Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Does Becoming a Published Author Enhance a Business?

There is a boom occurring lately, especially in the online world. More and more business people are authoring their own print book and e-books. These materials can run the gamut from information books to personal life stories, as well as coaching materials, and life skills training manuals.With so many doing this, it would seem apparent that this is a great way to escalate a business to the nex. . .

Don't Be A Reciprocal Linking Turkey!

I had an email exchange with an SEO client today after his webmaster called him pushing reciprocal linking software (when all this web designer was after was to generate some extra work from a client that hasn't needed him for awhile). Then that client called me after he received my email de- nouncing the software, fully convinced by a follow-up phone call from his web designer that the recipro. . .

11 Awesome Ways To Attract More Orders

1. Create a free ebook directory on a specific topic at your web site. People will visit your web site to read the free ebooks and may see your product ad. 2. Turn part of your web site into a members only web site. Instead of charging for access, use it as a free bonus for one of your products. 3. Add a free classified ad section to your web site. You could then trade banner ads with oth. . .

How to Avoid the 11 Biggest Mistakes of First-Time

“If you want to change your life,” Harry Beckwith wrote in The Invisible Touch, “write a book.” But, writing a book can also be tremendously frustrating and unrewarding. Following are the 11 biggest reasons most first-time authors fail to receive the rewards they are due. 1. Unrealistic expectations Don’t expect to get rich off your book, even if it’s a success by publishing standards. The vast. . .

Trinkets, Lockets And Empty Pockets

It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up a website, without any type of plan or clue about how to promote it, how to write a sales letter, how to write an ad-- nothing! Even more amazing is how many people try to conduct business online without any money. The other day, I received an e-mail from a woman named Nadia inquiring about my E-mail Consultation Service. In her e-mail, sh. . .

Which of These 7 Mistakes Are You Making In MLM?

You've done it. You've signed up with a network marketing company. You're ready to get started with your teams advertising system. You're ready, set, go. All the ads hit, you're excited. Like a kid who can't wait to go to Disney World, you wait for the responses to pour in. After 2-3 days... Nothing. Why didn't anyone respond? Don't worry. You're not alone. Matter of fact, this is a common scen. . .

What is Search Engine Optimization?

It is no secret that search engines are the number one traffic generating method for driving visitors to the different web sites. Search engines are very useful in helping people find the relevant information they seek on the Internet. The major search engines develop and maintain their own gigantic database of web sites that can be searched by a user typing in a keyword or keyword phrase in . . .

What is Pay-Per-Click?

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is when an advertiser pays for each qualified click that sends a search engine user (i.e., visitor) to the advertiser’s web page. PPC requires the advertiser to bid on key words or key word phrases chosen by the advertiser. There are many PPC advertising services available to choose from. Google AdWords and Overture are probably the two most popular in use tod. . .

10 Steps to a Great Newsletter

A newsletter can be a wonderful, economical way to communicate with prospects, customers, employees or distributors. Just follow these ten easy steps for newsletter success. 1) Define Your Audience -- Who are you publishing for? Clients (customers) – present, past and prospective? Employees? Your audience will define your content. 2) Set Objectives -- Create a solid foundation for your newslett. . .

What Is Most Important – Copy Or Pic?

When, some little time ago now, I first descended upon the advertising scene, we were a good deal more concerned than most people seem to be today about the nature of the business we found ourselves in. We were always holding debates – in the saloon bar of the Coach & Horses in New Bond Street, to be tiresomely precise – about the meaning of advertising, the significance of advertising, and the. . .

Voice Mail That Sells

As a business owner, I receive my share of sales calls in a given month. More often than not, I’m away from my desk or out of the office which means I end up listening to the messages instead of speaking directly with the sales person. Here are a few of the common mistakes I notice and how you can correct them.Mistake #1 – The message lacks focus or clarity. You are more likely to receive voice. . .

Grab Your Share of Untold Amounts of Advertising Dollars

If you advertise in any way, the following information could show you how to find and utilize untold advertising dollars you may not be aware of. In the mid 80’s I was an account executive for a radio station located in Santa Rosa, California. During that time I became very familiar with what is referred to as co-op advertising. Co-op advertising is a great source of advertising dollars. And th. . .

