Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Your Business Deserves a Second Chance!

When you started your business, you dreamed your customers would love your products and services. They would be excited. You would make money doing what you love. Then reality set in. You put lots of time in your business. You got fewer profits. Now you compete with every Tom, Dick and Harry to sell your product or service. The future is not secure.Today, you get a second chance to chang. . .

Assumptions – The Hidden Sales Killer

Assumptions can kill a sale. In my sales training workshops, I frequently discuss the importance of not making assumptions about a person before, during, or after the sales process. Participants frequently nod and tell me that they NEVER make assumptions. One person (Doug Maquire, www.MaquireMarketing.com) sent me this story of a situation that occurred in a department store he worked in many y. . .

The Power of Possibilities

Did you know the one thing that holds most people back is the simple fact that they think too small? What separates the average business owner from the super successful isn’t her timing or her resources. It’s her ability to think bigger than others, and take action on the things that will create the biggest successes. Take for instance the typical small business owner in your area. Go into any . . .

Get More Impact From Your Annual Conference

How can you get more attention for your conference and your association? Use some of these Power Marketing™ tips and ideas. It won't cost much. It just takes a creative approach. The payoff can be huge. First, see everything as a marketing opportunity. Second, enlighten all staff and every member to realize their responsibility in marketing the association. Third, read "Secrets of Power Marketi. . .

What Posting Articles Online did for my Google Page Rank ...

Article Marketing Builds Momentum and TrafficWhen I started submitting articles to ezines and directories I was happy just to get an occasional article written and widely posted online. I assumed that was the point. But I've since learned about equally important considerations--like the Page Rank of the site where it appears.Each article was written to inform and appeal to the human readers. Se. . .

The Anatomy of Hype

On a copywriting board I frequent, someone expressed bafflement that several respected marketers criticized the tone of a sales page he wrote. "Why did they apologize to their subscribers while linking to my pitch? This approach sells," he said. Hype was the problem. If you use the following tactics, many educated shoppers cringe and go elsewhere: Overblown claims. "If You Can Write Your Name, . . .

Keeping Your Sub-Affiliates From Quitting

One of the biggest if not the leading problem for internet marketers is keeping your affiliates from quitting. The time and effort that has been put forth to get your affiliates can seem like a waste of time if soon after joining your program they either opt-out or become inactive. Unless you are determined to succeed you may find yourself doing the same. Before we can hope to keep our affiliat. . .

Pay-Per-Click Fraud Exposed--Part II

According to Andy Jones, a member of the Best Practices Search Engine Forums, fraudulent clicks are just another aspect of the business. "Any of us that use AdWords or any other PPC has to pay for a certain percentage of fraudulent clicks," he said in a forum discussion. "I factor it in as a cost of doing business." Can you believe that? In other words, he's saying, I know the pay-per-click com. . .

Want More Sales? Write A Barry Bonds Sales Letter

I'm not a baseball fan. Never have been. In fact, I hate the sport. However, I am a Barry Bonds fan. Here's why: Barry Bonds possesses the exact same intangibles every great sales letter possesses. He's loyal, consistent, powerful, and hits a ton of home runs, year after year after year! Those are all things that great sales letters do and have done from the very beginning.And believe it or not. . .

Yahoo!/Overture Site Match: A License To Steal

Unless you've been living in a cave somewhere, I'm sure you've heard by now, Overture now offers the Yahoo! Search Inclusion under its own branded name--Site Match. According to the page info from Overture, submitting your site to individual search engines is expensive and time-consuming. But with Site Match you can reach millions of users by submitting your pages through one program that power. . .

Flaming Guitars! Minarik Fuels The Excitement Of A New Ge...

Celebrating an endorsement between G-Man Music and the fiery axe-makers known as Minarik Guitars, Scott G (The G-Man) reviews the Minarik Inferno X-treme.From the Telecaster to the Flying V to the Iceman to the Warlock, some guitar designs are forever branded on our consciousness, and now there's a new one: the Minarik Inferno X-treme. The body shape erupts in furious fingers of flame. If ever . . .

SEO: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

I seem to have created quite a stir, on a particular SEO forum recently. In fact, rumor has it, at one point, my article, "Google's Trap, DMOZ's Nap, And Yahoo!'s Crap" was the hottest topic discussed on this particular forum.The aforementioned article was also bestowed the title of, "Worst SEO Article Ever" by someone on the forum.Why all the animus? I have no idea. Perhaps they view me as a t. . .

