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- Nov 20th, 2008
- 6 Comments
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I own some really crappy websites.
What makes them crappy? They don’t even deserve to be called WEB 1.0, they are so ugly. They have garish colors, layouts, bright banner ads, and probably some old style animated gifs. Like this big NO-NO image to the right..They barely do anything I would recommend to YOU, and they earn a FRACTION of what they should and COULD be earning.
Yet, these websites are among my most valuable online assets. Their combined worth in the 5 figure range.
There is a ONE word explanation to this.
Backlinks.
Before there were all the distractions that the current SEO (Search Engine Optimization) experts suggest, before Article Directories, Before Social Media….
Someone’s full time job used to be:
“Hi. My name is Andrea, and I represent crapsite.com. I think our sites have a lot in common and wonder if you would consider a link exchange?”
This was when people read their emails, so the conversion rate was fairly high. It was not DONE with Page Rank in mind. This preceeded page rank! It was done in the hopes that someone would see the reciprocal link and come visit your site. But when Page Rank was born, these links gave you the competitive advantage. And still do.
Not only has NOTHING changed (except the reciprocal part), but for some it in the basis of their successful business model. Bloggers for example. As successful blogging is usually determined by how many other bloggers engage, link to you (technorati ranking), it is simply the more links to your blog, the higher your PR ranking, the more successful. That doesnt mean $$$, although it certainly could.
Dean Hunt, from deanhunt.com has made a professional career out of creating “buzz” for himself and for others, essentially building up websites and careers with Backlinks and Raising Googles PR.
You will be hearing about him in blog posts to come as we are going to start a little head to head. He may have used the word duet, but I think controversy is what will be called for, yes Dean?
Check out this spoof he made on Google’s Page Rank. Ok, so it’s only moderately amusing (am I allowed to say that?), but it features the amazing Josh Groban, and it does continue to exhibit how Dean manages to get places as he has now managed to secure a link from my site to his. Nice work.
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- Nov 13th, 2008
- 3 Comments
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If I asked you to do work for me, but only hinted at a possibility of financial reward…
say a year or two down the road….
what would be your response?
WAIT! Dont answer yet. There is more to the question.
I would require that you give me your best quality labor! Which means not physical work, but to share with me your MIND, perhaps a nice chunk of HEART & SOUL.
And Time.. oh yes, it would require lots and lots of time.
Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.
The truth!!!! Not only would you think I am insane, you would probably think me rude, and an assortment of other unmentionables.
and… now you know why sooo many blogs go silent.
There is a HUGE distinction between Blogging for Dollars and Blogging for Impact. In fact, I may start a little controversy here,… and even though I had planned future posts on blogging for ‘money’, I think it is the rare blog that is able to support even ONE individual in a comfortable fashion.
However, let me jump to the Punch Line.
“Good things come to those who wait”
Not too funny, but I will be laughing all the way to the bank.
By Blogging for IMPACT, or SUCCESS, with passion, with YOU in mind, NOT my wallet, many opportunities have come my way.
Israel is hosting it’s first International Affiliate Convention. It is well known to me, not from locals, but from being told the world over, that Israel boasts some of the top Affiliate earners across the board. In fact, I had the great honor of working extremely close with one of them (May he rest in peace).
I will be speaking about ‘Making more money from your traffic’, focusing specifically on List Building and Membership Sites. Come witness live a sexy powerpoint. This 2 day convention is thorough and filled with powerful speakers on an incredibly wide range of topics. I look forward to meeting others. Maybe you?
If you CANT just somehow make it over to the Holy Land, I may figure out a way to get a video clip, images, and well, I can at least share with you some highlights from the event.
Interested in attending? Visit the Affilicon - Affiliate Marketing Conference Now!
To summarize, don’t neglect looking at the BIG PICTURE. Often times We spend so much of our time in our daily microscopic lives, we fail to see the potential in well… in just potential.
I urge you to SEE the potential in the potential.
Have you ever experienced a “Big Picture moment?
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- Oct 27th, 2008
- 23 Comments
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I DO have a video for this ‘way to make money online’. However, I require at least *10 requests for this video before editing and delivering.The Story:
I had been receiving lots of calls for meet ups and consultations, and while it was taking me away from my regular ‘work load’, seeing possibilities where others usually do not.. well its just soul food for me.
Another day, another call, another meeting at the Coffee Bean.
However, what happened next took me by surprise!
