·Top 3 mistakes to avoid in growing your business online
·Top 3 new skills you need to grow your online business
·Top 3 steps to creating multiple streams of income
·2 support packages
Why is it important to start up and grow a business online today?I asked this question recently during a teleconversation.Some of the replies were:
–To attract clients
–To create multiple streams of Income
–To work from home
–To reach more people outside my geographic area
–Just Google yourself
To clarify the last point, go ahead and Google yourself.Notice what comes up.If what shows up on the first page DOES NOT show you as an expert, then having a greater presence online so people can find you and your expertise is a great reason to start up a business online.
FACTS
Today, 72% of all American households are online.
People spend more than twice as much time daily on their computers than watching TV.
Social networking (online communities of people who share interests and activities, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube) has surpassed pornography as the No. 1 use of the Web, according to Bill Tancer, author of Click. What Millions of People are Doing Online and Why It Matters.
Today, few web designers have SEO (search engine optimization) expertise.Fewer have social networking expertise.Even fewer have sales copy writing experience (the ability to write compelling text that grabs people’s attention and results in sales.A success online business integrates all 4 aspects. (See article)
TOP 3 MISTAKES TO AVOID
Wasting money in the “incompetent soup” - Most people are incompetent as web designers, SEO experts, social networkers and sales copywriters. They sink into the soup of incompetence hoping that the people they hire are experts. The result is spending lots of money often with disappointing results.
Focusing on “information” rather than “selling” - There are two main types of web pages. The first are sites that are informational in nature.They provide information about who you are and what you do.The second type is sales-orientated.They are focused on “conversion” of visitors into buyers or subscribers.If you want to make money, choose the latter.
Limiting sources of income - In today’s volatile economy, if you rely on one source of income, when times get tough, your flow of income cannot grow to exceed increased expenses.Creating multiple sources of income is a great alternative.
TOP 3 NEW SKILLS YOU NEED
Creating “electronic” education products and services – It takes a lot of energy and money to publish books, CD’s and DVD’s AND THEN get them in the hands of buyers.With the increased bandwidth of Internet connections, it takes less energy and money, plus the profit margin is greater for E-Books, audios (MP3’s), videos, teleseminars and online classes.Electronic versions also offer “immediate” remedies to help people solve pressing issues like getting a job or increasing income.
Creating your own “blog” – I’ve watched in awe as people with little experience with the Internet (even with writing) dive in and grow their businesses and Internet presence exponentially by creating a blog.In 6 months, a first-time writer and blogger has grown her subscription to over 300, received an invitation to present in Europe, and has gotten comments like “I wish I could write like you.”Her site has gone from an Alexa rating of several millions to around 500,000.The key, she says, is posting regularly, every day or two.
“Leveraging” and “upselling” – While I mentioned above in #1 that creating “electronic products and services” is indeed a new skill to develop, I have learned that larger profits often come from upselling higher-end services, like speaking engagements, consultations, teleseminars, online classes, etc.You can leverage your lower-end “electronic products and services” to bolster confidence, generate trust, and build your credibility as an expert.
TOP 3 STEPS TO CREATING MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME
Declare your expertise – Google, Yahoo, MSN and the other search engines are already showcasing you.They peer out over the Internet searching for websites where your name shows up.You are missing out if you put off taking control of what people see by declaring your expertise.Linda Marinovich, a friend and expert photographer and facilitator, has a great definition of an expert.“An expert is someone who knows how to focus on what’s most important, stays focused, has great follow through, and doesn’t get caught up in drama and unimportant things.”One simple way to declare your expertise by giving it away to help people in need. Look for places to do this online, like discussion groups, listserves, blogs, and social networking sites.
Research niche markets for your expertise – When you declare your expertise, amazing things happen.As you put yourself out into the world online, you begin to see places you can position yourself as an expert.“Niche” is a French word that means an “alcove” or a place carved into the wall to hold a special statue or to take a nap. It is a special space where previously there was none.Key word research is one way you can research niche markets by finding out what key words and phrases people are looking for (see videos below for more help in this area).For example, I used to think that there was a niche market for resources to help people discover and express their “genius” or unique talents. I was wrong.Key word research indicated that few people are looking for help to find their genius. What I did discover was that 47% of all people use Google.It only took a few steps to go from “Google” to “expert” to “genius.”So, I could still focus on genius but through the goggles of Google, something that everyone can relate to and get excited about.
