Ready: Get your product idea ready. Make it good enough to sell. Don't worry about making it perfect. There will be time enough for that later.
Fire: Start selling it. Sell it every way you can. Test different offers. Test different ad copy. Test different media. Keep testing until you discover something that works. This is your Optimum Selling Strategy (OSS).
Aim: Expand your customer base by focusing on your OSS. As your customer base grows, develop business procedures to accommodate that growth. Hire the best people you can to manage your business. Discover, through "back-end" marketing tests, other products and services that your customers will buy. Use those discoveries to refine and perfect a fast-selling line. As this back-end business flushes cash into your company, invest a good deal of that cash into front-end marketing.
That is the cycle of a successful start-up venture.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Making your sales copy more personal:
Write your sales message in a conversational tone, as if you're talking to a friend. For example, instead of saying "This business program can help entrepreneurs earn substantial profits," say "You know that new car you've had your eye on? Well, check out this program. It will help you get it."
Share information about yourself. When people feel that they know you, they're more inclined to trust you and want to do business with you.
In my marketing copy, I frequently admit what a slow starter I was... how I was in my late twenties and was pretty much broke before I started my first successful business. When my prospective customers hear things like that about me, they sympathize with what I went through. And that makes them feel closer to me.
Be honest. Say what you really think, not what you think your customers want to hear.
Share information about yourself. When people feel that they know you, they're more inclined to trust you and want to do business with you.
In my marketing copy, I frequently admit what a slow starter I was... how I was in my late twenties and was pretty much broke before I started my first successful business. When my prospective customers hear things like that about me, they sympathize with what I went through. And that makes them feel closer to me.
Be honest. Say what you really think, not what you think your customers want to hear.
Take the time to understand your customers and their problems.
Only by putting yourself in your customers' shoes - taking the time to figure out not only their wants and needs but also their worries, fears, and hopes - can you develop products or services that will truly help them.
When you do that - when you give them something that will make their lives better or easier in some way - you're sending a very strong message that you care. This is especially true if you continue to develop new products or services for them.
When you do that - when you give them something that will make their lives better or easier in some way - you're sending a very strong message that you care. This is especially true if you continue to develop new products or services for them.
Focus on a narrow niche market.
Focus on a narrow niche market.
I publish informational programs for wannabe entrepreneurs who want to start up and run one or more businesses on a shoestring. Since I'm not trying to cater to all entrepreneurs, I can focus very specifically on what my customers want and need. Because it is obvious that I am devoting my time and energy to helping only people like them, it is clear that I sincerely care about their success.
Customers will believe that you genuinely care about them when they have a reasonable basis for that belief. By specializing in delivering a product or service that is aimed directly at them, you take an immediate step in that direction.
I publish informational programs for wannabe entrepreneurs who want to start up and run one or more businesses on a shoestring. Since I'm not trying to cater to all entrepreneurs, I can focus very specifically on what my customers want and need. Because it is obvious that I am devoting my time and energy to helping only people like them, it is clear that I sincerely care about their success.
Customers will believe that you genuinely care about them when they have a reasonable basis for that belief. By specializing in delivering a product or service that is aimed directly at them, you take an immediate step in that direction.
Keep The Customer
As a small-business owner, you don't have a whole lot of business-building tools at your disposal. In terms of resources, a small business just can't stand up to a mega-corporation. But you don't need a lot of money or employees to find - and keep - customers. You just need a few easy-to-come-by strategies.
In fact, being small can actually work to your advantage when it comes to one of the all-time best strategies: establishing a relationship with each customer. It can:
Get the customer to trust you enough to take the chance of doing business with you that first time.
Build loyalty - so the customer wants to continue to buy from you rather than your competitors.
Get the customer to refer you to other potential customers.
You develop relationships with your customers the same way that you do it in your personal life. In big part, that means caring for them.
Think about the people you consider to be friends. Aren't they people you genuinely care about - and who seem to genuinely care about you?
And think about your relationships with companies - big and small - that you deal with on a fairly regular basis
In fact, being small can actually work to your advantage when it comes to one of the all-time best strategies: establishing a relationship with each customer. It can:
Get the customer to trust you enough to take the chance of doing business with you that first time.
Build loyalty - so the customer wants to continue to buy from you rather than your competitors.
Get the customer to refer you to other potential customers.
You develop relationships with your customers the same way that you do it in your personal life. In big part, that means caring for them.
Think about the people you consider to be friends. Aren't they people you genuinely care about - and who seem to genuinely care about you?