A local marketer invites me to meet with him, and I assumed the regular position. I am ready to be pitched an idea, a problem, a thought, anything, and am fully prepared to smooth it out, make it real, add my 2 cents, solve his problems, and most certainly, MOST CERTAINLY, not hear something new.
This may sound like an overreaction, but the room started closing in on me, my heart started racing. It was due to BOTH the power of the idea (in some ways so darn OBVIOUS and UBIQUITOUS) and the fact that it was not (until then) something I would have suggested myself. How dare he!!
How many times do you see Celebrities walking around in Nike Apparel? Endorsing any number of events or products in commercials?
heck, I get major Oakley and Nike hook ups due to my brothers’ relationships.
Now:
Imagine taking YOUR Product.
(Yes, YOU who sells physical goods, or as a consultant you can offer this to your client/s)Approaching An Online Marketer who knows how to Promote
Offering them to SELF BRAND the Product, enabling the marketer to even suggest a product and attach their name/brand to something physical. What an Ego Trip! (yes, it worked for me being the marketer who was approached - Ego was back in check.)
Look around at all the online hotshots. 1000’s of followers, subscribers. Buzz. Exposure. In their respective fields, they have become household names.
Think Mutually Beneficial Relationship.
You offer to provide them with whatever shwag you are producing (cups, t-shirts, stationary, office supplies, etc etc). You continue as you always have with offering the fulfillment of the items. Would this work for a service as well? Why the heck not??
Here are the benefits:
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1) you make money, they make money
(figure out a %age deal that works for you) -
2) you get more exposure, they seem more important
to be ’sponsored’ privately -
3) one good deal leads to another. this will be true for
both parties.
Thank you Ezra Butler for teaching me, enlightening me, approaching me, and finding me a marketer worth the value of her own brand!
(*I reserve the right to change the number of video requests at my own will)
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1) you make money, they make money
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- Oct 10th, 2008
- 9 Comments
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Here is a question I DONT have to ask you.I have stated it in the past and will state it in the future (very near). Here it is:
Do YOU think Video helps to sell a product?
If someone can exhibit visually in addition to written HOW a product works, and the benefits you can expect to receive, sales will increase.
Anyone going to argue with that?
Good.
So here is my question.
Tell me how you feel about Audio?
If you hit a squeeze page, sales pages, any page, and there is audio that plays automatically, as simple as a welcome and as thorough as a reading of the content on the page… are you MORE inclined to sign up? Does it draw you into the content?
Naturally with all mediums, it depends on the content, same with videos. For arguments sake, lets say the voice is not whiny, annoying, too monotonous, too strong accented, etc..
The voice is pleasant
The audio explains what you can expect to receive
The audio is personalHere is an example (new window will open) of how I use this feature to allow you to listen to my introduction to a call I recorded (just under 2 hours FABULOUS MEGA PACKED call just btw
) - I personally think IN this case you want to know what comes next. Unfortunately I didn’t record the intro to the call with this purpose in mind - I was only talking to the people listening. I have learned that lesson and from now on, I speak to BOTH crowds. YOU + THEM.
Has that audio, my voice, etc., encouraged you to sign up - or the opposite?
How easy was that to create you ask? So easy. A very simple step by step process. If video is something that only ’she and he is doing’, then this is certainly a very nice baby step in that direction.
I was so hasty in removing all opportunities for ME to earn from this blog, that I removed some real valuable tools. Especially those I felt were being sold by every online marketer… but, it is a really good product! This extremely easy to use, step by step audio creation tool is being sold for a heavily reduced price for my blog readers, and something I have used MANY ways.
Here are some features:
- It’s Attractive (lots of color and style selections)
- There is NO Time limit to the playback (I have put up 3 hour calls!)
- It can be programmed to play Automatically (or not..)
- It’s NOT downloadable (for some this is a real advantage)
- The listener can be directed to ANOTHER page when the audio is complete. Therefore you can include some audio + images of why a product is awesome, and then direct your visitors, via your affiliate link, to the product sales page!
AND…AND….AND…
If you feel this product can help you, check it out, but PLEASE just answer the question for MY benefit. Does Audio do it for you?
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- Oct 2nd, 2008
- 20 Comments
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Here is something ELSE at which I excel:
I spend money. I am really really good at spending money.
Therefore I decided I could use this superb, and certainly unique quality, to assist YOU in making some extra cash today.
