Happy (butterfly) Marketer!

Why Every Internet User Should Join ALGOCO

2007-01-03T12:48:00.000-05:00

I recently joined AGLOCO because of a friend recommended it to me. I am now promoting it to you because I like the idea and I want you to share in what I think will be an exciting new Internet concept.

AGLOCO's story is simple:

Do you realize how valuable you are? Advertisers, search providers and online retailers are paying billions to reach you while you surf. How much of that money are you making? NONE!

AGLOCO thinks you deserve a piece of the action.

AGLOCO collects money from those companies on behalf of its members. (For example, Google currently pays AOL 10 cents for every Google search by an AOL user. And Google still has enough profit to pay $1.6 billion dollars for YouTube, an 18-month old site full of content that YouTube’s users did not get paid for!

AGLOCO will work to get its Members their share of this and more.

AGLOCO is building a new form of online community that they call an Economic Network. They are not only paying Members their fair share, but they’re building a community that will generate the kind of fortune that YouTube. But instead of that wealth making only a few people rich, the entire community will get its share.

What's the catch? No catch - no spy ware, no pop-ups and no spam - membership and software are free and AGLOCO is 100% member owned. Privacy is a core value and AGLOCO never sells or rents member information.

So do both of us a favor: Sign up for AGLOCO right now! Click here -
Sign up for AGLOCO! (If you use this link to sign up, I automatically get credit for referring you and helping to build AGLOCO.)

The bigger the AGLOCO network gets, the more valuable every Member becomes, and the more you make from the system. The larger AGLOCO is, the better our ability to generate revenue for our Members.

Thanks

happy marketer

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technorati link
AGLOCO
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Own The Internet

2006-11-26T00:20:00.000-05:00

Readers,

I just signed up to be part of AGLOCO™ , an Internet economic network launched few hours ago. Basically, AGLOCO™ gives its Members part of the money they (as Internet users) generate. Their slogan is 'Get Your Share of the Internet'. They are also giving the entire company to the Members (it is a 100% Member owned entity.) -- You get more cash and shares if you refer new Members, which is one of the reasons I’m posting this information.

AGLOCO™ Membership is free. Among the founders there are Stanford students and also the couple who launched AllAdvantage in 1999, which had millions of Members and paid out over $100 million to them. So it has a chance of working... Best of all, there is nothing that the users can lose, because all they do is – sign up, invite friends to join and use the internet normally.

So, click on this link AGLOCO and sign up now. This link will automatically give me credit when you sign up – if it does not work use my id# BBBC0447. Once you sign up, you may check owntheinternet.com for some cool ideas on how to build your network of contacts fast.

happy marketer

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technorati link
agloco
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Affiliate Project X

2006-10-10T17:35:00.000-04:00

Affiliate Project X is unlike anything I have ever seen.

If you are an affiliate marketer, or are even thinking
about it, this resource is something you must have.

It will save you a ton of time, disappointment, and money.

But, as with all things Internet, the early bird gets the worm. Don't wait too long or the special offer will be gone. Or - worse -
your competition will already have it.

Affiliate Project X

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technorati link
Affiliate Project X
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Attracting Super Affiliates and Creating Joint Ventures just got a lot easier

2006-09-20T12:58:00.000-04:00

Just in case you didn't know -

One of THE the fastest ways to generate traffic and sales is to tap into the power of someone else's email list and have them do a mail-out promoting your product. Of course, the goal here is to get a well-known Internet Marketer, sometimes referred to as a "Super Affiliate" (SA) to send an e-mail for you. These SAs are very busy, and generally may not respond to every offer they receive. That's why yours must stand out from the rest.

So, the question is, "How do I find and contact one of these "Super Affiliates" that has a big list?"

Answer:
Neil Shearing's Spider software makes finding "power players" simpler than ever. It's a very easy to use piece of software that makes child's play out of grabbing great Joint Venture partners and Super Affiliates.

What the Spider does FOR you –
· Finds Super Affiliates for any website

· One simple download, and no fees for ongoing patches. (In fact, all current customers got a free upgrade to the brand new Version 3.0)

· Use the "Irresistible Formula" to get Super Affiliates to work with you

· Watch your profits go bananas as the professionals start promoting your product to their lists

· See your search engine ranking soar as the power players link to you!

Ready to "hire" your Super Affiliate?
Spider Software

happy marketer

P.S. About Neil Shearing...
Neil's been online for over a decade and has an excellent reputation for honest business online. In fact, he founded the ScamFreeZone in 1997 to help people make money online without falling victim to scams. That's why I am happy to endorse his software.

Get the Spider crawling for you today -
Spider Software

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technorati link
spider software
neil shearing
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Get your FREE copy of Derek Gehl's tele-seminar!

2006-09-12T17:43:00.000-04:00

Hello reader -

Wow, I just finished listening to Derek Gehl's FREE tele-seminar...

... Okay, actually, I had to listen to a recording of it because the 'live' call was completely FULL and I kept getting a busy signal despite the fact that Derek had opened up 500 extra lines.

Anyway, this call featured an interview with Amanda Montoya, who attended one of Derek's Internet marketing boot camps, made some changes to her website, newsletter, and business automation -- and DOUBLED her annual income in 3 days with an email promotion that generated over $100,000.

... And it's really great information!

So, I wanted to let all of my subscribers know that Derek has just made a recording of this call available as a FREE download, so you can listen to it, too...

Go to Derek's Tele Seminar

-- fill out the registration form and you'll instantly have access to the free recording of this call, plus the details of 2 more FREE tele-seminars Derek is hosting this week.

I highly recommend it!

happy marketer

P.S. Please note... Derek has told me that seating for each call will be strictly limited to 500 callers -- if you miss the cut-off, you'll get a busy signal like I did! So make sure you call EARLY to avoid disappointment!

Register at Derek's Tele Seminar
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derek gehl
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Your Name As A Domain Name?

2006-08-23T16:20:00.000-04:00

I have a quick question for you. Who do you “listen to” online? By that, I mean, what other online marketers do you feel you "know" and respect? Whose articles and advice do you take most seriously?

If you've been in the online marketing arena more than a few weeks, I'm sure you've noticed there are some names that stand out. Everyone has his or her favorites. These are the men and women that everyone else looks up to.

Any project they touch seems to turn to gold. With just a few mouse clicks, they can reel in 5 figures overnight. They're rainmakers.

Do you wish the same were true of you?

In addition to obvious skills in marketing, A LOT of these people's successes can be attributed to the fact that they have spent much time and effort in branding themselves as online marketing leaders. They write articles, they get their name out there for people to see, and they make sure to provide only great information to their contacts.

The Internet is largely based on the flow of information, so it should come as no surprise that the people with the best information on any particular subject are the people who are sought out by others.

As an online and network marketer, no single thing will give you a bigger jump towards success than to make yourself known. It's a huge advantage.

