Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

If You Respect Them, They Will Buy -- Closing the Sale

We've all had the unfortunate experience of being convinced by a pushy salesperson to buy something we weren't sure we wanted. You may have really wanted the product, but after being pushed into buying it, you don't want it anymore. You either return it or you never patronize the store again. Since you resent the experience, don't recreate it for others when you are trying to sell. If you didn'. . .

Positioning for Profits!

Last Friday, I was spending one last day of freedom with a dear friend who was expecting to have her first baby at any minute. We decided to hang out by the pool. On the way there, we stopped to pick up some lunch to eat pool-side. Given the choice of Wendy’s, Subway, or McDonald’s, I chose Subway because I knew I could get a relatively low-calorie, low-fat lunch there. How did I know that? Bec. . .

Building Downlines and Keeping Them

You know the scenario: You join some program, work your butt off to promote it, to get signups, and you feel like you`re hitting a brick wall. After a few months, you give up, and try something else, or give up completely. Know what`s missing? Active, helpful sponsors/uplines. Have you ever tried mailing your upline, only to get NO response? It`s a horrible feeling. Makes you think "Why should. . .

I WANT To Be An Online Marketer!

Where do I start if I want to be an online marketer? Tough question, huh?There are lots of ways to begin your way on the bumpy journey. Just make sure you are aware that it WILL be a bumpy ride.First things first: do a lot of research. Find out what kind of thing appeals to you most. It could be affilate programs, mlm`s or maybe you like the idea of selling other peoples products for a commissi. . .

Buying Radio? Read This and Don't Waste Your Money

Buying radio? Then find out how to make the most of your investment. No doubt you’ve listened to, and then quickly deleted, messages from account execs from your local radio stations. Maybe you’ve even entertained them in your office. Hopefully you didn’t have to sanitize your phone or office afterwards. Well, radio can be great way to garner awareness cheaply... ahem, inexpensively... if you d. . .

6 Steps To Get "Slightly" Famous

A few years ago, Bruce Smith experienced a slowdown in his Salt Lake City-based travel agency. Airlines had eliminated his sales commissions. The recession and recent terrorist attacks also took a toll. And because the travel industry was ultra-competitive, he knew he had to find ways to distinguish his company from thousands of other travel agencies.Then, he had a fortunate accident. His wife . . .

Life After Press Release Distribution?

A few weeks ago I was participating on an on-line message board. One of the members was a new business owner who was very excited about sending out her company's first press release. The question she posted to the group was important, but also a common one echoed by so many small-business owners charged with handling media coverage in-house for the first time: "Now that I've distributed my pres. . .

The Nuts And Bolts Of Traffic Exchanges

Traffic Exchanges. What are they? How do they work? What do they do?First of all, a "Traffic Exchange" is exactly that, a way to exchange traffic, a way to get visitors to your site. This happens by you visiting sites, in exchange for pageviews to your site.There are LOTS of Traffic Exchanges out there. Some good, some bad, but most of them work in basically the same ways. You join, visit sites. . .

The Nitty-Gritty Of Ezine Publishing

I sat here this morning, and decided to work out exactly how much time I use on creating my weekly ezine, and I almost kinda shocked myself. I`m not the ONLY publisher who refuses to automate, so please, after reading my hours, spare a kind thought for all those other publishers out there that do everything manually, and who really take the time to get down to a personal level with their subscr. . .

Email Marketing Tips

If you don`t know it yet, you will probably learn over time, that email marketing is probably THE most effective way of marketing online. That is, IF you do it the right way. Here`s a couple of hints and tips that have worked for me: I have a habit of signing up for safelists that offer free pro memberships to the first so-so many members. I find that smaller safelists are most responsive. Once. . .

Tips on Avoiding Scams

One thing I think we ALL agree on: There are way too many scams out there. Both online and off. Things like:Email from a "millionaire who needs help transferring large sums of money" This is one of the most popular scams online today.How about the "You`ve won the lottery!!" mails? You know that unless you`ve bought a ticket, or registered for the lottery in question, you haven`t really won a th. . .

How "Available" are YOU?

The internet can be pretty scary at times. Do you realise how easy it is to access your personal information? Your phone number, name, address? Even get driving instructions on how to get to your location (if you`re in the USA)??Did you know that www.google.com works as a telephone directory?? If you`re in the USA, anybody can find you through their search engine. If you`ve got an unlisted numb. . .