Not long ago I was chatting with an online superstar and he asked me ‘what are my 7 focused results?’. I could dedicate an entire blog post (or a product) to this discussion, but the outcome of that discussion, despite having names hurled at me (a focused result is a much harder concept than just the sum of those 2 words!), was something that should change the landscape of how I do business.
I felt compelled to just deposit some money in his paypal account.
I would like to do the same for YOU.
Can you share with me an:
- idea
- concept
- somehow to be more productive
- something your grandparents, mentor, etc. told you,
- something you read on a blog
- or heard in a speech
- etc., etc.
Please DO NOT think I am asking for your next million dollar idea. I have more than I can handle of amazing ‘money making’ ideas. I am seeking philosophies, thoughts, stories. I am seeking ways to add to my quality of working life, and see more fruits from my labors. I want a little piece of what makes YOU successful in my corner.
If you can comment here, I will be happy to be the judge of what it’s worth, and send it along to your paypal address.
Feel like sharing, or just getting off your chest, with no money added in the mix? ‘Freebies’ strongly encouraged as well.. just dont disappoint and leave without saying ANYTHING. Certainly you have something to share?
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- Sep 26th, 2008
- 3 Comments
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Besides enjoyment, can you see how this video will generate buzz for the Movie mentioned, and increase sales?People are blogging about it, twitting about it, and more. It’s HOT. It’s also just a sample of what is being offered daily.
Some more examples:
- Gap has an annual contest allowing you to submit pictures of your children for a chance at being a Gap Model! This is awesome on so many levels + guess what could happen when they hit the site to sign up?
- Rich Schefren just spent 26 hours STRAIGHT! conducting a live Ustream Video to create buzz for
his new One on One Coaching Program. Oh yeh, that baby’s live and you Need to check it out HERE!. - Living overseas I haven’t been able to enjoy this, but my brother Evan says it’s the next big thing. So if you are stateside, check it out and make me jealous!
The list could go on to include the video I just received hoping to inspire me to pray harder on Rosh Hashannah (it didnt work), Frank Kern’s new masterpiece, Sarah Silverman’s plea to Jewish grandchildren to tell your grandparents in Florida to vote for Obama, as we know Florida has swayed the vote before, etc etc..
So you want to make some money? Sell more products? Convert more visitors to sales? Get more eyeballs on YOU or YOUR services?
Great!
So go run along and do something viral.(oh but PLEASE dont send me those old fashioned forwards. I possess the same amount of superstition as the next person, so when I end up reading your forward, since I inevitably DO, I dont want to hear, or read, or even contemplate that if I don’t forward this on in the next 10 minutes to 100 friends something horrible will happen. It is safer for all of humanity to delete me from your inbox. Thank you. )
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- Sep 19th, 2008
- 8 Comments
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I am totally COMING CLEAN here. The timing could not have been more ironic or synergistic.As you know I am delivering a series on how to make money online. I was in the middle of composing a post (well now it’s this one) with an accompanying audio podcast (see below) on How to Focus and selecting a target market. I had a previous post on the subject, but I receive SOO much traffic to that page on focusing, I wanted to offer MORE. (here is link to that post)
What happened? I am approached out of the blue by a marketer I admire. His skills are vast. Lets just leave it as that since it’s still an understatement. He is in the mood to do something ‘different’ this week, so he bestows upon me an offer to take advantage of his services for the week for x amount of $. An offer that is very hard to refuse.
I ask him - “How much you can accomplish in a week?”
He responds - “Depends on your leadership.”
Reasonable. But that meant my input would directly affect his output.
However, I had a problem. My Blog! My unpublished posts just waiting…
This is where I come clean. Blogging is NOT my focus, as I am not really a ‘blogger’.
Here is what creates a ‘blogger’:
- They start blogging out of passion, interest, online journaling, what have you - working off momentum - 95% QUIT!! or write too infrequently to call it any more than a hobby.
- The remaining 5% figure out how to Blog correctly. How? You write good content, engage other bloggers, you include links to other blogs on your site, comment on their site. You WORK IT.
- Suddenly those in the last category start earning money! Wow! Then they become ‘bloggers’ aka those who earn from their passion! A great place to be. They also have a responsibility to their readers, and their advertisers to maintain their blog. It may be their main source of income.
I am a blogger who aims to add value but frankly, it’s just a smart move for an online marketer. It’s something we coach people to do. It allows people to locate you, feel your personality out a bit, an ongoing business card.
