Anyone who wants to work at home knows about all the scams out there. The internet is full of work at home scams. People will advertise a work at home opportunity, and tell you that you can take advantage of it for just a small investment of $29.95, or $45.95, or $79.99.

But when it comes right down to it, why you should you pay someone to work for them?

Think about traditional jobs you have applied for or worked. Did you ever have to pay to be considered for those jobs? Of course not! If that was the case, companies would have a hard time finding employees.

Anytime your asked to pay to apply for a job or begin working, this should be a red flag that the “job” advertised is actually a SCAM.

Also, what information about the job do you have? Many times, the scams don’t tell you much about the job itself. If there is a job description at all, it is often very vague. Why do you suppose that is? A lack of information about the job or the company is another red flag for a scam.

What about contact information? What ways do you have to get in touch with the potential employer? None? Just an email address? If there is not an actual person to contact, be weary. If you are provided with a person’s name and title in the company, an address, email address, and telephone number, then it is probably a reliabe opportunity. Go ahead and call the number, talk to the person. Grill them about the opportunity. If it is a real opportunity, they should be happy to talk to you and give you any information about the company. If they are hesitant or dance around your questions, ask yourself, What are they hiding?

If you then want some more assurance that the opportunity you are researching or applying for is legitimate, one of my favorite ways is to do a search on the opportunity. Go to your favorite search engine (I usually do the same search in a few different engines) and do a few searches. Search the company’s name that you have a applied for. Then, search the company’s name + scam.

This will often yield results of lots of different blogs. If you get few results, this may tell you that there aren’t many hits for people describing this opportunity as a scam. Maybe it really is legit. Read through some of the blogs though. Does the author of the blog seem to be selling the same opportunity? Again, a red flag should go up. Or are they simply trying to inform you about the company?

After you’ve done that, check with the Better Business Bureau. Check the rating of the company, and then read the explanation of the rating. Or, if the company is not registered with the BBB, again, red flag.

Once you’ve done all this, you should have a pretty good feel for the company and if it is one that you want to work for. The decision is ultimately yours, of course.

Lastly, you do want to be sure that you are just looking at work at home jobs. There are also plenty of home based business opportunities out there.

Business opportunities often do require an investment, whether to start a traditional or a home-based business. For these, it is important to check out what is included in the investment. When invest money if you’re not sure exactly what it is you’re investing in?

You can still use the same methods I talked about earlier to research the business, just keep in mind that a running a business is very different from working for someone else.

If you do choose to make the investment, best of luck! If you don’t, keep looking, and you will find a legitimate opportunity.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

MuVar 2009 is our best selling product.  No wonder.  It is the heart of our business (and the heart of every franchise running our business system).

It allows sales pages to automatically test themselves into profitability or increased profitability.  It’s is completely hands off multi-variate testing software.

In addition, the 2009 version has features that allow for it’s use on procedures in a business system.  Every single procedure in our business system is ratcheting toward more profitability because it is running in MuVar 2009.

We are now making it available for resell.  That means you can sell MuVar 2009 on your own site and keep all of the profits.

We sell MuVar 2009 for $300 per copy and have a 1.6% conversion rate at that price.  That’s a visitor value of $4.80.  Do you have a product that earns you $4.80 or more for every visitor you send to the sales page for that product?

If not, you need to take advantage of this special and add a new product to your web-site… MuVar 2009.

During this 24 hour special, you can get a 10 pack of MuVar 2009 for resell for less than the retail price of a single copy.  That’s more than 90% profit for you!

You can get a 50 pack or a 100 pack for an even better deal.

This special is only good until noon tomorrow (Tuesday at noon CST which is GMT-6).  After that, we’ll have more rational (but still very profitable) prices for our reseller plan.

You can order as many as you want during the next 24 hours at these incredible prices.

Here is the URL:

http://www.diegonorte.com/products/MuVar2009Resell/

You can choose to sell them at whatever price you choose.  You can even give them away as bonuses for other products you are selling.

Of course I would encourage you to open one of them and get it installed on your own site so that your own profits are forcefully being ratcheted in the more profitable direction even while you are sleeping.

Here is the URL again:

http://www.diegonorte.com/products/MuVar2009Resell/

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

The images on your website can drive a lot of free and targeted traffic to your website. You should have a strategy for using images and a description of your unique business to drive traffic to your website. When choosing a name think carefully about what searchers will be typing into the image search engine to find pictures like the one you are publishing.

The first thing that I would do is brainstorm all of the images that I think my potential prospects might look for. Then I would take a look at all my existing web pages to see where I could add new relevant images. Don’t just add images as eye candy. Add them to improve the overall content of the page. Creating an image gallery which links to individual picture pages can work well and is a quick way to add dozens of searchable images to your website. It is also worth putting a brief description under each image to attract normal searchers.

I really can’t stress enough how important a professional looking design is for attracting sales. Many people will just not trust a website that is poorly designed. You want your customers to feel that every aspect of your business is taken seriously so they can feel secure and confident that you will not rip them off. Presenting your business in a sloppy manner is just not the way to build the confidence of your potential clients.

The usability of the website ties right in with the design. Make sure the design of you site allows for easy navigation for your customers and makes the process of checking out as hassle free as possible.

Search Engine Optimization can be the difference between a small, barley profitable or visible website and a traffic magnet website. There are so many ways, both good and bad to acquire links to be able to drag traffic to your sites. Some sites react to certain strategies better than others.

Buying text ads in E-magazines is also a good way to gain exposure. Some of the best buys are small text ads in e-mail newsletters targeted at audiences likely to be interested in the same or similar fields. Many small publishers don’t have sophisticated advertising and offer attractive rates.

Make sure that they can find anything that they would be looking for easily. Remember that your competition is just a few clicks away, and they can just as easily go some where else. It is important to manage your online reputation to the best of your ability. Blogs have gone a long way when it comes to marketing strategies. This tool is the latest buzz in the industry. If you want quality links to your site, then start a business blog. If you offer excellent content and regular industry news, people are likely to link to it increasing your sites traffic numbers.

Always make sure when you are sending e-mails to include your site’s URL with your signature, as it helps potential customers to keep in touch with you. Most e-mail programs such as AOL, NETSCAPE and Outlook allow you to designate a “signature” to appear at the end of each message you send. Limit it to 6-8 lines: Company name, address, phone number, URL, e-mail address, and a company phrase.

You will do well in your endeavors if you remember the above points when starting your online business. Just because you have a website does not mean that you will get all the business you were hoping for.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

“Legitimate Scams”

Many online businesses have used the slogan “get rich quick” but is this really true? Well the unfortunate answer is, it can go both ways-there is always a possibility of getting rich (which would be the legitimate answer) as well as the possibility of not getting rich and that’s when it becomes a scam.

Many online businesses do provide a source of income for families world-wide. They might supply extra money for the individuals that are associated with them though the possibility of getting rich might be slim.

Be aware of online businesses that express these ideals. They are either running a scam or are unaware of how they present their business to every day people. Do excessive research on the company that you are planning to work for. Get the opinion of others that have worked for that particular company and opinions that are not already blogged on the company’s website. To ensure legitimacy follow these guidelines.

1. Payment Information

Be sure to get excessive information on how you’re being paid. Whether you are paid per job or by the number of hours you work. Payment may differ with each company. Find out if taxes are deducted directly from your pay or if it’s your job to pay taxes from your earnings. Compensation, benefits, etc.