Many have registered their own name as their domain name. That's a smart move. If you haven't considered doing that yourself, and your name is still available, consider grabbing it before it's gone. I recommend this company (GDI). Registration is easy, and website tools are included. Do it while your name is available. GDI

Here are a few pointers that will help you brand yourself and make other people want to do business with you.

1) Make a web site about you, with all of your contact information available.

2) Write some good, original articles that are relevant to what you are promoting online and make them available to your website visitors.

3) Put your picture online! It's been said that people are three times more likely to believe what you are saying when they have a face to put with the words. At least in theory, by letting your visitors see the real you, you'll be able to signup three times more people or sell three times more product. Even if that's not 100% accurate, you'll still benefit.

4) When you use and like a product that's sold online, ask the seller if you can write them a great testimonial for use on their website. Be sure to include your picture and the link to your site.

5) Start a mailing list and keep your contacts updated on what you're doing, what you like and even what you dislike online.

6) Join some popular online marketing forums and offer help and assistance to people who are struggling through issues you've already dealt with. Always include your entire name.
You want to brand “Your Name”, nothing less.

7) Next time you get an email, don't reply with just an answer. Ask the person you're writing to how they're doing. Let them know you really care and you're not ONLY online to make money.

8) Always use a signature file that includes a link to your personal website in your emails.

There are hundreds of ways you can increase your exposure online. These are just a few simple ones you can start doing almost immediately to increase your sphere of influence. By finding your niche, learning about it and sharing great information about it, you'll start being recognized as an expert in your own right.

Then, people will start seeking YOU out, and your marketing business will grow to new heights.

P.S. Don’t forget - register your name as a domain, and get the tools to build your site at the same time – Just go here: GDI

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domains
gdi
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Residual Income - My 2 Favorite Words

2006-08-22T17:24:00.000-04:00

I know you've heard of residual income – you know, making a sale one time, but then earning monthly income from it for life? That's the ticket to success on the Internet –

With income in mind, do you know one of (if not THE) best ways to build passive residual income online (passive just means you won't have to do any more work after the initial sale)? I'll give you a hint...

It has to do with having your own Membership Website.

Wait! Before you jump ship, I know what you're thinking –
"That would be great...but it's WAY too much work!"

You're right – it is a lot of work! That's what I thought too, until today...

If you've ever wanted to start a membership site (the best way to earn passive residual income), but didn't know how, or - wanted someone else to do the work, this is YOUR day!

Just click on "My Money-Making Membership Site" for all the details -

happy marketer

P.S. Check out the screenshot that shows 50k from ONE membership website in just 30 days.
Click Here for 50k

P.S.S. There's a valuable bonus for quick action!
Quick Action!

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membership websites
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The Most Powerful and Useful Software to be Released in Quite Some Time - and it's FREE to Boot!

2006-07-28T18:00:00.000-04:00

(If you haven't yet taken a look at this valuable piece of software with a free version that is as powerful as anything I've seen, then you are just really missing out on yet another great opportunity.
HyperVRE )

When I recommend something like HyperVRE it isn't because I'm crossing my fingers and hoping to get rich. It's because it's brilliant and meets my standards as a residual income generator. Also:

1) It has a powerful free version you can download immediately.

2) The upgrade is reasonable and one-time, not monthly. The value it delivers for a one-time upgrade is beyond compare.

3) It utilizes Google Adsense, which is hot and proven, providing you with a steady residual income for years to come. The one-time upgrade allows you to generate Clickbank, Amazon and PaydotCom commissions as well.

4) It has no viable competition. And it's owner, Matt Callen has already proven himself with other products.

5) See #1 (A powerful free version)

I'm not just pitching you - I'm URGING you --
Get out of the Internet marketing poor house!

Download your free copy right now and you can literally have 1000s of pages with your Adsense code on them in the next 36 hours, earning you residual income for years to come.

Don't believe me? Get a grip! It's free for cripes sake!

Download it here:
HyperVRE

P.S. If you need hosting to set up your website(s), I highly recommend this company. There's even a 7-day free trial period:
Hosting

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technorati link
HyperVRE
Matt Callen
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The 5 Reasons Why You Must Get Into the Software Industry Today

2006-07-07T12:51:00.000-04:00

by Mike Chen

If you’re in business on the web, no matter what industry you're in, it's absolutely vital that you either sell software, or offer free software, to your customers.

By the time you are done reading this article, you will understand why.

1. "It's the Product, Stupid"

No amount of marketing "how to" is going to make up for not having a killer product.

People are sick of being told how to do it. They want something that will "do it" for them.

Software does just that ... It *does* things for people.

Stop trying to sell "how to" and start selling instant solutions.
That's where the real money is.

2. Downloadable Viral Marketing Tools

OK, so you don't want to sell software. Fair enough.

You're crazy if you don't use software as a viral marketing tool.

Many of the largest lists on the Internet were built using free software downloads as an enticement for subscribing. Ever hear of hotmail.com? It was built by giving away free e-mail accounts (software).

You can easily add viral twists to these tools, and before you know it – hundreds, or even thousands of sites could be offering your free software - becoming virtual newsletter subscriber magnets.

What if you created just one new tool like that a week - or just one a month?

How big would your list be inside of 6 – 12 months?

3. Create Value-Added Customer Helper Apps

What if you were to create applications that simply added value to your existing products and services?

How much higher would your customer satisfaction be if you created various software tools to teach, train, support, or otherwise help your customers?

How many more sales would that added customer satisfaction generate for you without any additional effort year after year?

4. Up sell Products

As you probably know, selling new products to existing customers is the easiest way in the world to make money.

It's 5 times easier to sell to an existing customer than it is to acquire a new one.

Why not create new products using "Make Your Own Software" and sell them to your existing customer base?

Instant profits.

5. Highest Profit Margins in the World

Electrons are free!

If you're selling an instantly downloadable product, your product fulfillment costs are virtually nil.

Plus, in the software industry there is no inventory to manage, so it's probably the easiest business in the world to manage as well.

If you want more information about making your own software to sell or give away, click on this link:

I heartily recommend it –

happy marketer

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technorati link
make your own software
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George's Adsense Dime Sale

2006-06-27T17:03:00.000-04:00

Dear reader -

I have some astonishing and exciting news today.
Real shocking stuff...

I learned that George Pluss increased his autopilot income from $69 to $75 per day doing nothing...

Did you hear about the dime sale that he did in May? I missed it, but heard it was a HUGE success - lots of money changed hands, and none of it was mine :(

Well, Adsense Dime Sale #3 just started!

This is what you'll see:
- Exact daily stats for May 2006 and how they increased
- What types of sites you MUST have to get paid like George
- The ACTUAL sites that bring cash day in and day out

On top of that you'll learn:
How YOU can start in the same business for as low as ONE CENT a piece!

If you thought the first or second was good, that was nothing compared to what George has planned this time. It has all the above and tons more, no kidding! And also he is revealing how and why his earnings increased this year.

