Never Surrender Your Dream

Copyright © Charlie Page

Do you have a dream today?

Can you see yourself in one year, three years, ten years? Can you describe the house you will live in? The clothes you will wear? The routine you will follow every day?

Far from some pie-in-the-sky hype, dreams are the real currency of the Internet.

Many reading these words dream of quitting their job and working at home. Some dream of having a home of their own. Some don't dream any more.

No matter where you stand today please consider the following.

My friend, your dream is your map. Without it how will you know where you are going?

Recent events have driven home the fact that life is short indeed. Too short to spend it working at a job we don't love.

Listen to these words by Brian Tracy ...

All successful men and women are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose. - Brian Tracy

If you were my brother or sister, this is what I would say to you.

You must have a dream to make a dream come true. And you must never surrender your dream.

If you are like most people you will spend more time working than doing any other activity. Yet, many today don't like their work.

So the question becomes this. Can you do what you love for a living? Can you find the joy that comes when you WANT to go to work?

To that question I answer YES ... you can. I can say that because it's happening to me.

I don't usually write something this personal, but please allow me to share with you the five steps I used to make my dream come true on the Internet. And let me encourage you to take these steps in your life today. Time is fleeting. Begin now.

1. Realize that the Internet really has changed things. Jobs exist today that didn't five years ago. The thing that got me started on the Internet, that helped me create my dream, was a book called 'Finding Your Perfect Work'.

That book helped me realize that I could create *any* situation I wanted on the Internet. The Net is still new territory. To a great degree, if you can dream it you can do it.

2. Know yourself. What do you REALLY want? Spend some time with yourself and 'wave the magic wand'. If you could do anything, if money wasn't a factor, what would you do? Keep asking until you find an answer.

3. Research your answers. You will be shocked to discover the career possibilities online. Pick your favorite search engine, start a bookmark folder just for this, and find everything you can about your passion.

4. Ask for help. Once you have zeroed in on what you want, find someone who excels at it and learn at their feet. Be prepared to get turned down a few times from people who are too busy or uncaring. But never quit. You *will* find the mentor you need if you try.

5. Be willing to start small. You may only be able to commit a few hours at night to your new field because you have to feed the family. That's OK. Time is your ally. And time will prove if your idea will work.

Careers like being a virtual assistant, a net researcher, or doing graphic art for e-Books exist today because of innovative thinkers who found their passion. Find your passion and you will create your opportunity.

Don't stop until you find (or create) that type of work that both makes you happy and pays the bills. Who knows, YOU might be the innovator who creates the next online industry.

Winston Churchill said 'The nose of the bulldog has been slanted backward so it can breathe without letting go.'

When it comes to our dreams we need to be like the bulldog. We must never surrender our dreams.
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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Are You Swimming with Sharks?

Copyright © Charlie Page

A number of years ago a business book was written with the title "Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive". The Internet is a lot like the title of that book. The water is certainly full of sharks, all ready to take their $39.99 (or more) bite out of YOUR wallet!

Before you become someone's next snack and make your credit card scream "Not again!" let's look at the things you will need to succeed now and in the future.

Before we go further let me say that you CAN make a living online, pretty much without regard to your age, experience or education level. Let me also add that I'm not going to recommend anyone's product or service, even mine.

The FIRST thing you need is knowledge, and plenty of it. Fortunately, there are great resources you can tap that won't cost a dime. This ezine is one of those resources!

Here are the five things I would tell any person wanting to "make it" online.

-----> Know the Language

Imagine being dropped by helicopter into the deepest, darkest jungle you can imagine. The natives don't speak your language and you certainly don't speak theirs.

Welcome to the Internet! ;)

The *first* thing you must understand is the language of the Net. You must become familiar (not an expert, just familiar) with things like...

* Autoresponders

* Cost Per Thousand (CPM)

* Ebook

* Ezines

* FAQ

* HTML

* ISP

* MLM

* Opt-In

* PDF

* And more!

The more you know, the more time you will save sifting through the offers you receive and the less money you will waste buying something you really didn't want.

Here's a tip. When you find a site that defines terms well, copy the definitions and create your own "Internet Dictionary". Soon you won't waste time OR money.

-----> Avoid Confusion

There is a proven path to success on the Internet. It includes great web copy, getting traffic to your site, placing ads in ezines, using autoresponders to follow up, having a way to collect money, selling more stuff to existing customers and so forth.