2. The things your job will entail

Find out what you will really be doing for the company and if there are any requirements needed to do the job. Most online businesses do not have requirements for their employees but it’s good for you to know. For example, if you are going to write articles for the company, having a degree in journalism is a plus.

3. Communication

Ensure that you receive information regarding who to contact in case you need answers to certain questions, if the question is not already answered on the “frequently asked questions” page on the company’s website. Communication can be through telephone, via email, etc.

4. Read the Terms and Conditions

Read your contract carefully and thoroughly. Find out what are the rules that govern the company. Make sure that you understand and agree to terms and conditions and that they suit your needs. If you don’t agree with the terms and conditions then it’s probably not for you. Instead try something new or find another job.

5. Research the company

Research as much as you can about the company. There might not be much but check their ratings on customer service, and overall performance on delivering satisfaction.

There are possibilities of getting rich with online businesses but sometimes advertisers will say anything to get their audience to believe what they want them to believe, you just have to find out whether what they are saying suits you or if the promises are even possible to attain.

Remember that you might be able to make some money but it might not make you rich. “Get rich” schemes generally don’t work! The possibility of winning the lottery is approximately 1 to 5,000,000 and that’s in the United States alone (whose population density is approximately 305,186,613).

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Depending on whom you ask, the term Internet marketing can mean a variety of things. At one time, Internet marketing consisted mostly of having a website or placing banner ads on other websites. On the other end of the spectrum, there are loads of companies telling you that you can make a fortune overnight on the Internet and who try to sell you some form of “Internet marketing program”.

Today, Internet marketing is evolving into a broader mix of components a company can use as a means of increasing sales - even if your business is done completely online, partly online, or completely offline. The decision to use Internet marketing as part of a company’s overall marketing strategy is strictly up to the company of course, but as a rule, Internet marketing is becoming an increasingly important part of nearly every company’s marketing mix. For some online businesses, it is the only form of marketing being practiced.

Internet marketing is using the Internet to do one or more of the following:

1. Communicate a company’s message about itself, its products, or its services.

2. Conduct research as to the nature of existing and potential customers.

3. Sell goods, services, or advertising space over the Internet.

Components of Internet marketing may include:

1. A website, consisting of text, images and possibly audio and video elements used to convey the company’s message, to inform existing and potential customers of the features and benefits of the company’s products and/or services.

2. Email marketing, which is a method of distributing information about a product or service or for soliciting feedback from customers about a product or service through Email. Email addresses of customers and prospective customers may be collected or purchased.

3. Banner advertising, which is the placement of ads on a website for a fee. Offline this would be similar to traditional advertising in newspapers or magazines.

Of all of the components of Internet marketing, prospective customers and clients expect a business to have a website. In fact, not having one could raise a red flag to a prospect. Online usage has become so pervasive today, many prospects might easily choose to do business with a company that they can get up-to-date information on 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Even a business that only has very local customers, such as a single location restaurant or shoe store can benefit from having a Web site. And, those businesses whose customers are not restricted to a geographical area might have a difficult time finding an alternate method of attracting customers that offers the reasonably low expense and worldwide reach of a Web presence.

Because of the “virtual” nature of most home businesses, websites, if not an absolute necessity, can certainly provide benefits to a home business operator. Since most home-based businesses don’t have a physical location, a website provides an inexpensive means for prospects to get to know what you do or what you sell and can even be a “storefront” for selling goods and services directly.

The Internet has greatly enabled home businesses to prosper because of the reasonably low cost to start and maintain a web presence. Therefore, Internet marketing should be part of your business plan and your marketing strategy.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Speaking on getting things done in a fashionable manner. Why not get the consumers needs met first and in a timely manner.

We have been so worried about starting an online business, we forgot about the consumer. They are the ones who helps us get and maintain our business. We have to give homage to the patrons. Once this is done, we as the business owner can then relax knowing that needs of the people have been met.

We all know that the customers are always right and they have more say so than we’d like to give them credit for. Case and point, you go to the grocery store and you spend money on the things you want and need for your family. The fact that you went to the store to purchase items means that the store will be in business a little bit longer.

It is called “Business to Consumer.” When a business does business for the sole purpose of providing for the consumer. We all have done some sort of business. We know how we want to be treated. For the most part, we expect exceptional customer service, reliability and honesty.

Now that you own your own business, keep in mind that the customer could be you and someone else owns the business. You want to treat the customer with respect and provide for them knowledgeable, friendly, energetic customer service. My cell phone carrier is #1 and it has been proven. Their customer service is what keeps them on top. The customer service that they provide is “Ace.”

The key to keeping customers is to:

1 Friendly

2 Reliability

3 Knowledgeable Staff

4 Genuine Customer Service

These are special qualifications of a “professional” customer service representative. Just because you call someone on the phone and they help does not make them a good representative. It’s when they go “all out” to help you. They are more than happy to help.

They say that good help is hard to find. That holds some truth to it. Employing the right people the first time means getting it right from the “jump.” When you get it right, the customers also have it right. When the order the product or receive the services, they want to “feel” like they are being taken care of and their needs are being met.

Needless to say, if the customer feels that they are being treated like their concerns are being met, they will tell everyone what a wonderful company you have. On the other hand, if they feel like their concerns are not being met, they will call up the BBB and start to make complaints. Once a complaint is “out” regarding your company, it can have a negative impact on your business.

More importantly, train your employees and equip them with the tools that they will need to be successful when taking a call for a purchase/complaint/compliment or any other reason. Done right the first time, complaints are less likely to happen and you can be rated #1 customer service according to JD Power and Associates. When recognition is set in, you can be reputable company that cares for it’s employees as well as it’s consumers.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

“From the Bottom to the Top”

When building a business, you have to view it like an architect views an up and coming project, the foundation goes first, the bottom, the first step.

Well we are not construction workers, so what is our translation for foundation? Our foundation is the most important part of our business, our plan or idea. Though many businesses have been started without the benefit of a formal plan, it can be an essential factor in the birth and growth of your company. A good business plan will help you obtain financing, arrange strategic alliances, attract key employees, and boost your confidence. A business plan sells your company to the world and gives you direction as the world answers back.

You’ve probably heard all the academic and formal definitions of a business plan- something to the effect that it’s a document describing your company’s goals and means of achieving them in the next five years. However it’s phrased, though, the definitions are usually abstract and uninformative. It makes a business plan sound dry and theoretical- and mysterious- which is not.

Here’s how I define a business plan: It’s a document that convincingly demonstrates that your business can sell enough of its product or service to make a satisfactory profit and be attractive to potential backers of your business, from bankers to investors to partners to employees.

When viewed as a selling document, the business plan takes on a new meaning. This view provides four compelling reasons for writing a business plan:

1. A business plan, first and foremost, should sell you on the business.

If you do all the things you’re supposed to do in writing a business plan, you may decide at some point in the writing process that the business doesn’t make as much sense as you had anticipated. The market is not growing as fast as you had thought or the gross margins are not as high as you had expected. And you may decide not to pursue the business. In that event, the business plan has done you a favor-it has saved you the expense and grief of pursuing a business that was not really viable.

Conversely, you may discover in the course of researching and writing the plan that the business opportunities is not exactly what you had expected, but that if you alter your focus slightly, the opportunities are even greater than you had realized. You may change your approach to take the new realities into account, making the business more exciting than before.