It's the Little Details that Can Make or Break a News Story

Have you ever heard of the saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure?" Well, that statement is a true one, but never more so than in the realm of media relations where so many small-business owners find it so difficult to garner media coverage for themselves or their companies. Allow me to illustrate my point below in an actual incident that happened to one of my clients and the . . .

What You Know Can Work Just As Well As Who You Know

We all know the saying in business, "It's not what you know but who you know", right? This saying is definitely true when it comes to small business and on occasion, the same can be said in media relations. However, what you know can sometimes get you just as far - especially if you're trying to tell your story to the local press. Some time ago, a small-business client approached me about handl. . .

When Elephants Dance on Wooden Floors

Imagine that you've just won a vacation to a beautiful tropical island. You are told it's a magical place where all your dreams will come true. The only requirement is that you must visit a secret cabin hidden in a mystical enchanted forest, and watch a special presentation from beginning to end. You are told that you will see the most incredible life-changing show you've ever seen.On the first. . .

The Ugly Side Of Internet Marketing, What The Gurus Won't...

Did that headline grab your attention? I have experimented with many different headlines on my sites and found that you can take the same sales letter yet your sales will increase or decrease depending on the headline you are using. That's nothing to sneeze at! Your headline can literally make or break your advertising campaign. The headline is the most important part of any sales letter. It ha. . .

How to Successfully Promote your Business to an Internati...

Breaking into the international marketplace can catapult a company into increased profitability and growth more rapidly than when selling to a domestic market.But how do you market your company successfully to overseas buyers? What can you do to provide the right information to prospective clients that is informative and engaging? How can you stand out from the crowd?The most common promotion. . .

Fishing For Ezine Subscribers

The Bible tells the tale of the fishermen who were just not catching a thing. Jesus came along and told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, which they did. Surprise! They caught so many fish their nets began to tear.Jesus had a strategy. He thought outside the box. And he knew where to go. Of course, when you're God, you tend to know a lot of things.What about fishing f. . .

The Damn Truth About Network Marketing

The Damn Truth About Network Marketing:How I Was Wrong and How You Can Learn From My Mistakesby Scott Lucas© 2003, http://www.WebCashLeads.com/2894It’s interesting to hear people’s opinions about Network Marketing. There are some people that think it’s a pyramid scheme, a scam, not a profession, or that it does not work. SHAME ON THEM! If only these same people got educated about the indus. . .

The Damaging Admission--a Persuasive Technique

We would all like to think that our product or service is flawless. More importantly, we would like for others to believe that as well. But no matter what you sell, a drawback (sometimes several) will always exist, even if only in the mind of your reader-prospects. Either way, you MUST address the issue up front. In fact, if written properly, "the damaging admission" can actually be used to you. . .

Are There Secrets to Gaining Media Coverage?

Are there secrets to gaining media coverage or is it pure luck? It's a question that I am asked often while meeting with small-business owners who are seeking press attention for their companies or products. While luck certainly plays a part, the short answer to this question is "maybe." However with a little practice and skill, a small-business owner can significantly increase the chances of g. . .

Dropped Jaw Syndrome, Your Fastest, Most Reliable Market ...

Business owners should be more like doctors. Forget selling and start asking your customers where they hurt. Broken leg? Ulcer? Empty wallet? Don't sell, diagnose. And what are you as a doctor looking for? Well, of course: that ever-illusive, yet ever- profitable disease called Dropped Jaw Syndrome. OK, it may not be in any medical book. But Dropped Jaw Syndrome, however rare, is known to anyon. . .

Successfully Selling Your Professional Services

As a professional service provider you face special challenges promoting yourself to potential clients. You may have certain restrictions on how you market or advertise. You may feel overwhelmed by the demands of being both owner and employee. You might not have a strong base of effective selling & marketing skills. In addition, you may believe that self promotion is somehow unprofessional and. . .

"How To Write Effective Ezine Ads...& Then Some"

When writing an ezine ad, there is a big mistake that most people make when writing an ad. That is, they try to sell something in those ads, and there is a good reason why you don't want to do that.Let's think about this for a second, if it will take seven times for most people to buy your product. Then how many times will you have to run that same ad to the same people in the same ezine, to. . .

11 MONSTROUS Small Business Marketing Mistakes and How To...

Increase your profit potential by identifying – and avoiding – these 11 marketing mistakes.MONSTROUS Marketing Mistake Number 1: Sinking a Fortune Into an Unproven ProductIs your business idea built on market research or a hunch? Entrepreneurs often fall in love with their products or services before they determine if there's a real market, and they throw fistfuls of money into the . . .

