Posts filed under 'Internet Marketing'
“Do you read much?”
That’s the question Diane Eble asked in her blog post today. I had to share this post. Why? Because one of the ways to drive traffic to your website is to have your name and website appear on high traffic sites. In her post, Diane goes on to explain how reviewing books in your field increases your visibility to people who might be your ideal prospects and on search engines.
Here’s the rest of Diane’s post including instructions for how to do what she suggests. Thanks, Diane!
As an author or aspiring author, I assume you do.
Here’s a way to use your reading to get traffic back to your own website.
First, a pop-quiz question: What’s a site that gets a LOT of traffic? Like, thousands if not millions a day….
If you guessed amazon.com, you’re right!
So, when you post a review of a book that’s related to your area of expertise, you get to create a link back to your site.
Because the link comes from a credible, highly-trafficked site, you will rise in the search engines.
Here’s how:
Create an account at Amazon. If you’re already a member at Amazon then you’ve probably already bought something from them and that’s even better. You’re an established member of and you’ve already completed your first step. Amazon won’t allow you to make comments unless you’ve purchased something there. (May I suggest a great book that made it to #3 on amazon recently–a book that will, if you implement it, change every area of your life in amazing ways? It’s here—and yes, I did write a review!)
Create your profile. Talk about yourself, using relevant keywords. And of course, put a link to your site.
Review products. The next thing you need to do is to give product reviews of items for sale on Amazon. If there are books you’ve read, then go the section where they ask you for your review of the product and give one. Each time you give your review of a product make certain you leave your name and in your signature should be a link back to your website.
Do you know how many people visit Amazon on a daily basis? More than visit your site, that’s for sure. Each time someone sees your review, they will see your name and the link back to your website. This is a simple, free and easy way to put your name out there and get more traffic back to your website.
Use this powerful method and let me know your results with it. It’s one of the more fun ways I use in the “Multiple Presences on the Web” strategy. (I once decided my dream job would be to get paid well to read. This is at least mildly related to that.)
Diane Eble is “Your Book Publishing Coach.” Her blog is worth following if you’re an author or aspire to be.
Tags: Become an Expert, Business development, Independent Service Professionals, Information Marketing, Internet Marketing, Marketing for Professionals
June 8th, 2010
My buddy Jim is a member of the First Collaborative Credibility Cluster, the very same CCC I’m in, the very same one that’s one of many brainchildren of Russell Cox, who’s… you guest it, another member of CCC#1!
Jim wrote a post at Community and Business on the CCC’s shared community website. Jim’s got a great sense of humor and he loves puns. In this post he’s asked, “What is the Web 2.0 Refrigerator Magnet?”
Great question, Jim. And I’ve got an answer for you…
Ah, Jim, there will always be a place in the world for ‘old fashion’ marketing! The answer to becoming known as an expert in your field or an authority in your niche is not an either/or, yes/no answer. It’s “Yes, and…” You want what I call a “HI-5 Marketing Message.” Imagine you could ‘Hi-5″ all your ideal prospects and clients in all your communications with them. Imagine you could deliver a message that’s Heart-Inspired, Integrated, interactive, Internet and Information-based.
How does HI-5 messaging relate to Web 2.0? For Jim’s post, the key word in the explanation of what a HI-5 message is Integrated. An integrated message platform weaves together traditional media channels with ‘old’ Web 1.0 tools, techniquest, technologies, and winning strategies with the new Web 2.0 and the coming Web 3.0 ones.
I want to get back to answering the question Jim asked in his post: “What is the Web 2.0 equivilant of the refergerator magnet?”
Hey, I think this is a great question to ask the LinkedIn community. We’ll get great ideas. And we’ll be building the web of links we’re weaving in Web 2.0.
By the way, in the spirit of taking a HI-5 message to the next level, I’d trade my refrigerator magnet in for:
- a bumper sticker with a URL that’s easy to read from the car behind
- a series of Tweets and re-tweets
- a conversation in Facebook or in your vibrant online community
- a continued asynchronous dialog among members of our CCC and anyone else who wants to participate
- a banner ad on your site and those of your strategic alliance partners and raving fans
- a real time conversation…
- on the phone, of course, as we live thousands of miles apart.
- We’ll record our conversation so we can turn it into
- a podcast which we’ll submit to podcast directories so anyone can find it and listen to at their convenience.
- an audio on each of our websites and our community groupsites.