The *problem* is that there are about a thousand web sites and "gurus" who are all saying the same thing ... but in different words. No wonder most people are confused!

Here's a great way to avoid confusion. Make a list of the things you will need to succeed. A good list to start with is the list above. Then find *one* eBook, eCourse or ezine that deals with that subject. Now, here's the really hard part ... you have to READ it. Read it all. From cover to cover. Pretend you are going to make a book report on it.

You must have this basic knowledge to begin in earnest.

-----> Understand the Cost of "Free"

We would all like to believe that you can get everything you need for no money and go on to make millions on the Net. But that's not the real world.

The fact is that you will need to spend money at some point. You simply won't want the limitations that "free" requires such as other people's ads in your auto-responders.

Here's a tip. Look for services that have either been around a long time (that's anytime before the year 2000 in the Internet world) or one where you can upgrade to a paid service when you are ready. Switching services later will cost time and money.

-----> Avoid the Hype

If there were a magic formula, a "shortcut to success" or a way to make millions in 90 days everyone would be doing it.

The next time you get a "too good to be true" offer ask yourself if it makes sense for someone who makes a million dollars a year to be spending time sending YOU an unsolicited email. Then hide your credit card for the next 24 hours. If you still want the product after cooling down, go for it!

-----> Have a Plan

I'm NOT talking New Year's Resolutions or time management

here. I'm talking about sticking with something until you have the chance to succeed. SO many people on the Net join a program, don't make a dime in the first couple of months and then quit that program to do another. No one can succeed this way.

The best advice I know is to find something that interests you, investigate it well, make sure real people (not just the super-promoters) are making real money and then make a commitment to it. How long to commit will come out as you investigate it.

Want to make this your best year ever? Focus on the basics of success, be persistent and smart and success will be yours!
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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Is It Too Late For Email Marketing?

Copyright © Charlie Page

There seems to be a growing sentiment on the Internet that email marketing is in big trouble. Only this morning I read one report that claims that "95% of email marketing messages" won't be deliverable in the near future. Every day we read new, and increasingly intense, articles about how Habeas will put us all out of business.

Yet in the face of what is undeniably a troubling situation, I know people who have only started marketing via email (primarily using ezines) in the last few months and are prospering.

Given these two seemingly opposite pieces of evidence, I wonder if it's time to revisit the basic tenets of successful email marketing? In that light, I offer these five ways to succeed with email marketing in any environment.

One. Understand that it takes work. If there really is an automated way to spend a few hours a week working at an online business and make big bucks I respectfully ask to see the proof. Feel free to email me with the details, but only if you are personally making over $200,000 a year. ;)

The Internet provides a wonderful opportunity to anyone willing to work, learn and apply the skills they gain. It's also the fastest way short of Las Vegas to go broke if you are looking for a quick buck. Like any business, look at your online business as a long-term venture and you will do well. Which brings us to point #2.

Two. Commit to quality. Want to know the absolute, #1, surefire way to beat the spam filters at their own game? Produce information that is so valuable that readers will take action in order to receive it and notice when they don't receive it.

It's all too easy to blame filters for non-delivery when in fact readers don't take what we say seriously because we don't stand out from the crowd. We, as email marketers, have an obligation to produce content of such high quality that readers clamor for it. Doing this is actually quite easy if what you have to say is relevant to your reader's life and comes from your heart. Commit to quality and the marketplace will reward you.

Three. Be personal. I've spoken to so many people over the years that said "I'm not a writer so I can't produce an ezine (or write an article, or a sales letter, etc.)" But once I see what they have written I'm shocked by their insight, desire to succeed and skill. Some of the best ezines I've ever read wouldn't hold up to an examination by a fourth grade English teacher ... but they changed my life by teaching me something. Do that, change their life and teach them something, and your email marketing will be well received.

Four. Be flexible. I can't recall a time on the Net where being flexible was more important than now. If spam filters are killing us we must learn to adapt. We must be informed. We must adapt. We must overcome. If our email does not get through we must find a way to get the message to readers another way. If readers want HTML we give it to them. If they want weekly editions vs. bi-weekly, we meet that need. You will never go wrong meeting the needs of your readers. Which leads to point five.

Five. Know your readers. Readers are individuals, just like you and me. Great email marketing is a lot less about using pithy wording and making an emotional appeal that it is about knowing and meeting the needs of your subscribers.

The good news is that subscribers love to interact. They love to tell you about their needs dreams and desires. The more you listen the more you can meet those needs and make the profits you seek.