I love it, and I love your comments, but when given the opportunity to spend a week FOCUSING, while I was composing THIS VERY text, I decided to take immediate action. It will only make me a more valuable blogger in the future.
What IS My Focus:
To Create / Improve revenue producing projects.
And that’s exactly what happened. (Thank you genius!)
I know this may sound a little vague. Isn’t that EVERYONE’s focus? Yes, but most dont actually focus ON IT. They focus on wanting a certain outcome, but dont commit to the steps needed to realize it. You get the difference? Therefore, to focus on something that seems so common actually makes me very unique.
Now I am sharing with you a conversation with Kelly Mccausey, an online marketer after my own heart! All over the place and overqualified, she had her hands in all pots.. but then PULLED the PLUG, and Finally started to earn money.
Watch this video, and listen to the podcast below it for the long version! Enjoy.
Listen to the call here:
How to Focus and Monetize from ONE Target Market [66:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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- Aug 29th, 2008
- 11 Comments
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Pay Attention:
The following WORKS because its done with:
a) HEART
b) DEPTH
c) INTELLIGENCE
Rich Schefren will be the FIRST to tell you and SHOW you that you can duplicate this concept I will share with you,.. and in fact many of you actually DO..
.. and I am not just dedicating a blog post to this because I am a fan or because we are friends (although I MIGHT have said that to sound self important
)As Strategic Profits, with Rich at the helm, are on their way to releasing another eye opening report, you should really be doing 2 things.
1. Getting ready to read the report. I know it is going to be a great read; Rich is only getting better and better, offering more and more value, not to mention, he is actually a sincerely intelligent person. This will not be outsourced rehashed garbage. This is HIS business, he takes it seriously, and I suggest you do the same. As always, his reports are FREE. Again, check out his video highlighting some ideas you can expect to see.
2. As we are currently conducting a series on ways to make money online, lets also witness what Strategic Profits has done in the past, and how you can learn from this and perhaps adopt similar practices in your own business.
It goes something like this:
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a) Find a fundamental problem in a market, step up to the plate and IDENTIFY the problem. Can you say it better than it has been said in the past? Can you create a bigger issue out of this problem? Can you highlight a New Trend?
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b) Engage your readers without losing YOUR momentum. Trying and figure out their thoughts on the subject. Of course, YOUR answer is just around the corner. It should be a work in progress, because how can it possibly be complete without having HEARD from your prospects? Allow their voice to help you complete your product accordingly
- c) Now … you are almost ready to pounce. Combined with Your Expert knowledge in the subject, and their fears, you PROVIDE the solution. There are really a few possibilities how to deliver this last piece:
1) Free: This works for Strategic Profits, and it may for you, since they offer a variety of other services / products, and I think they (like many) enjoy offering Free value, and charging for those who are serious. They can afford to theoretically ’solve your problems’ for free, because most likely, real success will come from being accountable to yourself and becoming part of a community, coaching club, mastermind, like his (not sure of the terminology), where you are not in this alone. This is actually a HUGE deal. The dent in my wall is clear evidence of this.
2) The buck stops here .. This is your product / service. This is where YOU get paid. Solve their problems! This works for MOST small niche market products / services. This model is highly recommended as a way to break into a new market, and build up a list of supporters. From here you can see where to take it. I personally witnessed Rich’s stratospheric rise to the top of the heap, and I am certain he was as surprised by the reception he received and by the success he has enjoyed since..
Dont OVERPLAN, just Start DOING.
A force you want to make sure exists whether this is a new project, or a repeat occurance is ANTICIPATION. You may think it’s easier for Rich to get eyeballs on his new report due to his history, but in reality, he may have to work harder to convince you that this is something new (oh, and it is!)
so you have to create a ‘what will he think of next’…
For those of you who are new to my blog, new to Rich Schefren.. check out how I personally, if unintentionally, helped build up anticipation for his last report. (Yes, this is my easy way out for having a new video today
)
WOW! Rich - Can you believe this video was ONLY 9 months ago?? A lot happened since
This time Strategic Profits has done an excellent job from where I left off.
.. and have their own video creating anticipation for the new report. It’s right here. Bonus for anyone who has read this far: When I clicked to watch the video, Andy Jenkins from Stompernet introduces Rich. My 5 year old was playing and hears ‘Rich Schefren’.. For those of you who saw the video above and the other, well several… this is a household name! He said ‘Rich is a REAL PERSON? Yeh, Mommy, he is REAL??’ .. this if from a kid who has never heard of Hannah Montana, so I think someone here should be flattered.