- We’ll also transcribe the audio track and turn it into an article, a blog post, an e-book or e-course.
- a YouTube video of two or more someones who looks like a present day average Joe or Jane. In fact, they’re wearing T-shirts with the refrig magnet’s message on the front and back, with logos, of course.
- First this person goes to their mailbox to get and open the envelope with a refrigerator magnet inside, then
- Then he walks to their refrig where they place the magnet.
- Then she walks to their computer and looks at the banner ad, the blog post, and clicks on the audio play button to listen to the conversation.
- Then they walk to their car, T-shirts clearly visible and read-able, they get into the car, and as the car drives away with them waving, the camera zooms in to focus on the bumper sticker.
- What’s the bumper sticker say? You guessed it. The same message that’s on the magnet!
So, all of the above are my suggestions for the Web 2.0 equivalent of refrigerator magnets.
What are your ideas?
And what about your suggestions for what would appear on those magnets, bumper stickers, T-shirts, titles, and such?
Here are a few of mine:
“Want to make more money? HI-5 your audience.” www.MarketingToYOURworld.com
“Want to grow your business? Trade your refrigerator magnet in for a bumper sticker.” www.MarketingToYOURworld.com
What’s your HI-5 marketing message? Share it here and you’re building your audience. in Web 2.0. In fact, you’ve made your Web 2.0 refrigerator magnet. Now pass it on wherever you’re communicating with YOUR ideal clients and prospects.
“Whether you’re doing business around the corner or around the globe, take YOUR message to YOUR World!” www.MarketingToYOURworld.com
Tags: Develop Your Audience, Hi 5 Marketing message, Information Marketing, Internet Marketing, Web 2.0
December 21st, 2009
I immediately bought the book and signed up for Tim’s e-course I receive via emails.
Today’s issue #29 was exactly what I needed to read today. By the time I got his email, I had created the draft of a PowerPoint presentation for a project I’m working on for a client, I had a meeting with him while taking my morning walk, I wrote another blog post, read and when appropriate answered about 40 emails, and discovered about 10 new sources of knowledge and expertise I’ll explore after I finish this post.
Yet, even having done all that before noon, I felt pushed and pressured by myself to do more faster. Then I read Tim’s advice. I found what he had to say so helpful I wanted to share it with you… I know I am in good company with others like myself 
Here’s what Tim shared:
Making your life a direct expression of your purpose is the most fulfilling and rewarding choice. It is also something that doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to make an orderly transition from how you are currently living to a new, purpose-centered life.
This may or may not involve changes in profession or other life circumstances. Remember, a purpose isn’t a job, a job is an expression of a purpose.
Living fully from purpose requires consistently making purpose-based choices. More on that in a later issue.
There are a couple of significant disadvantages to this strategy. The most common problem people face with this approach is fear of the unknown. They imagine that they will be unable to support themselves, that people they love will reject them, or any of a number of other fears. These fears rarely come to pass, but the imagination of them can deter people in their movement towards manifesting their purpose.
The other “problem” is an interesting one. Moving towards your purpose tends to increase the amount of serendipity and synchronicity in your life: people show up to help you and things that you imagine will be difficult become easy. This creates a feeling of “acceleration” which can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.
Of course, it’s hard to imagine a better problem to have: the question becomes, how much exhilaration, meaning, passion, and success can you tolerate? It seems like a silly question, but it really isn’t. I often find myself “hitting the brakes” a little bit to keep the rapid progress towards my purpose at a rate I can manage.
Copyright © 2003-2009 Timothy A. Kelley. All rights reserved. “Know Your Purpose” and “Purpose Hunting” are trademarks of Timothy A. Kelley
Back to my thoughts…
I’m wondering if Tim’s perspective was helpful to you. If so, how specifically?
Equally important, how do you manage the pace you operate at because you’re driven by your passion ?
Please share as I know we are in good company and what’s working for you may help me and others, too.
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Tags: Become an Expert, Information Marketing, Information Products, Internet Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, Professionals
December 15th, 2009
I just got an email from ??? Can’t even tell you at the moment. Whatever they said, whatever they offered, I nibbled, I bit, I got hooked.
