ProBizTips Newsletter
** ISSUE #288 **

Tuesday, July 27th, 2004

A Word From Diane

ProBizTips Mid-Sponsors

ProBizTips Feature Article
Frodo's Journey.....
What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business

Ask Me Anything
Answers For Sonny

ProBizTips Guest Article
Beating Dead Horses

ProBizTips Pick of the Week
Marketing Power Pack

ProBizTips Business Tidbit
10 Awesome Ways To Attract More Orders

Discount Mania

Weekly F*R*E*E*B*I*E
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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!

Sorry the issue is a little late... I had my first doctor's appointment today and got to see the baby and little heartbeat. My 5 year old son was so excited when he saw the baby move. :)

I realize a lot of you are taking the summer "off" -- summer is slow for online business. Take the time to reorganize, plan new joint ventures or products, etc.

I'll be on vacation next week -- can't wait! :)

Sit back, relax and enjoy today's issue!

Your Friend,

Diane Hughes
ProBizTips Weekly

P.S. Just a reminder -- you can check out all the special deals,
business ventures, and the Tidbits Issues on our Online Archive.

P.S.S. Also don't forget to check out the *FORUM*... :)

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Frodo's Journey.....
What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business
by Rachna Jain

*Please note that all the trademarked terms mentioned in this article are the property of their respective owners*

Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return of the King" at the movie theater. At the same time, I was pondering a topic for this article. As often happens, the themes and timing converged. Here are 10 things you can learn about marketing your small business from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

1) The task is primarily yours. In the Lord of the Rings, Frodo must complete the task that is primarily his (i.e. to destroy the ring at Mount Doom). In the same vein, marketing your business is a job that is primarily yours. If you don't take the time or make the effort no one else can do it in your stead.

2) You will benefit from help. Throughout Frodo's journey he was supported and assisted by many people along the way. Many entrepreneurs generally avoid asking for help. Who or what do you need to ask for help so that you can be more successful than you are now?

3) The path always opened up and not usually before it was needed. In the movie, there were many times Frodo and his company narrowly escaped doom and destruction. At the last minute a path would open up that would lead them to safety. In marketing your business it's often the same way. You can see where you need to go but the path may not open up for you until the last possible moment. You need to stay the course and trust that all is unfolding just perfectly - even when it doesn't look that way in any particular moment.

4) Persistence pays off. During the movie, there were many times Frodo probably wondered, "Why me?" and several times where he was too tired to think about going ahead but he did, led on by his vision and sense of responsibility. Where in your business can you be more persistent and more responsible to your vision? How could this give you the energy to move ahead?

5) Pay attention to signs along the way. Throughout the movie, there were hints and clues about what might happen next - the same is true for your business. When you pay attention to the clues and hints along the way you are more well-prepared for any unexpected turn of events. Pay particular attention, especially, to outcomes which are significantly different than you anticipated.

6) Take advantage of the rest-stops. It's important on a hero's quest, and as a small business owner, to take periodic rest-stops in order to refresh and refuel. When you find yourself in a business lull use that time to put additional structures and supports in place. Use the rest-stops to your greatest advantage.

7) Recognize that everything comes together in due time. Sometimes, small business owners feel impatient when their business is not growing as fast or profitably as expected. Understand, though, that building a business has a certain rhythm and pattern. When you work within the pattern, rather than fighting against it, you will feel calmer and more confident. For Frodo, he needed to travel a great distance to get to Mount Doom and he needed to 'put in his time' so to speak in order to complete the quest. For example, he had to first travel to meet Galadriel or else he wouldn't have been able to move through the part of the journey when he met with Shelob. So understand that all your efforts are coming together even if, sometimes, they seem like random tangents to your path.

8) Learn as much as you can along the way. In the movie, Frodo learned about various lands by paying attention to those people he met along the way. He was able to gain assistance and loyalty because he took the time to learn from everyone he met. The most successful business owners are the ones who continually make time to learn and take the best of what they learn to propel them even further.

9) Be flexible and yet stay the course. Several times in the movie, Frodo needed to change his plans in order to appropriately respond to events as they unfolded. Similarly, small business owners need to be flexible in their planning so they can take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

10) Success may sometimes look or feel different than you expected. In the movie, each of the main characters pursued a different path after the journey was finished. Each had a different life trajectory after playing their part in the story. For every small business owner success may look different than you expected and may require some new adjustments. For example, you might have great success with a marketing approach and then have some glitches in fulfilling the orders. Success doesn't come without lasting change.

As we move forward in this year I invite you to examine your business from these viewpoints:

1) see where you can take actions that you must take
2) where you can allow help and assistance in a new (or bigger) way
3) where you can find paths that open up to lead you along on your journey
4) where you can persist in the face of adversity
5) where you can learn from the information unfolding around you
6) how you can better use your rest-stops
7) where you can grasp the pattern of business unfolding as it should
8) where you can learn from those you meet
9) where you can be more flexible
10) finally, where can celebrate your success and move onto a new playing field?

Follow these steps, and you will manifest a positive outcome in your quest for small business success.

---------------------------------

Dr. Rachna D. Jain is a sales and marketing coach, author,
consultant and speaker. Sign up for her free email newsletter,
"Sales & Marketing Secrets" <mailto:sams-subscribe@salesandmarketingcoach.com>
To learn more or to contact Dr. Jain directly,
please visit http://www.SalesandMarketingCoach.com.