You should just see for yourself:

One more exciting thing -
With this Dime Sale it's wise to invest also because it actually brings instant income to you.

You see, you can lock the price to the lowest it will ever be. Then you grab the package, get your referral link and blast the prewritten ad copy.

With only one sale you will be in profit, because it will definitely be more than you paid (remeber, you locked the lower price) AND 100% of each and every sale is paid to you, instantly!

Go to this link and do it now:

Can you send 50 visitors to the site? Yea - you can do that -
Then you could be making 10 sales at $5-$10 or maybe $15 each. George does not keep anything! Just send visitors and all profits are yours. This can easily be the fastest cash you'll ever see.

It sounds crazy but right now you have all the chances to get double value and make loads of fast cash with an "investment" of only 10 cents (or whatever cheap price it may have risen to).

You gotta take advantage now because this may be the last time George does this. Click here to lock your price. No obligation, and at least you'll see those shocking stats!

Sincerely,

happy marketer
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technorati link
george pluss
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Building Your Downline with a "Viral" Recruiting System

2006-06-14T16:51:00.000-04:00

The toughest part of building an online business (at least from an affiliate point of view) is HOW to build a downline that will duplicate your efforts, and grow on its own. We call that a VIRAL downline, and it is simply "the cat's pajamas" in the Internet marketing world!

I'll elaborate further -

Let me start off by explaining the biggest benefit of providing your downline members with a viral recruiting system.

It boils down to this...

When you have a viral marketing system in place for your team members, your downline has the potential to take on a life of its own and continue to grow effortlessly while you're focusing on more important things such as family and friends.

A gentleman I recently discovered managed to accomplish the difficult task of duplication while maintaining his full time job and family life.

He mentioned that ever since the beginning of his online ventures he was searching for a system that brought interested prospects in automatically.

He didn't have time to do the traditional recruiting methods because they required a lot of time and commitment.

What he wanted instead, was a huge downline that duplicated on auto-pilot from his part time efforts.

"But did such a solution exist?"

If it did, he said he couldn't find it...

So after many years of struggling to build a solid residual income through network marketing he decided it was time to take the bull by the horns (so to speak) and he created a 3 step marketing system that literally exploded his downline within a few months.

The part that amazed me the most was the fact that he didn't spend a dime on advertising. And his downline is now over 5,700 strong and growing monthly on auto-pilot.

Ultimately I learned that being a successful sponsor involves providing some type of system that helps people build their business, not sitting around wondering why your downline isn't doing anything.

I guess the quote from Zig Ziglar holds true:

"You can have everything in life you want, if you just help enough other people get what they want."

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If you would like to learn more from James, he is allowing a limited number of people to download a copy of his manuscript: "7 Secrets To Building A Productive Downline!" Download your FREE copy here:
7 Steps to Downline Success!
(It really is free)

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downline
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"How to Eat, Sleep, and Breathe like an Internet Marketing Genius"

2006-06-07T11:18:00.000-04:00

"How to Eat, Sleep, and Breathe like an
Internet Marketing Genius:

What I Learned from My Good Friend and Colleague, Corey Rudl -- Genius Internet Marketer, Inspirational Leader, and Mentor to Thousands."

By Derek Gehl

============================================================

Last June, in the few weeks immediately following the announcement of Corey Rudl's tragic car-racing accident, our office received over 16,000 e-mails of support and condolence... and easily over 1,000 phone calls.

The entire IMC Team worked overtime, responding to every e-mail and phone message, one at a time, so we wouldn't miss anyone's questions or comments.

"Thanks" didn't seem an adequate response to the overwhelming support and caring shown us.

(It was a rather humbling experience, really... )

On June 2, 2005, Corey Rudl, a teacher, mentor, cheerleader, HIGHLY successful Internet marketer, and especially friend, died suddenly and tragically in an auto crash. How could someone so young, 34, at the height of his success, both personally and professionally -- someone who inspired 1,000s of people to pursue and achieve their personal best -- be taken from us so soon? Too soon...

You see, a question that keeps appearing in e-mails from everyone is, "How can I be like Corey?"... "How can I think like Corey?"

It seems many of you are interested in learning MORE than his secrets to Internet marketing -- you want to learn how to be "like" him.

So I'm going to give you a bit of insight into Corey's philosophies for business, success, and life.

These are a collection of the five most profound lessons I learned from Corey over the last eight years of partnering with him, some of which he loudly expressed to me (Corey talked loud and fast when he got excited)... and some he quietly but effectively shared through his living example.

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Lesson #1: Failure doesn't "happen"; it's a choice.

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In Corey's mind, there were only two ways you could "fail." You could give up and quit. Or you could decide not to learn from your mistakes.

Corey believed failure was a choice. So Corey never failed.

He tested new ideas. He learned from what worked, and what didn't. Then he applied those lessons to his next test or idea, and he kept doing this until he got results he was satisfied with.

Sure Corey made mistakes... Yeesh, I still cringe when I think of a $90,000 mistake we made several years ago. And sure, Corey would get really ticked off when stuff went wrong.

But Corey was also always the first person to seek out the positive in every bad situation and say, "Well, what did we learn from this?"

... And, more important, "Will we do it again?"

Corey firmly believed every costly lesson was going to result in exponentially greater success in the long term.

And he was right.

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Lesson #2: Assume nothing, test everything

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Corey had zero respect for people who were content to assume. To him, it was a mark of laziness. So something everyone quickly learned when working with him was to deal in nothing but the facts.

If Corey asked a question, and you didn't know the answer, it was one thousand times better to say, "I'll look into it and get back to you," than "I think this might be the answer," or "I assume this is right."

Theories, assumptions, and guesses were the enemies of success as far as Corey was concerned. He believed you should either go straight to the source for the answers (even if that means paying thousands of dollars in consulting fees) or test it yourself.

And as Corey taught me, sometimes you even need to test the "facts." For example...

... A marketing strategy that you tested and proved to work as little as a month ago may be a complete dud today. (Retesting is ALWAYS worth the effort.)

... The customer demographics you collected through a survey last year may have drastically changed. (Are they buying your products for DIFFERENT reasons now?)

... And some of the most interesting statistics may be based on flawed data. (Always read the "fine print," and if there isn't any, ask for it!)

Before you make decisions, ask questions. Assume nothing. Test everything.

And don't be afraid of offending someone -- even an "expert" -- by questioning their logic. The true experts will applaud you for this. And your questions will expose the imposters for who they really are -- wannabes.

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Lesson #3: Make opportunities to learn, and take notes.

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It would be difficult to calculate exactly how much Corey spent on educational materials each year... but I've done the math and know it was roughly in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Corey was constantly reading... On airplanes, on holidays, in between meetings -- he was absolutely relentless. He would read every business book, article, course, and marketing campaign he could get his hands on.

And Corey didn't just read material related to Internet marketing; he made a point of studying OTHER industries, too -- both online AND offline. He was always looking for new strategies and marketing ideas that he could pluck from other industries and apply to his businesses.

