ProBizTips Newsletter
** ISSUE #244 **
May 26th, 2003
** ProBizTips Top Sponsor ** |
Complete Money Making Site Setup FREE!
Launch your very own money making website today that's 100% ready to take orders and pull in MASSIVE PROFITS for you right now...GUARANTEED. Plus, you'll get your own pre-written ezine-in-a-box customized and setup for you absolutely free WITHIN 24 HOURS!!
Click here:
==>http://www.onlineebizinfo.com/pluginprofitsite.html
Home Biz Tips Newsletter- mailto:onlineebizinfo@getresponse.com
Hey!
Good Day to you and I hope your day is going well so far! :)
Welcome to all our new subscribers this week and I hope you grow
to love us as so many have ... we couldn't do this without you!
First of all, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY to everyone! I'm finishing this issue up and going to a family barbeque! :o)
Thank you, Veterans!
Thanks to everyone for your emails of support and congrats on quitting smoking -- you keep me inspired to keep it going ... I am now starting week 3 and feeling GREAT! I can't believe how much more energy I have! :o)
I also thank all of you who have given me your feedback on how you would like to receive the weekly issue. It seems most of you don't mind the getting 2 emails to ensure one gets through the filters and most seem to actually appreciate it, so for now -- that is how I will mail it out.
Here are the actual stats:
56% - I don't care how ... double emails don't bother me
16.7% - Double emails -- I like having both options
14.5% - No double emails -- email the full issue only
12.5% - No double emails -- email a link to the issue only
In the meantime ... sit back, relax and enjoy today's issue!
Your Friend,
Diane Hughes
ProBizTips Weekly
FREE REPORT: Amazingly Simple (Yet Super Powerful)
Ways To Skyrocket Your Sales And Build Your Business
Into A Tower of Profits! ===>> Go Get It Now!
Exclusive 25 Minute Interview...Fre~e
Mark Joyner Spills EVERYTHING In This Brand New, Exclusive 25 Minute Interview. Listen to this rapid-fire interview with Mark Joyner by Mike Chen. Mark fires out profit-generating marketing tips in here like a machine gun on full automatic in this roller-coaster 25 minute interview. http://www.listfire.com/24384/interview
---------------------------------
Advertise Directly to 362,797 Targeted Leads -- 100% FREE!
Finally! A Free Advertising Service That Actually Works.
Say "Goodbye" to other "free traffic" services that don't work.
Get thousands of new leads, web site visitors, subscribers,
and customers every week! And it's completely free.
Click Here Now ==>http://www.HyperTracker.com/go/tallboy/Opportunity/
---------------------------------
Please take the time to visit our sponsors.
They make it possible to keep ProBizTips FREE!
Sponsor the next issue of ProBizTips Newsletter...
| ProBizTips Feature Article |
Writer's Block Is No Longer A Problem!
by Ovi Dogar
If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar with the well-known writer's block.
From time to time, when you have to start writing something, be it an article, an ebook, or just a letter, there is that moment when you just stare at the blank sheet of paper (or at the vibrant colors of your monitor) and nothing seems to come out from your mind.
The good news is that there is a cure for this disease. :)
American poet William Stafford offers this advice to poets who suffer from Writer's Block: "There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough."
But, this is not an incentive to write junk!
Perhaps the most important reason that leads to WB is the lack of an idea. You just sit down in front of your perfectly empty monitor and think about what should you be writing. "There is nothing I can write about" seems to be the only thing that you can think about.
This doesn't happen to me anymore because now I have a text document right on my desktop where I note down any important thought, idea, question that comes into my mind during my daily habits. Every time I start writing about something, all I have to do is to open that (now pretty big) file and "presto", I know what to write about. :)
If you don't have an "ideas file" on your computer yet, no problem, just take a look through some forums related to your niche market and look for questions.
Well, now that I have a great idea of what I want to write about, I just sit down again in front of my computer... and here comes the block again. :)
How should I start?
Here is a tip for you: It's OK to start writing at whatever point you like. You can begin with the final chapter. You can start writing the middle of the book. It's OK if the introductory part of your book is the last thing you'll write.
Another thing you can do is to talk over the subject with a friend. If you can't do that, you should record yourself talking about the matter.
