Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably noticed all the buzz around Tiger Wood’s many alleged indiscretions.
What has surprised me (but shouldn’t have) is how many people have been following this “train wreck is slow motion” story.

The more reporters dig, the more dirt they find… and apparently there seems to be an abundant supply of it.
I too have been following this story out of a morbid curiosity to watch a great American brand get destroyed.

In the early 1990’s, I was the photography editor for my college paper - The Stanford Daily. During that time, there was a
student on campus who was supposed to be a pretty good golfer. His name was Tiger Woods.

This was a few years before he became famous. I had a few chances to photograph him, but thought photographing golf would
be too boring — so I handed out the assignment to other members of my staff.

I forget the exact timing of what happens next, but a year or two later I realized I probably should have taken that assignment myself.

In Tiger’s Junior or Senior year he decided to go “pro” and was eligible to take endorsement money. And in his first endorsement deal he got something like a $120 million deal from Nike or something crazy like that.

And with that a great American “squeaky clean” brand was born. And more recently that brand has been getting demolished.

I think Tiger’s PR team is taking the wrong strategy. They have been trying to lay low hoping the whole thing will blow over…Ahem… I don’t think it’s working.

Now in our society infidelity is sadly nothing new. But what is new and shocking is infidelity tied to the guy with the cleanest image in sports.

People are not gawking a any old indiscretions, they’re gawking at Tiger’s indiscretions. His fans are frankly quite disappointed in him… and I’m sure his family is that much more disappointed. Personal time and space aside, I think laying low is the wrong approach. His fans trusted him and he has violated that trust.

Just like when a major company’s product has a major problem (Think: Tylenol in the ’80s), the right thing to do is be super
pro-active about it, communicate about it frequent and often… until people are so bored by the updates they stop paying attention.

The hiding from the public has only caused enormous speculation and buzz. By staying so quiet, it looks like he’s hiding something… and I guess he actually IS hiding something.

So here’s my message to Tiger and to anyone else who screws up and disappoints customers. Come clean, get control of your own message, and set the record straight - no matter how ugly the record.
To Your Profits,
-Victor

Victor Cheng
America’s Business Coach (TM)

*****
To subscribe to his free email newsletter, visit:
http://www.askvictor.com
For a free copy of his book “The Recession-Proof Business” visit:
http://www.bailoutusa.com

Victor Cheng is America’s Business Coach. As a former McKinsey
consultant and author, he has been featured by Fox, MSNBC, Inc
magazine, Fortune Small Business, and The Wall Street Journal.
He also publishes an email newsletter on revenue growth for
small business owners.
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Entrepreneurs, the predictions for the year 2009 in terms of business are not at all too rosy. We are headed for some more tough times economically. And this is not just for the USA and Canada. Countries all across the world are struggling to re-balance their economies

This year many entrepreneurs will be going out of business. Some predictions are as high as, over 50% of entrepreneurs will not make it; that is they will not see a profit and stand to be driven out of business. So given these forecasts, marketers really need to stay focused and stay the course. In addition, marketers must quickly recognize that the game of marketing is changing. The core of business never really changes, but the medium in which we do business is ever evolving. The culture of global business is growing and merging rapidly

Online marketers are reeling from rapid technological evolution and those who are not that savvy are getting left behind. Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs are joining the band wagon of marketers’ online everyday but it is not all fun. Even though the business world can be at your fingertips with the advent of the internet, many are still bewildered by the fast paced environment, the endless techniques of doing business and too many get drawn in by promises of quick riches only to lose capital

2009 will demand a more savvy entrepreneur with a marketing skill set and sharp decision making. Below are some points that will allow you to stay above water and churn a profit for every quarter this year