Package your expertise into products and services – The consuming world buys products and services in packages. When you capture your expertise in articles, E-Books, audios, videos, teleseminars and online classes, you expand the number of people who can benefit from your expertise.When you package your expertise in a way that people are willing to pay for, you’ve got a valuable product that will generate multiple streams of income.In other words, people will pay for your expertise packaged in the right way.
If you would like help with creating multiple streams of income, you will find 3 free videos of tremendous value at http://BrandYourNiche.com.
2 SUPPORT PACKAGES
I am sure you have heard of this proverb: Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.Well, this is not entirely true.
Most people need to be fed a fish for a while until they learn how to fish for themselves (find the right places, bate to use, etc.).So, most people need some of both.
The same is true for online business ventures.Many benefit from being fed solutions and answers, even have work done for them until they learn to fish.After watching numerous people struggle, I have created 2 packages to make their lives easier (feeding them a fish) while they develop their skills (teach them how to fish) over 12 months.
Here is a summary of the 2 support packages:
Basic package – In working with people who have little experience with the Internet, a great place to start is to create your own blog.Then, post your writing, photos, videos and other’s articles (with their permission of course) on a regular basis.
Premium package – To help people from sinking deeper into the soup of incompetence, I’ve created a way that people can piggy back on my shoulders.Avoid purchasing all the things piecemeal that you need – affiliate programs, audio recording technology, autoresponders, newsletters, payment gateways, shopping carts, refer-a-friend systems, sales pages, sales coupons, landing “sales” pages, surveys, subscription services, and assess to expertise you don’t have – which will cost you over $5,000/year.Instead, use my toys and expertise at a fraction of the cost.If you’re interested, I’ll teach you how to do these things on your own.Then, when you’re bringing in thousands in revenues, you can jump out of the nest, if you like, and fly on your own … with expert wings.
Claim your free audio teleconversation of this article, as well as more information about the 2 support packages, at http://4Grants.Net/nichepackages.htm.
Have you Googled yourself recently? If so, how did you do?
Most people I know, even ones with websites, have poor results when they Google themselves.
There are 3 easy ways I’ve found to influence what shows up in a Google search. This applies to you personally, as well as your business, as well as goods and services. This information is so valuable that I decided to make the video below.
In the video, you’ll find out why people use Google. You will learn how to find out how you show up and where the information comes from. Find out the 3 top ways to change how you show up on Google searches.
Enjoy!
Thank you for supporting this site!
Phil Johncock
Free Training Videos
BrandYourNiche.com
I am writing to invite you to create your own dedicated Expert Page on www.SelfGrowth.com, the # 1 Ranked website for Self Improvement on the Internet, getting over 1 Million visitors per month.
Your Expert Page on SelfGrowth.com will enable you to expand your online presence, promote your products and services, and network with other top experts in a variety of fields! There is no cost.
Now, to help you understand the power of SelfGrowth.com networking, I have enclosed a list of the top benefits of using our networking system on SelfGrowth.com, plus a free video “Brand Yourself as an Expert Free.”
Here are the benefits:
1) It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know and WHO knows you. We have 7,643 experts listed on SelfGrowth.com. Why not get to know some of them? Use SelfGrowth.com to initiate more personalized conversations with these experts!
2) Google and Yahoo love inbound links to your pages. The more people that have you in their Recommended Experts and Friends list, the more visibility your expert page will have in the search engines!
3) You can find people for Joint Ventures. Many of our experts have email newsletters — some of them will promote your product if you agree to promote their product. It’s the law of reciprocity in action!
4) The more connections that you have on our site, the more exposure you’ll get. We have a Most Connected Experts page displaying the most networked experts for our whole expert site. We also have the “most connected page” for each self-improvement topic displaying the most connected experts in each subject area. You can view the most connected experts on SelfGrowth.com by going to http://www.selfgrowth.com/most_connected_experts.html or visit our complete topics page at http://www.selfgrowth.com/completetopics.html
5) You can give and receive testimonials from other experts. If you help them, they might be willing to help you!
6) You can use the system to find people to create joint products with.
7) Everybody knows somebody! Each of the experts on our site has friends. You can make introductions for them — and they can make introductions for you.
It can be a lot of fun!
Here’s the free video “Brand Yourself as an Expert Free”:
Do you want to increase Web traffic to your landing pages for products and services?