And think about your relationships with companies - big and small - that you deal with on a fairly regular basis
Friday, April 25, 2008
Disappearing Languages
At least one of the world's estimated 6,000 languages goes extinct every two weeks. Native speakers either die off or assimilate into larger cultures over several generations. Most of the disappearing languages are spoken by very few (in some cases, just one person) - usually tribal people who are moving into the modern world.
Extinction hotspots include the Pacific Northwest, Oklahoma (home of the highest density of indigenous languages in the U.S.), several parts of South America, northern Australia, and eastern Siberia.
Extinction hotspots include the Pacific Northwest, Oklahoma (home of the highest density of indigenous languages in the U.S.), several parts of South America, northern Australia, and eastern Siberia.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Ignore the News.
I don't know one single successful trader or investor who watches any news shows during the day. I myself turn the TV and radio off during the day.
Watch these shows in the evening - unless you have a special analyst you want to see or listen to during the day.
But other than that, when the markets are open, the commentary you find on these shows will more often than not just confuse you, frighten you, or mislead you.
And always keep in mind: News does NOT dictate the major trends in any market or security. To the contrary, news flows FROM the trends!
Think about it: How often has a stock reported better-than-expected earnings, and its share price tanks? Or it announces worse-than-expected earnings, like Citibank did just the other day, and the share price soars?
The same holds true when economic stats are released by Washington like unemployment numbers, CPI, trade deficit numbers, you name it - they are all backward-looking statistics and do not create or change trends.
Rather, the statistics are the result of trends already in motion, and if you follow them, or rely on them to trade, you are virtually guaranteed to lose money.
So what can you rely on? Your own homework on the markets, whether it's based on fundamental or technical analysis. Or on an analyst you trust, and who has proven that he or she not only understands the major trends at work in the markets, but also knows the importance of sound money management concepts.
Watch these shows in the evening - unless you have a special analyst you want to see or listen to during the day.
But other than that, when the markets are open, the commentary you find on these shows will more often than not just confuse you, frighten you, or mislead you.
And always keep in mind: News does NOT dictate the major trends in any market or security. To the contrary, news flows FROM the trends!
Think about it: How often has a stock reported better-than-expected earnings, and its share price tanks? Or it announces worse-than-expected earnings, like Citibank did just the other day, and the share price soars?
The same holds true when economic stats are released by Washington like unemployment numbers, CPI, trade deficit numbers, you name it - they are all backward-looking statistics and do not create or change trends.
Rather, the statistics are the result of trends already in motion, and if you follow them, or rely on them to trade, you are virtually guaranteed to lose money.
So what can you rely on? Your own homework on the markets, whether it's based on fundamental or technical analysis. Or on an analyst you trust, and who has proven that he or she not only understands the major trends at work in the markets, but also knows the importance of sound money management concepts.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Profit-Happy Playground
From an automatic $800 monthly to $187,296 in one day, for a few hours' work - that's what is possible with this new Internet formula for success.
Now you can discover how to do the same by setting up automatic income streams that flow to you each and every month. And there's no limit to how many sources of income you could have.
Now you can discover how to do the same by setting up automatic income streams that flow to you each and every month. And there's no limit to how many sources of income you could have.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Worth a Cup of Coffee?
If you buy a client a cup of coffee, never, ever, ever ask for a receipt.
You see, asking for a receipt means you are going to claim the charge as a business expense. What's the big deal? Well, it gives the subtle impression that, even after all the thousands of dollars the client has spent with you or your company, you do not value the relationship enough to buy him a cup of coffee.
Yes, it's a small thing. But little things can add up to a boatload of good - or bad - feeling. If you don't ask for a receipt when you treat your client to a drink or dinner, you give the impression that you care about him on a personal level.
Don't worry. You can still write it off as a business expense. In most cases, you'll get a receipt without asking. If you don't, you'll have a credit card statement you can use to prove the expense.
The point is, forget about yourself. Your clients are important. If you're not willing to spend a few bucks to buy them a cup of coffee from time to time, how much do you value those relationships?
You see, asking for a receipt means you are going to claim the charge as a business expense. What's the big deal? Well, it gives the subtle impression that, even after all the thousands of dollars the client has spent with you or your company, you do not value the relationship enough to buy him a cup of coffee.
Yes, it's a small thing. But little things can add up to a boatload of good - or bad - feeling. If you don't ask for a receipt when you treat your client to a drink or dinner, you give the impression that you care about him on a personal level.
Don't worry. You can still write it off as a business expense. In most cases, you'll get a receipt without asking. If you don't, you'll have a credit card statement you can use to prove the expense.
