CASHMAP SYSTEMS | BLOG

Is the Info Product Business Right for You?

2010-11-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

The online info product business is an attractive entrepreneurial opportunity. Consider just a handful of its characteristics:

It allows you to work in an area, or niche, that interests you or in which you have a great deal of expertise.

It has very low operating costs, making it a great low-budget start-up opportunity for entrepreneurs.

You can automate the bulk of an info product business, turning it into a passive earning system.

It gives you a chance to work in a growing market space (on the Internet) that shows no signs of imminent contraction.

You can post substantial earnings in the info product business.

Those are just five of the traits that drive people to consider becoming involved with digital information sales. However, it isn't the perfect business for everyone. Before you decide whether you should throw your hat in the ring, you need to ask yourself a few questions. If you can't answer with a resounding "YES!" to these queries, you may want to consider staying away from the info product business.

One: Do you work well with little or no direction?

If you're the kind of person who needs a supervisor or manager to help you stay on track, you'll probably struggle with information marketing. You need to be prepared to complete a large number of individual tasks and there's no one available to pick up the slack if you don't get things done. The most successful people in the info product business are self-starters.

Two: Are you interested in learning a variety of new skills?

Some people just can't get enough new information. They love learning new things and look forward to the opportunity to expand their skill sets. An info product business is a great fit for their personalities. If you prefer to master one or two tasks, getting things rolling with an information product will be difficult.You need to be willing to develop skills to handle a number of different responsibilities. You'll be responsible for creating, marketing, selling, delivering and providing customer service for an info product. Each of those duties will require a number of special skills.

Three: Are you ready to develop carefully planned systems?

Much of the beauty in the info product business stems from the way a number of key elements can be automated and/or systematically handled. A good information seller can create a system that will cover product creation, post-sale customer service and everything else in between. If you're the kind of person who'd prefer to "fly by the seat of your pants", an info product business may not be ideal for you. Those who are willing to learn how to systematize their operations generally have a greater chance for success.

Answering in the affirmative to those three questions doesn't prove that you're an ideal candidate for an info product business. However, they do indicate that you may a great fit for this form of online entrepreneurship. Negative answers are evidence that you might want to consider other professional options. An info product business can be a great opportunity, but only if you're well suited to handle it.

Download your free Entrepreneur Strategy Cashmap that provides you with a step-by-step action template for entrepreneurship and for creating a successful info product business. Visit Cashmap.com.

The Right Info Product Shortens the Entrepreneurial Learning Curve

2010-11-05T02:22:00.000-07:00

You may have a new idea for a business, but you can implement it like an established professional with the help of the right info product. There are a number of great guides for entrepreneurs available and the best of the bunch can save you countless hours of hard work by shortening the entrepreneurial learning curve.

If you're like most new entrepreneurs, the prospect of starting your own business is both exciting and intimidating. You love your idea and you can tell that it has the potential to be a massive success. That's exciting. At the same time, you undoubtedly have a long list of questions about aspects of the process with which you have little experience. Additionally, you know you'll come up with even more questions as you move forward. That's intimidating.

The right info product can make the process less frightening. It can provide you with solid guidance as you create the processes and systems that will form the foundation of your business. A well-written info product can show you exactly how to go from an idea for a business to a fully functional enterprise.

There is an alternative, of course. You can go the "do it yourself" route. That's a strategy with a long history and many successful businesses have been built by people who learned the ropes "on the fly". Unfortunately, those successful "seat of the pants" stories are significantly outnumbered by otherwise great ideas that failed to get off the ground. In many cases, a solid info product could've transformed those failed efforts into winners.

That's because success as an entrepreneur isn't just about getting the right answers. It's about getting them as quickly as possible and transforming them into components of your actual operation. If you have a well-structured guide from which to work, you can learn which systems you must implement and how to get the job done. Without that kind of third-party aid, you may find yourself encountering surprises that derail your venture or challenges that slow you down to the point that you eventually surrender on your dream. You may even make critical mistakes that can crush your chances for success.

An info product written with the entrepreneur in mind will march you through the process of organizing your ideas and will help you to turn them into concrete systems to make the business work efficiently. Expert guidance frees you from the need to "reinvent the wheel" and allows you to do things right the first time. That's something that the "School of Hard Knocks" can't provide.

An investment in good information is a way to avoid enrolling in the "School of Hard Knocks" in the first place. Instead of learning lessons via the sting of failure, you'll be able to do things the right way--right away. That shortens the entrepreneurial learning curve, providing you with an opportunity to make things happen more quickly and more efficiently.

Entrepreneurs tend to have a wide independent streak. They're often incredibly creative and usually have the courage to experiment with new ideas and concepts. That often leads them to believe that their only route to building a business is to do everything "their way", from scratch. It's easy to understand how people arrive at that conclusion, but it's not necessarily the smartest way to build a business.

Utilizing a good info product that contains a blueprint for business creation and operation makes more sense. That approach allows space for creativity and originality while simultaneously providing a proven framework in with the entrepreneur can operate. In the right hands, an info product can be an extremely powerful tool capable of creating instant shortcuts that will radically improve the business' performance.

Download your free Entrepreneur Strategy Cashmap that provides you with a step-by-step action template for entrepreneurship and for creating a successful info product business. Visit Cashmap.com .

How to Start Your Business with a Smart Information Product

2010-11-05T02:12:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is power--and that's why every entrepreneur should invest in a smart information product. The right info product will allow you to build, organize and systematize your new business in a way that will greatly improve your odds of success.

The challenge is the online information product glut. It seems as though there are literally dozens of instructional guides and step-by-step plans available for every imaginable entrepreneurial effort. You need to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff in order to get your hands on information that will help you make the right moves. Here are a few recommendations that will help you choose the right information product.

First, avoid any resource that makes unrealistic promises. You want to succeed and the idea of a guide that guarantees results may be enticing. However, risk is an inescapable part of the entrepreneurial life. No one ever knows whether he or she will succeed or be forced to go back to the drawing board to devise another venture. The right information product can reduce the risk of failure, but it can't guarantee results.