If so, read on …
The best way to increase traffic is “word-of-mouth” advertising.One “word-of-mouth” method that has had proven success recently is to reward clients with a “free gift” when they refer friends to your webpage(s).Several months ago, I heard Internet marketing guru Vic Johnson claim that “referrals” are one of the top strategies he uses to grow his subscriptions at AsAManThinketh.com.
I went to his site above.I scrolled down the left column until I saw “Tell a Friend” and a “Free Gift” button.When I clicked on the link, “Can we send you a free gift?” appeared with instructions for referring “at least one person” to the site in exchange for a free E-Book “Acres of Diamonds” a best seller by Russell Conwell.I signed up to see how it worked! Vic’s system was simple and easy-to-use.
I started researching a dozen free and paid systems online that handle “free gifts for referrals.” After lots of trial-and-error, I came across one that I like: ReferAFriend.com.It does everything I want a system to do. Plus, it’s free, too! Yay!
Here is a list of what you need:
• URL for the banner image of the “free product” you plan to give away in exchange for referring friends
• Content for the MESSAGE you want to send to people who are referring their friends, telling them about your offer
• EMAIL content sent to the friends who are referred
• URL of the page to DOWNLOAD the “free product” you want to give away
• A brief THANK YOU message
• The LOCATION where you want to promote the refer-a-friend campaign (websites, blogs, emails, etc.)
The system is very user-friendly.
I wanted to test it out, so I created a simple campaign.I gave away Napoleon Hill’s best-selling book “Think and Grow Rich” to people who referred friends and colleagues to a free book, “Guide to Home Based Business.”
I was surprised, too!In less than 1 week, 45 people were referred.
Don’t take my word for it.Try it for yourself. Here are the steps I suggest:
**Where to put endorsements on your SelfGrowth.com expert page so their show up in tier 2
**How to use AudioAcrobat
In a recent post, Dr. Ruth Marcus asked for some help with her website and branding her name. One challenge she faces is that she shares the same name as another columnist and other people.
We did a consultation on July 10, 2008.Videos of the advice I gave her are below. The videos can be played by Windows Media Player.Videos are divided into 2 parts.
Phil Johncock | How to Create Your Own Wikipedia Page | How to Influence Your Google Display of Your Websites and Expert Pages | Claim your free Niche Making system at www.BrandYourNiche.com
After you ask yourself, “What makes you and your products and services different?” and “What do you do that you are most proud of?”, marketing guru Tom Peters in his article called The Brand Called You suggests that to find your niche then ask yourself, “What do you want to be famous for?”
In his wildest dreams, Matt Harding never thought he would be famous for “dancing badly.”He just went over to a coworker’s desk and did this stupid dance to annoy his friend and say, “It’s time to go to lunch.”
One day, his friend said, “Why don’t you go and do that stupid dance you used to do and record it.”Matt did.He videotaped himself dancing badly on a street in Hanoi, then decided to keep taping his crazy dance in various places he went on a trip he was on.
In June 2005, Matt put a video of his bad dancing around the world on his website.Through people seeing it, emailing and putting it on their blogs, it snowballed to over a million downloads, even before YouTube was popular.
Stride Gum was coming out with a new gum and offered to sponsor Matt on another trip.This time, they paid for him to travel “any where on the planet I wanted to go,” says Matt.
When he started dancing, kids nearby would watch.They thought it looked like fun and started dancing, too.When other kids saw this happening, they said, “Well, I want to be part of that, too,” according to Matt.“They started flooding in from all directions.In 5-10 minutes, there was literally every kid in town dancing.There was this moment when there was this immediate access to joy.”
Your niche is your immediate access to joy … even if it is “bad dancing”!
What if you could actually get paid to buy genius stuff that grows your business!
In this post, you’ll find the top 5 questions to ask yourself to GET PAID TO BUY stuff you’re already using!
1) What are the unique benefits you get from ALL the products you buy for your home based business?For example, in using Blue Host as my web hosting service I get a low cost ($6.95/month), unlimited domain names, enough space that I can even rent some, free WordPress to create blogs (like this one), and an excellent affiliate program where I make $65 for each referral!
2) Where do you show off your affiliate programs? For every product and service you use, join their affiliate program; if they don’t have one, suggest it!Advertise your favorite affiliate programs in a variety of places, such as email signatures (see below), expert pages (http://tinyurl.com/5sakmd)and special partner pages you drive traffic to (http://fununlimitedinc.com/partners.htm).
