The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

Creativity and Determination are the KEY ingredients in all
online success stories. So many times, as a moderator and
participant in the net’s most active and lauded online marketing
forum, The Internet Marketing Warriors, I have heard the same
questions repeated by hopeful marketer after hopeful marketer.
And mostly they begin with “How do I…?”

Similar questions, in a dead-heat in frequency, vary around a
theme such as “What tool should I use to…?”

Know-how and tools. Go to any forum on the net, on almost any
subject, and you will find hundreds or even thousands of people
exchanging information on know-how and tools. “What is the best
way to write copy?” “Which autoresponder script is best for my
business?” “What hosting is the best for me?”

Very infrequently will you come upon a marketing discussion that
talks about creativity and determination. Even more rare is a
successful product that shows people HOW to be creative and
determined. This is because tools and know-how are so much
easier to write about.

If this, then that. Such a small phrase, yet it is the bulk of
what internet marketing training is all about if you have read
even a small pile of ebooks geared toward making you a better
sales producer.

And the formula sells - bigtime.

But then, why are there so many people failing at marketing
their business online? What is IT that separates the masses from
the relatively few truly successful onilne small businesses?

It is this: You cannot teach people creativity very easily. Some
would say it’s impossible. Art classes are simply tools to weed
out people that don’t have IT so they can get busy pursuing
another line of work!

And it is this: Determination (including work ethic,
stick-to-it-ivenss, seeing something through to the end) is even
harder to simply instill in a person with the written word or
teleseminar. You cannot reach through your ebook to slap someone
everyday to recapture their focus for them and keep them on-task.

The problem is compounded when you have one of the above and not
the other. Creative people very often have no business sense or
the drive necessary to acquire it. Determined people fail
gloriously in a gallon of sweat at five in the morning without
creativity. Nothing is probably more disheartening than having
one or the other. It must be like being able to see over the
fence, but not have what it takes to climb to the other side.

Tools are tools. We must use them in any profession to the best
of our ability. Henry Ford used tools to create Model Ts. But
did you ever read a story proclaiming that Ford won the day with
his tools? Of course not. The stories are about determinaion and
creativity and that’s it.

You can go out right now and get the best software, the most
expensive copywriter, the best programmer, and even the best
product since sliced bread. And you can fail. It’s been done
more times than success by a long margin throughout history.

This article is not about how to succeed at internet marketing.
It is not about tools that will help get you over the fence
where the grass is greener.

This article is an observation. An observation that is seeded
with clues that only creative and determined people will pick up
on. And, despite all the success manuals and training you may
have spent hard earned money on, this article contains the
answer to why many people fail and some succeed at not only
internet marketing, but in anything in life.

Creativity in internet marketing is being able to think beyond
what others have accomplished to date. It’s being able to take
the pulse of the internet and the human condition and react by
putting something together that is needed and desired.

Determination is being able to go out on a limb and work until
you succeed despite obstacles and nay sayers. It is fueled by
belief in yourself and your creative ideas.

Do you have these two key ingredients? Can you see what is
possible that thousands of other great minds have overlooked? If
so, can you then take that vision and turn it into reality with
dogged determination and perhaps the hardest work you have ever
done in your life?

If you have “it,” then you can go learn about our trade from the
technical (tools) standpoint and you can use them to succeed
with your creativity and determination. The tools are worthless
by themselves.

I hope one day to see a lot more questions about the creative
process as it relates to business and success in forums in the
future. I want to see questions (and honest answers!) about how
much work it takes to create a profitable business online. Then
I will know that a lot more people are on track and are asking
the RIGHT questions. Most of all, I hope to see more training
materials from experts that deal with not only what tools and
systems to use, but with topics on how to think freely, on your
own, about how you could make something better or make something
new out of the situation at hand.

Finally, when you hear that this business is not for everyone,
it means quite specifically that this business is not for people
who cannot think outside the norm and work long hours. That’s
why businesses that people try to sell you that “do all the work
so you don’t even have to think” are so absurd.

No one has ever succeeded at anything without creativity and
determination. Unless they have entered a couch potato contest.
But even then the most successful people are going to be the
ones who think creatively about how to sit on that couch longer
than anyone else and watch more TV than was formerly thought
humanly possible.