Anyway, you must force yourself to write down something, however poorly worded that approximates your thought and go on with the next idea.
Also, you can always try free writing. All you have to do is to choose one sentence in a paragraph and write a paragraph about it. Then, choose a sentence from that paragraph and do that again.
Whatever you do, it's always a good idea to be flexible. Be willing to throw out sections of text that are causing problems or just don't work.
Physical actions can move your brain in good directions so move around, stretch, or walk.
Get a snack or drink, talk to someone, or just relax for five minutes before you start to write again.
After you already have a few ideas written down it's ok to reread and jot down ideas while doing so.
Relax! Because the more you worry, the harder it gets to think clearly.
And once you have your book ready, remember that you will need a cover for it. :)
I can help you with that at http://www.AbsoluteCovers.com
---------------------------------
About the author:
Ovi Dogar is specialized in the creation of professionally
custom made covers that really sell. You can view some recent
samples of his work at http://www.absolutecovers.com/samp.php
Add popular internet marketing and online business
content to your website with just a snippet of code!
If you like my articles and the other great articles
I use, add them to your site for FREE! This is GREAT
for repeat traffic and search engine listings for content!
http://www.probiztips.com/syndicate.html
BizTips by Dr. Kevin Nunley |
Refine Your Marketing Budget for Tough Times
After a few years, most businesses establish a set formula for determining their marketing budget, usually a fixed percentage of revenue. But when economic times get tough, it's time to make a few alterations.
The mistake businesses make is to simply cut the marketing budget when they experience a downturn in revenue. Big no no! In an effort to protect their bottom line, they are more likely to bottom out.
Instead of cutting your marketing budget, try making a few refinements:
1. Concentrate on past and current customers. They are more likely to purchase from you, even during difficult economic times. Mail to them more often, call them more often and let them know about special promotions more often.
2. Instead of cutting your marketing budget, refine your marketing message. Customers will be thinking of how they can get more for less, so focus on the value rather than the low price. Keep your prices the same and use special promotions intermittently.
3. Take a closer look at who your real prospects are. Instead of mass mailing, focus on a more targeted audience. Profile your prospects and find those who have similarities to your past customers. This technique will save you money and elicit a higher response rate.
------------------------------
Kevin WRITES your professional copy--web site copy, sales
letters, ads, press release and more! See http://DrNunley.com.
Reach Kevin at kevin@drnunley.com or 801-253-4536.
Your Target Audience - Who Are They & What Do They Want?
by Karon Thackston
It still amazes me. When I write copy for a company, I always ask about their target audience. I have to know who I’m writing to in order to create a message that will bring a response. But about half the time, the client is absolutely stumped about who their target audience is and what they want.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’ll say it again: "You have to know your target audience before you can advertise effectively."
It just makes sense. How can you deliver what the customer wants unless you know what that is? How can you present a message in a way the customer will respond to unless you know their communication style? Bottom line -- you can’t.
So exactly how do you find out who your target audience is and what they want? It’s actually easier than you might think. Here are my top seven ways to define a target audience. Each is quick, simple, and free/cheap.
1. Ask. Devise a survey or questionnaire and send it out to those people who you think *might* be interested in your product or service. Take a week or two to write a list of questions that you’d love to have the answers to; then create an online survey, and send out the link. Be honest. Tell the people why you want the information and what you plan to use it for. Also remind them that the survey is completely anonymous.
If you really want to boost responses, offer a prize drawing. Perhaps you could give away an Amazon gift certificate to one lucky winner.
TIP: I use Survey Monkey because they have the easiest and most flexible tools I’ve found. Not to mention, for surveys that only need 100 responses or less... it’s FREE!
2. Read. Pick up some industry trade magazines or newspapers from your local newsstand (or read them online). Especially look for the Letters to the Editor section. This is normally where folks "sound off." It’s a great place to get some fresh insight on what your target customer is thinking.
3. Lurk. Visit online forums that are directed at people in your target audience. No need to post a message - just hang out and see what others are saying. This is another wonderful place to get insights on what people in the real world are thinking.
4. Visit. Stop by some of the places your target customers might visit. Are you selling back supports to truck drivers? You might need to visit a few truck stops. Just sit back, order the lunch special, and keep your ears open!