It was all this reading that would frequently spark his "genius" ideas...

But I think the key to this secret is that Corey made TONS of notes about everything he read and kept all his thoughts in a couple of "master project documents" that he'd refer back to every month, looking for new ideas (they were literally hundreds of pages long).

That way, even if an idea didn't work today, he had record of it so he could refer back to it sometime in the future.

Corey knew that "genius" doesn't just happen -- you need to look for opportunities to learn, and keep track of your thoughts. Your best ideas will frequently be sparked by new information, or new approaches to old information.

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Lesson #4: Seek out great teachers, and be a great listener.

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Corey firmly believed that if you want to fast-track your success, it's critical to learn from those who have gone before you... even if you just have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

So Corey made a point of seeking out teachers and mentors, and asking for their advice whenever he had the opportunity -- even if that meant paying hefty consulting fees for their guidance.

As far as Corey was concerned, you should always learn from the best. Find people who are getting the results YOU want to achieve, and ask them to mentor you.

And Corey was never afraid to ask "great people" for advice...

He was never concerned about looking dumb. And he never needed to be the smartest guy in the room. Corey was always focused on learning. So he was a student of everything... and almost everyone.

Corey was always asking people around him for feedback... What mistakes was he making? How could he improve as a leader? As a marketer? How could he be a better public speaker?

It takes guts to ask the people around you for feedback. But it takes wisdom to openly listen and learn from it.

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Lesson #5: Define your own success and live with passion.

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Corey's biggest frustration was that so many of his clients and subscribers just let life "happen" to them. I can't tell you how many times I heard him rant over the years, "They have dreams... but they don't set GOALS! Why don't they set goals and take action???"

One of the most inspirational things about being around Corey was his belief that absolutely anyone can be successful.

You just had to meet Corey once to know he wasn't just spouting the "anybody can start a profitable Internet business" line because it sounded good.

His enthusiasm... his actions... every word he spoke demonstrated his core belief that absolutely anyone can be successful.

You can learn anything... be anything... do anything.

If you decide that your age, background, and education limit your potential, they will. But if you decide that you can do anything, you will...

Corey really believed that you just need to set goals that you're excited about, and then take persistent action.

It's absolutely shocking what ONE step a day... just 10 minutes a day... one hour a day... can accomplish over one month... three months... six months.

Just imagine where YOU would be in six months if you dedicated even 20 minutes a day to working on your business... learning new strategies... or building a "swipe file" of marketing ideas!

Success isn't determined by genetics. It's about persistent, consistent action. And Corey really got that.

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Final Thoughts:

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Honestly, I could write a book about what it was like teaming up with Corey for the last eight years... and perhaps one day I will. It was one helluva ride...

Today, though, I wanted to give you at least SOME insight into Corey's personal philosophies for business success because I'm hoping they will inspire you to...

* Choose success
* Test something new today
* Make opportunities to learn
* Seek out great teachers
* Define your goals, and take action to reach them

These are the philosophies that Corey inspired the entire IMC Team to run his company with... and these are the philosophies that we are continuing to move forward with.

Corey's legacy wasn't just cutting-edge marketing strategies or industry leading software -- it was the inspiration he shared with thousands of "real people."

And that's the legacy I personally plan to continue.

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If you want to find out what’s new, and what’s going on with Derek and the gang at the IMC, just visit here:
The Internet Marketing Center

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internet marketing
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These Ladies Are Funny - Dangerous, But Funny

2006-02-14T12:16:00.000-05:00

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Two elderly women were out driving in a large car--both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along, they came to an intersection. The stoplight was red, but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself, "I must be losing it. I could have sworn we just went through a red light".

After a few more minutes, they came to another intersection and the light was red again. Again, they went right through. The woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous and decided to pay very close attention to the road and the next intersection.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was red and they went on through. So, she turned to the other woman and said, "Mildred, did you know you went three red lights in a row...you could have killed us both!"

Mildred turned to her and said, "Oh sh**! Am I driving?"
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jokes
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Some Guys Really Know How To Have Fun!

2006-01-24T16:09:00.000-05:00

Next time you do something REALLY stupid and start
feeling down on yourself, just remember - it could
be MUCH worse!

Check out this video for a healthy dose of laughter!

Hope you enjoy -

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technorati link
truck video
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Generate More Sales by Being Nice

2006-01-10T11:54:00.000-05:00

by Debbie LaChusa, 10stepmarketing

Let me ask you a few questions.

What do you do in your business to help leave a lasting impression on your prospects and clients?

How do you ensure they'll remember you so when they're ready to buy, they think of you?

What do you do that sets you or your business apart?

After all, there are probably at least several other businesses or people your clients could turn to for the same type of products and services you offer.

What reasons are you giving them to buy from you instead?

I was on the receiving end this past week of some very special treatment by three separate businesses. If further reinforced the value of showing your prospects and clients how much you appreciate them. And, treating your best clients like VIPs.

And, the best part is, all three were a total surprise. (That's a hint: if your prospect or client doesn't expect it, they value it, and you, even more!)

The First Incident

I went to pickup my mail last week and there was a note in my box indicating I had received a package - a package that was too big to fit in my mailbox. I took the little red slip of paper up to the counter to redeem it for my package.

Inside I was feeling giddy. Even as an adult, I LOVE getting packages! Who doesn't?! Especially when I'm thinking ... I didn't order anything ... I'm not expecting a package ... I wonder who sent me a package!?

When I received the package it was a small brown box and the return address said Ezine Articles. If you've been reading The 10stepmarketing Ezine for awhile or you've taken one of my teleclasses or seminars, you probably know I'm an expert author for Ezine Articles.

I wondered two things: why are they sending me a package, and what could it be?

When I opened it I found an "I Love (with a heart, not the word 'love') Ezine Articles" coffee mug, a packet of coffee and a note saying I was one of 250 out of 14,000+ authors to receive this gift.

Boy did I feel special!

None of the other article marketing sites I post to have ever sent me a gift. In fact, they probably don't even know who I am. But Ezine Articles made me feel important - like my articles matter to them. And, you can bet they'll stay at the top of my list for sites to post articles to. Plus, I'm telling you about them!

Is there a way you can make your very best clients, or even your prospects or subscribers feel special like this? To leave a lasting impression the way Ezine Articles left on me? To get your clients talking about you to their friends and colleagues? It could go a long way toward turning your clients into raving fans and generating more business.

The Second Incident

But that wasn't all that happened last week. Nope, it actually happened again!

My bookkeeper comes into the office once a month. When she showed up this month, she had a big package in her hand. She gave it to me and said "This is for you."

When I looked at her a little cock-eyed and confused, she replied "It's a little thank you for the referral you gave me last month."

Then, I remembered I had referred her to a friend who was looking for a bookkeeper and was having a hard time finding someone reliable and affordable.

When I gave the referral I was not expecting anything in return. I was only trying to help out a friend and help my bookkeeper get a new client.

