~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SuccessRoute.biz's Home Business Report
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Publisher: Vaurn James
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New Tennessee state legislator credits Hooters with providing what she needed for victory. America take note!
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
It doesn't take a Harvard Ph.D. to figure out that we in America have a leadership void. We need real leaders and we need them -- yesterday.
After a long and thorough search I am ready to unveil to my readers, the most discerning folks in the universe, exactly where such leaders are being crafted, one tight t-shirt at a time.
The answer is Hooters... the restaurant noted for its mediocre burgers and chicken wings and, notoriously, for the comely waitresses whose manifest charms are designed to keep the customers' eyes on something other than what emerges from the kitchen.
As all restaurant owners know (particularly after the nation's business killing recession so recently over), you need a gimmick to expedite success and maintain your advantage in this ultra competitive industry.
Hooters, founded in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida, made the decision right from the get-go about how they'd get customers -- and keep them. Their candid motto is "delightfully tacky yet unrefined", and they live down to it every single day.
What they're really selling is not of the burger variety. The essence of their success goes back to Eve and her machinations in the Garden of Eden. A well-configured person of the female variety is what keeps customers (overwhelmingly male of course) happy from the first minute... and happy every single time they return. Their lubricious thoughts are not only tolerated.... but encouraged by the practised Hooters Girls who, with a wink and timely nudge, know how to keep the boys happy, even if they're 85.
Hooters Girls have unmistakable charms... and the ability, perfected by the restaurant, to package them to jaw-dropping perfection. Unlike more prosaic eateries, at Hooters, should the cuisine disappoint, one can always derive the benefits from oggling invited... and encouraged. Hooters is a very friendly place. And, as it turns out, very educational, too.
With the company's generous approval, ex-Hooters Girl Julia Hurley, reports in the February 2011 issue of the company's magazine, how what she learned at Hooters was vital to her election to the Tennessee General Assembly last November. There, at age 29, she now represents as a Republican a conservative district west of Knoxville.
Julia's constituents are of the America loving, gun toting, Bible quoting, gay baiting, tax-paying variety, the very core of the nation. As such they were enchanted (particularly the men folk) by what they saw in Julia... and were glad to learn how thoroughly she had taken the Hooters' curriculum to heart. Incumbent Democratic representative Dennis Ferguson never had a chance, although (it is thought) his worldly advisors (when things looked grim) suggested Chippendale attire and beef cake. Foolishly Ferguson declined.
We thought, but were obviously misinformed, the Hooters Girls were selected primarily for the physical qualities a beneficent God gave 'em... but we were wrong. Hooters Girls, says one who knows, are there to learn the essential skills of leadership, skills so desperately needed by the nation. Their bodies, young, firm, eye-catchingly displayed in the skin-tight Hooters apparel, are not, we are glad to learn, the focus of the establishment. No, we have come, red-blooded males all in a pother, to see America's finest young ladies learn the skills with which they will solve all of America's problems, one satisfied citizen at a time, without a penny of extra task.
Sadly, these skills were viciously attacked by ex-Representative Ferguson's supporters during Julia's successful campaign. That woman, they fulminated, had posed in provocative photographs, photographs designed to inflame the blood and seduce the innocent.
Not so, said Julia. Her experiences at Hooters taught her how to present products to best effect. She obviously did so; her modeling photographs, for instance, are stunning, artful, revealing Julia's true self. Why should the lady be penalized for perfection? Male constituents particularly nodded their heads in agreement, as she said so.
Well, then, said certain sanctimonious, censorious inhabitants of the Knoxville area, riddle me this: how can we elect as our bona fide representative a woman who, more outrageous than the wicked and seductive Biblical Jezebel herself (Kings 2, beginning verse 16), has flaunted, in a state of provocative undress?
Outrageous, untruthful charge, responded Julia. I was merely using my Hooters education to best advantage. The public demands in these skeptical days full disclosure... and I have given it to them, thank you very much Hooters and your wise teachings.
To be sure, Julia brought more than her Hooters experience to the voters. But even here she credits Hooters. They encouraged her, with her winning ways and proven abilities with people, to reach out to the community. So, she augmented her undeniable Hooters connections by joining the Southern Baptist congregation and the Gun Owners of America. Wise recommendations.
Dennis Ferguson never had a chance, which of course is the point of the "take no prisoner's" Hooters curriculum which stresses winning over everything. It is the Hooters way which is why the company has chosen the owl as its apt symbol. For the owl is the symbol of the Greek Goddess Athena, a deity of war and of wisdom. The Hooters Girls all wear it proudly and can, as yet another accomplishment, mimic the "hooting" sounds of their emblem. It is for these, and nothing else, that the company is named. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Representative Hurley is by no means the only ex-Hooters Girl who has made better. The company's magazine regularly features other such paragons, the bikinis and other skimpy attire being entirely incidental to their success.
Now that Hooters has this success formula down pat, it has gone worldwide with a will. There are fully 460 Hooters restaurants throughout the U.S. of A, in 44 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and even Guam. In addition, Hooters operate restaurants in 27 other companies, having gone international with Singapore.
This is welcome news to those of us who, despairing of the curriculum in the public schools and its manifest inadequacies, now see in Hooters the necessary regeneration. And not a moment too soon. What Hooters teaches, clearly works.
What's more the price is right. For a tiny fraction of what we burdened taxpayers have to cough up in support of local schools, Hooters can already do and better, achieving much simply by taking off more. I like it. It's simple and effective. Yes, indeed, it has legs, though I would hesitate to say so before these blushing, dainty little ladies, those Hooters Girls.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books.
Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
Your comments are appreciated and encouraged
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2010 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Four things successful business people will do today... that you won't!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
February 7, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Success begins in the MIND and executed through consistent
ACTION. Are you comfortable with being average or do you
seek to be exceptional by taking action that ensures success?
If,yes, then, review this article that teaches those who refuse
Mediocrity as acceptable.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Friend, let's get one thing straight from the get-go. Successful people are going to do things today that you won't. Read this, and you'll discover what they are.
1) Successful people don't just let today happen.... they plan for today... yesterday!
What did you do before you left your office yesterday? If you're successful, you planned your success for today, determining your clear objectives and laying out the documents, materials, and other things you need.
In other words, you knew what you'd need, and you had it readily at hand so you could, without special effort, pick up first thing today what you so carefully planned.... yesterday.
Organization, a constant focus on time management and efficiency, not caffeine, are what the successful bring to the table. They cannot and do not consider yesterday concluded... until it is organized as the spring board to a successful today.
2) Email a stupendous offer just before you leave your work.
Want to walk in tomorrow to sales? To lots of great prospect leads?
Then email a terrific offer BEFORE you leave.
Most people, bushed, fatigued, tired, upon leaving their offices are contemplating the pleasures of the rest of today. But not the successful.
Successful people are mad keen on organization and efficiency... and constant bank account pleasing cash flow. They know that today's dollars are the result of yesterday's offers. Successful business people force themselves to stay, no matter how tired they are, no matter how pleasurable the day's forthcoming events, until they have crafted the stunning offer that ensures cash flow throughout the hours they are not present.
This offer must be a lollapalooza... the best yet.
As I write, much of the United States, much of the rest of the world is mired in an anemic economic recovery that is, at best, just limping along.
Yet, by staying focused at all times on the main event, successful business people will flourish and achieve even the most ambitious of business and financial goals.
The key is having cash readily at hand.... and the means to generate more.... at will.
This means offers, better offers, the best offers, never-ending offers.
Because you will be tired at the end of the day, craft your end-of-day offers earlier. To ensure that it delivers the big success you insist upon, shape that offer when your mind is fresh and your abilities keen. Aim to make your offer better than you have ever made before; aim to make it a stunner, head turning, a cash gusher.
What the most successful business people know is that cash is king, especially when other people, people who do not have and do not use such offers, don't have it. If you focus as on your #1 Priority the shaping and constant sending of eye-popping offers you will have the cash, and thus the freedom, your less focused and clever colleagues lack and will always lack.
3) Call three prospects who have been hanging on the fence, uncertain about buying, and tell them you have the talking turkey offer of all times... if they will act now.
Offers come in many shapes and sizes... but one thing they all have in common is the "act now" factor. Offers to work must have deadlines... and the very best offers mean prompt, immediate response... no dithering allowed.
Most people, you see, even most business people, dither, offering excuses when decisive action is called for. In fact most people are not decision makers; rather, they are decision avoiders. The offer is made for such people, for only a truly superior offer will get these torpid ones to act at all, much less act on your speedy schedule.
Now, be honest. Did you, before leaving your office yesterday, call at least three people with a special, once-in-a-lifetime, knock 'em, sock 'em offer?
Or did you just turn off the lights and lock the door?
Want money? Then outline a "for my best customers" offer... and call them to discuss it. (You may also use email to send the offer... but never expect such an email to close the deal. For that the phone is the key).
