Rahul's Info-Blog

August 11th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 25.

2009-08-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder Personalization: How Intelligent Wild-card Use puts the Wal-Mart Smile Back into your E-mails

In the real world, everyone appreciates the personal touch. Nothing puts a smile on a customer’s face faster than a warm greeting in their favorite store. Whether it be the grocery store, corner gas station, or local watering hole, what’s better than a friendly ‘Hello’ from the owner or his employees? Size is irrelevant – Wal-Mart has turned ‘Meet and Greet’ tactics into an art form. This is classical customer support: proprietors nurture personal relationships and cater to your needs and desires in order to build business loyalty.

The Internet presents unique challenges to entrepreneurs looking to connect with prospects and customers. Autoresponders can play a big role in this respect. Most third party services and software are built with a rich set of “wildcards” that allow you to personalize your e-mail communication. You can use wildcard code to address your subscribers by name, date your correspondence, and even add geographical references.

Incorporating wildcards into your autoresponders is simple. Within your message, insert appropriate wildcards in the positions you want. For example, many e-mail marketers start their letters with a “Hello John” salutation. In this case, you would insert the first name (or full name) wildcard to replace John. In aweber, for example, {!firstname_fix} is the code used. Therefore, your salutation would be:

Hello {!firstname_fix},

If your subscriber’s first name is Mary, then she would see ‘Hello Mary’ at the start of her email, not ‘Hello {!firstname_fix}’.

Not surprisingly, most research indicates that e-mail open and response rates improve with autoresponder personalization. Think about it – if a letter addresses you by name, wouldn’t you be the least bit curious to find out what the letter is about? Just use the ‘first name’ wildcard in a few strategic locations, perhaps even the Subject: line, and each individual subscriber will see their name in your correspondence.

Your ability to personalize e-mail marketing with autoresponders depends on the contact information collected while building your list. Therefore, make sure your opt-in forms include fields for the prospect’s first name and e-mail address at a minimum. This way, you can send instructions for list confirmation, ‘Thank You’ offers, or e-book download messages even before starting your regular autoresponder sequence. It goes without saying that having no contact information takes away your ability to personalize e-mails.

Autoresponder personalization is the best way for Internet entrepreneurs to capture the essence of relationship-based online marketing. On the surface, it may not put money in your pocket, but it is the first step towards building a responsive list of subscribers. Everyone likes to be called by their name; with the rapid growth of social media, e-mail marketers must demonstrate that they are still capable of personal contact and taking their subscribers’ problems to heart.
and putting smile on their faces…

--------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here

August 11th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 24.

2009-08-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Using Autoresponders to Generate Invoices and Get Paid Fast!

Wow, you’ve made a sale! Congratulations, but before popping open the champagne don’t forget that you must complete a payment processing sequence to receive your money. Invoices are an integral part of the sales process, but as your business grows, they can become very time-consuming and impede overall productivity. Fortunately, many web hosting companies permit invoice automation thanks to autoresponders.

Simple and recurring invoices can be automatically sent to customers via a shopping cart (e.g. PayPal) or from your own autoresponder. Instead of guessing whether or not a customer has paid for a product or service, follow the merchant’s invoicing instructions to free you from administrative drudgery. Once completed, use your extra time to create more marketing campaigns and pursue other exciting ventures.

To get started, use pre-existing invoice templates offered by the leading shopping carts. Before long you will be able to:

- Promptly send customers goods and service invoices.
- Provide specifics about each purchase (i.e. item description, quantity, unit price, shipping details, tax, and currency)
- Automatically generate purchase dates and sales totals.

Once you are comfortable with the process, you should create your own templates to further personalize each transaction. Some shopping carts permit e-mail invoicing with Microsoft Office and Quicken, so that you can create forms with commonly used productivity software.

In addition to invoicing with autoresponders, consider offering your clients an e-mail payment option. This ‘one-click’ option lets you accept credit card, bank, and online merchant payments without the hassles of long paper trails. Be aware of any and all fees, especially set-up and recurring monthly fees that eat into your profits.

Another advantage of using automated invoicing messages is to inform customers about complimentary items in your sales catalog. Much like the marketing tactics used by telephone, cable and credit card companies, you can present special deals and discounts for people who regularly contribute to your monthly cashflow.

Presenting professional invoices to your customers will encourage them to move money into your bank account faster. Automated invoices and e-mail payments, with the help of autoresponders, put the power of blue-chip corporations into the hands of home-based, solo entrepreneurs. Use this amazing tool to boost your administrative efficiency and expand your business.

----------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here

August 7th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 23.

2009-08-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

Three Marketing Functions Best Suited for Autoresponder Use.

Why is the autoresponder an Internet Marketer’s most indispensable tool? Think about it – could you be an effective online entrepreneur without the tool that makes prospecting, relationship-building, and networking with other marketers almost effortless? You would be hard-pressed to succeed in list-building, affiliate marketing, and joint ventures marketing without the autoresponder’s versatility, flexibility, and adaptability. In short, you cannot have a serious business presence without it.

That being said, there are three specific activities that are tailor-made for autoresponders:

1. Growing your opt-in subscriber lists.

What is the first thing marketers insist they would do if they lost everything? Most (the smart ones, anyway) will opt to start rebuilding their contact list. Lists are where the money’s at, but to unlock its full income potential, you have to master autoresponders. Set up twenty to fifty messages right off the bat to distinguish yourself from casual marketers and those who simply don’t care. If your autoresponder service permits broadcasts, inject references to current news stories or important events in your life for added continuity. Autoresponder services let you incorporate name and time wildcards into your messages, so use them to build personal bonds.

2. Making repeated offers to subscribers and customers.

It takes seven looks (e-mails, salesletters, squeeze pages, etc.) on average before a prospect will seriously consider buying from you. To get the exposure your offers need, you must use an autoresponder to communicate with your permission-based list. Even if you have a respectable open rate, circumstances dictate that subscribers will not always heed your call to action. With autoresponders, you can resend e-mails, give reminders, or even build a storyline to better promote your offer. Note that discreet and subtle reminders are appropriate for both content and offers.

3. Creating and sending E-mail courses.

Most subscribers realize that you will send them content and offers on a regular basis. So, to differentiate yourself from fellow marketers, why not give original e-courses from time to time? Just load a topical 5 or 10-part series into your autoresponder and encourage subscriber interaction. Who knows, it may trigger a new product idea! By focusing on a specific area, you will prove your expertise and make subscribers take notice. E-courses are a great way to pre-sell affiliate products and your own stuff; they can be geared towards salesmanship or information (i.e. product review) depending on your goals and the characteristics of your intended audience.

Autoresponders automate time-consuming, even mind-numbing (but necessary) Internet marketing tasks. True, you have to write or outsource your sales material first, but once you get it right, plug it into your autoresponder and you’re set. It doesn’t discriminate between affiliate marketing and product creation, and is effective for e-mail relationship building. Some marketers even boast about subscribers who honestly tell them that their autoresponder messages are indistinguishable from personal letters.

--------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here

August 5th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 22.

2009-08-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

3 Ways to ensure Your Autoresponder Messages Are not Rejected.

With great power comes great responsibility, or so we are told. Such is the case with autoresponders, the heart of e-mail marketing. No doubt they have revolutionized e-commerce and information marketing. However, as with so many great innovations, autoresponders are susceptible to abuse and misuse. Nothing represents irresponsible autoresponder use better than unsolicited commercial mail (UCE), and unsolicited bulk mail (UBE).

…Also known as spam.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate legitimate Internet marketers from spammers. The large internet service providers (ISPs) have sophisticated anti-spam technology that frequently traps proper messages; smaller businesses also employ spam filters. Today, standard practice within most e-mail systems is to move questionable messages into a ‘Spam’ folder or in some cases delete them outright. No questions asked.

To ensure that autoresponder messages reach your subscribers’ Inbox safely, use the following three tactics:

1. Create a ‘White List’ Thank You Page.

Don’t assume that your list-building is safe after prospects enter their contact information into your opt-in page! Once they click your ‘Subscribe’ button, redirect them to a web page that gives clear instructions for confirming their request. If you are using a double opt-in procedure, tell them what to look for in your confirmation message’s “From:” and “Subject:” lines. Consider putting in specific instructions for getting onto Google (G-mail), Yahoo!, AOL, and MSN whitelists, since many subscribers use these services.

Even if new subscribers confirm their opt-in, remind them about whitelisting in your first (“Welcome”) message. It’s also a good idea to have your own accounts with large web-based e-mail clients, so that you can test and verify that your white-listing plan actually works.

2. Put each of Your Messages through a Spam Checker.

Successfully adding a new subscriber and being placed on whitelists does not give you free reign to write e-mails as you please. Avoid your subscribers’ Spam box by pre-testing each message before scheduling it in your autoresponder. Several third party e-mail deliverability services include automatic checking software with your membership. Otherwise, consider downloading a leading spam checker; many are no-cost and web-based for convenient use. With experience, you will learn to recognize words, phrases, and writing styles that demand editing or in the extreme case, a complete rewrite.

3. Send Subscribers an Appropriate Mix of Content and Offers.

Internet marketers are regularly targeted as spammers, so it behooves you to do everything possible to maintain a good score with subscribers as well as their e-mail clients. After all, what’s the point of being white-listed and using spam checking software if you’re going to blow it with 100% hard sell e-mails? Stay true to your original intentions by demonstrating your expertise to readers, building real relationships, and making appropriate offers that solve problems. You will be doing the industry, list members, and yourself a great service.

--------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

August 4th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 21.

2009-08-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder E-Courses Maximize Sales.

Counter intuitive as it may sound, many top Internet marketers profit handsomely by giving things away. CDs, DVDs, e-books, videos – you name it – whatever it takes to get the proverbial “foot in the door”. Done properly, offering high-quality “freebies” is an excellent way to grow your list and set up successful sales campaigns down the road. So, why not offer something of value to web surfers today with the help of your autoresponder?

In particular, autoresponders are ideally suited for delivering free electronic courses (e-courses) to eager subscribers craving specialized information. E-courses allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, trustworthiness, and friendliness to people without blasting them with blatant sales pitches. Thousands of web surfers looking for help sign up for courses every day, so consider setting up a niche-specific course to establish your expert credentials.

E-course autoresponders operate similarly to other message sequences you currently send to subscribers. Each “lesson” is released at a specific time; you should be able to judge the optimum lesson quantity and frequency to use with practice and customize each aspect of the e-course to encourage desirable future results.

Unlike traditional academic courses and live webinars, you won’t be able to interact directly with list subscribers, although you should encourage immediate feedback from them. Once you finish writing the course material, segment it into manageable lessons, and schedule its release, the autoresponder automates the entire process.

E-mail courses are effective, because they blend information with salesmanship. For example, if you sell battery-powered lawn mowers, your e-course autoresponder should prove why they are superior to gas-powered mowers. Alternatively, you could write a course about lawn care and maintenance with “green” mowers. After following your lessons, all conclusions drawn should favor your product or service. Your credibility has been established, and subscribers are less sales resistant, because they have received “free” valuable information from you.

With careful planning, your can create expert courses of varying lengths for in any niche. For example:

-Short courses: 3-5 lessons.
-Two-week course; delivered every alternate day: 7 lessons.
-Ten-day course; daily lessons: 10 lessons.
-30-day course delivered every second day: 15 lessons.

Barring unique circumstances, do not deliver more than one lesson daily, so that subscribers can focus and digest each lesson and anticipate what comes next.

Before launching your opt-in page and releasing your autoresponder address to the public, test the lesson sequence on yourself and make necessary adjustments. Edit your messages! Even the slightest spelling and grammatical errors could increase your unsubscribe rates and weaken your sales performances. Put yourself in your subscribers’ shoes and ask, “Would I buy from this person?” Always be professional.

While text-based e-courses are still the norm for new marketers, more established types are increasingly preparing audio-visual course material for complimentary consumption. As production costs plummet and equipment become more accessible, expect to find more and more free video courses on your favorite subject.

----------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

August 4th, "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 20.

2009-08-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

How to Use Autoresponders to Automate Your Internet Business.

The post-modern, industrial age saw individuals, corporations, and governments take a giant leap forward by automating various business processes. Nothing was left to chance as manual, mechanical and electrical/electronic work were analyzed, isolated into its component parts, then automated to astonishing effect.

Today’s Information Age has taken automation to a whole new level, thanks to computer technology and the Internet. The business rationale remains the same: eliminating or reducing time spent on menial tasks to focus on more revenue generators for your company and yourself. Alternatively, automation frees up time to pursue leisure activities. For Internet marketers, creating a business model that runs on autopilot is Nirvana, and with autoresponders, it may not as farfetched a pipedream as you think.

Autoresponders in concert with your favorite traffic generation methods can be used to promote both your latest and previous offers. You can use a ‘Thank You’ page to greet new list subscribers and introduce relevant products or services. If you feel such tactics are too aggressive, place sales messages into your autoresponder sequence that pre-sell on your behalf through repeated exposure. By the time you direct prospects to a salesletter, your information and sales arguments will have done the trick.

…and the beauty of it all is that you are doing something else when sales are made!

Assuming that your sales copy passes the test and prospects place an order, use a follow-up autoresponder to send out the customer receipt and product access details (N.B. if you sell digital products, provide download instructions.). A third autoresponder, a ‘Thank You’ autoresponder, should also be sent immediately to thank people for their patronage, and inform them about goods that compliment their recent purchase.

Although sales acquisition and order processing may appear complicated, your direct involvement ends once you have personally tested and verified each marketing campaign’s sales funnel. Write your customer care autoresponders once, and revenue will continue to come in as you develop other business projects.

…Or plan your next vacation.

That’s the essence of automated Internet Marketing – maximizing autoresponders to make your strategic business and income goals come true.

-----------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 22nd "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 19.

2009-07-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Smart Autoresponders that Go Beyond List-Building.

Everybody knows how great autoresponders are for building a responsive list of subscribers and prospects for online or “bricks and mortar” business.

However, did you know that they can also help you become a recognized leader in your niche? Think about it – why not use your expertise to create an e-mail course that plugs directly into your autoresponder? Now, instead of individual messages or the occasional broadcast, you can cover specific topics that highlight your knowledge and experience. Before you know it, people will be beating down your virtual door to access your training sessions!

Alternatively, you can derive inspiration from the education system, where several novel uses for autoresponders can be found. For example, many university professors send messages to students reminding them about pending assignments and examinations. Teachers at all levels often upload study guides and class lectures for frequently taught courses. Assuming limited year-to-year changes, everybody wins: students have ready access to course material 24/7, and teachers save precious class preparation time to focus on other issues.

Upcoming events in corporations, government offices, and colleges alike present another opportunity for autoresponder use. Assuming sufficiently advance notice, messages can be set up almost immediately and integrated into personal calendars days or weeks in advance. Think of the convenience for potential participants like university alumni who must make travel arrangements to visit from out of town.

Today, businesses use autoresponders to train employees’ on new technologies and procedures. Whenever new software or equipment is introduced into the workforce, an instructional autoresponder can offer a step-by-step guide that helps everyone get up to speed quickly. With greater sophistication and growing Internet (intranet) bandwidth, autoresponders may eventually be able to offer embedded audiovisual manuals on demand. At worst, podcasts and videos can still be accessed with conventional URL links embedded in each message.

Smart autoresponder use will improve your bottom line. Whatever of your business of choice, there are strategies that you need to apply right now. In addition to time savings, your ability to share information with prospects, customers, and employees will strengthen your relationships. Entrepreneurs get a more responsive and appreciative list; corporate managers and trainers get a thriftier and more productive workforce.

------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 22nd "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 18.

2009-07-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

The CAN-SPAM Act: Practice Proper E-mail Conduct.

Many of humanity’s greatest inventions come with a price. The automobile, created with noble intentions; i.e; fast and efficient transport across great distances for the masses, introduced side effects like traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and urban sprawl. Similarly, electronic mail communication – while revolutionizing letter writing and commerce – comes with an undesirable side effect that threatens its long-term viability and credibility. Namely, unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) commonly referred to as spam.

To regulate business e-mails and combat spam, the United States government passed the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act in 2003. Although other countries have followed suit with similar legislation, the CAN-SPAM Act serves as a common reference point for online marketers throughout the world.

The law sets out four major requirements for people engaging in e-commerce and e-mail marketing in general:

1. Prohibit the sending of false or misleading header information: Your e-mail’s “From”, “To”, and path information must properly identify you as the e-mail communication’s source.

2. Ban deceptive “Subject” lines: The subject line must not mislead the e-mail receiver about its content.

3. Provide recipients with a clear opt-out option: Senders must provide a return e-mail address or an automated method to opt out of future messages, and any such requests must be honored within ten (10) business days.

4. Identify commercial correspondence as advertising, and include the sender’s valid physical postal address.

Reputable third party autoresponder services strictly adhere to the CAN-SPAM Act, and provide resources and support to ensure that you comply with its provisions. Given that the burden of proof rests with e-mail marketers, the performance of autoresponder software – especially free software – should be monitored to ensure that the above four criteria are met.

In most cases, your common sense and ethical business conduct should guarantee that you never run afoul of CAN-SPAM rules. Regardless, don’t be intimidated by legalities; if you face spamming accusations, take all necessary steps to protect yourself, including dropping troublesome subscribers from your list. Most e-mail delivery services enforce a double opt-in requirement for prospects, so you should be protected in most cases.

With great power comes great responsibility. Even casual requests for information can become headaches, so funnel online contacts into your opt-in forms. Similarly, customer purchases do not give you carte blanche to add people to your contact list. Remember to include a check box or equivalent in the order form to obtain explicit permission for follow-ups.

For more details about how the CAN-SPAM Act affects your electronic commerce, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/ecommerce/bus61.shtm

---------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 20th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 17.

2009-07-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

Use Your Autoresponder to Reveal Valuable Business Secrets.

Revealing “secrets” is a tried and true marketing tactic that anyone – master or novice – can use to promote their business. Remember the first time you went online and a guru offered to reveal his (or her) secrets to you? How did you feel - pretty special, right? Everyone loves to get the inside scoop, especially if they know it’s something other folks can’t have. Now, it’s your turn to use autoresponders to build a special, private club.

On the Internet, you can create a special membership website containing your highly sought after business secrets. Use an attention-grabbing autoresponder sequence to create buzz, heighten awareness about your efforts, and invite subscribers to your site. To guarantee its value, implement scarcity marketing; i.e; limit the number of people with access to your pages, and/or impose a time limit for gaining access.

You must create rich content to ensure success for your successful secrets membership site. Give the site a mouthwatering title that drives subscribers to the sign up (e.g. “Winning list-building tactics to create income on autopilot!” for a Business Opportunity website). You need to create a password-protected website directory, but unlike most commercial websites, the same login/password combination is sufficient for everyone.

After you have completed your membership directory web pages, promote the URL and login information in an autoresponder. Direct your current list subscribers to a promotional salesletter. Cross promote with your joint venture partners and other list owners to broaden your reach, all the while maintaining your membership ceiling. The more unique and special your membership site appears, the easier it will be to meet your membership goals!

Resist the temptation to charge an entry fee into your membership site when getting started. Remember that your main goal is to generate traffic to your pages; as more motivated prospects see your high quality secret information, their resistance to purchasing your products later on will lessen. When subscribers see how good your free material is, they will be less hesitant about whipping out their credit card to buy stuff.

Wait a minute – aren’t you sacrificing easy upfront income by not charging an entry fee?

Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, you are just extending your list-building reach onto a different stage. You could argue that the initial work on your secret content site is for “free”. However, the contact information you collect from subscribers who “raise their hands” is well worth the investment in the long-term.

Consolidating your secrets into a robust, members-only site is a proven way to generate leads and create new income opportunities. Don’t forget to use your autoresponder to inform subscribers about “secret” updates. Opening up new communication channels gives you the opportunity to promote more, sell more, and follow-up more. All courtesy of your friendly neighborhood autoresponder.

-------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 19th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 16.

2009-07-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

Money for Nothing, Autoresponders for Free?

Autoresponders should be an important part of an online marketer’s lead generation and customer contact strategy. Yet, most Internet newcomers (“newbies”) hesitate to pay for third party services. People on tight budgets are drawn to the ‘no-cost’ option, i.e; free autoresponders, but is it an alternative worth investigating? After all, why not save hundreds of dollars per year? Fair enough – numerous options are available, and some free autoresponders may prove reliable enough to get your list-building off the ground.

…Let’s have a look.