They did everything right including thanking me for taking action. On the thank you page was a list of related resources. Many looked interesting and valuable and free. So I selected the ones most relevant for me. Here’s what I discovered…
All are by different authors. How do I know? I got emails from the different authors - the double opt-in type. Each therefore had a link for me to click to confirm I wanted what they were offering. I went to a different website for each information product I had selected. All were nice enough websites…
Some were offering additional products for a fee. Some now had me subscribed to a new newsletter.
And I now have access to lots of new informatin I said I wanted in the first place.
On one hand, I’m impressed with this strategy. A very cool approach in theory… All of this was professionally done. No complaints in that regard.
Here’s my growing concern as I get email after email offering more information. Not just the ones I mentioned above… From lots of other people ~ some I know, some I don’t and have no idea how they got my name in the first place (whether the info they’re offering is valuable or not…)
I’m on information overload – not so much the information itself, mind you. I love learning new stuff. The world’s changing so fast, I’m grateful there are so many people out there keeping up with this aspect or that, and are offering to let me in on their secret.
Free or fee, receiving access to all this information isn’t the problem.
It’s the time involved with reading the original email, clicking, entering my info, getting opt-in email, clicking, either waiting for next email or getting immediate access to the resource – which I usually have to save as I’m not in the stop and read mode.
I know I’m not alone. How are you dealing with it on the receiving end? Deleting? Unsubscribing?
Here’s my BIGGER question:
What if you’re a consultant wanting to serve more people and make more money? What’s a consultant to do to stand out in a noisy and crowded marketplace?
Any ideas? I sure would love to hear from you!
Woops, I just left myself wide open to get yet another bunch of new emails offering me yet another bunch of new information products or services promising to solve this problem or that.
What’s a girl to do?
More important, what’s a consultant to do?
Tags: Become an Expert, Email marketing, Information Marketing, Internet Marketing, Marketing for Consultants, Marketing for Professionals
December 14th, 2009
I just got back from a two-day seminar on Internet Marketing. Armand Morin was amazing. He talked non-stop, except for breaks, of course, for both days.
Needless to say, I learned a great deal. Some you’ll be hearing about in future blogs and articles. I also met dynamic, exciting people.
The single most important benefit to me: I’ve shattered another myth in my Marketing Resistance Syndrome, one of the biggest obstacles to my success. Maybe you can relate, and more important, hopefully you, too, can banish this “Success Thief” from your mind forever!
I LOVE what I do. I talk about it, read about it, listen, watch, think about it. My ‘IT’ is helping consultants turn their expertise into gold by becoming known as a VIP with VIP ~ a Very Important Person with Valuable Intellectual Property. If you’re a consultant, you want the perks that go along with being known as an expert in your field, don’t you?
What’s your “IT”? As you read the rest of this post, imagine you’re holding your “IT” and the people you LOVE to serve in the center of your heart. That’s where they are already, isn’t it?
Back to my story… Here I am, sitting in a room filled with “Internet Marketers.” I wish there were a way to spell that in four letters because that’s how I used to think of them — emails, newsletters, links, opt-in pages, downloads ~ information overload. And what are they promoting and selling? Information products, often not even their own. Why? To make the thousands of dollars a day they advertise you, too, can make, or the pounds of weight you can lose, if you buy whatever they’re selling. Sound familiar? Yuck!
Well, after a slow start, I found myself typing away as fast as I could. Why?
Armand said something so important. He only said it once, and I could have missed it if I weren’t listening VERY closely.
His examples for how to use this technique and that to promote and sell products were always his or someone else’s product that would help the Internet marketer succeed.
Before I quote Armand, I want to tell you something I learned at T. Harv Eker’s Train-the-Trainer as well as from many others who coach and teach about creating, promoting, and selling information products.
We MUST package our expertise into Valuable Intellectual Property, also known as Valuable Information Products. Sure, there are many benefits to us.
We’ll get to those in a moment.
More important, let’s take a look at how our clients and prospective clients benefit when we turn our knowledge, experience, and wisdom into something tangible, something they can hold in their hand or download, something they can take home with them, or discover sitting comfortably in their favorite chair.
People are hungry for information. Not just any information. Specific information on something they’re passionate about, curious about, maybe they just need to know. It doesn’t matter if it’s related to their work or personal life, their hobby or a community project. They’re searching and more and more, they’re searching online. How do you think Google stays #1 on the Internet?
And some of them are searching for what you know! They have a problem they want to solve, a pain they want to avoid or eliminate, a pleasure they’re seeking, or maybe it’s a question they want answered. And they’re actively looking for “IT”!