Pick up the phone, I say, and, upon reaching these prime (if delaying) prospects, verbally embrace them, "Mary, you and I have been in contact for many years. I was thinking of you and wanted to make you a spectacular offer. Have you got a minute?" Then deliver the offer of offers, tellingly delivered, resoundingly delivered, convincingly delivered. This is a Special Offer.... for a Special Person. Deliver it accordingly.
4) Select 5 customers and give them a special unexpected gift.
People have always liked and will always like to get presents. It makes us feel wanted, warm inside. The most important people in your business are your customers; we all know that. However, what have you done lately to warm the cockles of their hearts? Not much, right? Change that today.
Pick a few customers, 5 is a good number, and give them a special gift, report, some free product, any kind of emolument... something that says simply, honestly, "I value you!" Then send it out.
Your customers will be pleased, gratified, impressed. No wonder. In our busy world, too few take even a little time to do the right thing; that thing that identifies you as a quality individual, well deserving of such customers. Out of the enhanced good will such valued offerings engender will come business, lots of business. You deserve it.
Are you going to be the business success you say you want?
You now know what to do. The question, therefore, is whether you will do it, and when.
24 hours from now, as you reflect upon this day, you will know just how successful you will be, based on what you have (or have not) done. It won't take any longer than that to see how well you're going to do. You see, now as always, the success you get (or forego) will be upon the actions you take and how well you do them. In short, it's all about you.
Bon voyage.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Dr. Lant's is also the author of best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2011 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
February 7, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Success begins in the MIND and executed through consistent
ACTION. Are you comfortable with being average or do you
seek to be exceptional by taking action that ensures success?
If,yes, then, review this article that teaches those who refuse
Mediocrity as acceptable.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Friend, let's get one thing straight from the get-go. Successful people are going to do things today that you won't. Read this, and you'll discover what they are.
1) Successful people don't just let today happen.... they plan for today... yesterday!
What did you do before you left your office yesterday? If you're successful, you planned your success for today, determining your clear objectives and laying out the documents, materials, and other things you need.
In other words, you knew what you'd need, and you had it readily at hand so you could, without special effort, pick up first thing today what you so carefully planned.... yesterday.
Organization, a constant focus on time management and efficiency, not caffeine, are what the successful bring to the table. They cannot and do not consider yesterday concluded... until it is organized as the spring board to a successful today.
2) Email a stupendous offer just before you leave your work.
Want to walk in tomorrow to sales? To lots of great prospect leads?
Then email a terrific offer BEFORE you leave.
Most people, bushed, fatigued, tired, upon leaving their offices are contemplating the pleasures of the rest of today. But not the successful.
Successful people are mad keen on organization and efficiency... and constant bank account pleasing cash flow. They know that today's dollars are the result of yesterday's offers. Successful business people force themselves to stay, no matter how tired they are, no matter how pleasurable the day's forthcoming events, until they have crafted the stunning offer that ensures cash flow throughout the hours they are not present.
This offer must be a lollapalooza... the best yet.
As I write, much of the United States, much of the rest of the world is mired in an anemic economic recovery that is, at best, just limping along.
Yet, by staying focused at all times on the main event, successful business people will flourish and achieve even the most ambitious of business and financial goals.
The key is having cash readily at hand.... and the means to generate more.... at will.
This means offers, better offers, the best offers, never-ending offers.
Because you will be tired at the end of the day, craft your end-of-day offers earlier. To ensure that it delivers the big success you insist upon, shape that offer when your mind is fresh and your abilities keen. Aim to make your offer better than you have ever made before; aim to make it a stunner, head turning, a cash gusher.
What the most successful business people know is that cash is king, especially when other people, people who do not have and do not use such offers, don't have it. If you focus as on your #1 Priority the shaping and constant sending of eye-popping offers you will have the cash, and thus the freedom, your less focused and clever colleagues lack and will always lack.
3) Call three prospects who have been hanging on the fence, uncertain about buying, and tell them you have the talking turkey offer of all times... if they will act now.
Offers come in many shapes and sizes... but one thing they all have in common is the "act now" factor. Offers to work must have deadlines... and the very best offers mean prompt, immediate response... no dithering allowed.
Most people, you see, even most business people, dither, offering excuses when decisive action is called for. In fact most people are not decision makers; rather, they are decision avoiders. The offer is made for such people, for only a truly superior offer will get these torpid ones to act at all, much less act on your speedy schedule.
Now, be honest. Did you, before leaving your office yesterday, call at least three people with a special, once-in-a-lifetime, knock 'em, sock 'em offer?
Or did you just turn off the lights and lock the door?
Want money? Then outline a "for my best customers" offer... and call them to discuss it. (You may also use email to send the offer... but never expect such an email to close the deal. For that the phone is the key).
Pick up the phone, I say, and, upon reaching these prime (if delaying) prospects, verbally embrace them, "Mary, you and I have been in contact for many years. I was thinking of you and wanted to make you a spectacular offer. Have you got a minute?" Then deliver the offer of offers, tellingly delivered, resoundingly delivered, convincingly delivered. This is a Special Offer.... for a Special Person. Deliver it accordingly.
4) Select 5 customers and give them a special unexpected gift.
People have always liked and will always like to get presents. It makes us feel wanted, warm inside. The most important people in your business are your customers; we all know that. However, what have you done lately to warm the cockles of their hearts? Not much, right? Change that today.
Pick a few customers, 5 is a good number, and give them a special gift, report, some free product, any kind of emolument... something that says simply, honestly, "I value you!" Then send it out.
Your customers will be pleased, gratified, impressed. No wonder. In our busy world, too few take even a little time to do the right thing; that thing that identifies you as a quality individual, well deserving of such customers. Out of the enhanced good will such valued offerings engender will come business, lots of business. You deserve it.
Are you going to be the business success you say you want?
You now know what to do. The question, therefore, is whether you will do it, and when.
24 hours from now, as you reflect upon this day, you will know just how successful you will be, based on what you have (or have not) done. It won't take any longer than that to see how well you're going to do. You see, now as always, the success you get (or forego) will be upon the actions you take and how well you do them. In short, it's all about you.
Bon voyage.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Dr. Lant's is also the author of best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2011 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Interactivity is the key to blog success. Here's the exact language to use to get it. Yes, exact.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
February 5, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn how to effectively and profitably MONETIZE your
BLOG and generate high quality leads and traffic with a
few simple steps provided mult-millionaire Dr. Jeffrey Lant.
Acquire the skills within this article that will increase the
VALUE of your blogs and ability to develop relationships
with others who require a SOLUTION to their problem.
Yes, make your blog Interactive to begin the process.
Please submit your Comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Hear ye, hear ye! Blogs are the hottest thing on the 'net. You know it... and you've done the necessary to set yours up and publish, right? Out it goes... then... nothing. Not a peep from any reader. That's bad, real bad.
That's why I'm here -- to help you achieve maximum blog success.
As you're reading along with this article, think Cole Porter's peppy little number, "Friendship" (from "Was a lady," 1939) because that's what this article is, a friend helping a friend achieve maximum success online, this time with your blog.
Interactivity is the key.
Blogs work when they're interactive, that is when you get your audience/readers to respond. And why do you want them to respond? Because blog readers who respond are the very best customer prospects there are, that's why. Moreover if you're smart, you want to monetize your blog just as quickly as possible, right from the get-go... so that every time you publish your blog your readers, your prospects -- with their money -- respond.
Here's how to make this happen day after golden day.
Announce your objective, so that people know that your blog is interactive... and you expect them to respond.
"Readers! You've arrived at the most interactive blog online... where we are in constant touch with our readers... and readers are encouraged, indeed expected, to respond. We like hearing from you!"
Make this goal pellucidly clear to your readers. And keep this exact language in all blog posts. It's your welcome mat for the world.
Words that get people to respond to your lead article.
"Folks, I'm delighted, pleased, ecstatic to bring you this article (add title here). It's written by an expert (add name here) who knows what she’s talking about. After you've read this piece, email me at once at (email address). Tell us what you think! We genuinely want to know!"
Put like this, such a plea is irresistible. Expect responses fast, always remembering that each response represents either the beginning of an ongoing relationship with that respondent...or the strengthening of an existing relationship. In short, it is the raw matter for success and nothing but success.
Ask your readers to respond to individual articles, not just the entire blog.
Remember, not only must your blog be perceived as interactive; each portion of the blog must be so configured. In other words, you want each and every article and/or blog section to generate leads. Here's how to do it.
"Friend, this article by (name of writer) is absolutely terrific, isn't it? The writing is incredible... the content superb. What's more , I can tell you how to get content of this amazing quality on your blog free. Email me your name, email address, and phone for the details. Yes, I mean FREE!"
Offer a freebie in every issue.