Think about these questions. Does the author of the guide know you personally? Does he or she have a clear idea of your personal skills? Does he or she know how passionate you are about the project? Is the guide written specifically for your area, niche, target market and demographic? Is the writer of the information product aware of how many hours you can invest in the project? Does he or she know your budget?

The answer to all of those key questions is, of course, "NO!" Those are all variables that will influence eventual outcomes and that will play a massive role in the success of a new business. Any guarantee of results without that information--and more--is laughable.

Wild promises are a marketing ploy. They aren't solid information or insight. They won't help you build a business. Stay away from those who are telling you what you might want to hear instead of supplying you with an information product rich in what you need to know.

Second, look for instructional materials that focus on building efficient systems. Entrepreneurs benefit from intelligent organization and the creation of robust systems to streamline repetitive tasks and to clarify processes should be a top priority for any new business.

A guide that merely throws a series of ideas at you or that focuses on the big picture without helping you break down the processes inherent in your venture won't be nearly as helpful as an information product that teaches you how to design and implement a series of interrelated systems to produce results.

When you examine an info product, look at whether it's focused on systematizing your idea or if it's primarily filled with scattershot ideas and examples. Those other resources may be a great way to get your creative juices flowing or to supply you with some stories from which you can learn, but they won't help you to create the solid foundation that will largely determine your eventual success.

Finally, consider the source of the information product you're considering. Many people have learned that they can make a quick buck on the Internet by selling "how to" guides, regardless of their personal knowledge of the subject at hand. They also realize that a good marketing plan will generate sales even if the product itself isn't particularly good.

That makes it important to assess the character and credibility of the individual or team responsible for the information you'll be using. You don't want to utilize half-baked resources written in hopes of generating easy online sales--the stakes are too high.

Instead, find an information product that takes the topic--and your business--seriously. Look for a respected source of information and an individual or company dedicated to providing real blueprints for entrepreneurial success that's willing to stand behind the product.

Starting a new business can be overwhelming and every entrepreneur can benefit from quality, information and guidance. Make a point of finding the right information product to turn your new idea into a great business.

Download your free Entrepreneur Strategy Cashmap that provides you with a step-by-step action template for entrepreneurship and for creating a successful information product business. Visit Cashmap.com for more info.

Self-Centeredness- A Symptom Of Thinking Small In Business Process ReengineeringConnections

2010-10-18T01:25:00.001-07:00

Self-centeredness has become a staple of our modern society and causes grave concern in business process reengineering. Rare nowadays are situations where a person gives up on personal ambition to aid in the betterment of another individual. It does happen but at far less frequency than someone who looks out only for his or her personal interests.

From a business process perspective, humans make decisions about the actions that they take. Before taking an action, one's mind processes multiple inputs about a given situation as part of the decision-making process. If the inputs into the mind are limited, than a particular decision may be made that is not an optimal one. For instance, failing to think outside one's individual role within an organization may lead that person to provide short-sighted input in a business process reengineering effort. Such input, when given in the absence of the larger context can be harmful if not undermine the entire process.

Even outside of business you can take almost any wrongdoing that you can think of and put it through this systems thinking filter. Embezzlement, bullying, lying, stealing, cheating, etc all make the grade for self-centered acts. The bully who beats up another child does so to make him or herself feel good without regard to the impact on the other child. Embezzlement stuffs the pockets of the embezzler to the detriment of the organization from which money was taken.

What if the bully was able to consciously visualize that there is an impact on the life of the child that he or she is bullying? What if an embezzler actually thought about the ramifications to the organization from which cash was siphoned away from? The ability to think at a higher level about a situation (systems thinking) has the possibility to change the inputs that are sent into the brain of an individual.

By changing inputs, there is at least a chance that behavior might change as well. I won't go so far as to claim that systems thinking will fix everything in this world or in your company. In fact, many people and employees think systemically yet those inputs to the decision-making process do not stop bad decisions from being made. However, systems thinking is a skill that when activated can assure that at least the right inputs are present in the mind. By activating systems thinking in the mind of an individual, we can begin to make a difference in one individual at a time and in one business process reengineering effort at a time.

Dr. Brad Semp is a business process reengineering expert and a sought after speaker, coach and consultant for entrepreneurs and corporations on Design for Action (DfA) techniques. Download his popular free report titled the "Action Inaction Syndrome" where he challenges you to transform the way that you design your actions and shows you how to produce more results with less effort and in a shorter amount of time. Visit http://BradSemp.com

How To Use LinkedIn- Getting Involved With Groups

2010-10-18T00:52:00.000-07:00

LinkedIn is more than one massive community. One you learn how to use LinkedIn it will become apparent that it actually consists of many smaller communities and you can be a part of more than one of them. One of the ways LinkedIn makes these manageable, targeted communities possible is by allowing for groups.

Groups are collections of people with shared interests. When one is part of a group, he or she is provided with a number of ways to interact directly with other group members. This includes sharing news, getting involved in discussions and other valuable networking tools.

LinkedIn members are allowed to build up to ten groups of their own. They can be a member of fifty total groups. That may sound like a lot, but the numbers aren't as big as you might think. Some groups can be very niche specific and may be incredibly valuable even if they're not consistently busy. Some disciplines may have scores of different groups that cover the same terrain. You do need to choose wisely when creating or joining LinkedIn groups.

The real value of a group doesn't stem from merely watching the discussions of others. It comes from being actively involved. This is a key point to keep in mind as you learn how to use LinkedIn. Passive learning isn't necessarily a bad idea, but it doesn't pack the networking punch of being a contributing member of the group. Whether you build your own group or join an existing one, make a point of staying involved. Share interesting news and important ideas. Answer questions posed by group members when you can. Engage in the dialog. Remember, the word "social" is part of "social networking" for a reason.

If you do opt to create a group of your own, prepare yourself. You're not just responsible for setting things up. You're also going to be "in charge" of recruiting new members, establishing group policies and promoting the group elsewhere. While that isn't necessarily complicated or incredibly difficult, it does require a time commitment and you need to be willing to handle the responsibilities properly if you want your group to thrive.

