, podcasting, twitter and mobile content, all are established methods of online marketing designed to connect with a desired target market. Again, how do you make SALES with these different methods of connecting with the masses?  Putting your product/service in front of as many eyeballs as possible with the aforementioned methods.  Seems simple but, never forget about quality content.  Sales are made based on perceived value; therefore, the most effective way of converting a prospect into a long-term customer is by educating them, addressing their interests and demonstrating how a particular product/service can render a solution to a particular problem/challenge.  Think about it, no hard-sell nor the usual rubbish by fast-talking snake-oil salesmen.

Now, back to the important question of what kind of marketing are you executing (Freebie Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing, Close Range Marketing, etc.,) and why? The essence of the question boils down to what is called customer segmentation or segmenting customers into smaller groups to better understand their wants, needs, interests and other factors so as to provide relevant content.   Makes sense and this is why Inbound Marketing increasingly has become the standard form of marketing.

Firstly, what is Inbound Marketing and how does it work?  “Inbound marketing refers to activities (blogs, podcasts, eBooks, SEO, physical products, newsletters, whitepapers, social medial marketing and other forms of content marketing) that bring visitors in, rather than marketers having to go out to get prospects' attention”.  “Inbound marketing earns the attention of customers”.  

One primary goals behind marketing is to develop a business relationship where TRUST is established and maintained for the long-term.... similar to Marriage (lol!!!!).  Like Marriage it's not 50/50 but, 100/100 but, you are responsible for your own actions within that relationship.
When you think about that bloody insane Institution called Marriage, it's a business involving two Individuals who both marketed and sold themselves to each other and the confirmation of the Sale was “Marriage” or as I affectionately say, “Tying the Old Noose...I mean Knot”.  Like any successful relationship TRUST is vital; otherwise, no consummation of the transaction.  All transactions (monetary, personal, etc.,) involve commerce and marketing is the conduit that facilitates the process. Well, allow me now to demonstrate the benefits of Inbound marketing.

  6 Inbound Marketing Techniques Every Business Should Use

Give Away A Free Guide That’s Directly related To Your Business, what better resource can you create than a Guide that provides relevant information about the value and benefits provided by the product/services you make available to the masses.

Pick One or Two Keywords, And Optimise The Heck Out of Them, want leads and traffic then, the solution is to focus on a few keywords that are valuable, and create specific pages on your website that are for those keywords specifically.

Build Your Personal Brand, your business is a reflection of yourself, Entrepreneurs like Jayson DeMers, Joel Gascoigne, and Hiten Shah are examples of people building businesses by means of building their personal brand. If you start a business, it’s virtually impossible to separate yourself from that business. It only makes sense to use your personal brand to build that business. Many brands such as Tim Ferriss’s and Ramit Sethi’s depend almost exclusively on the power of their personal brand.

Ask and Answer Questions On Social Media, engage subscribers in social media sites and provide solutions, tips, suggestions to those who would benefit from your knowledge and expertise.  When you increase your presence and value online then, the benefits are soon to be received.

Create Am Email Pop, use the popups in your business to build the email list for obvious reasons.

Guest Blog, “Guest blogging is, indeed, one of the powerful ways of building strong, high-quality relationships that may help you in multiple ways, including developing business opportunities and professional connections, setting brand value and, of course, acquisition of link juice.” — Moosa Hemani, Moz

Vaurn James
Contributor

Inbound Marketing: The New Personal Development for Entrepreneurs

Inbound Marketing: The New Personal Development for Entrepreneurs




The late business philosopher Jim Rohn, famously said, “you get paid for the value you bring to the marketplace and not the time you spend in it”.  In other words, “make yourself more valuable to the marketplace” and you do that by working harder on improving yourself than you do working on the job”.  Working hard on the job is admirable; however, “working a job can make you a living but, working harder on yourself will make you a fortune”. “This is why personal development plays a vital role in your success as indicated by the fact, it is a lifelong process. It's a way for people to assess their skills and qualities, consider their aims in life and set goals in order to realise and maximise their potential”.  In life you are on a timeline to accomplish certain goals and tasks; otherwise, you are guilty of a wasted life.  Clearly, nothing to be proud nor brag about.

As an entrepreneur/marketer you are constantly working on improving yourself to better your skills and abilities to attract new customers and more importantly, bring value to both them and the marketplace.  This is why Inbound Marketing is the logical extension of the process of becoming a better and improved marketer. Just as it says, “inbound marketing”, which refers to “marketing activities that bring visitors in rather than marketers having to go out to get prospect’s attention”.