1. Do make sure you do your due diligence when choosing your business. A huge number of marketers get dazzled by the next best or the next new opportunity and 3 months later the whole thing collapses. A lot of time and energy spent is lost. Do this too many times and you can lose your credibility in business. So again, do your homework and research on companies so you can figure out what’s ‘fly by night’ from the companies that are going to be around for a longer period
2. Do become a student of business. No one is born a great marketer! Marketing and entrepreneurship are skills and they have to be learned. Like any other discipline it takes some time and experience to get good at it. So roll up your sleeves and be ready to learn. You should be able to draw up a simple business/marketing plan. You should be able to decide on which marketing strategies you will implement. You should be able to decide on marketing tactics to achieve your projections. You should be able to tweak and fine tune to improve revenue and profits. These are the basics of business
3. The market place is changing and the methods of doing business are expanding rapidly. Technology is enhancing and improving our market experience. So as a savvy entrepreneur, now’s the time to really take a closer look at some of these new methods of doing business and attracting business to you. Who would have thought a funny name like ‘Twitter’ would be making such a major impact in communication in the market place? So as an entrepreneur, you must be paying attention. Now is not the time to slack off. Now is the time to keep your eyes and ears open and embrace changes, because in our world the one thing you can count on is change. It takes place whether you like it or not. Now’s the time to catch up, not get left behind
4. Do implement methods to start branding yourself. There are many, many marketers online and offline. So, to be able to differentiate you from everyone else, you would need to start branding and distinguishing yourself in a positive way from the sea of entrepreneurs. Now this is not as hard as it sounds! Remember, there is only one of you. So no one else is quite like you! Be ready to use marketing strategies with Web 2.0 to get noticed and recognized. People do more business with those they recognize and come to trust
5. You must make money. Without turning a profit, you will quickly be out of business. So it is critical that you have a short term game plan to make money and a longer term plan to earn. If you do not survive the short term, and run your cash pool dry, you may not make it to the finish line. So when setting up your marketing plan, do incorporate methods of short run cash coming in to keep your business moving forward, while you build for the long run

So altogether, this year will be survival of the fittest entrepreneurs in business. However, if you implement the information above and all the tips coming soon, you will be in good shape to win in business. And don’t hesitate to ask questions coach@NadiraHaniff.com
You can do this. Together we are UNSTOPPABLE…

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As countries across the world struggle to re-balance their economies, entrepreneurs are reeling having to make tough and tougher decisions to stay alive in business. Many are being forced out of business and yet many more entrepreneurs are tethering on doing a balancing act to stay in the game. But some savvy business owners are churning hefty profits even in these tough times.

The marketing arena has evolved and changed both online and offline. Though the core aspects of business do not change much; product, categories and industries which once generated the streams of income have changed. Many business owners do not respond well to change especially rapid change, so it is no mystery why many are getting left behind in a constantly evolving business arena and a prolonged economic downturn.

Online entrepreneurs are racing to get in the game, whether it is to bring in a supplemental second income or to replace a lost income stream. But marketing online is no picnic in these times either. The game here is fast pace, swiftly changing and many times has a steep learning curve. Marketers find that curve very, very slippery and their profits take a beating! Online marketers are reeling from rapid technological evolution and those who are not too savvy are getting left behind or simply stagnated.

There’s money to be made…

There’s money to be made in an economic downturn as new doors of opportunity open, no doubt about it, however, 2009 will demand a more savvy entrepreneur with solid marketing skills and sharp decision making ability. Business owners who churn a profit in the final quarter this year will be those who are quick on the draw. It is survival of the fittest in this economic climate.

Below are a few quick notes to help you find the streams where money is flowing instead of standing still and waiting for the stream to diverge and come towards you or running helter-skelter in chase of fly by night operations:

1) Demand: Demand changes and shifts significantly in a downturn. Consumers reallocate their spending into different products and sometimes industry. You can’t really force people on what to buy; you can only entice people to buy from you. But first, you need to know what they are demanding. So the gist of the story here is to do your due diligence and work on establishing what it is that consumers are demanding today in 2009.

2) Core Skills: Do become a student of business, especially for new entrepreneurs. No one is born a great marketer! Marketing and entrepreneurship are skills, which have to be learned. Like any other discipline it takes some time and experience to get good at it. So roll up your sleeves and be ready to learn. You should be able to draw up a simple business/marketing plan. You should be able to decide on which marketing strategies you will implement. You should be able to decide on marketing tactics to achieve your projections. You should be able to tweak and fine tune to improve revenue and profits. These are the basics of business and they will not change. This is the core.

3) Shifting Streams: So while we’ll see a drop in spending in some product and service categories, there are parallel categories where spending is up. Victor Cheng in his book ‘The Recession Proof Business’ sited the example; that while we may see a steep drop of new car sales, we will see a significant rise in spending in car repairs and services, which prolong the life of an existing vehicle. It makes perfect economic sense. People are reallocating where they spend their dollars. You will be able to identify these new income streams if you stay alert. Hence, you the entrepreneur need to be operating with a hawk’s eye view of what’s taking place around you in the economy. And don’t wait for others to tell you what to do. You do your own homework and research.

4) Speed Of Adapting: Many entrepreneurs are doing what they know best, and that is waiting, standing and hoping to ride out the tornado of a damp economy or a recession as it is called. While this may work with mild downturns, this strategy can be detrimental in a longer draw out economic squeeze. Running at a loss for many months can dry up the well and entrepreneurs will simply run out of resources to stay alive in business without enough revenue coming in. So not only are you, the entrepreneur looking for the new emerging income streams but you have to flex your entrepreneurial muscles into action quickly and adapt to change swiftly. Time is of the essence!