Below are some of my favorite products and services. Most that were also used in the Guide to Home Based Business E-Book project (many have free trials, too):
If the URL’s for affiliate links are too long (they often are), use http://tinyurl.com to shorten them, like I did above.
3) What motivates you to endorse a product?When I endorse something, I put my reputation on the line.When I like something and see its value, I want others to experience it, too.
4) How can you make more money than you spend?With only 2-4 referrals with the products above, I make more than I spend.Recently, by asking myself this question, I made six times what I paid for a training program before the 8 weeks had finished!
5) What’s the return on investment? Related to #4, you should get an actual return on the investment of money you spend on a product or service quickly.In a mentoring program in grant writing and fundraising, I show people how to earn back their tuition before they graduate(http://4Grants.Net/mentoring.htm)!
One of the top ways to brand yourself as an expert is to “endorse” others and let others “endorse” you.
In this post you will find:
5 Reasons Why Endorsements Work
10 Top Strategies for Endorsing
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5 Reasons Why Endorsements Work
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When you get endorsed, you feel others’ support and backing. Did you know that more people want you to succeed than fail?
You are not alone.Most people make the mistake of thinking they have to brand themselves by themselves. That’s highly inefficient.
You get lifted to a place of higher visibility than you were before.Then, when you shine, more people get touched by your brilliance.
Your credibility rating skyrockets.When believable sources add their trustworthiness to yours, you seem more reliable and convincing.
Others trust you and feel safer around you more quickly. People warm up to you more easily when someone else introduces you and vouches for you.
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10 Top Strategies for Endorsing
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1.Offer to endorse people. I was surprised to find out that great people love to endorse great people. Click on the link below to hear a story about how I got a huge surprise endorsement for my first book - Dream-Making to Billions: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WD0lv46x
2.Include your name, title, and website (minimum) with your endorsement. Whenever possible, provide your tagline, photo, and product photo, too. Examples: http://CompletionGenius.com
3.Give and ask for audio testimonials. I recommend AudioAcrobat (click on link below for a free trial). Just give out your testimonial line for people to call in. Example: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/Wssvdb44
4.Post on blogs, discussion boards and forums. Try something unique. Share posting with a group. For example, in one situation, 10 different people take turns posting on their assigned day. Mine are the days ending in “0” … the 10th, 20th and 30th of the month. Example: http://guidetohomebasedbusiness.com/blog
5.Use refer-a-friend systems. Vic Johnson says that one of the top strategies for growing AsAManThinketh.com into a 6-figure income generating site was when he started giving away another E-Book when a person referred someone to his site. Example: http://refer.referafriend.com/taf/102183/2450/form
6.Appreciate often. Email appreciations and grant them permission to quote you in their branding campaign.
7.Request that clients complete online surveys after events and services you provide. Click on the link below to check out how I worded my survey to use comments in my marketing. Example: http://www.4grants.net/nichesurvey.htm
8.Ask “credible people” to tell you what your niche is. Ask them to tell you what they see as your genius! When I do this, I’m amazed at the great feedback I get. Remember: great people love to endorse great people. And, you’re great! Example: http://www.fununlimitedinc.com/clients.htm
9.Add endorsements to your website and email messages within 48 hours. As soon as possible, transfer endorsements you receive directly to places where you brand your name, products and services. Don’t wait. Example: http://BrandYourNiche.com
10.Ask for (or give) an endorsement NOW. Don’t wait for the right moment. Ask for the written or oral comment now before you move on. Ask for or give your “permission” to use the quote in marketing.
It’s engaging for people to “put themselves out there” and take a risk with “going all the way to their edges” with expressing their unique talents.“It’s engaging not only for the people themselves,” I told my friend Anna last night, “but for me and all those around.”
“The question is, “What can I give of myself right now?”
“Like, ‘What do I bring to the party?’” Anna asked, her eyes twinkling.
“Exactly,” I smiled.“What do you bring to the party … now?… when you meet the principal next week? … when you are with your students? … all the time?”
What if life is one big, perpetual party.Do I stay in the shadows or on the edge of the pool?Am I a fence sitter?Am I waiting for someone to ask me to dance?What am I waiting for?
Get engaged! Reading this blog, ask yourself, “What do I bring to this party?”
No, you can’t go the store and buy something and come back.No, you can’t prepare for next time.You’re here right now.What did you bring that you can share right now?
It can be a lot of fun!