Is it too late to begin email marketing successfully?

No way.

Use the five suggestions above as a platform and begin to build your email marketing business today. Just like the story of Chicken Little, there will always be those who claim the sky is falling. Don't let them dissuade you from acting.

Commit to quality, be yourself and provide a product or service of value. Combine those things with a little "sweat of the brow" and you simply cannot help but doing well.
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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Why are people leaving?

Copyright © Charlie Page

While the number of people who sign on to the Net for the first time still increases every day, people are *leaving* their Internet businesses in record numbers.

Some have even made a career out of leaving the Internet. ;)

People are leaving the Net because they are fed up ... frustrated ... disappointed.

You may have felt the frustration too. So much hype, so few real answers. So many promises, so little reality.

One of the things I like about my autoresponder service is that people can leave comments behind when they leave our little DOE Insider family.

Mostly, people tell us what's on their minds. If I can help, I write them back even though they left the list.

We had 10 people leave the list last week (we're blessed with a low unsubscribe rate) and the comments they left behind point up an interesting trend.

-----

Comments: I just do not have time to deal with it, but I think you are doing a good job for the people that do :)

Comments: I am withdrawing from Internet Marketing so I no longer require this service. Thank you.

Comments: I do not need the information anymore. I have quit my business. Thank you!

Comments: Changing direction from mlm to investing.

Comments: Fed up with the whole internet thing. Nothing to do with you

-----

That last person summed up something one hears much more often lately. People are fed up, disappointed, frustrated.

Frustration is an interesting emotion. Many years ago, a very wise man said that frustration ultimately stems from unrealistic expectations.

Does that describe the Internet or what!?!

So, WHY do people become frustrated and what can you do to AVOID the frustration? Below are several ideas to help.

===== The Problem

First, the causes of frustration.

There seem to be three main causes of frustration on the Net
today.

1. Too much hype.
2. Lack of real support.
3. Rampant false expectations.

People are frustrated with the hype out there. The problem here is self-evident. I heard a guy say the other day that if he could bag up all the manure (not the word he used) he has seen online, he could fertilize the entire state of Texas. Great line.

People are also fed up with being sent to a Frequently Asked Questions page when what they need is to speak with a real person. People need, and want, personal support.

Third, and to be truthful, people come online with their expectations set *way* too high. The Internet is NOT the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Never has been, never will be. No one makes their fortune in 30 days, or 35 days, or 45 days. They just show you a glimpse of their bank account that makes it look that way.

Here's the frustrating part of this for me. I KNOW that almost anyone can succeed online.

But if you let the frustration win, if you let it get you down and quit, you have ZERO chances of succeeding online!

===== Now ... A Solution

You can beat this frustration! DON'T give in to disappointment. Stay the course and you WILL win!

Here are xxkjj ways to beat back the frustration, keep your chin up, and put yourself in a position to profit online.

1. Become Hype-Proof

Learn to see the information you receive in a larger context. All good marketers know how to make their product sound appealing, and know how to create a sense of urgency.

Only YOU know if you really NEED another autoresponder, or another eBook on how to write an eBook, or ... you get the point.

See number five for a quick way to become hype-proof.

2. Understand That Off-Line Business Rules Still Apply

We must understand that it still takes money to make money We still must advertise to sell goods and services. The Net makes this wonderfuly easy and effective, but we still must take the steps.

3. Separate Yourself From The Net - Don't Be Online Too Long

Many online entrepreneurs work late into the night. About the worst possible time to make a purchasing decision is after a long session of being online. It's often wise to wait until the next morning, or next evening, to make a decision.

4. Don't Fall Prey To Information Overload

In this is the number one problem I see with people who have gone online within the last three to six months. Everyone gives away so many e-books and the courses. How can a person be expected to read everything, much less not drown in the information.

One solution to information overload is to make a list of things that you really need in your business, then research them one at a time.

For example, you're going to need an autoresponder, you're going to need to do advertising, you will need a web hosting company, you're going to need to create a web site, and you will need for five other things before you can successfully do business online.

Now take one thing at a time, and learn what you need to know about that one thing. Then, move on to the next.

5. Wait 24 Hours Before Buying Anything

When I wrote this line my bank account hollered Amen! If only I practiced get faithfully. I have never waited 24 hours to buy something and regretted it.

Please don't fall for the JavaScript trick where web sites tell you that you must order within the next three days, three minutes, or three seconds to get that "once a lifetime" price.