Here is an example using the above: 99% of the people who set
out to be the #1 Couch Potato will simply start out by sittting
in front of the TV for as long as they can. They think, “I will
just out-potato everyone else by doing it 24/7.”

And they will all fail. Because one person is going to think
creatively and freely. They are going to buy 5 TVs and plug them
all in in front of the couch. They are going to out-potato
everyone else by being able to compound the amount of TV they
can watch by 5 times the amount of everyone else while doing no
more work than the other 99%. Through creativity and
determination, the person who wins at anything is going to find
ways to succeed that most people never would have thought of.

In the end, if you want to succeed online, you must ask
yourself: Do I REALLY have the creativity and determination to
turn my current situation into a better one through an online
business? Don’t worry about tools and know-how. Those can be
learned and used by anyone. But there is no need to commit
yourself to a big learning curve if you don’t have what it
really takes to succeed in the end.

“The Insiders Secrets of an eBay Millionaire” is a thorough
study of the techniques to making a generous living on eBay.
Derek Gehl and Brandon Dupsky have teamed up to produce a
detailed eBay success system on how to navigate eBay, find the
right products, enjoy profitable online auctions and become a
Power Seller. Every tip and trick that Brandon has used on eBay
to generate 8 million dollars in sales last year, are revealed
to Derek Gehl.

The only part that was difficult for me is the length of time it
took to study and digest the material included. There is so much
information you will probably have to revisit the books until
they become second nature. Derek and Brandon’s claim that you
will be up and running on eBay in the next 24 hours is a little
ambitious. Take your time and really let the information sink in.

Let me supply a little background on Derek and Brandon. You may
have heard of Derek Gehl CEO of The Internet Marketing Center, a
company with over 40 million dollars in internet sales. Brandon
Dupsky on the other hand tends to fly under the radar. He is a
regular guy from Nebraska that started selling a few odds and
ends from his garage. Brandon then turned the internet business
into one with sales last year of 8 million dollars. These two
guys know what they’re talking about. Derek convinced Brandon to
spill his secrets on how to become an eBay entrepreneur and I
found this a very enlightening learning experience.

This work is loaded with tips and tricks that anyone interested
in eBay auctions as a hobby or a home business must have. It
will show you how to start from nothing and expand into a
profitable eBay business. Many people spend years learning what
works and what doesn’t work on eBay. Derek and Brandon have
drastically reduced the timeline it takes to become an eBay
success.

The course materials are vast. Their heart is a 237 page manual
and four audio-CD’s, all filled with useful tips on building an
eBay business from scratch. Each audio-CD has a read along
transcript with margin notes to build on key points. The margin
notes are excellent since they highlight the most important
topics that were addressed on each page. There are also four
bonus CD-ROMs with tips on more advanced eBay buying selling
techniques. These CD-ROMs answer the questions of how to attract
lots of bids on your products, how to create stunning listings
that bring bidders to your auction, and how to set up foolproof
payment and shipping systems. These steps are crucial to
establishing yourself successfully on eBay. If you already have
an internet business, Derek and Brandon will show you how to tap
into some of the 2,000,000 visitors who come to eBay each day.

“The Insiders Secrets of an eBay Millionaire” delivers on its
promise to teach you all of the fundamentals needed in order to
grow into an eBay expert. It logically and easily takes you
through the steps, from finding a product to completing an
auction. This resource will be something that you refer to time
after time and I suggest you take notes as you go along.

If anything, you may have to read all of the books again before
you will be able to absorb the subtleties of using eBay
profitably. Brandon and Derek go into so much detail that I was
amazed at what they revealed.

In Derek’s introduction, he tells you that you can’t afford not
to have this information and I totally agree with him. For me,
this was the ultimate source to learn more about eBay and I am
making the most of it.

Some people have asked me if there was some way to improve on
this product and I can honestly say NO. I was astounded about
the secrets that I learned from Brandon because I have been
selling on eBay since 1999.

The only question I have is how Brandon manages his various
weekly auctions. I would have preferred an in-depth study on how
he accomplishes this very involved task.