Own Your Niche by Building a Niche Community

In 1997, David Steele was making the transition from a professional therapist to relationship coach. Part of his strategy was to become a center of influence and THE Relationship Coach for his community.David decided to launch his own virtual community as a weekly "Friday Night Social" singles gathering. After a one-month pilot program and some market research, he designed a community for the s. . .

Will Seminars Get You Clients?

I often suggest public speaking as a powerful way to show prospective clients what you can do. Many professionals and consultants have built successful practices by giving free presentations to associations, businesses, and educational institutions. But what about producing your own seminar, where you arrange the logistics and invite the guests? Does this work as a strategy for landing clients?. . .

Two kinds of Advertising for a Marketing Strategy

Advertising is the lifeblood of any business. If you do not learn how to advertise your products and services both efficiently and effectively, you won't be in business long. While the Internet has lessened or eliminated many of the costs normally associated with starting and running a small business, and it's now easier than ever, you'll never realize significant profits if you don't grow your. . .

Getting The Big Picture Series: Part 6-"The Free-Way" #2

Is your business suffering? Can't seem to get noticed by the search engines? You might want to work on your Link Popularity. If you've ever taken the time out to analyze other top ranking pages you would have noticed that they tend to have lots of important content and also links to other related "content rich" websites. Which means when a person visits your site they will be able to find w. . .

How to Generate More Business by Telling People What You Do

What do you tell people when asked what you do? Many small business owners and independent professionals repeatedly miss great opportunities to generate new business or develop leads by answering the “what do you do?” question with a poorly crafted or completely unplanned answer. If your answer does not regularly start a conversation about your business you need to change your answer.What res. . .

For All Those People Who Struggle With Benefits and Features

For Everyone Who Has Ever Struggled Sorting Out Benefits From Features - "SWAT Them!"SWAT is not actually an acronym. It is a compaction of the question "so what?"You see, one of the biggest problems that even experienced copywriters and marketers fall into is being clear on what benefits their product or service actually delivers to their customers.SWAT provides the solution.Here is how it wor. . .

Yellow Page Advertisers: Your Calls are Going to Decrease...

Response rates to Yellow Page advertising are declining There's no getting around it, traditional Yellow Pages are in trouble. Fewer people use them every year. Even the best- pulling ad in the section isn't getting the number of callers or sales it used to. At the same time, the monthly cost to maintain your same-size directory ad keeps going up. Simply tinkering with ad size (or options like . . .

Contextual Advertising: Is it Right for You?

If online advertising had fads, contextual ads would be the latest "in thing." Also known as "content targeting," they seem to be "popping up" (no pun intended) all over the Web. From news sites to privately owned websites, everyone and his brother seems to be dipping his "toe in the water." So what is contextual advertising and why should you care? I thought you'd never ask. You know how wh. . .

7 Ways to Stop "Selling" & Start Building Relationships

Sometimes we can all use a friendly reminder to keep us from backsliding into old ways of thinking about selling that lead us down the wrong path with potential clients.I was inspired to write this article after a few coaching sessions with a client named Michael, who sells a technology solution. Michael had been struggling with a mental block about how to detach from the traditional sales t. . .

Avoid the Top 10 Network Marketing Mistakes

Just completed this for the December Noni Pearls Magazine, thought I would share it with all of you. Hope you enjoy it. Avoid the most common mistakes Here are the 10 most common mistakes that networkers make. These mistakes are often ones of attitude, missed judgment calls, or misinformation. Common mistake in network marketing -#1 Inflated Earnings Expectations There are many millionaires in . . .

Does Your Copy Look "Fake" To the Search Engines?

From the early days of search engine optimization, keywords and content have always been vital to achieving your goals. Starting back in the days when we used to shove every slightly relevant keyword into our Meta tags, it has been obvious that search engines love text. The more advanced the engines have gotten over the years, the more complex and sophisticated many writers have gotten with t. . .

The Google Phenomenon: Greatest Hits Collection

As my readers know, I've been one of Google's harshest critics. However, I'm also a firm believer that it's okay to criticize, as long as it's justifiable and fairly balanced with deserved praise. Hence, in this article, instead of criticizing, I will be saluting Google and several of its many accomplishments. According to the dictionary, the definition of phenomenon is: "A remarkable developme. . .

Creating Customer Value

The purpose of business is to create and retain a customer. Much has been written about customer orientation, customer relationship management (CRM), Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) metrics, Customer Centric organization models, customer retention, customer care…add any high sounding word with ‘customer’ preceding or succeeding that word and you have a new model, a new theory. Headline hitting . . .