5. Talk. Want to know the biggest complaint about retaining wall contractors? I actually had to find this one out for a client! Talk with those who would hire a retaining wall contractor. I jumped on the telephone and made a few phone calls. Amazingly enough, almost everyone I spoke with had the same complaints. I was able to use that information to position my client in the best possible light before his target audience!
6. Join. Local associations create a tremendous environment for people to express their opinions, discuss pressing issues, and solve problems. Don’t join the ones that fit YOU best, however. Join the ones that your target customers would join!
7. Think. Put your thinking cap on, and come up with more ways to get to know your target audience. Perhaps you could visit a company that falls within your target customers’ line of work, and observe them for a few hours. Maybe you could host a free conference call where people within your audience could voice their opinions. With a little creativity, you’ll have all the ins and outs of your target customer nailed in no time!
---------------------------------
Want to know the four personality types and how to get each to
respond to your copy? Karon can show you! Get that information
and tons more at http://www.copywritingcourse.com. Also
subscribe to Karon’s FREE ezine: Business Essentials at
http://www.ktamarketing.com/ezine.html.
ProBizTips Tip of the Week |
Protect Your Computer!
by Joe McHenry
Surfing on the Internet can be a major problem if you don't employ a reasonable amount of protective software.
Hackers, spyware and viruses all combine to make it essential that you have a firewall, a spyware detector and an anti-virus program - all up to date and operating on your system.
1. Safety First - Get Yourself a Firewall Now!
If you don't have a firewall installed and operating on your computer then you are risking an attack by a hacker!
Without a firewall your computer is like an open door. Private and confidential information may become available to hackers with basic computer skills.
Not only could information be stolen but a hacker could leave your computer in a state where they could return and take control of it.
A firewall monitors all incoming traffic and only allows in what you have authorised.
You can even make your computer "invisible" when on the Internet so hackers are not even aware of your presence!
It's one of the few things all "experts" agree with so go to http://www.zonelabs.com and get your FREE firewall now...
2. Keep Those Spyware Cookies Off Your Computer!
Most of the cookies you collect while using the Internet are harmless and just kept on your hard drive in case you return to the same website again.
A new type of cookie is now accessing your computer and sending nformation about your activities on the Internet back to it's originator. These cookies are known collectively as "Spyware".
So why not get yourself a FREE copy of Lavasoft's Ad-aware which s a spyware removal utility which will scan your PC memory, your registry, and hard drive(s) for known spyware and allow you to remove them.
You can even update the data files so that your protection is always up to date!
For your FREE copy go to: http://www.lavasoft.nu
3. You Have Got Anti-Virus Protection - Haven't You?
I have assumed that everyone now has some type of anti-virus software to protect their computers against virus attack.
There have been so many well documented cases which have caused considerable financial loss both to small and large companies.
If you still haven't got this protection go to a website such as http://www.download.com and search for a free program. There are several programs available - choose one!
You know it makes sense!
With the three types of protection mentioned above you will be able to surf the Internet, content that you have taken all reasonable precautions without being paranoid!
---------------------------------
Copyright ® 2003 Joe McHenry. All rights reserved.
Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends,
or use it in your ezine or newsletter. To find other tips
and advice visit http://www.tips-for-boomers.com
**We're interested in your comments, questions, and suggestions.
Do you enjoy this ezine? Do you have an Internet marketing or
e-commerce related question? If so, feel free to submit it to us.
We may publish your question and response in the next issue.
ProBizTips Discount Mania |
Credit Repair Kit 2004
25% Off Regular Price for Subscribers Only
Sales URL: http://www.creditrepair2004.com/
Discount URL: http://www.creditrepair2004.com/order-special.htm
---------------------------------
Do YOU have a product YOU'D like to offer to over 30,000
subscribers? If you are willing to give a discount to your
product or service, why not get some F*R*E*E exposure? :)
Win $25 BUCKS paid to you instantly via PayPal.
Now using the BRAND NEW random drawing script!
"You Gotta Be IN IT to WIN IT!"
Congratulations to William Chen
for winning the last cash contest
If you submitted and didn't win, keep trying!
>> WebLawLinks
** Refer to the Email for Access Info **
