Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Do Not Build A Website Until You Have Researched Your Key...

Imagine that you have a $25,000 marketing budget for your online weight loss herbal supplement business. Should you invest it in trying to build a site to rank #1 in Google for "weight loss?" NO. What would be the point? To get tons of traffic? Maybe. But people searching on "weight loss" could be looking for everything from weight loss diet books... to weight loss prescription drugs... to scie. . .

Remove These Objections and Watch Your eBay Auctions Fly

"Objection" is a term taken directly from sales and marketing training, and it is important you understand the significance of objections to your sales process. Objections are those points, sometimes small issues, which make a bidder or a buyer think again about going for your offering. In your auction description you need to remove as many of these objections as you can. These are the kind of . . .

How to Dominate Google Adwords from Day 1

Whether you're promoting an affiliate program or your own product, using pay per click traffic is almost necessary.Wait, let me re-phrase that - pay per click traffic is almost necessary to TEST. Let's be frank, this form of traffic does NOT work for all niches and businesses.Also, succeeding with pay per click traffic is not as easy as just putting up an ad and sending traffic to your main si. . .

The Struggling Internet Marketer

Instead of giving you advice on how to make a million bucks, and pretending to be famous and wealthy, I would like to talk about all the net-prenuers who aren't making a living on the information superhighway. Everytime you turn around, someone is trying to sell you the next sliced bread, or the answer to your prayers. Who's buying these dreams? I'll tell you who, people like me, people that st. . .

Start Your Internet Home Business Success Now

As human we all want to succeed. We all want the best from life. We all want to be wealthy, to have a great house, to travel around the globe. To spend more time with our wife and kids.To have all of this you don't need to be a genius, have luck or to rob a bank.All you need is that you use the power of faith wich means confidence. Confidence in yourself.You also need knowledge. Like the adage:. . .

Home Business Success: What It Really Takes!

These words are heard again and again by people attempting to build a real home business on the internet. The real question should not be about winning because obviously, “everyone wants to win“, but should focus on the question of "How do I get to where I want to be so that I consider myself a success in my home business?" Obviously, there is no roadmap that you can follow to reach the level o. . .

The Top 10 Ways to Market Any Business to Thousands by Le...

As business owners, we all know that the key to fantastic sales is to let your customers have a personal experience of you. The difficulty, of course is that to give every customer that experience personally requires a tremendous time commitment of ourselves and our staff. So what do we do? One solution is to leverage our time by doing the "wooing" once and then let that effort live on forever . . .

Powerful Considerations Before Starting Your Own Business

What does it take to start your own business? To many, the thought of starting your own business may be too daunting that you give up before you even start. Let's analyze what a typical start-up needs:Start-up CapitalThere is no secret that money talks the loudest of all. As a future entrepreneur, you may well know the fact that capital is perhaps the most essential part of setting up a busines. . .

Five of the Most Powerful Elements Anyone Can Use To Grow...

Lack of trust is the biggest problem marketers have on the internet, or better yet, the biggest opportunity.The power in this lies in the fact that affiliate programs have given us easy access to a huge variety of products and services that we can present to potential buyers, opening up an endless number of possibilities. And really, you’re not limited to affiliate products. Many businesses wou. . .

Do I Really Need To Write Articles For E-Zines?

When I was first advised to start writing articles, this was the first question I asked. As I was totally freaked out at the thought of me writing for others to read.Many people subscribe to e-zines and the readers often trust the recommendation of their editors. By sending articles to e-zines you will get valued visitors to your web-site. For each article you get published by them, the traffic. . .

The Truth About Easy Affiliate Income

If you’ve spent any amount of time online pursuing opportunities to make money online, you know that affiliate marketing associate programs are very popular.Affiliate online opportunity programs are very appealing to those looking to make money while they learn Internet marketing. Affiliate programs are free to join and easy to sign up for. This makes them especially attractive to moms looking . . .

Pay Per Click & Adwords 2005: Expensive Without Expert Help

Despite being online using email since 1995, at the start of the summer of 2004 I had no idea what pay per click was.During that summer, I had taken some time off work and was researching online opportunities. This led me to Ebay, various get rich quick type scams, and then an email referral to marketing using pay per click.What was pay per click, I remember asking. Days of research later, I le. . .