If you are interested in growing an eBay business, this is the
comprehensive course you should have. I give it my highest
rating. For more information on this subject please visit:
ebay-insidersecrets.com.

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in
your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice,
links and the resource box are unchanged.

We are all familiar with the term “corporate restructure” in
this day and age. Do you ever think one will ever personally
affect you? After being employed by a major Midwestern retail
chain for 28 years I didn’t think so. I started working for them
in college; you know to get through school. I was studying
management so it was only natural to get involved in their
management program there. After graduating I was offered a
position that required moving. No questions ask, my wife and I
packed up everything we owned, left our families and pursued the
American dream.

After 25 years in management, working in 3 cities at 5 different
locations I had slipped into that false sense of security. Then
those meetings started about how the company was going to
transform. “Big” competition was moving into the area the
company operated in, there had to be changes to survive and
“move forward”. The restructure inevitably meant cuts in
overhead which of course translate into staff reduction.

It was early in January, after a successful Christmas selling
season, that the tension really began to build. Changes in the
wind were blowing strong now. All management personnel were to
attend a mandatory meeting on Thursday. At this meeting a
sketchy outline was given of the new direction the company was
taking. We were thanked for our efforts in seeing the company
through its best year ever. Then just as we were to be excused
we were informed that over the next two days each of us would
meet with the store manager to find out our part, if any in the
changes.

The next day was the day I had my appointment. I entered the
store manager’s office and sat down. Not 10 seconds after that I
knew of my fate, “as you know the company is restricting” the
manager said. He continued “your position has been eliminated,
you will be ask to leave after this meeting”. I was astounded
that after all the time and dedication I had poured into the
company I was “being eliminated”!

I did receive a charitable severance package but then what. I
was thankful that my kids were grown and on their own but how
was I going to pay the bills? Could I afford to keep my home?
What if the car quits? Energy costs are on the rise, can I heat
my home? Can I even afford gas for the car? What would you do in
this situation?

After the initial shock wore off I realized life would go on. My
girlfriend, who also worked at the same store and suffered the
same fate as I, started our own business. We do home repair with
a focus on paint and wallpaper.

That works as well as the effort you put into it. Another
problem is the Holidays. First, people don’t want their house
torn up during the holidays. Second, they can’t afford to have
changes because they are paying for the holidays.

Like many people I have a home computer which I enjoy. Hey! Why
not make money at home with the computer? I searched around a
bit, trying a few “it’s quick and easy to make cash” programs.
Watch out for the “offers” that suggest “for just $19.95 you can
make cash today”. Also be cautious of programs with a one or two
page website. It didn’t take long to figure out it was them
making the fast buck!

What I was looking for was a company with a solid background,
one that had been around with a track record to prove it. One
that offered more than an email address for support or
questions, one with no money up front to join. With a bit of
time and effort you can find a solid opportunity to invest your
time and energy in.

How secure do you feel in your job?

It’s important to learn the basics before you decide to enter
the world of paid surveys. That’s what will be discussed in this
article.

So what are paid surveys? They are simply this - ‘Paid Surveys
conducted by major companies in order to better understand what
their market actually wants, which intern will save them money
on future productions.’ These companies actually save money by
paying people like you and me to complete their surveys. They
are able to take all the data from the surveys they conduct and
use it to increase revenue substantially.

This is great news for people like you and me because it means
that we can actually make money by answering a few simple
questions or just by offering our opinions.

How can I find these companies? The best way is to sign up for a
survey database as they list most of the companies on their
site. They will also rank them from best to worst so you know
which ones will be the best to sign up for first. Also it’s
important to keep signing in and checking for new companies that
may become listed in the database as they are potential
goldmines. Why? Because as they are a new site, they will
initially have surveys ready for people to complete, so get in
fast!

Before you start signing up to take part in Paid Surveys there
are 2 things you must do. Firstly set up a new email account
that will only be used for your future survey campaigns. Make
sure you check it at least twice a day because who knows when
you may get an invitation for a survey or focus group. Secondly
take a pen and paper and jot down everything about yourself.
That means everything! When signing up for surveys, you must
submit a few details about yourself relevant to the topics being
surveyed for that particular company. If you have a list of
everything you have done, your doing or what you like doing,
then it will be easier and faster when you start signing up for
surveys.