The point is, forget about yourself. Your clients are important. If you're not willing to spend a few bucks to buy them a cup of coffee from time to time, how much do you value those relationships?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Starting an online home business is not expensive.
Depending on the type of business you wish to start, your start-up
costs can be as little as $50 or less, even close to free if you use
companies like Bravenet
The fact is, most businesses do NOT need to incur expensive start-up
costs... and most businesses should not invest a lot of start-up
capital before they've tested their business and their market
online. That's where so many "dot bombs" made such a grave mistake
in the past, and there's just no need to take that risk.
Only once you've tested your business idea on the Net and found it
to be a viable opportunity should you start investing in the kind of
software, web design, inventory (or whatever) that you'll need to
grow your business. Then again, you may want to just do it all
yourself every step of the way...
These days, you can keep your start-up costs down to approximately
50 bucks or less. And you can begin adding the other components of
your online business once you've proven that your business can be
profitable.
costs can be as little as $50 or less, even close to free if you use
companies like Bravenet
The fact is, most businesses do NOT need to incur expensive start-up
costs... and most businesses should not invest a lot of start-up
capital before they've tested their business and their market
online. That's where so many "dot bombs" made such a grave mistake
in the past, and there's just no need to take that risk.
Only once you've tested your business idea on the Net and found it
to be a viable opportunity should you start investing in the kind of
software, web design, inventory (or whatever) that you'll need to
grow your business. Then again, you may want to just do it all
yourself every step of the way...
These days, you can keep your start-up costs down to approximately
50 bucks or less. And you can begin adding the other components of
your online business once you've proven that your business can be
profitable.
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Federal Reserve...
...while trying to revive credit markets and fuel economic growth, should ensure that reductions in the benchmark interest rate don't spur inflation, said San Francisco Fed President Janet Yellen.
The Fed "will have to be careful not to leave monetary accommodation in place longer than it is needed," Yellen said to reporters after a speech today in Alameda, California. Otherwise, policy makers may "put upward pressure on inflation" or create "a bubble" of speculation in the economy.
Yellen's view follows that of Minneapolis Fed Bank President Gary Stern, who said last month the Fed may need to prevent excessive market speculation that could damage the economy. Some investors have said the Fed under former Chairman Alan Greenspan left rates too low, encouraging asset bubbles in stock markets in 1999 and in housing markets this decade.
The Fed "will have to be careful not to leave monetary accommodation in place longer than it is needed," Yellen said to reporters after a speech today in Alameda, California. Otherwise, policy makers may "put upward pressure on inflation" or create "a bubble" of speculation in the economy.
Yellen's view follows that of Minneapolis Fed Bank President Gary Stern, who said last month the Fed may need to prevent excessive market speculation that could damage the economy. Some investors have said the Fed under former Chairman Alan Greenspan left rates too low, encouraging asset bubbles in stock markets in 1999 and in housing markets this decade.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
All the good Internet home business ideas are not gone!
Opportunity abounds on the Internet, and e-business success is not a
waning proposition. Far from it -- the online shopping community is
rapidly increasing both in terms of how many online shoppers there
are and how much they're willing to spend.
And there are so many proven business models on the Net that you can
simply follow... or there's plenty of room for you to develop your
own, unique approach to your market. And there are so many different
things you can sell! For example, you could...
Sell your own products
Sell your own services
Drop ship products
Recommend affiliate products
Sell ad space
Joint venture with like-minded businesses
Start an affiliate program
... and more.
These are the top online profit streams, but of course you can
always find others. Plus, there's no reason why you can't
incorporate several of them into your home business model! The key is to
focus on one, maximize revenue from it, and then move on to the next.
waning proposition. Far from it -- the online shopping community is
rapidly increasing both in terms of how many online shoppers there
are and how much they're willing to spend.
And there are so many proven business models on the Net that you can
simply follow... or there's plenty of room for you to develop your
own, unique approach to your market. And there are so many different
things you can sell! For example, you could...
Sell your own products
Sell your own services
Drop ship products
Recommend affiliate products
Sell ad space
Joint venture with like-minded businesses
Start an affiliate program
... and more.
These are the top online profit streams, but of course you can
always find others. Plus, there's no reason why you can't
incorporate several of them into your home business model! The key is to
focus on one, maximize revenue from it, and then move on to the next.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Three Ways to Grow a Business
1. Increase the number of customers.
2. Increase the average transaction value.
3. Increase the frequency of repurchase.
Find a way to maximize each one, and your business will experience an astonishing rate of growth.
2. Increase the average transaction value.
3. Increase the frequency of repurchase.
Find a way to maximize each one, and your business will experience an astonishing rate of growth.