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. . .

Marketing Tourism Online, Part One: The Basics

This is part one of an article series which will introduce some basic strategies, considerations, elements, and techniques for marketing tourism products online. We plan to update and refine these articles as situations change and when we have new knowledge to present. If you have comments or questions, or you are interested in Leave Home's travel marketing consulting services, please visit www. . .

Marketing Tourism Online, Part Two: Attracting Visitors t...

This is part two of an article series which will introduce some basic strategies, considerations, elements, and techniques for marketing tourism products online. We plan to update and refine these articles as situations change and when we have new knowledge to present. If you have comments or questions, or you are interested in Leave Home's travel marketing consulting services, please visit w. . .

Is Your Yellow Pages Ad Putting Cash in Your Pocket... or...

Any idea? It’s a question that more than a few Yellow Page advertisers ponder. If you are currently spending money every month to run an ad in your local directory, you don’t want to wrestle with that question. You want to know that your investment is generating a consistent flow of new clients to your business. So what can you do to maximize returns and stop worrying?First of all, know this—Ye. . .

5 Steps To Successful Joint Ventures

Most Internet Marketing related ezines have carried at least one article on Joint Ventures; probably many. JV's are THE MOST preferred and fastest way to increase sales and cash flows. It's no longer a secret! Everyone knows a good JV is the master key to online success. But... why many people are failing to use this master key? Why so many website owners are not able to make use of this powerf. . .

3 Things Every Yellow Pages Advertiser Needs to Know

Too many business owners and marketers know that Yellow Pages advertising has an incredible amount of potential… but they don’t quite know how to take advantage of it. Fortunately, it’s a mystery that’s solved pretty easily once an advertiser knows where to turn for advice. There are fundamental truths about Yellow Page advertising that so many businesses fail to recognize, but once they do, th. . .

Looking for Help Writing Google Adwords?

With the holidays in “full swing,” shopping is frenzied and buying is at the high point for the year. With even the most rudimentary business knowledge, you know that fourth quarter of the year is always the strong quarter for retailers. People are buying like crazy and each year, the economy picks up a little more steam and people have a little more disposable income. As Pay Per Click (PPC) ad. . .

Spread Your Ideas and Your Reputation Will Follow

As we all know, Internet Marketing growth is all about increasing traffic to your website. Time and again, what’s proven to be the best way to dramatically increase traffic to your website? You already know that answer. In fact, we’ve talked about it in the last few weeks… Write original articles! We won’t rehash the importance of creating unique, helpful content for your visitors. I’ll just as. . .

Who Is Your Real Competition?

If you design kitchens, is another kitchen designer your competition? Most likely not. And the sooner you can position and modify your marketing strategy against your real competition, the sooner you will start to see more business come through the door. So Who Really Is Your Competition? The answer to that is always--Never the most obvious. So let's take the example of the kitchen designer. Ha. . .

Learn how to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Online Mar...

Do you know that according to WebSideStory, an analytics firm, in 2003 medium to large Web sites got an average of 13.6% of traffic from search engines? Do you realize the power in that one simple statement? Search engine marketers trying to get new business from medium to large Web sites can ask for log files from potential clients. They can then determine the percentage of traffic from search. . .

What Can Apple's iPod Teach Us About Marketing?

Apple Computer just announced that their earnings from the last quarter more than quadrupled mainly due to robust holiday sales of the iPod digital music player. More than 10 million iPods have been sold since it was introduced in 2001.There are some important marketing lessons to be learned from all this. First of all, Apple has created a product for a hungry market that has the financial mean. . .

About Your Newsletter

No matter how you name it: email advertising, email marketing campaign, newsletter, ezine. The medium is already worn out. Overused. Abused. This means you have to make extra efforts to make people get involved with whatever you do for making a living online.I don't want you to believe I'm one of the self made Internet gurus out there. No need to mention I'm not a real Internet guru either :) .. . .

Why Wordpress is now my Blog of Choice

The more I use Wordpress, the more I love it. It has 2 very important features that Blogger doesn't yet support.Number 1, you can set up Wordpress to automatically ping all the RSS and blog feed directories every time you make a post. This is a very powerful feature if you want your blog to get a lot of traffic right away. On top of that, you'll be quickly developing backlinks to your blog almo. . .

Is Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Killing Your Affiliate...