Well, I love my bookkeeper, but guess what? I love her more now! Not because she gave me a gift, but because she recognized the value and importance of our relationship and she honored the fact I had referred her to someone else. Plus, she gave me chocolate!

But that's not all ... The Third Incident

I also received a wonderful surprise bonus from a company I've been working with for the past three years. Not only did they invite me and my family to a wonderful holiday party, they also gave me a totally unexpected cash bonus. How nice was that?! Especially at this time of year!

Believe me, I was smiling big time! Why? Because they didn't have to do it, and they did. So I know they really care.

All of these are examples of what I call "Relationship Marketing."

These examples involve gifts and you may not be in a position to spend money on gifts. I encourage you to consider what else you can do for your best clients to make them feel like VIPs. I can just about guarantee whatever you spend, whether it's time or money, it will come back to you big time!

Relationship marketing and cultivating referrals are two of the topics covered in The 10stepmarketing System. Both are winning marketing strategies that go a long way to separate your business from the pack and make sure you leave a lasting impression.

(C) 2006 Debbie LaChusa

About the Author
Debbie LaChusa created The 10stepmarketing System to make marketing your own business as simple as answering 10 questions. Learn more about this unique, step-by-step system and get a free 10-week Marketing E-Course when you subscribe to the free, weekly 10stepmarketing Ezine at http://www.10stepmarketing.com

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Six Power Steps - Step 6

2006-01-06T13:06:00.000-05:00

These 6 Power Steps by Stuart Goldsmith are just one of the resources he offers from his own life experiences as he became a self-made millionaire. I hope they have inspired you to reach and obtain goals in 2006 that you may have thought unreachable and unobtainable.

Power Step 6 - I'm Certain to Win

Our minds drive us to achieve exactly what we believe we're capable of achieving. This is good news because once we understand this and master the art of controlled thinking, then we can guide our destinies towards success.

Controlled experiments over many years have proved that children who are considered by their teachers, friends and families to be 'troublesome or terrors' actually end up getting into trouble with a high percentage becoming juvenile delinquents. However, the 'good' group of boys (in the same age group at the beginning of a study) believed by teachers, friends and families to stay out of trouble and succeed in school, go on to do so. Each group of children achieve in accordance with what people around them believe them capable of doing.

The conclusion of many similar studies is this: thinking does make it so. Only a miracle can make the football team win who starts a game with the 'We know they'll beat us,' attitude.

If you need to break the bonds of 'I'm certain to fail' slavery:

1. Hold positive chats with yourself.
2. Surround yourself with positive people.
3. Think, 'I'm going to succeed'.
4. Think, 'I'm a winner'.

The only person you will have to convince is yourself. Other people are automatically convinced you're great and a success, after you have convinced yourself.

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Clients pay $4500 a day to hear Stuart Goldsmith's hard-hitting marketing advice. Legendary copywriter Gary Halbert recently described him as "The second best copywriter on the planet!" His sales letters and adverts have made him many millions of dollars. In his startling free action guide "Double Your Way To A Million", Stuart shows how you can change nothing into $1,310,720 without any capital, simply using your wit, imagination and your natural abilities.
Claim your free copy now:

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Six Power Steps - Step 5

2006-01-05T12:20:00.000-05:00

Power Step 5 - Don't Crave Security

In ages past we accepted that life was full of hardships. They grappled with huge animals in a desperate bid to kill them for food. The odds were simple; either succeed or starve, kill or be killed.

As civilizations discovered fire and then electricity and gas to keep warm, bought food from markets and built houses of stone, people became less willing to deal with any unexpected events that threatened to turn their cozy life upside down. So, insurance was invented.

The idea of insurance is to cushion the impact of the unexpected. In theory it's a good idea, but it has turned our society into a population of security seekers. It has weakened our strength as individuals who know we can surmount any problem or situation that life throws our way.

The stifling extent of this slavery is enormous. The more security we have the less psychological freedom we can enjoy and the less our chances are of success and abundance.

Dare to Take a Chance!

The only places to find security are a prison or mental hospital. Inmates are assured a roof over their heads, food and warmth and no responsibilities. The price tag for this security? No freedom.

Unfortunately, it's all too easy to reel off a list of bad things that could happen to us. For most people it's easier than thinking of the good things that could happen.

People who crave security are slaves to a vivid imagination that conjures up bad news items that could happen to them, and they allow these images to cripple their actions. Too afraid to start that great business idea because of all the things they imagine that could go wrong. Too frightened to sell up and buy a larger house in another area because the house prices could drop or the children won't like the new schools, or... and so it goes on for an endless list.

Every child loves surprises and life is fun and exciting because of this. As we grow up and we fight for security, we eliminate the risks but in doing so we eliminate the surprises and limit our chances to achieve more than a humdrum life.

If you want to make sure you don't stifle your need for excitement:

1. Dare to be individual.
2. Dare to develop your own style - instead of following fashion.
3. Dare to study and work to improve yourself in your profession.
4. Dare to have a positive mental attitude and the courage to try.

In other words:
Dare to take a chance.

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Clients pay $4500 a day to hear Stuart Goldsmith's hard-hitting marketing advice. Legendary copywriter Gary Halbert recently described him as "The second best copywriter on the planet!" His sales letters and adverts have made him many millions of dollars. In his startling free action guide "Double Your Way To A Million", Stuart shows how you can change nothing into $1,310,720 without any capital, simply using your wit, imagination and your natural abilities.
Claim your free copy now:

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Six Power Steps - Step 4

2006-01-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

Power Step 4 - It's Never Too Late

Sadly, the following story is all too common: Bill spent years training to be an engineer, although he never really liked engineering. But he thought it was worth the sacrifice because it was a highly paid skill.

After college, he started a job with an engineering company. Years later he was still working at the same company and still hating it. His excuse was with a mortgage and family ties he was scared to leave the engineering firm and go into a job with lower wages.

After twenty years he was still afraid to correct a mistake made all those years ago. He was now too scared to change jobs, simply because he'd left it too late. He didn't want to compete with younger men experienced at their job.

If you have a goal and you find yourself saying "It's too late", the only way to conquer that fear is to ignore it and go ahead and do the thing you fear.

It's NEVER too late if you have the courage and the passion to follow your dream.

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Clients pay $4500 a day to hear Stuart Goldsmith's hard-hitting marketing advice. Legendary copywriter Gary Halbert recently described him as "The second best copywriter on the planet!" His sales letters and adverts have made him many millions of dollars. In his startling free action guide "Double Your Way To A Million", Stuart shows how you can change nothing into $1,310,720 without any capital, simply using your wit, imagination and your natural abilities.
Claim your free copy now:

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Six Power Steps - Step 3

2006-01-03T12:31:00.000-05:00

How appropriate for the new year is this step from Stuart Goldsmith - Enjoy!