Paid Surveys have been proven to be a successful money making
resource on the internet. There’s no risk involved as it is free
to sign up. Why not give them a try and I guarantee with a
little initial effort, you’ll start reaping the rewards in no
time!

Josh Stanton - Infotrate.com,

So you want to make your money online now huh? Great. There are
plenty of ways to do it. MLMs, form-filling/surveys, Affiliate
Marketing, HYIP’s and the good old fashioned way: Your own
product on your own website.

I’ll explore each of these ways in the course of this series so
if they sound like gobbledy-gook to you now, fear not. Its
estimated that every day over 250,000 people make the decision
to start earning money at home on the Internet. That’s a lot of
people who don’t have a clue what these terms mean either.
Everyone’s got to start somewhere.

For most people, a reasonable course of action when choosing an
online business, is to bring up their favourite search engine
(if they’ve even got one yet) and type the words “work from
home”. The number of sites that come up when you enter such a
term on Google alone is 1.9 Billion. Compare this with “find a
job” (425 million) or “new career” (458 million) and you get an
idea of where Internet Marketers are directing their efforts.

OK. So the good news is, if there’s plenty of supply you’ve got
plenty of choice. But how do you go about choosing the one thats
best for you? How do you know which one of those 1.9 billion
work from home ideas gives you the best chance of success? Lets
face it, you could live until you’re five hundred and you still
wouldn’t have read them all.

And perhaps you’ve got your own idea, perhaps you’ve used The
Internet enough to have identified a niche area, a business idea
you want to exploit. Either way, you’re entering new waters and
its best to be prepared. Even if you’re convinced by your own
idea, it is still adviseable to watch, and even join, one or two
of the work-from-home offerings so you can learn about the ways
in which business can and can’t be done online.

There is a methodology I teach which helps people decide on
which way to turn, and indeed whether they should turn to any of
them. It uses a simple set of questions, no more than 5 in each
set, and as long as you are honest to your core, your answers
will steer you in the right direction.

The first set is 4 quick questions that you should answer
without giving too much thought to. Just read them each and give
the first answer that comes into your head - give your
instinctive answer.

It is important to be instinctive because once you’ve embarked
on your online career, it will be your instinct that will direct
you. Don’t take time theorising about what you think the right
or wrong answer should be, just give the true answer. That’s the
only way you’ll get a useful result.

These four questions should be answered in order with a score
between 1 (minimum) and 5 (maximum). No zeros. Write your
answers down and keep them safe.

Here they are:

1. How computer literate am I? (Not at all - 1. Exceedingly - 5)

2. How is my self-discipline? (Terrible - 1. Excellent -
5)
3. How positive is my outlook on life? (Miserable - 1.
Excellent - 5)
4. How much can I afford to fail? (I can’t
- 1. It really doesn’t matter - 5)

In part II we’ll analyse your results and move on to the next
stage in the process. In the meantime, enjoy your research and
get a good feel of what’s out there.

Getting Started: Creating a Business Plan

By Hannes Johnson

You’re excited. You have a great idea for a profitable

online business. Maybe it is an original idea that has

not been marketed online before. Maybe you have come

up with a new spin on the ordinary. Whatever it is

that has influenced you to start your online business,

be sure that you have a plan before you begin. This is

not the time to “pick it up as you go”. These are some

basic things that should be included in your business

plan.

The business summary should give a brief description

of the entire business and is an integral part of the

overall business plan. After you have completed the

business summary you should begin to list the

objectives or the goals that you want to accomplish

through the business. Next and perhaps most

importantly, you should develop your marketing plan.

The marketing plan will address all the specifics of

the business. When developing the marketing strategy

you should consider the following:

The target market. The target market is the customers

that you expect to see visiting your site. For example

will your product be more appealing to college

students or those who are in retirement?

Consider the competition for your product when

determining the marketing strategy. Choose a product

that will be seen as unique and useful. Visit sites

that are offering the same or similar products. Find

out the cost, and how they are marketing their

product. Finds out the pros and cons of their business

and try to improve your product based on their flaws.