Generating Website Traffic with Sub-domains

Sub-domains are websites that are located within a directory of your main site and have their own domain name. Because they use the same resources as the main website, they are normally much cheaper than getting another hosting account. Their low cost and flexibility make sub-domains a great device for directing traffic to your site without breaking the bank.*Sub-domains as Portal Sites*One of . . .

10 Beer Budget Event Marketing Tips

Are you planning an event or participating in a trade show any time soon? If so, consider the following 10 low-cost marketing tactics before mailing your payment.Event Marketing Tactic #1 -- Is the purchase decision-maker attending the event? Are you certain? Let's say you sell gifts that help increase employee moral and you're considering exhibiting at the National Association of Human Resourc. . .

Cracking The Billable Hours Ceiling

How many of you made as much money as you wanted to last year? Don't be shy; raise your hands. Hmm, I don't see too many hands out there. What would you say is the cause of this gap between your goals and your earnings? While you could certainly name the economy or inadequate marketing as the culprit, I'd like to suggest a third alternative. It may be the constraints of the billable hours model. . .

Make Your Web Site Work More So You Can Work Less

Do you know how your web site fits into the overall marketing strategy for your business? Do you have a strategy for your web site as a marketing tool? If you're like many entrepreneurs I speak with, you probably don't.All over the world, small business owners are spending thousands of dollars on building and maintaining web sites without being able to answer one big question: What do you want . . .

Writing Suitable Copy for the Press

Summer is finally here and school is out, but learning for the rest of us continues. Whether you're a seasoned PR professional working for a top agency, a novice just beginning a career, or a mid-level manager working in-house at a small business, the time comes when we all could use a refresher course in properly writing suitable copy for the press. My lesson occurred recently upon reading an . . .

The Top 10 Wild and Wacky Ways to Market Yourself for Big...

In today's competitive world of business, it takes moxie and pizazz to sell a great product, idea, or service. This list will provide you with ten unusual and creative marketing strategies which will help you to stand apart from the competition and to increase your visibility.1. Celebrate the Wacky World Holidays with your Clients and/or Customers.Did you know that August 17 is Number 2 pencil . . .

The Truth About Public Relations

The truth is, you CAN attract the support of those external audiences whose behaviors have the most effect on your enterprise. But you must do it by first achieving the positive changes you need in their perceptions and, thus, behaviors. You’ll get both using this strategic approach to public relations which means your chances of achieving your organizational objectives are enhanced. It all sta. . .

The Top Ten Rules of Effective Networking

Many of us are discouraged by the networking events that we go to. We feel swamped by people just looking to get money from us, and we rarely feel as though the event was worth our time.Yet networking should be one of the best ways to bring in new business. The key is learning to network correctly.Even those of us who enjoy networking should remember the following tried and true rules of effe. . .

5 Keys To A Successful Ezine

There are 5 basic keys you need for your ezine to be successful and here they are though not necessarily in this order. 1- Hosting You need good reliable hosting for your website. You don't want to lose subscribers because your site is always down. Not only that... it's unprofessional. Why should someone listen to what you have to say in your ezine when you can't even get the basics of having y. . .

Make front page news by NOT inviting the media

Not a single reporter showed up at our news event. And we were THRILLED!Not a single photographer showed up to capture the moment. And we were pleased as punch!Not a single newspaper knew about the event. And we received front page coverage in every one!You can make front page news by keeping the media away. But how did we do it? Here is the media relations plan we used:BACKGROUND: A few . . .

Forget The Hype!

So you`re new to the internet, and want to learn everything you can about internet marketing. Or at least the essential basics, and you want a place to go to find the answers to all of your questions?I hate to tell you this, and I`m really sorry, but as far as I know, there IS no one-stop source to learning the essential marketing skills, apart from school maybe, but I will TRY to answer some q. . .

How to Tap in to the Holiday Publicity Bonanza

If your product or service can be given as a gift, a publicity windfall awaits at the end of the year - but you need to start working in June. Each December, media outlets cover the newest, the hottest and the most unusual Holiday gifts. The reporters assigned to develop these pieces typically depend on two sources of information:1. Phone interviews with local store owners - and - 2. Press . . .

Share Your Knowledge! Write It And They Will Come!