Several web hosting companies supply free autoresponders with your personal account, so this should be your first option. Normally, it’s a straightforward procedure to get things up and running using the web host’s control panel. One advantage of using your webhost’s free autoresponder is the absence of advertising. Some subscribers object to reading banners or extra ad copy in addition to your messages, so giving them one less reason to hit ‘Unsubscribe’ is welcome.

Beyond your web host, you can investigate other free autoresponder software and services online. A cursory search reveals thousands of articles, reviews, and recommendations on what autoresponders to choose. Unlike web host autoresponders, these services will place ads in your outgoing messages. Understandable, because that’s how they make money, in the form of “top sponsor” or “bottom sponsor” ads. You have no choice but to accept them – even if they compete directly with you or distract your prospects!

Have a look at paid third party services that offer a free or “light” autoresponder version. As established businesses, they may in position to leave sponsored advertisements off your messages and satisfy most of your immediate autoresponder needs. However, be assured that non-paying subscribers will not have access to its more robust features. Nevertheless, testing this type of service is a great way to evaluate a company before committing to a paid trial or upgraded service.

If you are committed to using a free autoresponder, be aware that it will likely impose a limit on your list size. In fact, the best way to judge your autoresponder needs may be to use a free service until your list surpasses a certain size. From a bottom line, business point of view, “list profitability” should determine whether paid or free is right for you.

A free autoresponder is preferable to having no autoresponder at all, even if your list is small and you have the added burden of dealing with spam complaints. Conventional wisdom suggests that they are suitable for newbies, at least until they’re ready to take their businesses to the next level. Still, you should base your decision on tangible criteria, e.g.; the role autoresponders play in your overall e-mail and relationship marketing strategy. Some marketers concurrently employ free autoresponders for limited, list-building campaigns and paid services for true income generation.

Make sense?

--------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 19th "Autoresponders in your World Series", Part 15.

2009-07-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder Broadcasts Make E-zines Simple!

Autoresponders serve many functions, but one of their best features is the ability to publish and promote electronic newsletters or magazines (e-zines). After you bring in list subscribers with attractive landing pages and freebies, your ability to retain them will be determined by the quality of your ongoing correspondence. Use your e-zine to forge a lasting relationship with your list through superior content and offers.

Publishing an e-zine can be a daunting task, but with discipline and a passion for helping others, your work will stand out in any competitive online niche. However, newsletters are not quite the “Set it-and-forget it” message sequences usually associated with autoresponders. As opposed to the automatic messages that you send subscribers at fixed intervals after they sign up, you will need to use the ‘broadcast’ option that comes with most third party autoresponders.

What is an autoresponder broadcast? Simply stated, it is a message that you schedule at the day and time of your choosing. All current mailing list subscribers receive this message, regardless of when they joined you. Broadcasts are “one-time” messages, unless subscribers specifically request them through your autoresponder address.

Technically speaking, broadcast messages are created in a similar manner to your automated autoresponder. Enter the broadcast control panel of your service, type your message (or copy/paste it from a word processor), then pick the time for your mailing.

Autoresponders give small business owners and “solo-preneurs” the same publishing power as any Fortune 500 corporation. You control scheduling and distribution while your service handles the flow of subscribers coming into and opting out of your e-zine. In fact, as you become a more skilled and prolific writer, you can “stockpile” several weeks worth of e-zine editions and send them out as if they were an automated sequence!

How about that!

Autoresponder services do not delete your previous broadcasts and auto-messages, thus you can resend issues when appropriate, or respond to individual requests about products and information. Don’t forget to track your open and click rates to gauge interest in your newsletter and the items being promoted in it.

Broadcast messaging should be high on your list of autoresponder “must haves”. Be aware that not all autoresponders are created equal. Ensure your have all the marketing tools you need to vault your online presence into the big leagues.

-------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 17th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 14.

2009-07-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder Power Ratings: Four Criteria for Making the Best Choice.

Autoresponders are an integral part of a serious marketer’s online toolkit. Together with landing pages, opt-in forms, and traffic tactics, they constitute the 24/7 engine of your Internet Marketing regime. A uniquely informative, content-rich autoresponder sequence in a profitable niche makes all the difference for list-building, affiliate marketing, and customer care. So, make sure that the service you entrust your business to has enough muscle to deliver the goods.

What should you look for in an autoresponder service? For starters, ensure that it meets your e-mail deliverability needs. This is your main service requirement; therefore you must have confidence in its anti-spam policies and its own white-listed business domain. In addition, a third party company must have good relations with the major Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Otherwise, a high percentage of your e-mails will be blocked by various spam filters and flagged by online watch groups. One more thing: don’t forget to ask about broadcast capabilities.

Next, autoresponders should have an extensive suite of tracking tools that allows you to monitor your web analytics. A minimal set of metrics an autoresponder should provide includes:

Open rates; i.e. what percentage of your list subscribers is opening each of your e-mails.

Click-through rates; i.e. how many subscribers are clicking your links to reach salesletters, product offers, other landing pages, etc.

Split testing results for messages and forms to see what works best.

The growth of your list in absolute terms, and by segment (e.g. country of origin).

Let’s face it – what good is an autoresponder service if you cannot measure your performance?

A proven third party service should offer extensive subscriber management tools. While everyone enjoys the ability to automate their list-building with autoresponders, it’s critical for your service to allow manual adjustments as well. For example, you will need to remove “unsubscribes” and undeliverable addresses on occasion. You are running a serious business, so people wanting to tap into your expertise should be on your official mailing list. Similarly, the ability to move contact information from one list to another simplifies the management of multiple campaigns. This is especially helpful if you change autoresponder companies in the future.

A fourth “must-have” feature is the integration of your autoresponder with popular web-based shopping carts to permit seamless information (digital) product delivery and after-purchase follow-up. One-time sales are fine, but why end you customer relations there? By immediately adding proven buyers to your list, not only can you thank them for purchasing; you can nurture a relationship that eventually leads to more sales in the future.

The above four criteria: e-mail deliverability, web analytics, subscriber management, and shopping cart integration, should be your minimal requirements when investigating a prospective autoresponder service. Before putting your money down, take the time to evaluate your options – it will be well worth it.

---------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 16th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 13.

2009-07-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

3 Ways that Autoresponders Motivate your Downline Members.

Internet technologies increasingly shape the way people market affiliate products and build network marketing organizations. Gone are the days when cold-calling, house parties, and lead purchasing were the main options for becoming successful. Now, home-base entrepreneurs (“solopreneurs”) in particular are invading cyberspace, turning the referral marketing model on its head to make money online.

Although the stampede into Internet “network” marketing shows no signs of abating, many marketers still find it challenging to motivate their downlines to perform at a steady pace. Unlike other sales and retail business models, income really does depend on an active downline. Therefore, it’s high time you ramped up your team leadership by introducing strong autoresponder campaigns into the mix.

With autoresponders, there is no excuse for not keeping with your downline and providing them with the support it expects from you. The quality of your correspondence will keep affiliates active, which in turn improves your bottom line. It’s all about communication, so consider the following three ideas for your autoresponder message sequence:

1. Positive Messages Galore!

There’s nothing more uplifting for a downline member/subscriber than a few words of encouragement. Add motivational quotes and a bit of humor to your words of wisdom. Consider acknowledging your top performers in a monthly or quarterly autoresponder, and keep everyone focused with achievable goals for the short and long term.

2. Product and Service Information.

The downfall of many Internet Marketers today is the failure to grasp meaningful product knowledge. As team leader, you must provide any and all details that your downline demands – and then some. Autoresponders are perfectly suited for this task. Once your core messages are in place, beginners have a stable example to follow, and you only have to update them when necessary. In many cases, just a little information is sufficient to keep members on track.

3. Practical Sales and Marketing Tips.

Most of your downline are part-timers without formal sales experience. Even if you are not a hardened salesperson yourself, you can use autoresponders to convey personal experiences and suggest winning strategies and tactics. When it comes to Internet sales, you may know more than you think, so begin with the basics and incorporate any feedback you get from others to fine tune your downline autoresponder.

Although most people come into network marketing with good intentions, the failure rate remains stubbornly high because very few make the time to learn marketing well. As a leader, your duty is to do whatever you can (within reason) to support your downline’s efforts. What seems obvious to you may not appear so evident to your members, so take the time to load autoresponders that will elevate their performance.

------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 15th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 12.

2009-07-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder Netiquette: 3 Great Ways to Ensure Trouble-free Use.

An autoresponder’s power and versatility should never be taken for granted, nor abused. Believe it or not, marketers get into trouble every day because of improper autoresponder use. While minor transgressions are often quickly rectified with warnings or perhaps a small penalty, some violations are so serious that they can jeopardize your entire online business.

So, as you embark on your next autoresponder campaign, please keep the following three rules of conduct in mind:

1. NEVER sign up to a newsletter, e-course, affiliate campaign, etc. using your autoresponder’s e-mail Address.

As an online business entrepreneur looking to exploit the Internet to generate leads and sales, you expect subscribers to enter genuine contact information into your autoresponder opt-in. How else are you going to nurture a “one-to-one” relationship with them? Similarly, you must respect your fellow marketers by giving them a valid email address – not unsolicited access to your list! Just imagine the complications of autoresponder-autoresponder correspondence:

- A message is sent to your entire list (not just you!), which includes another autoresponder address. The second autoresponder replies to your autoresponder that in turn responds to the autoresponder of the original marketer. This “loop” persists until all the services and software involved close it down and clean up the damage left behind.

Simply put, this rule is the autoresponder equivalent of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

2. NEVER sign up to discussion groups or forums with an autoresponder e-mail address.

You join special interest online groups to share information with like-minded folks, build your reputation, and market yourself as a trustworthy businessperson. So, why risk your good name and betray your subscribers’ trust by exposing them to something they never asked for? Signing up with your autoresponder address will lead to spamming accusations; when forum members send you a message, you AND your entire list receive it. Suffice to say that you are ruining the social networking experience for everyone. Forum administrators despise this practice and will banish you without hesitation.

3. Learn and Understand CAN-SPAM Act Basics.

Reputable third party autoresponder services have incorporated the relevant parts of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act since it became law January 1, 2004. Still, being aware of its requirements can help you avoid being reported for spam; i.e., unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE). If you have any doubts about what constitutes proper autoresponder etiquette, check if you presently:

- Require a double opt-in when setting up your opt-in forms (recommended by most but not mandatory).
- Offer an “unsubscribe” link with every autoresponder message.
- Include a valid postal mailing address in each message.

As your online activity expands, you will inevitably come across troublemakers who enjoy giving Internet Marketing a bad name. Frankly, some list subscribers are not worth having, so if you receive complaints, be responsible and just let them go. Don’t give anyone an excuse to ruin your reputation. Use your autoresponder as if your livelihood depended on it. In a manner of speaking, perhaps it already does.

----------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 13th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 11.

2009-07-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

How Autoresponders can Pre-sell (and Sell) Your Latest E-book.

How do autoresponders help you generate “buzz” and attract customers for your upcoming product launch? Apart from its recognized list-building role, autoresponders play a big part in most successful marketing campaigns, especially at the start. Given that you have invested time and money to attract website visitors and list subscribers, why not promote your product right away? Create anticipation for the launch by telling people how its benefits will solve their problem(s).

Autoresponders are particularly effective when it comes to launching e-books. Instead of just talking about it to subscribers, consider offering a full e-book preview autoresponder. Even though you want to earn income from your hard work, allowing a select group of people to see your product in advance can result in positive feedback, even suggestions for improvements that you did not consider before. Look at reviews for the big Hollywood blockbusters. Why do you think mass media critics get a “sneak peek” before the rest of us? Simple – the studios know that it’s the best way to create buzz and add – not subtract – from their bottom line.

Besides, who could say ‘No’ to free advertising?

If you are adamant about not revealing all at once, consider offering a “leaked” chapter or two in the autoresponder. Set up a landing page with a form that allows visitors to enter contact information in exchange for the e-book preview. This “ethical” bribe is completely acceptable: you build your list of potential customers; the prospects read your chapter for free. Every few days up to release, remind subscribers about your launch date and the great reasons for getting this product. Maintain your marketing momentum!

Another tactic you may wish to consider is the pre-lease e-book option. Once your launch date is set, consider offering preview subscribers your product a few days earlier. You are not obliged to discount your price for them; however you may give them a ‘Thank You’ gift for coming on board so early and sticking with you until the end.

Pay attention to your autoresponder retention rate; i.e, the percentage of people who accepted your e-book preview invitation and remain on your list. You willingly gave them an ‘unsubscribe’ link with every e-mail, yet they continue to accept your information. Sure, some may have forgotten about you, but the rest are legitimate prospects. These are the laser-targeted folks who are showing interest in your e-book and are likely to purchase once you give them the green light. The best autoresponder messages render fancy salesletters redundant – another advantage for marketers on a tight budget.

Autoresponders are a marketer’s best friend, because they can help you determine whether or not demand exists for your e-book. By using readily accessible autoresponder tactics and techniques, you can get answers fast. If results of your pre-launch preview autoresponder are negative, learn your lessons and move on to your next product idea. Otherwise, show subscribers how excited YOU are about your upcoming e-book launch, and then feed your hungry, pre-sold prospects everything that they have been waiting for!

---------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 12th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 10.

2009-07-12T19:42:00.001-07:00

How Autoresponders Can Explode Your Article Marketing Results.

Think autoresponders and article marketing don’t go together? Think again. You may be the best writer in the world, but if you’re not converting readers into subscribers and eventually customers, your efforts are in vain. In order to become a great article marketer – not just a great wordsmith – incorporate autoresponders into your strategy.

Consider all four components of a successful article marketing campaign:

1. Original, high-quality, informative, niche-specific articles.
2. Resource Box.
3. Landing page reached by clicking resource box link.
4. Autoresponder code that captures contact information.

Each component, like teammates in a 4X100 track and field relay race, must work together to achieve results – in this case, more sign-ups for your business. The resource box, for example, is an essential link between your article and the autoresponder. These two or three lines after your article must entice readers to extend their relationship with you. It’s “call to action” should capitalize on the heightened sense of awareness generated by your words. To extend the track and field analogy, the resource box should “drive” your viewers to a landing page which in turn “hands off” the baton to the autoresponder anchor in order to win the list-building and sales generating race.

What are the best ways to use autoresponders? In the past, people were advised to set up each of their articles with a unique autoresponder address. This would permit easy tracking of important performance metrics to determine the effectiveness of a campaign, niche, etc. In addition, you would also maintain an article master list that included every address along with a brief description of the content.

However, promoting individual articles in this manner was extremely time-consuming, so marketers have opted for autoresponder campaigns, where the master list’s autoresponder address identifies a group of related articles. By opting into a newsletter, subscribers can receive a unified sequence of prewritten e-mails on a specific subject. To stay current, authors may contribute occasional broadcasts and/or edit their sequence accordingly.

Increasingly, leading autoresponder companies and article directories allow marketers to capitalize on synergies with well-known social media outlets. Consider some of the options already in place on the Internet that can extend your articles’ reach:

- Autoresponder services that give marketers the option of broadcasting messages to their Twitter followers.
- Article directories that connect you with Facebook and MySpace as expert and verified sources of information.
- RSS and other syndication feeds that originate from article directories and the blogosphere.
- Effective and creative use of widgets, including simple HTML autoresponder code for your websites.

Just remember to subtly direct new readers to your autoresponder!

Original, high-quality, informative, niche-specific articles attract readers – no doubt about it. Whether you submit them to directories, e-zine publishers, or your own blogs, they will improve your search engine rankings and establishing your credibility. However, without autoresponders, how can you initiate relationships that lead to subscribers, customers, and (ideally!) life-long buyers?

--------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 11th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 9.

2009-07-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Professional Autoresponder Formatting Just Makes Sense!

In their excitement to create winning autoresponder sequences, budding e-mail marketers are often careless about their letter formatting. Contrary to what you may hear, offline written communication still holds useful lessons for Internet marketers committed to doing their own thing. Amongst the most important is to format your correspondence professionally, especially with regards to autoresponder e-mails.

The easiest and perhaps most important rule to follow is compliance with a standard line length, normally sixty-five characters, for your e-mails. All too often, marketers are not sensitive to how their readers must strain themselves when facing “broken” emails: ten words on one line, followed by a two-word line, then two blank lines and more variations right up to the end.

It’s enough to make you scream…

Are these the type of emails you want to look at on a regular basis? What impression does a poorly formatted autoresponder make on subscribers? Chances are that if they have not already unsubscribed to your newsletter, they will simply ignore your presence in the Inbox.

As with other aspects of autoresponder use, you are best served by reading your service’s text handling instructions. Do you need a “hard break” or carriage return at the end of lines, or is the editor preset for wrap-around? How about plain text versus HTML format? Does copy pasting a Word file causes special difficulties? Different autoresponders will recommend slightly different tactics to handle formatting issues. However, common best practices should be clearly stated in each service’s knowledge database.

Once you figure out how to maintain a sixty-five character line in an e-mail, test it out to ensure that your autoresponder appears as it should. It is good practice to first send messages to yourself before your list subscribers, so that you can verify the delivery format. Maintaining an account (e-mail address) with the major Internet Service Providers (ISP) enables you to test multiple paths with confidence.

Standing out from your e-mail competition is beneficial in most respects. In fact, incorporating click-through videos and other audio-visual gadgets makes individuality increasingly possible these days. However, when it comes to marketing basics, let your well formatted words do the talking. Present yourself to subscribers clearly and in a non-threatening manner with a message to die for.

--------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 11th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 8.

2009-07-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Using Autoresponders to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service.

Many exceptional entrepreneurs and corporations boast about building their companies “One customer at a time.” Indeed, most people need to know that their business is appreciated, and that if issues arise, the company would step forward to offer personal assistance.

In the real world, it is still possible (although with alarming irregularity) to get customer service on a personalized basis. However, when it comes to Internet Marketing, even the most well-intentioned businessperson quickly realizes that one-to-one customer service is impractical. Clients and prospects are global, not local. In cyberspace, an autoresponder can fulfill a small to medium-sized business’ customer service requirements.

In the simplest scenario, autoresponder-based customer service amounts to sending out:

1. A sales receipt when a web-based order is placed.
2. Product access information (download information in the case of digital products).
3. A ‘Thank You’ or courtesy e-mail. May or may not include an ‘upsell’ or complimentary follow-up offer.

The above steps take place regardless of where you are (vacation?) or what you are doing. However, life is not always so simple, and there will be times when you must be more “hands-on” to satisfy your customer. For example, consider a person who orders a PDF-based e-book from you but cannot download it properly. Unfortunately, your first autoresponder sequence is not enough, so consider the following options:

1. Add a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) autoresponder that includes product access solutions based on prior customer feedback.

2. Create a special support autoresponder that automatically responds to a customer requests for help by acknowledging the inquiry and providing a time frame for resolution. This shows that post-purchase relations are important, and provides some assurance for customers.

As a business owner, you want to keep customers happy and hopefully retain them for repeat purchases. Therefore, don’t forget to actually resolve all outstanding issues before they get angry and upset. It’s amazing how much grief and misunderstanding can be prevented by short, easy to create autoresponder messages.

It is critical to analyze your online order processing system from both the top-down and the bottom-up. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and identify each and every problem that they may face. Ensure your customer’s full satisfaction by including all three types of autoresponders mentioned above – not just a 'Thank you for your money." message!

In the long run, your reputation will make or break your business. Nothing kills a reputation faster than a failed customer service policy. By immediately addressing your customer service needs with autoresponders, you are one step closer to Internet marketing perfection.

---------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 10th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 7.

2009-07-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

Making Autoresponder Messages Sell Themselves.

Autoresponders are ideally suited for e-mail relationship marketing, the modern approach to online sales entrepreneurship. Hard sales tactics are no longer the norm; people don’t need a formal sales background to attract prospects and potential customers to their network. Most experts claim that people need at least seven exposures to a product or service before buying it. So the burning question is:

What role can your autoresponder play in influencing purchasing decisions?

Assuming that you work with permission-based, double opt-in lists (always preferable to single opt-in lists) contacting prospects seven, seven-hundred, or even seven-thousand times over a lifetime is not beyond reach. Autoresponders give you the power to harness the Internet for that very purpose. Forget the “All or Nothing” approach; i.e. an uncompromising sales pitch in your “Welcome” autoresponder. Not only won’t you make the sale, but there is a good chance your prospect will immediately unsubscribe.