5) Diversification: Entrepreneurs who are adapting quickly also must recognize that diversification can be an outstanding strategy to keep cash flow positive and timely. When times are good and consumers have a reasonable amount of disposable income, entrepreneurs focusing on one niche market can churn enough profits to live lavishly well. In unpredictable times when consumers are re-directing their dollars, entrepreneurs who are ready to diversify and grab a bigger market share with new niches, will reap bigger profits.

So overall, we know for a fact, that despite an economic downturn money is still being earned and money is still being spent within the economy. Entrepreneurs should ask themselves the following questions:
1) What goods and services is the money being spent on?
2) How quickly can I get consumers to buy those from me?

And for those who are able to answer and act in a timely manner, this could make the difference between, pulling in solid profits from several streams or folding up shop and going home in this economic downturn.

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The greatest misconception I come across is; most people believe or feel that it is easy to make money online. I would like to correct that to read, ‘it is simple but not easy to make money on the Internet’.

The fact still remains that the greater majority of online marketers fail miserably. And after many unprofitable business ventures, become fed up and leave or worst yet continue to lose more money in more losing enterprises. Now there could be many reasons why entrepreneurs fail online in business. But here, I’ll just highlight a few that may help you recognize the hurdle and work on not becoming victim of it.

Top 7 Reasons Why Many Entrepreneurs Fail Online:

1) Experience: Many people coming to market online are jumping in with great expectations having ‘heard’ of the Internet gold rush. Entrepreneurs have this notion that is would be a ‘piece of cake’ to earn on the Internet because it is swarming with people all in one place. The main drawback here is most of these potential entrepreneurs have little or no business experience. Selling is an art. Getting people to buy from you requires technique. Most are lacking in this expertise so the learning curve can be steep.

2) Mindset: ‘I want to make money’ may be a good mantra to say everyday, but it does call for a lot more than chanting a mantra to make money online. A good portion of enterprising entrepreneurs jumping onboard the Internet wagon is not quite sure what to expect. Establishing and keeping the right daily mindset to win in business does take some planning, preparation and shedding of some emotional baggage, which many carry around.

3) Due Diligence: A common error in online business is folks do not do their due diligence when it comes to choosing a business. If you have an existing offline business, which you are working on getting online, to expand your market reach, then you would have done some groundwork already on your business niche. However, many aspiring entrepreneurs neglect to do the necessary due diligence and struggle to churn a profit after making bad decisions.

4) Understanding Your Niche: Niche marketing has been the talk on the Internet for quite sometime, but that’s what it’s been, talk. Many marketers still struggle with this concept of niche marketing. Marketing to a small targeted group of people, which is the core concept of niche marketing, can appear ridiculous to most marketers who came online to market because there’s the ‘whole internet’ to market to! What a ‘crock’ it seems to just market to a small group! And then there’s the struggle to choose a profitable niche, which can be quite eluding.

5) The Internet Machine: The notion of marketing on the Internet and making money just hitting keys on your keyboard, and earning overnight even while you sleep can be really ‘sexy’ and luring for many who want to make a profit online. The key here is that the Internet is a huge monster of a machine and the majority of entrepreneurs do not understand the mechanism. As such, marketing for profits is more of a hit and miss event than calculated, marketing tactics to generate profits for many Internet entrepreneurs.

6) Advertising: No other media provides more misleading advertising than the Internet. Every day thousands fall prey to well written ads which promise ‘big profits with little effort’ only to realize that building a business online seems to be more work than anticipated. By now you would think most have given up on the ‘get rich quick’ schemes. Not so! People are still looking to make big money and do little or no work. And there are plenty of marketers supplying this gimmick. If that’s what you are looking for, you’d better have some money to burn, before you will ever find the right business niche, business model or business tools to give you the winning edge online.

7) Noise: The Internet is a big buzz of noise. Many, many things happening at the same time. And it can be a very confusing, frustrating place to be once the novelty dies down and you get to thinking. Hordes of people are talking at the same time. Everyone seems to be making money except you; or at least that’s what they say. There are more business opportunities than you can count so how do you choose. Many claim they have the ‘system’ to make you money fast if you can part with some of your hard earned dollars to get started. And the list goes on… Many get lost in the noise for years without making profits in business.

The above are only a few highlights as time and space permits here. Making money, running a profitable business online and building wealth are all very possible on the Internet. That I know for sure.