Research the various methods for advertising online.

You should become educated about search engines and

how they work since each one is different. Also be

sure that you know how to submit your site to search

engines. You should be prepared to spend a small

amount of money on advertising, but the profits that

you will gain from the advertisements will prove to be

money well spent.

Think about pricing. Again, look at the competition

and see what similar products are selling for. Pricing

can play a big role in the success of your product

since selling a product well below the average price

may lead customer to think that there is a problem

with the product or that it is not of the best

quality. However, pricing items too high could also

detour customers.

Determine the shipping method. Be sure that you know

how products will be shipped so that you can have

shipping details clearly posted on your site. If you

are shipping things of great value, you should

consider providing shipping insurance. Also think

about shipping outside the country that you live in.

Think about the different methods of payment that you

will accept. If your business does not accept credit

cards, you should be ready to give up half if not more

of your sales. If you decide to accept credit cards

will you use a merchant account or will you use a

third party credit card processing center? Both will

help you get started and the third party processing

center will handle all of the business so you don’t

have to. You should decide which you will use and also

if you will accept checks or money orders. It is

essential to have a secure server when taking credit

cards.

These few things will help your online business to

become a great success and also provide you with peace

of mind knowing that you have thoroughly thought about

and planned for the opening of your online business.

Note from the author:

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Profitably Using White Papers
By Christine Taylor

Most B2B companies have a white paper under their belts or are planning to write one. But it’s not enough to write a white paper. You also need to distribute your white paper to your prospective customers and channel partners. For example, channel executives can sharply increase qualified leads to pass along to their channel partners and can offer the same white paper for channel partner sponsorship. Marketing executives can generate a steady stream of qualified leads, passing hot leads directly to Sales, and successfully grooming warm leads through the sales cycle. And PR executives can raise brand awareness in the marketplace and leverage awareness into qualified leads for marketing campaigns and sales. Marketing your white paper correctly will increase qualified leads making back your investment many times over.

#1 Target your white paper to readers who need your technology - and know it.

White papers are notorious for sitting on a company’s Website doing pretty much nothing. There are reasons for that:

A. The white paper isn’t right for its target market, or…
B. The white paper wasn’t written well to begin with or…
C. The white paper doesn’t compel readers to find out more or…
D. All of the above!

Don’t let this happen to you - wasting your investment in a white paper is like setting fire to a sheaf of bills. The money you spend to write the white paper whether in staff time or hiring a professional writer is a poor investment if nobody reads it or responds. But by marketing a well-crafted white paper to the right audience, you’ll dramatically increase your ROI - making a white paper your best single marketing investment and the core of your marketing communications program.

Who’s the right audience? Readers who:
1.Know they have a problem and need to fix it.
2.Can make a decision to purchase your product (decision makers/executives), or can alert someone who does (influencers/IT), or can resell your product to their customers (channel partners).

Decision Makers/Executives. Decision makers are the managers and executives who have the final say in spending budget and buying your products and services. They are often CIOs but may be C-level executives of any stripe who are interested adopting technology that serves their business needs. White papers written to decision makers should contain a strong business focus.

Decision makers are comfortable with white papers. They’ll use search engines to get to them and use search terms on technical libraries. If they like your white paper, they’ll pass it along to other executives and staff. They would much rather read a white paper before talking to a sales representative - in fact, decision makers are just the kind of long-term lead that Sales usually ignores, but who consistent marketing and marketing communications can bring on board within the year. The Sales department then enters the picture to confirm facts and negotiate the sale.

This role, which has decision makers proactively researching new technologies for business advantage, is an increasing trend: CIO Magazine reports that 68 percent of CIOs believe that CIOs should proactively envision business opportunities and apply technology to achieve them. Your white paper can help the decision makers do that.

Influencers/IT. IT staff and managers aren’t looking for a spec sheet but for a technology that will meet a pressing need. They’re using white papers much earlier in their buying cycles. A recent TechTarget survey reported that 79% of IT professionals read white papers to learn something new about technology relevant to their job, 73% of them consider white papers very valuable for keeping up-to-date on the latest technology trends, and 62% said they use white papers to get information on actual implementations.