Instead, use your initial message to thank subscribers for giving you the privilege of speaking to them on a very important issue. Next, focus on why they chose to sign up with your newsletter:

Subscribers believe that you have the solution to their problem!

Don’t talk about politics if your squeeze page invitation offered expert advice about deep-sea diving! Inform readers with usable content that relates to your upcoming offers. You may include a sales page link at the bottom of your message or postscript (P.S.), or hold off until future autoresponder messages. The key is to build a relationship with your readership. Resist the temptation to bear all at once. Be patient; just hinting at your unique solution will keep prospects tuned in to your activities.

Once you have established your credentials and sincerity, tell subscribers how your product or services can help them. Use follow-up autoresponders to describe benefits, and gradually explain why it is the right solution for them. Free information should stimulate prospects and convince them that you are the real deal.

Finally, comes the sales pitch: a reminder of why they joined you, the benefits of the products, and special features (i.e. bonuses, testimonials, money-back guarantees, etc.) to close the deal.

Autoresponder marketing is not an exact science, and there is more than one path to success. Signing up for other marketers’ newsletters and analyzing their styles will give you an idea of what’s already out there and help you create a unique voice. Seriously consider maintaining a ‘swap file’ (i.e. a file containing advice and/or messages proven to work) of best practices to retain messages and language that you may want to try in the future. Just remember not to plagiarize sales copy or other autoresponder messages!

Allowing autoresponder messages to do the selling for you lets you concentrate on creating and finding good products for your customers. Having sales expertise is great, but don’t impose it on your new prospects. Peak their curiosity first by empathizing with their problem and defining it in terms favorable to your solution. Repeatedly offering pertinent information that addresses the issue in a non-threatening manner improves the chance that they will be pre-sold prior to your final message.

… and ready to purchase.

--------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 10th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 6.

2009-07-10T13:41:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder Service Fundamentals: Start Following Instructions to Hit the Ground Running.

Your autoresponder choice will be the catalyst for your growth as an Internet marketer. Everyone talks about how autoresponders make e-mail marketing and list-building easy, swearing by the service as if it was some kind of money tree. Perhaps it is, in a roundabout way…

However, before feverishly writing down your autoresponder sequences and broadcasts, do yourself a huge favor and become a student of your autoresponder service. By taking a few hours to properly understand how things should be done, you will avoid common e-mail marketing and software use errors that the vast majority of beginners commit. These mistakes will hurt you where it counts most: with subscribers, customers, and consequently in the pocket book.

These days, most highly rated autoresponder services offer a wide array of support features to get the new marketer going with minimal delay. Long gone are the days when a printed, on-site manual was the only source of information to get started. Amongst the best ways to get help with your autoresponder service includes:

1. Webinars: Live training, especially “How to get Started” demonstrations are quite popular with new autoresponder users. You’ll be able to login to your account and practically work through the essential steps “blow by blow” with professional staff.

2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Comfortable with autoresponder basics but need something little extra before heading out on the Internet? Most autoresponder services maintain a large, searchable database of knowledge built up through customer experiences and best practices.

3. Video Tutorials: Even the most detail-oriented and attentive business folks may want to review their newly acquired skills after getting live instruction. Watching videos can reinforce basic concepts and clarify some actions that you need to complete before starting an e-mail campaign.

4. Live Assistance: When all else fails, there is always the telephone, e-mail, and/or live chats to answer your most pressing questions.

After you complete the signup process and get a feel for what autoresponders are all about, perform a self-test by loading one of your e-mail addresses into a list along with one “Welcome” message. Set up a dummy sign-up feature on your web page, enter your contact information, and press ‘Enter’. If you receive a confirmation e-mail from the autoresponder, chances are that you have succeeded. Congratulations! However, keep testing other features to become more familiar with how it really works.

Good autoresponder services can deliver super value for the dollar, but only if you invest the time up front to learn everything you need to become a great marketer. Developing proper autoresponder habits early will make it easier for you to test, track, and tweak all aspects of your future Internet Marketing campaigns.

--------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

May 25th "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 5.

2009-05-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Why Autoresponder Response Tracking is Critical for your E-mail Marketing Campaigns.

Regardless of how you advertise (Pay-per-click (PPC), Search engine optimization (SEO), articles, banners, etc.) your business decisions must be based on actual performance. Testing is vital, but what’s the point if you do not track your test results? Ignorance is far from bliss – not knowing what works can suck your advertising budget dry. What’s worse, you might inadvertently get rid of successful campaigns!

Instead of bouncing from one form of advertising to another without understanding why tactics need to be changed or dropped, consider integrating autoresponders into your Internet Marketing. Through a special feature known as response tracking, you can analyze the success rate of each message you send out, and not be caught off guard by surprising results…

Most reputable autoresponder services offer a response tracking feature that is easy to set up from within a control panel. For example, to measure the number of clicks to a particular website:

Enter the website’s address into the autoresponder’s tracking tool.
The autoresponder software generates a special tracking URL.
The new URL is used to record the number of (unique) clicks at your website originating from your autoresponder message.

The autoresponder is responsible for redirecting your subscribers to the website you are currently promoting. Inside your account, you can track the deliverability rate (i.e. messages actually delivered), the click-through rate (CTR), as well as an email open rate. As you can see, autoresponder-based response tracking is what makes email relationship marketing so powerful and effective.

Autoresponders are not created equal, so before committing to an autoresponder service, make sure that it offers tracking services. Response tracking is the best way to determine the effectiveness of your subscriber messages, and whether they need to be tweaked or completely overhauled.

Indirectly, response tracking can also indicate how good your sales copy is. Consider this: even if your autoresponder message is a winner that generates a high CTR, your conversion rate may be quite poor. Therefore you can infer that one or several sales copy elements need to be changed.

Tracking autoresponder responses looks so simple, yet for some reasons most people either ignore this option or don’t use and interpret results properly. Still, it’s never too late to consider adding it to your Internet Marketing arsenal.

Take the guesswork out of your campaigns! Time and money cannot be wasted, regardless of whether you are a part-time marketer or seasoned professional. By knowing what works and what doesn’t, you will lay the groundwork for a more effective – and profitable – business.

------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

May 15th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 4.

2009-05-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Using Autoresponders to Leverage Post-Purchase Customer Contact.

Business whether online or offline is about three things:

1. Relationship building.
2. Lead generation.
3. Sales Revenue.

As a business owner, you should always aim to turn one-time purchasers into long-term, repeat buyers. This process begins with prompt acknowledgement of your website orders, something that can be done automatically with an autoresponder.

Making a Strong "Second" Impression.

Marketers must have clear and concise messages at the ready when customers place an order. Today, many shopping carts integrate seamlessly with popular autoresponders, and often build their own into the payment processing systems. Autoresponders allow you to speak immediately with new customers, thank them for their patronage, and inform about other products and services that may benefit to them. Failure to capitalize on this opportunity is the surest way to leave money on the table.

Acknowledge, Thank and Offer - but not all at Once!

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So, use follow-up messages prudently to demonstrate interest in your customer's well-being. Keep things simple by not merging your 'Thank You' and customer acknowledgement autoresponders. They serve distinct purposes and as such, you should ensure that your buyers focus on only one message at a time. Similarly, one-time offers (OTO) and other pitches need and deserve their distinct spaces.

Therefore:

- Separate the customer's email sales receipt from your 'Thank You' sales message. Make sure your ‘thank you’ is a message that is sent out by itself, so your customer can focus solely on that!

- Separate the customer access autoresponder (i.e. email that is automatically sent to grant the customer access to their purchase) from your 'Thank You' sales message.

It is acceptable however, to combine the customer access instructions with the sales receipt, especially for downloadable digital products.

Thank You Message.

Thank customers for their recent purchase without being too aggressive. Remind them how much the product will help them achieve their goals, and tell them about related products that work well or are similar to the one that they just purchased. For example, lawn fertilizer works with grass seeds. Remember to emphasize how well your product line and/or services compliment what they already value in the original buy.

Do not let customers escape without follow-up! Think about your experiences in various retail outlets. When you check out of a restaurant, pharmacy etc. many displayed items are available for sale. These last minute, impulsive purchases are often the most profitable part of the operation (e.g. "Would you like fries with that?"). Your ‘Thank you’ sales letter and OTO serve the same purpose online.

Conclusion.

Your first-time sales give you a fabulous opportunity to build a permanent customer base. However, don’t blow it by spamming them with incessant offers! Follow proper opt-in procedures to add buyers to your list, and follow-up with a combination of content and offers. Responsible autoresponder use just makes good business sense. Make sure it handles removal requests promptly, and make sure your information is valuable to subscribers.

-------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

May 11th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 3.

2009-05-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

Three Keys to Responsible Autoresponder Use.

Internet marketers are facing more and more obstacles when attempting to communicate with existing and potential subscribers:

- Increasingly sophisticated e-mail filters from major and independent Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
- Accusations of unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), i.e., spam.
- An updated Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act (2008) and similar online consumer protection initiatives.

Autoresponders can help simplify your online marketing, but only if you use them in a mature and responsible manner. Admittedly, such a powerful tool is easy to abuse, and even the most prudent and experienced marketers are susceptible to improper autoresponder use. In a worst case scenario, you can forfeit the lifeblood of your business, the all important opt-in list, which may have taken months, if not years, to nurture and cultivate.

So, how does an honest online marketer avoid the pitfalls of autoresponder misuse? Here are three important things to consider:

1. Do NOT add subscribers to your mailing list that do not belong there. Someone who has requested information from you should be added automatically through a double opt-in squeeze page or equivalent. By forcing new prospects or subscribers to explicitly confirm their intention to join your newsletter and receive future emails from you, both you and your subscribers are protected from abuse.

2. Always include an ‘Unsubscribe’ link with every autoresponder message you send to subscribers. It is a fact of life that newsletters and marketers face a minimum 20-30% turnover on a quarterly and yearly basis. As frustrating as losing paying customers and subscribers may be, you must be CAN-SPAM compliant, and not offering the ‘Unsubscribe’ makes you vulnerable to being shutdown – your email, website, ISP, etc. In fact, offering recipients an automatic one-click removal option shows self-confidence in your abilities.

3. Clearly identify yourself in the From: line and Subject: line of each autoresponder. You’ve made the effort to connect with your target audience, so engage in personal branding with meaningful subject lines. Being evasive or worse leaving these lines blank will arouse suspicion and may even encourage ISPs to ‘blacklist’ your messages. Competition is fierce in a crowded Inbox, so stake your claim by intelligently – and ethically – attracting your subscribers’ attention.

Everyone wants a loyal and responsive list that they can market to over and over again. However, it will not magically appear and even minor steps must be taken with care. Nothing is more important than your business reputation, so avoid taking shortcuts and breaking fundamental list building rules. Good autoresponder habits are the foundation of your online presence.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

May 8th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 2.

2009-05-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Autoresponders and List-Building: The Batman and Robin of E-mail Marketing.

Where do autoresponders rank in your Internet Marketing arsenal? Amongst all your online tools, they are arguably the most important after your active, targeted and motivated opt-in lists. However, doesn’t list-building begin with autoresponders? How else can you build a list of names and e-mail addresses and conduct e-mail marketing campaigns?

Incentive-based List-Building – Exchanging Freebies for New Subscribers.

Although giving things away in exchange for contact information is often “pooh-poohed” by self-styled Internet experts, it remains the fastest and easiest list-building strategy. Until you possess a large (10,000+) and/or responsive list of buyers to market to on a regular basis, offering free reports, e-books, free website memberships etc. is a tried and true method to follow. Take advantage of no-cost and low cost advertising methods to promote in the beginning.
The time and money invested will pay off in the long run.

Your objective is simple: entice people to sign up on your list to receive a valuable “freebie”, then obtain permission to contact them via email in the future. Both parties come out as winners, because: - The new subscriber receives useful information or access to a website that enhances their online experience and knowledge. - The email marketer gets vital contact information, along with permission to send messages to them as long as they subscribe to his newsletter.

Going Beyond Passive List-Building.

With a little work, anyone can build a big list by offering free stuff, but can they build a truly responsive list? Successful list-building must be a viral activity; use your freebies to promote you (“Me Inc.”) as a legitimate brand. For example, why not introduce yourself and your expertise in your giveaway? This will help break down barriers between you and your subscribers so that when you send future emails, you can promote your products or services successfully.

Including affiliate links for products or services related to your freebie’s theme (list-building, pay-per-click advertising, SEO, etc.) is a great way to generate extra revenue. One caveat, though – make sure your emails include relevant information. Otherwise, you will lose subscribers from your autoresponder mailing list at an alarming rate!

Conclusion.

Autoresponders build contact lists that will become your main source of income, so take care with the impression you want to convey to readers. Use freebies judiciously to attract like-minded people, then prove yourself to them with ‘thank you’ emails and relevant one-time offers (OTO) after they request your free offer. By automating the entire process with autoresponders, the goal of multiple income streams can become reality.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is the author of two recent e-books, including Barack Obama: From Obscurity to the Presidency.

May 4th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 1.

2009-05-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

Autoresponder Programs and Services: What’s best for you?

Internet marketing beginners (“newbies”) often fail to distinguish between an autoresponder program and an autoresponder service. In their haste to upload a squeeze page and start building a list, newbies often purchase the wrong type of autoresponder and end up wasting hundreds – if not thousands of dollars.

To avoid becoming a victim of needless autoresponder hype, let’s first define the relevant terms:

Autoresponder Program: A piece of software that is set up on your web server, often a free autoresponder that comes with your web hosting account. However, many people prefer more robust autoresponders that they have better control over. For one reason or another, they don’t like the hosting account’s software so they purchase autoresponder programs or scripts that must be installed on their web server.

Autoresponder Service: A service that is usually paid for on a monthly or yearly basis. The fees are ongoing, and everything is browser based. In other words, you can set up autoresponder messages and manage your opt-in list through your web browser – just as you can with an autoresponder program that is installed through your web hosting account. The difference is that the service runs on the autoresponder company’s web server – not yours or your web hosts.

Most beginners are better off using an autoresponder service. These services are generally easy to understand and use, and no prior technical knowledge is needed to get started.

Free Autoresponders – Buyer Beware!

These days, the cost of autoresponder services is an ongoing concern, and as such you may opt for a free autoresponder service. However as always, you need to be vigilant when investigating the quality and transparency of the company you are considering.

Free services earn revenue by placing advertisements within each autoresponder message that you send out. Some of these ads appear at the top of your messages, and sometimes they appear at the bottom. Some existing free services are simply an enticement to purchase the professional version, and may deliberately disable many advanced features (e.g. tracking statistics).

Making up your Mind.

More advanced users often choose to use autoresponder programs, simply because they have more control over the autoresponder, and they don’t have to follow some of the stiffer rules imposed by autoresponder services, such as sending confirmation messages to each and every person entered into the autoresponder list. Double versus single opt-in confirmation and CAN-SPAM compliance are other issues to keep in mind when making your autoresponder selection.

Get informed about what autoresponder is the best for you, but in most cases, a reputable autoresponder service should suit your needs. There are several companies that cater to Internet newcomers, but if you are unsure, look for a service that offers:

- Free sign-ups, with the option of a professional upgrade after a "risk-free" trial period.
- Top-notch customer support to answer your questions and concerns.
- Relevant, up-to-date advice on how to improve your email relationship marketing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is the author of two recent e-books, including Barack Obama: From Obscurity to the Presidency.

Salesletter Basics: How to Make Prospects and Customers Take Notice in a Cynical World.

2009-04-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

Salesletter Basics: How to Make Prospects and Customers Take Notice in a Cynical World.

What separates exceptional sales copy from the bland, soulless prose that dominates print and electronic media today? Strangely enough, it is adherence to a few simple rules and the willingness to go above and beyond conventional thinking.

Successful copywriters agree that a powerful, attention-grabbing headline is the springboard from which powerful ideas emanate. It is the ideal entry point for launching a unique, laser-targeted message to a starving audience.

Your reader may be receptive to your pitch, but is only prepared to give you a fleeting minute of his time. Therefore, use the opening paragraph to say why you are writing the salesletter. Establish your credibility through the use of testimonials, screenshots, and relevant case studies.

Salesletters are useless without a clear and obvious call to action. You’ve made the effort to convince prospects of your worth. Don’t be shy about asking them to act on your recommendations at least two or three times in the letter's body.

Winning salesletters should reflect your personality and level of professionalism. Therefore, carefully edit your words! Use bullets, subheadings and other devices to make the copy extremely pleasing and readable. Test various fonts, styles and colors – one size does not fit all! It's the twenty-first century, so consider integrating audio-visual components into your salesletter.

Finally, don’t ignore the postscript (P.S.). Most prospects scroll down to the bottom of every salesletter before reading its body, so use them to reinforce your call to action and remind your hungry market why they are so hungry!

Make no mistake – writing winning salesletters is no walk in the park. Even elite copywriters are not immune from inexplicable gaffes. Ensure that your salesletters matter - capture your prospects’ attention with a simple, penetrating message that addresses their needs.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rahul Majumdar is the author of two recent e-books, including Barack Obama: From Obscurity to the Presidency.

Check out its salesletter here.

Sylvie Fortin's Internet Marketing Sins (Part 3).

2009-03-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Sylvie Fortin Confronts More Internet Marketing Sins.

In January 2009, internet marketer and outsourcing specialist Sylvie Fortin released the third and final installment of her "Internet Marketing Sins" series. It picks up from the main themes of Parts 1 and 2 - namely, to expose bad practices currently endemic in the Internet Marketing niche.

As an added twist to her brilliantly calculated rant, Fortin goes audio-visual for Part 3. Her two and a half hour slideshow is surprisingly easy to follow, organized in manageable chunks that retain their flavor even if you need multiple sittings to digest it all.

"You are responsible for your own actions."

Internet Marketing Sins - Part 3 is subdivided as follows to whet your appetite:

Introduction.
Teleseminar Idiots.
Brainless Freebie Seekers.
Coaching Addicts.
Time Sucking Vampires.
Slave Owners.
Final Words.

Fortin doesn't pull any punches when it comes to destructive internet marketing practices. Want to ride the "Expert" interview wave to untold riches? Think again. Sylvie advises us to first build our subscriber lists and use our creativity to stand out in a well-defined niche. Only after building some independent cash flow and establishing your reputation should you consider approaching established marketers.

Seriously, the "gurus" have all the leverage, i.e:

Time, content, experience, knowledge, resources... and a list!

Conversely, you have nothing in the beginning. Without anything tangible to offer them, you are at best a potential affiliate with no customers. If you are solely dependent on other people's stuff, you lose. Plain and simple.

Sylvie skewers "free" learning; while some generic skills can be developed without great effort, it's only when you invest your time and money in serious skills that serious results occur. To truly learn for free, concentrate on one or two important activities (i.e. blogs, articles, resale rights material, etc.) and take massive action!

Taking from One Hand, Stealing with the Other...

There are many unscrupulous cyberspace "coaches" who will happily take your money without earning it. At the same time, many coaching students fail to follow a systematic approach after acquiring legitimate course material. So, to improve the value and payback of Internet Marketing coaching, Sylvie advises legitimate mentors to refuse and even refund money to cut out problematic students as soon as possible. On the other hand, buyers should take the initiative to work their courses studiously and diligently.

It's not all Gloom and Doom.

Contrary to what you may think, Fortin agrees that money is a good thing. After all, we need it to satisfy our basic needs and participate in life's various pleasures. However, she advises that making a buck should not compromise basic human values and customer relationships. Making choices to improve the bottom line is part of business life, but the trick is to make sound, ethical choices. Acknowledge those who help you get to where you want to go, and be good.

Sylvie Fortin is optimistic about building and growing your online business in the midst of the current worldwide recession. Why? Personal experience - Sylvie's business actually increased during the last recession; conversion rates went up, and refund rates decreased.

Conclusion.

Beware of pesky customers who waste your time by moving away from product-related queries. Purchases and follow-up support do not entitle them to free coaching. Use effective outsourcing to delegate non-core tasks, and pay fair prices to retain good contractors. These are just some of the essential nuggets offered by Sylvie Fortin. While "Internet Marketing Sins" continues to raise the ire of some, most serious online entrepreneurs would be wise to heed its advice moving forward.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information, click here.

Rahul's Info-Blog: Special Barack Obama e-book Launch Announcement!

2009-01-21T20:42:00.000-08:00

Rahul's Info-Blog: Special Barack Obama e-book Launch Announcement!

Special Barack Obama e-book Launch Announcement!