Tools for Online Tracking

In order to determine which advertising and marketing efforts are effective you must have ways to measure the results of those efforts. Alerts and instant notifications can be instrumental in monitoring search engine position, trademarked terms, monitoring competitors and staying abreast of online occurrences. And, of course, the notification can be used for "ego searches".Ego Searches What is . . .

Know This Before You Start Your Home Business

As 2005 dawns on earth I am quite thoughtful. Many persons started their business in 2004. Some succeeded and some left disappointed. This New Year would bring many new home entrepreneurs to the net. How many of them would continue with what they started? How many would leave disappointed and disgruntled? How many of them would become a source of inspiration for others in waiting? How many woul. . .

Overcoming Barriers to Sales

Ever thought to yourself, "If only my team members would complete the tasks that we mutually agreed to in our action plan." Most managers have felt this way about certain employees at some point in time. Let's face it, some employees have a very hard time consistently executing tasks that "should" be relatively simple to complete. So what are the barriers getting in the way of their success? Ac. . .

Don't Fall Into This Trap....

One of the most common problems that people make when starting their online business is creating a website or product that people don't want.Sounds crazy doesn't it? But it's true. I have heard from several people in the past that have emailed me to say that they have built a site but despite having worked to get top search engine rankings, they are not making any sales.Here's the thing - it . . .

Blogs And Your Work From Home Internet Business

As a work from home internet business entrepreneur you have several really good tools on the internet you can take advantage of in order to build your work from home business. A blog is just one of those tools that you can use and should be taking advantage of. In recent months blogs have become more and more popular all over the internet. A blog, or weblog, is a personal Web site updated frequ. . .

Did You Get All the Good Keywords? Are You Sure?

If you are an advertiser with pay per click (PPC) services, you know one of the keys to a successful campaign is finding the right keywords. You also know that the ‘right’ keywords aren’t necessarily the most popular or the most obvious. The most obvious keywords to you are often the most obvious to everyone else as well. As a result, you rack your brain trying to come up with words that are ap. . .

Pursue your Dream

It is a well known fact that out of one hundred people who join your home base business, only a very small proportion will continue and pursue their dream to make money online.WHY ? There are a few reasons why this happens,1/ Mistrust, 2/ Money, 3/ Understanding, 4/ Time.1/ The majority of people who search the internet looking for a home based business are moms with small children who can't go. . .

Why Keeping Your Dreams In Front Of You Is KEY To Your Su...

Let me ask you a simple question. "Now that you have your own online business and you are working night and day to make it work, do you know the important value of knowing and writing down YOUR dreams? Do you even have a dream?"So what’s your dream? Do you even know why you really started your business?For many people, starting their business whether it is online or offline is really up to them. . .

How to Waste Money and Annoy Potential Customers

Why do some companies bid on keywords for products they don’t even sell? Or fail to provide the basic information people need to make the decision to buy? Here’s a cautionary tale-- with a happy ending. Has this ever happened to you? I’m looking online for lamp shades. I go to Google and click on the top Sponsored Link in the right column: Expo.com. I’m taken to their “Lighting and Fans” page. . . .

The Unidentified Rule of Email Advertisements

Majority of the email messages we receive today either ends up in our saved messages folder or goes straight to the trash can. The more dominate and familiar messages are usually associated with past business or personal contacts is why we save so many emails in so many folders that it creates an email management nightmare. Regardless of the excessive spam, the way our human mind picks through . . .

“Do The Nike”

I should have listened to an internet veteran back in 2000.Learn from my mistake...Allan Gardyne, of AssociatePrograms.com told me 3 powerful words that I overlooked as just too broad and simplistic...And it's important that you hear this too so you won't waste time or make the same mistake I did...His very words to me in a personal email were..."Just Get Started" I remember he went on to say t. . .

What do you want to achieve in 2005?

Welcome to the New Year everyone :-) So what do you want to achieve this year.....? To start your own business? To lose some weight? To give up smoking? To quit your job? To spend more time with your family? To live a healthier lifestyle?The statements above are some of the more common goals that people set themselves at the beginning of a New Year. This time of year is traditionally the time. . .

Freebies are Worth Every Penny

What’s the best way to make money online? I know what you’re thinking, “he can’t possibly be answering a question that clichéd.” Actually, you’re right. I’m not offering a definitive position on THE BEST moneymaker, but a really, really good way is also a pretty easy way. If you’re like me, you get lots of emails and lots of internet marketing offers everyday. If you read every offer an. . .

Starting A Home Based Business; Dealing With The Yo-Yo Ef...

