Archive for September, 2009

So many times, I hear people say, “I don’t have the money to advertise my business”.  You don’t always have to have money to invest into marketing your website.  In fact, there are many FREE techniques that you can utilize that will help to drive quality traffic to you site.

These include but are not limited to:

1.  Ezine Articles-writing articles is one of the most effective and free ways to market your opportunity. There are many different article directories out there to submit to.  Ezine, Go Articles, Drop Jack and Article Base are just a few of the directories available.  If you don’t feel that you have strong enough copywriting skills, try looking at some of the articles written to get your inspiration. Don’t copy them word for word, but by looking to see what others are writing about can help to spark your creativity.  If that doesn’t work, there are many different “Ghost Writer” services available that are very affordable. Many times you can get an quality article written for about $10.oo.

2. Video Marketing-This is becoming one of the most popular and the great thing it is free as well marketing tools in online marketing today.  This also helps with Brand Recognition because people can actually see you as a person and relate to you.  Create an account on You Tube, You can purchase a Web Cam or small video camera that are relatively inexpensive and begin recording videos. You can then post them on your blog and/or Social Media Sites with links that advertise your business.

3.  Another great way to advertise your business is using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and My Space.  By meeting people with similar interests you can interact with them and you can also post links to your profile.

4. Free Classified Sites-this is another way to advertise your opportunity.  The key to doing this is to be consistent and do it on a regular basis.

5. Banner Exchanges-another way to advertise your business is through Banner Exchanges with other websites. You can do a google search to find some of the more popular sites to exchange with. Another idea is to search for blogs that are complimentary to yours and see if someone is willing to exchange with you.

There are numerous other ways to advertise your business on a budget, but these are the top five that came to mind.  The biggest key is that no matter what type of advertising you opt to do, make sure to do it consistently.

Virtually all online network marketers are saying that the merger of Internet marketing and Web 2.0 is a perfect match up. How so? Network marketing businesses need traffic to survive and Web 2.0 sites generate an incredible amount of traffic every single day.

Since the advent of the Internet, a rapidly increasing number of constantly improving web technologies have been made available to the private entrepreneur and big business alike. Business ventures that did not take advantage of the Internet phenomenon were eaten alive by their tech savvy competitors. The Internet has become the all important mode of marketing outdoing every other form of media. Web 2.0 has become a decisive element in the plans and infrastructure of every thriving business enterprise today.

Web 2.0 reclassifies the market and spawns a sizeable variety of extra opportunities. It is therefore essential for marketers to have a thorough knowledge of the means the web can be employed and incorporated with other marketing plans.

Web 2.0 technologies have introduced new possibilities of communication and interactions between business owners and clients. Influencing these technologies to offer a strong end user experience can convert disinterested site visitors into customers and cause a general effortlessness in the whole promotion and marketing process. These user friendly technologies have also made it cheaper for entrepreneurs to exploit the full potential of the web and improve their efficiency. The more creative users can now do without the services of programmers and web designers.

As earlier mentioned Web 2.0 sites produce a staggering number of traffic. Therefore the goal of every network marketer is to gain control of some of this traffic. For majority of them the best way to do this is through writing original high quality articles with persuasive and credible content. The articles can be submitted to content sharing and rating websites. Once submitted, visitors of these sites can vote for it, and the more votes it gets, the more people see, read and vote for it. For them to read the full article they will have to click the link to your website. This means while your article gets more popular, the more traffic it drives to your site. The more quality articles you make, the bigger the potential traffic you generate.

This is only a taste of the substantial capabilities of Web 2.0. In the ever fluid network marketing industry, the ventures that adapt this novel, state of the art marketing platform has the best chance of achieving success.

This post originally written by Expert Network Marketer and close friend, Bill McMahon.  Check out his blog at: http://joinbillmcmahonblog.com

With so many different work at home opportunities out there today, it is very difficult to choose the right one. How can a person even begin to decide?  Do you want to sell health and wellness products?  How about technology services? There are also different digital products as well.

One of the first questions that many people ask when being approached about a new business opportunity, is: “How much is this going to cost me?”  Some people are just getting started in Network Marketing and they really don’t have a lot of money to invest.  Others, may have been in for a while but the strategies they are using have not been successful or the expectation of their autoship requirement is quite large and it is difficult to find others that want to join them.