Are you looking for more visitors to your site? Of course you are!!! There are so many ways to promote your business. These days it's hard to decide which methods are best for your business. One thing that holds true to all sites is to write about what your most pationate about! No i'm not talking about writing a sales copy, those articles probably will never be published!I'm saying that you wr. . .

Add-on Sales - The Key To Success On The Web

Question: Can you guess the cheapest way to make a sale?Answer: Sell to the customer that just bought from you!All successful salespeople have one thing in common: They know how to make sales "after the sale". There are many costs associated with finding a buying customer. Selling is not a cheap endeavor. This is why it makes sense to really go after add-on sales.For example, if you have ever p. . .

Persistant Advertising Will Do No Harm!

From my experience, I've been on many discussion groups and have spoken to many other like minded people. The one topic that always seems to arise is how to get massive sales right away.Not only massive sales but quick sales. Well let me clear something up for you. Creating MASSIVE sales takes much dedication, persistence and especially patience. Not to mention planning & money!See the unfortun. . .

A Revolutionary "NEW" Dimension in Sales

A Revolutionary 'NEW' Dimension In Sales: Make many more closings in the same amount of time! By Art Nelson and Linda Carlson Phase I Phase I: Learning the Product is the first thing Paul does as he begins his career in sales. This 'newbie' envisions three major factors that will determine his success or failure in sales. They are: Knowledge of his product.  Knowledge of the benefits that it o. . .

The Building Blocks to Effective Marketing

The Building Blocks to Successful MarketingIt’s More than Sales and AdvertisingBy Julie ChanceWhether you’re a Fortune 500 company or a one person shop, to be successful, you must have a marketing strategy and you must implement it consistently. However, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune and you don’t have to be a creative genius.The key is developing a marketing strategy that forms a solid fo. . .

A Common Problem

During a survey of my new subscribers, I heard many common challenges facing online marketers today. I could spend hours rambling on about this problem or that, and what can be done to minimize the difficulties that each presents but, instead I will focus on what has proven to be “your most difficult challenge.” My inbox has been flooded as of late with many problems found in affiliate marke. . .

3-Levels of Successful Selling

Any selling approach that lacks a proven strategy, a practiced proficiency for its application and most significantly, a full understanding of its psychological, human behavioral import – is at best, a wishful endeavor. …Paul Shearstone 2003......................................................................................No one ever questions the fact there are born athletes who, when compa. . .

The Art Of Cold Calling

I know, don't groan. You have to do them if you want to get properties and make money. Believe me, I used to hate cold calling. For those of you that have read our book, "Who Makes It Happen: Back On The Road To Success With Creative Real Estate", remember it used to take me an hour to get on the phone and then after 30 minutes I was ready to hang up.I've learned over time to not think of telep. . .

A Magic Number for Writing Sales Letters

When I write sales letters for my clients, one rule I always start with is The Rule of 7.I learned about The Rule of 7 from one of my good friends who once ran for political office. In his campaign, he made certain that his name appeared seven times in all of his radio spots.Why? Because that’s generally the number of times required before a name “magically” sticks in the mind of a prospect. Th. . .

Taking the Mystery out of Marketing

Knowing where to start to improve your marketing can be a bit of a mystery. Is it your marketing message, the places you advertise, your web site or what? By measuring the results or your marketing efforts and collecting feedback, you can uncover the secrets of what is and isn't working and learn what to refurbish or replace to generate more leads and increase sales. Tom called me with a questi. . .

Uncover Your Hidden Markets

Want a simple, low-cost way to boost your sales? Just uncover the narrowly defined sub-markets hidden in your main market. Then create special versions of your advertising to focus on the specific needs of prospects in these hidden market segments. 1. How to Find Your Hidden Markets Start by evaluating your existing customers. Look for groups of customers with similar characteristics you do not. . .

What Our CAT Taught Me About Marketing!

Toby is one of our two family pets (both cats). He is quite astute, and he has learned one of the most basic tenets of selling - stick with what works! Many of Toby's days are spent perched on the top of my monitor as I work here on my computer. As a matter of fact, he's here right now as I write this article. Toby is a very personable creature. He enjoys being in the company of humans, and he . . .

Chicken Little and the Disintermediation Myth

If Chicken Little were alive today he wouldn’t be running around forewarning us of the sky that was about to fall. He’d be too preoccupied alerting everyone about another potential disaster - which may in the end prove to be just as erroneous as his first prediction. Nevertheless, if the conversations around the office water coolers are any indication, he’d still get the attention of many nervo. . .