The emotional aspects of starting a home business can have you experiencing high highs and low lows (the yo-yo effect). In addition to the immediate luxuries of being your own boss, setting your own working hours, and avoiding a stressful commute, there are also significant things on the other side of the ledger...starting and building a home business is not just an automatic trip to the . . .

Five of the Most Powerful Elements In Marketing To Your List

Lack of trust is the biggest problem marketers have on the internet, or better yet, the biggest opportunity.The power in this lies in the fact that affiliate programs have given us easy access to a huge variety of products and services that we can present to potential buyers, opening up an endless number of possibilities. And really, you’re not limited to affiliate products. Many businesses wou. . .

Tips for Starting a Home Business

Starting a home business is a dream that many people share. You can work according to your own schedule, "fire" difficult clients, avoid difficult bosses, spend more time with your family, escape a lot of the daily stress faced by employees at their jobs, and pursue your own interest more. It's a big leap from being an employee to working for yourself, so a little preliminary planning can never. . .

What Is The Difference Between A Home Based Business And ...

As a home business entrepreneur who is primarily involved with a program wherein I sponsor Affiliates in a downline, I often find that I am the recipient of emails from new enrollees who are clearly confused on several fronts. Commonly received initial emails consist of questions such as “When do I start my assignment?” and “What is my position in your company?” Somehow, these individuals are u. . .

5 Innovative Ways To Advertise Your Web Site

1. Directory Linking Create a directory of web sites on a specific topic. Give people the option of adding the directory to their web site by linking to it. Put your business advertisement at the top of the director's home page. This technique will get lots of people to link to your web site and give you free advertising. 2. Bonus Advertising Do you have a product or service that doesn't sell g. . .

10 Amazing Product Selling Formulas

1. Sell your products at a wholesale price to retail web sites. You could sell them individually or in bulk. 2. Set up joint ventures with other businesses to sell your product to new customers. They can introduce it to their customers for a set price. 3. Allow other web sites to sell your product for a set commission. They can take a percentage of the sale and send you the rest of the order to. . .

Focus On The Positive Side of Internet Business

A great series of articles showed up in this week's Time Magazine focusing, for a change, on happiness and its effects on us physically and mentally over time.Many studies are finding that the left prefrontal lobe of the brain is most active when people are at peace and happy. "The Biology of Joy" Michael D. Lemonick, Time January 17, 2005. The article points out encouraging evidence that a p. . .

Online Lead Generation: Can it Work for My Business?

Business-to-business service providers have a wide range of tactics they can deploy to gain new clients or customers. Direct mail; cold calling; TV, radio or print advertising are all ways in which B2B services gain new customers. In the last 10 years, the Internet has become another strategy to boost business, through advertising, web site optimization and online lead generation.What is Online. . .

“Must Haves” for ANY Business – The 2005 List

As a business consultant I get the opportunity meet hundreds of professionals in every imaginable business each year. And time and experience have taught me one thing – there are a few “Must Haves” for any modern business. My clients hire me to ensure their business does well so the first thing I do is provide them with a list of “must haves”. Here it is for 2005…# 1 Computer and Information Se. . .

Turn Your Hobby Into A Profitable Business

Many people are wanting to start a business of their own, the problem is the high cost of starting a business, franchises cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and require hefty down payments. Most people can't afford to quit their jobs and loose their monthly income to get started. There is a better way, start your own homebased business, thousands of people are turning their hobbies into very. . .

It's Not Brain Surgery, It's Just An Online Home Based Bu...

Back when I first started my online home business I didn't have a clue concerning how to go about it. I had never done any Internet marketing, and didn't know anything about websites or search engines or any of that other online business stuff...in short, I was a complete rookie. In retrospect, the two major things that really helped me was that I refused to be intimidated and I kept a r. . .

Power Of Intergrity

One of the most ofen forgotten word in our contemporary world today is-"INTERGRITY"This 9 letter word, though common but so powerful.Few individuals have been privileged to key-in to the intergrity network, and they remain living proof of the numerous benefits.You may ask, what is intergrity?Simply put, intergrity has to do with ones reputation.It is the totality of a mans character-uprightness. . .

6 Ways That Blogging Can Save You Money

Even though I’ve had several personal blogs for years, I’ve only been officially business blogging since 2003. So in going back over expenses for the last quarter, you can imagine my shock when I realized that my overall business costs were down about 19%. What saved me so much money? Surprisingly, blogging. How can you save money with your blog? It's pretty simple, so I'll be brief. Attract s. . .