I have recently discovered a very simple, affordable, yet very lucrative opportunity that anyone could join and it will not cost them an arm and a leg.  The coaching and support of the upline is phenomenal and they are always there to answer questions and help people out along the way.  Global Domains International not only helps with brand recognition because you can have your name as a website, it also is an easy way to make a decent amount of money.  You can work this business on a part-time or full-time basis.  How much time you choose to invest is entirely up to you.

I think Self-Confidence is one of the most important traits you can have to be successful in business and in your personal life. Self Confidence is simply a belief on one’s own abilities. The only way you are going to have any kind of success is you have to have Self-Confidence. So what are the ways that YOU can start building your Self-Confidence?  I am going to list 6 different ways to IMMEDIATELY help boost your Confidence:

1. Focus On Your Strengths, Not your Weakness

When you start to look at your strengths and not your weaknesses you will begin the internal change in your mind. This is a necessary step to start building your Confidence.

2. Surround Yourself With Positive People

I am sure that most of us have had some friends that have a very negative outlook on life. Have you noticed that the more that you are around them, the more they start to change the way you are thinking. You could be having the greatest day, and the minute you start talking with them everything changes. They bring you down.

When I surround myself with people that think positive, my whole way of thinking is different. They make me look at life in a whole different way. This is a very important step

3. Don’t Be Afraid To Take Risks

You can’t be afraid to take some risks. This was a very difficult thing for me to grasp. I was so nervous about failing, that I would not take any kind of risk. Once I started to go out of my comfort zone and try new things, many new doors opened up for me.

4. Exercise Your Mind And Your Body

You really need to incorporate some kind of physical exercise into your daily routine. Whether it be just going out for a walk, or doing a full work-out routine. I have found that even a 30 minute routine on a treadmill can do wonders for the way you feel about yourself.

When I say Exercising your mind, I mean to read some great motivational books. You can also listen to some great audio books while driving in your car. This is a great way to start your day. Some of my favorite authors are Anthony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, and Donald Trump.

5. Set Daily Goals

What I like to do is set short goals for me to achieve on a daily basis. This is a huge Confidence booster when you start to achieve your goals. It is very important to start off with daily goals. I like to write them down a yellow post-it and place it right next to my computer. Looking at them is a constant reminder of what I need to accomplish for that day!

6. Believe In Yourself

I saved this one for last. This is truly the most important thing you need to have to be more Self-Confident. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who is going to believe anything you are saying . The mind is one of the most powerful things in our body. Look in the mirror and start talking to yourself. I know this may be difficult at first, but trust me this is a great exercise. Are you speaking in a loud voice? Are you looking yourself in the eyes when you are speaking? Are you holding your shoulders up high? If you are doing all of those things when you are speaking to yourself, Congratulations, you are on your way to being more Self-Confident.

I hope that these few things that I have shared with you, have some impact on your life. I know that by applying these 6 principles for me personally has been life changing.

This blog entry originally written by Jeffrey Michael Martin.  For more marketing strategies check out his blog at:   http://jeffreymichaelmartin.com

Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful in Network Marketing, while for others it seems to be an endless struggle?  Successful Leaders know the different MLM secrets and you can too.

How many times have you heard the statement, “In order to be successful in Network Marketing you need to BRAND yourself.”  For the seasoned Network Marketer, they know exactly what this means and how important it is.  For someone new, this could be very confusing.

Brand recognition simply means: a measurement of the ability of consumers to recall their experience or knowledge of a particular brand. Brand recognition forms part of brand awareness.  This entails  “making a name for yourself”  and “creating a presence” on the web so that people see you, recognize who you are and respect you as a leader.

Here are a few tips on how to do this.

1.  Select a picture of yourself that you really like and use that wherever you can upload a photo. Examples include: Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, your blog, People String, Skype, My Space, and any other social media sites you may be a member of.  People will see your picture and begin to recognize you.

2.  Select a name whether it be your own or  a company name and use that for your domain name. When people see things posted by you, they will begin to notice your name and actually begin to search for other things that you have done.

3. BE CONSISTENT-Whatever marketing you may choose to do, be consistent.  Whether it be Blogging, article writing, or a combination.  Make sure to do so on a regular basis.  The more exposure you get, the more people will notice you and begin to trust you as a respected leader.