Monday, April 14, 2008
"The BeBiz 'Special Skill Finder' Questionnaire!"
The following questions are designed to get you thinking about what really matters to YOU. Be sure to print this list and write your answers down -- you're going to want to refer to them later.
Do you play any sports?
If you had unlimited dollars and a week's worth of free time, what would you do? List the first activities that come to mind.
What websites do you visit when you're just "surfing around" online? What topics do these cover?
Have you ever won a trophy or award? What for?
Have you ever been recognized for a contribution of services? What did you do?
Do you have pets? What kinds?
Do you have kids? What do you like best about being a parent? What do you find most challenging?
Do you have any specialized education? Have you ever taken a class in a subject like pottery or sailing? Do you have any kind of academic continued education?
Have you ever volunteered anywhere? What did you learn through this experience?
Have you ever gone through a particularly challenging experience, and come out of it stronger than ever? What was that challenge, and what did you do to overcome it?
What lifetime accomplishment are you most proud of? What did you learn from this experience?
Do you have firsthand knowledge of any medical illnesses or issues? If so, which ones?
Do you collect anything? If so, what?
What television shows do you enjoy? What kind of music do you listen to? Do you ever attend theater events or other events related to the arts?
Is there anything you've always really wanted to do or learn more about, but just haven't had the time?
Once you have finished, go over your answers to these 15 questions, paying special attention to the ones that got the strongest positive response from you.
These are the areas that are most likely to lead you to the ideal market you should target with your business.
Now narrow your list down to 3 to 5 topics you're truly passionate about. These topics are going to be the starting point of your research.
Do you play any sports?
If you had unlimited dollars and a week's worth of free time, what would you do? List the first activities that come to mind.
What websites do you visit when you're just "surfing around" online? What topics do these cover?
Have you ever won a trophy or award? What for?
Have you ever been recognized for a contribution of services? What did you do?
Do you have pets? What kinds?
Do you have kids? What do you like best about being a parent? What do you find most challenging?
Do you have any specialized education? Have you ever taken a class in a subject like pottery or sailing? Do you have any kind of academic continued education?
Have you ever volunteered anywhere? What did you learn through this experience?
Have you ever gone through a particularly challenging experience, and come out of it stronger than ever? What was that challenge, and what did you do to overcome it?
What lifetime accomplishment are you most proud of? What did you learn from this experience?
Do you have firsthand knowledge of any medical illnesses or issues? If so, which ones?
Do you collect anything? If so, what?
What television shows do you enjoy? What kind of music do you listen to? Do you ever attend theater events or other events related to the arts?
Is there anything you've always really wanted to do or learn more about, but just haven't had the time?
Once you have finished, go over your answers to these 15 questions, paying special attention to the ones that got the strongest positive response from you.
These are the areas that are most likely to lead you to the ideal market you should target with your business.
Now narrow your list down to 3 to 5 topics you're truly passionate about. These topics are going to be the starting point of your research.
This "Global" Economy
Imagine how well your business would be doing if you could slash your costs by more than 49% while boosting your profits by more than 57%.
You can do it... if you know how.
Today, as a matter of fact, all the Fortune 500 companies are doing just that, and they're posting record-breaking profits by taking advantage of the "Global Economy."
Unfortunately until now, only big companies could even think of doing this. But not anymore. Now it's your turn.
You can do it... if you know how.
Today, as a matter of fact, all the Fortune 500 companies are doing just that, and they're posting record-breaking profits by taking advantage of the "Global Economy."
Unfortunately until now, only big companies could even think of doing this. But not anymore. Now it's your turn.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Credit Crunch
The IMF, Moody's and Goldman Sachs estimate that banks, insurance companies, pension funds and other investors collectively stand to lose as much as $1 trillion dollars worldwide, during the current credit crisis.
While the figure rolls easily off the toungue, we need to remind ourselves that this is a million x $1 million - or the annual GDP of a medium-sized economy like Australia, India or South Korea.
With only about $200 billion of write-downs reported so far, it would be advisable to stay clear of the financial and insurance sector until the dust has settled.
While the figure rolls easily off the toungue, we need to remind ourselves that this is a million x $1 million - or the annual GDP of a medium-sized economy like Australia, India or South Korea.
With only about $200 billion of write-downs reported so far, it would be advisable to stay clear of the financial and insurance sector until the dust has settled.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
You Do Not Need To Be An Expert Before You Start A Home Business.
It's really a shame that so many people put off starting the online
business they're dreaming of because they think that before they can
start, they need to become a web designer... a search engine
expert... a programmer... and an MBA.