This means that putting white papers where IT can find them will get their attention very early in their buying cycle and guiding prospects through the decision-making process so you’ll be top-of-mind when they’re ready to make their short vendor list. With 9 out of 10 prospects using white papers to research vendor capabilities, the last thing you want is for your white paper to sit around gathering dust.

Channel partners. It’s a real trick to get marcomm into the hands of your channel partners, especially if you have a large partner network. Even companies with partner portals find that their partners rarely consistently download product marcomm. One way around this is to actively distribute a compelling white paper on your technology to partners, who in turn can use the white paper to sell your product to their customers.

Using white papers with channel partners, especially during new product launches, increases sales, decreases expenses and reduces complexity.

#2 Persuade prospective customers to respond to your offer and download your white paper.

Your white paper is useless unless the right people read it. Once you know who your best prospects are, you must offer your white paper where they’ll see it and respond by filling out a registration form and downloading a copy. Depending on the readership you’re trying to reach, this could mean electronic and direct mailings, newsletter sponsorship, content syndication and paid search/contextual advertising.

Top B2B White Paper Marketing Strategies in 2005

1. Mailings, email and print: Mailings, whether email or print, are a great way to reach your targeted audience. Use email to reach mid-level professionals and managers, and use direct mail with high-level executives. Use in-house and highly targeted lists like VARBusiness.com to reach channel partners and partner prospects.

2. Newsletter sponsorship: Advertising in a newsletter targeted to your audience works very well with mid-level IT professionals. Since a popular newsletter can go to more than 10,000 subscribers, this is an excellent balancing technique to direct mailings. Use trade journal newsletters directed to resellers to reach the channel.

3. Content syndication: Posting white papers on syndication sites like Bitpipe and TechTarget works especially well for white papers in hot categories. Ideally, links should point to a landing page that’s specific to your white paper.

Paid search/Contextual advertising: Method of presenting ads based on user-entered keyword searches. Google Adwords is a popular method of paid search, and contextual ads extend keyword search into business and IT sites.

Here are some practical applications:

Channel executives. Reach existing and prospective channel partners through mailings. Email is ideal for partner sales reps while direct mail is best for high-level partner executives. In-house lists can be golden, but if you rent an outside list make sure it’s highly targeted to the people you want to reach and that it’s scrupulously cleaned. Also post your white papers on content syndication sites; you can pass on the resulting leads to partners as well as your direct sales force.

Marketing executives. Do all of the above. Send email and direct mailings in-house and other trusted lists, syndicated content on the top syndication sites, sponsor popular newsletters to your targeted prospects, and invest in paid search in Google and business/IT sites.

PR executives. Offer your white paper in mailings to media and include a copy in your press kit. Reporters that will dump a press release in a hot second will stop to read a good white paper. Suddenly your client’s approach to solving a business problem becomes a valuable resource for the reporter instead of an annoying intrusion.

Titles and abstracts

Compelling titles and abstracts pull readers to click on a link to download the white paper (content syndication sites) or be sent to a landing page customized for the white paper (everything else). Take a hint from extensive ad testing - headlines are responsible for at least 50% and as much as 75% of an ad’s responses rates. White paper downloads depend on the same element.

Here is an example of before-and-after titles and abstracts:

Before: Not compelling, to say the least
Title: “Protecting Your Email Directory with Guardian Software from SecureLock”
Abstract: “Many challenges are faced today by email administrators. This white paper from SecureLock describes how Guardian Software protects email directories from Directory Harvest Attacks.”

After: A whole lot better
Title: “How Spammers are Assaulting Your Critical Systems and How to Stop Them”
Abstract: “How secure are your critical messaging systems from outside attack? Most corporations say email security is a top priority, but all they do is set up a virus checker and call it a day. This white paper investigates the challenge of fighting off spam, hacking, phishing and harvesting attacks, and tells you how to protect your vital email systems today and in the future.”
Which one are you more likely to download?

#3 Once the prospect has downloaded your white paper, ask permission to contact - then do it.