2009-01-21T19:24:00.000-08:00

The Obama Victory: Why Election 2008 Turned Out the Way it Did.

Hi everyone,

I'm very excited that my first blog entry of 2009 announces the release of my second e-book:

Barack Obama: From Obscurity to the Presidency.

The epic 2008 U.S. Presidential cycle has brought about a monumental shift in American politics. Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., a little-known state senator from Illinois just four years ago is now the forty-fourth President of the United States. The grandeur and splendor of Inauguration Day, with its multitude of life-defining events confirm the transformational nature of Obama's electoral victory. Up to two million people filled Washington's National Mall to witness his first hours as President. Perhaps two billion around the world saw at least part of the January 20th festivities.

Barack Obama's victory is clearly a watershed for African-Americans, fulfilling and vindicating the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and countless others in the civil rights struggle. Yet, Obama's entry into the White House transcends race and perhaps... perhaps signals the start of a new style and practice of politics.

What do you think?

Barack Obama: From Obscurity to the Presidency. is my take on the results of Election 2008. It analyzes the key reasons for Obama's victory over Senator John McCain:

Dominance in the battleground states.
Exploiting America's seismic demographic shifts.
Offering change and hope to a weary electorate.
Unleashing the power of Internet technology (and list-building) to raise funds and build a broad, grassroots movement.

The book on the Obama-Biden Administration is just beginning to be written. For now, I invite you to read my book:

Barack Obama: From Obscurity to the Presidency

to gain perspective as to how (and why) Election 2008 turned out the way it did.

You won't regret it!

Book Review - Integration Marketing by Mark Joyner.

2008-12-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

Mark Joyner's Integration Marketing Playbook.

Mark Joyner was one of the first entrepreneurs to successfully monetize and commercialize the World Wide Web (WWW). In addition, he has inspired countless others with pioneering concepts like:

- Downloadable e-books;
- 'Thank You' pages that offer pre-qualified customers relevant upsells, downsells, and cross-sells.
- Offer placements on business partners' 'Thank You' real estate in exchange for a commission.

Joyner began coining the term 'integration marketing' to describe a business strategy used by market leaders to grow and sustain their dominance. Now, he seeks to spread its use and awareness within the Internet community and general public.

According to Mark, integration marketing works because:

Offers are specifically targeted to existing buyers, not prospects.
You sell more of the same thing; i.e. products and services, that customers are predisposed to buying.
We know beforehand that customers have the means (i.e. cash, credit card) to purchase immediately.
Able to target customers who have already used credit cards to purchase your products; confidence in the payment process means less resistance to new offers.

Joyner draws on his U.S. Army experience to expose leadership skills critical for business success, especially the ability to see the battlefield. In order to move forward, you must have a strategy in place that permits you to make smart decisions fast. Think of how National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks drive their teams towards victory.

The author places great importance on the language of 'Integration Marketing'. So it's no surprise that he devotes two chapters to defining terms like:

- Integration Marketing Deals
- Integration Marketing Partners
- Unit of Marketing Value (UMV)
- Integrator
- Integration Point

and others that help to crystallize the integration marketing concept.

Joyner claims that Microsoft is a product of integration marketing. Why? Recall how almost thirty years ago, an unknown Harvard dropout named Bill Gates outsmarted and outmaneuvered IBM, arguably the dominant computer company at the time. By negotiating the right to sell DOS upgrades to existing IBM customers, as well as to IBM's competitors, Gates laid the groundwork for an empire that would make him the world's richest person.

Ditto for McDonald's, whose strength according to Joyner, lies it its "Integration Points"; i.e. the location of its golden arches within areas of strategic traffic flow (e.g. highway rest stops, shopping malls, urban centers). Understanding upselling ("Super-size for a buck?") and cross-selling (the ubiquitous 'Would you like fries with that?") has also been crucial to McDonald's integration marketing success.

Towards the end of 'Integration Marketing', Mark tries to apply "predictive" mathematics to some business examples. At first glance, marrying marketing with numbers seems disjointed and it will take some effort to get it. Still, Joyner is to be commended for trying to quantify this important marketing concept.

Strategies are relevant if they help businesses make more money sooner than later. To that end, Mark introduces a 4-step plan that can serve as an Integration Marketing springboard.

At forty-nine pages, "Integration Marketing" is a deceptively quick read. Deceptive, because if your curiosity is peaked, you will be going back to it several times to make sure you get it.

Can Integration Marketing turn your business into the next McDonald's or Microsoft? According to Joyner, everyone from rap musicians ("video name-dropping") to search engine companies use some form of integration marketing to successfully promote themselves. Skeptics and realists abound, but at the very least the practical advice in Joyner's e-book is significant food for thought.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information, click here.

Mark Joyner "Discovers" Blogging?

2008-11-12T12:13:00.000-08:00

The Godfather of Internet Marketing enters the Blogosphere.

Hi folks,

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

The best blogging techniques.
How to get traffic to your blog.
How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Thanks.

Rahul

"Seminars with the Experts" Bonus Interview - Mike Hill

2008-10-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Mike Hill – Your Internet Marketing Start-Up Kit.

Mike Hill has been earning a full-time, online income since 2006, but not because someone handed it to him on a silver platter. A four-year internet marketing veteran, Hill previously pursued offline direct mail opportunities and "studied" late night infomercials. This is where he cut his marketing teeth, but making good money proved elusive. The former Canadian Armed Forces soldier kept learning from countless mistakes while inching his business forward until things finally clicked.

Do as I Say, Not as I Did...

Mike created his own product right off the bat, but recommends affiliate marketing for beginners. Why? Learning affiliate marketing is a quick way for pure newbies to gain business experience. In addition, he urges folks to immediately incorporate list-building into their efforts. Hill regrets ignoring list-building until later, because it was only after capturing its (and e-mail marketing's) essence that he achieved meaningful success.

To help generate recurring revenue streams, Mike recommends promoting products that can offer regular monthly income (e.g. autoresponder services, web hosting, personal development systems etc.). Differentiate yourself from other affiliate marketers by offering supplemental reports with existing products. They will add to your credibility, especially product reviews and specific information that go "outside the box". Your transition from affiliate marketing to unique product creation - which is eventually where you want to be - will be easier.

Mike Hill reminds us to buy and test affiliate products before promoting them. Sales success is all about trust and credibility, so be fair about your evaluations even if you end up giving some products a "thumbs down".

Blogging for the Long-Term.

To support your affiliate marketing campaigns, Hill recommends that you start a hosted blog. Apart from learning valuable skills like set-up mechanics and content generation, you can master online research tactics that lead to great search engine rankings.

Potential sources of blog material can be as diverse as public domain directories and your local coffee shop. Mike suggests that newbies avoid the BizOpp and 'Make Money Online' niches, and instead opt for profitable market segments where your expertise can make an immediate impression and dominate.

While blogs are a risk-free way of gaining confidence and establishing your online presence, don't think for a moment that riches will follow immediately. Their main function is to act as a long-term branding tool, so put your personality into it! They will help you connect with like-minded people and make friends.

List-Building: Don't Forget About Your Opt-in!

Experts often talk about the "Opt-in Bribe", where you offer something of value like a report or e-book in exchange for a prospect's name and valid e-mail address. However, Mike Hill wants you to take things a step further by split testing both voluntary and non-voluntary opt-ins.

Also, consider offering "dollar sales" on your Thank You page. For example, you could offer 12 expert interviews for $1. This tests the sincerity of your prospects and screens out cyber "dead weight". You need action takers to thrive, so take note of what promotions attract them.

Contrary to many marketing heavy-hitters today, Mike questions the use of one-time offers (OTOs) on opt-ins. You have not built up the "know, like, and trust" factor yet, argues Hill, so why risk alienating new recruits at this crucial junction? Instead, put up a survey that can help mold future offers, products etc. Of course, OTOs are great with existing list subscribers, because they know you already and are familiar with your marketing style.

Using Keyword Research to Establish Presence.

Hill offers simple advice for people struggling with keyword use and niche selection: Choose a keyword or keyphrase in your niche (e.g. weight loss) and perform a search based on websites where relevant information is likely to be found. Consider the following example:

- "weight loss" FAQ
- "weight loss" Forum
- "weight loss" blog

Take a look at the most popular websites and key in on how experts market their products and services in this category. Then, craft a winning plan that takes the best of what's already out there and combine it your outstanding ideas.

Give Writing an Honest Effort!

Article marketing is far from a free ride, but there are possibilities that go way beyond its stale, plodding image. Consider the following:

1. PowerPoint-based videos (with or without voice-overs) and uploading them to YouTube and other repositories.

2. Audio podcasts based on articles to iTunes.

3. Text submissions to article directories, ezines, etc.

Pay-Per-Click Ideas.

Mike Hill suggests that 75% of all organic traffic generated from keywords comes from the top two positions on the first page. Achieving such a high ranking is a daunting task for seasoned professionals let alone newbies. However, are Google Adwords campaigns and other paid advertising options worth the trouble and expense?

Before spending any money, Hill suggests taking the following steps:

- Check out the direct competition to your offers/website, so that it's easier for your ads to get onto their pages (e.g Google Adsense).
- Do keyword research using words with quotes, without quotes, and hard brackets.
- Negate "free" on your filters to eliminate casual browsers and "tire clickers"

When you are ready, Mike recommends using one keyword with two separate ads to get higher click-through rates (CTR). Tie your advertising and list-building together, since subscribers can give you feedback on things you missed or should have left out from your campaigns.

Final Buzz Thoughts...

Mike Hill opined on some online buzz phrases and topics of interest to serious and casual marketers alike:

- Domain names: Mike suggests that virtual real estate (VRE) is a growing wealth generator, with domain names moving beyond its basic website branding function. Believe it or not, some marketers pay companies to inform them about domain name availability. Keep your .com names because they are still the most credible business extensions today.

- Giveaways: Increasingly popular, yet Hill gives the concept mixed reviews. To fully participate and benefit, donate and/or take original products that offer great value and enhance credibility and knowledge. It must be targeted; creating giveaway-specific products is not only acceptable - it's encouraged.

- Overdelivery: Everyone talks about "overdelivering" for their customers and subscribers, but what does that really mean? The best way to make people stay with you is to demonstrate that you care about them, love helping them succeed, and are humble about your own success.

Conclusion.

Mike Hill says that people who believe entrepreneurship is the path to financial independence must embrace "business" thinking. There is no substitute for planning ahead, because money follows and rewards speed. Mike's own breakthrough was in large part due to two years of diligent testing and performance tracking.

Unfortunately, few beginners view success as a scalable concept. As a result, most internet marketers end up with nothing to show for their efforts, or at best become one-hit wonders. Without a system to follow, activity is focused solely on the "last" best idea - not structures, plans, goals, nor strategies.

What's the solution? Concentrate on what you are doing now...and always keep the big picture in mind. Hill recommends that we focus on communicating with others and thinking about the best way to help people. Only then will the money follow.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information, click here.

August 20, 2008 "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

2008-09-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Jeff Herring - Article Marketing Master.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, article marketing specialist Jeff Herring has used the power of words to build an information empire. His resume includes a nationally syndicated column, various telecourses and coaching programs, and of course his own traffic generating articles. Jeff specializes in live, café-style video recordings and is a strong proponent of audio-visual promotion of writing services.

The Accidental Internet Marketer?

In his previous life, Herring built up a thriving family therapy practice over two decades. So how does a successful marriage therapist/relationship coach migrate to the forefront of Internet Marketing? In Jeff's case, the seed was planted in 1994 with a first look online while writing his newspaper column. In 2005, he decided to bundle collections of his columns and sell them in e-book form. Initial success whetted his e-commerce appetite, and Herring proceeded to systematize a ready-made subscriber list to offer motivational quotes. A few months later, after setting up his first websites, Jeff became a full-time Internet Marketer and has never looked back.

Jealously Guarding Your Own Voice.

Consider Herring's clever play on words that reveal his philosophy:

"Write with your mouth, not with your hands."

Jeff says NO to private label rights (PLR) articles, because of mass duplication and their general lack of quality and relevance. By succumbing to recycled articles, you lose your voice and are not credible with prospects and customers anymore.

Does the same apply to outsourcing; i.e., ghostwriting (a.k.a. writing in another person's voice)? Herring agrees that outsourcing is acceptable when you are not an expert in the chosen topic, but points out the inherent risk of abandoning original, personal work.

Jeff Herring agrees that we can use article marketing to drive readers to affiliate websites. However, at some point you need to look beyond other people's products and claim full ownership of your words. After all, you're doing all this work writing articles - why not promote yourself first?

Common Mistakes, Pitfalls of New Article Marketers.

Becoming a proficient article marketer like Jeff Herring takes practice, as well as avoiding some traps:

Procrastination.
Belief that you don't have anything worth saying; lack of writing confidence and self-esteem.
Trying to say too much at once.
Listening to the wrong people.
Going on a buying frenzy for article generators, submission software, external aids, etc.
Word count hang-up, especially at the low-end (250 words).

To generate writing topics, Jeff Herring recommends that you create "Tips" articles, in which you enumerate 7 ways to solve a specific problem. Then, take each tip and create a more specific article. As a result, one topic allows you to create a total of 8 articles.

A perceived weakness often cited by beginners - that their article category is too crowded - in fact indicates its great potential. Competitors, potential customers, social networkers, and joint venture seekers are all on the lookout for quality writers, even the next superstar.

Spreading your Articles to the World.

Jeff Herring believes that article marketing is the best "free" way to generate traffic. However, simply being a great writer is not enough. Your goal is to plant "Evergreen" articles, articles that will drive traffic to your sites over and over again on autopilot. So, you must have a solid, systematic article submission strategy. Jeff offers an article submission hierarchy to follow:

ezineArticles.com
Other top article directories (e.g. GoArticles.com, ArticleHub.com, ArticleDashBoard.com, etc.)
Niche article directories (e.g. Teleseminarsecrets.com article directory)
Your own article directory or blog.

Jeff Herring's 3 Power P's.

Every article marketer is looking for the winning elements that will lead to a life-changing breakthrough. In short, we need:

1. Prospects: Targeted traffic generation via articles to get eyeballs in front of your website. Now it's up to you to encourage action!

2. Publicity: High page rankings (PR), ideally the first page of Google for your keywords and key phrases.

3. Profits: Money is great and justifies your hard work. However there are other indirect (i.e. back links) and direct (e.g. article repurposing) benefits of posting a steady stream of quality articles.

How to Make More Money from an Article than a Book.

On the surface, it may seem far fetched that individual articles can be a catalyst for recurring income. Yet, consider some of the possibilities:

Converting a 7 Tips article into a 7-part autoresponder or e-course.
Creating video and/or audio articles from the written word.
Teleseminar series based on article tips.

In addition, consider the possibilities from combining article marketing and joint ventures. Many top entrepreneurs swap lists and cross promote. To make such alliances work for you, look for people in your niche - not necessarily heavy hitters - that are doing similar things and share your marketing outlook.

To work once and get paid over an over again, you must optimize each part of an article, i.e.:

- Title: Start with keywords that highlight the benefits of your article to the reader.
- Body: manageable chunks of information that engage readers and leave them wanting more.
- Resource Box: Take advantage of your audience's heightened sense of awareness to promote yourself. Should flow easily from your conclusion and not feel apart from the article body.

Conclusion.

Writing is a basic communication skill that is cultivated from the essence of your personality. The beauty of article marketing lies in its simplicity, no matter what technological advances are in store for the world. Jeff Herring embraces Internet technology, but hasn't forgotten the essence of being successful - making things simple. To that end, it does not hurt to have guts, i.e.:

Go Use This Stuff!

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

July 29, 2008 "Seminars with the Experts" Call

2008-09-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

Sean Mize - Article Marketing for the Long Haul.

In January 2006, it all started with a simple four-point strategy and the discipline to stick with it until it worked:

- Write an e-book that people want.
- Put up a website that offers the e-book for sale.
- Drive traffic to the website.
- Rinse and repeat above cycle.

Sean Mize used the above formula to establish his Internet Marketing presence. Nothing special, right? However, his traffic generation method of choice raised eyebrows. Instead of using pay-per-click (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO), or video marketing, Mize turned to article marketing.

By writing five articles daily and submitting them to the best article directories on a consistent basis, Sean Mize's traffic steadily grew along with his expert status and marketing credibility. After incorporating list-building into his marketing equation, Sean's income results took off. His regular release of e-books in the competitive and crowded Internet Marketing niche, coupled with a blunt approach to relationship marketing has proven popular with his subscribers.

Why Article Marketing Works.

Mize feels that article marketing is misunderstood by most people, and its effectiveness severely underestimated. In response to those who consider it out of place in today's fast-paced digital environment he offers the core premise of successful article marketing:

Article marketing is first and foremost a traffic generator. Period.

Commit yourself to optimizing all aspects of your writing (i.e. Niche selection, Keywords, Title, Body, Resource Box) so that readers take you seriously and want to come back for more.

Doing It Yourself, for Yourself.

Some consider Sean Mize's use of article marketing stealth, cold, and ruthless. However, nobody can deny his results. In two years, Mize claims that 80% of his five-figure list has been build through article marketing. Needless to say, he continues to write for traffic. Yes, it can be time-intensive and expensive (e.g. ghostwriting), but there is no such thing as genuinely "free" traffic.

Mize is skeptical about article generating and submission software tools. You cannot automate article marketing, but if you commit to a well-planned and disciplined approach, the results can be phenomenal. Consider article rewrites for uniqueness and multiple submissions; instead of outsourcing Mize suggests taking the time to do it yourself, then test and track the results to make tactical adjustments.

"Affiliate Marketing is a Crutch."

Sure, people can make money - even a steady income - by promoting other people's products. However, Sean Mize's philosophy focuses on building Me Inc.; after all, if you are prepared to devote time and energy (and money) for others, why not capitalize on those resources yourself?

Making your own products establishes credibility like no other activity. An original contribution within your chosen niche can build your reputation and income concurrently. Digital product creation in particular is well-suited for new entrepreneurs (short startup time, low overhead, no physical inventory issues etc.). Yet before embarking on serious projects, ask your list subscribers what they are struggling with in their businesses, and what you can do to help them move forward.

Sean agrees with using ethical bribes, i.e., free reports and e-books, to obtain a prospect's contact information. However, he reminds us to use "Thank You" pages that offer subscribers a quality product immediately after they opt in to your newsletter. Embrace the concept of product funnels to enable you and your subscribers to build mutually beneficial relationships.

Two Internet Marketing Curses to Avoid.

Mize defines Internet Marketing experience by the amount of revenue a person has generated through legitimate and quantifiable online activity. In fact, if you do not presently make a consistent $10k per month, Sean considers you a beginner!

So how do people graduate to the next level? Sean suggests that you minimize:

1. Information Overload. It is a disease that will sap your productivity and innovation. Seriously, you cannot read every book, join every coaching program, or follow all the experts out there. Therefore, limit your instant messaging and e-mail activity to one daily session. Be severe about the number of lists you subscribe to. Ask yourself: Is this relationship valuable to me? If not, unsubscribe...FAST!

2. Social Networking. Still too early to judge Web 2.0's effectiveness as an income generator. However, Mize is a healthy skeptic of its usefulness. Without conclusive proof that solopreneurs can use Web 2.0 properly, and its reputation as a tremendous time waster, better stick to reliable traffic methods that work for your long-term growth.

From Article Marketing to an All-round Skill Set.

Once you have mastered traffic generation, Sean Mize suggests that you take a serious look at the other Internet Marketing pillar.

Copywriting is essential for long-term, online income. Reports of its imminent death are exaggerated. As a core Internet Marketing skill, we all need it. Yet, hardly anyone truly gets it. So, even if you plan to outsource, learn how to distinguish good copy from bad. Ideally, develop your own skills by purchasing templates and observing what successful marketers' do. Test your early results, then decide if outsourcing is right for you.

Sean has largely foregone traditional joint ventures (JV) in favor of ad swaps with marketers with whom he shares a common outlook. Apart from being a "free" way to gain new leads, Mize prefers this networking method over live seminars and conferences. The high attendance cost and preparation time associated with events should motivate folks to proceed cautiously when invitations come. He does, however, approve of hands-on workshops that motivate participants to act.

Conclusion.

Sean Mize has integrated article marketing, list building, and product creation like no other in Internet Marketing today. Nothing comes easy, but if you are averse to the latest fads and willing to try a legitimate method of traffic generation, follow Mize's blueprint for success:

1. Drive traffic to your squeeze page with article marketing.
2. Build your list and create relationships.
3. Create products that satisfy a hungry audience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

July 23, 2008 'Seminars with the Experts' Call.