New LinkedIn participants will probably want to dip their toes into the group water by joining established groups. That will familiarize them with the way things work and what groups can really accomplish. As time goes on, one may see a justification for a new group and should then seize the opportunity.

If you're not involved with groups on LinkedIn, you're probably just using the service as a little more than a personal resume. That's not the best way to use the service. The social networking doesn't take place on the top level. It happens in vibrant, high-quality groups. Find them. Join them. Make them. Use them. Taking action is the best way to learn how to use LinkedIn and it is also the best way to network on LinkedIn.

Download your free LinkedIn Strategy Cashmap that shows you the step-by-step strategy of how to use LinkedIn and to leverage this important social platform to grow your business. Visit Cashmap.com to download your free Strategy Cashmap now.

How To Use LinkedIn- Obtaining Recommendations

2010-10-17T23:40:00.001-07:00

A pat on the back always feels good, but learning how to use LinkedIn to collect recommendations is more than a matter of affirmation. It is also a means by which you can develop a strong reputation and the kind of credibility that will improve your networking and your business. You want other LinkedIn members to recommend you. Their favorable reviews will have a great deal of impact.

You do not want to go fishing for compliments, though. While there are times when it may be okay to ask someone you know particularly well and with whom you are especially comfortable for a recommendation, it is generally considered bad form to beg for a "thumbs up" from your connections.

So, how do you get a recommendation if you are not going to ask directly?

You could just wait for them to happen. If you build up a number of professional connections, some of them will have good things to say about you and may be motivated to give you a nod of approval on their own accord.

That is not really the most efficient way of making something happen, though. Let us be honest. We are all busy people and the motivation to offer someone a LinkedIn recommendation usually is not strong enough to break through our packed schedules, even if we happen to be among the world's most generous people. You do not want to put your reputation development on hold as you wait with your fingers crossed for that "random act of kindness".

The better route involves a little quid quo pro. This is how to use LinkedIn in a more powerful manner. If you give someone else a positive recommendation, there is a very good chance they will reciprocate. Look at your connections. Isolate those with the strongest reputation and/or the most "pull" in your niche. Provide those folks with recommendations. Before you know it, you will start getting notifications from LinkedIn that they have recommended you, too.

There is another advantage to offering those recommendations. Your willingness to vouch for others shows others that you really are involved with your connections and builds your credibility. It also gets you noticed when others see the profiles of those you have recommended.

As you do this, keep one thing in mind. Honesty and authenticity are wildly important in the world of social networking. You do not want to start recommending people without good cause in hopes of getting a kind word in return. Your recommendation may lead someone to engage with another LinkedIn member. Remember, you are vouching for them. Do not make claims with which you are not wholly comfortable. Others may act in reliance on your words. Offer recommendations when and where they are due and you will receive them in that same spirit.

Follow these steps and adapt them as you learn how to use LinkedIn in the most effective manner to gather awesome recommendations for your LinkedIn profile.

Download your free LinkedIn Strategy Cashmap that shows you the step-by-step strategy of how to use LinkedIn and to leverage this important social platform to grow your business. Visit Cashmap to download your free Strategy Cashmap now.

How To Use LinkedIn- Understanding LinkedIn Connections

2010-10-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

So, you've set up an account at LinkedIn and you've configured a strong profile. Now what? You need to learn how to use LinkedIn and start making connections with all of the great people who use this site. You also should learn how to use LinkedIn to become a part of the various ongoing conversations and all of the great networking opportunities people are always discussing.

Don't worry. It's not as bad as you might think. In fact, LinkedIn makes it incredibly easy for you to get the connection ball rolling.

Assuming you didn't materialize overnight, you have an email account. Maybe you have two or three. You've emailed a number of friends, colleagues and acquaintances from those accounts. These are people you already know and some of them are undoubtedly a part of LinkedIn. They're a great place to start building your network.

LinkedIn makes that dead simple. They'll pore through your email accounts (with your permission) and they'll find every address that's linked to an existing LinkedIn account. You'll then have the option to invite them to connect with you. You can run the check on more than one email account, too, allowing you to reach out to anyone with whom you've emailed on a professional level.

LinkedIn will create a small "form letter" asking for a connection, but we don't recommend you use it. Instead, take a few seconds to create personalized requests. That's going to increase the number of people who respond by a significant margin. It's also going to start the kind of networking conversations that make LinkedIn so valuable. Once you have that first batch of connections in place, you can start expanding your reach.

One of the easiest ways to do that is by searching within LinkedIn for other members with whom you'd like to connect. If you have a particular person or company in mind, you can search for the name. If you're looking on a subject matter level, you can search based on keyword. This is a great way to start meeting new people in your field right off the bat.

There are a number of ways to increase the number of LinkedIn connections you have after you get things moving. The first step is making those first few connections. Your email account and the search function make that easy. We'll discuss some of those advanced strategies at another point. You may also want to invest in a smart blueprint that provides a systematic approach to increasing your LinkedIn connections. That's a great shortcut to get the most from the service.

You may be alone for a few moments, but it won't last. Follow these simple steps to learn how to use LinkedIn and before you know it you will be connected!

Download your free LinkedIn Strategy Cashmap that shows you the step-by-step strategy of how to use LinkedIn and to leverage this important social platform to grow your business. Visit Cashmap to download your free Strategy Cashmap now.

How To Use LinkedIn-Configuring Your Profile

2010-10-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

Once you learn how to use LinkedIn you'll quickly see that it is a great way to network and to build valuable relationships. It's a good way to reach potential clients and customers as well as other professionals with whom you may be able to work. That's why LinkedIn has been growing at amazing rate for the last few years.

Unfortunately, that burgeoning population of users can contribute to "getting lost in the crowd" if you aren't using the service to its maximum advantage. Profiles are a case in point.

Your LinkedIn profile is what people see when they find you. It's your first impression on the site and it had better be good if you want to really get involved. Learning how to use LinkedIn by creating and configuring an ideal profile needs to be one of your top priorities as a LinkedIn member.