Today’s economy isn’t just a story about financial hardship and people losing their jobs, it is also a story of people becoming ‘recession entrepreneurs’ and carving out their own niche in the marketplace because there are so few other options than going into business for yourself.

There are many people and many products online that are offering less-than-genuine offers of starting one’s own home based business. There may be a sucker born every minute, and ten pyramid and ponzi schemes invented for every sucker, but you don’t have to be one of them. The Federal Trade Commission just doesn’t have enough manpower to regulate and shut down every illegitimate business, but there are steps you can do to protect yourself while starting your own home based business.

First, look for companies that have been around a few years, chances are, a fly by night marketing scheme can’t sustain their web hosting on a bad product. Look for link to reputable news sources where you trust the reporter has done some homework to make sure they were reporting on a legitimate business. Look for founders of businesses with successes outside of their marketing programs and who have started their business or businesses to fill a niche in the market, not to get rich quick.

Of course, once you find a company that you feel you can trust, make sure you are ready to handle the urgency it requires to work for yourself. Being able to put every bit of energy into your work is the only way you will be able to fulfill you end of any bargain you make with an online marketing company.

There are many internet ‘business in a box’ solutions out there that can meet your needs and talents. Look to start your own home business with a system that has an application process and looks after its clients. Read their client testimonies carefully and look between the lines. Be sure to understand clearly what you are getting into and look for businesses helping you start a home based business that explains things clearly and carefully and offer training and workshops. Businesses with good clear communication can be an indication that they are for real interested in your economic security as well as their own.

Marketing online can be tricky and a difficult landscape to navigate, but being able to ask lots of questions and have them answered clearly are the signs you are getting a great return on your investment when starting a home based business.

This blog entry was written by Carin Davis. To view any of her other blog entries go to: http://carindavis.net

In an article published on CNNMoney.com (April 11, 2005), the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that “beautiful” people earned 5 percent more per hour than their less attractive colleagues.   Here’s a quote from that article:

“After variables like education and experience are factored out, Fed researchers said the “beauty premium” exists across all occupations, and that jobs requiring more interpersonal contact have higher percentages of above-average-looking employees. “

So, the bottom line is, if you’re ugly you get financially penalized and if you’re pretty, you get rewarded.  That’s a hard pill to swallow, but the facts show that attractive people are more valuable than unattractive people.

I practice a concept called Attraction Marketing which essentially teaches you how to draw people to you based on your value to the marketplace.  By mastering the art of Attraction, you become a magnet that people want to attach themselves to.

Now Attraction Marketing has nothing to do with your outward looks, but it does accentuate the importance of being seen as “attractive.”  If you’re an “ugly” person, meaning there is no perceived value that you bring to the table in the form of expertise or the ability to solve problems, you will be at the mercy of someone who is.

Attractiveness is something that many people want to harness because the benefits are apparent in any circle.  When you are attractive, people want to be around you; they secretly want to be like you or have a piece of you.  When someone who is less attractive befriends someone who is attractive, they automatically become more attractive by association.

Before I understood the concept of Attraction Marketing, my whole world was centered around trying to hunt after leads for my business.  I found myself feeling the sting of “lead poverty” and tried to hang on to any hint of interest from someone about my business.  I would share my business with ANYONE – whether they were qualified or not.

Then I discovered how to be attractive and it turned my world around.  I used to be the hunter and had to set “traps” for people.  Now, I’m the hunted and people are trying to “trap” me.  I used to book as many appointments as I could in order to meet my goals.  Now, I’m selective as to who gets my time from a mountain of interest that comes from people all over.

Value = Attractiveness.  Attractiveness = Business.  Business = Cashflow.  I no longer suffer from lead poverty; I benefit from “lead abundance.”

If it were possible to have 10-20 people per day contact you about your business, ready to transact and excited about working with you, how would that make you feel?  What would that do for your bank account?

When you master the art of Attraction Marketing, this will become your reality.  You want to be like the exclusive membership clubs with a two-year waiting list.  You want to be someone who people will pay 10 times the normal fee just to get your time.  Build acclaim by establishing yourself as a trusted advisor – this is the foundation to becoming attractive.