One particularly popular freebie, which I've used for years, is to write and make available a Free Report to your readers on a subject of interest to them, a subject like this:
"Boy, oh boy, have I ever got the terrific freebie for you today, you lucky blog readers, you. This report, absolutely free, is titled 'Just what you need to know and do to get (whatever benefit you sell)'. This special report is packed, just packed, with superb, hard-to-find details , and I'm lucky to be able to GIVE it to you. Email me now at (your email address) with your name, email address and phone number or just call me now at (your telephone number.) P.S. Be sure to tell me what you think after you've read it!"
Or, try this freebie. It's worked for me for years, and it's a pip of an example and model for you.
"Incredible, but true. Due to a special arrangement with some hot-shot traffic gurus, I'm able to give out 1,000,000 guaranteed visitors today, that is 50,000 each to the FIRST TWENTY READERS who respond today. Be one of them. Email me now at (email address) along with your name, address, and phone number or just pick up the phone and call me now. DON'T WAIT. This special offer can't last!"
Ask for comments. Use the comments.
Remember, your objective is to solicit and then receive comments from every reader. First, savour them; you have earned a little self-congratulation, because with each blog post and every reader response thereto, you are distancing yourself from the also-rans of blog publishers and firmly establishing yourself as a Smart Cookie. Now, press your advantage.
When responses arrive, be sure to publish them in your blog, good, bad, or indifferent. Of course, you want every response to be positive. These are the most welcome and easy-to-use blog posts. Publish them at once... and use them to generate more responses. You want your readers to see and be clear on the fact that yours is one of the most exciting, worthwhile blogs in the land. Make it a point to publicize every positive response you get:
"Wow! Here's a great response from (name of reader responding). We sure do appreciate these responses, not just because they're complimentary (but what's wrong with that anyway?) But because they make it clear how you feel... and what you like about what we're doing. That's Very Important indeed! Always include your name, address, phone, and email address."
What if the response is carping, critical, vituperative?
The world does not live on a diet of milk and honey. Gall and wormwood do make themselves known. Your job is to use negative comments to impress your readers and even turn your carping critic into a lap dog. Take a look at how this magic occurs.
"Tom Jones from Pocatello, Idaho isn't too happy today. He has emailed this message: 'Folks, that last article you published on (name of article) was just plain wrong about a couple of points. Here's the low-down..."
All publishers, blog or otherwise, are inured to getting responses like this. The key is turning the criticism into gold, building a relationship with the (momentarily) irked or critical respondent.
"Tom, your points are sooooo well taken. Thanks for making them; we've glad to let our readers have your point of view and hope to hear more from you. In the meantime, please accept a free copy of our newest report (title here)."
In short, turn lemons into lemonade and emerge wiser and better regarded than before.
Last words... there are no last words.
Blogging, as tried and true bloggers know, NEVER ends. Each issue, each part of each issue, constitutes a potential link to the future. Each thing, every section and each word, is a hook; grabbing, then pulling in your expectant audience, thereby generating leads, comments for future issues... and (how sweet it is) MONEY.
Blogs are the most personal of media. Run with that concept, and make your blog a place of constant interactivity and the satisfaction and profit that ensue to you as a result. Your readers will be happy, recognizing and applauding you, while you laugh all the way to the bank! How nice!
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Dr. Lant is a well known marketer, consultant and the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2011 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
February 5, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn how to effectively and profitably MONETIZE your
BLOG and generate high quality leads and traffic with a
few simple steps provided mult-millionaire Dr. Jeffrey Lant.
Acquire the skills within this article that will increase the
VALUE of your blogs and ability to develop relationships
with others who require a SOLUTION to their problem.
Yes, make your blog Interactive to begin the process.
Please submit your Comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Hear ye, hear ye! Blogs are the hottest thing on the 'net. You know it... and you've done the necessary to set yours up and publish, right? Out it goes... then... nothing. Not a peep from any reader. That's bad, real bad.
That's why I'm here -- to help you achieve maximum blog success.
As you're reading along with this article, think Cole Porter's peppy little number, "Friendship" (from "Was a lady," 1939) because that's what this article is, a friend helping a friend achieve maximum success online, this time with your blog.
Interactivity is the key.
Blogs work when they're interactive, that is when you get your audience/readers to respond. And why do you want them to respond? Because blog readers who respond are the very best customer prospects there are, that's why. Moreover if you're smart, you want to monetize your blog just as quickly as possible, right from the get-go... so that every time you publish your blog your readers, your prospects -- with their money -- respond.
Here's how to make this happen day after golden day.
Announce your objective, so that people know that your blog is interactive... and you expect them to respond.
"Readers! You've arrived at the most interactive blog online... where we are in constant touch with our readers... and readers are encouraged, indeed expected, to respond. We like hearing from you!"
Make this goal pellucidly clear to your readers. And keep this exact language in all blog posts. It's your welcome mat for the world.
Words that get people to respond to your lead article.
"Folks, I'm delighted, pleased, ecstatic to bring you this article (add title here). It's written by an expert (add name here) who knows what she’s talking about. After you've read this piece, email me at once at (email address). Tell us what you think! We genuinely want to know!"
Put like this, such a plea is irresistible. Expect responses fast, always remembering that each response represents either the beginning of an ongoing relationship with that respondent...or the strengthening of an existing relationship. In short, it is the raw matter for success and nothing but success.
Ask your readers to respond to individual articles, not just the entire blog.
Remember, not only must your blog be perceived as interactive; each portion of the blog must be so configured. In other words, you want each and every article and/or blog section to generate leads. Here's how to do it.
"Friend, this article by (name of writer) is absolutely terrific, isn't it? The writing is incredible... the content superb. What's more , I can tell you how to get content of this amazing quality on your blog free. Email me your name, email address, and phone for the details. Yes, I mean FREE!"
Offer a freebie in every issue.
One particularly popular freebie, which I've used for years, is to write and make available a Free Report to your readers on a subject of interest to them, a subject like this:
"Boy, oh boy, have I ever got the terrific freebie for you today, you lucky blog readers, you. This report, absolutely free, is titled 'Just what you need to know and do to get (whatever benefit you sell)'. This special report is packed, just packed, with superb, hard-to-find details , and I'm lucky to be able to GIVE it to you. Email me now at (your email address) with your name, email address and phone number or just call me now at (your telephone number.) P.S. Be sure to tell me what you think after you've read it!"
Or, try this freebie. It's worked for me for years, and it's a pip of an example and model for you.
"Incredible, but true. Due to a special arrangement with some hot-shot traffic gurus, I'm able to give out 1,000,000 guaranteed visitors today, that is 50,000 each to the FIRST TWENTY READERS who respond today. Be one of them. Email me now at (email address) along with your name, address, and phone number or just pick up the phone and call me now. DON'T WAIT. This special offer can't last!"
Ask for comments. Use the comments.
Remember, your objective is to solicit and then receive comments from every reader. First, savour them; you have earned a little self-congratulation, because with each blog post and every reader response thereto, you are distancing yourself from the also-rans of blog publishers and firmly establishing yourself as a Smart Cookie. Now, press your advantage.
When responses arrive, be sure to publish them in your blog, good, bad, or indifferent. Of course, you want every response to be positive. These are the most welcome and easy-to-use blog posts. Publish them at once... and use them to generate more responses. You want your readers to see and be clear on the fact that yours is one of the most exciting, worthwhile blogs in the land. Make it a point to publicize every positive response you get:
"Wow! Here's a great response from (name of reader responding). We sure do appreciate these responses, not just because they're complimentary (but what's wrong with that anyway?) But because they make it clear how you feel... and what you like about what we're doing. That's Very Important indeed! Always include your name, address, phone, and email address."
What if the response is carping, critical, vituperative?
The world does not live on a diet of milk and honey. Gall and wormwood do make themselves known. Your job is to use negative comments to impress your readers and even turn your carping critic into a lap dog. Take a look at how this magic occurs.
"Tom Jones from Pocatello, Idaho isn't too happy today. He has emailed this message: 'Folks, that last article you published on (name of article) was just plain wrong about a couple of points. Here's the low-down..."
All publishers, blog or otherwise, are inured to getting responses like this. The key is turning the criticism into gold, building a relationship with the (momentarily) irked or critical respondent.
"Tom, your points are sooooo well taken. Thanks for making them; we've glad to let our readers have your point of view and hope to hear more from you. In the meantime, please accept a free copy of our newest report (title here)."
In short, turn lemons into lemonade and emerge wiser and better regarded than before.
Last words... there are no last words.
Blogging, as tried and true bloggers know, NEVER ends. Each issue, each part of each issue, constitutes a potential link to the future. Each thing, every section and each word, is a hook; grabbing, then pulling in your expectant audience, thereby generating leads, comments for future issues... and (how sweet it is) MONEY.
Blogs are the most personal of media. Run with that concept, and make your blog a place of constant interactivity and the satisfaction and profit that ensue to you as a result. Your readers will be happy, recognizing and applauding you, while you laugh all the way to the bank! How nice!