You can make their day! You said you were PASSIONATE about “IT”, didn’t you? You want to share your passion with others, don’t you?
Guess what?
You owe it to these people to share your expertise with them! From their perspective, you’re being selfish if you don’t. Did you ever consider that? And once they find you, they want to stay connected, to learn more, to be encouraged, to be shown how step by step. They need you!
So write it, say it, demonstrate it, and while you’re at it, record it. Turn it into a blog post or article, an audio or video podcast, post it to YouTube, Tweet it, share it with your Facebook friends and fans. It doesn’t matter if it’s a book, a song, a product, a program or a service.. It could be physical or digital. There are advantages to both, so why not do both. You can give it away for free or sell it. The important thing is share it!
Share it with the world so those who are looking for you can quickly and easily find you and benefit from your expertise, your perspective, your wisdom and knowledge. There’s only one you. You’re the only you that ever was, is, and will be! YOU have the perfect message, the perfect story, the perfect answer for someone, for the many someones who are looking for YOU right now! Start spreading the word to the world so those who want to be in YOUR world can find, and get to know, like, and trust you.
People do business with those they know, like, and trust. That’s how you benefit! According to Milgram’s law, the marketplace will blindly believe the words of an expert. So you must be perceived as an expert. To be perceived as an expert, you must be more visible to more people who then have the opportunity to realize you are credible and valuable. That’s how you become more profitable and get all the other perks of being known as an expert in your field. How cool is that!
Back to Armand and that one thing he said that changed my world, and I hope changes yours.
“What’s better than using all the techniques Armand covered, and all the ones he didn’t cover, to promote, distribute, and yes, even sell other people’s products, programs, and services? Create, promote, distribute, and yes, even sell your own!”
Thank you, Armand!
Does that make you an Internet Marketer? Or are you still you, being passionate about what you do, using the Internet to help you become more visible, credible, and valuable to those who want to find you because you are passionate about what you do? Here’s the bottom line…
Whether you’re doing business around the corner or around the world, you owe it to the people who need you and are searching for you to take your message to YOUR World. It’s time for you to become a VIP with VIP!
Tags: Become an Expert, Information Marketing, Information Products, Internet Marketing, Marketing for Consultants, Marketing Resistance Syndrome, Professionals, VIP with VIP
December 7th, 2009
So you want to be well seen, well known, and well paid for doing what you know and love to do, right?
Maybe you call yourself a professional, maybe a consultant, maybe both.
Anyone can declare the same. All you need is some qualifications: experience, credentials, a degree (not necessarily related to what you’re doing now.)
More and more people are doing just that as they are laid off.
That means you’re swimming in a crowded Red Ocean of competition. There are many consequences of playing in this arena. Consultants chase business, winning clients is more difficult, and your piece of the pie is smaller. People want to bargain with you about your fee. You end up customizing what you offer for new clients. You know the drill.
What’s the alternative?
Swim out into a Blue Ocean. In fact, you can create your own Blue Ocean where you become known as an expert in your field. You get treated as a VIP, with all the perks. Business chases experts. People trust experts because they’re known as experts. Experts get to charge more, and people don’t expect a bargain.
Here’s the thing. While anyone can be self-declared professional or consultant, you can’t declare yourself an expert. Well, you can. Without much in your court that validates your declaration, I’m just not sure how credible others will find it.
What does it take to truly be recognized as an expert? Others need to say it’s so. Your clients, peers and experts in your field, the media, people with authority deem you an expert.
How do you win their endorsement? How do you become more visible, credible, valuable and, eventually, you become more profitable?
Have you ever heard of Milgram’s Law? The marketplace will blindly believe the words of an expert. You must be perceived as an expert.
Who’s an expert? Milgram says it’s someone who’s an author. While an author does have instant credibility, I believe today we have other options.
You can become a VIP with VIP ~ a Very Important Person with Valuable Intellectual Property. Turn your expertise into physical, tangible information products. It can be text, audio, video or multi-media. It can be physical or digital. You can offer it for free or a fee. There are many other criteria by which you can describe your Valuable Information Products. The important thing is that they exist. The evidence of your expertise then speaks for itself.
So what’s a consultant to do? Click here to discover 10 Blue Ocean Strategies I propose you implement to transform yourself into an expert in your field.