Here's a pic of Stuart hard at work -

Power Step 3 - Look to the Future

If you dwell on your past mistakes your creativity can crash to a grinding halt and you will be unable to move forward. Losing is good if you interpret it correctly.

Demonstration Example: A friend of mine told me how a number of years ago, an acquaintance of his approached him with a spectacular lead about a stock that was certain to triple in price in the next few weeks. The price was $7.45 a share.

So, despite his misgivings he bought 200 shares. From that day the stock dropped. Finally eighteen months later he decided to cut his losses and sell.
He sold the stock for a huge loss at a grand total of $413. He could have let this one bad experience drive him from ever investing in the stock market again. However, this wise man explained, he was glad to have learned such valuable lessons.

It taught him:
1. Ignore the guy who wants to give a hot tip.
2. Check into a company carefully before buying.
3. Sell if it starts dropping too much.

Education of the Highest Merit

Don't regard mistakes as mistakes. It ceases to be a mistake and loses its power to hold you back if you can learn to be glad that you've not failed but learned valuable lessons in life. That attitude will help you to build future successes.

Lost a job? You probably weren't suited, so take the time out to decide what you really want to do.

Built a business and then it crashed? Perhaps you don't like running your own business.

Can't sell a product? Look for the reason and then act. Either try out other ways to sell it or scrap the product and sell a different one.

Blessed is he who is not discouraged by mistakes. Blessed is he who is glad he makes mistakes. Winning - or losing - is a state of mind.

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Clients pay $4500 a day to hear Stuart Goldsmith's hard-hitting marketing advice. Legendary copywriter Gary Halbert recently described him as "The second best copywriter on the planet!" His sales letters and adverts have made him many millions of dollars. In his startling free action guide "Double Your Way To A Million", Stuart shows how you can change nothing into $1,310,720 without any capital, simply using your wit, imagination and your natural abilities.
Claim your free copy now
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A Successful Business Year 2006

2005-12-30T15:23:00.000-05:00

Some questions to ask yourself as you prepare for the New Year and all the opportunity it holds:

1) Who am I working for?
2) What is the value of my time?
3) Am I working to promote my own business, or am I working to promote someone else's business?
4) Am I building my own list, or am I building someone else's list?
5) Are people visiting my site because they want what I offer? Or are they visiting my site to gain credits so they can promote their own?
6) Who benefits when I join particular programs?
7) Who benefits most from my efforts, my time, my money, my advertising, and my marketing?
8) Is there a better way?

After asking myself these questions, I derived my own set of goals for 2006.

1) I will work for myself, not someone else.
2) I will build my business, not someone else's.
3) I will build my own list, not someone else's.
4) I will participate only in those programs that put money into my pocket, not take it out.
5) I will succeed.

Do your goals match or exceed mine?

Whatever the case, I hope you do make plans towards your success –

Happy & Blessed New Year!

P.S. For the easiest list-building tool to be had (for free)
click here

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Six Power Steps - Step 2

2005-12-29T14:41:00.000-05:00

Power Step 2 - Strive to Be Different

Nearly everyone you know will strive to be normal - because it's socially acceptable. But the normal person goes nowhere special and achieves the mundane.

Using a fictitious character called Norman, here's an example of his normal expectations of life and mediocre results:

"I live in a pleasant neighborhood in an average house (translated as meaning: all the houses and gardens along the street look exactly alike, apart from the odd differences in plants). I own an average car (just another standard box on wheels, which apart from minor differences looks like nearly every other car on the road)."

Norman's other goals and ambitions: "I save up all year round to take my wife and children on holiday, somewhere nice where it's safe. We usually book a package holiday, so everything is taken care of and we know exactly what to expect. Even the entertainment is all planned for us."

"My job is boring, but it pays the bills and the pension is good. It'll never make me rich, but then I don't want to be rich (but he wouldn't give away a lottery win!). Anyone who's rich has had to lie and cheat his or her way to the top. I like to sleep at night with a clear conscience. I may not have much but at least it's honest toil."

"I don't have much to do with the neighbors; I don't really like them. But, to keep the peace I mow my lawn once a week and keep the garden weeded and tidy, and do the odd job for them. I like to think they view me as a nice guy."

"Every other weekend we visit our best friends, Alice and Paul, and they visit us alternate weekends. Like us, they're your average typical family. Most nights after work I shower, change and after dinner, put my feet up and watch television until bedtime. Every Sunday, we have a roast dinner and every Friday we treat ourselves to a fry up. Am I happy? Well, it's life, isn't it?"

That's how Norman thinks and lives his life and that's how many people live their life. Norman’s family spends their days grumbling about how they hate their jobs, get fed up with their bosses and partners, but that's all they do. The same gripes day in and day out - but taking no action to change their situation, simply because they are slaves to being normal (and 'what will other people think of me, if I do something unusual?').

Living in the Fast Lane of the Elite

Let's compare Norman's goals and ambitions with another invented character, David. He's one of the smaller group of people who move forward and live the life of the elite and privileged.

"My philosophy on life is simple. Life is too short to be little. I'm not concerned with what other people think of me. If all my neighbors want to cut down their hedges and build short brick walls and block pave their drives, that's their choice, but I'm not going to have it done just to please them. I like the trees so they're staying and I prefer to have a shingle drive. I've done everything possible to make our house individual."

"Often, I ring Sarah from the office and ask her to forget about cooking dinner for that night and how about going out for a meal? We've tried all the restaurants within a twenty km radius."

"We both love holidays, and I take the family as often as possible. We spend most weekends, exploring new places and trying out different activities."

"I love my job; it's very challenging being a manager. I get to meet and work with people of many different personality traits, from varied backgrounds. Every now and then a junior is obviously aiming to take my job. I don't find it threatening; I like the challenge. I enjoy working with intelligent people who stretch my potential."

"I work hard and I am paid well. Do I feel guilty? No, I expect to be paid handsomely for my efforts; I wouldn't have it any other way. We live in a large house in an exclusive area and that's my reward for going the extra mile at work."

"I don't automatically go home at the end of the working day. And sometimes I arrive at the office as early as 6am, just to prepare for a meeting with my team."

"I want to be rich and I am prepared to plan and work towards my goals. I look forward to the future. I don't know what's around the corner and I don't care, because whatever happens I will handle the situation. I know I can solve problems - my strength lies within, it does not come from any outside forces. I couldn't care less whether other people approve of me or not, I know I'm okay and that's all that matters."

Two Opposing Philosophies

Norman's slavery to acting normal (and slavery to what other people think), creates poverty and unhappiness. While David's striving to be different (and refusal to be a slave to other people's expectations of him) creates wealth and happiness.

If you are ever tempted to query if David's attitude is not a tad selfish, then just ask yourself this question, "Who would you prefer to have as a friend? Norman, who's bored and unhappy, or David - who's exciting and happy?"
Easy, isn't it?