Some prospects will be ready to talk to a salesperson right away. These so-called hot leads go directly to the direct sales force or channel partners. The challenge lies in the warm leads - people who are interested enough to register and download your white paper, but who aren’t ready to purchase in 3 months or less. These leads often get lost, which is a shame - a large percentage of them do end up buying within 6 months, and even more within the year.

Registration forms will allow you to capture the lead and to request permission to contact. One of the best ways to encourage a prospect to respond and give permission to contact is by encouraging them with a specific landing page optimized to your white paper. The great beauty of a landing page is that it vastly increases white paper requests and registrations, and increase permission responses to send the prospect other materials like newsletters, articles, and promotional mailings. This is key to warming up a lead and bringing them to a purchase decision: regular, permission-based contact keeps your product top-of-mind when the prospect is ready to buy.

About the Author

Christine Taylor is the principal of the Christine Taylor Company. Christine concentrates on writing Core Collateral like white papers, bylined articles and case studies, which is the foundation of the successful B2B marketing outreach. You can reach Christine at 760-249-6071 or at christine@ctaylor-co.com. Visit her website at www.ctaylor-co.com and her blog at http://christinetaylor.typepad.com/core_collateral.

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Is it really easier being a work at home mom?
Here’s what I have to go through almost everyday.

In the middle of any kind of projects, be it just trying to write articles or making the details of my downlines’ total points — suddenly my four months baby is crying painfully. Turns out, her 4-years-old sister is showing her outrageous affection by pulling the baby’s hair! She said, “But, there’s dirt in her head, mom!”

This is the kind of situation that needed my immediate attention. By attention I mean, breastfeeding the baby — usually takes 15 to 20 minutes while trying to explain to my older daughter about her wrong action (learning html is much more easier than having to have an argument with a toddler!).

One job done? Well, not exactly.

Still can’t go back to my computer because then the big sister wants to go to the bathroom. And 10 minutes after that, my mom came and reported that the washing machine is broken! So the next 20 minutes I’m trying hard to be a mechanic — but fail successfully — and then suddenly remembers that I haven’t prepared any lunch.

An hour has passed.
The ideas that were previously in my head — following me wherever I go and whatever I do, has gone. Laziness and tiredness are starting to come.

And that’s just the typical day in a work at home mom’s life

Try and search the internet about time management, working at home articles, sharing experiences with other stay at home moms. And you too will find out that working at home is just as challenging as working at the office.

Have you ever try making plans such as when to work, when to cook, when to breastfed the baby or basically do everything without any disturbances? Most of the other work at home moms will tell me the same thing. The plan will barely work.

So, what should we do then?

Me, I chose to just go ahead and work according to the house chores schedule.

I know that my ideas will often be disturbed by my baby’s crying or the time to prepare meals. That’s okay because I chose to be a wahm and felt that I already have many advantages with this choice. Not, that I never complain or lose a temper…nope, my husband will tell you exactly

But what I can do right now is just being grateful for the choice that I have — working at home and just try to do the best with the so called spare time I have.

If I have to do the articles at 2 o’clock in the morning, so be it.
The important thing is, my Editor-in-chief will received the translations at the time she opens her email the next morning.

If I have to stop my blogwalking because I need to breastfed my baby or my daughter wants to play barbie or nickjr.com, then that’s what I would do.

Also, I found that I can only do one thing at a time. Whether it’s for answering emails, updating my blogs, blogwalking or writing articles - one thing at a time.

I love to make use of the spare times I have like when I’m waiting for my little girl at school. Typing the ideas in my laptop while waiting in the car or read all the great articles I printed from the internet.

Well, this is the theory, won’t be easy though.

But, having that thankful attitude is all that it takes to make it easier. My rewards so far includes being the first person to hear my babies’ first word or a kiss from hubby for a wonderful dinner — while checking out my monthly commissions of course

Nadia Yuniardo
is a work at home mom whose line of business includes bel’air aromatherapy network marketing, asian brain internet marketing center and runs the very first weblog for work at home Indonesian moms
http://www.BundaInBiz.com

50% of Yellow Page Directory Users are Looking for Just One
Thing
Dr. Lynella Grant

Directory Users Seek Information about Location First
People who open the Yellow Pages already have a desire to
buy. That sets it apart from all other advertising media.
For a brief time, the eager-to-buy directory user checks the
competition, to see what each of them offers. They scan for
solutions that satisfy their needs. Readers hope to find ads
that leap out from the rest, and will simplify their choice.