Get people to hunt you down in massive numbers and you’ve harnessed the power to be unstoppable in anything you do.  Focus on being beautiful, even breath taking (in your training).  Cause people to take a second look of admiration when you walk by (in your advertising).  Get a buzz around the room as the marvel at your elegance (in your knowledge).  This is the answer to all your problems.  Give yourself an extreme makeover starting today and watch what happens to your business.

Many people are just getting started in Network Marketing and they probably don’t even know where to start. Most of the time, they are told by their upline to write a list of their friends and family, contact the people closest to you and then get them on the phone with your sponsor to sign them up.  They will try to do this, their friends and family will scoff at them.  They will then get frustrated and quit.

What they need to learn is the concept of attraction marketing. The majority of the people out there on the internet today already have their own business they are trying to promote and aren’t interested in what “You’re selling”.  There is a better way.  MLM Pros Online will help you by teaching you the concepts of attraction marketing and provide you with a system to create qualified leads for your business.

Okay, so you’re just getting started in Network Marketing, or maybe you’ve been involved for a while. Everyone keeps talking about a blog, setting one up, making sure to post to it.   You hear about the importance of providing value and quality content to people so they see you as a leader and knowledgeable about how to be successful in network marketing.

Many people have been hesitant to start a blog because they don’t know how.   They also may not have the time or energy.  I have discovered an awesome resource (to be honest, it is how I was able to set up my blog). You have to check out Blogs by Ann.  Ann Rader will install your blog for free. All that she asks is that you purchase your domain and hosting through her affiliate link.

This could honestly save you from frustration and aggravation.  She is very quick and can usually have you rocking and rolling in no time flat. Send her an email at: ann@blogsbyann.com .  Tell her Jocelyn Jones sent you. You’ll wonder why you haven’t done a blog sooner!

In the game of chess, there are several principles that apply to what it takes to achieve explosive success in any business, and here they are:

1. Begin with the end in mind:  You can’t launch out into business without first knowing exactly what you want the end result to be.  You must see the end as you want it, and then work backwards from there with your planning.  Once you have this in place, you can now make your first move.
2. Move with a purpose:  Don’t ever book an appointment, sign a contract, buy a resource, or invest any time or money into anything unless you know FOR SURE why you’re doing it.  You must understand in advance the pros and cons of every move you make and it must contribute to the end result.  Otherwise, don’t make the move.
3. Stay even or ahead at all times:  Each move you make, at a minimum, must contribute to sustaining your current growth position, or advance it forward.  Don’t get behind on your daily income producing activities or the maintenance of your business.  You may not be able to recover once you’re behind, so stay even or ahead.
4. Think several moves ahead:  Making moves “on an island” is foolish and dangerous to the success of your business.  Each move you make must be connected to all the previous and future ones, so meditate on how the moves you make impact the next several decisions.
5. Anticipate the moves of your opponent:  Your competition is watching every move you make so that they can counter; you must do the same thing.  Be aware of market trends, shifts in consumer behaviors, and any innovations in the marketplace and start utilizing this information BEFORE your competition does.  If you see it coming, respond quickly and with deadly precision.
6. Document every move:  Great chess players write down every move they make as they are making them so that they can review their moves later.  This is necessary to identify which moves were good and which ones were bad.  By knowing where you made mistakes, you can correct them when presented with the same position in the future.
7. Develop several strategies for attack:  In your marketing efforts, it is important to construct multiple strategies to generate leads.  Don’t rely on just one approach even if you are very good at it; think like the US military and unleash the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard onto the marketplace with your marketing.  You want to make MASSIVE impact.
8. Protect your King at all cost:  Make sure that you have all the proper insurance and reserves in place to guard yourself from suffering loss.  Don’t open yourself up to “attacks” by leaving your business vulnerable.
9. Be willing to make sacrifices:  Sometimes you have to let go of valuable pieces in order to improve your position.  So, don’t be afraid to make calculated risks or even give up something of value in order to get closer to the goal.  Remember step #1:  You’re playing the game to win so always keep that in the forefront of your mind.
10. Learn from your mistakes:  You will lose sometimes, and that’s ok.  You must be dedicated to your education to master your craft.  Commit to studying the areas where you are weak so that you can avoid unnecessary losses.

You can win the game when you master the fundamentals.  All the great chess masters are respected not for their flash or spectacular moves, but for the small moves that keep them winning.   Think of your business as a game that you want to master and it will be both fun and profitable in the end.