A manager of a small wholesaler of cut flowers wrote a business plan in response to a demand for one from its chief investor, who was concerned about the company’s eroding profits. In doing the research to write a plan, the manager discovered that competitors were devising ways to sell the freshest and prettiest flowers as special premium brands-fetching higher prices than usual. The manager decided to propose to the investor a plan for creating a special inspection and grading system so that interested customers could ensure they were getting the best of the bunch. The investor liked the idea well enough to authorize funding for the project. The new premium-brand project enables the company to raise its prices to some customers and to attract new ones. Over the next few years,

profitability improved significantly, thanks to the effort made in putting together a business plan.

2. A business plan sells others on the business:

When someone asks you for a business plan, they are really saying,” Sell me on this business. Turn me on”

In that sense, a business plan is not unlike the marketing materials your company produces. The advertising, direct mail, public relations, and other promotional copy your company puts together is meant to sell your company to potential customers.

A business plan is meant to sell your company as well, but to those we might call “stakeholders.” These are individuals and companies considering providing support of some kind, be it funding, time, expertise, or whatever. Usually, they are the bankers, investors, executives, suppliers, significant customers, and so on.

3. A business plan gives you confidence:

Going through this planning process for your business, you think, “what a great feeling it is to complete a written business plan!” Suddenly, you feel more in control of your business. That feeling of control is one of confidence. You will know where your business stands and where it is going. It is good feeling.

4. A business plan improves your chances for success:

In an AT&T study, all the entrepreneurs were asked to rate their overall success. Those 42% who had written a business plan rated themselves more successful than the 58% who had not written business plans. In other words, planning paid off.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Have you been asking yourself, “how in the world can I make a sale?!!” If you’re new to sales, or have been experiencing slow-to-no sales in your business, this can be a very frustrating question to answer.

Here’s how to conquer your dilemma — know your Five P’s of Sales!

1. Product Knowledge

2. People Knowledge

3. Practice!

4. Practice!!

5. Practice!!!

First step, know your product. Know every single detail of your product. If your product is a stapler, how many pieces of paper can it hold? How many staples can you fit in it? What colors and styles does it come in? You must be able to intelligently answer your customer’s questions in a way that is clear and concise. Now, even with all your expertise, you will still get a question from time to time to which you do not know the answer. Not a problem! Simply state, “That’s a great question! I will find out the answer and get back to you.” Schedule a time that is convenient for your customer, and then follow up as promised.

Second step, know your customer. How do you learn about your customer? Build rapport by being honest and sincere, have some personality and use a positive demeanor. Ask key questions that relate to your product and LISTEN to the answers they give you. This will allow you to show them how your product will fit their needs, instead of how making this sale will line your pockets!

Third step, practice! Practice your sales pitch in front of a mirror. Record your pitch on an

audio or video tape so you can see for yourself where you sound great and where you can make some adjustments. Practice on friends and family, asking for suggestions on possible areas of improvement. Make sure they understand what you are saying - speak slowly and clearly. Believe in what you are selling.

Fourth step, practice some more! As you make minor (and sometimes major) tweaks to your pitch, practice on those same family and friends. Record your updated pitch. Look for ways to make your sales pitch sound natural and enthusiastic, and NOT like a “sales pitch”.

Fifth step, you guessed it - PRACTICE! But wait, didn’t you practice enough already? No, for the reason that you will always be learning something new about your customers, products, sales techniques, marketplace changes, and so on. Implement those into your sales pitch and continue to practice.

When you know your products, customers, and sales pitch inside and out, you have the tools to succeed.

Humility and confidence = Money in your pocket.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Do you wish you had control over your own customer email list?  Are you tired of paying $59/month for some service that is often down and has poor deliverability to your customers and prospects?  Do you ever worry that you could wake up one day and have your account suspended or even that the company that handles your mailing list has gone out of business?

The answer is obviously that you should be in control of your own customer and prospect lists.  You promised your customers that you would keep their information private.  You owe them to keep that promise and not give their information to some third party.

MemoSo was developed in-house as our solution.  It is what we personally use in our own business.  It has also been installed on every franchise in our network and is their solution.

It is now available to you.  You just follow the videos to install this solution on your own site.  From that point on, there is no need to pay an auto-responder service for the privilege of having access to your own private customer list.

Here’s the picture of the cover:

It automatically integrates with all of the franchise software or can be used on it’s own to manage your email lists.  It handles unsubscribe requests and all other CAN-SPAM requirements automatically.  You just enter a subject line and an email you wish to send to any of the infinite number of lists MemoSo 2009 can handle and click the send button.  MemoSo handles putting your address at the bottom of each email and an unsubscribe link.  MemoSo also handles the unsubscribe requests completely automatically.

Artemis Pro 2009 will be released soon.  It’s architecture will be different from earlier versions of Artemis Pro.  It will use MemoSo for article submission so you’ll need a copy of MemoSo if you want to upgrade to the new version of Artemis Pro. 

Here is the URL:

http://kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX000G1BPZ

We wouldn’t recommend it if we didn’t use it ourselves.  This is the solution we use and every single one of our franchises use to handle their prospect and customer lists.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

In order for any online business to survive, it is vital that the customers are satisfied with the product or service. Simply Google search any online product and you’ll see what I mean: potential customers are curious about the product or service and willing to ask past customers whether or not it is a good investment. Enough bad reviews and you’ll not only lose current customers, but potential ones as well.

So how do you keep your current customers and get new ones? The answer is simple: great customer service. These three tips will make sure your customers stay satisfied and are willing to recommend your product.

1. Answer the usual questions.

People buying things online are already a little wary: after all, they have no idea whether or not you and your business are legitimate. One way to appease their fears is to answer many of their concerns on your website.

Make sure your website fully explains what they are buying, how shipping works or how the service will be preformed. I recommend a F.A.Q. section on your site, where you can answer the most popular questions about your product. Some main concerns you might want to address are:

What does your product do?

How does it work?

Why does the customer need or want this?

What is the shipping, refunds and returns policy?

2. Let the customer get in touch with you quickly and easily.

What if your customers have a question not answered in the Frequently Asked Questions? One way to really sell them on your product is to let them know they can contact your company with any questions, and you will reply.

Make sure your email address is listed clearly on either the F.A.Q. page or under contact information. When you get a question, answer it as quickly as possible. If you find you are getting a large volume of questions, hire telecommuters to reply with answers. Potential customers will be impressed with a reply from an actual person instead of an automated one.

3. Handle problems as quickly as you can.

Let’s say that someone is unsatisfied with your product. They e-mail you, asking for a return and you never e-mail them back. Congratulations, they now think you’re a scam, and you won’t be getting any referrals from them.

When a customer has a problem, it needs to be handled quickly. I’ve always hated that mantra, “the customer is always right”. Quite often, they are not. Let’s say a customer wants a refund, but your business doesn’t offer refunds, and this is clearly stated on your site. Explain to the customer your business’ policy, and where it can be found on your website. They might not like it, but at least you explained to them your policy and showed them where it was on the same site they bought from. Be fair, but stick to your policies.

Customer service is an important aspect of your business. Without it, you will lose your current customers and any referrals they might write for you. By following the above three tips, you can ensure that your customers will always be pleased with your company.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Which one would you like your company to be?  Most companies on the internet are scams though.  When you are trying to get people to your website and to visit your company you have to make it look like it is a successful company even when you are just getting started.

When trying to do this don’t use the words “get rich quick” because everyone knows that this is too good to be true.  You can not get rich overnight unless you win the lottery. People know this and will turn and run the other way as fast as they can.

You can choose to use phrases like “we need a home worker for our company” if you advertise that they can “make money as soon as you start” chances are they will not even look at you further.