The real struggle for most aspiring entrepreneurs is to get through the online clutter and recognize that churning a profit online does require a few critical ingredients:

• Choosing a profitable niche
• Matching with products that are in demand
• Understand and master marketing on the Internet
• Systematically apply cutting edge marketing tactics to continuously churn a profit

In addition be flexible enough to adapt to a changing and evolving market place called the World Wide Web!

PS: This article is in response to a huge demand for our “Weekly Pay As You Go Live 180DTG Consulting Package” because it is affordable, flexible & effective. I really apologize but we can only take a limited number of entrepreneurs in this program. We’ve made room for a few more people. Send an email to coach@NadiraHaniff.com with your request, subject line on email should be: Weekly Pay As You Go Consulting Package. Or CLICK HERE look for the ‘Weekly Package’ and see if the system lets you through.

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Does it work? This is the question on the minds of entrepreneurs. Today entrepreneurs are on the hunt for business models that are profitable as we adapt to a evolving market place and consumers who have changing demands. Many entrepreneurs struggle because the model of their business is not malleable or flexible enough to adapt to the market place needs and they lose valuable, much needed profits which they could have pocketed.

I know first hand from interactions with many of my students and business clients, that when it comes to selecting a business and a business model, the battle rages on with indecision. Especially that we are in the midst of a very vibrant, and diverse market place on the internet. With the barrage of information hitting you left and right it gets very confusing on what would be a profitable business niche, let alone a business model to match the marketing in that niche.

Should you work this model?

Today, I was posed the question regarding using ‘Review Sites’ as a whole business model or even as a part of a business model. Purely from an academic, business stand point, my answer would be yes, they work well. But let’s dig a little deeper for those who are serious and are interested in this model to make some sense of it.

Now, many of us have visited ‘review sites’ when looking for information on a product or service. Personally speaking, unless the site is ‘pure crap’, I do take the time to read and look around to gain some insight into the information I am looking for. So yes, I would spend time on that ‘review site’.

What are consumers looking for?

I am not alone on this. Consumers who are looking for information, have a tendency to hunt around looking for reviews before making a purchase. If I were looking for a TV online, and using Google’s search, I may want to look at ‘reviews’ of TVs, to get some ideas before deciding on a purchase. So given that ‘reviews’ is part of a potential purchaser’s habit, so to speak, why not take advantage of this activity and include it in your business model?

If fact I have a few clients whose only business operation is running review sites, recommending products and they do churn a solid profit. So I know the method works. However when it comes to ‘review sites’ there are a few ground rules which would separate you from the masses and allow you a greater chance of earning.

11 Top Notch Ways to get the best ‘Review Site’ and generate profits daily:

1) Your review site must be done tastefully. That is, it should not come across as too ’salesy’ or pushy. The objective is to keep the potential customer on the page as long as possible - enough to prompt a sale

2) Your review site should reflect some honesty and objectivity, not too opinionated without evidence. So yes, you have to make is look and sound credible to be able to gain the trust of the potential customer. But avoid ‘bad mouthing’ of products and focus on the good points of the products you are promoting

3) Let your ‘review site’ be organized in a easy to use, chronological format and not too much jumping around with ideas. If you can put yourself in the place of a potential customer looking for advice and information, you should find this easy to do. By being clear and organized you are able to lead your website visitor to the sale

4) Without doubt you want your ‘review site’ to reflect the vibe of the product the potential customer is looking for. So yes, make it appealing to the eye and keep the visitor interested. Nothing too fancy, but ‘appealing’

5) Your ‘review site’ most definitely has to lead to a sale to be able to churn a profit. So select your products to match the theme and reviews presented on the website. Usually 2 or 3 products are good enough to get the sale. Don’t overload your visitor with choices. An overwhelmed visitor will leave perhaps with the intent of coming back but may never make it back - you lose the sale. So remember the objective: sell for profits!

6) Testimonials are a superb way to hold the interest of your potential customer, so look at creative ways to generate some honest testimonials for the products you are marketing. If you are using Clickbank and other affiliate products, the merchants are usually good with this

7) Videos are another ‘must’! They sell products! Also, a video keeps your potential customer engaged and interested. A plus here is, you also reduce your Google bounce rate by having a visitor leave too quickly. So keeping a visitor on your site raises your page ranking

‘Review sites’ should be easy to set up even for the technically challenged, because you may need a number of them to get the job done and to generate the profits you are looking for - depending on the niche or niches you are targeting. Below I recommend a product which is just hot off the press and a phenomenal find for this purpose.