Super-Affiliate's! What Are They... How Do I Find Them an...

Do you see this term often online and end up confused to what it means and the purpose they serve online? It sounded really mysterious to me when I first came across the term which peeked my curiosity and led me to research the term further to find out exactly what the term meant and more importantly what there roll was in the Internet marketing world. The information I discovered was Astonishi. . .

Search Engine Keywords - What Do People Search For?

Do you ever wonder how people search for things on the Internet? What if you knew exactly what words they typed when using a search engine? If you're marketing a product or service it's extremely insightful to know what are the most popular search terms relating to whatever you're marketing.The Overture CompanyOverture.com is a Yahoo! company that supplies the Pay Per Click infrastructure for Y. . .

5 High-Impact Marketing Tips

Here are 5 high-impact marketing tips you can use to boost your sales quickly. All are simple to implement and they involve little or no new expense. 1. Promote Only One Thing at a Time Promote only 1 product or service each time you advertise. Many people have difficulty selecting one product when their decision forces them to delay or reject buying something else they also want. When pro. . .

Internet Nielsen Reports

What if you were able to have access to your competitor's web statistics? What if you knew how much traffic they had, the average number of page views, what other sites their visitors went to? What if you could tell how successful a campaign was or if their recent press release had any impact? Would that be a strategic advantage?The Nielsen Ratings of the InternetThere is an incredible marketin. . .

Increase Sales By Flying Under Your Prospects "Radar Defe...

How do you persuade someone to do what you want them to do? A whole world of marketing exists around us trying to do that every minute of the day. Do you even notice it anymore or, like your prospects, have you subconsciously set up a system of "radar defenses" against the daily bombardment of marketing messages? Take a minute and count up the advertising methods which fight, for your attenti. . .

REVEALED! The Secret FUEL That POWERS The Net and Why It ...

What I'm about to reveal to you in this article will literally change the Way you do your online marketing for years to come and will add many Benefits to You and your online promotions 'Effortlessly'. This secret(A.K.A. -- Secret FUEL) that I'm going to talk about is so Powerful that it will... -- give You and your business 'Instant Credibility'... -- Boost your websites 'Link Popularity' and . . .

Coaching: Communicating What Service You Provide

Coaching is unique because it makes a special promise: transformation. At the root of any desire for personal development is the expectation that, every time they have an encounter with their coach, they have some how changed from the person they were into the person they more prefer to be. Instead of focusing your communications, this includes all marketing materials as well, on subject areas . . .

Some Things in Life ARE Guaranteed

Some Things in Life ARE Guaranteed. There's an old expression that says, "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." Well that is not entirely true. Now there's a new kid on the block... Guaranteed Signups. Guaranteed Signups provide new opportunities for marketers to get direct sign ups to their programs without the time consuming task of having to advertise or recruit new members t. . .

How To Write Little Tiny AdWords Ads That Bring Giant-Siz...

It seems to be a phenomenon. You try Google AdWords Select, your ad gets “disapproved” by the powers that be at Google, you count your losses and give up. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are two primary factors to succeeding at Google AdWords. The first is getting the right keywords. The second is writing little tiny ads. Neither is all that easy, but they can both be done.Mark Twain said. . .

What You Do To Reach Top Rankings In Search Engines?

Without doubt, it is hard to reach top positions in search engines especially If you are not an expert and intend to reach this high rankings with the most frequently used keywords and key phrases like, Internet marketing, home business, Money, money making. In a word, the most relevant keywords and phrases to sites which contain information about the art of making money on the Internet. Despit. . .

Getting The Big Picture Series: Part 2-"What's Beneath T...

When you take a piece of gold to a pawn shop sometimes they will take a small saw-like tool to scrape the jewelry to find out for sure "What's Beneath The Surface". Sometimes they find pure gold, silver, or tarnished metal.Well it's the same story when it comes to conducting business on the Internet. Some Opportunities fall far from the mark. Some "Get Rich Quick" schemes will read, "Earn $. . .

Politicians Are Like Car Sales People...

Well, another election has come and gone in the US and no matter which way you voted there are some important marketing lessons to learn. First, you need to put aside the campaign rhetoric and focus on the strategy and tactics and there are a number of clear winners for both sides. The Dems and the GOP On the Republican side. The tactic to put the question of Gay Marriage as a referendum in 11 . . .

The Lost Art Of Fundamental Copywriting

What ever happened to good old fashion, fundamental copywriting? Has anyone seen AIDA? I mean, before you can run, you first have to learn how to walk, right? Yet, I see it over and over again. Marketers who can't even write a simple headline are trying to "hypnotize" readers with "psychological copywriting," because that's what a few of today's copywriting experts are telling them they should . . .