Information Marketers, Quadruple Your Profits This Year!

Last year, you FINALLY finished that ebook you'd been "planning" for years. You wrote a quick website, added some order links, told a few people about it, and amazingly, people started buying your ebook. You had successfully entered the realm of the information marketer.Now let's look at how you can step into the big league, and at a minimum, quadruple your profits this year.First, let's exam. . .

Beware of Internet Marketing Dream Merchants

There are so many different business opportunities available on the Web; the never-ending stream of offers that will lead you to untold riches. Everybody claims to have the "inside knowledge" that will put you on Easy Street! Sounds familiar, doesn't it? That scenario is particularly painful for Internet beginners lacking the advanced researching skills of more seasoned Netizens. Nevertheless, . . .

When Internet Marketing Gurus Sell Their Souls

If you're just getting started in Internet Marketing, you may be awed by the amount of "Internet Gurus" out there, all making millions of dollars (or so they claim) and for some reason seem more than willing, for a fee, to teach you their biggest, most intimate secrets.I believe in one thing - If it sounds too good to be true, it most probably is!While I have no doubt on the specialized skills . . .

Referral Marketing Is Target Marketing At Its Best

Most small business owners miss the boat when it comes to getting a constant flow of referrals because they start off looking in all the wrong places.If they seek referrals at all, most small business owners think only of their clients. Now, your existing clients can be a good source of referrals. And when you think about it, who better to sing your praises than someone who has actually experie. . .

Basic Steps to a Great Business Website

So much has been written on the topic of what makes a good business website, and I myself could go on and on about good content, meta tags & other search engine optimization, market strategies and so on. But there are so many people out there that don't even know the basics of website creation; where to begin, where to place the graphics, what to avoid, and so many other things. Finding simple . . .

Get Your Money For Nothing

You've probably heard them all. You know, the "make $1,000 while you sleep without doing a lick of work" BS pitches. Well, let me tell you, it doesn't happen that way. If you want to make money online you must work! There's no way around it. But, there *are* ways to make money with *very little* work. It *is* possible to make a passive income, and a very good one at that. I'm not talking about . . .

Free Or Not Free - It's Your Choice

The internet is one of the world's top sources of information, products and just about anything else you could possibly want. And, if you have spent any amount of time online, you must have noticed that much of it is free.Many home business entrepreneurs get their start online using some of these free resources. In fact, some of them use freebees almost exclusively.So, just what are these valua. . .

Your Website: Better to Have Not, Than to Have Rot

It's a dirty rumor - vicious and naughty to all who believe: Better to have a not-so-good web site than no web site at all....Don't do it. Don't succumb to the pressures of website ownership. Its hard to escape, I know. Even dopey television commercials are now telling you how badly you need a website, suggesting that you're lagging behind if you don't. Of course, the company in the commercial . . .

How to Use Solo Ads To Make A Small Fortune

Newsletter advertising has been getting a bad rap lately. Around every corner you can find someone complaining about how it doesn’t work. But when you ask them if they’ve tried it, most say no. The others who have, had NO idea what they were doing. Today we’re going to talk about exactly what kind of solo ads sell and what factors are important.Let’s start by going through the process of publis. . .

7 Ways To Increase Your Affiliate Commissions

Suppose you could launch an online business in the next ten minutes? Suppose that this business did not require your own website, dealing with customers, refunds, product development or maintenance? This is the ideal world of affiliate marketing.Made popular on the internet by Amazon.com, marketers can now earn a referral fee for directing visitors to countless merchants’ website. According to . . .

Why You Cannot Fail With This Business

I'm going to be straight forward with you folks about this amazing business opportunity that will change your life. No lies. No BS stories. Just facts. I know you're probably sick and tired of all the get-rich-quick schemes out there, and you know what...I was too, but not anymore. Let me tell you why.If you haven't already heard of SFI (Strong Future International), well you are now. This busi. . .

Forums... What They Are And WHY They're Essential For Any...

Well... first off, let's define exactly what a 'Forum' is so that you'll be able to relate to what I'm about to explain within this article. The simple definition of a 'Forum' is... it's a online community with a open discussion that allows you to 'Post' questions or queries related to a specific topic. You can find 'Forums' online related to any topic under the sun, so it doesn't matter what t. . .