The truth is that the most successful people on the Internet are
often none of the above!
One of our favorite success stories is about a guy named Preston
Reuther who was battling a mental illness, was really down on
himself, and barely knew how to turn on a computer before he somehow
worked up the courage to just give it a try.
Well, Preston just worked on one thing at a time, with a little
advice and encouragement along the way... and now his Wire-
Sculpture.com web site generates over $1,000,000 per year!
And that's the key: Learn just ONE thing, and learn it well... then
move on to the NEXT strategy, and the next, and the next...
Anybody can start an online business. All it takes is a little
courage to start and a little resolve to keep going and keep
learning new strategies, techniques, and ways to grow and improve
your home business.
business they're dreaming of because they think that before they can
start, they need to become a web designer... a search engine
expert... a programmer... and an MBA.
The truth is that the most successful people on the Internet are
often none of the above!
One of our favorite success stories is about a guy named Preston
Reuther who was battling a mental illness, was really down on
himself, and barely knew how to turn on a computer before he somehow
worked up the courage to just give it a try.
Well, Preston just worked on one thing at a time, with a little
advice and encouragement along the way... and now his Wire-
Sculpture.com web site generates over $1,000,000 per year!
And that's the key: Learn just ONE thing, and learn it well... then
move on to the NEXT strategy, and the next, and the next...
Anybody can start an online business. All it takes is a little
courage to start and a little resolve to keep going and keep
learning new strategies, techniques, and ways to grow and improve
your home business.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Watch how a business is created online...
A friend is going to start a brand-new business
100% from scratch in less than ONE WEEK -- and
he's going to film the entire process and turn it
into a FREE video course, so you can see how easily
it can be done!
He will release the complete "X-Treme Challenge"
video course over a four-day period: April 21-24th.
These videos will be absolutely FREE, but will only
be made available to people who sign up for Derek's
notification list.
So if you want to learn how to build a money-making
online business in ONE WEEK OR LESS, then I urge
you to go to:
http://www.marketingtips.com/xtreme-challenge/t/862721
Larry
P.S. Make sure you set aside at least one hour each day
on April 21-24th, so you can watch the FREE training
videos and implement the lessons you learn right away.
... Who knows? You could be making good money online by
the 1st week in May!
100% from scratch in less than ONE WEEK -- and
he's going to film the entire process and turn it
into a FREE video course, so you can see how easily
it can be done!
He will release the complete "X-Treme Challenge"
video course over a four-day period: April 21-24th.
These videos will be absolutely FREE, but will only
be made available to people who sign up for Derek's
notification list.
So if you want to learn how to build a money-making
online business in ONE WEEK OR LESS, then I urge
you to go to:
http://www.marketingtips.com/xtreme-challenge/t/862721
Larry
P.S. Make sure you set aside at least one hour each day
on April 21-24th, so you can watch the FREE training
videos and implement the lessons you learn right away.
... Who knows? You could be making good money online by
the 1st week in May!
Intro…
Hi Everybody, my name is Larry Potter and I created my first
online business in January of 1998 with a newsletter called
"Stocks2Watch®" and in late 2005, my brother and I started
another online business called "Learn How To Create Your
Own Home Business While Learning The Trade Secrets Of
Incredibly Successful Online Entrepreneurs!"
Would you like to start an home business
and make $250,000 per year… automatically? If so,
please join our web club and come back often, and please
feel free to leave your comments and questions and pass this
on to your friends. You never know who may have a great idea
that could make both of you a ton on money.
ANYONE can have a wildly profitable online business by
following some simple but proven systems that have been
used to make thousands in home business sales!
Literally 1,000s of regular people — with no special education or
experience — have used the tips you will find here to start "fun"
businesses that give them MORE free time and income than they
ever dreamed possible…
So read on and let's get started with your success.
Larry
online business in January of 1998 with a newsletter called
"Stocks2Watch®" and in late 2005, my brother and I started
another online business called "Learn How To Create Your
Own Home Business While Learning The Trade Secrets Of
Incredibly Successful Online Entrepreneurs!"
Would you like to start an home business
and make $250,000 per year… automatically? If so,
please join our web club and come back often, and please
feel free to leave your comments and questions and pass this
on to your friends. You never know who may have a great idea
that could make both of you a ton on money.
ANYONE can have a wildly profitable online business by
following some simple but proven systems that have been
used to make thousands in home business sales!
Literally 1,000s of regular people — with no special education or
experience — have used the tips you will find here to start "fun"
businesses that give them MORE free time and income than they
ever dreamed possible…
So read on and let's get started with your success.
Larry
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