Here’s the thing. While it takes only a moment to read each strategy, becoming known as an expert isn’t instant pudding. You’ll need to invest time, energy, expertise, and maybe some money to implement each. Do consider working with someone who’s an expert at turning consultants into experts and expertise into Valuable Intellectual Property. You’ll achieve the coveted status more quickly and easily, with less wasted resources, than if you make the journey on your own. I’m here ready to extend a helping hand. All you need to do is ask.
The rewards of being known as an expert in your field is well worth the effort it’s going to take to get there. It’s the quality of your journey as much as the destination, so as you take one step after the other, remember to do so with a joyful heart. “Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down in the most delightful way.” If it’s got to be done, make it fun. Your vibration serves as a homing beacon. You attract what you vibrate in harmony with. You get what you put your attention on whether it’s what you want or don’t want.
So keep your eyes on the prize ~ you being known as an expert in your field and enjoying the perks that come with the status.
Tags: Become an Expert, Information Marketing, Information Products, Marketing for Consultants, Marketing for Professionals, VIP with VIP
December 4th, 2009
I’m still reading Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne. My business partner and friend, Russ, had been recommending it for a while now. I’m glad I am. It’s one of those pivotal books for me.My dear friend and business partner, Russell Cox, has been talking about Blue Ocean Strategies for some time. He brought it up again during a recent conversation with Rick Hadsock, the third in our team.
What’s a Blue Ocean and why is it important to you and me? “Blue oceans are defined by unknown, and therefore, untapped market space, demand creation, and the opportunity for highly profitable growth.”
This is compared with Red Oceans which represent all industries in existence today in which “industry boundaries are defined and accepted, and the competitive rules of the game are known. Here, companies try to outperform their rivals to grab a greater share of existing demand. As the market space gets crowded, prospects profits and growth are reduced. Products become commodities, and cutthroat competition turns the red ocean bloody.
“Although some blue oceans are created well beyond existing industry boundaries, most are created from within red oceans by expanding existing industry boundaries. In blue oceans, competition is irrelevant because the rules are waiting to be set.
“It will always be important to swim successfully in the red ocean by outcompeting rivals. Red oceans will always matter and will always be a fact of business life. But with supply exceeding demand in more industries, competing for a share of contracting markets, while necessary, will not be sufficient to sustain high performance. Companies need to go beyond competing. To seize new profits and growth opportunities, they also need to create blue oceans.”
If you want to learn more without (or before) reading the book, click on this link. You’ll be taken to a website from which you can download files about Blue Ocean Strategy ~ a few summary slide presentations,
The best files start with Blue Ocean Strategy. Start with them.
Enjoy and happy sailing!
Tags: Become an Expert, Information Marketing, Marketing for Consultants
December 3rd, 2009
You want to serve more people, more businesses and organizations, right? You want to be more profitable, too, don’t you? You’re paying attention to what’s going on in the world around you to know one way to become more visible and credible to more people is to become a Social Media Marketer.
My business partner and I identified significant differences between Social Media Marketing (SMM,) a relatively new method of becoming well seen and well known that’s evolved because of Web 2.0, and traditional marketing, specifically advertising.
We also realized many people believe in a difference that’s really a myth: while traditional advertising is expensive, SMM is free or nearly so.
The first statement is still true. I hope as you read this article, you come to agree with the growing number of people who are discovering the second statement is a myth.
Why is advertising through traditional media channels expensive? You’re paying for everything that goes into creating and delivering your message.
Let’s say you want a print ad in a newspaper, magazine, or the Yellow Pages. You pay for the ad. Then, especially in the “the good old days” before technology empowered so many the ability to create print-ready ads, the media organization’s experts do what needs to be done to create and modify copy, graphics and layout until your ad is ready for printing. They help you decide where and when to place the ad. Then they take care of printing and distributing the media in which your ad appears.
All the people who contributed their area of expertise are paid by the media organization. That’s why advertising through traditional media channels is so expensive.
Guess who really pays all these experts? You!
That’s why while the experts are doing their thing, you’re doing whatever you do to make the money to pay for your ad.
Now let’s take a quick look at what’s involved in social media marketing. I’ll bet you’ve heard that many channels for SMM, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, a blog, ezine, and such, are free or almost. From one perspective, that’s true.
You can do the research to choose which platform to use and why. You can take a free class, listen to a free recording, or watch a free video to learn how to do what you need to do. You can get a free page in most social networks, create your own profile, upload your own picture, invite and accept invitations. You can get a free blog, and start your own ezine.