A great deal goes into a fantastic profile and its configuration. Here are three of the many things you should be doing to really give your profile.

First, claim your name. LinkedIn will let you build a search engine- and user-friendly URL for your profile based on your name. If you don't use it, your link will be a long, messy piece of gobbedly-gook. If you do claim your name, you'll end up with a streamlined LinkedIn URL like, http://LinkedIn.com/in/Your.Name. That's what you want. It only takes a few minutes to claim your name and you'll be glad you did.

Second, create a fantastic headline. Your profile has a place for a headline. This is some of the most valuable pieces of Facebook real estate you can find. Copywriters and journalists have long recognized the amazing power of a good headline and mush of the usability research regarding the Internet points out that they could be more important now that ever before. There are countless websites vying for visitors. Your headline can be difference maker that separates you from the pack.

Third, get your picture on the site. You don't think you're photogenic? Too bad. You need top put a picture on your profile. That will help people confirm that you're the person for whom they're looking. Research also indicates that people are more likely to exhibit heightened levels of trust and positive feelings when they see an actual photo of the person on the other end of a social networking service. This is no time to be camera shy. Get your smiling mug upon your profile from Day One.

These are just three of the many aspects of profile building at LinkedIn that can really elevate your chances for maximum success. Don't forget to claim your name, to write an ideal headline and to get your photo on your profile. You may also want to consider looking into a complete, systematic approach to LinkedIn use that will help you cover all of the bases as your involvement grows. Using a good blueprint that shows you how to use LinkedIn can make the process much easier.

How To Use LinkedIn-Creating A Great Profile

2010-10-05T03:54:00.000-07:00

Creating an ideal LinkedIn profile isn't just a matter of filling in the blanks with accurate information and it is an important consideration in learning how to use LinkedIn. Sure, filling in the blanks is important, but it will only get you so far. If you want to wring every last bit of value out of your time on LinkedIn, you'll go above and beyond simple accuracy to create a profile that works.

There is a variety of things you can do to make that happen. We won't try to cover them all in this piece. However, we can isolate at least three tips you'll want to use as you generate your profile and learn how to use LinkedIn.

First, use the right email address. Yes, that sounds simple, but you'd be amazed at the number of people who use an email address for LinkedIn that they don't regularly track. You want to use your primary account--the one you read regularly or have open throughout the day. That's because you'll receive notifications and updates from the service at this account. If you're using a "once a week" account, you'll miss numerous opportunities to engage in meaningful (and valuable) interactions with others. Don't worry, LinkedIn won't bombard you with spam and there are ways to customize your mail flow. When you create your account and start building your profile, use your primary address.

Second, integrate your keywords into your profile. Before you started your profile, you should've given some thought to keywords. People will find you on LinkedIn based on searches using certain keywords. you want to use those identifying terms in your profile. Look at your list of keywords, rank them in importance and make sure you're using them throughout the material in your profile. Doing so will make you more visible and will more clearly identify you and your interests to others.

Third, provide comprehensive information. It's a "more the merrier" situation. The more detail you provide, the more likely it is that the right people will approach you. Being specific also gives people what they really want--information about you to help them determine whether or how to network with you. A comprehensive bio is also an outstanding credibility builder. It's your chance to show off some of your past work and accomplishments. Don't go with a bare bones bio. Get serious and get specific. Prove all of the necessary information.

These are just three examples of things you can do to supercharge your LinkedIn profile. There are many others. That's why you may find it worth your while to invest in a comprehensive system plan for the optimal usage of LinkedIn. A good blueprint will save you a great deal of time and energy as you begin your ascent in the social networking world and learn how to use LinkedIn.

Download your free LinkedIn Strategy Cashmap that shows you the step-by-step strategy of how to use LinkedIn and to leverage this important social platform to grow your business. Visit Cashmap.com to download your free Strategy Cashmap now.

Look Before You Learn How To Use Linked In

2010-10-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

Are you using your eyes before you learn how to use LinkedIn? You've probably heard about the power of LinkedIn as a social networking tool and you're excited to be a part of the action. Congratulations, you're making a smart choice. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful ways to build relationships and connections. Its emphasis on professional networking makes it extremely valuable. It may not boast participation numbers like those of Facebook, but the people using it are the kind of folks you really want to know and reach.

Before you start creating your account and making connections, you need to pause for a moment. Don't let the excitement of getting involved stand in the way of good planning. If you want to maximize the value of LinkedIn, you'll want to do a little homework on the front end to learn how to use LinkedIn.

First, you'll want to really understand the contour and purpose of the site. You can use LinkedIn as a standard-issue, "say whatever is on your mind" platform, but that's not really going to help you that much. It has a different character, a different environment and specific features that can really provide a professional boost. You want to map the environment so you can figure out how you'll fit.

Second, you'll need to do a little thinking about keywords. Unless people are looking for you by name (or business name), they're going to find you while searching for keywords that are of interest to them and relevant to you. You'll need to think of the kind of keywords that really identify what you're all about and why you're using LinkedIn. Later, you'll make an effort to work those important signifiers into your profile.

Third, after you set up you account, you'll want to put on your copywriter's hat. You need to create a compelling profile. You want to make it clear to those who find you that you're the kind of person with whom they really want to network. If you want to get the most out of LinkedIn, you need to allow people to see you in your best light. Fill in every blank of your profile carefully. Use the right words. Be clear and interesting. Be compelling. If you have a fantastic profile, you'll begin to magnetically attract the kind of networking attention that will allow you to benefit from LinkedIn.

These are just three examples of the kind of things you'll want to resolve before you get actively involved in sharing and networking. There are others.

LinkedIn isn't rocket science, but using it in the best possible manner does require some forethought and planning. That's why many people can benefit tremendously from having a clearly written and professionally designed blueprint for LinkedIn involvement. When you have the right course of action mapped out in front of you, it's easy to be sure that you haven't missed anything important and that you know how to use LinkedIn effectively.