Google AdWords: Like Playing The Lottery

A "dollar and a dream," is all you need said the television commercial. The lure of the Lottery is a seductive one: plunk down a dollar and you might become a millionaire for life. The promise of "pennies from heaven" makes the Lottery a daily habit for millions. People flock to convenience stores every morning to buy a newspaper, a cup of coffee, and a lottery ticket.I see that same kind of pa. . .

The Man With The "Grasshopper Mind"

The title of this article also happens to be one of the "20 Greatest Headlines Ever Written."Did you know, just changing the headline has been known to dramatically improve the effectiveness of an ad or sales letter by up to 1700 percent? Yes, headlines are that powerful--and that important! However, over the last few years, I've noticed a proliferation of badly written--or just plain weak head. . .

10 Surefire Ways to Add Sizzle to Your Brochures

Businesses rely on brochures as their front line in communicating their products or services. Yet according to Shannon Cherry, APR, many find them not as successful because they underestimate the skills and resources necessary to publish attractive and effective materials. “Most people forget a brochure is important because it represents you to the world and reflects your image,” says Cherry, p. . .

Internet Marketing Reality Check

There are thousands of web sites, books, CD-ROM's, cassette tapes and various other forms of communication devoted to the topic of Internet marketing. The majority of these sites profess to offer "secret strategies" and "killer tactics" which promise to increase your chances of having success on the Internet. Of course you must fork over your hard earned cash for these wonderful pearls of wisdo. . .

The Reality of Search Engine Submissions

Over the last few months, search engine submissions have changed dramatically. Now is the time to analyze the way we're submitting our Web pages and to rethink our submission strategies. Regretfully, I still see people paying big bucks to search engine submission services who will submit their pages to thousands of search engines for one "low price." What they aren't told is that the act of "su. . .

Send Postcards To Save Money and Cut Through E-mail Clutter

Use your computer to send personalized color postcards in quantities of 1 to 1,000. Print on demand postcards are here. You can quickly, easily, and economically use your computer to prepare and address color postcards that will arrive in your prospect’s morning mail!Postal mail is growing in importance as the volume of e-mail steadily increases. A four-color postcard in the morning mail will a. . .

Michael Jackson, Classic Marketing Blunders And Your Wallet!

You couldn't help but be captivated by the unbelievably cute kid with the amazingly controlled falsetto voice and electric dance moves. He was only 10 years old, when he exploded onto the music scene, along with his brothers as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, but he had the stage presence of a twenty year veteran. Before or since, I haven't seen a child that talented, that gifted, that dynami. . .

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Blog to Publish Your Ezine

Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it comes to marketing on the Internet. A blog is a delivery medium. Here are 10 reasons why you should deliver your ezine articles via a blog.1. A blog is web based so you can update and post new articles anywhere, anytime. It's a dynamic medium that can be updated on a moment's notice. 2. Subscribers can subscribe to your RSS (Really Simple Syn. . .

Building your first Web Site

The ease with which visitors are able to use a Web Site is very important, especially if you`re trying to market something from the site. Usability is very much about how quickly and easily visitors are able to move around the site and not just about making sure everything on the site works.The need for your website to be easily navigated is enormous. Messy, disruptive and confusing sites are a. . .

A Quick and Simple Tip for Gaining Customers

In the course of my career, I’ve had to deal with a lot of vendors—software companies, sensor manufacturers, electronics distributors and more. Some of them have left lasting impressions on me, whereas others have been eminently forgettable. I’d like to talk about two of the more memorable vendors, and the simple technique that they used (perhaps unknowingly) which made them stand out in my m. . .

The Process of Change in Marketing Approaches

In a world economy that is in constant flux and undergoing turbulence, more companies are realizing that their most precious asset is their customer base. An even more important realization is the need to satisfy the whims and fancies of these customers in order to survive in these increasingly competitive markets. Organizations that do not act on this dictum have suffered the loss of market sh. . .

Successful Marketing for Home Based Businesses

'A successful marketing strategy is not based on doing what you like but liking what you do...'Are you looking for information to build and grow a home-based business? If so, you are in the right place! Here you will find information on implementing a successful marketing campaign and growing your home based business.The Problem Many home-based business owners don't know how to best market thei. . .

Arrogant Overture Placing Greed Ahead Of Their Customers ...