2008-09-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

Lisa Preston: Figuring out Web 2.0 and the New Social Media.

Veteran marketer Lisa Preston was not satisfied with fleeting corporate success. So, she pursued financial independence on the Internet. Through great sacrifice and a passion for learning, Lisa established her online credentials one step at a time. Now, after breaking through as a topnotch graphics designer, Preston is on course to become a popular mentor, coach, and business development strategist.

These days, Lisa is excited about the potential of social networking, i.e. Web 2.0. Too often, surfers are confused about the World Wide Web's (WWW) evolution so Lisa offers a quick thumbnail sketch:

Web 1.0 : Static web pages; passive consumption of information presented by a centralized authority (e.g. Encyclopedia Britannica website).

Web 2.0 : Dynamic web pages, characterized by user contributions and collaboration ( "digital" democracy). Examples include Wikipedia and YouTube.

In addition, Lisa is optimistic about the technological and profit-making potential of Web 3.0, which promises to introduce advanced media options like cloud computing, wireless (mobile) communications, and customized applications very soon. She is particularly upbeat about Web 3.0-enhanced membership sites.

Social Networking Strategies for Beginners.

Web 2.0 offers people the ability to connect with people around the world by offering their unique perspectives. However, online social networking remains a very time-consuming activity, so don't sign up for every "new" forum or social site that magically appears. Preston advises newbies to concentrate on 1-2 networks for thirty minutes daily. That way, you are establishing your credentials within an informed, motivated, and like-minded community.

Ideally, your networks can be integrated to create "2 for 1" synergies. For example, internet marketers can link Facebook and Twitter, so that one message can be simultaneously broadcast to both high ranking sites.

In general, Lisa Preston recommends the use of automated social networking tools; i.e. software that can be used to track network alerts, etc. and speed up relationship building. Above all, she asks surfers to acquaint themselves with people who have similar goals, and have fun.

Don't Ignore the Real World!

Finding business-oriented websites can accelerate your growth and offer valuable insights. However, Preston reminds marketers not to ignore offline networking opportunities. Consider local "face-to-face" gatherings and mastermind groups in your county/region. You are still searching for business contacts, but you want people who make you feel wanted and who will treat you as a friend.

An ideal network understands your needs unconditionally, so avoid family and friends who may not appreciate the growing pains of a start-up. Find a mentor - the right mentor - someone who can share real-world experiences and guide you along a focused path. Above all, avoid desperate people who are perennial "tire-kickers" and waste time out of sheer laziness.

Simply Advice that Works Wonders.

Lisa Preston believes that the key to steady online income, contrary to conventional thinking, is not affiliate marketing nor product creation expertise. At least not in the beginning. People should first develop basic skills (web design, HTML, ftp) and familiarize themselves with the making money online process. Then, become an expert in one of the "Pillars" of successful Internet Marketing: Copywriting, Traffic Generation or List Building. In Lisa's own words, your contact list is gold!

Preston believes in merit and fair play, refusing to support particular products solely on the basis of a marketer's reputation. She is curious enough to seek out new talent via social networking, including unknowns who are brilliant in a particular niche or possess highly sought after skills.

Conclusion.

Lisa Preston has an impressive client list that includes major corporations and solopreneurs alike. She has parlayed a love for graphics design - still a vital part her business - into a system that focuses on joint venture marketing and social networking to find new and exciting projects. Her core advice: Take it slow and start small. No silliness; be professional and grow your network one friend at a time.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

July 18th "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

2008-08-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

Reed Floren - Giveaway and Joint Ventures Expertise Personified.

(N.B. Technical problems denied Hilary Stewardson's listeners her original interview with Reed Floren. However, they came back three days later with this power-packed session.)

At the tender age of 23, Reed Floren is enjoying "semi-retirement". Really! After grabbing media attention as a teenage prodigy, Floren has translated alliances with joint venture (JV) partners into super affiliate status. So much so, that he now devotes most of his time to helping his family and others establish themselves in the Internet Marketing niche.

Floren owes much of his success and online reputation to giveaway marketing techniques. In short, giveaways are online events in which:

1. Organizers set up a process for accepting products from donors; in exchange, they run a website from which visitors (i.e. potential list subscribers) can download items of interest.

2. Donors ideally offer their own products, as opposed to affiliate products or PLR, because their credibility and that of the organizers are on the line.

3. Visitors have an opportunity to download products from the giveaway site, in exchange for their name and valid e-mail address.

4. Some giveaways have promotion and list ownership requirements.

Running a successful giveaway promotion should be a 'WIN-WIN-WIN' situation for everyone involved:

- Organizers often grow their lists by hundreds, if not thousands of subscribers and have the opportunity to sell One-time Offers (OTO).

- Marketers of all abilities gain access to top-notch products for free, and if they so choose, grow their own lists by donating products.

Why You Should Consider Giveaways.

What inspired Floren to become an online giveaway marketing expert? Maybe it came down to a simple process of elimination. He was apprehensive of social networking and forums, given the amount of spamming that occurs on established sites. Blogging, in spite of its mainstream acceptance, has yet to fulfill its monetization potential. Hence, Floren focussed his relationship building and joint venture skills where they would have the most impact. As a result, he has grown several lists, and become a highly sought after JV partner.

Becoming the Best Marketer You Can Be.

It's extremely difficult to make significant online income on your own. Thousands of "solopreneurs" are working to create sustainable wealth in various niches, but few really succeed. Yet, aren't all those "gurus" doing it on their own? Well, not really. Remember that they have the resources to employ people to carry out various tasks, or outsource to a prized list of reliable suppliers. So what's a newbie to do? Simple:

Create value for other marketers!

By networking and creating valuable industry contacts, you will be in position to prove your worth to serious people who also want thriving businesses. Plus, they will be more likely to look at and promote your offerings once you are ready.

Creating a Well-rounded Marketing Attack Plan.

An integrated business approach has many benefits, so in addition to Reed's giveaway marketing path, consider the following:

- Seminars and live events are buzzing hives of activity where brainstorming and informal discussions often lead to deals and new alliances. There you will find a cross-section of focussed marketers: up and coming folks looking for a breakthrough, and established marketers scouting for the next big star.

- Many experts claim that any aspect of your business can be outsourced, save for the absolute core of your business intelligence and planning. Still, Reed pooh-poohs the concept of "turnkey businesses". It's much better to master the basics first and try things out on your own. Then, you will be in better position to delegate tasks and negotiate with suppliers.

The Social Aspects of JV Recruitment.

Reed Floren has earned industry acclaim as a JV broker, i.e. a person who introduces marketers to other marketers for mutual benefit. If you are confident and have overcome your fears and shyness, then finding a reputable broker may be what you are looking for. Just don't appear desperate, needy, or clingy. Find a match business-wise, and develop your relationship:

"People like to Reciprocate with Those Who Have Helped Them in the Past."

Conclusion.

Reed Floren has mastered the art of the deal by exploiting the giveaway concept like nobody else on the Internet. He advises the rest of us to become idea generators, then use automated processes to bring them to market. How do you get ideas? Read books, follow the competition, especially market leaders already doing what you want to do. Always look for ways to expand your knowledge first, then apply it to help others (don't be too consumed with money). Find a model that works for you, duplicate it, then sell it to the hungry masses.

---------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

July 9th 'Seminars with the Experts' Call.

2008-08-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Eric Rockefeller's Rock Star Approach to Affiliate Marketing.

Party like a rock star, party like a rock star...

Online "Rock Star" Eric Rockefeller is an affiliate marketing aficionado who also creates his own "How to" products. If Internet Marketing is about living the life of your dreams, then Rockefeller's dreams came true in 2006 when he successfully launched his debut, interview-based list-building home study course.

Early product creation success has led Rockefeller to other projects with his JV contacts. Indeed, Eric has created several new products in the past two years - mostly related to the affiliate marketing niche. His Pay-per-Click (PPC) advertising expertise allows him to earn steady affiliate income and to grow his subscriber base.

Making Every Moment Count.

Starting out, Rockefeller took a dual approach to affiliate marketing:

1. Seeking out personal coaches whose teachings he could relate to.
2. Purchasing select marketing materials.

By presenting himself to top marketers at numerous seminars and live events, Eric was able to earn their respect and friendship. Not surprisingly, he recommends that newcomers step out of their comfort zone and raves about the positive energy generated by going out on the road to network.

Implementing Your Affiliate Strategy.

How do you decide what affiliate products to promote? Check out the competition in your chosen niche and run some small PPC tests on products with similar themes. Track your keyword research results; use one keyword per landing page to make results tracking and interpretation easier.

After deciding on your affiliations, optimize each component of your sales path. You may create a product review page that redirects to the affiliate page afterwards. Alternatively, to ensure that your visitors do not "disappear", add an opt-in page with an "ethical" bribe to grow your subscriber list. If prospects do not purchase right away, getting their name and e-mail address ensures that you can at least follow-up at a later date.

Don't Forget About Building Relationships.

Eric Rockefeller is a PPC devotee, which explains why he went against the grain to establish his online presence, i.e., creating a product before building a list. However, he concedes that the key to earning repeat affiliate commissions for most lies with relationship-based e-mail marketing. PPC is expensive, so why not hold onto the customers you already have? That is why he still writes his own sales copy and important list broadcasts, even though he outsources other non-core activities. Rockefeller does very little with other traffic strategies, and maintains healthy skepticism about emerging technologies. He does however see monetization potential with blogging using Web 2.0 techniques.

Joint ventures (JVs) and cross-promotion are excellent for expanding your reach in cyberspace and the real world. However, marketers must balance the desire to create mutually beneficial partnerships (friendships) with sound business decisions. Remember - your reputation is on the line!

Eric recommends a sales funnel for beginners in the Business Opportunities (BizOpp) niche:

A. Low-cost, high quality digital products (e.g. e-books, software widgets).
B. Physical products (books, DVDs).
C. Home study courses.
D. Coaching programs as you develop your expertise.
E. Membership sites, paid weekly or monthly newsletters.

Conclusion.

If you have followed Eric Rockefeller for any length of time, you know that his "Rock Star" image is just that. In reality, he is a regular guy who worked smart to achieve huge initial success, then scaled his business model using marketing strategies that he was comfortable with. Simple tactics like placing products on trusted and reliable websites like Clickbank increase exposure and can encourage repeat business. So, instead of daydreaming and feeling overwhelmed on your Internet journey, learn by taking massive action.

------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

July 8th 'Seminars with the Experts' Call.

2008-07-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

Internet Growth Techniques from Jesse Jameson.

After eight years in Corporate America, Jesse Jameson ventured into Internet Marketing feet first and gradually established his credentials as a "behind the scenes" expert. Jameson has personal coaching and mentoring experience, but is particularly skilled at partnering with companies that want to establish a winning web presence.

Jesse's initial online breakthrough came via the "Interview the Experts" path. Creating interview products is a "WIN-WIN" situation for aspiring entrepreneur and guru alike. So, if you like communicating and are prepared to sell yourself, seek out 5-10 experts in your niche and develop your own interview products.

Starting from Scratch...

The path to Internet Marketing glory starts with recognizing and exploiting a "viable" passion. To that end, Jesse Jameson suggests that individuals:

Make a list of hobbies and interests that you really enjoy or always wanted to try.
Narrow your list to hobbies for which you already possess specialized knowledge, or are prepared to learn and access that knowledge.
Do market research on 3-5 choices from your list to determine their viability (case studies, networking, surveys, results of people already in niche, etc.).

Blazing "Old" Trails.

Jameson provides newbies with some counterintuitive advice:

"DON'T be a pioneer!"

Choose innovation over invention; long-term viability means swallowing your pride and leaving the "lab" work for later. Competition must not intimidate beginners. In fact, it is the best indicator of a healthy niche that supports multiple players - provided you can supply a superior product that everyone wants, and can connect with a hungry target market. Find out who the major players are, and how they are making money.

Filling the Market Gaps.

Foregoing original product research and education does not mean ignoring existing opportunities in your chosen market. Jesse strongly advises newbies to sign up to several established marketer lists to learn about expert tactics and current results. More importantly, learn about their weaknesses and how you can stand out with a better approach. Top marketers often volunteer great information:

Website statistics and information collection methods.
Price points, i.e.; how to decide what the market will bear.
How to partner with established marketers.

JV marketing is Jesse's #1 prosperity method, so consider how to create such alliances (e.g. interviews, offer front-end products, technical work, etc.).

Internet Marketing Basics.

Jameson lists the "brick and mortar" aspects of your online business:

Web page
Domain name
Domain hosting service
Autoresponder
Merchant account or shopping cart

He also enumerated the traffic tactics that are at your disposal:

Organic search engine traffic.
Joint Venture traffic (i.e. partnerships).
Pay-per-click (PPC)
Web 2.0 (social networking, bookmarking)
Article marketing with legitimate content
Affiliate programs with integrated marketing tools
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Note that there is division within the SEO community concerning the use of black hat and white hat tactics. "White Hats" employ traditional methods and always try to play by the rules to organically grow long-term traffic. On the other hand, "Black Hats" focus on dominating search engine rankings and making money today. They have been described as sneaky and short-term, and are susceptible to delisting. That is why Jesse and others advise white hat strategies for newbies and other marketers.

Jameson's Campaign Management Strategies.

Jesse tells aspiring Internet marketers to overcome their fear of rejection. Ask prospects for their contact information on your opt-in forms and landing pages. Face it - if you cannot ask people to join your list, how can you ask them to pull out their credit card later on?

Ongoing testing and tracking will tell you if web surfers want freebies to join your list. Regardless, Jameson advises us to stick with a double opt-in process, followed by 'Thank You' pages that offer high-quality products. Industry research shows that buyers need seven 'looks' on average before making a purchase, so take advantage of every opportunity to bond with your subscribers. Do not use misleading traffic tactics to manipulate prospects' search and buying decisions.

The Wave of the Future and Present.

Many entrepreneurs mistakenly abandon their past experiences and interests to dive head first into the Internet Marketing niche. Although digital product creation and various 'pick and shovel' services can be lucrative, Jesse Jameson cautions against leaving the offline world all together. If you do not sell real products, you risk losing touch with the corporate world and limiting your options for growth.

Internet marketing is becoming more and more mainstream, and its value as a direct sales channel opens up great opportunities to help 'brick and mortar' companies establish a web presence. So consider developing long-term marketing skills that will be useful for authors, publishers, etc. (e.g. copywriting). Seek alliances with micro and macro businesses; create 'win-win" partnerships that are financially, and spiritually fulfilling.

Closing Tips from the Expert.

Jameson offered his final thoughts to future and current marketers:

Avoid distractions. Don't buy products unless you can use them immediately, or if you are able to make them pay for itself.
At live events, "face-to-face" encounters with fellow networkers and presenters are often more beneficial than the scheduled lectures.
Before launching an online campaign, contact your merchant account processor and website host to ensure that they can handle sales "spikes" and increased traffic.
To maximize the benefit of outsourcing, create process maps that clearly define your objectives and ensure duplicability.

Conclusion.

Jesse Jameson created his Internet lifestyle by sticking to fundamentals - practicing what he preaches with beginners and high-powered corporate clients alike. He foresees a time when Internet Marketing (e-business) will become a core component in university management programs. He believes in the role of mentoring and personal development in entrepreneurship. At the same time, he has found balance in his life by looking beyond dollars and cents. For Jameson, traveling the world brings peace and serenity, but something else might do it for you. Get a life!

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

June 24th "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

2008-07-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Learning the Affiliate Marketing Ropes with Matthew Glanfield.

Hilary Stewardson's final June 2008 teleseminar guest was noted Internet entrepreneur Matthew Glanfield. Since bursting onto the scene in 2005, Glanfield has parlayed several strong selling online properties into a solid six-figure annual income. Matthew's passion for helping others succeed in the often brutal world of online marketing is evidenced through his groundbreaking video tutorials. Small wonder that most of his 25,000+ list subscribers are "newbies" or relative newcomers to making money online.

Capturing Affiliate Marketing Success.

The internet attracts people from all walks of life who dream of becoming financially independent, or at the very least supplementing their present income. Matthew Glanfield suggests that 99% come online without prior business experience and a lack of money. However, they should not be discouraged from achieving success. Chances are that their working knowledge and special interests can trigger some growth, especially in affiliate marketing.

Glanfield offers the following advice for selecting a good affiliate program:

Learn what products are selling and NOT selling. Use search engines to isolate the most popular sites, and those that are most likely to attract and convert other marketers and advertisers.
Investigate how other people generate leads and traffic for their affiliate pages. Go to where they are!

Contrary to popular belief, affiliate sales competition is good because it indicates that a particular product is highly valued and a good seller. After all, why else is it being promoted?

Making the Most of Your Affiliate Marketing Efforts.

New marketers often pour money haphazardly into advertising, thinking that the volume of "one-time" affiliate sales will eventually offset their costs. However, even a respectable 1-2% conversion rate means that 98-99% of your visitors leave your affiliate site without giving you their names and e-mail addresses.

What Matthew would call "Leaving money on the table"...

So, what's the solution? Incorporate list-building into your affiliate marketing campaigns. Put up a squeeze page that offers a free, quality report in exchange for a visitor's valid contact information. Then, direct the person to your 'Thank You', i.e., affiliate page. Although they may reject your current offer, you now have a chance to build a real relationship with subscribers. Something that can become much more valuable in the long run.

Matthew's Traffic Generation Primer.

Glanfield defined targeted traffic generation as finding your niche market, then getting in front of it at the right time. Look to attract people who are actually interested in what you have to say.

How do you do it? Here are Matthew’s suggestions:

- Buying Leads: A definite NO-NO!

- Google Adwords: Learn how to do it properly, test it out, and then ask yourself: Is it profitable or not profitable?

- Banner Advertising: Although expensive in the pre-Internet Bubble era, a careful web search can reveal quality services (e.g. graphics, video impressions) and banner exchange websites at a reasonable price.

- Video Marketing: An essentially free traffic generation tool where you present yourself as the expert. Present tutorials in an entertaining format that highlight your personality. Use screen capture videos or motion pictures; all it takes is a camcorder and some software to post content on video sharing sites like YouTube.

- Article Marketing: A time-intensive, long-term traffic method. Focus on offering unique and insightful articles (not generic advice). Use software or outsourcing to handle ezine directory submissions.

- Forum Marketing: The raw frontlines of Internet Marketing. Can be rewarding, but need to discipline yourself to fixed time limits.

- Blogging: Great communication tool to establish your credibility and gain exposure; 2-3 entries weekly for maximum benefit.

Traffic Conversion Hints.

Matthew Glanfield believes that tracking website traffic flow can lead to positive adjustments for your sales conversion rate. What is tracking? Simply the best answer to the question:

"Where are my current sales coming from, and where are my future sales likely to come from?"

Many free products, notably Google Analytics, can be used to track and test your web pages. Split testing can be used to optimize every aspect of a salesletter (i.e. header, call to action, postscript, etc.) as well as determine what traffic methods lead to the highest percentage of paying customers. Why spread yourself thinly across 5-10 techniques once you learn what works, and more importantly - what doesn't?

Glanfield is among marketers who believe that human behavior is predictable, and that proper statistical analysis can provide great insights into your conversion rates. Ultimately, it will make you a better and more profitable marketer.

What to Consider when Approaching Joint Venture Partners.

Joint ventures (JVs) are considered by many Internet Marketing insiders as the best way to generate traffic, grow subscriber lists and generate sales. Yet beginners have a difficult time figuring out who to approach, and how to promote themselves to get their "foot in the door". Matthew Glanfield advises the following:

1. Understand your market niche. Relevant and applicable knowledge is powerful.

2. Is the potential JV partner is a good personality fit for you? Is he very money-driven, or more fun-oriented? Do you complement each others strengths and weaknesses, and is there an opportunity to cross promote?

3. Never underestimate the value of "Internet Marketing"' bartering. Whereas the "9 to 5" workplace is a straight “time for money” operation, be prepared to present a "skills for traffic" proposal to more experienced partners. There are numerous tasks that marketers need done, and becoming the person they turn to can explode your business prospects.

4. Show people what you've done, and solicit their feedback. Getting their attention is always easier with products in hand. If financially feasible, use live events to improve visibility and build your reputation.

Membership Sites Alert!