I can guarantee that 99% of the time, this is a trick. To prove it for yourself, bookmark the next site you visit that offers a limited time guarantee. Then visit the site the day after the guarantee was supposed to expire. Or, if you know how, view the source code and see the JavaScript for yourself.

6. Take Something Of Value And Stick With It

Recent studies show the common pattern of behavior on the Internet is to join a program, promoted a little, and then leave it. This can not lead to success.

In any business, success takes time. Give your online business the time it needs to succeed and it will reward you with passive income for years to come.

7. Don't Fear You'll Miss IT ... IT Doesn't Exist

This is the BIG ONE folks! Right now, for example, Mastery TV is all the rage. Only six months ago, a program called Cash Evolution was all the rage. As I understand it, Cash Evolution, even with Mark Joyner's endorsement, was a disaster.

Will Mastery TV end up a winner or loser? While I don't pretend to know the answer, and many factors will determine that answer, I do know that no one who signs up, promotes for two weeks, and quits, will make ANY serious revenue.

Doing business on the Internet has been challenging lately. Spammers make it harder to get messages delivered, yet you're reading this one. More and more web sites means more competition, yet your site got visitors today.

Success online comes down to this ....

Do the basic things very well, stick with it, and success WILL be yours!
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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World Class Customer Service

Copyright © Charlie Page

Every day we hear reports about a "soft" economy. One expert predicts a long recession, then 15 minutes later another expert predicts a quick recovery. All of which leaves customers confused. How can we ensure that we will attract and maintain customers during good times and lean times too? By giving them WORLD CLASS customer service. Let's look together at three "rules" of world class customer service and see how we are doing.

======= The Customer Is Still King (Or Queen)

The first thing we must realize is that customers need to feel important. Many of them feel that *their* business is what keeps us in business, without regard to the size of their purchases. Some customers don't mind reminding us of that fact every time they see us!

They're right to a large degree. Most businesses today could lose their largest client and survive. Not many businesses could lose the smaller, regular customer that is the lifeblood of their cash flow.

Rule 1 -- Never Forget the Customer is King


======= Stop Small Problems At The Source

No matter how hard we try, we won't please all of the people all of the time. This is where our problem solving and communication skills come into play. The rule here is to nip problems in the bud before they bloom into disasters.

We all know the stories of a simple miscommunication that, when passed down the line, becomes something much more than simple. The sooner we intervene in problems, the better. Wal - Mart does especially well at this, instructing associates to literally walk a customer to exactly what they are looking for, thus preventing confusion and any hint of less than excellent customer care.

The more we are willing to invest the small amount of time necessary to stop small problems from growing, the more time and lost business we will save in the long run.

Rule 2 -- Prevent Small Problems From Becoming Disasters


======= How Well Are You Doing?

Finally, there is customer feedback. Rarely will you see a customer more delighted that when you spontaneously ask them how YOU are doing. Many of us are afraid to ask, thinking that the customer may unload on us and waste our time. Yet nothing is farther from the truth. While they may unload, this is *no* waste of time.

Customers almost always feel that their opinion (good or bad) is not being heard. Let customers know that not only is their voice being heard but that policy is being shaped around that opinion. We always hear from the minority that believe they must complain to get what they want. Here's a chance to let our customers know we value them and hear from that "silent majority" of happy customers as well.

Rule 3 -- Ask Customers How YOU Are Doing


There you have it. Three quick "rules" which, if we follow them, will ensure that we are in touch with our customers, can prevent small problems from growing and help us learn what our customers *really* think of us.

When we adopt an "attitude of gratitude" and actually THANK customers for no more than simply being our customers, relationships bloom and good things begin to happen.

Your clients may never meet you in person. Yet, the more personal the attention you give them and the more informed you are about their needs, the more loyal they become.
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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How to Write Copy That Gets Results

Copyright © Charlie Page

The goal today is simple. That goal is to pull back the curtain and show you how a professional copywriter creates the copy that causes people to reach for their wallet or purse. Copy you would normally have to pay for, only now you can do it yourself.

Let me begin by saying how very much I hate hype. Hate it. Loathe it. Don't want to read it and will not write it. The pure fact of the matter is that it does not take hype to sell products. It does take capturing a person's attention, then their imagination, long enough to help them see the desire they have for your product.

Here's the first foundational truth about copywriting. The people who visit your site WANT to buy what you sell. They have the desire now, or they wouldn't go to your site. They didn't just wander by. They chose your site because something interested them.