9) Keywords still play an important role in your ‘review site’ content since you need to target your niche. If you are running pay per click (ppc) ads, your keyword choice becomes even more pertinent. So don’t overlook this aspect

10) Depending on how you choose to set up your business model and run your campaigns, you may need a few ‘review sites’ for one niche to be able to corner the market share and profits you are targeting. So one niche, does not necessarily translate to only one ‘review site’

11) If you are serious about this model then you are most likely looking to work this into several niches, with several ‘review sites’ to maximize your profits.

Take a look at this just released ‘Ready Made Review Sites 2.0′ to simplify your work and get you off to a fast start. Click Image

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A lot of information you get is conflicting and sometimes you’re not sure what works and what doesn’t.Given that sometimes what works for one business doesn’t necessarily work totally for another, you must test and analyze a few tactics for your particular business

There is no one strategy or technique which will work 100% all the time. If you look realistically at the 360 degree scope of your business, you should be using a FEW marketing strategies that would generate the leads and the pro.fits you are projecting for your business

The simple principle of doing one strategy at a time and assessing your results would apply. This way you have a clear picture of what strategy brings the results. In addition, by working with one strategy at a time you can get good at it, instead of struggling with learning many at the same time

A closer look at ppc
PPC or pay per click advertising is probably not unfamiliar to you. However, I have heard many a sad story when it comes to ppc and the return on investment made.

I should make it clear and without doubt, that ppc WORKS! There are simply a few tricks of the trade, which you need to work on and practice getting good at. So let’s dig in with a few tactics that you can use asap into your campaigns.

7 Tactics using ppc

1. GOOGLE: When we think of search engines, Google jumps to mind and stays in mind. Now this is good and bad. Reason? Google is great but it is not the only method of ppc that is profitable. You can run a very successful campaign on Google. Point to note is that a significant chunk of people using Google, are searching for information, not necessarily ready to buy. So unless you are using specific longtail keywords to target the buyers, your clicks may be just be that only - clicks, not $$

2. MSN: MSN has over 460 million visitors per month and is a well trusted site. Statistics show that MSN surfers tend to be buyers more than information seekers. But is this true in every case? No! MSN is definitely worth the effort to run a campaign and test the waters for a better rate of return on your money

3. YAHOO: Yahoo grabs over 20% of the search market share so we know that people are using the engine heavily. Should you use it in your ppc campaigns? Absolutely worth a run. Sticking to Google only, is not a smart move . If you are really looking to keep your cost down and not sacrificing the volume of clicks, then Yahoo & MSN are worth the while

4. ADBRITE: Another hidden gem that people under use. While marketers are clamoring for top spots in Google, some savvy entrepreneurs are using Adbrite.com to generate solid traffic to their business. Do I recommend? Yes. Give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised

5. LANDING PAGE CONTENT: With all the Google slaps blistering your hands, the time to take a long look at your landing pages is here. Google will continue to make changes - that is a given. Your business is to pay attention and stay tuned so you don’t lose $$. Your landing pages are to be Google friendly with relevant content. So review your keywords and content to match your ads. All should be in sync. Your ads should not be advertising something or a topic which is not on your landing page

6. LANDING PAGE & CONVERSIONS: A decent product landing page should be believable to the visitor & should look somewhat trusting. Testimonials definitely will raise the trust factor.Videos are hot so figure out one to work on your site. A video also keeps your visitor engaged on your site, so reducing your ‘bounce rate’. Make your page, or choose landing pages which are organized & prompt the visitor to opt in or take whatever action you want them to take

7. TWEAKING: In tweaking your ppc campaigns to get a higher click through rate and more conversions, don’t change too many variables at the same time. So don’t change bids, ads & keywords all at the same time. Then you won’t know which change brought you the better results and duplicating your success would be a lot more tedious. So tweak one at a time and monitor your results, then move to another.

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DRAWBACKS
On the business front there is much going on and many times because so much is going on, we can easily miss important trends and rich niches which have the potential to make a big difference for a lot of people today. So it is wise to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s taking place online in terms of business. For many entrepreneurs, existing skills coupled with some new learned skills in marketing online (importantly) can prove to be quite profitable
However, with so much information available to marketers on the internet, it can become quite a headache sorting through fact from fiction, and getting to the meat and potatoes. In addition you seriously need to be careful who you team up with when you are getting into business! Sometimes finding the right information and partners is like hunting down a needle in a haystack! So watch your step!
People continue to flock the internet in staggering numbers in search of a second income and in some cases a first income, as the economy delivers crushing blows. Now, the number of people succeeding online and making a decent income monthly is still low but the possibilities for the future are very good. Why?