Now who’s got to have the expertise in all the above mentioned areas? Now who’s got to have the time, skill, and know-how to research and develop all that expertise? You!
You could do it all, if you had the time, tools, technology, talent, expertise and inclination… And if you truly believe you could do it all for free.
I’ve tried to do it all. So have many others. Have you?
Here’s what I’ve discovered. I don’t have the time, the inclination, nor the expertise to do it while I make a living and have a life.
So what have I decided to do?
I get experts to handle technology and graphics, especially because these often need to get done only once. And I get experts to train me.
Who pays for that? I do!
What happened to free? There is no such thing as a free lunch. And no matter what some want you to believe, Social Media Marketing isn’t instant pudding.
Is Social Media Marketing worth it? I think so. So do millions of others. Why?
Social Media Marketing is still one of the best deals in town, especially compared to the cost of traditional advertising. In fact, now that I’m up and running, SMM is free, or almost.
I do have to continue to invest my time and energy if I want results.
I’ve still got to learn how to use the social media I’ve selected, identify my target marketing, niche, and ideal client; create and distribute my message, and share my expertise with those who want and need it.
You’re ready to become the right person sharing the right message with the right people in the right time in the right way. That’s how you become known as an expert in your field. And that’s the quickest way to become more visible and credible so you can serve more people and become more profitable.
And that’s what you said you wanted in the first place, isn’t it?
So roll up your sleeves, gather your resources, and do what you must to get started. Craft and implement your Social Media Marketing (SMM) strategy and plan. Identify your ideal clients. Design your Irresistible Offer and Call-to-Action messages. Choose the best media channels to reach them. Decide what to outsource and what you’ll do yourself.
Then “just do it.” Be willing to learn by doing and learn in public. Repeat what works; modify or stop what doesn’t, and try something else.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, if you’re suffering from Marketing Resistance Syndrome, if you don’t know where to start or what to do next, there are people all around you who are ready to help as you learn how to swim. And as a trained lifeguard, I’m here for you.
So come on in. The water’s fine.
Tags: Social Media Marketing, Web 2.0
November 4th, 2009
Hi. I’m reading a report, “The Founder Formula: Use it to quickly and easily engineer a business that gives you complete and total personal and financial freedom!”
I suggest you go to the bottom of page 9, the section entitled “What every online entrepreneur needs to know about team building.”
While Tom Brown is talking about building an online business, I believe what he suggests applies to all of us regardless of what business we’re in. And if you are a professional or business owner who wants to go beyond being known as an expert in your field, if you want to beccome a VIP with VIP ~ a Very Important Professional with Valuable Information Products ~ you will be doing online marketing and probably building an online business. So this applies to you either way.
Tom does an excellent job of putting into language and illustration what I suggest is an excellent model for us entrepreneurs to use when thinking of our business and building our team.
“In a nutshell, Founders do NOT build a team to support them in their role within the company.
“Building a team to support YOU simply creates an enveronment that is built around you. And, when you do that, all you’re really doing is making your role… your job within the company… that much more necessary and required. And there’s no freedom in that approach.”
Instead, Tom proposes we build a team that best supports our company, NOT us.”
“This is why the answer or solution for most online entrepreneurs is NOT for you to learn more marketing tactics or even, necessarily, to get better at the tactics you’re currently using in your business.
“More often than not, doing more is the exact cause of the inefficiency in your business and results.
“And that’s exactly what Founders understand.
“You see, Founders understand that leveraging effective tactics at their appropriate stage is the key to efficiency and optimal growth and function.
“And, appropriately applied tactics… even effective ones… at the inappropriate time is the cause of most, if not all, inefficiency and suboptimal performance in your business (or worse, they’re actually blocking your path to success.)
“This is why the answer for you is to apply the Founders Philosophy of “less is more”.
“Stated differently: make sure the few tactics and strategies you’re using are the ones that are best for you to take your business to the next level right now. And, to operate like a Founder, make sure you’re using and applying the least number of tactics necessary to achieve your current business stage objective.
“Then, when you do, realize as your business grows and develops, the available appropriate tactics and strategies you have at your disposal will grow with you.”
Tom moves on to talk about the Founders Learning Path which is built on the foundation of “Just in Time Learning.” It’s how he suggests we avoid information overload and “tactic overwhelm.” In other words, by applying the Founders Learning Path you shatter your marketing resistance.