Your job now is to enhance that sense of DESIRE and persuade them to take action now. Enhancing their desire to benefit from what you offer. That's the name of the game. Don't confuse desire with being convinced. Desire creates sales, being convinced doesn't. I'm convinced the Golden Gate Bridge is a fine bridge, but I don't want to own it.

On the other hand, there's this very cool laptop I want so bad I can taste it. I need a laptop like a hole in the head, but I want it. You see, a person doesn't have to need your product to buy it. They just have to want it. Very few people really need a Palm Pilot, or a laptop, or heated leather seats or an expensive ink pen when the one the dry cleaner gives away still writes, but they buy these things (and more) every day.

Why shouldn't they buy them from you?

With that in mind, consider the following five key points to writing copy that gets results ... no matter what product, service or opportunity you offer.

The five points are:

1. Sell with emotion, support with logic.
2. Be honest.
3. Be brief, but not too brief.
4. Ask for the order early ... and often.
5. Emulate, don't imitate.

The first point is so important, so foundational, that I'm devoting this entire article to understanding how this will work in your real world. If you get this first step right you will see results even if you bobble the other four. Without this one, the other four will have to work overtime to get people to reach for the Visa.

Pay careful attention because this is where 99% of ineffective copy fails to do it's job.

1. Left Brain -- Right Brain

People generally buy things in a very predictable way. They make a decision to buy based on emotion and defend or justify that decision with logic. Rarely do people (even engineers!) buy in the reverse order. Memorize this: People buy based on emotion, and defend or justify that purchase with logic. That idea is the reason that people buy. Period.

Let's take a closer look. Here is a quick example from what is perhaps the best example of buying on emotion and defending it with logic known to mankind ... the world of new car sales.

Example #1
You go to the dealership one fine weekend just to 'see what your trade-in is worth'. These sharks are not going to sell you anything. You are there for facts, just the facts. Not even shopping. Just getting information. You were in the neighborhood anyway.

Then it happens. The smell of a new interior. The purr of the engine. (You didn't really realize how loud your old car is inside.) Then there's the shine of the new paint job. Red. You always wanted red. You deserve red. You want red! You can almost feel the pride swell inside you as you imagine driving down your street for the first time, your neighbors drooling with envy. 'Bonnie must be doing well.' they say. 'She's always seemed smart.' You can see the look on your friends faces as you drive home for Christmas in your new RED car.

By golly, you ARE going to have red. You wanted red in high school and got the old family junker. Remember the embarrassment? You wanted red in college but your idiot boyfriend talked you into black. Black! After you dumped him you couldn't stand to even drive the thing. It's red you want. It's red you've always wanted. And you've waited long enough.

You drive home in your new red car. It smells good. It sounds good. It looks good. You feel great! When tightwad Fred asks how much you paid, you tell him that the old junker you traded in needed an engine overhaul and it just wasn't a good investment to repair the poor thing. You were smart to buy now. In fact, you got the much better end of the deal.

My friend, you just bought on emotion and defended the purchase with logic.

What else does this happen with? As you read this list, ask yourself how many times you've bought more than you needed in one of these areas just because it 'felt right'.

- Suits
- Dresses
- Homes
- Jewelry
- Stereo Equipment
- Computers
- Software ;)

Let's face it, we are a community of people who love to compare. We compare how fast our cars go from zero to sixty, how big the diamond is we gave our girl (or she gave us!) how many square feet we have (never mind there are two empty bedrooms). The list goes on and on. Advertisers know this about us. When you are the advertiser, you must know it too.

How can you apply this to your real world? Three simple steps.

Step 1 - Get a legal pad now and write down the five top things that make people want your product. Focus on how they will feel, how others will perceive them, how they will feel about themselves. Remember, a feature is what something does. A benefit is what it does for me. People want benefits. People buy benefits. People will interrupt what they are doing now to buy benefits.

Step 2 - Look at your selling copy now, whether it's a web page, autoresponders, radio ad copy, classifieds ... doesn't matter. Look at that copy and see if the five emotional pressure points you wrote down are in that copy. Does the copy move you? Does it compel you to action? Does it tell you, in very clear terms, what's in it for you? If you can't be objective, solicit a friend to take a look.

Step 3 - Change portions of your copy to add some punch. I'm not talking about a major rewrite, just change some key areas to appeal to a person's emotions. Help them imagine life with your product. The time they will save. The money they will save. How good they will look to
their peers. How great it will feel to finally (insert benefit here).