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- Aug 27th, 2008
- 9 Comments
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HOW CAN I BE SO CERTAIN That This is Why I succeed…. and my be why YOU have not? (sorry if that sounds harsh)
Simple…. because
the areas I have a harder time succeeding are where my knowledge ends and someone else’s begins. Put simply, YOU (and I) just do better at what we know. Even if it means asking someone else to do it.
What do I know that you MAY NOT?
Watch this:
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
(PS - we will be conducting an interview with Jason soon. Basically stripping him of everything he knows. for YOU. Should be fun)
This is what I know. How to create a simple website. How to FTP. How to make a table, add an image, yada yada.. I can tweak, edit, and shift things around a webpage without having to make a phone call, or pay ridiculous maintenance retainer fees to web design companies….
and you know what?
It took about as LONG to learn all that as it did for me to figure out how to put this Flash Video on this blog.
So now YOU (and that means you too MOM) can learn along with your 8 year old children / grandchildren (who learn this as a matter of course in Elementary school), and build your OWN website. (yes - the text before this is underlined for a reason - it means it will take you where you NEED to go to learn how to tie your shoes, excuse me, I mean build a website!)
I am trying to imagine a difficult task for an adult to equate the difficulty required to Create a website. This is what I came up with:
If you can fill up your own tank of gas (self-serve), or manage to cook a recipe by following the list of ingredients, you can build a website.
It has nothing to do with taste, geek stuff, art (I cannot draw a stick figure), digital cameras, fancy expensive software, or how many degrees you have.
It’s just a matter of getting something to happen at Point A
and making sure it appears at Point B.
I know there are ways to make money without a website. BUT not If you want a Business that will LAST, which others will take SERIOUSLY, and that YOU control.
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SERIOUSLY?
Great. I knew you were.
Here is your ACTION PLAN:
1.
Check out the Web for FREE resources. However.. be warned.. you can find everything under the sun for FREE on the web, but it will NOT provide you with what a complete product should look like. You will have to be the Master of the Outcome, and fill in all those pieces that are left out based on not knowing YOUR needs, or YOUR skill level.
I prefer to PAY to save me time and energy of the learning curve. Especially when you can find what you need so affordably.
2.
Check out Jason’s 7 minute Set up. It’s amazing how many Marketers took YOU knowing this for granted, so thank you Jason for creating this important product!
3.
I am only a member of 2 memberships now. This is one of them. They offer a complete Website Builder as just one part of their extremely robust membership package. Sort of like building blocks, you build your site.
If you are VERY new, I strongly recommend Jason’s product, as this membership site could be (will be) overwhelming. If you have been around for a while, and could benefit from knowing Web design to enhance your other knowledge, I cannot recommend this membership site enough!
Tell me.. What do you know? How did you learn it? Has it benefited you? or..
What do you NOT know… and has it HARMED your business?
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- Aug 21st, 2008
- 20 Comments
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I think the video says it all. However, you MUST read on to hear my story about last night. It’s the ultimate in making it happen, going against my nature, in a crowd not necessarily as like-minded as could be, etc..Read between the lines and find opportunities where you may not even expect them. Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Airplanes!
Here is mine:
‘About Last Night’
I had heard about a local Blogger convention (aka - an evening affair) and understood it to be more of a ‘cultural’ event, then ‘marketing’ event. Hence, I decided not to go.
Last minute I was thinking that right in my backyard are going to be over 100 people who spend a lot of their time doing what I do - staring at this screen I am typing on, and probably at all hours of the day (and night). There has to be some overall chemistry, who knows what can happen.?? Oh, and free food.
I did peg the evening correctly, and therefore am not sure why I was surprised at the lack of conversation about promoting your blog + monetization (which drew laughs from the crowd when it was even suggested). Clearly these people dont know what I know and will be sharing with YOU soon about earning from BLOGGING..
Did you watch my video yet? Well, the funny thing is that I did want to be a little of both ‘wallflower’ and ‘hard to get’.. First of all, I have a long history of thinking that works for me. Not too boisterous, a little mysterious, perhaps even intimidating.. However as a DIRECT response to my OWN video, I shmoozed, I met fellow twitterati, I met other bloggers, other Atlantans, and yes..
I even met..
what could become..
the beginning of a beautiful (business) relationship.
The possibilities are ENDLESS..
Watch, Learn and Earn or your money BACK! (hahaha - it's 100% FREE!!)
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