When you are going to place the ad to make your company a success make sure that you place it in the correct places. Don’t place ads in the newspaper in your area because chances are there won’t be a very big turn around from that. If you place an ad on an online site then you will have the right people looking at the ad. You want people that know how to work on a computer and not someone that just knows how to turn it on. If you have people like that you will not be a success.

Make sure when you place the ad to advertise what excatly the person would be doing. Don’t write that they will be looking at emails all day if they are going to be filling out reports and sending them. If the job you are offering is not what you are really offering then it will be considered a scam right off the bat.

Leave a few things out when placing the ad but make sure that they are not important ones. You can leave out things like when the company started, where they started and how much they are worth. You must tell them things like how much you are going to pay them(ranges are ok), what responsiblites go with the job, and how many hours you need them to work.

If they are not interested in all of the criteria that you list in your ad they will not respond and you will only have people working for you that want to be there.

You also have to think about what kinds of people that you want to work for you.  If you want stay at home moms then state that in your ad…  that it would be a great position for a stay at home mom.  Make sure that you don’t put in the ad that you will “get rich quick”.

We all these steps you should be able to prove to someone looking at your company as a possible place of work that it is not a scam (like most of the internet companies out there) and is a great success.  Good luck!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Objectives, strategies, and tactics - these are the parts of a solid strategic marketing plan. Your site objective defines the big picture, strategies provide the framework, and tactics fill in the details. Tactics are where the action takes place - these are the things you will do to bring your plans to life.

There is no shortage of Internet- related marketing tactics. Many have great potential. The challenge is to sift through and choose the ones that are right for your situation - the ones that have the greatest potential to support your strategies. Randomly ricocheting from one “proven technique” to another will frazzle and disjoint both you and your business.

Examples of promotional tactics are numerous, as are sources of advice. Public relations, search engine optimization, affiliate programs, reciprocal linking, advertising, direct email, newsletters, and customer incentives are all promotional tactics that may be appropriate for your plan.

A key to knowing which tactics to choose involves thoroughly understanding your target audience(s) and your positioning relative to each. Other elements in your marketing mix (price, product, and place/distribution) come into play as well. Once you have addressed these strategic issues, you will be better able to choose tactics with the most potential to increase your business.

Target Audience

A target audience is an identifiable group of people that could benefit from purchasing your product, visiting your site, and/or responding to some other call to action. You can define your target audience(s) according to some combination of behavior, demographics, psychology, and/or social influences. You are likely to have several potential target audiences; focus on those you can most profitably help.

Marketing to a target audience involves understanding how you can help them, developing effective messages, then reaching them via appropriate tactics. By using this approach you can focus your resources on tactics that are most likely to increase sales for your business. Hence, earning the greatest return from your marketing activities.

Positioning

Positioning defines your product, business, and/or site for those in your target audience. It sets the stage for your image - how your target audience perceives your business - and shows your audience the benefits you provide.

The positioning process involves first understanding the needs and wants of your target audience. You should also know the positioning strategies of your competitors and have a thorough knowledge of your own product’s features. Armed with that information, you can better develop tactics that will most closely fit your positioning.

Another factor to keep in mind is your online positioning will be tightly interwoven with your off-line positioning. Because your business and products are a reality in both the physical and virtual worlds, your positioning should be consistent across both. Accordingly, your marketing tactics should be consistent as well.

The Four P’s - Price, Product, Place, and Promotion

Too often, we tend to focus on “promotion” to the detriment of the other marketing mix elements. When choosing tactics for your Web site marketing plan, consider +ACo-each+ACo- of the four P’s in your marketing mix - price, product, place (distribution), and promotion. You are likely to find the results much better than if you include promotions alone.

The opportunities for incorporating all four P’s into your plan are numerous. You may find, after studying the competition, that increasing or decreasing your price is likely to result in better profits for your business. Perhaps there is a distribution channel (electronic delivery or mail order, for example) you haven’t fully integrated into your business. With respect to products, developing a new product or giving an existing product a facelift may be an effective business-building tactic.

By considering the Four P’s, your target audience(s), and positioning, you can be better prepared to choose effective tactics for your Web site marketing plan. Once your tactics are chosen, you are ready to begin implementing and evaluating results.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

In the good old days one of the best methods of selling was word of mouth.

Sure your company could do face to face sales in the form of door to door salesmen and you could also advertise on billboards, magazine and news paper classifieds ads. However, one of the most effective means of advertising was to provide excellent service and products and ask the customer to tell their friends and family about your company.

For example say someone bought a new cookware set, while showing it off to their friends they would mention where they got it (your company) and tell everyone what a pleasure it was doing business with you. In the technological age that we are now in email and instant messaging are replacing face to face and door to door conversations, text is replacing the phone call, banner ads are replacing the billboard and there are literally thousands of classified sites to post on instead of the two main city news papers.

Word of mouth advertising has remained the same effective and free way to advertise. Regardless of where they find out about your company the customer will still show off the cookware set and mention how they purchased it. If your company was smooth and easy to do business with they will let everyone know.

If your company was difficult and complicated to do business with they will let everyone know. This is where active listening really counts. If the customer feels that you as the sales person really cared about their wants and need they will feel comfortable leaving there loved ones in you hands.

By building trust you will have not only secured a repeat customer but also gained new customers. It may seem awkward to ask your existing customers for referrals; however this little step may increase your sale dramatically. Get over this discomfort. You are not going to be bugging the new prospective customers; you are showing them an opportunity that they might not otherwise be aware of.

One way you can do this is after a purchase is made send a thank you email or phone call. Thank the customer for their purchase. Let them know that if they have any questions you will be there for them and then ask them to please pass your information along to their friends and family.

This is where you may also ask for the email address of anyone they think may be interested in your product. The follow up email will show that you care about them as an individual and they are not just “another purchase.”

When sending the email to the friends that the existing customer provided be sure to tell them who referred them to you. Also add a little bit of personal information about the existing customer. For example, if the existing customer has children mention how “Sara will love the durability of your product especially with their three active children.”

This will show that you are not just an automated system shooting out names. This will also show the potential customer that you care enough to listen and remember. The customer will feel much more comfortable with you as a caring friend instead of just another salesperson.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Starting your own internet business may be a bit overwhelming to think about for some people, but most would think that starting a SUCCESSFUL online business is out of the question. Think of success as a road. The ride might start out bumpy and there might be forks or U-turns in the road, but keep moving forward because if you turn around, your success may not be accomplished. If you come to a fork in the road and don’t know which road to take, go with your gut feeling. Usually, but not always, this is right. If you happen to take the wrong road, you are human and all humans make mistakes. No one is perfect. But learn from this mistake, move on and try again. Life is about trial and error, so is your successful online business.

One trait you need to have a successful online business is to think optimistically. Thinking pessimistically about an online business will only lead to a failed online business. If you look at it psychologically, your business will work the way you want it to work.

Another trait you need for a successful online business is patience. Odds are not in your favor of becoming a millionaire overnight. As with any business, this will take time and some effort on your part.

You will need to know what your resources are and how to use them. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Knowing what your resources are and how to use them will help with a successful online business. Conducting research online should help you with questions you may have about starting a successful online business.

Be creative and put your ideas to work. Conduct research to find a product people are interested in and would like to purchase. Learn how to create an unforgettable website that people will keep returning to. A great product and unforgettable website should help you succeed.