Phone App Strategy Cashmap

2010-08-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

The iPhone has become one of the most popular mobile devices available today.

Apple's iPhone is the most popular way to browse the mobile web, and has accessibility to a consumer driven App store with 58 million users, over 100,000 apps, and billions of downloads. Apple's slogan "There's an App for that" is quite fitting considering the vast variety of applications available. You can take advantage of this competitive market with our iPhone App Strategy Cashmap, which will walk you through identifying, creating, and marketing an App that will sell.

Financial Survival Guide on Amazon

2010-08-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

Take Control of Your Finances with the Cashmap Financial Survival Guide now Available on Amazon!

Cashmap Systems LLC is proud to announce our first book micro book based on one of our most popular Cashmap Packages. "Financial Survival Guide: 11 Simple Steps to Eliminate Debt, Manage Your Money, & Take Control of Your Finances in an Uncertain Economy," is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.
For a limited time only, we are giving away the electronic version at no charge with the download of our FREE Financial Survival Strategy Cashmap, available at financialsurvivalcashmap.com.

The financial survival guide is based off of our award-winning systematic approach to everyday topics for the home and office. The book is written and produced by the same folks who produce your free Strategy Cashmaps and Action Cashmap packages, so readers who have become accustomed to our style will find comfort in the new book as a compliment.
Keep your Financial Survival Guide forever by ordering our mini book at Amazon.com.

Everyone is looking for financial advice as our country begins to rebound from the worst recession since the Great Depression; however, all of the current solutions fall short. Our wholesome approach to financial management provides easy to follow tips with clear and concise actionable steps to lower your debt and regain control of your finances. Developing your own financial survival system enables you to analyze your spending, cut back on frivolous expenses, and optimize your essential bills by removing unnecessary services, using fewer resources, and becoming an educated shopper. Whether you are looking to cut your spending by 5 - or 50 - percent, our financial survival guide provides everything you need to develop a foolproof plan.

The Survival Guide is backed by our flagship product line, Financial Survival Strategy and Action Cashmaps, which are at your disposal when reading the book. Our FREE Strategy Cashmap provides a visual Roadmap in conjunction with our survival guide. Our Action Cashmaps are available for purchase from the Cashmap Store™ and provide specific step-by-step instructions for managing your debt. Whether you need more information, in depth instructions, or simply an extra "push," our Financial Survival Action Cashmaps can help.
Make the financially smart decision by downloading your free Financial Survival Strategy Cashmap and receive our first micro book for FREE at http://financialsurvivalcashmap.com/!

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Conquer Competition

2010-08-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

Lots of people know about AI (Artificial Intelligence), but may not know that CI is Competitive Intelligence; this is something vital for a business to succeed. With this package, Cashmap can help you in setting up a CI system, collect information, process it, send it out to the people who need to see it, and then use it to make your firm better, more productive, and more profitable.

A key step in any CI program is figuring out your marketplace. What is your target market, who are your competitors, and what are their strengths and weaknesses, and what are yours? Collecting all of this data, processing it, and determining how your firm should proceed is key.

When it comes to collecting data, you can find a plethora of information on the internet. With the Cashmap package, you can sift through all of this data, and find the items that are vital to help your business. There's also an old saying from some sort of military training that tells you to know your enemy as you know yourself, and you'll always be victorious. The Cashmap package helps you in gathering information about your competition, and then you can learn from them as to their market strategy. Are they focusing on a particular niche market? Are they ignoring a market that you can potentially exploit?

Once you've processed all of the data on your CI, you need to send out what you've learned to the key personnel who can make use of it and/or give feedback as to how to implement a new business plan that will improve your company's future outlook.

Another thing to be aware of is threats from your competitors. That may sound ominous, but your business may be vulnerable due to the fact that your competitors will be out there gathering the same information on your company as you're gathering on them. The Cashmap package can help in protecting your data.

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Live Events Traffic

2010-08-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

These days, most people with websites look to promote them from various online activities: posting articles, sending out viral videos, creating a blog, and so on. Yet, there are also offline events you can use to generate traffic to your site. This is where the Offline Events Traffic Generation Cashmap package can help you.

The first step in planning an offline event is to find the right venue: a conference center, hotel, community center, and so on. There are questions to ask these places in order to determine if they can accommodate your needs: seating, food services, rest rooms, easy access to roads and lodging (if you're going to have a multi-day event). This Cashmap package helps you to ask the right questions.

Next, there's the planning stage of your event, and what sort of event you should host. If you're a writer, maybe getting together with fellow writers to discuss techniques, and inviting some publishers and literary agents can be an excellent means of networking. Once you have an event decided on, you need to promote it; the question is: how? Here again, the Cashmap package has step by step instructions to help you in doing just that.

Then you have to prepare for the event. This takes time and effort. You'll want to make sure to remember the important points during the event, and people's names. You'll also need to set up separates accounts for the ticketing of the event and any orders you get during the event. With any sort of event, there are always a thousand and one details to remember.

Creating a task list to keep everything straight and in order is also important. This is yet another nice feature of the Offline Events Traffic Generation Cashmap package. By making use of a few offline events, you'll be amazed by how much you can boost your online traffic.

Related Articles: Online Communities

Online Communities

2010-08-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of different networking communities that you can join that will help you in promoting your website, and you can also create your own. The Online Communities Traffic Generation Cashmap Package can help you in doing both of these things.

First off, you can take an existing community and adapt it to your needs. If writing is your forte, and you specialize in movie scripts, you can model your community after a writers' forum. The package guides you in all of the steps in doing this, and in adding various dynamic features to your group. You can post videos, photos, create a blog, and have areas where you can allow members to create and upload their own content and material. This feature means that your group will be more dynamic and vibrant. Very often, the great the volume of content to a community, the more often it is updated, the more visits the site will get. In turn, this can lead to your main website getting hits (traffic) as well.

You can also boost enrollment in your site by sending out invitations to other people. If you have a Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail etc email account, the Cashmap package can access your address book and send out invitation to everyone in your book.