Have you noticed a drop in affiliate sales since Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) was released? I have and I didn't really know why until my wife, kids, and friends started asking me why their computer wasn't working right.While using Internet Explorer my son said, "Dad, nothing happens when I click on this link." I scratched my head for a minute and thought, "he isn't doing anything. . .

Unique Selling Proposition - Your Competitive Advantage!

To capture a larger market share and be viable, sustainable and profitable, you absolutely need to differentiate or distinguish your business, products and/or services from your competitors. In other words, you need to make your business special in the eyes of your customers and/or prospects.You can do this by creating what's called an Unique Selling Propostion or USP and then effectively conve. . .

Managing an Internet Business for Working Parents

Starting an Internet Business for Working Parents Eventually, we all want to have a successful profession as well as spend time with our family. For the working parents, this is a captivating task that has become challenging to tackle, however, owning our own business seems to be a more sensible way of keeping both of our passions. Starting a business is a decision that enables us to put o. . .

Wealth Knowledge & Power – Lost Secrets From Ancient Masters

Behold! He with the light cometh!He shall light thy darkest night, illuminate thy muddled confusion, and he shall uncover all that hides from thou. He who holds the knowledge of the ancients comes quickly to you. Be not afraid, for he brings hope. Tremble not, for he will calm you. You shall see as a blind man cured. Riding close behind comes with him the mysteries of wealth, knowledge, and pow. . .

Brand Love (pt. 2)

Last issue, I talked about increasing your Brand Love-- meaning to increase the affection that prospects and customers feel toward your business.Why?Because increasing "affection" will build relationships. Those relationships, if made strong enough by increased Brand Love, build a bridge for prospects to become customers. To some, that bridge might be made of rope, swaying in the breeze, comple. . .

When Times Get Tough... or When to Really Advertise

The Pundits say the economy is slowly, but surely, recovering. Maybe not at the rate of the mid-90s stock boom, but recovering nonetheless.It must be true, because ad agencies are running Help Wanted ads. So, ad budgets are getting bigger. Tsk tsk. They have been missing out. Actually, for maverick thinkers like you, that should be good news.When the Pundits say, "Times are getting tougher," us. . .

PR Trump Style

If anyone knows how to toot his own horn it's Donald Trump. How does he get away with it? How can you follow in the footsteps of his success? 1. Balance Your Bragging with Boyishness. Sure, Trump is a loud mouth, but he's also self-deprecating, making fun of his hair, his bimbos, and his appetites. He let's you know that he knows he's being a braggart, but it's all in good fun. You can do the s. . .

Are You Marketing and Selling What People Buy?

Do you ever wonder if you’re speaking a different language than your prospects? You may have recently launched a business, designed an innovative process or purchased state of the art equipment that leaves the competition in the dust, but no matter what you say or do, you aren't attracting as many prospects as you need. Lauren called me from Michigan with just such a concern. She and another fr. . .

How to Get Started Blogging in 5 Minutes or Less

I put off starting a blog for a long time because I thought it would be hard. I thought it would be technical. I thought I'd have to install scripts and tear my hair out getting them to work. At that point, most of what I'd read about blogs and RSS was just so much geek-speak.Was I ever wrong!When I finally got the courage to give it a go, I went to blogger.com and signed up for an account. To . . .

Increasing Your Web Site’s Visibility Through Improved Po...

One of the greatest challenges facing website owners is marketing their website. Many believe that they need deep pockets in order set their site apart from the rest, but that is not the case. If you are willing to work hard at it, marketing on the web can garner great results at a minimal cost.Writing Articles Viral marketing is a very powerful tool if you can capitalize on it. Writing article. . .

How Mind Implants Increase Business Success

If your business isn't as successful as you envision, what's holding you back? You might say it's a lack of capital, a lack of employees, a lack of *great* employees, a lack of time, a lack of inventory, a lack of ... whatever. But these and similar reasons is not what causes your lack of business success. These reasons - or excuses - are merely the results of a greater cause ... your thoughts.. . .

Who Else Wants to Sky Rocket Their CD Sales, Fan base and...

If YOU Answered YES, Then Start An Online Newsletter…It’s Easy, Here’s How!I’ve always praised the benefits of using a newsletter to promote your music, but this article give a bit more detail into how to go about it.First, there are tons of different providers out there that can send out your email newsletter. Some are expensive while other like cafepress.com allow you to make one free if you . . .