Know what YOUR emotional and physical limits are. If you don’t know your emotional and physical limits, how will you succeed? To be successful, you should not wear yourself out emotionally and physically TRYING to succeed. If you wear yourself out TRYING, you will not have the energy to continue traveling on the road to success. Success does not usually happen overnight. You have to work at it. You should know where to stop and BREATHE if things are too overwhelming. If you don’t know what your emotional and physical limitations are, you may want to stop and think of what they are before you start traveling on the road to success.

If you think of success as a road, to start your successful online business you should think optimistically, have patience, be creative and put your ideas to work, know your resources and how to use them, and know your limits. Don’t make a U-turn, but learn from your mistakes and remember that no one is perfect. Success takes time and effort and you probably will not become rich overnight. Take time to BREATHE if things are too overwhelming, but DON’T GIVE UP!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Who decides what internet product will be the next Wikipedia, Facebook, or Twitter? How do internet service-businesses grow from being a niche product to one that permeates and defines pop culture?. Could your product one day become a verb… just as “to Google” has entered the modern lexicon?

Guessing what will be the “Next Big Thing” is the most popular parlor game among the technologically hip. As an internet entrepreneur these people are your colleagues — those creating internet businesses or making their living designing the web infrastructure that support those businesses.

Earlier this month Silicon Valley held the TechCrunch 50 conference. Billed as the “Sundance Festival for Tech,” the purpose of the conference is to discover and showcase the most promising and innovative ideas in internet business. More specifically, it is to showcase them to an audience of venture capitalists, corporations, fellow entrepreneurs and press so that those businesses can get the capital and exposure they need to grow.

Of course not every internet firm is going to gain the fame or generate the profits of Google or MySpace… but while you’re dreaming, why not dream big? All of the internet companies that are ubiquitous today started out with a small base of users — just like yours. Through viral advertising those businesses increased their exposure until they eventually reached the “Tipping Point” (to use Malcolm Gladwell’s term) and became mainstream products.

Recently I wrote a friend of mine who started “twittering” two years ago to congratulate him on his tech savvy — while two years ago I’d never heard of it, Twitter is now quickly becoming mainstream and is even used by companies to provide immediate customer service. My friend told me that the way to seem tech savvy is to tell your friends about the coolest 10 tech ideas you run across in a year… two of the ten will probably survive and your friends will think you’re a genius techster for having picked them out.

So now comes the work for you… In order to be one of the ten companies techsters are talking about you have to get your product known to these people with tech influence. These are the people who tip off their friends and audiences to what will be the Next Big Thing. Find the sites where the tech savvy in your market sector are going for their news and tips. After you’ve done that, here are some tips to get your product and your business noticed on these sites:

1. Write a “press release” to the blog about your business. Put yourself on the blog authors’ radar screen. Write the “release” as if it’s a blog post on that blog so that if the writers are lazy they could just put up your text as their post.

2. Start commenting. Even if the blog doesn’t highlight your product right away, you can bring attention to it yourself by mentioning it in the comments. Don’t be too obnoxious in this, but while addressing the point made in the post or by other commenters see if you can’t also bring up your product.

3. Join the conversation. Your company needs to be represented where other internet entrepreneurs talk to each other. Keep up-to-date in tech chat rooms related to your business. Make sure your peers in your field know about your site and give them reasons to become excited about its product.

Of course, there is no reason why you, the entrepreneur, should be doing all this work yourself. That would be too much of a J.O.B. But using someone from your marketing team to focus on viral advertising efforts is a good use of manpower… You are multiplying your efforts by marketing your product in front of those who promote and utilize internet products and technologies.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

FREEDOM!!! Freedom is the attractive term that describes working from home. Freedom to set one’s own schedule, freedom from unpleasant environments at work, and freedom from the hassle of traffic during commute to the workplace. However, it is not necessarily freedom from work itself; one must put in hours in order to achieve success. Working from the comfort of your own home is an attractive option that offers more freedom to those who are lucky enough to have it.

To be able to set one’s own hours of work is an extreme luxury. It gives people the option scheduling work around appointments and every-day errands that have to be taken care of during business hours. Trying to make it to the bank during business hours is much easier if you’re not bound to a workplace that operates on a bank’s business hours. Besides scheduled tasks, there is the element of unexpected things to be taken care of. The advantage of working from home will allow a person to accomodate such needs as they arise. This is not to say, however, that you can put off working for hours and hours. The less time you spend working means less accomplished, and less money made.

Unpleasant environment at work is also eliminated for those who have the luxury of working from home. No need to worry about stressful situations caused by supervisors, managers, and irritating co-workers. The cafeteria, restrooms, and employee lounges are all replaced by the comfort of your own home. There are many factors at work that contribute to a stressful environment at work. Many of the reasons for people leaving the workplace originate from unpleasant co-workers and stressful situations at the workplace. Having your home as your workplace will give you a much more pleasant atmosphere from which to work from.

Even the commute to the workplace can be an adventure in itself. For those who drive their own vehicles to work, there is the issue of rising fuel costs, traffic, and hectic pressure of arriving on time. For those who use public transportations, there is the struggle of fighting the masses in their journey to the workplace. Either way, there is the task of getting to and from work with all the troubles that come with it, whereas, working from home eliminates all of the above automatically.

Everything considered, working from home acutally bypasses all the unpleasantries of working: time pressures, stressful situations, and extra time spent in commute. Anyone who could work from home should consider themselves lucky.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

When looking for a J.O.B. many individuals will puruse several pages of classified ads trying to find that one J.O.B that fits them to a tee. For many, they end up settling for something that is a close fit. What if companies actually looked at their workforce and adjusted job descriptions to fit the employees?

As an employer, you want to get to know your employees so well that you can tap into their unique qualities and use those qualities to make your company the best it can be. Maybe one of your sales people is really gifted in motivation….put them in charge of coming up with incentives for the staff. You will find by doing things like that, your employees will be motivated in making the company the best it can be. They will have a personal investment.

Many times when people feel they are just doing a J.O.B . they don’t feel a great purpose in the day to day operations. They live for a paycheck and nothing else. These people don’t normally stay with a company very long. Employees like this tend to get what they can out of a company and then look for greener pastures.

If you are looking to create a workforce of dedicated employees that are excited about what the company holds, look for ways to use their individual talents. Our human nature is to be faithful and loyal to what excites us. We get up in the morning with a purpose to our day. We look for ways to improve the things that matter to us. Tapping into this natural instinct in your employees will do wonders to improve the output of your company. You will see a spark in your employees. Productivity will increase. Growth will happen. It will be amazing to see the new life that can be brought to the workforce when you allow your employees to do more that just “punch the clock”.

So, be on the lookout for more than just salespeople or human resource workers or office help. Look for unique qualities that your employees can bring to the table. Look for motivators, organizers, creators…the list can go on and on. Finding these people will create a new company that you never dreamed possible.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

One question that many people have when starting a business is how do you “seal the deal” with new customers and then how do you keep them coming back. The key is in your ears! Your ability to actively listen to potential clients is crucial to creating customers.

Have you ever been in a situation where the salesperson just wont stop talking? They can’t stop talking for TWO seconds to even listen to what you are actually looking for. You start to daze off while they are speaking. You are no longer paying attention or caring about the product that you had wanted. You walk away from the product or deal because you didn’t feel any sense of connection to the salesperson. You felt that they only wanted to sell you a product.