HOPE
Because doing business online is incredibly multi faceted. There is a huge variety in terms of industry, products, delivery of products and countless ways to make a significant profit. In addition, there is a continuous growing movement of traditional brick and mortar, businesses getting online in an effort to expand their customer base and an exponential growth of people buying and doing business on the internet worldwide
In fact eMarketer recently reported that the affluent are flocking to the internet, making more online purchases. In addition, 34 million moms in the USA go online at least once a month. So the market is there and it is huge!

The big question is; can we collapse the time frame and get internet marketers into the profit zone in a shorter period of time? Rather than drag out the trickle of income for years?

Without doubt, I firmly believe this. And I will go on to highlight a few points below, but let me say this unequivocally, marketers can get into profit much, much sooner than they do but in their haste and many times in their new found excitement, and amidst the hype - most forget that when all is said and done, ‘he who understands and practices the fundamentals & strategies of marketing best, will reap the biggest rewards’
I have been running businesses for over 10 years now, and the most money I made both online and offline was and still is, when I put together critical marketing skills, applied that to the business; without getting emotional, without losing focus and with steadfast continuity. In addition to showing respect for self-imposed deadlines and time, all while honing leadership skills in the effort to keep my team motivated and close to me (yes, a mouthful!)

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WIN IN BUSINESS?
So from years of experience, I can say to you that most of your money will be made when you put together in an equation the above techniques and tactics I just mentioned:
Niche in Demand + Strategic marketing + Deadlines + Leadership + Focus + Continuity = BIG PROFITS!

Of course, there are other peripheral factors, but irrespective of the economy, the above equation will hold strong
But what about product? You may ask. Yes, product is important but without the above equation, you can have the most magnificent of products and still make zero dollars!
But, but what about company? You may ask. Yes, company is important too but without the above equation, you can have the most magnificent of companies and still make zero dollars!
So let’s tackle briefly each of the above points in that equation. Neither space nor time would allow me to go into great detail but enough is here to get you on the right path.

NICHE IN DEMAND – Give people what they want!
Too many marketers are trying to sell what they like! Marketing is not about your preferences. Marketing is profitable when you supply at a competitive price products & services which the market place demands and is willing to pay money for.
So do your due diligence. Use tools like GoogleTrends, Google free keyword, Alexa and others to figure out what is hot and what’s not before you put money, effort and time into a business endeavor.

STRATEGIC MARKETING – ‘Business is war!’ Jack Trout
In simple terms, strategic marketing means putting together a product and target market in a manner that would maximize customer experience and profits. With the emphasis on marketing, the biggest profits would come in with the best marketing strategy given the product and the market.

To make this happen in synergy:
Step 1: JOT DOWN. Given that you already have a product in mind. What would be the possible methods to reach your target market? It is email? Direct mail? Doing an offline promotion and tying that in online? Doing online promotions? Harnessing social media? Doing collaboration with a related business partner?
Step 2: CHOOSE. As you can see, a whole host of methods exist that can be used but wisely choosing which would complement your profit and customer projections - would be the key.
Step 3: WORK WITH A WRITTEN STRATEGY. Get this all typed up, not in your head! With that done, now you get into the tactics which would work to maximize the strategy you have in mind.

EXAMPLE:
· Your strategy is to get 3000 opt ins in the next 4 weeks
· You project that with 3000 opt ins, your back end sales would be 4%. 4% of 3000 = 120 Units sold
· The back end offer - your product is, let’s say an eBook on ‘Famous Recipes’ (just for an example) priced at $50
120 Units Sold X $50 = $6000 in sales $ (Subtract your cost of business to get the profit figure). Let’s say your projected costs for advertising etc = $1000
· Then effectively your projected profits = $5000

So if your strategy is 3000 opt ins, leading to 120 units sold; now what would be the best tactic to implement to get these numbers? Are you going to run a free related giveaway online? Is Pay per click a part of the campaign? Etc
This is the way to organize and think when you are running your business, not hit and miss and hope for the best. And don’t keep jumping around buying up every new project launch, looking for the secret sauce! You are the secret sauce…

MASTERY OF TIME – ‘Use time as a tool, not as a crutch’ John F Kennedy
The biggest error I see being made is people lamenting that they don’t have time to win in business and using that as a way to sabotage their business profits! I tend to vehemently disagree with this. Here’s the reasoning; everyone has the same number of hours per day. Now, it’s a given that people have varying circumstances, some married, some single, some with kids, some with illness, some juggling 2 jobs, some with a non supportive partner, etc, etc.
No two people have the exact circumstances, that is also a given. People may have similar circumstances. But lack of time is the easy way out of winning in business. Anyone who wants to get something important or worthwhile doing in life – makes the time to get the job done; irrespective of circumstances.
Yes, I know that people do struggle with the allocation and respect of time and deadlines but making an excuse is not the answer. And yes, ‘not having time’ is an excuse.