Better yet, give them hints about what they can do with that time and money. Here's a very short sample.

---------Begin sample------------

Our clients often save over $100 a month when they switch to our widget. Imagine how good it will feel when YOU begin to save $100 or more a month, just by choosing our super-widget! That's over $1200 a year! What will you do with your $1200?

- Pay off bills?
- Take a vacation?
- Pay for your child's college tuition?
- Finally have some 'mad' money just for you?

The choice is yours. Do what thousands of others have done. Click here now to start saving today.

--------End sample----------------

Notice in the example above how the 'need to' and 'want to' motivations alternate? We 'should' pay off bills and pay for college. We 'want' to take a vacation and spend money like a madman on a weekend pass just because it feels so very good. By including both 'want to' and 'need to', this copy appeals to the broadest possible audience. No matter what else your copy does, make sure it appeals to a person's emotions. Remember, people do what they want to do, not what they have to do.

If you have a hard time finding the emotional points of your product, service or opportunity, remember that people are moved by the promise of gain or the fear of loss. Using those two super-motivators, it won't be long before your copy will be charged with the emotional electricity that creates orders and causes people to take action now.
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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How to Market with Ezine Articles

Copyright © Charlie Page

Of all the ways that people have invented to sell things over the Internet, writing free articles to run in ezines is perhaps the most effective. One great thing about this method of marketing is that you can do it with NO money. So if you are just starting your Internet marketing career, put away the Visa and warm up that keyboard! Article marketing may be the perfect way to market. It's free to do. It educates prospects. It gets your message in front of thousands of interested prospects you would NEVER reach otherwise. It's viral. Best of all ... it works!

So what is "article marketing" and how can it impact your world?
Glad you asked. ;) What we call "article marketing" is simply writing informative articles and having those articles run in ezines. If that sounds hard, it's not. Let's run the numbers for a moment.

There are over 300,000 ezines out there. Estimates say that over 90% of them use free articles in their ezines. That means there is a HUGE market for your articles, no matter what you want to write about.

We like to say it this way. From cat food to Katmandu, there's an ezine out there for everyone. You included.


The Big Picture

The first step is to understand the goal of article marketing. The goal is to write an informative article and have it run in as many TARGETED ezines as possible. When people read the article they see your resource box at the end of the article, click to your website and buy your stuff. They learn something, and you make money. Very simple.

Notice the emphasis on targeted? Please, please, whatever you do, do not waste an editors time with articles that they don't need. One of the greatest things about the Directory of Ezines is that you can use it to find the perfect ezines for your articles ... fast. Use the DOE, but never spam editors with articles they can't use.

;)


How to Write the Article

You want to write an informative article about something you know. Once you chose your subject, here's the magic formula for writing the article. Five easy steps.

1. Be yourself. Don't try to write like anyone else. Let your personality shine through.

2. Tell a story. People love to hear an interesting story.

3. Limit yourself to 600 words. This is an ideal length for most ezines. Format your article to 65 characters per line with a hard return at the end of each line.

4. Have a clear opening, make three or five points it the middle, and have a brief conclusion.

5. THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Give the reader a few steps he or she can take to make your idea work for them. Tell them what to do first, second, third to accomplish the task you are writing about.

If the reader can take ACTION based on what you wrote (just like you can now apply this formula to your writing) you will have delivered valuable information to them. Do that and, hopefully, they will keep reading your stuff! ;)

How to Find the Right Ezines

The absolute, 100% effective, surefire way to do this is to use the Directory of Ezines. Sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

Look for ezines that have these three things. First, the ezine content matches your article content. Second, the ezine accepts articles. Third, the reader is someone who would be a good customer for you. Once you nail down those basics you have found the perfect market for your articles.


How to Approach the Editor

The BEST way to approach an editor is this.

1. Subscribe to the ezine.

2. Read a few issues.

3. Write a personal note commenting on what you enjoyed about the issues that you read.

4. Offer your article as one that might fit in.

5. Ask to be informed if your article is run.

6. Thank them for their time.

7. Be available if they have questions.

If an editor chooses your article, the odds are they will run your articles in the future as well. Stay in touch and you can develop close relationships with literally hundreds of editors. Remember that each editor represents thousands of readers that you may never reach any other way. Also remember that the editor is a busy person. Keep your email brief.