It's common knowledge that one-time sales are easier to generate than regular, residual income. Yet, viable continuity programs (i.e. membership sites) that offer fresh content and minimizing attrition are high maintenance vehicles that are viable for only the most spirited and dynamic marketers. So, Matthew asks the newbie-to-intermediate crowd to consider a compromise: Offer high quality, high converting, front-end products followed by a mouthwatering membership offer with monthly fee attached.

Conclusion.

Matthew Glanfield's fast start in Internet Marketing ($100k in six months, 2005) has not diminished his drive to connect with more and more people. Admittedly, the overwhelming majority of his list subscribers are newbies. Yet, he has used that reality to become a recognized expert in "How to" video marketing to address beginners’ needs. Glanfield has forgone the mentality of making a quick buck in favor of the mentality to build a real business.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

June 17th "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

2008-06-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

David Gale - Joining the Ranks of the Affiliate Marketing Elite.

There are countless stories of aspiring Internet Marketers who abandon their online goals to return to so-called "normal" lives. For David Gale, a former window cleaner and father of five, failure was not an option. By concentrating on affiliate marketing, resale rights, and Pay-per-Click (PPC) advertising, David is on his way to financial independence. He shared his affiliate marketing insights on an informative "Seminars with the Experts" call.

Why Choose Affiliate Marketing?

Gale recommends affiliate marketing - not only for beginners, and not just for the usual reasons (i.e. low startup costs, less work, etc.). Use affiliate marketing to perfect your traffic generation skills. Test several affiliate products to see what works best before selecting a program to promote. It does not make sense to sell items without test marketing! Traffic is the lifeblood of your campaigns, so analyze your initial affiliate results before committing to full-scale marketing.

How Do You Choose an Affiliate Product, David?

Gale presented solid criteria for selecting affiliate programs:

1. Must offer a high front-end commission with a significant back-end.
2. Must have a strong, converting salesletter. How do you determine optimum page length? Test it, of course! Look at the best sellers' sales pages for ideas.
3. Actual sales results from reputable digital product sites like Clickbank.
4. Personal interests and strengths.

David provides a cardinal rule as well:

No tricks with Google and the major search engines.

If you are offering a free report to boost sales, give it to those who provide a legitimate name and valid e-mail address. Use a verified (double) opt-in system and send the download link via e-mail to guarantee real contact information. To help avoid the Google Slap and add to your credibility, consider adding 'Contact Us' and 'Earnings Disclaimer' pages to your website.

Common Stumbling Blocks.

David Gale spoke about a number of obstacles that prevent people from realizing their affiliate and hence Internet Marketing potential:

1. Doing nothing at all.
2. Unbalanced action; i.e. either too much input (i.e. information overload) or too much output (i.e. program/product hopping, lack of focus).
3. Overemphasis on short-term results; i.e. money instead of long-term, sustainable business building.
4. Lack of testing and results' tracking. For example, failing to try list-building (opt-in) forms at different sections of your page (top, middle, end).

Potpourri of Internet Word Association.

Towards the end of the call/webinar, David reviewed common affiliate and list-building tools and their role in your upcoming campaigns:

Blogs: Relationship building with list subscribers; search engine traffic generation and backlinks.
Joint Venture partners, Affiliates: Traffic generation, offer high commissions to generate high commissions.
Seminars, Events: Relationship-building, networking.
Internet Video: Screen capture, screen shots to post on your website (opt-in page) for list-building.

Should you Promote One, or Several Products at a Time?

Gale advises us to market one product at a time. Your personal resources are at a premium, so it is better to establish a product that can make money for you before moving on. In fact, once you have the "formula" for one product try duplicating the results on something similar. Although not for everyone, Google's suite of tools can help you establish a budget for your advertising campaigns.

Use of Private Label, Master Resale Rights.

Apart from affiliate marketing, Gale likes private label rights (PLR) products. PLR allows you to rebrand and customize all aspects of a given product, and often provides a sales graphics package that would be expensive to purchase separately. Make sure you stand out from other PLR purchasers. Collect good information from multiple sources and use it to make a great product that you can truly be proud of.

Conclusion.

David Gale may not have achieved Guru status yet, but his call performance proved that he is well on the way. Success is all about following a series of well-established best practices - dare we say a system? Making mistakes is part of the process. So is swallowing your pride. When it comes to affiliate marketing, stop guessing! Just ask your current subscribers what they want.

---------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

June 10th "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

2008-06-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

SaRita Hartin - Shy Marketing Techniques to Explode your Business.

Who said shyness disqualifies people from having a thriving business career? Author, business coach, and trainer SaRita Hartin overcame extreme shyness and damaged self-esteem early in life to achieve her dreams. By focusing her time and effort on core skill development, Hartin has forged a career that includes extensive military and corporate computer systems experience, as well as her own self-improvement company (since 2004). She offered her Internet marketing insights recently on "Seminars with the Experts".

Product versus Affiliate Marketing.

SaRita Hartin recommends affiliate marketing for online novices, because it's their best chance to earn a few bucks and gain confidence as they learn marketing - the only guarantor of long-term success. It is far more cost effective than product creation; customer service and fulfillment issues are not your responsibility.

To fully benefit from affiliate marketing, Hartin suggests that you incorporate list building into your internet mix right away. Use short landing pages that offer free reports in exchange for a prospect's name and valid email address. Place your opt-in page containing the 'ethical' bribe before the affiliate sales page (i.e. offer). Ethical bribes are a tried and true tactic for gaining new subscribers. Once prospects have agreed to give you a chance, ask them about their concerns and do your best to solve their problems.

Overcoming the Ghost in You.

Hartin said that the biggest stumbling blocks for aspiring business people are:

1. Lack of self-confidence.
2. Fear of the Unknown.

She advises "shy" people to find a successful marketer who is willing to mentor them in the type of activity they wish to pursue. Becoming part of a mastermind or mentoring group can also accelerate your business and personal development. Getting on marketers' mailing lists is another way of using other people's experiences to save money and avoid mistakes.

The best way to overcome personal inertia is to:

JUST DO STUFF!

For example, putting up your first opt-in web page can go a long way towards breaking the 'Internet ice'. SaRita places great value in celebrating small victories, so make sure to acknowledge every small (but significant) step towards your ultimate goals.

The Perils of Outsourcing.

While cognizant of its benefits, SaRita Hartin advises newbies to tread carefully when it comes to outsourcing. Although many credible online outsourcing companies exist, beginners are susceptible to being taken advantage of. In fact, Hartin recommends that you approach a university or community college to get basic technical work done. By all means, set a strict spending limit (e.g. fifty dollars for an opt-in page).

Effective copywriting and e-book creation are specialized skills coveted by newbies and veteran marketers alike. Not everyone has the talent and patience to do it on their own. So, if you decide to outsource, make sure the Terms of Agreement are clear and precise (e.g. click-through rate requirements). To lower bid rates for your outsourcing projects, SaRita shares a phrase picked up from a noted marketer :

"This is a very simple project for an experienced [S/W developer, writer, etc.]."

Use it to attract contractors, then perform your due diligence.

SaRita Hartin Loves Private Label Rights!

Hartin believes that Master Resale Rights and Private Label Rights (PLR) products should be an integral part of any internet marketing mix. For the uninitiated, SaRita provided a quick definition/example of the concepts:

- Resale Rights: As a convenience store owner, the license to sell Coca-Cola.
- PLR: As a convenience store owner, the license to sell a private label cola made by someone else (e.g. Coca-Cola) under a name of your choice (e.g. Me-Coke).

PLR holds great promise in particular, because material can be modified and updated to suit your specific needs. For example, you can take pieces from ten e-books, update the material, rebrand the links, and instantly create a new e-book in your name!

A Note on Attending Seminars and Events.

Hartin suggests that the usefulness of live events depends on:

1. The organizers' reputation.
2. Your attitude heading into the event.

Good seminars provide information that you've never heard before, and don't bombard you with backroom selling. When you decide to attend a live presentation, one of your goals should be to make X number of contacts, and follow up with each person the day after the event ends. You should send cards, notes, and e-mails that flatter your new contacts!

Make sure you prepare for each event thoroughly, especially the multi-day extravaganzas. Otherwise, you will be overwhelmed, get frustrated, and lose value for your time and money. Live events are excellent opportunities to meet like-minded people, so consider how to help them out through possible joint ventures. As for the "Gurus", don't be intimidated. If you have previously purchased products or services from them, consider "buying your way" into the inner circle by announcing yourself as a paying customer.

Conclusion.

SaRita Hartin has turned a personality flaw - shyness - into a strength. It is no wonder why 'Seminars with the Experts' host Hilary Stewardson chose Hartin to be her coach. Even if you forgo formal 'shyness' coaching, Internet marketing remains well-suited for those who lack traditional sales skills and an outgoing personality. Article marketing and Pay-per-click (PPC) are but two powerful forms of traffic generation that work quite well for shy people. So, roll up your sleeves and take the next step.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

June 3rd "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

2008-06-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

The Legendary Willie Crawford: Doing it the Right Way.

In this age of instant and fleeting fame, it's comforting to find people whose business acumen and efforts have stood the test of time. Hence, it was with great anticipation that Hilary Stewardson welcomed Willie Crawford to the "Seminars with the Experts" hot seat.

In the Internet Marketing world, Crawford stands out as a legitimate pioneer and expert. Active since 1996, he has parlayed initial success with a cooking recipes website into a suite of full-fledged, multi-layered internet properties that boasts over half a million list subscribers and customers. Now identified as an Internet power broker and services supplier, Crawford is a popular e-book publisher, speaker, and workshop facilitator for newbies and veteran marketers alike.

Mr. Crawford boasts the prerequisite "Rags to Riches" story common with many Internet Marketers. However, he maintains a humility that regular folks can relate to. He wastes no time by advising listeners to break out of the "Poverty Mentality" by thinking big. Start off with a solid business plan that will catapult you to success.

How to Get Started.

Like other Internet veterans, Willie Crawford suggests that affiliate marketing is the best way for beginners to get off to a fast start. Through a judicious choice of e-books, software etc. they can offer quality to list subscribers and prospects without the hassles of product creation and customer service. If one product does not sell well, simply move on to the next item. Ideally, your choices have been market tested and have a track record that adds credibility to your overall marketing efforts.

On the other hand, new product creation offers many advantages:

1. The creator/author, i.e. you, set the terms of profitability.
2. You do not compete for 'affiliate' dollars; are outside the fight for commissions.
3. A successful campaign allows you to establish expert status within your niche.

The obvious danger with product creation lies in selling and creating products nobody wants, thus losing your time and financial investment. In either case, you must overdeliver to make a name for yourself.

Marketing for Success.

Business success or failure is mostly determined by your marketing ability and the quality of your industry contacts. Market testing is critical and performance needs to be measured; fast methods (e.g. Pay-per-click) and slow methods (e.g. article marketing) can both be effective when done consistently and systematically.

Crawford shared several ideas with listeners for building a list of proven buyers. For example, creating then selling $5 or $10 products can help you generate entry-level purchasers. Once they have "raised their hand", you can build trust by offering high quality product reviews. Acting as a trusted source and filter, your recommendations should help customers decide what they really want. Therefore, provide a mix of yeahs and nays to establish credibility.

Willie Crawford's Take on Outsourcing.

When asked about outsourcing's place in business, Mr. Crawford advises people to consider the standard "Time vs. Money" dilemma:

"Can I afford it?"

If the answer is yes and you can access reliable services, concentrate on developing ideas and delegate the heavy lifting to specialists. Marketers are ideas people first, and the more ideas you try out, the faster it will be to find the one that works.

Willie belongs to several mastermind groups, but also advocates another networking model that can benefit beginners. Too often, newcomers have a hard time accessing critical information about new product releases and reviews. With most new product revenue generated in the first 2 weeks of launch, only insiders with advance notice win. Thus, Crawford introduced the concept of a joint venture (JV) database to develop future JV partners, create an alternative to outsourcing, and serve as a promotions exchange.

Would ya Believe?

Even with the Digital Age's technological advances, Willie Crawford still prefers "face to face" networking. He still considers it the best way to get a feel for people before pursuing business relationships with them. It allows him to better judge personality, body language, and overall fit. Human nature is all about finding a person's "hot" buttons, i.e., "What makes you tick?", and Crawford readily admits to placing great value on personal relationships.

Conclusion.

Judging by his hectic schedule, Willie Crawford is not about to retire from the Internet Marketing scene anytime soon. He continues to build alliances and partnerships that keep his organizations ahead of the curve and generate fresh marketing ideas. Crawford's entrepreneurial spirit, online experience, and passion make him a respected advocate for Internet-based business growth. The right way.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

May 27th 'Seminars with the Experts' Call.

2008-06-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Jeff Mills and the Merits of Outsourcing.

The second “Seminars with the Experts” call introduced listeners to Jeff Mills, a Christian youth pastor turned high-powered Internet marketer. A decade-long cyberspace veteran, Mills has joined the ranks of the elite by offering clients high-end information products and coaching services.

Jeff’s topic this evening was outsourcing, an often misunderstood business practice that has gained popularity with both traditional “bricks and mortar” companies and internet entrepreneurs. Simply put, outsourcing can be defined as leveraging other people’s efforts, resources, and talents to achieve results that would not have been possible working on your own. While outsourcing's role varies according to the scope and overall business model in question, nobody should dismiss it out of hand without critical analysis.

Defining Your Role in Business.

According to Jeff Mills, the secret to online (and offline) business success is straightforward:

Find a great product, and then get it into other people’s hands as soon as possible.

He prefers selling high-end items, because they offer a faster route to significant income and wealth. Regardless of your Internet business model, Mills advises you to play the role of project manager, bringing together all the elements of success. Do not devote all your effort and energy on product creation.

“Why Shouldn't I do it All?”

Mills finds that new home-based business owners are enamored with doing everything themselves. While maintaining rigorous control over a project can be empowering and ensure quality, most Internet marketers end up overwhelmed by the workload and are unable to advance their business. In his own experience, Mills quickly adopted John D. Rockefeller’s philosophy in that respect:

"I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own efforts."

To that end, he introduced listeners to three paths for business wealth generation:

1. OPI – Other People’s Ideas.

Perhaps the best example is teleseminar/webinar creation. Instead of doing all the research on a topic and presenting it to an audience, the host brings in recognized experts that do the work for “free”. As a result, your time is freed up to create more income streams, in addition to sharing the proceeds generated by the expert’s offer during the call.

2. OPM – Other People’s Money.

Leveraging loans, lines of credit, borrowed money etc. to create income. Donald Trump is perhaps the most famous practitioner of OPM.

3. OPE – Other People’s Efforts (“The less I work, the more money I make.”).

This is outsourcing. Mills asks us to simply extend our concept of personal services outsourcing (e.g. house cleaning) to business services outsourcing (e.g. software creation, website hosting, ghostwriting of articles, e-books etc.). In the case of published works, you claim the sole copyright and earn high search engine rankings through rich, resource box-generated backlinks. The emergence of virtual assistant (VA) services and help desks is another trend worth following.

There are reputable online (and offline) services that will write articles, create software, and handle all aspects of product development and promotion for a reasonable price. In fact, the low cost of labor for computer services in East European and Asian countries is what Internet entrepreneurs exploit to reap massive profits.

Outsourcing for the Bottom Line.

Jeff believes that a new entrepreneur’s major hang-up is the inability to ask prospects for money, even when possessing a superior product. Why? Simply put, most business people lack professional selling and closing skills. It’s not your fault – only 2% of the population has formal sales training or “natural” selling ability. So, if you doubt your selling skills, outsource them! Concentrate on marketing and hire a call center to close for you.

As an exercise, Mills suggests that people write down their daily schedules, break them up into 15 minute blocks, and determine what can be outsourced for immediate benefit.

Conclusion.

Today, there is growing debate over the merits of outsourcing, especially amongst people who question its transnational nature on moral and ethical grounds. Still, without dismissing those who bypass outside services, Jeff Mills' forceful case for outsourcing should be carefully considered.

After establishing himself in the Business Opportunities (BizOpp) niche, he has moved into Internet marketing training and coaching with great enthusiasm. His experiences have helped him develop a business mindset that embraces the smart use of outsourcing, and the will and determination to succeed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

May 20th 'Seminars with the Experts' Call.

2008-05-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Powerful Information Product and JV Secrets with Liz Tomey.

I'm back :)

Yes, after a 8-month hiatus (basically the curling season up here in Canada!) I'm restarting the Info-Blog to provide you with valuable, time-tested solutions to your Internet Marketing questions. As a teleseminar reporter, I actively search for new interviews that provide relevant insights and hard-core information fit for a discerning audience.

With so many product launches these days, it's hard not to trip over a conference call or webinar where marketers discuss the latest and greatest in the Internet Marketing universe.

To that end, Hillary Stewardson's "Seminars with the Experts" seems to fit the bill. The moderator, a Canadian retiree now living in Mexico, has lined up 12 successful marketers who will be sharing strategies and opportunities on a weekly basis.

To open the series, Stewardson invited Information Marketing veteran Liz Tomey to share her experiences with eager listeners. After starting out in offline direct mail in 1998, Tomey moved to MLM and the Internet in 2004. Even with her MLM success, she quickly gravitated towards "Internet" marketing. First, by offering advertising services to fellow MLMers with her own affiliate program. Shortly thereafter, Liz created her first Joint Ventures (JVs) information product, and has since enjoyed great success with consistent follow-ups in the Internet Marketing niche.

How do you Want to Make Money?

Beyond altruistic and social ideals, people logging onto the Internet are motivated to make money! However, what prevents them from achieving their income goals is the absence of clarity and focus, as well as a plan to implement their ideas.

Tomey suggests that there are 3 ways to make money online:

1. Create your own (digital) product.
2. Sell other people's products as an affiliate.
3. Freelancing, i.e. offer services (e.g. writing, software) to other marketers for a fee.

Therefore, select one of the above options, set your income goals, and come up with a realistic plan (strategies, tactics) to attain those goals.

Market research is critical, not only for choosing a profitable niche, but also the specific needs of the segment you intend to pursue. In short, everyone serious about earning an online income must:

1. Buy the competition, and duplicate their content without stealing.
2. Differentiate themselves with a "twist".
3. Dominate your chosen niche.

Don't Complicate Your Life.

Liz wants you to focus on one area only. Jumping on the latest fads week after week, month after month will not only frustrate but prevent you from becoming an authority figure in a well-defined niche. When opening your Inbox, only look at emails that directly relate to what you are doing now. She suggests that if you cannot use the information (product, service, etc.) within 24 hours FORGET IT! Delete the e-mails right away and unsubscribe from irrelevant lists.

Tomey stresses online discipline. Limit your forum time, even in quality spaces like the Warrior Forum. Likewise for e-mail time; she suggests segregated e-mail accounts (e.g. one for high-level marketing contact; one for "freebies"; one for forum announcements, etc.) as a means for prioritizing your tasks.

Self-Education is the Only Way.

Most of us have limited means by which to access the information so critical for success. As an established marketer, Liz Tomey spends upwards of $5k monthly on information products which no doubt contributes to her knowledge and product development skills.

Yet, there remain low-cost and even free methods to educate one's self. Marketers should not dismiss free resources: Giveaway sites, article directories, and older products (including public domain works) are often superior to recent releases. There is no excuse for not tapping into what other marketers have to offer, so long as they improve your knowledge, understanding, and marketing "touch".

Product Creation versus Affiliate Marketing.

Conventional thinking dictates that Internet marketing "Newbies" stay away from product creation. After all, why go through the hassle of making a product, writing sales copy, setting up autoresponders, getting a merchant account etc. when quality, ready-made stuff is available in abundance?

Tomey, on the other hand encourages newcomers and others to be creative right from the start. Go into forums and find out what people really want, then use your imagination and market research skills to design and implement products to establish yourself as the expert. In well-defined or highly competitive niches like Internet Marketing, use Clickbank and similar sites to see what is selling well and orient your efforts towards that type of product.

Successful product creation and promotion are determined by several factors, including:

1. Personal Level of Implication:

How badly do you want to establish yourself as a niche expert, and do you have the desire to brand yourself - put your name out there?

2. Leverage:

Can you convince list subscribers, buyers, and affiliates to "buy into" your vision of success via this information product?

3. Finding the Right Partners:

Make tangible offers to marketers who you believe can help you now. They will decide how best to help you (e.g. marketing integration; article and/or video syndication). If you have already started driving traffic to your sites, track your conversion rates and show them to your JV partners. Emphasizing money alone won't impress them. After all, they don't need you to make an extra thousand bucks!