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Dr. Lant is a well known marketer, consultant and the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2011 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The art of creating blogs that get results right from Day One!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 15, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weblogs or BLOGS continue to grow exponentially ONLINE
and function as a primary source of information on current/
critical issues for its readership. Now, are YOU providing
quality content in your blogs and receiveing responses from
readers? If not, then, carefully review this ARTICLE and
implement the suggestions that will produce VALUE for
your readers and most importantly, solve a problem they
have. Needless to say, when you solve a person’s problem
then, they want to know more about YOU so a s, build a
relationship.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Blogs are in! Blogs are omnipresent! Blogs are the future of the 'net!
All true but what is a blog... and how do you profit from it?
Purists may offer a different definition (purists usually do)... but to me, the complete capitalist, a blog is and always will be about one thing: making money. Every day. All the time.
Let me say this another way because for far too many people blogs are an unbridled (and correspondingly horrifying) excess of vanity, self-gratification, arrogance, not to mention an avalanche of incredibly boring stuff and Things You Don't Want To Know. Yes, too many smart people use them as a cheap form of venting and therapy.
But (my recommendations in hand) you won't. You'll stay forever focused on the main chance: using your blog to generate prospect leads... and make money. Now... dig in. I am about to deliver an embarrass du choix for big blog bucks.
Train your readers to be responsive.
If you intend to use your blog to make money, you must train your readers to be responsive. Otherwise, you will dramatically curtail and limit your responses (and blog profits)... which is the exact opposite of what you want.
The Internet is, at its best, the best interactive tool in the galaxy. But what if readers don't understand that? Why, then, mon frere, you must remind them of their duty... you must remind them that yours is a fully interactive endeavor and that the responsibility of EVERY reader is -- to respond. Ensuring this result is your #1 objective.
A blog is NOT a standard newspaper or magazine... as readers must be told and trained to use.
Consider the case of your morning newspaper. It is packed with articles. How many do you respond to? Silly question, right? Periodical readers, except on the occasions they have a bee in their bonnets and write a Letter to the Editor, never respond to articles. They just read 'em.
But a blog is essentially different. You want to bring articles and information of interest and importance to your readers; you want them to respond. In other words, blog content should trigger a continuing stream of reader commentary... and help build knowledge about these readers as well as build the relationships that deliver business effortlessly.
Establish a confidential tone from the get-go
Your readers (whether they ever say so or not) will read your blog (as opposed to a million others) because you give them interesting copy that the rest of the world cannot deliver. It's not just that Enquiring Minds Want To Know: it's that these minds want to know things they cannot easily get anywhere else.
Thus your tone is everything: let the reader know that yours is a fresh, new, entirely compelling voice. The more you let them know that yours is an "insider" place, a locale of smart commentary delivered with wit, insight, good humor and progressive outlook, the better.
Always use the second person -- YOU! -- in your blog content.
Blogs are the most person-centered of media. Thus, you must always speak to your readers in the second person, that is with an explicit or implied "you" (the blog reader). This will immediately establish the right tone... and the right focus. Your readers must understand that you are writing to them, for them.
Whenever possible, too, use your blog as a means to speak to individual readers BY NAME, just like Ann Landers, the famous "gossip" columnist used to do, with such devices as "Special for Lola Mae in Seattle." You should regard each issue as incomplete that does not address some pertinent, personal comment to at least one reader by name.
Share (select) personal data and reflections about yourself.
Remember, blogs are, by definition, personal. That means you should share (some) personal information with your readers; asking them to share (some) personal data with you.
This policy, while establishing stronger and more enduring links with your readers, also has in it the seeds of embarrassment, discomfort, even disaster. Reason? It's easy to put things in your blog about yourself which are too personal, too intimate. And by the same token, your readers might share such things with you, for publication.
Actung! Cuidado! Beware! Think long and hard before you publish. Once you hit the send key, your thought and candid revelation belong to the world.
Ask especially for reader comment on all articles you publish.
The articles you publish in your blog may be, of course, on any subject you regard as significant. But blogs by business people should be about how to run such a business with such-and-such products for maximum profit. In other words, if you're selling automobiles... blog articles ("content") should be germaine to this topic, above all.
As you publish such articles, ask readers to comment. As comments come in be sure to use (and then later reuse) them. What people say in reference to your blog content is worthy of publication... and your comment.
Make sure that you request responding readers to include complete name, business name (where appropriate), email address, and phone. Remember, reader comments are not so much about the substance of the comment, as they are about getting the reader to respond, tell you what interests her, and provide complete follow-up details. This is absolutely essential.
Follow up blog comments and responses at once.
What more business? Following these steps ensures you will get a steady stream of the best prospect leads in the world... from people who already "know" you (or at least think they do), are interested in what you offer, and have provided you with complete follow-up details.
Thus, pick up the phone and call readers (now prospects) who respond to you... unless, of course, you have been the smartest cookie, given them your phone, and advised them to CALL you.
The telephone, you see, is essential for making your blog profitable for you. You must say and constantly reiterate the need to call you, as Jeanette McDonald sang, "I am calling you................ will you answer true.......? Get the picture?
Last words
Face it. Blogs are here to stay. People love 'em. Thus, the real question is: will you do the necessary to ensure that the time and money you invest in your blog pays off? To ensure that it does, implement these recommendations ASP... if not sooner. Then blog your way to profits that increase as fast as your list.
Please submit your thoughts about this information.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz. Check out Copy Paste Traffic ->
http://vaurnj.wincore.hop.clickbank.net
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 15, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weblogs or BLOGS continue to grow exponentially ONLINE
and function as a primary source of information on current/
critical issues for its readership. Now, are YOU providing
quality content in your blogs and receiveing responses from
readers? If not, then, carefully review this ARTICLE and
implement the suggestions that will produce VALUE for
your readers and most importantly, solve a problem they
have. Needless to say, when you solve a person’s problem
then, they want to know more about YOU so a s, build a
relationship.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Blogs are in! Blogs are omnipresent! Blogs are the future of the 'net!
All true but what is a blog... and how do you profit from it?
Purists may offer a different definition (purists usually do)... but to me, the complete capitalist, a blog is and always will be about one thing: making money. Every day. All the time.
Let me say this another way because for far too many people blogs are an unbridled (and correspondingly horrifying) excess of vanity, self-gratification, arrogance, not to mention an avalanche of incredibly boring stuff and Things You Don't Want To Know. Yes, too many smart people use them as a cheap form of venting and therapy.
But (my recommendations in hand) you won't. You'll stay forever focused on the main chance: using your blog to generate prospect leads... and make money. Now... dig in. I am about to deliver an embarrass du choix for big blog bucks.
Train your readers to be responsive.
If you intend to use your blog to make money, you must train your readers to be responsive. Otherwise, you will dramatically curtail and limit your responses (and blog profits)... which is the exact opposite of what you want.
The Internet is, at its best, the best interactive tool in the galaxy. But what if readers don't understand that? Why, then, mon frere, you must remind them of their duty... you must remind them that yours is a fully interactive endeavor and that the responsibility of EVERY reader is -- to respond. Ensuring this result is your #1 objective.
A blog is NOT a standard newspaper or magazine... as readers must be told and trained to use.
Consider the case of your morning newspaper. It is packed with articles. How many do you respond to? Silly question, right? Periodical readers, except on the occasions they have a bee in their bonnets and write a Letter to the Editor, never respond to articles. They just read 'em.
But a blog is essentially different. You want to bring articles and information of interest and importance to your readers; you want them to respond. In other words, blog content should trigger a continuing stream of reader commentary... and help build knowledge about these readers as well as build the relationships that deliver business effortlessly.
Establish a confidential tone from the get-go
Your readers (whether they ever say so or not) will read your blog (as opposed to a million others) because you give them interesting copy that the rest of the world cannot deliver. It's not just that Enquiring Minds Want To Know: it's that these minds want to know things they cannot easily get anywhere else.
Thus your tone is everything: let the reader know that yours is a fresh, new, entirely compelling voice. The more you let them know that yours is an "insider" place, a locale of smart commentary delivered with wit, insight, good humor and progressive outlook, the better.
Always use the second person -- YOU! -- in your blog content.
Blogs are the most person-centered of media. Thus, you must always speak to your readers in the second person, that is with an explicit or implied "you" (the blog reader). This will immediately establish the right tone... and the right focus. Your readers must understand that you are writing to them, for them.
Whenever possible, too, use your blog as a means to speak to individual readers BY NAME, just like Ann Landers, the famous "gossip" columnist used to do, with such devices as "Special for Lola Mae in Seattle." You should regard each issue as incomplete that does not address some pertinent, personal comment to at least one reader by name.
Share (select) personal data and reflections about yourself.
Remember, blogs are, by definition, personal. That means you should share (some) personal information with your readers; asking them to share (some) personal data with you.
This policy, while establishing stronger and more enduring links with your readers, also has in it the seeds of embarrassment, discomfort, even disaster. Reason? It's easy to put things in your blog about yourself which are too personal, too intimate. And by the same token, your readers might share such things with you, for publication.
Actung! Cuidado! Beware! Think long and hard before you publish. Once you hit the send key, your thought and candid revelation belong to the world.