Step 1: The real key is to value what your time is worth and work with that worth. Are you valued at $200 per hour or $400 or $1000 per hour? Once you decide on that figure, you would be startled at your new found respect for your time and what can be done in minutes instead of dragging it out for hours and days!
With only 24 hours in a day, and knowing that your time is your most valuable asset and your time is your profit, how do you make your 24 hours work to the maximum?

LEADERSHIP – ‘Leaders always find a way to make things happen’ – John Maxwell
Over the years it seems the value and emphasis on leadership has seen a downward slid. In a time when the world is in dire need of strong leadership, this is not a good indicator. Leadership is one of my favorite topics, because without leadership no one’s going anywhere except in circles!
What I am urging many more entrepreneurs to do is to take up the baton of leadership and hold it high. People follow those who are going somewhere special. People want to hang out with and be around people who convey that big things are happening and know how to get things done. People want to interact and stay close to those who believe that there is a better way to get the job done, those who inspire, have hope for the future and are willing to lead the way. That’s why leadership is so magnetic.

No one wants to follow someone who is lost in the woods or a darn cry baby!
I want to get rid of one notion that too many people have and this is; leaders know almost everything. NO! Leaders don’t know everything, but they usually know where to find the answers. So today would be a good day, to start practicing your leadership.

FOCUS & CONTINUITY – Rome wasn’t built in a day!
Yes, even when you do everything correctly, it will still take some time to keep winning in business! But that’s all good. By not losing time and effort you will have collapsed time frames and you will get yourself into the profit zone much quicker
Here are some quick tips to staying in the game and earning profits continuously
· Do keep your finger on the pulse of the trends taking place online and offline
· Do keep track of income and expenses in your business. This way you know the numbers and are not misleading yourself
· Don’t jump too quickly the next time the ‘hottest’ product or biz opportunity is hyped up. Do your homework
· Don’t ever stop learning. Those who continue to learn and apply new ways of doing things, will continue to make profits for a long time to come

Together we are UNSTOPPABLE! Giddy up!

Nadira Haniff
________________________________________

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The Law Of  Countability

The ‘Law Of Countability’ as described by John Maxwell, is a critical one in building teams and in effective teamwork. This is especially crucial when the stakes are high.

People working towards a common goal, depend on the input and execution of tasks by each other. In fact tasks and accomplishment hinge on each other completing theirs. So the ‘Law Of Countability’ is not only important, but it ultimately determines the altitude a team will get to.

Maxwell says the formula for ‘Countability’ is not complicated but its impact is powerful

1. Character: Character makes trust possible. Trust makes leadership possible. I you cannot trust someone, you will not count on them. Building a team, begins with building character in the individuals who make up the team

2. Competence: Competence matters. Without competence, one person can put the entire team in jeopardy. Without competence the burden of the other teamsters become heavier

3. Commitment: Teams succeed or fail based on the commitment of teamsters to each other and the team. If a good team player ‘breaks a leg’ the others carry him to the top of the mountain. Many a time it is not about being the first one to the top of the mountain but that the whole team makes it to the top of the mountain

4. Consistency: Consistency in a team is a key component. It keeps the flow of teamwork and reduces the need for other players to add to their work load if everyone stays consistent. Your consistency builds great confidence in you by you teammates

5. Cohesion: Cohesion is the glue which holds a team together. It is the journey to a worthwhile common goal that gives a team its identity and provides a foundation on which a team stands on. Maxwell describes it as ‘a pride in the ability of your group to function at a higher level than possible for the individual. The unit doesn’t shine because you’re a member, you shine because you’re good enough to be a member”

Maxwell continues, “Without cohesion people aren’t really a team because they’re not pulling together. They’re merely a group of individuals working for the same organization.” So today as a leader or an aspiring leader, ask yourself, ‘Am I a team player?’ And do I have and exhibit the characteristics above clearly, in a manner that my team depends on it?” Your answer will tell you a lot.

Today, many entrepreneurs in business are striving to build teams of people in their mlm organization. In these times, as we still struggle through a blistering recession, 2 considerations come to mind.

1) Before you leap into mlm projects, make sure you have done your due diligence, that is; strip away the hype and really assess the ‘demand’ for your product. People who join you in an mlm business are looking for profits. They are there to make money, and would be ready to jump ship if there is no money forthcoming. There are many opportunities available, so loyalty has become a thing of the past.

2) Are you working with a system that holds a team together? And if so are you doing what you ask your team to do?