As a salesperson, how can you avoid this trap? I have discovered that being an active listener allows me to close more sales than I would have imagined. By listening, I can hear the needs of the client. They will tell me how to sell them the product. Say you are a pen salesperson. You meet a potential customer. They tell you they are needing a new pen. Start asking them about their favorite pen. How did it write? How did it feel in their hand? What did they wish was better about their old pen? These questions will get the person talking about their past experiences. You will hear from them what they are looking for and what they are NOT looking for. By taking the time to engage them in a conversation, you will be able to show them options that will fit their needs.

I know the pen example was very simplistic, but the principles that it shows are true in any circumstance. Engaging a potential customer in a conversation and allowing them to think they are controlling the conversation will lower their guard and it will build trust. They will believe that you, the salesperson, care about them more than just trying to sell them something. By caring, you can also create a repeat customer. They will come back to you to get the great customer service that they experienced

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Does working from home sound too good to be true?

When most people see the phrase “work from home,” they literally run away. They automatically assume there is some sort of scam going on that they do not wan to be a part of.

The truth is, most work at home ads are scams. But if your company is legitimate, how do you attract potential employees rather than turning them off? The following five suggestions are the key to attracting qualified applicants to your at work at home position.

1.Do not include common ‘work from home’ keywords. As I said before, these key words are turn offs and will dramatically decrease the number of qualified applicants. Simply refer to the position it as something like a flexible part time position. Examples of keywords and job titles that should be avoided are:

“Make cash from the comfort of your home!”

“Prices at the pump got you down? Make BIG money without leaving your house!”

“Work where you want, when you want, and make as much as you want!”

“Tired of being told what to do? Be your own boss!”

2.When posting on online search engines, use a ‘quick apply’ method. This allows perspective employees to apply to your position without having to go to your company’s website. You don’t want your perspective employees to know this is a home based position yet. Before this work at home concept is presented, you need to get the potential employee in the right mindset. How you can do this is described below in detail in steps three and four.

3.Send a post application email. After you choose suitable applicants from your application pool, send them an email requesting further information. Include their initial cover letter or resume in this email to show that they did apply to the position and that this email is not SPAM.

4.A positive mindset. After receiving the post application email, the applicant will most likely be extremely excited about the potential for an interview! The next step, filling out personal information and answering job related questions, will most likely be done with a positive and hopeful attitude. This positive attitude is the key to opening the applicant’s mind toward the concept that working at home is a real option.

4.Be subtle about introducing the ‘work from home’ concept. When the applicant finally learns they will be working from home, you should alert them in such a way that shows your company is a legitimate one, offering a legitimate position. You want the applicant to be in the mindset that this job only differs from any other job in that it is done from their home.

If these five steps are followed, your work at home business should be able to attract many qualified applicants that will eventually become the hard working employees your company needs to succeed!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Being your own boss has its “pros and cons.” Having independence is a major advantage when operating your own internet business. You don’t have to physically report to a boss everyday. You can set your own hours. Although these opportunities are great for some people, they are not for everyone. More freedom to do the things that you need to get done is a major plus for most people. But the “p-factor” can throw a monkey wrench in your entire system. Procrastination can jail you with “Shoulda” as your warden and “Coulda” alongside “Woulda” as your prison guards.

Have you ever been given a J.O.B. to do, but it wasn’t really firm? For example, you was watching TV and your wife said to you, “You should mow the lawn.” Notice the word “should” creates a tiny escape, doesn’t it? So you think, well, she didn’t say I had to the mow the lawn right now. So with that little escape, you kept watching TV.

Make a Single Decision

The first thing you must do with an internet business is decide to do it…no matter what you have to do or what you have to learn. If you don’t make this decision first, you will constantly be doubting and questioning yourself. When I say that you need to make a “single decision.” I mean leave yourself no escapes.

“Just Do It,” seems to be your “get out of jail” free card, but does not clearly extend a solution to your procrastination habit. Due diligence and vigorous didactical self-directives inclusive with undue delay is your formula to being completely free. In life, if you remove something “negative”, one must fill the void with something “positive.”

In this article we will remove the “p-factor” replace it with the PURRRR plan.

The PURRRR plan is simply this…

• Pause and remind yourself or your first goal which is to mow the lawn.
• Utilize your capability to resist watching TV.
• Reflect on what you are telling yourself (like I’ll do it later, I got time).
• Reason by thinking it through…not accepting excuses or delay tactics, you then remind yourself that your goal is to get something important done.
• Respond by giving yourself verbal instruction… “I will go to the garage get the lawn mower, check the gas and do one portion of the yard at a time.” This process replaces procrastination thinking with purposeful instructions and actions.
• Revise by making adjustments… This is how it works. (When you get to the lawnmower you notice your ipod on the shelf and begin to sift through movies. Noticing this as procrastination, instead tell yourself, when you’re done mowing the lawn you’ll reward yourself by going to the movies or renting your favorite movie.)

Start each day by…

1. Reading your goals.
2. Transferring a task (that will get you closer to your goals) to your To-Do list.
3. Prioritizing your tasks.
4. Scheduling your tasks.
5. Doing first task to completion.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

As I have already discussed in a previous blog there are three components necessary to create a successful internet business:

Traffic

Copywriting

Product

Today I am going to discuss three effective ways to drive traffic to you website:

Buying Traffic

Borrowing Traffic

Recycling Traffic

Having an internet business without traffic is similar to having a huge billboard advertising your business and instead of placing it on a busy stretch of highway you store it in your garage or basement. Both have the same result which is NO RESULT.

Buying Traffic

One of the fastest ways to drive traffic to your website is to buy traffic. There are hundreds of companies that sell traffic per click. All of these companies follow the same model of only charging advertisers for visitors that read an ad and click the link to follow through.

How this works is by having your advertisement come up when prompted by certain keywords used in an internet search and you only pay if the person conducting the search clicks on the advertisement for more information. When using this method it is important to watch cost and track and measure everything. Pay close attention to your conversion rate. Doing so will prevent you from sinking money into keywords that do not convert. It is best to track your results by search engine and by individual keywords to insure maximum success. Remember that it is possible to exhaust an entire advertising budget paying only a nickel or dime per click if you do not pay close attention to your conversion rate.

Borrowing Traffic

The second way to drive traffic to your site is by borrowing traffic from people that already have it.

The two fastest ways to borrow someone else’s flow of traffic are called ” Endorsed Mailings” and “Reciprocal Linking.”

Good candidates are people that already have lots of loyal subscribers or traffic from search engines. It is a good idea to find someone that maintains a list of subscribers and try to convince them to send out an email to their people telling them to check out your website or negotiate getting a well placed link on their web page.

The best ways to convince someone to do this for you is by paying them a small commission, agreeing to send out an email to your subscribers telling them to check out that person’s web page, or providing them with a well placed link on your web page.

Recycling Traffic

Recycling traffic involves turning one time visitors into regular repeat visitors and if you have more than one internet business or webpage, directing those repeat visitors to your other web pages or affiliate web pages.

Keeping in touch with visitors by newsletter with recommendations for your own or affiliate products and web pages is a good way to recycle traffic.

Recycling traffic is an effective way to drive traffic to your web page and it is also the least expensive way to drive traffic to your web page.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

If you are like most internet active people, you check your email at least once a day. You probably use email to connect with friends, family, and colleagues on a regular basis. It is quickly replacing the phone call as an effective means of communication. So how can you use this to your advantage?

Email marketing is being used by thousands of companies to promote their businesses. But does it work? While your spam folders may fill up on a regularly and you delete several emails a day without even reading them, there are ways to harness the power of this marketing method.

One of the easiest ways to begin your email list is to collect addresses from your current customers. They are already interested in your product or service. With their permission, they are a great target audience for your advertising.