Ask especially for reader comment on all articles you publish.
The articles you publish in your blog may be, of course, on any subject you regard as significant. But blogs by business people should be about how to run such a business with such-and-such products for maximum profit. In other words, if you're selling automobiles... blog articles ("content") should be germaine to this topic, above all.
As you publish such articles, ask readers to comment. As comments come in be sure to use (and then later reuse) them. What people say in reference to your blog content is worthy of publication... and your comment.
Make sure that you request responding readers to include complete name, business name (where appropriate), email address, and phone. Remember, reader comments are not so much about the substance of the comment, as they are about getting the reader to respond, tell you what interests her, and provide complete follow-up details. This is absolutely essential.
Follow up blog comments and responses at once.
What more business? Following these steps ensures you will get a steady stream of the best prospect leads in the world... from people who already "know" you (or at least think they do), are interested in what you offer, and have provided you with complete follow-up details.
Thus, pick up the phone and call readers (now prospects) who respond to you... unless, of course, you have been the smartest cookie, given them your phone, and advised them to CALL you.
The telephone, you see, is essential for making your blog profitable for you. You must say and constantly reiterate the need to call you, as Jeanette McDonald sang, "I am calling you................ will you answer true.......? Get the picture?
Last words
Face it. Blogs are here to stay. People love 'em. Thus, the real question is: will you do the necessary to ensure that the time and money you invest in your blog pays off? To ensure that it does, implement these recommendations ASP... if not sooner. Then blog your way to profits that increase as fast as your list.
Please submit your thoughts about this information.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz. Check out Copy Paste Traffic ->
http://vaurnj.wincore.hop.clickbank.net
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
'Til computer do us part. What to do with an uncooperative spouse undermining your home business
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 5, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Television is known as the Electronic Income
Reducer because it’s a resource that provides little
to no VALUE for its consumers. Now, the computer
for many home business owners/entrepreneurs has
evolved in the last 17-years as an Electronic Income
Generator; however, it has also, created problems in
personal relationships. “You spend all your time and
our money on these Get Rich Quick Schemes”. Sound
familiar, opposition from the paramour/spouse about
your attempt to advance financially because your focus
towards business has left a void in feelings of affection
for your partner. So, what to do to gain peace in your
House. Worldprofit CEO Dr. Jeffrey Lant, offers a
SOLUTION.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Computers have become omnipresent and as such have become the means of liberating people from distasteful traditional jobs and offering the prospect of remunerative home-based employment. But working at home can be difficult.
There are numerous distractions at hand.... pets, children, television -- and the always tempting refrigerator.
Yes, it is easy to get distracted, lose focus, and miss opportunities.
However, these problems and challenges are not nearly as difficult and potentially destructive as this one: the disapproving spouse. Instead of loyal, loving, enthusiastic support you begin to hear the nagging refrain of: "You're spending too much time on the computer." The more often you hear it... the greater your problem... and the more urgent this message.
This is a problem you must solve, for failure to do so leads to estrangement, even divorce... with your computer cited as correspondent. What can you do before you become a highly rated episode on "Judge Judy"?
Request spousal support from the get go
No home-based business should ever be started without at least a discussion between the partners about what this is likely to mean for their relationship. New businesses, home-based or otherwise, need your full attention, extra hours and complete concentration. Your partner needs to know this... and prepare accordingly.
Thus, before you begin on this demanding odyssey, go away for a romantic week-end. Be fresh! Be charming! Enjoy! Your energy level for such dissipations may not be quite this high for months to come. Cavort now. Refreshed? Revitalized? Its time to get down to business by, first, making it clear to your partner what you'll need to launch your business and to bring home the bacon.
Item: you will keep regular business hours and during these hours interruptions are not permitted. In other words, unless there is a bona fide crisis, you must focus on the business, the whole business, and nothing but the business.
Spousal agreement to this point is key, for your significant other may well "forget" this clause when there's "just one little errand to run, Pookie." As Nancy Reagan used to say, "Just say no." Once you're weakened on this point, you're nothing more than a marionette on a very short string. Oh, my!
Item: when extra time is required (as it will be when building a business), you will inform your spouse as early in the day as possible. Such courtesies go far towards reconciling a restive, longing-to-be-with-you spouse.
Make it clear what you are doing, why it's important and how much time you're going to need to finish the project at hand. This kind of communication is imperative to keep your spouse empathetic and supportive.
"You're spending way too much time on that blankety blank computer!"
You've worked hard... you begin to see results... you are thrilled... and then the spouse hits you with this! What a revolting development this is! What to do?
You have 2 options: hear but do nothing... or tackle the issue head on right now.
I recommend Option 2, because failure to respond to this problem now only ensures it will grow fast and become A Real Problem very, very soon.
Sit your partner down, explain that you need their support; that you are doing all you're doing for them... for the children... for the family. Make it clear that you will continue to do what you have set out to do but that doing it will be far better with spousal support than without it. Make this an Academy Award performance... replete with eyes locked together, hand holding, bear hugs... perhaps even a tear or two. It will all be worth it if you'll never have to hear again the words "You are spending too much time on the computer."
Hint:
Want to impress your spouse and get the cooperation you require? Bribe them. Take some of the money you're making; put it in envelope. Take spouse to dinner... and have the waiter deliver along with dessert. Make sure the cash is accompanied by the briefest of notes saying, simply, profoundly "I love you." Say nothing when this present arrives. Wait for spousal reaction... which should be as surprised and tender (and accommodating) as you could want.
If the business fails.
With the best will in the world and all the time required... with full and complete spouse support your business may fail. Sadly, a very hefty percentage of home-based businesses do. Knowing you, you'll want to try and try again until you've found the winning formula. You're willing to risk again, but your spouse, in the clearest possible way, says "No way, Jose! Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."
What now?
Hand them this magnificent quote from Teddy Roosevelt's famous speech on "Citizenship in a Republic", delivered at the Sorbonne, Paris in 1910:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood: who strives valiantly: who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Hand this quote, I say, to your spouse and make it plain that you have an obligation, first and foremost, to yourself to carry on, to persevere, and, at last, forge victory from defeat.
This is a crucial moment in your relationship, a moment of epiphany, revelation, resolve.
Now, perhaps for the first time, your spouse truly knows and understands you. Now for the first time they see you as indefatigable, admirable, larger than life, the mate they have always wanted.... and never until this very moment knew they already had.
Sit down now at your computer, for now, at last, your truly beloved is on your side without cavil or complaint. Expect your favorite lunch to be delivered today computer-side... for now you have, well and truly, the helpmate you require for the success you will both enjoy so very much.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 5, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Television is known as the Electronic Income
Reducer because it’s a resource that provides little
to no VALUE for its consumers. Now, the computer
for many home business owners/entrepreneurs has
evolved in the last 17-years as an Electronic Income
Generator; however, it has also, created problems in
personal relationships. “You spend all your time and
our money on these Get Rich Quick Schemes”. Sound
familiar, opposition from the paramour/spouse about
your attempt to advance financially because your focus
towards business has left a void in feelings of affection
for your partner. So, what to do to gain peace in your
House. Worldprofit CEO Dr. Jeffrey Lant, offers a
SOLUTION.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Computers have become omnipresent and as such have become the means of liberating people from distasteful traditional jobs and offering the prospect of remunerative home-based employment. But working at home can be difficult.
There are numerous distractions at hand.... pets, children, television -- and the always tempting refrigerator.
Yes, it is easy to get distracted, lose focus, and miss opportunities.
However, these problems and challenges are not nearly as difficult and potentially destructive as this one: the disapproving spouse. Instead of loyal, loving, enthusiastic support you begin to hear the nagging refrain of: "You're spending too much time on the computer." The more often you hear it... the greater your problem... and the more urgent this message.
This is a problem you must solve, for failure to do so leads to estrangement, even divorce... with your computer cited as correspondent. What can you do before you become a highly rated episode on "Judge Judy"?
Request spousal support from the get go
No home-based business should ever be started without at least a discussion between the partners about what this is likely to mean for their relationship. New businesses, home-based or otherwise, need your full attention, extra hours and complete concentration. Your partner needs to know this... and prepare accordingly.
Thus, before you begin on this demanding odyssey, go away for a romantic week-end. Be fresh! Be charming! Enjoy! Your energy level for such dissipations may not be quite this high for months to come. Cavort now. Refreshed? Revitalized? Its time to get down to business by, first, making it clear to your partner what you'll need to launch your business and to bring home the bacon.
Item: you will keep regular business hours and during these hours interruptions are not permitted. In other words, unless there is a bona fide crisis, you must focus on the business, the whole business, and nothing but the business.
Spousal agreement to this point is key, for your significant other may well "forget" this clause when there's "just one little errand to run, Pookie." As Nancy Reagan used to say, "Just say no." Once you're weakened on this point, you're nothing more than a marionette on a very short string. Oh, my!