Joint Ventures (JVs) as a Primary Networking Tool.

Getting quality JV partners leads to benefits that go beyond your current promotion. While e-books may discuss the "Whats" and "Whys" of marketing, Liz Tomey suggests that money spent on high-caliber coaching is usually a better investment. Mentoring and mastermind groups become easier to find through a reputable coach, and there is extra motivation when someone else is holding you accountable for your actions.

Tomey is a fan of live conferences and seminars. Not all events are created equal, but marketers of all abilities and experiences come together for a mix of direct selling, information sharing, and live social networking. The ability to build a "Buddy Network" alone justifies the associated costs of attendance, i.e. travel, hotel, attendance, etc..

Conclusion.

Practicing what she preaches, Liz Tomey has become a highly sought after JV partner and coach. She is able to live the life she wants to lead, that of a financially independent Stay-at-Home-Mom (SAHM). Needless to say, JV marketing and information product creation can be a powerful combination in today's digital world.

-------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

What's the Deal with Downline Secrets 2?

2007-09-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Preliminary Review of James Grandstaff's Downline Secrets 2.

In case you haven't heard yet... James Grandstaff has released "Part 2" of his "Downline Secrets."

------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're in a hurry, check it out now:

==> James Grandstaff's Downline Secrets 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before doing a little review, I thought I should play a little catch-up in case you have no clue as to what Downline Secrets "Part 1" is about.

Basically, Downline Secrets Part 1 gave you free access to a recorded call between Mike Filsaime and James Grandstaff. Mike asks James questions about the success he has enjoyed using InstantBuzz.com (a free advertising resource) to grow his downline.

You get access to the MP3 and PDF transcript of the call (N.B. nice because I don't always like to sit in front of my PC to read or listen to content.)

During the call James revealed how he used his free Instant Buzz traffic along with his (now proven) 3-step strategy to explode his downline into the thousands on complete autopilot.

The cool part is he did it while maintaining his full time job as a PC support technician in Michigan.

And from there you have the opportunity to buy the same software that James developed to grow his downline and use it to grow YOUR downline in any program you happen to be involved in.

So all-in-all DownlineSecrets.com is a great site and offers a lot of great info for free on how to build your downline using the web.

and Now...

What makes Downline Secrets "Part 2" so much better is that it takes over where Downline Secrets 1 left off.

What I mean is this...

With Downline Secrets 1 you were left to figure out all the technical stuff in order to duplicate James' results for your MLM business. The software and detailed videos are fantastic but you still have to come up with the web copy, the hosting, the HTML page design and so on...

Yeah, the yucky stuff.

Let's just say his target market is much smaller because if you don't have the much needed technical skills or the money to hire those with the skills, you are pretty much out of luck and can't fully benefit from the entire system he is teaching.

This time around you get access to a call between James and Chris Zavadowski, who is also very successful in the MLM scene. Chris grills James for an hour and gets all the must know secrets out of him.

The system James is offering this time is over the top! He covers all the technical stuff for us this time and everything is completely set-up. All the technical issues have been removed. This is great because more people can now truly benefit from his teachings and proven system.

Now, let me tell you something...

Once you register for the call below you will see an offer for James' Elite upgrade membership. All I can say is ==> TAKE IT!

For a limited time, it's only $77 and for what you get it's simply mind blowing!

In a nut shell... he's offering you a professional designed lead capture page that gives away a customized version of his new manuscript called 'How to Get Rich Building a LAZY Downline!'. This PDF is first customized with your affiliate links to several "generic" MLM training resources. As you give this thing away you will earn commissions from those you refer who upgrade in any of the programs.

And since they're all MLM related, the conversion rates should be extremely high!

All you do is simply advertise the lead capture page via the special link you get and James' software sends an email to your prospects (with a link to your customized PDF).

Everything is on auto-pilot!

Oh, and don't worry, the traffic aspect is even handled for you. Be sure to check out the bonus that's included :-)

See, I told you this thing was awesome.

As you can see, I'm totally excited about this because it's refreshing to see a great product come along that is truly capable of changing the lives of others.

So yes, Downline Secrets 2 gets my highest recommendation! It is one of the few downline building systems in the market today that's reasonably priced, easy to set up, and can earn you affiliate income as you build that responsive list.

Once inside, decide if the downline recruiting software and significant bonuses are worth it for you. All serious MLMers need a system, and I truly believe that this one merits serious consideration.

Sign up below. Here's the clickable link:

Making you money and saving your precious time :-)

Rahul aka Info-entrepreneur RM

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and list building techniques.

"15k in 7 Days" Coaching Call - August 16, 2007 Teleseminar.

2007-08-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

Building Success with Lisa Diane's 6M Method.

After completing the List Profit Academy series last fall, Brian T. Edmondson has continued to grow his Internet Marketing business with affiliate marketing, high-end joint ventures, and live event opportunities. In June 2007, he opened his "15k in 7 Days" coaching program to the public, which includes a teleseminar learning component that anyone can access.

Building on the List Profit Academy tradition, Brian presented one of the most recognizable and widely respected Internet entrepreneurs today. Lisa Diane has overcome business failure, bankruptcy, and crippling debt to achieve personal independence. Her success began offline in direct mail marketing. A "kitchen table" business, in Diane's words, that generated 650k in a six-month period. Today, her numerous companies produce 6-7 figures annually. Lately, she has begun to share her winning strategies with receptive clients and audiences.

What's the Real Source of Success?

While most of us learn from past mistakes, Lisa Diane notes that too many people remain conditioned by fears that prevent real personal, financial, and spiritual breakthroughs. In Lisa's words, we don't see things as they are - we see things as we are. Often, this world view traps us into a boring, mundane existence.

So, before diving into her core presentation, Diane gave us her number one Power Secret:

"Your Thoughts Create Your Life."

In other words, stop being a victim. The government, your employer, your immediate boss, and even your family circumstances do not control you. That being said, it's your responsibility to take action to create the personal and financial freedom you deserve.

Deciphering the 6M Method.

Together with her business partner Bonnie Hazlett, Lisa Diane described a simple yet powerful list of best practices that allows her to share her passion for wealth creation with common everyday people. The 6M Method is their contribution to the myriad of self-help ideas proliferating online today.

The first and most important "M", since Lisa claims that it is responsible for ninety-percent of her success is:

Developing a Million-Dollar Mindset.

Critical to acquiring this mindset is breaking out of the J-O-B, "time-for-money" mentality that the majority of human beings have today. However, even those who are supposedly looking for more out of life have poor attitudes and a "slot machine" business mentality that aimlessly searches for clouds with a silver lining. If you believe the answer is "out there", then you are guaranteed to miss ninety percent of the solution. Why? Because your mindset comes down to what is within YOU.

The Second "M": Market.

Lisa Diane righted her ship in the late 1990s through offline, direct response marketing. Now as the Internet's full commercial potential is being unleashed, she believes that online marketing is the "New Frontier" that even pure computing novices can exploit. Diane calls it "Direct Mail on Steroids".

However, you need a market. So, what should you choose?

You could spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a franchise, but why sacrifice so much capital and labor to essentially follow orders from another corporate master? Inventing your own products can be intellectually fulfilling, but if you do not have a clearly defined target market of hungry buyers, none of your hard work will translate into dollars. Lisa used the restaurant analogy to bring her points home to the audience when asking:

If you were going to open up a restaurant today, what is the one thing that would guarantee your success?

Hint: It's not:

- The best food
- The best service
- The best decor
- The best ambiance
- Not even the best location!

Answer: A "starving" crowd.

Do research to select a niche market with thousands of "hot" buyers who do not need to be sold. Is it your destiny to slave away '9 to 5' for forty years to build someone else's fortune? If not, then Lisa Diane urgently advises us to find out what people want - not need - and give it to them.

The Third "M": A Must-have Product or Service.

At some point, budding online entrepreneurs will need to offer something of value to customers to earn income. While many people choose to simply transfer their "brick and mortar" offerings online, Diane favors the area that has generated millions of dollars for her and others: Information Products. Both digital and physical information products have a high profit margin and give beginners a chance to overdeliver on value and establish their reputations quickly.

Lisa suggests that the true novice first turn to affiliate marketing, since there is an abundance of proven digital products available with generous sales commissions to be earned. After getting comfortable with affiliate marketing, get into the habit of financing your business with earned profits. It will allow you to avoid dipping into your life savings, drawing on a line of credit, or borrowing from others (bank, lending agencies, etc.) and risking bankruptcy.

The Fourth "M": The Method used to Build your Business.

Ten percent of your success consists of the methods (i.e. tactics, processes, strategies, systems) used to generate business wealth. While individuals have different strengths and weaknesses, nobody has to suffer to succeed. A few simple steps based on your interests can lead to abundance. Lisa Diane proposes that new entrepreneurs learn and put into practice the Power of Leverage, i.e., getting paid multiple times for work done once. Strive for autopilot, not linear (i.e. "time for money") income! It's the only path to real freedom...

The Fifth "M": The Message.

Learn how to communicate with your target audience. Copywriting is arguably the most precious Internet Marketing skill today, so take the time to learn the tactics and techniques that earn the best conversion specialists tens of thousands of dollars per project. You wouldn't want to spend that much money to hire an ad copy specialist right now anyway...

Would you?

The Sixth "M": Your Master Action Plan (MAP).

Putting it all together requires a plan that will keep you focussed like a laser beam on your Internet business goals. Avoid information overload by mastering a core group of individual marketing skills while you advance from startup into the growth phase of your online activity. The MAP will help you decide whether new products appearing on the scene can really help you or not.

There are literally hundreds of reputable coaching programs, home study courses, e-books, and teleseminar series that are competing for your marketing dollars and attention. Measure their appropriateness against your personal list of necessary and essential buying criteria.

e.g. Distinguish between courses that teach specific marketing techniques (e.g traffic generation) and those that give you the big picture.

Conclusion.

1. Million-Dollar Mindset.
2. Market.
3. Must-have Product or Service.
4. Method to Build your Business.
5. Message.
6. Master Action Plan.

Do the 6Ms make sense, and can it work for those who attended the teleseminar and others looking for more in life? Based on Lisa Diane's own premises and life experience, it will come down to how well they exercise and maximize the gray matter between their ears.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

Mike Morgan's Conversion Crisis Interview - August 1, 2007

2007-08-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Sales Conversion Solutions with Mike Morgan.

In an eagerly anticipated August 1st teleseminar co-hosted by Sterling Valentine, copywriting expert Mike Morgan discussed "The Conversion Crisis" facing Internet Marketers today.

A ten-year online veteran, Morgan has been described as a renaissance man. After founding and leading the first online Investment Bond brokerage firm, he shifted gears to pursue his real passion - writing profitable sales copy and exploiting advanced conversion techniques.

Within Internet Marketing's elite circles, Morgan is recognized as a sales copy "Top Gun". In the past two years, he has helped generate six and seven-figure sales campaigns for the likes of Mark Joyner, Ewen Chia, and Michael Cheney. Although his services may not be appropriate for struggling entrepreneurs, Morgan insists that even beginners can "unleash" revenue locked away on their present websites by simply tweaking their sales copy.

The Two Skills every Internet Marketer Needs.

Irrespective of your chosen niche, Mike Morgan claims that online success comes down to your ability to master two fundamental skills:

1. Generating Targeted Traffic: Getting legitimate prospects to visit your sales website.

2. Creating Winning Ad Copy: Converting "eyeballs" into sales via ethically persuasive techniques.

Excelling at one of these skills will permit you to grow your business and seek out alliances that can compensate for shortcomings in the other area. For example, consider the plight of a Google Adwords expert who succeeds in driving prospects to a poorly writing landing page that discourages action. This is an opportunity for a proven ad copy specialist to offer his services; the goal being respectable opt-in and/or conversion rates.

Why is Sales Conversion so Important?

Simply stated:

CONVERSION EQUALS MONEY.

Everyone wants to succeed in Internet Marketing, because they want to achieve financial independence. Unfortunately, several factors including market saturation and ruthless competition are conspiring to lower everyone's conversion rates. If you can't stand out in a crowd, you cannot convert. No conversion, no money. Plain and simple.

So, what's the solution? Contrary to what many think, Mike Morgan continues to believe in the power of the written word. While many informed and casual Internet observers are skeptical about the effectiveness of text, Morgan argues that engaged readers become buyers and loyal customers.

Learning to Sell Persuasively and Effectively.

Morgan advises everyone to master sales fundamentals. In spite of its creepy reputation, the ability to sell is what makes entrepreneurs and corporations successful worldwide. Systems and technology are great, but why trust your livelihood to something you have little control over?

People must be prepared to invest time and money in themselves. However, simply purchasing books, home study courses, DVDs, etc. to collect dust is a complete waste. The sad reality is that most people end up spending, not making money online - until they are forced to prematurely end their Internet dreams.

The Perfect Swipe.

Mike Morgan's high stakes copywriting world is lucrative, but not without its share of pressures. Notably, the pressure to perform. To swing the odds in their favor, experienced copywriters like Morgan have mastered the "swipe", i.e., borrowing successful tactics and concepts from competitors to facilitate your own campaigns ethically and without plagiarism. Mike has built up a cache of swipe files over the years, but experience has allowed his "copywriting DNA" to evolve to such a stage that they are mostly unnecessary now.

What's the Deal with Sales Pages, Anyway?

Too many online marketers believe that products sell themselves, and that sales pages are at best an inconvenience. Just put up any old page, and paying customers will start pouring in, right?

Mike Morgan addressed some misconceptions about sales pages, including the idea that it is an isolated part of a marketing campaign. The sales page is one part of the entire sales process, a process that may or may not include:

- Pre-sales research;
- Face-to-face, verbal, and/or electronic communication with prospects
- Expert sales information

There is a fine line between swiping and what Morgan calls "Falling for the Tyranny of the Familiar". Blindly pursuing trends because they worked for others does not guarantee your success. In fact, you will likely will fail because the conditions and circumstances of the other's campaign are not duplicatable nor relevant anymore.

Are Prospects Really Willing to Read Your Salesletter?

Assuming that you have not pre-sold your prospects, a winning salesletter is what stands between you and a steady stream of income. So, why would someone make the effort to read your copy? Mike and others suggest the following:

1. Your salesletter serves as a first impression and/or main impression of you.
2. People who are genuinely interested in your offer use sales copy to evaluate your product or service.
3. People will read the sales page if your offer is relevant, and the sales copy does not put them to sleep.
4. Marketer-to-marketer (M2M) selling is big business, especially in the various Internet marketing niches. Sharp competitors looking to improve their own skills will "swipe" you and apply it to their own situations. Plus, they will buy your product if they can learn from it and improve their own offers...

The Three Sales Conversion Master Keys.

1. Non-copy elements that influence conversion the most:

- An (Irresistible) Offer (product, service)
- List of motivated subscribers; chosen target market
- The 'hook', i.e. an attention grabbing curiosity that normally requires research to discover.

2. Shortcuts to Winning Copy.

Swiping, i.e. ethical stealing, is the most powerful advertising technique. It builds your copywriting DNA. Eventually, copy material becomes internalized within you.

3. The "Dirty Little Secret": Testing!

Writing a sales letter is not the end of the process, it's just the start! You need to test, because even the best copy gets stale with time. "Freshen up" your ads from time to time.

Practical Tactics to Consider for Your Next Campaign.

1. Consider writing your salesletter before having the actual offer in place. In fact, it may improve the final product.
2. Inject personality into your salesletter where appropriate.
3. Create a pre-notification list to attract an "affiliate army" to your offer. Provide them with the information and tools they need to become effective ambassadors on your behalf.
4. Go into the customer's mindset ("Walk a mile in their shoes"). Ask yourself, "How does this product solve the other's problem?"
5. Use bonuses, but test their placement on your sales page: Is it better before or after revealing the price?

e.g. After revealing the price for your main offer, write "... and to sweeten the deal", then introduce your bonuses.

Conclusion.

Do you want to know a secret? Mike Morgan revealed to his eager listeners that there is no magic sales copy formula. Rather, making money online demands a marketing mindset that visualizes every step of a campaign's sales funnel from a prospect's perspective. Then, testing things out, evaluating preliminary results, and tweaking until you achieve your goals.

Morgan aims not only to be the best copywriter, but also a sales consultant and confidante to his clients, evaluating various scenarios before selecting the best approach. The end result is a keen ability to discuss high-level campaigns with the world's best marketers. It is a skill and philosophy that distinguishes him - a sales conversion specialist - from the rest of the pack.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

'Be The Legend' Webinar Series - July 19th, 2007 Webinar.

2007-07-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

Profitable Information Product Creation with Shawn Casey.

The 'Be The Legend' webinar series, hosted by Tellman Knudson and Ben Mack, began this month (July 2007) amidst the usual hype and fanfare normally associated with launches by successful Internet entrepreneurs. Scheduled for thirteen installments over the summer, it's goal is to extract priceless Internet Marketing "gems" from a star-studded line-up of guest speakers.

Marketing experts agree that the best way to make a splash in Internet Marketing today is to create, promote, and sell your own products. However, most aspiring entrepreneurs face several obstacles:

Lack of time to fully concentrate and focus on innovation.
Lack of specialized skills to fully develop goals and strategies.
Lack of money to successfully implement business ideas.
Lack of supportive networks or mastermind groups.

So what's the Solution?

The audience of the third "Be the Legend" webinar was treated to a session with the "Big Dog" himself, Shawn Casey. As a former CEO of an Inc. 500 (Fasting growing private companies in America) company, Casey brought considerable corporate and entrepreneurial expertise to the presentation. With $30 million dollars in "digital" sales since 1999, he presented a forceful argument for creating your own information products business.

The Difference Between Success and Failure.

In no uncertain terms, Casey contrasted two formulas right off the bat:

A. The Formula for Failure, i.e.:

"Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.":

Find, create, or acquire a product or service.
Find someone to sell it to.

What's wrong with the above picture? Simple - it only focuses on product creation and sales, while completely ignoring marketing. Shawn strongly advises budding entrepreneurs to investigate and research their target market, and create a marketing plan BEFORE considering what products they will create. Hence,

B. The Formula for Success:

Find a hot, HUNGRY target market first.
Find out what they already want and are already buying.
Sell them more of the SAME.

It's a tried and true formula that established marketers use to stay on top.

What Defines a Hot Target Market?

Shawn Casey proceeded to list the characteristics of an ideal target market:

Passionate, irrational, easy to reach and find, hungry
Interested, motivated, insatiable desire to buy "stuff"
Have discretionary income, are pre-disposed to purchase, and are proven buyers.
Addicted, desperate, even obsessed with consumerism.

Marketers, with rare exceptions, should not be in the business of introducing people to new concepts and emerging trends. Casey tells us not to bother "educating" people. Instead, reinforcing existing values will improve your ability to connect with and gain lifelong customers. Shawn says that becoming a full-fledged market educator is the surest road to business failure and bankruptcy.

How to Find a Hot Target Market.

Finding the right target market takes work, so a little head start can go a long way. Shawn suggests that many market segments of interest have exploitable business or vocational attributes. Therefore, consider the following areas of endeavor:

Hobbies (e.g. Coin collecting, gardening, camping, fishing, hunting, etc.)
Self-improvement (Spirituality, health and wellness, lifestyle trends...)
Sports and games (e.g. Golf, tennis, poker, etc.)

New marketers should frequently visit newspaper and magazine stands to check out what people are reading, and zero in on what appears to be most profitable. The best strategy according to Casey is to find a market where "fools" are making money in spite of themselves. It will allow you to "sell in a vacuum" without any real competition.

Market Research 101 - Find the Easy Path!

Business and management schools teach students sophisticated methods of conducting research, many of which are further refined and tested in the corporate world. However, Internet Marketers be aware! People often lie, so surveys are to be used at your peril. Instead, Casey suggests that we immerse ourselves in the market we want to build our business in. Specifically:

Shop what they shop.
Buy what they buy.
Read their books and magazines.
Online: Participate in forums, visit online chat rooms; join competitors mailing lists.
Offline: Attend industry trade shows, seminars, live events etc. Network, network, network!

The Case for Information Products.

Among the strongest arguments in favor of creating your information product business, as practiced by Casey and others include:

No physical inventory.
Very high profit margins (85-100% for e-books, teleseminars, home study courses, workshops, etc.)
Ability to command higher prices and fees as your reputation grows; earning potential unrelated to physical distribution systems for goods.
Allows you to tightly control, target prospects and customers. Getting the first sale will always be the toughest, but by nurturing "win-win" relationships, you will build an army of repeat buyers.
Low refund rate for digital products. Software is more glamorous, but involves many administrative and technical headaches.