The article goes on to cover a few other points you’ll want to explore.
Then there’s a link to 4 videos. I’ll watch them later. I want to get this off to you guys now as you’ll need to read the report and watch the videos in your own time.
Yes, there’s a program they’re selling. I’m not signing up. I’m not an affiliate. I just know wisdom when I read it.
I do hope you find the information as valuable as I have.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share them.
July 30th, 2009
My friend and co-teacher of Develop Your Audience and Design Your Village with myself and creator of the courses, Russell Cox, is Your Book Publishing Coach. She’s written an article about why we recommend you start blogging today.
I’ll add a few comments of my own at the bottom of Diane’s article. Thanks you, Diane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diane’s Article: 9 Good Reasons to Start a Blog
Do you have a blog yet?
If not, you should start one—today! As soon as you finish reading this article!
Why?
Here are at least nine good reasons why every author should have a blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. They are very easy to create, update, and maintain.
If you can write an email, you can create and keep up with a blog. Plus, it costs nothing! You don’t even necessarily need a web host (though it’s best to have it hosted on your own domain), a designer (most blogging platforms have templates from which you can choose), or anything fancy. You can literally set one up in five minutes or less.
You can go to www.wordpress.com and set one up there for free. If you already have a web site, see if you can install WordPress on your site. (If you have a C-panel where your domain is hosted, they often have something called Fantastico, which allows you to install a WordPress blog. For instance, with my web host, HostGator, it installs with very few, simple steps.)
Although I personally don’t prefer blogger.com, that’s another quick, easy, and free way to create a blog. You simply go to www.blogger.com , and follow their simple instructions on how to set one up.
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2. The search engines will find you quickly.
While it may take up to six months for the search engines to index your regular Web site (unless it’s an XSite Pro site, in which case you have search engine optimization superior even to blogs, in my opinion), with a blog you get found and searched within 24 hours!
Plus, blogs tend to get you a higher listing in the search engines. Why? Because search engines love content, and blogs are almost always pure content. Search engines also like fresh material. All you need to keep the search engines regularly indexing your blog is to post at least one paragraph, three times a week. Surely you can do that, right?
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3. Blogs enable other people to find you easily.
Related to the point above, people searching on your topic will find you quicker through a blog.
Also, you can easily link to other blogs and Web sites that are related to your topic, and they to you. This will again help your search engine rank, it will drive traffic to your blog and/or Web site (mine doubles every month because of this), and allow you to begin to create a “presence” on the Internet.
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4. Blogs allow you to interact with your readers.
Blogs allow other people to interact with your ideas, because they allow people to leave comments.
You can ask people questions about what they are interested in knowing about your topic, which can help you create a better book or information product. You can test ideas. You can ask for feedback on an article, post, or topic. You can tell them about something you have available and give them a link to another page on your Web site.You can update your book’s material via your blog, or answer questions from readers.
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5. Blogging can get you into a regular writing routine.
Hard to find time to write? Get into the habit of posting to your blog regularly, and you’ll have established a routine for writing. If you’re strategic about it, you can even write your next (for first) book via your blog—and get feedback along the way to boot!
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6. People can subscribe to your blog.
People can subscribe to be notified whenever you post to your blog, and receive notice via email or a feed to their own news groups. This can bypass email and spam filters and get your messages read.
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7. Blogs help you cement your relationship with your audience.
Readers love to feel connected to their favorite authors. If they know about your blog, chances are they will read everything you post. Don’t be afraid to share things about your personal life. Readers love it!
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8. Blogs help you establish your platform.
By keeping up with your industry and becoming a filter for your audience, you can establish your expertise via your blog. Find other people who are interested in your industry or topic, connect them to each other, and get them talking, debating, and sharing. In this way you become a thought leader, which leads me into the next reason….
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9. The media love blogs.
Media often pay attention to blogs. They too are looking for fresh content, new ideas, strong voices. They may find you, but it’s more effective if you supplement your blogging with press releases and personal contacts with the media. Point them to your blog for more information, and let them be impressed enough to put you on their “contact these experts” list.