Item: when extra time is required (as it will be when building a business), you will inform your spouse as early in the day as possible. Such courtesies go far towards reconciling a restive, longing-to-be-with-you spouse.
Make it clear what you are doing, why it's important and how much time you're going to need to finish the project at hand. This kind of communication is imperative to keep your spouse empathetic and supportive.
"You're spending way too much time on that blankety blank computer!"
You've worked hard... you begin to see results... you are thrilled... and then the spouse hits you with this! What a revolting development this is! What to do?
You have 2 options: hear but do nothing... or tackle the issue head on right now.
I recommend Option 2, because failure to respond to this problem now only ensures it will grow fast and become A Real Problem very, very soon.
Sit your partner down, explain that you need their support; that you are doing all you're doing for them... for the children... for the family. Make it clear that you will continue to do what you have set out to do but that doing it will be far better with spousal support than without it. Make this an Academy Award performance... replete with eyes locked together, hand holding, bear hugs... perhaps even a tear or two. It will all be worth it if you'll never have to hear again the words "You are spending too much time on the computer."
Hint:
Want to impress your spouse and get the cooperation you require? Bribe them. Take some of the money you're making; put it in envelope. Take spouse to dinner... and have the waiter deliver along with dessert. Make sure the cash is accompanied by the briefest of notes saying, simply, profoundly "I love you." Say nothing when this present arrives. Wait for spousal reaction... which should be as surprised and tender (and accommodating) as you could want.
If the business fails.
With the best will in the world and all the time required... with full and complete spouse support your business may fail. Sadly, a very hefty percentage of home-based businesses do. Knowing you, you'll want to try and try again until you've found the winning formula. You're willing to risk again, but your spouse, in the clearest possible way, says "No way, Jose! Been there, done that, got the t-shirt."
What now?
Hand them this magnificent quote from Teddy Roosevelt's famous speech on "Citizenship in a Republic", delivered at the Sorbonne, Paris in 1910:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood: who strives valiantly: who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Hand this quote, I say, to your spouse and make it plain that you have an obligation, first and foremost, to yourself to carry on, to persevere, and, at last, forge victory from defeat.
This is a crucial moment in your relationship, a moment of epiphany, revelation, resolve.
Now, perhaps for the first time, your spouse truly knows and understands you. Now for the first time they see you as indefatigable, admirable, larger than life, the mate they have always wanted.... and never until this very moment knew they already had.
Sit down now at your computer, for now, at last, your truly beloved is on your side without cavil or complaint. Expect your favorite lunch to be delivered today computer-side... for now you have, well and truly, the helpmate you require for the success you will both enjoy so very much.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant's live webcast TODAY and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website of your choice! Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wicked Cool: The hubris and high jinks of Captain Owen Honors, United States Navy, sometime captain of the USS Enterprise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 4, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leadership is an important ability and responsibility when,
leading others so as to accomplish a goal that is collectively
beneficial to all. However, when the leader allows his POWER
to corrupt him then, you have a problem.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Let me introduce you to a cool dude, cute too, who knows how to party and had the perfect place to do it. I'm talking about U.S. Navy Captain Owen Honors, only just relieved as commander of America's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the proud USS Enterprise.
Honors, who never met a camera he didn't like, a man determined to please his crew, liked to spend his week preparing videos -- starring, guess who -- Captain Owen Honors, 49 year old Top Gun pilot and decided off-color video star.
Honors had at his disposal the very best video equipment generous U.S. taxpayers could buy. His effects were right up-to-the-minute, like having three separate screens in which (guess who?) appeared as three different (all cool) characters. Wow!
Honors, each week determined to outdo himself on weekend XO nights (when his latest videos were shown), somehow found time in his very busy days. The USS Enterprise, after all, was deployed supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A man of dedication, energy, imagination he somehow found the time to work on video ideas, plots, film venues, and a dazzling array of really cool outfits perfectly tailored. This caring captain was determined to give his eagerly expectant 6000-person crew the very best. He certainly did, particularly in 2006-2007 when his bold ideas and still bolder presentations took the Enterprise by storm and riveted every eye on the ship. What, they all wondered, would their daring executive officer, then Captain Honors do next?
They never had long to wait.
There was that hot video when their cutting-edge commander simulated masturbation at his desk. As Paris Hilton would say, "That's hot!"
What about the never-to-be-forgotten episode of two naked guys soaping each other off in the shower. Honors was a nut for saving water... and wanted to drive home the point with eye-popping visuals. And, to be completely politically correct, he did the same scene with two of the women of his crew.
There was more, much more since Honors was an indefatigable guy with an unceasing appetite for more and better; ambitious videos of which he soon became the master with the help of designated members of his command.
There was the anal probe episode... and all the "fag" plots, pratfalls and plays. That commander... what a cut-up.
There were the in jokes, like writing "little XO" on his you-know-what. It was hilarious, pure camp, what a guy.
And just think, he did it all while on deployment in not one, but two war zones. How did the guy do it, inquiring minds wanted to know.
Alas, there was irritating criticism from small minds.
It's hard to imagine... but disgracefully true... that there were members of the Enterprise crew who found their commander's hard work and dazzling results offensive. Small minded, picayune, uptight... these folks made a fuss and criticized the coolest guy in the fleet. This rankled with Honors, for he was working so hard. Why his bravura video on the "f-bomb" was pure poetry. Really, who could object?
In a rare outburst, this commander of poise and sensitivity lashed out at his anonymous accusers: "Over the years I've gotten several complaints about inappropriate material during these videos, never to me personally but, gutlessly, through other channels." Gutless, indeed! If there'd been a plank aboard the Enterprise, Honors would have been well within his rights to put the snivelers on it.
Instead, he opened one of his last videos with these mild, entirely justified words: "This evening, all of you bleeding hearts... why don't you just go ahead and hug yourself for the next 20 minutes or so, because there's a really good chance you're gonna be offended."
That's the man in a nutshell, empathetic, soft spoken.
Still one of these snivelers (probably gay), not yet identified by name, took (inexplicable) offense... go figure... sending the (to him) offending tapes to the Navy Inspector General.
Where all hell broke lose.
Despite the fact that Owen Honors was well-known throughout the Navy, despite the fact that he had a high visibility command; despite 3,400 flight hours in 31 types of aircraft... despite a chestful of bona fide awards and medals... the Navy moved expeditiously because it knew it had a real hot potato on its hands.
Navy media releases quickly went from "the videos were intended to be humorous" to "inappropriate"... to the announcement Captain Honors was relieved of his command as the Navy initiated, behind the scenes, the steps required to cashier him from the service he loved and had served throughout his life. My how the mighty had fallen!
Certain Navy personnel and those persons wedded to the good old days of fag baiting and the humiliation and degradation of women, predictably launched a campaign to save the Captain and his wayward views. They tried to convince by asking what was the big deal after all; the views advanced in the Captain's high tech videos were commonplace, nothing to write home about, the way "everyone" thought.
Exactly.
This is why the Navy Department is to be commended on taking (reasonably) prompt action to lance the infection and proclaim zero tolerance for mocking good sailors, their sexuality and gender.
The Navy is moving fast now to get just-suspended Captain Honors out of public view, to bury this still young officer with talent and skills to burn and ensure that he becomes the complete non-person, He is, after all, a total embarrassment... the story breaking at the worst possible time, as the Navy shows that it can, with good humor and in good order, nimbly move into the post "don't ask, don't tell" era.
There is, the Navy signals, no place in this new order for Captain Honors, once absolute lord of all he surveyed. Such a man so powerful and so lacking in judgment is now an inconvenient artifact of an age and state of mind the Navy wants firmly, irrevocably behind it.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 4, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leadership is an important ability and responsibility when,
leading others so as to accomplish a goal that is collectively
beneficial to all. However, when the leader allows his POWER
to corrupt him then, you have a problem.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Let me introduce you to a cool dude, cute too, who knows how to party and had the perfect place to do it. I'm talking about U.S. Navy Captain Owen Honors, only just relieved as commander of America's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the proud USS Enterprise.
Honors, who never met a camera he didn't like, a man determined to please his crew, liked to spend his week preparing videos -- starring, guess who -- Captain Owen Honors, 49 year old Top Gun pilot and decided off-color video star.
Honors had at his disposal the very best video equipment generous U.S. taxpayers could buy. His effects were right up-to-the-minute, like having three separate screens in which (guess who?) appeared as three different (all cool) characters. Wow!
Honors, each week determined to outdo himself on weekend XO nights (when his latest videos were shown), somehow found time in his very busy days. The USS Enterprise, after all, was deployed supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A man of dedication, energy, imagination he somehow found the time to work on video ideas, plots, film venues, and a dazzling array of really cool outfits perfectly tailored. This caring captain was determined to give his eagerly expectant 6000-person crew the very best. He certainly did, particularly in 2006-2007 when his bold ideas and still bolder presentations took the Enterprise by storm and riveted every eye on the ship. What, they all wondered, would their daring executive officer, then Captain Honors do next?