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Diane,

What website templates and header generators are best to use and why?

Sonny

-------------

Hi, Sonny!

I personally have mine professionally made. I find that using someone who has experience in web design and online business are better "men/women" for the job and it saves me time to concentrate on other parts of my business.

Ovi Dogar with Absolute Covers is great!
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Hope this helps!

------------------------------

Just as the name implies, ask me anything.
If I don't know the answer, I'll find it.

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Beating Dead Horses
by Kent Butler

We've all been guilty of it at one time or another. Well, maybe not literally - How many people keep dead horses around? - but by continuing unsuccessful pursuits.

To paraphrase Einstein, the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing, in the same way, while expecting different results. Does that make you squirm a little?

As you head into a new year, full of promise and opportunities, it is a timeless practice - and good idea - to step back and honestly assess what you're doing and how it's working. In all areas of your life. Or, even if it's not the start of a new year...

If you have not achieved the business success you had hoped and worked for, why not? The horse may not be dead. The problem might be with the rider. Start at the very beginning:

>> Is there demand for your product**? It's amazing how many people can't actually answer that question. They start a business because it appeals to them, and they assume it will appeal to others. Never assume, find out.

>> Will your product appeal to the population at large (like shoes), or to a small segment (like snow shoes)? If yours is a niche (small segment) product, learn some niche marketing techniques.

>> What similar products seem to be selling? How are they being sold, and to whom?

>> How strong is your presentation? Is your website the best you can make it? Is it full of banners, pop-ups, unneeded links and other distractions? What are you promoting - your business or someone else's?

>> Is your advertising working? Are you tracking it? Best find out - it's your business and your money.

>> Are your website copy, sales letters, and ad copy strong and effective? Bet you can improve them. Get some free help from a Master, Joe Robson. Joe also owns The Newbie Club. http://adcopywriting.com/Web_Tutorial_W1.htm

>> Are you marketing, or just advertising? If you don't know the difference, find out and fix what you're (not) doing. Hmm, it may well BE the rider...

>> Who is your competition? Do they appear successful (which is an important part of becoming and remaining successful)? Do you? People like to do business with winners.

>> What is your competition doing that you're not? Ask around and find out - this IS the Information Age, y'know. How can you make something similar work for you? Better yet, how can you improve on what they're doing?

After you've gathered and analyzed the necessary information, determine your best course of action, form a plan and do it. Today. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone.

Two parting thoughts:

>> If all appears lost with your would-be business and your enthusiasm is gone, maybe the horse really is dead. There is no shame in cutting your loses, moving on, and trying again. BUT, take lots of notes on the whole history to be sure you don't lose any of the lessons. Failure only happens when you stop trying.

>> You will be as successful as you determine you will be. It's okay to wait for your ship to come in, as long as you work your buns off while you wait. Enthusiasm, drive, determination, and a good shot of spirituality will take you anywhere you want to go.

Have a great trip!

**or service - I just didn't want to keep writing "product or service", so product will do for both.

---------------------------------

Kent Butler is an entrepreneur, a writer, and the editor
(known as The Nitpicker) of iCop's Internet Marketing Trade
Journal. He's also a word buff and has a unique service
offering custom-made, personalized word puzzles for all
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10 Awesome Ways To Attract More Orders
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1. Create a free ebook directory on a specific topicat 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 other web sites that have free classified ad sections.

4. Create two versions of your e-zine so people can choose if they want ads included with it or not. This'll attract the people who hate ads to subscribe.

5. Publish your e-zine only on your web site. Have people subscribe to a "new issue" e-mail reminder. This could really increase your traffic and sales.

6. Sell advertising space in your product package. You could sell inserts, flyers, brochures, booklets, and digital ads for electronic products.

7. Offer daily or weekly visitor bonuses. This will increase your repeat traffic and sales because your visitors will visit regularly to get the visitor bonuses.

8. Allow people to download software or e-books from your web site at no cost. Just ask your visitors in return if they'll refer their friends to your web site.

9. Build up the number of people that join your free affiliate program quickly by temporally offering your product for free to the people that sign up.

10. Negotiate with e-zine publishers to get free or discounted ads by letting them join your affiliate program and earn commissions on the ad you run.

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Three blondes were witnesses to a crime, so they went to the police station to identify the suspect.

The police chief said he would show them a mug shot of someone for thirty seconds, then ask each one for a description.

After showing the photo to the first blonde, he covered it, then asked her how she would recognize the suspect.

'Easy,' she replied. ''He only has one eye.'

The chief was stunned. 'He only has one eye because it is a profile shot! Think about it!'

He repeated the procedure for the second blonde and again asked how she would recognize him. 'He only has one ear,' was her answer.

'What is the matter with you people?!? It is a profile shot! You are seeing him from the side!'

He repeated the procedure for the third blonde, then said, 'How would you recognize the suspect? Now think before you give me a stupid answer.

'After viewing the photo, she thought for a minute, then said, 'He's wearing contact lenses.'

This took the chief by surprise. He looked! real hard at the picture and couldn't tell if the suspect had contacts or not, so he went into the database and looked at the report. Sure enough, when the mug shot was taken, he was wearing contact lenses!

He went back to her and asked, 'How could you tell he was wearing contact lenses? Nobody else here in this precinct saw that!'

'Well,' she said, 'he can't wear regular glasses with only one eye and one ear, now, can he?'

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