How to Maximize Your ROI

Include a "resource box" at the end of the article. A resource box is where you sell the reader on going to your website, subscribing to your ezine, or taking any other action you want them to take.

Marketing with ezine articles is truly a win-win-win proposition. The publisher wins because he or she gets great free articles. The reader wins because your article is informative and tells them how to accomplish an important task as easy as 1,2,3. You win because hundreds of thousands of readers see your selling message at the end of your article.

All of this with no out-of-pocket costs. Now THAT'S a beautiful thing!
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Charlie Page is the owner of the Directory of Ezines, the first and most comprehensive list of quality ezines that accept advertising available on the Internet. Charlie can show you how to sell more products and earn more affiliate commissions using the Internet's #1 marketing method ... ezine marketing!
CLICK HERE to learn more ...
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Marketing From The Inside Out

Marketing From The Inside Out
(c) by John Colanzi

Good old Archimedes said it best, "Give me a place to stand and I'll move the Earth".

Powerful statement.

He was talking about the lever, but there are all types of levers.

We live in a society that's lost sight of how everything is connected. We look at the trunk and mistake it for the elephant.

But if we just open our mind's eye and look at our world with a more open view, we can see how "Give me a place to stand", relates to succeeding at every endeavor we put our hands to.

Want to leave the rat race and succeed in your own business?

Find a place to stand.

Pick your vehicle.

I see marketers struggling over

* What really sells online?

* What is the best product to promote?

Forget about it.

1. Pick your place to stand.

2. Plant your feet.

3. Take your lever and move the Earth.

Your place to stand is any product or service that fits you. Stop wasting your time on the internal debate.

Are you ready to assure your success?

If you answered yes, here goes.

1. Find a product or service that excites you, gets your adrenaline pumping and makes your blood flow.

2. Make a decision.

The difference between winning and losing can be seen in how you make decisions.

Those that succeed reach decisions promptly and stick with them come hello there or high water.

Those who never succeed reach decisions slowly. They run for the hills the first time they have a set back.

3. Plant your feet and keep plugging until you've reached your goal.

It's that simple, but simple doesn't make it easy.

You can succeed at anything.

I know you can.

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi
http://hop.clickbank.net/?annafan196/johncolanz

****************************************
Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site
to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?...
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-269

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The Blog Directory

Here is a place where you can post the RSS feed of your blog and get your blog listing updated every time that you ping it. I will be posting some instructions on blogging later on, after I finish posting the Colanzi articles.

Blog Directory

How To Always Win

How To Always Win
(c) by John Colanzi

Good old Archimedes said it best, "Give me a place to stand and I'll move the Earth".

Powerful statement.

He was talking about the lever, but there are all types of levers.

We live in a society that's lost sight of how everything is connected. We look at the trunk and mistake it for the elephant.

But if we just open our mind's eye and look at our world with a more open view, we can see how "Give me a place to stand", relates to succeeding at every endeavor we put our hands to.

Want to leave the rat race and succeed in your own business?

Find a place to stand.

Pick your vehicle.

I see marketers struggling over

* What really sells online?

* What is the best product to promote?

Forget about it.

1. Pick your place to stand.

2. Plant your feet.

3. Take your lever and move the Earth.

Your place to stand is any product or service that fits you. Stop wasting your time on the internal debate.

Are you ready to assure your success?

If you answered yes, here goes.

1. Find a product or service that excites you, gets your adrenaline pumping and makes your blood flow.

2. Make a decision.

The difference between winning and losing can be seen in how you make decisions.

Those that succeed reach decisions promptly and stick with them come hello there or high water.

Those who never succeed reach decisions slowly. They run for the hills the first time they have a set back.

3. Plant your feet and keep plugging until you've reached your goal.

It's that simple, but simple doesn't make it easy.

You can succeed at anything.

I know you can.

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi
http://hop.clickbank.net/?annafan196/johncolanz

****************************************
Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site
to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?...
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-269

****************************************

Ben Franklin's Secrets For Success

Ben Franklin's Secrets For Success
(c) by John Colanzi

Are you overwhelmed by all the advice on the Internet about running a successful small business?

The sheer volume of information is overwhelming and often the "experts" disagree.

Every so often my business will experience a slow down.

This week was one of those weeks. I could easily blame the holiday or the normal summer vacation period, but that wouldn't solve my problem.

I needed to step back and rethink my business plan.

The response for most online business owners is to pick their favorite "guru" or "gurus" and start studying their advice.