They never had long to wait.
There was that hot video when their cutting-edge commander simulated masturbation at his desk. As Paris Hilton would say, "That's hot!"
What about the never-to-be-forgotten episode of two naked guys soaping each other off in the shower. Honors was a nut for saving water... and wanted to drive home the point with eye-popping visuals. And, to be completely politically correct, he did the same scene with two of the women of his crew.
There was more, much more since Honors was an indefatigable guy with an unceasing appetite for more and better; ambitious videos of which he soon became the master with the help of designated members of his command.
There was the anal probe episode... and all the "fag" plots, pratfalls and plays. That commander... what a cut-up.
There were the in jokes, like writing "little XO" on his you-know-what. It was hilarious, pure camp, what a guy.
And just think, he did it all while on deployment in not one, but two war zones. How did the guy do it, inquiring minds wanted to know.
Alas, there was irritating criticism from small minds.
It's hard to imagine... but disgracefully true... that there were members of the Enterprise crew who found their commander's hard work and dazzling results offensive. Small minded, picayune, uptight... these folks made a fuss and criticized the coolest guy in the fleet. This rankled with Honors, for he was working so hard. Why his bravura video on the "f-bomb" was pure poetry. Really, who could object?
In a rare outburst, this commander of poise and sensitivity lashed out at his anonymous accusers: "Over the years I've gotten several complaints about inappropriate material during these videos, never to me personally but, gutlessly, through other channels." Gutless, indeed! If there'd been a plank aboard the Enterprise, Honors would have been well within his rights to put the snivelers on it.
Instead, he opened one of his last videos with these mild, entirely justified words: "This evening, all of you bleeding hearts... why don't you just go ahead and hug yourself for the next 20 minutes or so, because there's a really good chance you're gonna be offended."
That's the man in a nutshell, empathetic, soft spoken.
Still one of these snivelers (probably gay), not yet identified by name, took (inexplicable) offense... go figure... sending the (to him) offending tapes to the Navy Inspector General.
Where all hell broke lose.
Despite the fact that Owen Honors was well-known throughout the Navy, despite the fact that he had a high visibility command; despite 3,400 flight hours in 31 types of aircraft... despite a chestful of bona fide awards and medals... the Navy moved expeditiously because it knew it had a real hot potato on its hands.
Navy media releases quickly went from "the videos were intended to be humorous" to "inappropriate"... to the announcement Captain Honors was relieved of his command as the Navy initiated, behind the scenes, the steps required to cashier him from the service he loved and had served throughout his life. My how the mighty had fallen!
Certain Navy personnel and those persons wedded to the good old days of fag baiting and the humiliation and degradation of women, predictably launched a campaign to save the Captain and his wayward views. They tried to convince by asking what was the big deal after all; the views advanced in the Captain's high tech videos were commonplace, nothing to write home about, the way "everyone" thought.
Exactly.
This is why the Navy Department is to be commended on taking (reasonably) prompt action to lance the infection and proclaim zero tolerance for mocking good sailors, their sexuality and gender.
The Navy is moving fast now to get just-suspended Captain Honors out of public view, to bury this still young officer with talent and skills to burn and ensure that he becomes the complete non-person, He is, after all, a total embarrassment... the story breaking at the worst possible time, as the Navy shows that it can, with good humor and in good order, nimbly move into the post "don't ask, don't tell" era.
There is, the Navy signals, no place in this new order for Captain Honors, once absolute lord of all he surveyed. Such a man so powerful and so lacking in judgment is now an inconvenient artifact of an age and state of mind the Navy wants firmly, irrevocably behind it.
About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James http://SuccessRoute.biz.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The # 1 Marketing Mistake that 90% of marketers are making. Are you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 3, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leads and traffic are the lifeblood of your online home
business opportunity and without them you’re operating
a Non-Profit Agency from the discomfort of your home.
Yes, 90% of marketers have become Dead-Dealers due to
poor marketing skills, strategies, lack of knowledge and
ignorance about the concept of marketing. Access critical
information to accelerate your learning curve and more
importantly, generates LEADS and saves you money.
By Sandi Hunter
I've been an online marketer for nearly 18 years, my business partner has been marketing on and offline for over 30 years.
I'm going to tell you what we've learned and know for a fact so you get better results from your advertising NOW.
If you are like most marketers you have a snazzy website that you either spent good money on or you have laboured to build yourself. Now all you have to do is promote it. Right? WRONG! Before you spend one dime to promote your website, read this article. Don't make the same mistake made by 90% of marketers that costs them thousands and thousand of dollars, lost leads and lost sales.
You do NOT want to promote your website as your primary method of generating leads. Here's why.
If your website is like 99% of those I have reviewed, it's copy dense. You've got links, video, flash, offers, affiliates, graphics, pages, charts, forms, RSS Feeds, blogs, Twitter feeds, the Daily Weather, and a little or a lot of other organized chaos. The viewer (your potential buyer) doesn't know here to look, what to click on, it's information OVERLOAD. (This is all great for key word content for Search Engine Optimization or general promotion but NOT the best way for generating leads). The result is immediate. If they don't instantly see what they want they click OFF. Say Goodbye to your lead! You might as well add, "Sorry I wasn't a little more clever about helping you get what you want so I could get what I need." The SMART marketer understands this and says, I want to meet the needs of my viewers. I want to convert my viewers into leads. That means giving your visitors a positive FAST loading experience with an immediate offer and a call to action. This is a very precise experience with a very specific message and directive. How do you this? By creating what is called a Landing Page strictly for promotional purposes.
What is a Landing page? It's also known as a Squeeze page because you are squeeeeezing information from the viewer, converting the looker into an actual lead. The concept is simple, pitch an offer, the looker completes a form. They are enticed by the offer, you get a lead. You've converted a looker into a LEAD!
Why is the promotion of Landing Page(s) INSTEAD of your website critical? It's simple. Keep your potential buyers happy and YOU will get better advertising results. Specifically, a fast-loading landing page that includes a headline with an immediate benefit and a call to action. Example: HERE's what you GET! Followed by punchy benefits of what else they get, concluding with an offer and a lead form.
Now, here is a critical point for all you advertisers who think graphics are the king, that more is better. Take a quick lesson from an experienced marketer (who is also a designer). If you do nothing else to improve your ad copy - get rid of the fancy and weighty images. Often an overabundance of graphics detracts from your marketing message. We have tested boring simple text ads against the exact same ad copy on a rich graphic landing page. Guess what? The simple ugly plain text ads consistently got higher click rates than the graphical ones. We eliminated instant play video, got rid of flash, and used just really good ad copy. Landing pages with no video perform better than those with video. Why is this? Videos can take a while to load and may not add immediate value to what you offer. You often have less than 30 seconds to get your message into the brain of the viewer. Well-chosen key words get in the brain of your potential buyers IMMEDIATELY when time and limited attention is critical. We humans are greedy. This is a fact. We have short attention spans. We want something and we want it now. Smart marketers recognize this and tell people what they can get and how to get it if they act now!
One of the powers of a Landing Page comes from the fact that you can create a specific Landing Page for EVERY product you offer. You can create them quickly and test them. If you create a dud that gets no result, replace it by creating another. Many advertising sources offer an option to pause a campaign which means you can cancel one ad and replace it with another more effective one before your ad dollars are depleted. Compare this to making edits to a web site that can take considerable time for major marketing changes, while a Landing page can be put up and taken down in minutes.
Finally, remember where you are marketing - online. Full page colour graphic ads do well in a full page print ad. My guess is that you don't have the 10 K + for a fully page glossy ad. You are most likely relying on the tried true tested forms of free an low cost advertising like Traffic Exchanges and Safelists. These are powerful ways to promote your product or service and are ideal for simple Landing Pages. In fact you WANT a fast loading simply ad for Safelists and Traffic Exchanges because you have a very limited (20 sec or less) to get these people attention. Keeping it simple is just as effective now as it always has been. Graphics used effectively can bring your ad alive, but very few other than professionals can master this combination of copy and graphics to solicit response.
Ok, I want to make sure I have made this point clear as it is so very important. Use LANDING PAGES to generate leads for specific products or services. Use your website to promote your company in general. Landing Pages are ALL about the reader and turning them into a lead. If you want to stock your website with page after page about product development, research, your years in business, how wonderful you are and your customers think you are, put all of that on your website. Content about your company, products and services is of course valuable for many reasons, post it to your site but don't rely on this as you one and only lead generator.
Now, let's dig a little deeper into your advertising strategy. Look at your ad or your landing page. I mean really look at it.
Do you have a clear benefit headline to get attention. Do you follow this headline up with benefit-laden offers, reason after reason why people have to act now! Do you include an invitation to DO IT NOW offer that will motivate your reader to become a buyer! Or if not a buyer at least to take some action - to respond to your offer, join your newsletter, try a free sample, participate in a free trial. Whatever get them to DO something! You accomplish this with well-written offers not with blinking links, and boring videos that take forever to load. Have you included an OPTIN to your company mailing, newsletter, product updates etc? This is a CRITICAL inclusion. A Landing page doubles as a List Building Tool. Do not underestimate this. Landing pages and list building work hand in hand as required marketing tools.