Then there are existing groups you can join, create a profile, and then upload and create content in the groups. With some of them, you can create and/or contribute to a blog, upload pictures and videos, and put in links to your website. You can even set up a gallery to create a slideshow on your web page, create a playlist of music files, audio files, and you can even stream video clips to some sites. Done the right way, a good video on YouTube (or another site) can go viral and be hugely popular.

Voice of the Customer

2010-08-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

VOC - Voice of the Customer - is a very important aspect of any firm's growth and development. You must listen to your clients to see where your company's strengths and weaknesses lie, and where and how you can improve. Given the huge number of website businesses out there, you need to do things to set yours apart from the others, and do things to continually improve it. These days, you can't be static in the business world; you have to always be growing and improving."

The Voice of the Customer Cashmap package gives you guidance in setting up a means for customers to give you feedback on every aspect of your website: how it looks, how good your products/services are, what your pricing is like, what your policies are like, and how good you are at customer service (to name only a few).

Depending on your website, you might just set up a feedback form that people can fill out, or give them an email address to write to. If you want to go really high-tech, you can implement a system that lets them record an audio message, or even a video. These last two have their pluses and minuses. Some people are a little put off or hesitant to record their voice and image - they like the anonymity of email. While other people will be impressed at how high-tech your website it. You can also set up a system that will allow people to have a live online chat with you or a member of your staff.

A proactive means of improving your website is by conducting customer surveys. The Cashmap package can guide you in doing all of these "voice of the customer" programs. Once you have feedback from your clients, you'll want to organize, manage and document it, and then look to means of implementing the positive suggestions from them. With the Voice of the Customer Cashmap package, you can do all of these things.

Outsource to Boost Your Income

2010-08-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

When a company is growing, there comes a point where the staff can't keep up with the new work, but the company can't afford to hire more staff. This is where the process of outsourcing comes into play. You can use the Outsource Cashmap package to turn over as much of your work as you want to other workers"

First off, you have to decide the amount of work you feel comfortable turning over to people outside of your company. After all, some aspects might contain sensitive information; so you have to be wary of revealing too much of your clients' personal data. With the Cashmap package, you can prioritize the tasks that you want to outsource. You can see as to how much money you will save by removing these tasks from your daily workload, and how much it will cost you to outsource those same tasks. As a result, you can quickly and easily determine which tasks you should outsource.

Once you decide what it is that you are going to outsource, you have to draw up detailed instructions on how that work is to be done. When work is done in-house, it is easy to monitor and control. Instructions are often very simple. When outsourcing, you need to precisely detail how you want the work to be done. Clarity of instructions is the key to making sure the work gets done the way you want it to be done.

There's also the issue of where you find the people to do the outsourcing. As this is generally filing, writing, accounting etc, these are all writing work of some sort. So, the Cashmap package helps you to setup accounts on website where you can find writers. Very often, you have to setup an account there, list your project, and then negotiate with the worker to do the job. Handling all of these issues are outlined in the Outsource Cashmap package; so it is very useful in finding the right sort of outsource worker.

Offline Promotions

2010-08-18T00:57:00.000-07:00

There are a whole plethora of means to promote a website, and not all of them involve online activities; you can use some offline promotional events to boost traffic.

With the Offline Promotions Traffic Generation Cashmap package, it helps you in figuring out what your target audience is, and what efforts might works best at reaching them. It also allows you to calculate what these different promotional efforts will cost, and the potential yield from them. Thus you can do a cost-benefit analysis, and figure out which one is best suited to your needs.

Depending on what you offer from your website, you can target your audience in the local market, find out what interests them, and then tailor your appeal to them. Next, you can seek out the areas in your community where your target audience likes to get together. Do you sell computer games? Then computer stores, comic shops, and fan groups are the places to go. If you're a writer, talk to writing groups and maybe bookstore and coffee shops that host open mic nights where you can read your material.

Once you settle on the people and place to promote, you then need to figure out how to promote your website. This is yet another feature of the package; it gives you a variety of promotional tools, and illustrates the best ones to use - based on your business needs and your target audience. Once you do that, the package helps you to draw up a Plan A and a Plan B for your efforts, and then budget and schedule the event.

You also need to be able to follow-up on your efforts, and the Cashmap package does that as well. This way you can judge as to which promotional plan is most effective, and where you can look for ways to improve it.

Webmaster Tools Traffic Generation

2010-08-17T01:44:00.000-07:00

The Internet has become a complex nervous system with billions of websites, each competing for a spot on Google, Yahoo!, or Bing (formerly MSN). Due to the competitive nature of the business, website owners must be aggressive and win over search engines. The frustration can be too much for some webmasters to bear, thus Cashmap Systems created a step-by-step intuitive tutorial that will have your website at the top of search engine's in no time. Webmaster Tools Traffic Generation walks you through the entire process, removing the technical jargon and complex computer steps.

Content: Free yourself from the headaches and blank states, let the computer do all of the work for you. In this Cashmap package you can build your website to cater to search engines. Why wait for the "crawlers" to find your site when you can compile a Sitemap. These are files that tell search engines where your website is, how they can index it, and provide a basic snapshot of the website's taxonomy. Since your website will be indexed by the top search providers, smaller companies such as Ask and AltaVista can index your website as well.

With the Webmaster Tools Traffic Generation Cashmap package, the computer does all of the work for you. While most people have to hand code sitemap files, you can use innovative web applications to automatically generate this important file. Cashmaps are designed to remove time-consuming processes and replace them with more productive tasks. Instead of creating a sitemaps by hand, you can improve your searchability by using the right keywords.

This Cashmap package walks you through the entire process, even if you have never heard of Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Learn how to register for Webmaster accounts, validate your website to prove ownership, and interpret the information. Cashmaps are with you from start to finish, providing helpful information along the way. No matter where you are in the process, Cashmaps are excellent resources that can be used time after time.