So, you want to become a better and constantly improving marketer then, Inbound Marketing is the perfect solution for you.  Like anything in life success starts with identifying and correcting personal deficits and then, developing, implementing and executing the needed skills and/or abilities to overcome the challenges that lead to your placement as a dead dealer in the MLM Cemetery.  Clearly, you don’t get paid, if your marketing skills are as effective as watching paint dry.  Now, the Free Market determines the value you bring regardless of who you are and based more on what you have become.  In fact, being highly educated as indicated by having a PH.D., doesn't a gaurantee a high paying salary. Remember America and other Westernised nations are capitalists and payment is based on value and not necessarily on the number of certifications you achieved.  Yes, the P.H.D., in English and Bachelors in IT are both examples of education but, which one has greater potential for future business success?  Think like an investor and do your research to determine the best return on your time, money and other resources for your benefit and that of your customers.  This is what inbound marketing is about. 

Now, marketing is basically about promoting and selling the value of product and/or service to a desired target market.  So, different people have different personalities and an effective marketer must constantly master and improve his/her skill set to put money into his/her pocket.  When you think about master marketers like: Mark Victor Hansen, Cory Rudl, Frank Kern, Mary Kay Ash, Steve Jobs and many others, they all worked on themselves incessantly to become the perfect ambassador of their product/service.  It was clear the aforementioned entrepreneurs trusted no one else but, themselves to represent their product.  So, are you the best representative of your product/service? If yes, why and if not, why not?  Want as many eyeballs on your product/service then, earn the right to occupy your customer’s time.

Effective marketers are not one trick pony, today's customers are highly intelligent and have already researched the product/service they desire and closing the deal means being customer-centered.  Just, ask any lady of easy virtue (yeah, I mean a prostitute) because they are masters of inbound marketing and personal development when you consider the skill set needed to draw in customers who are willing to pay for what they perceive to be value.  Consider the fact, “inbound marketing earns the attention of customers, makes the company easy to be found and draws customers to the website by producing interesting content”.  Now, you heard of Bill Gate’s famous quote, Content is King; however, quality content is what sells because it provides a solution to a problem.  How much money will companies spend on content that solves a problem versus content that is interesting but, fails to stop the financial hemorrhaging of compnay funds?  Indeed, personal development is the seed for effective marketing; otherwise, like an outbound marketer who used old school methods (purchasing leads, safelists, buying ads, etc.,) will generate zero leads and income because the methodology is commensurate to a bloody telemarketer, who provides content that isn’t in alignment with the interest nor needs of their target market.  So, much for getting payed, being hired for future jobs and never-mind your professional reputation.

Time to transform your marketing and for today’s current successful marketers the trend began in 2006, when Inbound Marketing, became the proven method most effective for conducting business online.  “By aligning your content with your customer’s interests, you naturally attract inbound traffic that you can then, convert, close and delight”.  

 
Let’s examine the four actions needed to be successful in becoming a master of Inbound Marketing:

 Attract, it’s about traffic and the right kind of traffic that can be drawn to content that creates mutual benefit.
Convert, turning your potential customer into a lead is the goal and offering them something of value will be key to your success.
Close, the process of the sale being achieved in a mutually exclusive manner benefitting all parties involved.
Delight, it’s about being customer-centered regardless of the stage of your users because it’s about providing them quality content.
To better understand and visualize the complete Inbound Marketing methodology please examine Hubspot.

Content creation or more accurately, quality content is the gospel for effective online marketing because effective communication with today's customers requires engagement with quality not quantity.  If, you want success in this relatively new method marketing then, recognise that "poor thinking habits keep you poor" and you need to "stand guard at the door of your mind".
Lastly, the professionals who engage in creating quality content often share about their favoriate content marketing tools that make their task so much easier and I also, have taken the liberty of sharing that information with my fellow marketers as indciated by the following:

Ubersuggest, a keyword suggestion software program

Audacity, a free open source multilingual audio editor and recorder software program.

Zemanta, a content creation platform with multiple apps and tools for your blogging enjoyment

SocialMention, is social analysis platform that enables you to learn what others say about a company and it's brand

Social Search Engine Topsy, this tool indexes every keyword and phrase within the soscial web in real time

Canva, a free image editing priogram that makes manipulation and edting of your images easy

PicMonkey, another image editing program but easier and with more font features

Screen Capture By Google, there are a ton of screen capture tools out there, but I like the simplicity of Google’s Screen Capture plug-in for Chrome… possibly because I’m a Chrome junkie, so it’s always right there when I need it. You can capture selections, visible content, or the entire page and choose JPEG or PNG output.
Another tool I’ve used in the past that worked well is Jing, which allows you to markup your screenshots and also records to video. Snagit is a premium option from the same developers, with far greater capabilities and a pricetag of $49.95 (if you’re looking for a more versatile screen capture tool).

Vaurn James
Contributor