According to the dictionary, the definition of the word "overture" is as follows: "An opening or initiating move toward negotiations, a new relationship, an agreement, etc.; a formal or informal proposal or offer." Hmmmmmmmm...very interesting definition--especially that part about "a new relationship." I think pay-per-click giant Overture should look up the definition of their own company name. . .

Generate More Sales in ANY Affiliate Program – Part One

It is my opinion that the best AFFILIATE PROGRAM ever…is still the AFFILIATE PROGRAM YOU own. BUT… For those who are content in promoting other peoples programs…I will share with you a few of my strategies for FREE! But before I do that, let’s see why most affiliates FAIL in just about any given affiliate program. Like food products, affiliates have a ‘use by date’ or ‘expiry date’. An average . . .

Pay-Per-Click Search Advertising Comes First

There are a variety of advertising options available to online business owners small and large. There's traditional banner advertising, text ads of both static and contextual varieties, popups and popunders, layer ads and pay-per- click search engine advertising. For just about any business looking to advertise online, pay-per-click search listings should come first and be used to their maximu. . .

Do You Know Who You Attract to Your Web Site?

There are five types of people that browse the web: Specific Information Seekers Current Information Seekers Bargain Hunters Entertainment Seekers, and Specific Buyers.When you identify the type of people you want to come to your website, or the type of people coming now (for those who already have a site), as well as what gets them there, what keeps them there, then and only then can you desig. . .

Doublers The New Era for Making Thousands!

Doubler Mania! Is it the Real Deal? Once again we find ourself in the mix of a new erra, Doubler programs are launching everywhere and people are flocking to them to get the chance to get the glory that they have been looking for in the chase to make BIG BUCKS And after being part of a few of them I can tell you that not only is it possible to make some really good income from them and get that. . .

Getting Noticed by the Search Engines

You've got a web site; and you want to attract lots of people to visit it so you can grow your business. But you're only getting a handful of visitors currently. What is the first thing to do to help people find your site?A top listing in the search engines, especially in Google, can increase visitors to your web site and help. Let's say you sell web design services. If your site was at the to. . .

I Would Give Anything To …

A couple days ago I was listening to a CD by one of the most successful speakers in the industry. He has been around for many years and is considered one of the greats. He is also considered to be somewhat off the beaten path. As much as he is admired and respected by many, he is judged by just as many. The segment I found most intriguing was one about how others often say to him, “I would giv. . .

Kick-Starting Body Copy

Several correspondents to our newsletter, AdBriefing, say that they are having trouble writing body copy for ads. Their problem seems to be the age-old one of how to kick things off – how to make a start. Can I help? Of course, I can.When you have been writing copy as long as I have, you will come to understand that there is an unwritten formula for writing copy. While I shudder at the thought . . .

Developing A List Of Keywords For Marketing

Keywords aren't just some words that allow search engines, like Google, to find your web site. They are also key elements for creating attractive language to use in your marketing or advertising material. For instance places such as: brochures, business cards, flyers, and ads. Keywords can also fit well into speaking engagements scripts or audiotapes scripts as well as audience handouts.It is i. . .

Mail Order: "The Original Internet" Still Going Strong

While the world continues to go catatonic over the Internet and its endless possibilities, there's another industry quietly going about its business, piling up profitable year after profitable year after profitable year. What industry is that? It's the mail order industry--or as I prefer to call it, "the original Internet!"Yes, long before the birth and explosion of the Internet, mail order sho. . .

Don't Forget your Existing Clients

Quest for new clients shouldn’t ignore those who pay the billsAcquisition. It’s a big word in small business marketing. Companies are constantly looking at ways to draw new people to the business and generate new streams of revenue. In this quest, some small businesses make the mistake of focusing too much on new customer acquisition, only to find that their existing customers have been lured a. . .

The Lazy Man's Way To Riches

The title of this article also happens to be the title of one of the greatest ads of all time, written by a man named Joe Karbo.Joe was was one of the foremost copy-writers, headline writers and direct response experts of all time. Joe established precedents, and built the foundation for today's direct response industry--becoming a self made millionaire in the process.Joe's ads for the "Lazy Ma. . .

The Seven Traits Needed To Become A Leader In Network Mar...

Do you ever wonder what character traits are needed to become a successful leader in network marketing. Network marketing is a very hard business to do it is not a get rich vehicle. This industry needs a certain type of person to be successful.To build a down line which can earn you a residual income you need to become a leader who leads by example so your organisation duplicates you. You Need . . .