So they ignore any ad that doesn’t match what they’re
looking for. And the piece of information that fully half of
them look for first is the location of the business. Buyers
want to know how easy it is for them to get there.
Businesses that are too far away are eliminated. So their
ads aren’t even read.

Convenience is the preliminary deciding factor. As readers
scan through the heading, they mentally delete: too far…,
too far…, don’t know where that is (so no)….

After Sorting by Location, Then they Read the Ads
The selected ads are then studied in more detail. Not until
that point, does the information in the ad actually get read
or considered. Aside from location, when directory users are
in the “information gathering phase,” they’re looking for
many different kinds of answers, like hours, payment
methods, and brands offered (which differ according to
heading). They’re being educated by what they read in the
ads. They gain a clearer idea about their options and who
provides it (you being just one).

Directory users don’t want to drag that step out. So it’s up
to your ad to jump to the front of their brain with a clear
indication that you offer exactly what they’re looking for.
Look-alike ads just make readers work harder to uncover what
they want to find.

There’s no need to overcomplicate the matter. The test of a
good Yellow Page ad is its ability to generate calls. You
don’t have to be a graphic designer or a marketing whiz to
prepare an effective ad. You just have to know your
customers well enough to know how they think and what they
want. You need to be able to signal to them that you’ve got
what they’re looking for.

The Ad Sells the Call or Next Step
Some ads prompt directory readers to pick up the phone and
call one or more of the listed businesses. Callers often
continue down their short (close) list until they can find
enough of a reason to pick one.

Yellow Page industry studies show the average number of
calls a user makes is 5.3. An advertiser doesn’t have to be
the first choice, as long as it’s among the few chosen for a
call or visit. At that point, the business owner’s ability
to field questions or “sell” is more influential than the
published directory information. After the potential buyer
closes the directory, its work is done. They’ve move on -
one step closer to a purchase.

Location Defines Who Your Competition Is
The Small Business Administration states that distance is a
major factor as to who comes to buy from you. The average
independent store draws the majority of its customers from
not more than a quarter of a mile away. The average chain
store draws most of customers from less than three-quarters
of a mile away. For the average shopping center, that figure
is four miles. Service business have different distances.

Many kinds of business really only need to worry about
competitors within their immediate area. You don’t have to
beat out every other business in the heading. Compare your
ad to those competitors within four miles, and make sure
your ad is more prominent or enticing than theirs.

Some of the biggest, high-powered ads ahead of yours simply
won’t be called because they’re inconvenient. You need to
know where your customers come from, and how far they’re
willing to travel for you. Here’s where knowing their
specific mindset and priorities pays off. Ask them; take a
survey.

You don’t need a big ad if you are the only game in town, or
in a very small heading. Directory users can’t help but see
you. Buyers are likely to call everyone who looks
appropriate, if there are only a few. So you’ll get called
anyway - as long as you’re listed.

Unless a business has the biggest and best ad, most of the
money spent for display ads is wasted. That sad truth
applies to most of the business headings. Cut through the
prevailing misinformation, and learn what makes a Yellow
Page ad effective at Yellow Page Sage -
http://www.yellowpagesage.com.

Location Matters on the Internet, Too
Already, 25% of online searchers are looking for information
about business location. And that percentage is increasing.
Most customers prefer to spend their money close to home -
it’s more convenient. But rather than consult the printed
Yellow Page directory, they search online. Searchers add
additional terms like zip code, city, and region to narrow
their search. This strategy is called “local search.” It’s a
boon for connecting buyers and local businesses. Because
location really does matter to buyers.

About the author:

— Dr. Lynella Grant is an expert in visual communication,
how printed materials send signals that reinforce or negate
the verbal message. Decode and repair your unintended
impressions. Author, “The Business Card Book” and “Yellow
Page Smarts.” http://www.yellowpagesage.com(719) 395-9450
Off the Page Press P.O. Box 4880 Buena Vista, CO 81211