If your goal is to reach a new audience and spread the word about your company, it might be worth looking into lead-generating services. These companies can compile a list of likely candidates who would be interested in your business.

While a lead-generating service is the easiest way, you can also create this list yourself. You can require visitors to register their email address on your website before they even make a purchase. You can also ask for referral email addresses from your customers. They may know of people who would also be interested.

Why is email marketing better than a banner ad? It’s simple. An email goes directly to an end user. You will know exactly how many people are receiving your email. That will also help you track how well your marketing method is working.

So what should go in your ad? A more appropriate question might be, what should NOT go in your ad. One of the first things people tend to do when checking their email is scan for email they DO NOT want to read. You have probably done this yourself, deleting the “junk” before you read your other messages. Here are some of the things people look for:

1) Catchy one-liners - so many companies use these to attract attention that by not having one, you can distinguish yourself from the crowd.

2) Anything sexually suggestive - this will not reflect well on your business.

3) Dollar signs - these will immediately put flags up in the readers mind.

4) Random punctuation and symbols - like dollar signs, this will make your readers assume it is spam.

Any one of these is a flag for a potential reader. You want to avoid resembling spam. Make sure they can tell exactly who you are and exactly what you are offering.

Remember, marketing is an ongoing effort. Don’t get discouraged if your first attempt does not give you the results your are looking for. Learn from your experiences! Now get out there and spread the news about your business!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

We’ve all seen them, haunting ever job posting board:

“Work at home, make $100,000 a year!”

“Never have to worry about money again!”

Online scams are everywhere you want to advertise. Job searchers aren’t completely naive, they know better than to answer ads like these. As I’ve said before, traffic is crucial to the success of your online business. So how do you make your ad stand out from the phonies? These five steps are the key to a successful online job posting.

1. Post your ad in the correct place. You’re looking for online workers, so post your ad online! For example, if you need technical savvy people, post your ad in the technology section. If you are just seeking people with basic computer skills, many online listings feature a computer gig section.

2. Be very specific in the job title. One thing all scam ads have in common is a vague title: “Work with a Great Team” “Making money from home is easy!” Your ad needs to tell people exactly what you are looking for. For example if you need home based typist, “Typist Needed” works just fine.

3. List the basics: what job you need filled, the requirements, pay rate and how to contact you. To continue with our last example:

Our company is offering positions for home based typist.

This is a part time job, approximately 20 hours a week.

Compensation: $8-10/hour, depending on experience.

3. Don’t tell them everything. Your listing is supposed to interest them in that job, not tell them the entire history of your company. An ad is like a teaser: if they’re interested, let them come to you for more information. If you flood your ad with too much information, it becomes confusing and harder to attract interested people.

4. If they are reaching you via e-mail, make sure you have a professional looking e-mail address. My daughter’s e-mail address is typically something like, “fitch_gurl89@yahoo.

If the viewer of the ad saw this, would they take your company seriously?

Get an e-mail address that reflects the nature of your business, such as “typistsonline@yahoo. Places such as Yahoo! and Google still offer free email services.

5. Make sure your ad looks professional. You need to impress upon the reader that your company is a real online company and the job you are offering is legitimate. Check spelling and grammatical errors before you post, and make sure that it is placed in the correct ad listing. Don’t force them to visit your site to apply, give them a way to get in touch of your company personally, and make sure that your contact with potential employees is always quick and professional.

With these five stpes you can post a professional looking ad, and hire a decent sized work force easily!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Today I’m going to speak to you about Success.  What equals success in your eyes, what is the winning factor, the combination that puts you ahead of the game?  Is it money, friends, the comfort of knowing other’s are happy to?

There are so many things you can do to in business, in life as a whole to succeed, waiting on the couch for it to happen, isn’t one of them.  What are your goals, what plans did you set when you first woke up today?  Did you look around, yawn and start the normal routine, follow that routine without question and find yourself wanting more in the end?  If you did, then perhaps it’s time for a change. It’s up to you to set those sights, meet those goals change up that routine and make your life happen.

I can give you all the tools for proven success, but if you as a person don’t utilize those tools, you’re not optimizing what can be done, what can be had and setting yourself up for your own failure. It’s up to you to set your goal, strive for that goal, keep on it and let nothing come in your path. Attend that goal, see to its needs as they change and develop, nurture it for growth, yet keep it on track, ultimately see it through, and make it happen for you.

Keeping on track to succeed doesn’t mean whittling away countless hours working. Happiness is key to balancing your success. If you truly love what you’re doing, what you’re selling, what you’re teaching or offering, you will be successful.

Albert Einstein said: Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.

Do you value what you’re doing, even if other’s do not? Do you back that product; believe in it for all that it is, all that it’s worth? Let there be doubt, keep your humility and humanity, but know your product.  Know it’s true worth and when you know 100% beyond a doubt, that product will succeed, will hold its own weight in gold, no matter what, you’re entering an equation of success guaranteed.

Alex Noble said: If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day.

Think about it, keep your goals, keep your values, and strive for nothing less than your true success. Breach those walls, take down those barriers, go out there today and make it happen!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

If laziness is not your issue and you have diligently followed the steps in previous articles, in order to run a successful internet business, you must first determine…whether you are a “leader” or a “follower.” Secondly, know your own “work ethic” potential.

The point to this article is Simon Says…Follow the leader. Flourishing entrepreneurs understand the importance of weeding out the slackers and duplicating themselves in the go-getters.

Now, let’s define these three ideas…leader, follower and work ethic.

A leader as someone so eloquently put it said…’Leaders set goals to define priority.’ Natural-born leaders live life on their own terms in line with their purpose. They know exactly what they want in life and ensure their goal is accomplished. Not afraid to step outside the box and be themselves, natural-born leaders are comfortable with being themselves…”trend-setter” or “self-starter.”

Fred E. Fiedler has a theory of leadership effectiveness…’The “task-oriented leader”, focuses on the J.O.B., and concentrates on the specific tasks assigned to each employee to reach goal accomplishment.’

A follower in the “negative sense” is someone without a vision and complacent with their station in life. They live paycheck to paycheck, complaining but never taking steps to improve their quality of life. This type of follower has no initiative to do more than is required of their J.O.B. description. It is easier to “pass the buck” should problems arise. Simply put, they wait for life to ‘happen’, instead of ‘happening’ to life.

A follower in the “positive sense” first accepts the teachings of another, second imitates the teacher, and third improves on the teacher?s processes. This follower will not make excuses for why the J.O.B. was not achieved. Alternatively, being the “problem solver” he is, addresses issues “head on”. In other words, make life work for you, not you working for life.

Let’s observe two McDonald’s employees. Both have learned their J.O.B. description.

Employee “A” comes in 10 minutes late everyday with excuses, yet, is the first to eave at the end of the day. In his spare time, Employer “A” is the couch potato grumbling about his coworker kissing the boss? ______.

Employee “B” is 10 minutes early everyday to master his J.O.B., and learns the responsibilities of his coworkers. He studies the manager’s every single move, and the last to leave. In his spare time he researches franchises and envisions starting operations of his own McDonald?s.

Which of the two has the best “work ethic?”

“Work ethic” is having the fundamental qualities that generate maximal performers.