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Clients pay $4500 a day to hear Stuart Goldsmith's hard-hitting marketing advice. Legendary copywriter Gary Halbert recently described him as "The second best copywriter on the planet!" His sales letters and adverts have made him many millions of dollars. In his startling free action guide "Double Your Way To A Million", Stuart shows how you can change nothing into $1,310,720 without any capital, simply using your wit, imagination and your natural abilities.
Claim your free copy now
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Six Power Steps - Step 1

2005-12-28T12:45:00.000-05:00

© 2003 Stuart Goldsmith

Stuart Goldsmith is a multi-millionare, and he's letting us in on the way he thinks - I'd listen if I were you. ;)
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This series of six power steps structures your thinking to make sure the actions you take will drive you towards success.

Today's Power Step -

Power Step 1 - Be in Charge of Your Life

Caring what other people think of you puts them in charge of your life, instead of you.

"What will other people think of me?" slavery is extremely common. Most of us are brought up (rightfully so) to consider others. But, unless we are discerning, we soon find ourselves caught up in a job we can't stand, or living in a relationship which makes us unhappy, or getting caught up in the spiral of poverty.

"Trying to please other people all the time" syndrome begins in childhood. It stems from a desire to be liked and admired. Let's look at a fairly typical scenario: three boys, Fred, Joe, and Matthew, all five years old, are best pals. They fight to sit together at school and spend their breaks in a group. Fred comes to school one day with a stack of pokemon cards to show his friends. Joe is envious of Fred's collection and a fight breaks out when Fred refuses to give a prized card to Joe.

There are several resulting scenarios, all with serious implications for Fred's future. A teacher could break up the fight and make Fred feel guilty for not parting with the prized card. Joe could refuse to talk to Fred even ending the friendship, unless Fred relented. Matthew would side with either Joe or Fred, or be a peacemaker and force the other two to discuss the problem and sort it out amicably.

The biggest danger to Fred is if the solution entails his giving the card away, when he really doesn't want to. In other words, if the only reason he gives in, is because he desperately wants to be liked and it really matters what his friends think of him. If they were real friends, of course, Joe would understand Fred's view and Matthew would not criticize. Fred might even willingly offer Joe another not so valuable card out of his collection.

Over the years thousands of small incidents build up, until by the time we are adults, most of us make a habit of putting what other people think of us before our own personal needs and desires.

The Right Reasons

Before you cut the grass, decorate the house, start a business, go on holiday, always ask yourself, "Am I doing this for the right reasons?"

Yes, the gardening has to be done, but not if you're in the middle of crucial market research, and if you don't cut the grass today you're worried that the neighbors will think you're lazy. Yes, a house has to be decorated, but not if it's at the expense of your health through shooting your stress level through the roof trying to fit it in between a busy advertising campaign, and it's only because your partner insists you do it now.

"Other people" slavery kills your creativity, your energy and drive towards your own goals and fulfilling your dreams. It stops you from going to places you want to visit and enjoying the kind of entertainment that you enjoy. So, make certain you're not always driven to do things, merely because you're worried about what other people think of you.

Be confident in who you are!

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Clients pay $4500 a day to hear Stuart Goldsmith's hard-hitting marketing advice. Legendary copywriter Gary Halbert recently described him as "The second best copywriter on the planet!" His sales letters and adverts have made him many millions of dollars. In his startling free action guide "Double Your Way To A Million", Stuart shows how you can change nothing into $1,310,720 without any capital, simply using your wit, imagination and your natural abilities.

Claim your free copy now

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9 Tips for Better Copywriting

2005-12-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

by Alex A. Kecskes

1. Avoid the wimpy verbs--is and be.

These "do-little" verbs only occupy space and state that something exists. So don't write, "There is one simple omission that can transform a sentence from boring to brilliant." Do write, "One simple omission can transform a sentence from boring to brilliant." Similarly, avoid, "We will be running the new program from our Dallas office." Instead, opt for "We will run the new program from our Dallas office."

2. Place the longest item at the end of a series.

Start with the simple and work toward the complex. It's less confusing and makes a more memorable ending to the sentence. If you have a series like "He was always later that Joan, loud and boring." Opt for "He was loud, boring and always later that Joan."

3. Specifics are more convincing.

Unless you must for legal reasons, don't use words like many, several, approximately, nearly and other such mushy weasel modifiers. Specifics tell your audience that you know what your product can do based on tests, research, results, etc.

4. Modify thy neighbor.

Neighboring clause, that is. Make sure your modifiers apply directly to the pertinent clause in question. Do this and you'll avoid such gaffes as "I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way. (The truck wasn't coming the other way, it was stationary.) Better to tell the judge "I was coming the other way and collided with a stationary truck." (You'll still pay the penalty for running into a truck, but at least you'll come across as sober.)

5. Use single verbs to avoid doublespeak.

Single verbs can often do the work of two similar verbs. Instead of "The computer was operating and running smoothly," go for "The computer was running smoothly." Or, instead of "He was empty and ran out of gas," go for the more direct "He ran out of gas."

6. Vary sentence length.

A string of sentences all the same length can be boring. Start with a short sentence or at least a medium-length one, then go long, short, medium or any combination thereof. Imagine a person talking in sentences that are all the same length. Robotic.

7. Are your sentences like the Energizer Bunny?

They go on and on. Just because you're conveying legal or complex technical information, doesn't mean you have to use serpentine sentences that never seem to end. Instead of saying "Laser beams, which have many properties that distinguish them from ordinary light, result from the emission of energy from atoms in the form of electromagnetic waves." Break up and re-phrase: "Laser beams have many properties that distinguish them from ordinary light. They are produced when atoms emit energy in the form of electromagnetic waves."

8. Go short and sweet.

Why use a 4- to 5-word phrase when a 1- to 2-word version will do nicely--with no loss in meaning? Statements like "in view of the fact that" can be easily reduced to "since" or "because." Word economy is particularly important, especially when you're paying for premium ad space in a major publication.

9. Don't overstate the obvious.

Redundancy is good for space travel, but not for clear writing. Phrases like "anticipate in advance," "totally finished," or "vital essentials" will drive your readers crazy and communicate very little. The same goes for stringing two or more synonyms together like "thoughts and ideas" or "actions and behavior." It makes readers wonder if you really meant to say two different things or just wanted to reinforce one word with a needless synonym.

Alex Kecskes provides a full range of copywriting services. Visit www.akcreativeworks.com for more information and samples.

About the Author
Alex Kecskes is a former ad agency Copy Chief who has created effective copy and concepts for a wide range of ad agencies and Fortune 500 companies. As owner of ak creativeworks, Alex provides strategic copy for brochures, mailers, multimedia, radio, newsletters, PR and web content. He has published articles in a variety of publications about health issues affecting both men and women, as well as topics in business and technology.

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12 Sales-Boosting Strategies

2005-12-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

by Alex A. Kecskes

The competition is fierce and ad budgets are tighter than ever. If you're looking to boost profits and gain market share, there are some things you can do to gain a bigger piece of the pie.