Cashmap packages are written and designed with usability in mind. While programmers write most guides in a technical tone, regular people produce Cashmaps. The system utilizes a nifty user interface that shows you a graphical representation of where you are in the process. Packages are divided by task, providing milestones along the way. Why complete the project in one session when you could complete a Cashmap a day. In fact, we believe one Cashmap a day is good for your soul. Coincidentally, we offer a free strategy Cashmap by e-mail, delivered to your inbox each day.

Discover the importance of measuring your website's performance by taking advantage of these Webmaster tools. There are a hundred other websites trying to steel your visitors. Fight to the end by implementing the Webmaster Tools Traffic Generation Cashmap package. Show your competition who is boss by rising to the top of Google. Cashmap offers similar packages on search engine optimization, traffic generation, and creating a website.

Marketing with Summit Presentations

2010-08-16T00:51:00.000-07:00

Are you getting tired of all those meaningless marketing campaigns? Do you want something more out of your business? Internet marketing doesn't have to be boring. What if we were to tell you that you could generate revenue, boost productivity, and increase readership by educating your target audience? The Virtual Expert Summit Traffic Generation Cashmap Package is all that you need to create a training presentation that will bring together a group of experts. Since your customers are the highest priority, you will be delivering them a memorable presentation. Cashmaps never leave you stranded - we will show you what it takes to deliver an expert summit presentation. Our step-by-step methodology provides assistance throughout the entire process. You can benefit from this program whether you are a seasoned professional or newfound entrepreneur.

Since the overall goal is to increase traffic to your website, you will create a marketing campaign for your summit that sparks interest early on. You will learn how to use the summit to create products and services that will generate substantial revenue and build your summit hosting skills. This package shows you how to take advantage of free - and paid - services on the Internet. The Virtual Expert Summit Traffic Generation Cashmap Package covers everything from preparation to the debriefing process. You will learn how to identify, contact, and approach potential expert presenters.

Why waste time sorting through tons of deadbeats? This package will show you how to find knowledgeable experts in half the time by staying organized. You will learn about various production and presentation platforms that offer a varying degree of customization. We provide both in-house and outsourcing scenarios to meet the needs of large and small businesses. You will learn how to maximize your time and reduce error. Use the time you saved during preparation to produce pre and post event materials, such as extra interviews or training videos.

Creating a summit presentation is a breeze with the Virtual Expert Summit Traffic Generation Cashmap Package. You will be prepared for every stage of the process, including the actual production of the presentation. Learn how to set practical deadlines for your experts while friendly reminding them of these milestones. You will learn how to incorporate these multimedia presentations into one cohesive unit. Discover how you can benefit from their contributions. As you become engulfed in the presentation, you will develop error-proof techniques that save you money.

Marketing your summit is the best way to gain an audience and gain exposure. Spiking consumer interest before these events can drive traffic to your website. You will learn how to create, deploy, and monitor your platforms while your audience becomes eager to register. You will learn how motivation flows downstream and translates into increased sales. Additionally, you will learn how to utilize those multimedia files for use during event promotions and post-event debriefing.

The process is just getting started, however; the traffic doesn't have to end here. We don't want to leave you stranded, thus visit the Cashmap Store and download a free strategy Cashmap that provides an overview of the entire process. We don't recommend trying to fill in the blanks between the various steps, thus you can always purchase the Virtual Expert Summit Traffic Generation Cashmap Package for the real-deal.

Outsource to Boost Your Income

2010-08-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

When a company is growing, there comes a point where the staff can't keep up with the new work, but the company can't afford to hire more staff. This is where the process of outsourcing comes into play. You can use the Outsource Cashmap package to turn over as much of your work as you want to other workers.,

First off, you have to decide the amount of work you feel comfortable turning over to people outside of your company. After all, some aspects might contain sensitive information; so you have to be wary of revealing too much of your clients' personal data. With the Cashmap package, you can prioritize the tasks that you want to outsource. You can see as to how much money you will save by removing these tasks from your daily workload, and how much it will cost you to outsource those same tasks. As a result, you can quickly and easily determine which tasks you should outsource.

Once you decide what it is that you are going to outsource, you have to draw up detailed instructions on how that work is to be done. When work is done in-house, it is easy to monitor and control. Instructions are often very simple. When outsourcing, you need to precisely detail how you want the work to be done. Clarity of instructions is the key to making sure the work gets done the way you want it to be done.

There's also the issue of where you find the people to do the outsourcing. As this is generally filing, writing, accounting etc, these are all writing work of some sort. So, the Cashmap package helps you to setup accounts on website where you can find writers. Very often, you have to setup an account there, list your project, and then negotiate with the worker to do the job. Handling all of these issues are outlined in the Outsource Cashmap package; so it is very useful in finding the right sort of outsource worker.

Pay-Per-Click Marketing

2010-08-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Enhance your current marketing efforts by utilizing a revolutionary approach to internet marketing. This Pay-per-Click Cashmap package provides you with the tools and resources necessary to execute and manage PPC campaigns.

The Pay-per-Click model ensures that advertisers only pay the webmaster when their advertisement is clicked. Why waste hundreds of dollars on ineffective or passive advertising methods? A pay-per-click marketing campaign allows you to target a specific keyword, which allows you to target a specific target audience and market segment. With the easy to follow Cashmap package you will never be lost!

Content: This Cashmap package helps you create a PPC strategy that is in unison with your current marketing efforts. Such campaigns require a sophisticated and strategic approach so you can maximize your results. You will learn how to create, implement, and manage PPC campaigns. This Cashmap package provides you with the fundamental skills necessary to launch your campaign. You will learn how to choose profitable keywords that cater to your target audience. These are phrases that users will enter to trigger your advertisement.

While keywords are a large component of PPC marketing, you will learn the importance of managing your campaign. You will have multiple PPC campaigns, thus it is essential that you keep all of the information clean. This Cashmap package helps you organize your accounts using a spreadsheet or mind map. You will always know where you stand with each of your campaigns, and have account credentials accessible at all times.