That works well for a lot of marketers, but sometimes I like to think outside the box. There are some time tested ideas that are universal and will work if applied to any situation.

I studied Ben Franklin's simple system for self- improvement. The system may be simple to develop, but that doesn't mean it's easy to follow.

In his autobiography Franklin talks about his need to constantly monitor himself. Old habits are hard to break.

Although Franklin used this system to reshape his personality, it can just as easily be applied to improving your skills as an online entrepreneur.

If you're looking for a quick fix, this isn't for you.

Here's a step by step plan for becoming a more successful entrepreneur.

1. The first step is to pick the 13 areas of your skills that need the most work.

Step back and take a look at your business and find 13 skills that would improve your performance.

2. Put the 13 skills you've listed in order of importance.

Label them from 1 to 13.

3. Decide to spend one week working on each skill. Spend time every day for a week working on improving one area of your business.

For example if you chose writing better ads as an area needing improvement, spend a week working on your ad writing skills.

4. After you've spent a week working on your number problem, move to problem number 2.

5. After 13 weeks go back and work on number one again.

Follow through on each skill for another 13 weeks.

6. By the end of one year you've spent four weeks improving each roadblock to your success.

At the end of a year re-evaluate your business and determine which skills still need to be worked on and which ones you've mastered.

I know this seems like a lot of work. It's taking time away from making your first million.

Well I have to let you in on a little secret. Making a go of your online business isn't easy and if you're not willing to work at it, you'll spend your time asking:

Is anyone really making money online?

Well there are small businesses making money online, but they've done their homework and honed their skills.

If you're truly serious about making money on the Internet, this plan is as good a place to start as any.

Don't rely on luck. You'll find the harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi
http://hop.clickbank.net/?annafan196/johncolanz

****************************************
Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site
to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?...
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-269

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A Billionaires Guide To Getting Rich

(c) by John Colanzi

The sage Zenrin once said "If you wish to know the road up the mountain, ask the person who goes back and forth on it."

Sound advice, but are you following it?

If you're like most people, probably not. So who's advice do you listen to?

** Your next door neighbor

** Your barber or hairdresser

** Your mechanic

The list is endless. You get excited about starting your own business and the doom and gloom crowd takes pleasure in stomping on your dreams.

Before you listen to them, ask yourself one question. Have they been where you want to go?

Probably not.

So who's advice should you listen to? The men and women who've traveled the mountain.

One man who traveled the mountain and amassed a fortune in the process, was J. Paul Getty.

In his autobiography Getty lists rules for creating wealth.

What do you think was Mr. Getty's number one rule for getting rich?

You must have your own business. He didn't say get a good job.

The same skills you use to make money for your boss, could be better applied to creating wealth for you.

There's an old cartoon that brings the point home even clearer.

A father is asking his son, "Wow, wouldn't you love to be a football player and make all that money?"

The little boy smiles and says, "Daddy, I'd rather be the guy that can afford to pay the whole team."

The next time you're excited, keep your own council and remember the words of Ben Franklin.

"Keep Thy Shop and Thy Shop Will Keep Thee."

Dare to dream. Be your own boss.

Wishing You Success,


Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi
http://hop.clickbank.net/?annafan196/johncolanz

****************************************
Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site
to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?...
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-269

****************************************

How To Always Be In Demand

How To Always Be In Demand
(c) by John Colanzi

Imagine if you never had to sell again and opportunities just fell into your lap.

Does this sound impossible?

Does it sound like a daydream?

Well it's not.

Not if you're a problem solver.

Whether you offer products or services, there's one thing we all have in common.

We're all in the problem solving business.

Think about it.

Once the word spreads that you're a problem solver, prospects will beat a path to your door.

Why?

Everyone on this earth has problems.

Once you've developed a reputation for problem solving, you'll never be idle.

There are more people with problems than you could help in ten lifetimes.

What's the quickest way to develop a reputation as a problem solver?

Writing articles.

Once I started writing articles, everything changed.

I went from an unknown, unprofitable marketer, to an expert problem solver.

Guess what?

You can too.

Once you've launched your article virus, you won't have to look for opportunity, it will come to you.

Join me in the problem solving business and you'll never look back.


Wishing You Success,
John Colanzi
http://hop.clickbank.net/?annafan196/johncolanz

****************************************
Copyright (c) John Colanzi.

John Colanzi uses the Plug-In Profit Site
to earn multiple streams of income from
home on the Internet. What about you?...
http://www.pluginprofitsite.com/main-269

****************************************