The 2 points above could make or break your mlm business, so pay heed. Building great teams, take time and effort. Be diligent but also be patient with people. Most of the people who join you in business are not as driven as you are to succeed. But remember, many doing a little can build a very profitable empire!

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Author: Nadira Haniff   Revised: 14 October, 2009

For thousands of years, people held the belief that it was impossible for a human being to run the mile in less than 4 minutes! But in 1954 Roger Bannister broke this imposing barrier! He got himself to achieve the ‘Impossible’ not merely by physical practice but by constantly rehearsing the event in his mind.

Breaking through the 4 minute barrier so many times with so much intensity that he created vivid references that become an unquestioned command to his nervous system to produce the result.

Give Hope
Many people don’t realize, though, that the greatest aspect of his breakthrough was what it did for others. It had seemed no one would ever be able to break a 4 minute mile, yet within 1 year of Roger’s breaking the barrier, 37 other runners also broke it!

“His experience provided them with references strong enough to create a sense of certainty that they too, could ‘do the impossible’. And the year after that, 300 other runners did the same thing!” Extract is from ‘Awaken The Giant Within’ Tony Robbins

Too many times, we have a limiting belief in ourselves and what we are capable of. In business this ‘limiting belief’ syndrome is very prevalent and stops so many dead in their tracks.

Limiting Belief
Possible reasons for limiting belief?

• Past failures or in some cases many past failures
• You’re afraid to take a chance on yourself again
• Too many naysayers around you
• You are intimidated by the vastness & complexity of the internet

• Technology is driving you crazy - too much to learn
• Your business experience is limited and you feel inadequate
• You’ve spent a lot of money on useless ‘training’ and still not too far ahead
• Marketing for profits seems so difficult
• You’re trying but not moving too fast ahead

I am sure many of you can relate to one or several of the above, and probably add a few lines of your own! You are not alone by any means. Most of my clients share with me some ‘limiting belief’ in themselves and from all my readings it is not unusual to feel this way.

But feeling this way about yourself and your endeavors will not propel you forward. In fact ‘limiting belief’ syndrome keeps many people from excelling in life and business. And most people know this but just can’t find the anchor they need to help them breakthrough the barrier.

Push Through
I know is is easier to talk the talk than walk the walk but even little strides in the right direction, grow into big steps and eventually into a sprint! The hardest part is pushing through the barrier.

• The key is to remember that YOU have the ability, capability and capacity for greatness
• Create and bring to the surface that ‘hunger’ to win in life and in business. Talk about your dreams

• Next find the ‘anchor’ you need to give you the ‘push’. That is find someone who you want to emulate or be like
  And if you cannot connect with that person directly then find yourself a coach who shares the same passion as you, and before you pay your money have a conversation with that person and make sure he/she understands what you really want to achieve

Remember
People just like you are succeeding, so don’t be afraid to try. Tom Hopkins once said; “I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed: and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I fail and keep trying.”

Don’t let anyone intimidate you because this slows your pace miserably and debilitates you of your drive to win in business. Don’t let anyone rob you of your dreams. Make a decision to win and stick with it. You can only be taken off course if you let people intrude and corrupt your path to success. So be resolute in your decision and stick to it. Easy? No!

But worth the while. YOU can do it! Let nothing stand in your way…

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1) Work on establishing your TARGET MARKET. Sounds simple? Yes it is BUT it does require some research, brainstorming and fine tuning

2) Decide on which NICHES you are going to work in and brainstorm on the best ways to get to that niche

3) Put together a MARKETING STRATEGY to get your entire marketing plan and execution of that plan in place. The majority of entrepreneurs miss this because it seems straightforward. This is anything but straightforward. Your MARKETING STRATEGY has to be clearly define and broken down into pieces ready for action

4) Get your LEADERSHIP in gear. Nothing goes too far without strong leadership and decision making. So get into the mode of honing your leadership skills. People want to follow those who they feel are going somewhere SPECIAL

5) TIME MANAGEMENT- this one appears so easy. Yet 98% of marketers struggle with time and a tremendous amount of time is lost daily. Carving out specific and precise times to work on your business is NON-NEGOTIABLE

6) Develop your MARKETING / REVENUE MODEL. This will define how you monetize every visitor to your website and how you are positioned to maximize your PROFITS daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. This is where the rubber meets the road and can make or break you if your model is not properly defined

7) TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. The marketplace is ripe for the taking as I write this. It means you the Entrepreneur really need to get your game on and set up your business so your reap MAXIMUM PROFITS and you are not playing the hit and miss blunder of marketing.

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