If you are new to the PPC concept, this Cashmap package will save you a few dozen headaches. You will learn the process for bidding and develop a strategy that will maximize your efforts. You will discover the magic numbers of PPC bids and utilize various tools and resources that guide you through the process. Additionally, you will learn how to create a specialized page for users who access your link from search engines. A landing page can be beneficial in traffic management. Since a landing page is unique, you will learn what to put - and not put - on the document.

This Cashmap package provides you with the necessary steps to test your PPC campaign. In order to ensure you maximize your time and energy, it is important to examine your campaign during the first few days. You will learn how to test the campaign in a variety of atmospheres. Additionally, this package will help you modify and optimize campaign settings to achieve maximum exposure and increase accuracy. All of these processes help increase your overall sales efforts. As you can see, pay-per-click marketing is not child's play. The Pay-per-Click Cashmap package helps reduce the overall amount of time and money you spend on such endeavors.

Buying a Home

2010-08-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

These days, there are foreclosures, subprime mortgages, upside down mortgages, and countless other issues to deal with when trying to buy a home. The Buying a Home Cashmap package can guide you in all of these items.

First off, you need to take stock of your finances: how much do you owe in credit cards, car payments, and so on? What sort of resources do you have: income, assets, savings for a down payment? If you're currently renting, how does your rent compare to what you think you can afford as a monthly mortgage payment? Keep in mind, when you own a home, there are property taxes, home owner's insurance, and other expenses. The Cashmap package can help you in determining all of these factors.

Once you have your finances in order, you can see about finding a real estate agent, looking over potential homes, and then seeing about getting a mortgage. This latter item is a key aspect to buying a home. What sort of interest rate can you get, what are the points and terms, and how long a mortgage you are getting (20, 30 years)? You'll want to get a copy of your credit report, as it will be a factor in what sort of interest rate you can offered from the bank. You may get a lower initial rate and then your mortgage switches to a variable rate after a certain period of time. If that's not something you want, be aware that it's possible, and ask about it.

Also, there are government programs that can help you in buying a home. The Buying a Home Cashmap package can help you in finding out about these programs, and which ones you might qualify for.

This package can also help you in finding a home. All in all, it is a powerful package.

Video Marketing

2010-08-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

Does your marketing campaign need a facelift or modern day makeover? Consider adding video as part of your overall strategy. Whether you own a multimillion corporation or are a recent startup, you can benefit from the Video Marketing Cashmap package. Most companies provide relative solutions, but fail to explore the process in detail. This Cashmap package provides an overall solution for your marketing needs while providing step-by-step directions throughout the process.

This Cashmap package ensures that your efforts will not go unnoticed, as you will learn how to effectively launch a video marketing campaign. The Cashmap package explains the process of defining your target market. Having many "narrow" audiences will allow you to create video content that they are interested in. You will research and analyze your market segments to determine their video viewing habits, patterns, and behavior. Discovering the type of content they are interested in is essential to your success.

Upon acquiring your target market segments you will learn how to develop a strategy that is in sync with your marketing campaign. You will discover the benefit of using clear-cut goals and distinguish the difference between primary and secondary objectives. With this Cashmap package you can save time, money, and many restless nights by investing in a video marketing manager to perform the otherwise tedious tasks.

After the campaign objectives have been clearly laid out, it is time to begin creating a plan of action. The content within the videos is the quintessential component and should be aligned and published based on your target market segments. You will learn whether you should create your own content, outsource to a studio, or use preexisting content on the internet. You will discover a plethora of premium and free video services.

Creating your own videos can be a rewarding - but lengthy - process. You will learn the necessary components of a studio and the type of equipment you need to purchase or rent. This Cashmap package points you in the right direction, suggesting the best cameras, microphones, and tripods. You will learn about the benefits of shooting on location and in the studio. Anyone can be a videographer with all of the technology available at your fingertips.

You can shoot video without a script, however; you risk making errors and not focusing on your objectives. This Cashmap package helps you create a script that is meaningful and effective, ensuring you have complete control of your video. You will learn how to plan, execute, and review your script from start to finish.

This Business, Cashmap, traffic generation, Video MarketingCashmap package provides real world advice for shooting your own videos. You will discover the joys and benefits of making your own content, while focusing on your marketing strategy. While editing video can be a nightmare for some people, this Cashmap package removes all of the guesswork from the editing process. You will learn top of the line techniques that can be performed on free or paid computer software.

You never fade to black with this Cashmap package. Once the video is filmed, creating the deliverables can take a considerable amount of time. You will learn how to organize your files for fast access. Additionally, you will learn how to use video on your blog and gain traffic by using social bookmarking services. This package explores a variety of free and paid video marketing and distribution websites. You will learn how to submit your content to dozens of websites in minutes. Lastly, the Video Marketing Cashmap package explores the revolutionary Amazon S3 service and explains why it is a viable paid alternative.

PayPal Cashmap

2010-08-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

These days, a business can have clients from as far away from Australia and New Zealand, from Israel to England, and you have the issue of getting secure payments from them. If you are shipping products to them or performing services for them, how can you be sure of getting paid in a timely fashion? This is where PayPal comes into play, and where the PayPal Cashmap package can help you.

PayPal is an online system for billing, payments, invoices, setting up a shopping cart means of purchasing, and so much more. Used to its fullest, PayPal can help with record keeping, exchanging various currencies, taking care of memberships and subscriptions, and managing your cash flow.

First off, you have to set up a PayPal account. If you plan on moving more than five hundred dollars a month through the account, you'll have to give the site your social security number. Then there is the information on your bank account - so money can be deposited to it and withdrawn from it, as needed. Some people are loathed to give out such information; so the Cashmap package guides you in all of this.

Once your account is ready, you can send and receive money from people, and you can even bill people who do not have a PayPal account. All you need is an email address and you can send them an invoice. If they are in another country, you can request the payment in their local currency, and then PayPal will exchange it into yours.

In business, you want to present a very professional look to your clients. With PayPal, you can create an invoice by using one of their templates, and it will look professional. You can even create a clickable invoice, which is one that your client pays just by clinking on the link in the invoice.

These are but a few of the features of the PayPal Cashmap package , but they make it clear just how powerful a package it is.