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Diane Eble is a book publishing coach who connects authors (aspiring and published) with the resources, skills, and ideas they need to be well heard and well paid for what they love to do. Sign up at her website for news of articles and teleseminars at http://www.wordstoprofit.com. Check out her blog at http:/www.yourbookpublishingcoach.com. You might also want to listen to the replay of a teleseminar she did on blog security with Cathy Perkins, “the WordPress Wizard,” at http://www.publishingcoachweekly.com/teleseminarreplays.html. Check out Cathy’s Wizard Weekly teleseminars at http://www.your-blog-coach.com.
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Here are a few of my own thoughts:
10. Establish youreself as an expert in your field.
In fact, it makes you a VIP with VIP: A Very Important Professional with Valuable Information Products.
In case you’re wondering, Information Product is today’s buzz world for Intellectual Property. In fact, now you can get your knowledge, wisdom, and expertise, AKA your intellectual property, from your head into a multitude of media channels. Many of these channels serve as both the message and the channel through which you deliver your message. You become more visible and credible which leads to becoming more profitable.
And you can more easily than ever reuse and reuse and reuse the same information: a blog post can become a published article, a topic for discussion during a radio show online or off, which of course gets recorded and posted as a podcast as well as transcribed into another article.
Now you’ve got the makings of an e-book with a digital recording or two – voila, you’ve got a multi-media package. And it’s digital – once you’ve produced the original and set up the delivery channel – your website, clickbank, your blog, squidoo lense and more, the cost of selling additional copies is extremely low, which means your profit margin is extrememly high! Abd you’re now generating passive, residual income. How cool is that!
This is important to do if you’re looking to establish yourself as the go-to guy or gal in your profession.
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11. If you’re in career transition, start your blog right now!
Have you ever thought of starting a blog if you’re in or poossibly going to be in career transition?
If that’s you and you’re wondering yhy I’m recommending you start a blog, consider this:
If you were the person looking to hire someone, would you choose someone who is exactly who you’re looking for or someone who’s exactly who you’re looking for AND they’re a published author, well known in their field?
Having your own blog gives you a degree of credibility others won’t have.
And if you’ve got your own blog, you might get to start or take over the employer’s blog.
This two possibilities give you a strategic advantage. And how important is that in today’s competitive market.
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12. Turn your blog posts into articles.
With a little extra time you can polish a good post and turn it into a great article. Submit it to a few article banks, AKA article directories, and you’ve given yourself yet another strategic advantage. While search engines like blogs because they’re updated more frequently than the typical static website, they love articles archived at article banks that get a HUGE amount of traffic even more. Your article on selfgrowth.com, ezinearticles, and specialty directories like biznik.com will show up even higher in search results than your blog post. Check it out!
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Well, it’s after 8 am and I’m in Florida, so if I want to walk with my 5 pound dumbbells, I’d better get out there right now.
While I’m out walking, how about starting your blog, or if you’ve already got one, write a post and share it with me so I can comment.
And how about paying it forward! Find a friend who would benefit from having their own blog and help them start today!
Happy blogging!
Oh, how could I forget… having your own blog is one great way to take your message to YOUR World. Guess what?
That’s considered marketing! Breathe! I know many of you consider marketing a four letter word. Well, it’s abbreviation is. And that’s no reason to let your marketing resistance keep you from spreading the word about who you are, what you love to do, and who you want to serve, to help solve a problem, especially because they’re out there looking for you.
So, yes, you’ve just taken another huge action toward Shattering YOUR Marketing Resistance. Congratulations!
And if you know you suffer from Marketing Resistance Syndrome, if MRS is stealing your dreams, if you’re determined to be well seen, well heard, and well paid, and you’re ready to do whatever it takes to overcome YOUR Marketing Resistance, go to my website right now and register for my upcoming teleclass series, Shatter YOUR Marketing Resistance. The first session is free. AND there’s a huge savings if you register for the whole program before the first session. Instead of costing $197, you pay only $97, and you get to sign up a with Study Buddy for the same $97.
That’s a great deal, isn’t it? So before you start your blog or next blog post, go to my website and sign up with that buddy you’re going to help with their blog or someone else who’s ready to take their business to the next level and they know it’s time to shatter the resistance that’s been standing in the way
I’ll be announcing dates soon. And to insure we create a safe space for transformation through the class activities and sharings space is limited. So go sign up today and as soon as I’ve finalized all the details, you’ll be among the first to know.
Tags: Career transition, Develop Your Audience, Hi 5 Marketing message, Information Marketing, Marketing for Professionals, VIP with VIP, Why Blog
June 27th, 2009
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