Review your advertising material. Is it about YOU or is it about your potential buyer? If the ad is more about how wonderful you are then about how beneficial your product or service is to the user, you have what is called an EGO ad. Your ad should NOT be about you, or your company, or that you are family owned business, or that you support charities. Your ad has one purpose: to tell people all the benefits of what your product/services offers and why they need to act now to get it! Want a quick lesson in this strategy? Watch late night infomercials. See how these infomercials verbally hit you over the head INSTANTLY with all the BENEFIT OF X product. You are drawn in more and more because they offer you X, then add Y to it. But wait if you buy now you get X, Y and Z too! Watch how they give you the pitch, make the offer, then make a better offer, and than a limited time offer to motivate you into action NOW!! Great marketing offers value and a sense of urgency to get an immediate action.
Ok here is your homework. If you don't have an ad strategy that accomplishes this you have failed your first lesson in online marketing. Go back write it again, take away distraction of video and flash. Whittle your ad down to ONLY what matters to the buyer. Get back to basics. Your goal is always to compel action. Don't risk making anyone wait to see what you offer. Get to the point instantly. Web surfers are easily bored. Get their attention INSTANTLY or they are gone! You may get a hit on your ad, but you can quickly send people away with a poorly thought out advertising strategy. Advertising that does not generate leads and sales will eat up your hard-earned dollars faster than my dog woofs down his doggie chow.
Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James:
successroute.biz
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2011 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
Vaurn James’s Newsletter
January 3, 2011
Access 250,000 Advertising Credits for FREE
successroute.biz
successroute.biz/newsletter
Publisher: Vaurn James
215-728-4905 or 1-800-417-0196
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leads and traffic are the lifeblood of your online home
business opportunity and without them you’re operating
a Non-Profit Agency from the discomfort of your home.
Yes, 90% of marketers have become Dead-Dealers due to
poor marketing skills, strategies, lack of knowledge and
ignorance about the concept of marketing. Access critical
information to accelerate your learning curve and more
importantly, generates LEADS and saves you money.
By Sandi Hunter
I've been an online marketer for nearly 18 years, my business partner has been marketing on and offline for over 30 years.
I'm going to tell you what we've learned and know for a fact so you get better results from your advertising NOW.
If you are like most marketers you have a snazzy website that you either spent good money on or you have laboured to build yourself. Now all you have to do is promote it. Right? WRONG! Before you spend one dime to promote your website, read this article. Don't make the same mistake made by 90% of marketers that costs them thousands and thousand of dollars, lost leads and lost sales.
You do NOT want to promote your website as your primary method of generating leads. Here's why.
If your website is like 99% of those I have reviewed, it's copy dense. You've got links, video, flash, offers, affiliates, graphics, pages, charts, forms, RSS Feeds, blogs, Twitter feeds, the Daily Weather, and a little or a lot of other organized chaos. The viewer (your potential buyer) doesn't know here to look, what to click on, it's information OVERLOAD. (This is all great for key word content for Search Engine Optimization or general promotion but NOT the best way for generating leads). The result is immediate. If they don't instantly see what they want they click OFF. Say Goodbye to your lead! You might as well add, "Sorry I wasn't a little more clever about helping you get what you want so I could get what I need." The SMART marketer understands this and says, I want to meet the needs of my viewers. I want to convert my viewers into leads. That means giving your visitors a positive FAST loading experience with an immediate offer and a call to action. This is a very precise experience with a very specific message and directive. How do you this? By creating what is called a Landing Page strictly for promotional purposes.
What is a Landing page? It's also known as a Squeeze page because you are squeeeeezing information from the viewer, converting the looker into an actual lead. The concept is simple, pitch an offer, the looker completes a form. They are enticed by the offer, you get a lead. You've converted a looker into a LEAD!
Why is the promotion of Landing Page(s) INSTEAD of your website critical? It's simple. Keep your potential buyers happy and YOU will get better advertising results. Specifically, a fast-loading landing page that includes a headline with an immediate benefit and a call to action. Example: HERE's what you GET! Followed by punchy benefits of what else they get, concluding with an offer and a lead form.
Now, here is a critical point for all you advertisers who think graphics are the king, that more is better. Take a quick lesson from an experienced marketer (who is also a designer). If you do nothing else to improve your ad copy - get rid of the fancy and weighty images. Often an overabundance of graphics detracts from your marketing message. We have tested boring simple text ads against the exact same ad copy on a rich graphic landing page. Guess what? The simple ugly plain text ads consistently got higher click rates than the graphical ones. We eliminated instant play video, got rid of flash, and used just really good ad copy. Landing pages with no video perform better than those with video. Why is this? Videos can take a while to load and may not add immediate value to what you offer. You often have less than 30 seconds to get your message into the brain of the viewer. Well-chosen key words get in the brain of your potential buyers IMMEDIATELY when time and limited attention is critical. We humans are greedy. This is a fact. We have short attention spans. We want something and we want it now. Smart marketers recognize this and tell people what they can get and how to get it if they act now!
One of the powers of a Landing Page comes from the fact that you can create a specific Landing Page for EVERY product you offer. You can create them quickly and test them. If you create a dud that gets no result, replace it by creating another. Many advertising sources offer an option to pause a campaign which means you can cancel one ad and replace it with another more effective one before your ad dollars are depleted. Compare this to making edits to a web site that can take considerable time for major marketing changes, while a Landing page can be put up and taken down in minutes.
Finally, remember where you are marketing - online. Full page colour graphic ads do well in a full page print ad. My guess is that you don't have the 10 K + for a fully page glossy ad. You are most likely relying on the tried true tested forms of free an low cost advertising like Traffic Exchanges and Safelists. These are powerful ways to promote your product or service and are ideal for simple Landing Pages. In fact you WANT a fast loading simply ad for Safelists and Traffic Exchanges because you have a very limited (20 sec or less) to get these people attention. Keeping it simple is just as effective now as it always has been. Graphics used effectively can bring your ad alive, but very few other than professionals can master this combination of copy and graphics to solicit response.
Ok, I want to make sure I have made this point clear as it is so very important. Use LANDING PAGES to generate leads for specific products or services. Use your website to promote your company in general. Landing Pages are ALL about the reader and turning them into a lead. If you want to stock your website with page after page about product development, research, your years in business, how wonderful you are and your customers think you are, put all of that on your website. Content about your company, products and services is of course valuable for many reasons, post it to your site but don't rely on this as you one and only lead generator.
Now, let's dig a little deeper into your advertising strategy. Look at your ad or your landing page. I mean really look at it.
Do you have a clear benefit headline to get attention. Do you follow this headline up with benefit-laden offers, reason after reason why people have to act now! Do you include an invitation to DO IT NOW offer that will motivate your reader to become a buyer! Or if not a buyer at least to take some action - to respond to your offer, join your newsletter, try a free sample, participate in a free trial. Whatever get them to DO something! You accomplish this with well-written offers not with blinking links, and boring videos that take forever to load. Have you included an OPTIN to your company mailing, newsletter, product updates etc? This is a CRITICAL inclusion. A Landing page doubles as a List Building Tool. Do not underestimate this. Landing pages and list building work hand in hand as required marketing tools.
Review your advertising material. Is it about YOU or is it about your potential buyer? If the ad is more about how wonderful you are then about how beneficial your product or service is to the user, you have what is called an EGO ad. Your ad should NOT be about you, or your company, or that you are family owned business, or that you support charities. Your ad has one purpose: to tell people all the benefits of what your product/services offers and why they need to act now to get it! Want a quick lesson in this strategy? Watch late night infomercials. See how these infomercials verbally hit you over the head INSTANTLY with all the BENEFIT OF X product. You are drawn in more and more because they offer you X, then add Y to it. But wait if you buy now you get X, Y and Z too! Watch how they give you the pitch, make the offer, then make a better offer, and than a limited time offer to motivate you into action NOW!! Great marketing offers value and a sense of urgency to get an immediate action.
Ok here is your homework. If you don't have an ad strategy that accomplishes this you have failed your first lesson in online marketing. Go back write it again, take away distraction of video and flash. Whittle your ad down to ONLY what matters to the buyer. Get back to basics. Your goal is always to compel action. Don't risk making anyone wait to see what you offer. Get to the point instantly. Web surfers are easily bored. Get their attention INSTANTLY or they are gone! You may get a hit on your ad, but you can quickly send people away with a poorly thought out advertising strategy. Advertising that does not generate leads and sales will eat up your hard-earned dollars faster than my dog woofs down his doggie chow.
Republished with author's permission by Vaurn James:
successroute.biz
=========================================================
(C) SuccessRoute.biz 2011 All Rights Reserved.
=========================================================
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