Outsourcing and Joint Venture (JV) Opportunities.

Outsourcing, when done properly, can significantly reduce your personal workload and allow you to focus on the strategic planning and management of your business. Almost anything can be outsourced, including the creation of your e-books.

Finding joint venture (JV) partners or alliances may be considered "high-level" outsourcing, since you are leveraging the expertise of an experienced marketer to avoiding learning - and doing - everything on your own.

Resale Rights and Back-End Marketing.

Owning resale rights to existing works is another alternative to original info-product creation. Done properly, it can supercharge an online marketer's earnings. Imagine - own all the rights, keep all the sales. However, it can get very confusing for even the most experienced marketer let alone "newbies". Private Label Rights (PLR), resale rights, master resale rights, branding rights. Seek competent legal advice if you want to obtain such rights, because laws are different all over the world and you definitely want to avoid being sued for copyright infringements.

Your first (front-end) product is usually a "loss leader". It generates low profits, but that's OK, since its main purpose is to get your marketing "foot in the door". Front-end product marketing is the short-term sacrifice you make in order to acquire customers. The heart of your Internet marketing success will lie in your back-end offers; i.e., everything you get to sell after acquiring a customer, provided it is related to your target market's wants. Hitting the customer "sweet spot" with regularity is how beginners evolve into experts.

On Your Marks, Get Set, Go!

Shawn Casey's start-up suggestion? Create a content-rich, "How to" e-book for a hot target market, because there will always be a demand for topical, relevant information that provides a plan of action.

Business success is measured by the Lifetime Customer Value (LVC) of each person who spends time on your subscriber list and sales funnel. LVC is measured by factors like:

Transactional frequency, i.e. the number of repeat purchases.
Direct referrals from each customer.
Bundles sold.
Sequential purchases made.

Shawn Casey's Internet Marketing Cheat Sheet.

To summarize, Shawn put together a "cheat sheet" that beginners and others can (and should) commit to memory:

Select a hot target market.
Find out what the people in that market are already buying.
Make a (info) product that is consistent with the market's existing values and habits.
Set up a complete sales processing system that runs on autopilot.
Start promoting your website.

Even affiliate marketing, popular with beginners, must be handled with care. Do not spend large amounts of money on advertising, always begin testing with small numbers, and:

A. Grow your subscriber list.
B. Find reputable affiliate programs that offer quality products, great support, and strong
compensation (i.e. 50% or more).
C. Send offers to your list. Incorporate a back end, if possible.
D. Repeat steps A through C.

The Power of Joint Ventures.

New entrepreneurs are often intimidated when approaching established Internet Marketers. After all, they supposedly have nothing to offer, whereas the "pro" is both product owner and gatekeeper, i.e., controls access to the list database. Yet, many successful JVs begin when the newbie asks a simple, unassuming question:

"Is there a product you have that I can promote to my list?"

In approaching potential partners, successfully demonstrate how you can add value to an existing project. The sharp players will note your passion and keep you in mind for future campaigns.

Bottom line: Don't sell yourself short. More than half of online sales are generated by affiliates, so it is in everyone's interest to keep an ear to the ground.

A Beginner's Greatest Challenge.

Echoing conventional wisdom, Shawn agrees that a new Internet Marketer's biggest problem is getting started, and developing forward business momentum that becomes unstoppable with time. The best solution he offers is to create deadlines for yourself, concrete targets that force you to do something every day to move your business forward.

Nothing motivates like a deadline...

Conclusion.

Information product creation is great in theory, but to earn a substantial income from it, beginners must develop their marketing skills. Perhaps in conjunction with affiliate marketing, expert training, and live events. The hard truth is that without paying customers, entrepreneurs are condemned to keep their day jobs and treat Internet Marketing as a hobby - not a business. Shawn Casey and other "big dogs" advise from a position of strength, because they have largely "been there, done that". It remains to be seen who else follows in their path, and acts on their own wake-up call.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

List Building Superstars - June 21, 2007 Teleseminar.

2007-07-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Ross Goldberg -
Web 2.0 List-building Secrets Revealed.

June was a big month at Gajapati Subudhi's List Building Superstars (LBS). Numerous success stories were told, and savvy note takers feasted on a potpourri of expertise.

On this call, Ross Goldberg, a relative newcomer to Internet Marketing (2 years), shared his personal insights and experiences. Goldberg is quickly establishing himself as a Web 2.0 expert with impressive, start-of the-art techniques and income-oriented learning. For six consecutive months, Goldberg has created two products monthly to claim $400k in his first year online.

Significant health issues have not derailed Ross Goldberg's Internet dreams. Endless 14-18 hour days spent researching the Internet have made him a pioneer in social bookmarking techniques. Goldberg's Web 2.0 strategy builds on personal experience acquired with several Internet marketing staples:

- eBay selling techniques
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Traffic generation

Making Money Early and Often.

To earn money quickly, Ross Goldberg stresses three factors:

1. Personal accountability. Don't make excuses for yourself! Everyone fails, but how you deal with failure is what determines your business success.

2. A magnetic personality.

3. Genuine curiosity about how things work that develops into expertise over time.

What is Web 2.0 Anyway?

Web 2.0 was a term first used and popularized in 2003-04 by O'Reilly Media, and refers to an emerging generation of web-based communities and hosted services (web logs, social bookmarking sites, online audio & video repositories, social network marketing sites, etc.) that encourage greater collaboration and sharing amongst users. Unlike Web 1.0, which is characterized by command-driven content, Web 2.0 ushers in the era of user-created content.

How Web 2.0 Affects List-Building.

Web 2.0's implications for list-building are deemed positive by Ross Goldberg. The purpose of your online sales funnel may remain the same (i.e. grab customers' attention, entice them to join and stay on list, make purchases) but newer techniques will improve its flow and management.

Whereas Web 1.0 list building essentially came down to squeeze pages and e-mail relationship marketing, Web 2.0 offers a variety of tools that broaden a list builder's reach. Google, MySpace, YouTube, and Squidoo are at the forefront of an Internet business revolution that encourages immediate user interactivity. Increasingly accessible audiovisual technology allows marketers to connect at a deeper level with prospects. For example, there is a way to put your links on other people's videos! All of which makes it easier to ask the almighty question:

"What do you want to buy from me?"

Work Habits to Live by.

With traffic generation and SEO expertise becoming increasingly commonplace, Ross has dedicated himself to becoming the Web 2.0 expert that newcomers and marketing "gurus" alike can turn to. To that end, he has adjusted his work habits to account for Fibromyalgia and a chronically poor memory. For example, Goldberg takes notes directly on his PC. He plays games on his XBox when caught in a marketing "fog", and chooses to advance multiple projects simultaneously. For the rest of us, though, he strongly recommends focusing on one project at a time until it is finished - or dead.

Ross' Three Web 2.0 List-Building Strategies.

Ross Goldberg shared his preferred online tactics and vision to achieve profitable ends.

1. Internet Video: The best way to get targeted customers into your sales funnel without resorting to bonuses or freebies. The video presentation should speak for itself and attract subscribers who will value your e-mail correspondence. A responsive list that will be receptive to surveys and other forms of interaction.

2. Social Networking: The best alternative to face-to-face communication. Get involved in select forums, niche discussion groups. Long-term strategy that positions you as an expert. Use tagging and bookmarking techniques to become more viral.

3. Blogging: Deal with and write about real issues. Boring, diary-like musings are a waste of time and bandwidth! Quality content shows that you are a real person and serious about your niche.

Final (but Essential) Words of Advice.

- Treat your Web 2.0 activity like a business.
- Be selective about partnerships and alliances, because there are a lot of fake "experts" online. Carry out research and due diligence into prospective business partners, and protect yourself with copyrights and written contracts.
- Schedule each day according to your priorities and capabilities.
- Your favorite traffic generation method plus Web 2.0 branding will build your list. "Ethically" replicate the list-building habits and tactics of successful competitors, then provide top-quality, unique content for subscribers.
- Use people around you to push yourself towards your goal, your success.

Conclusion.

Ross Goldberg is a prime example of playing to your strengths and knowing how to compensate for actual weaknesses. He is at the forefront of profitable Web 2.0 marketing, because he had the vision and drive to pursue it. Whether or not Web 2.0 "humanizes" the Internet paradigm is the Information Age debate of the decade. For now, all interested parties can at least agree that profound change is upon us.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

Internet Master Series - November 2, 2006 Teleseminar.

2007-07-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Paul Colligan's Podcasting and the Business of New Media Marketing.

It's been a few months since we last heard an Internet Master Series call, and I suspect both Lynn Carnes and Natalie Judd have moved onto new projects. If that is the case, let's admit that during its lifespan, this teleseminar series was truly a cut above the rest. It gave listeners a chance to discover different facets of Internet Marketing from real masters. If list-building was not your personal focus, then copywriting, Internet video or public relations were sure to catch your fancy.

Last November, Lynn interviewed Paul Colligan about podcasting to learn how it is radically altering the digital landscape. First appearing on the marketing scene in 1994 without the "hot" technology gadgets of the day, Colligan is now a primary "Go to" guy in this field. Apart from his own suite of financially successful websites, he has worked with several corporate clients - Microsoft, MCI and Pearson Education to name a few.

Definition of Podcasting.

Colligan defines podcasting as the automation of time-shifted, portable media. Sounds simple, but many ideas and concepts are encompassed within this phrase:

1. Time-shifted: When you want it.
2. Portable: Where you want it (e.g. airplane, gym, etc.).
3. Media: How you want it (e.g. MP3, iPod).

Why is Podcasting Important?

Proponents claim that as a cutting-edge, customer-driven media, podcasting has no peer. Folks like Colligan see it as the future of relationship marketing. Business people must learn and understand its significance now if they hope to monetize it significantly. Just as digital video recording (e.g. TiVo) is altering television viewing habits, podcasting has the potential to significantly alter personal and corporate Internet use.

For Paul, podcasting is the most accommodating media for a customer's busy schedule. People can tune in on their own terms (i.e. time, place, delivery system). Present and future trends may even permit a commercial-free option. All in all, podcasts are positioned to become the logical alternative or successor to talk ("drive-hour") radio. Imagine storing your personal library on an iPod and being able to access any type of content on a whim without memory limitations or dependence on a third party.

Podcasting, for Passion or Profit?

Colligan and other early adopters of podcasting technology often embrace new ideas in an all-consuming and emotionally-driven manner. Not everyone vies to become a corporate machine that "spits" out dollars and looks for big returns.

However, reality dictates that big players like Apple, Harvard University, Forbes Magazine, and the Wharton School of Business are going to put commercial interests front and center. These enterprises have the resources and capital to dictate podcasting's direction, all the while enhancing their own brand.

Colligan offers a solution - why not podcast for both passion and profit? Doing it for both reasons simultaneously and doing it right will give small business owners great leverage within their niche. They will have the ability to satisfy current customers and break into new markets faster.

How do I get Started? The C2M2 Method, of course.

Paul Colligan advises budding podcasters to produce a realistic plan of action that can be executed immediately. As a quick guide, he offers the C2M2 outline:

- Content source: Where is the content going to come from?

- Creation engine: A system (technology + medium) that gets your content out fast. Important to avoid "pod fade" or a weak engine.

- Marketing Method: Getting your message out to a targeted audience using effective traffic generation, list-building, and ad copy techniques.

- Monetization Machine: Achieving a level of trust, likability, and popularity that allows you to earn income through your podcasting efforts.

Colligan's central advice: Minimize the number of steps between initial contact with prospects and human consumption of your products.

Is Podcasting Really Viable as a Marketing "Vehicle"?

Marketers are looking to achieve "audience intimacy" with the average user, but at what cost? Paul Colligan says that twenty minutes of meaningful podcast content are enough to hook a prospect for life. Eighty percent of 2007 model year automobiles are iPod-enabled, so people on the move will be looking for content - your content! With the creation engine in place,
concentrate on a process that will outperform the radio "shock jock" and deliver results.

Paul asks us to keep up with the changes that Apple, Microsoft and other players spring on us from time to time. Technological compatibility is crucial in podcasting, so if you feel overwhelmed, hire a third party service to make upgrades as they become necessary.

Preparing a Podcast.

In the end, you have to have the production tools to execute podcasting campaigns. Among the tools you need:

1. For medium-sized businesses, setup a 1-800 number to handle product orders.
2. A large diaphragm microphone.
3. Voice editing software to ensure clear edits of your final product.
4. Leveling and compression software.
5. Tagging (i.e. bookmarking) yourself to look good on the iPod.

Surprising Content Sources.

There is no excuse for lack of content. Paul Colligan names but a few ways to obtain material for podcasts:

A. Content Repurposing (i.e. Specific reformatting of existing information to accomodate podcasting technology)
B. Recording interviews, conversations with experts.
C. Insider reports on how podcasts, teleseminars are put together.
D. Feedback on critical marketing issues in the news.
E. Industry reporting.
F. Use "Other people's" media.

Last Minute Hints to Better Podcasts.

1. Pre-content Monetization.

Become an expert in a well-defined niche, and get comfortable with podcasting technology. Consumers will buy from you if your content is good. Use subtle means to sell within your podcast; paid and unpaid advertisements can be part of the training process. In short, never pass up an opportunity to strengthen ties with your audience.

2. Search for a Podcasting Mastermind Group.

Paul recommends a mastermind to assist with the content, creation, marketing, and monetization phases of podcasting. A strong group of like-minded folks can assist you with the details of audio and video podcasting. More importantly, it will provide a support network for the inevitable times of self-doubt.

3. Get into iTunes!

Apple controls 60% of the overall portable music player market, so marketers are well advised to get their content into iTunes as soon as possible. It can as simple as asking the people at iTunes to include your material. The payoff can be enormous: a guaranteed audience and instant credibility with new and existing subscribers:

"Where are you? "
"Got iTunes? "
"Yeah. "
"Type in my name. "

"Wow! How did you get in? "

Don't forget to tell your list(s) that you are available on iTunes. In time, you will notice that the relationship dynamics will change in your favor. To build momentum, use press releases and personal content tagging to reinforce your podcasting breakthrough.

Conclusion.

Paul Colligan is an Internet Marketing heavy hitter, and he is arguably the number one podcasting expert online. Face it, anyone who publicly states that "Corporate life stinks!" must be quite secure and self-assured.

Podcasting technology is bringing about change. As an alternative to in-flight magazines for business travelers, as a new delivery system for teleseminars (produce, record, distribute online). For better or worse, it's all part of a cultural shift (in North America, anyway) in information consumption habits - away from reading, towards listening and viewing.

Podcast or perish?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

List Building Superstars - June 27th Teleseminar.

2007-07-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Simon Leung - Google Adwords List-Building.

Summer began with a bang at the List Building Superstars (LBS) teleseminar course. Gaj Subudhi and Kit Furey welcomed Simon Leung to listeners eager to demystify Google Adwords and decide once and for all whether it is a legitimate list-building tool.

On the surface, Leung is a logical person to learn Adwords from. After all, as a highly sought-after speaker and information product creator, Simon has earned over half a million dollars in the past twelve months. Even more interesting is the fact that he was a founding member of Google's Adwords division, and spent 4.5 years as a leading support specialist and optimization strategist before resigning in August 2006.

So, Why did You Leave Google, Simon?

While attending an Internet Marketing live event in Spring 2006, Simon was exposed to business and personal growth possibilities that proved too tempting to pass up. Sure, he was well-established at Google, but after years of pushing the Adwords envelope on behalf of his internal and external clientèle, Leung felt the time was right to pursue new challenges. The corporate learning curve may have flat-lined, but as a full fledged "Google-preneur", Simon could continue exploring and still be in position to help others.

The Importance of List-Building.

We all know - or should know - that sales and marketing is NOT a numbers game. Nor is it a recruitment game. It's all about building lasting relationships with your audience that encourage loyalty to the most important brand in the world - YOU!

How can newcomers start building their Adwords-based list? Simon says we should start by offering a free report - on Adwords optimization, for example - as part of our squeeze page pitch. Try both a forced and voluntary opt-in to see what works best.

Newbies have to overcome the fear of building and maintaining a massively responsive list, which is our goal after all, right? You must work to be successful; Leung echoes other experts' experiences by stating that dedicated list-building gets easier with practice.

Simon's Three Strategies for Optimized Adwords List-Building.

1. Get Started Right Away!

People worldwide conduct a monthly average of 200 million Google searches, so as a list "prospector", it pays to get a piece of the action now. With 65% of the search engine market, Google is fast becoming a generic term like Kleenex, Band-Aid, and Scotch tape. The sooner you dedicate yourself to becoming a Google Adwords expert, the closer you are to monetizing the biggest revenue generator of the number one technology company in the world.

2. Understand How the System Works.

Learn how to find and exploit relevant keywords and key phrases affordably in your particular niche. Each Adwords ad is at most 95 characters, so think carefully about a strong call to action that is relevant to your offer.

3. Constantly Monitor your Landing Pages' Performance.

Tweak specific parts (i.e. subheading, heading, font, colors, etc.) to increase your opt-in and conversion rates. Beyond all the hype and aura that surrounds Internet Marketing, a good landing page comes down to:

A) Superior web design and layout.
B) A captivating headline.
C) Persuasive copy.

Google "Slaps" Back!

Last year, Google decided to take action against online marketers who were abusing Adwords with deceptive advertising and low quality landing pages (e.g. FREE that is not really free). "Ad-soaked" webpages were dominating some niches, to the dismay of consumers and ultimately Google executives. Not only did these pages fail to offer solutions for consumers; some folks were making money hand over fist with them.

In response to user complaints and influential shareholders, Google researchers changed the algorithms in their ranking system. As a result, some Internet Marketers saw their costs skyrocket, in some cases from mere cents to several dollars a click! Now, Page 1 search rankings from the past would be jeopardized if the "Google-bots" disapproved of your website!

The Best Way to Avoid the Slap.

Simon Leung agrees that changes to Adwords are needed to ensure a popular, viable, high-quality user experience for all. He assures us that "Black Hat" strategies promoted by some well-known marketers are strictly short-term fixes that must eventually be abandoned. To ensure long-term success, Leung advises us to stick to "White Hat" tactics:

- High-quality and relevant keywords.Do not employ "bait and switch" techniques with sensational words like sex to get attention.

- Sharp ads aimed at human readers, not robots. Keywords are important, but your message must make sense!

- Real websites that overdeliver on content, and go beyond simple opt-in pages. Take the time to map out 'About me', FAQ, legal notices, and other pages that can improve your visitor's experience.

Common Adwords List-Building Errors.

Simon confirmed to listeners how list-building intentions can go astray. A lack of testing means that you will not know what needs fixing. Your ad? Individual website components? Your message? Poor communication with list subscribers may mean that your messages are not customized enough for them to care. It may also indicate that your efforts lack depth - don't assume everyone on your list is a beginner!

One solution mentioned by Leung was list segmentation based on user interests. Create specific Adwords campaigns that target beginners, experts, seniors, etc. Then, send out relevant e-mails on a consistent basis and encourage feedback.

Why not just SEO?

Granted, quality list-building takes many forms. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is often touted as a way to generate traffic for free, but Simon claims that it can end up being more expensive that Google Adwords. Just factor in the cost of SEO courses, consulting fees, and the time required to become a real SEO expert.

Acknowledging his clear bias, Leung calls Google Adwords the most afforable way of getting targeted traffic to your website. Combined with a functional (non-SEO) website, beginners and veterans alike can make it happen.

Concluding Thoughts.

Is Simon taking advantage of "insider" knowledge to feather his nest? Undoubtedly, the techniques and strategies he shares with us are influenced by his Google work experience. Leung's legacy in the Adwords program cannot be denied - he wrote the training manuals, after all!

Yet, both parties are beholden to a Non-Disclosure Agreement, so Simon cannot expose proprietary material - even if he wanted to. In the long run, Simon Leung will have to demonstrate that he has the goods. Like other Google experts, the proof will lie in his business conduct, the knowledge he shares with others, and the information products he releases for sale.

Google Adwords specialists are popping up over the place, so apply your due diligence accordingly.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rahul Majumdar is a full-time information marketer specializing in teleseminar reporting, article marketing, and information product creation.

Gaj Subudhi's List Building Superstars may be accessed here.