1. Give your product a distinct personality.
OfficeMax's Rubber-Band Man is an instantly identifiable, highly memorable character that has boosted sales and brand recognition. It personifies the brand while selling the message that whatever customers need they can get at OfficeMax.

2. Give them an interesting history lesson.
Some of the most common products we use today have the most interesting development histories. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, left historical records of a powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help heal headaches, pains and fevers. By 1829, scientists discovered that the salicin in willow plants was the key ingredient in aspirin, which was later repackaged and marketed by Bayer.

3. Sing your product's praises.
Create a memorable catchy song, poem or jingle that that hooks in people's minds. Gillette sold millions of razor blades using "The Best a Man Can Get," which continues to stick in consumers' heads, leaving a positive impression about the product's unbeatable performance.

4. Re-package your product for the customer.
Create new convenience packaging that makes your product easier to buy, use or refill. Motor oil used to be sold in cans that required a punch-in can opener or separate punch-through spout. These were messy and troublesome to use. Now oil is sold in twist-open, easy-pour plastic bottles.

5. Let consumables take the lead.
Drop the price of your product, then promote and sell its consumables. Computer printers can be bought for as little as $20, yet the ink cartridges sell for $29 apiece. So don't worry about making a big profit on devices, let your consumables take the lead.

6. Use viral marketing.
Viral marketing is any word-of-mouth or "tell a friend" mechanism that induces users to re-convey a marketing message to other sites or users. Leveraged by the power of the web and email, viral techniques can create exponential growth in your product's visibility.

7. Customize your product.
Try to give customers exactly what they want by creating apparently customized versions of your product. Consider the success of Cycle 1, 2, 3, 4 Pet Foods, or Burger King's "Have it Your Way."

8. Go high tech.
Exploit the latest technological advancements in media to underscore your message. For example, explore the use of audio chips in magazines, brochures or mailers. The novelty of these devices gets people talking, and there's that "V" word again (viral marketing).

9. Promote product sharing.
This can be done by showing how your product brings friends and family together. An emotional appeal like this can be very memorable. A good example is Almond Joy's, "you can share half and still have a whole." Another is the ubiquitous Friends-and-Family discount, which abounds in everything from cell phones to vacation packages.

10. Show your product being used by experts.
If possible, establish your product as the one used by recognized experts in the field. A case in point is Canon's use of photojournalists to endorse its 35mm cameras.

11. Make you product "sui generis".
Establish the fact that your product is generically in a class by itself. Consider Porsche's use of the line "there is no substitute." Or products that have become household words: "blow your nose with a Kleenex," or "make me a Xerox copy."

12. Think outside the demographic box.
Attract a new category of customers by thinking outside the box. Consider gaining younger or older buyers by expanding the utility and style of your product, e.g., cell phones for 'tweens, or health bars for seniors.

About the Author
Alex Kecskes is a former ad agency Copy Chief who provides a full range of copywriting services to agencies and Fortune 500 companies. For samples and more information, please visit: www.akcreativeworks.com

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The Adwords and Adsense Road To Big Profits

2005-12-06T13:49:00.000-05:00

by Darren Yates

Do you use Adsense to monetize any of your websites?

Do you use Adwords to buy in visitors to any of your websites?

Have you considered combining the two and sending Adwords traffic to your site featuring Adsense Ads? There are huge profits currently being made by enterprising site owners who are buying low cost keywords and sending the traffic to high paying Adsense ads.

Sounds simple doesn't it?
It is - and believe me, it works.

The problem is, it can be a real balancing act if you go about this the wrong way. You can loose serious money or just scrape a marginal profit.

First of all, you need to find a niche market. Stay clear of the Internet Marketing arena - there's just too much competition there. Instead look into day to day niche markets. But before you do this you need to consider your target keyword. For best results you need a high bid keyword; that is, a keyword that Adwords advertisers are willing to pay a lot for per click.

You can find these for free over on the Overture bid tool. Most bids displayed there are likely to amount to much more on Adwords. For a more accurate bid pricing you can use one of the numerous paid for services that have sprung up across the Net this year. These services analyse thousands of keywords, there bid price, the number of advertisers bidding, the number of searches for that keyword and some of the better services will even report the ad clicks you can expect per day.

One of the better paid for services I came across you can find here www.cashkeywords.com (non affiliate link). They run a list which is constantly being updated and added to. So you will always have a regular fresh source of keywords to target. Currently they stand at around 133,000 keywords.

Next you need to set up a page focused on your chosen keyword. You could buy a domain name for this or simply add the page to one of your existing sites. Grab some free content focused on your chosen keyword in the form of an article from any of the major article directories(www.ezinearticle.com) and add it to your page.

(Domain and web hosting available here.)

You should also be sure to title the page with your chosen keyword. Adding a related graphic will also help. What you're trying to do here is instil a little confidence in the visitor and avoid having your page look like one of those spammy Adsense sites that crop up all over the place. Visitors will simply click away if you don't put a little effort into your page. You will still get some clicks but you can get so many more with a little effort.

Here's one of my pages as an example -
http://www.ppcprime.com/Wine-Gift-Basket.htm

Next place your Adsense ads in a number of spots on the page. You will need to test this to see which positions perform best. The prime spot according to Google is directly within the content of the page. Beyond that a good starting point would be across the top, the bottom and down the left side of your content. Essentially where the navigation appears traditionally.

Once you've got this set up start work on your Adwords campaign. Create your own list of targeted keywords, obviously I'd recommend PPC Accelerator for that. ;) Now here you don't need to worry about using high paying keywords in your own list because you will be setting your daily budget at just 5-10c. This will guarantee you don't appear on the first page for those high paying keywords. Instead you are focusing here on related keywords that you can pick up cheaply. Refer back to the issue on keyword list building for keyword avenues you can explore.

Before you run your campaign go into 'Edit settings' and uncheck all the boxes under 'Network' except Google search. This will ensure your ad appears only on Google itself, with the most proactive visitors. If this turns out to be a money making campaign you can go back into 'Edit settings' and switch those options back on.

Finally, set your daily budget low and run your campaign.

As you are probably aware neither Adwords or Adsense report stats in real-time so you will have to sit back for an hour or so before any results come in. Be sure to monitor this campaign regularly to weigh up whether your income from Adsense is covering your outgoings on Adwords.

As with any campaign there are a number of factors to take into account when it comes to click through rate. Chief among these I've found to be the day and the time of day. Some campaigns work better during the week during office hours others bring better results at the weekend.

If you're making a small profit then it may be worth tweaking your set up. If your profit is on a tightrope or you're loosing money then it may be better to move on to a different keyword.

Once you have a winning campaign start again, find another high paying keyword etc. etc.

That's it, if you take action now you'll be in for a nice bonus come January. I'm sure that will help you to recover from the Xmas splurge. :)

About the Author
As an Adwords Professional I'm giving away my Pay Per Click Advertising Mini Course FREE now.

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