The “work ethic” checklist:

1. Enthusiasm: It’s contagious. Is yours worth catching?

2. Having initiative: Plan attack. Attack plan.

3. Positive attitude: Your attitude determines your altitude.

4. Performance: quality of work.

5. Prioritize: master prioritizing. You’ll master multi-tasking.

6. Self-starter: You are your own boss.  Don’t cheat your boss!

7. Honesty and Integrity: Sleep well.

8. Take control:  Of your situation. Ultimately your future!

Remember…”like attracts like”. Idlers will lose pace and quit. Go-getters will seize your opportunity. But be sure to be a leader go-getters can follow.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

This phrase, made popular by Frederick R. Barnard in the early 1920s, actually applies to the world around us in more ways than we think. In this case, I want to discuss how this can apply to - and assist you with - your online marketing strategies.

To have a successful Internet business, you need to determine what it is that drives traffic to your site. What is the most common denominator that appeals to the greatest number of customers, potential or otherwise? What is it that will bring people back to your site, time and time again?

For a lot of people, the visual nature of your website is what keeps them interested. Let’s discuss a few does and don’ts of visual online marketing:

DO

A. Make your site look as professional as possible. If you are not experienced with writing HTML, have someone with experience and knowledge in this field assist you.

B. Always make sure that any links offered on your site are valid and running. There is nothing more frustrating to a customer than trying to follow a link that gives a “404 Not Found” message.

C. Always use color schemes that are easy on the eyes. Using a lot of bright reds and yellows can be difficult on the eyes. Make sure to even out your pages with calmer colors as well.

DON’T

A. Inundate customers with pop ups. Pop ups should only be used if necessary.

B. Post anything that has not be edited for grammatical errors. In keeping with the idea of professionalism, errors in grammar are a huge distraction and may cause customers to think less of your site and credibility.

Keeping all of this in mind, make sure your site is also original.

There will be no success if your site looks like another’s or offers the same product/service that can be found elsewhere.

Determine how to intrigue and keep your customers coming back using the visual appeal of your particular site. Make your product appear desirable using your own methods. Sometimes, it only has to be the matter of tweaking the excellent ideas you have for marketing to produce the best results.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

What is the secret to having a successful internet business?

Is it having a good PRODUCT or a good SYSTEM. I bet most of you say it is having a good product.  For those who think its having a good system, you are right on the money!

Why is this?

A chapter ago I talked about internet scammers.  If like me, many of you have tried out one or two different get rich programs.  Unfortunately for many, we have paid for these programs and discovered there is really no foundation to them at all… just hot air.

As sad as it is these programs make millions out of innocent people like you and me who are trying to make an honest buck.

How do they do this? Do they have a PRODUCT?

Not necessarily.  Many of these scams are just SYSTEMS in which they get your money.  Very few will dangle an actual product to lure you into buying programs.

SO then how can a product be more important than a system?

This is because a system delivers results.  It gets a product or service to an individual with little or no effort by the owner of the system.

Does McDonald’s sell the BEST burgers?

We all know they don’t, but why do then do they sell so many burgers?  Yes you got it, it’s all in the SYSTEM! If you create a good enough system, then you are “good to go.”  You don’t have to have a perfect product, just a perfect SYSTEM.

This is why buying into a franchise is the way to go, because they usually are already a proven system.  With little or no effort you can make money using a proven system.

The Internet is the becoming the new market place, so why then not own an Internet franchise?

The benefits of owning an Internet franchise compared to you regular store front is you almost rarely require a building and lots of expensive equipment. All you need is a computer, the Internet and a little bit of time and patience. You don’t ever to get all dressed up for work and leave the house… you don’t even have to take a shower if want. That is the beauty of owning an Internet business.

However caution is always required when one is looking to purchase an internet franchise, like I already alluded to earlier there are a lot of scammers waiting to pounce on the innocent.

This site and business are run using our own system that we have franchised successfully to many others.  You can check it out here:

http://www.DiegoNorte.com/services/Franchise/

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

Is there a way to make a ton of money on the internet with little work and a low investment? Or even a high investment if the return is high enough to rationalize it? We certainly have been told that there are by the hundreds of so-called marketing “gurus” on the Internet.

Regardless if it’s real estate investing, selling by classified ads, stock marketing investing, buying a book/course on how to build your own internet business, internet affiliate marketing, or high-yield investment programs, 99% of these people and systems are schemes that prey on the hopes and dreams of people that want to make a better life for themselves. I guess I see the “good” in people and have been “sold” time and time again after being duped by their marketing scheme.

That is until I got FED UP!

I decided to do something about it. I decided to get to the bottom of this fascination we all have with get rich quick schemes and home based businesses and find out if there are any LEGITIMATE programs out there for making money.

I literally contacted the administrator or owner of every “get rich quick” or home based business website I could find. Posing as an investor I convinced them that I was seriously interested in buying their entire website and/or business. That way once the dollar signs started flashing in their heads they would give me access to the members area so I could see what I would be “buying.” Well, I was absolutely disgusted with 99% of what I found. Many of the owners even boasted about how many people bought their useless products. I repeatedly found:

1) Outdated information

2) No real support

3) Links that were supposed to give me all kinds of info turned out to be dead and sent me nowhere

4) No real opportunities to achieve a full-time income right away

5) No customer service

6) All generalities and no specifics

I quickly realized that these so-called “Home Based Businesses” were totally useless. Needless to say I didn’t respond to any of their offers to buy their businesses or programs.

Surprisingly, I did find some programs that are run by real business owners that put real money in your pocket each month. These programs actually have a huge percentage of their membership actually making money. I realized that I had found a couple of diamonds in the rough.

The owners are real people who are really interested in helping you make money. The websites are packed with information and the products are filled with money making information. I contacted some of the people that used these programs and they were all in fact making money, some of them were making $20,000 and more per month and some were making a few hundred extra dollars each and every month. But, don’t take my word for it, go check out the sites and decide for yourself.

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.

So you have children and you need income to have children but you don’t have the time to make that income nor do you want to take the time to make that income.

That is why you are here.  That is why you may be able to become financially independent.  That is why I can show you how to stay home with those kids, provide for those kids and be happy being with those kids.

I have worked 60+ hours a week and still not had the money for the things they needed, never mind wanted.  I was always stressed.   There was no time to spend neither with them nor with myself.  Now, not only do I get to spend quality time with them, I can actually breath.

I mentioned before that I have a 17 year old who is currently taking dual classes at college preparing for next year’s full-time college.  She has no time for a job.  Well, she is bright, creative, artful, great with numbers and fresh. I had also mentioned that she loves A&F clothing.  Have you priced a pair of jeans from there?

Now, through this program and the financial rewards of it, I can pay her to help me.  And did I mention that she is way more up to date and computer savvy than I am.  Who knows, maybe she won’t have to go to college…just kidding.  She is going, but how great it is that she see’s my success and learns while helping me in my success, and uses it later in life to make that extra dollar while going to college.

I want you to know that you can do this.  For your kids you can do this.  For your sanity you can do this.  And how fun to include your kids, especially a teenager, in on your workday?  And we aren’t talking about a 10 hour workday for nothing.  If you put in 10 hours in this program, it would definitely be worth it, but it’s not necessary to survive. 

And I know you’ve listened when I say “hire”.  Take the first step, “hire” that teenager.  I’d bet that they can up your motivation at least when it comes to ideas and such.

Take the second step and do this, do this for yourself and for your kids.  How wonderful will it be when they see you more relaxed, more free, more fun?  I am guaranteeing that you will be less stressed.  That you can be the entrepreneur that you always dreamed of being and what an influence for your kids!

You may reprint the above article in any publication online or offline as long as you do not modify it and give credit to Diego Norte as the author. No link is required, but links are always appreciated.