Real confidence in online marketing comes from knowing The Landscape of the industry which is the tools, strategies and methodologies of marketing yourself on the internet. You don’t have to know everything about The Landscape; in fact, you probably never will… but you should strive to become an expert in the areas that interest you. As your business gains momentum, you’ll naturally learn about other areas in The Landscape, but you gotta start somewhere, right?
A good place to start is with something you already know and like to do. Maybe you’re a Facebook fan or you like to write (blog) or maybe you like to make short little videos and upload them to YouTube. Whatever you naturally gravitate to should be your first marketing strategy. Become an ‘expert’ in just that one area.
For example, you might choose writing. Then become an expert at blogging, writing and posting articles. Set some production standards for yourself. Go easy at first. Maybe you decide to post 3 articles a week. In between articles, look around the internet at what other bloggers and articles look like. Get some training on Article Submission and blogging. Read some free eBooks on the subject (they’re all over the internet, just look around). Just be sure to religiously post your 3 Articles a week.
You might choose to do Pay Per Click advertising. If you do, you’ll want to get a good schooling in Keywords. You can go to WordTracker.com. Click on the ACADEMY link at the top of the page and then click on KEYWORDS link on the left margin and you’ll find an entire Keywords Bootcamp full of training and articles. All COMPLETELY FREE!
The more you know the more you have available to pass along to your team. Every little bet of knowledge you gain can bring significant gains to your confidence AND your bottom line. Consider it a process rather than a project. Keep your goals and dreams in front of you every day. Never give up and keep on plugging away!
Success is simply a few simple disciplines repeated every day!
Regardless of how much money you make, you should live within a budget. The key to wealth is not how much you make, but how much you KEEP! Setting a budget for your life, your business, your entertainment just makes sense. As a 30+ year entrepreneur, I realize the importance of setting a budget within my business. I do this annually and budget for marketing, payroll, equipment purchase or maintenance, supplies, office rent, advertising cost, etc.
The biggest mistakes people that new entrepreneurs make is either not having a budget or spending money in all the wrong places.
Marketing Is Where It’s At
The single most important element of your business plan has to be MARKETING. You can have the greatest website, blog, capture page, content, and videos. If you don’t get traffic to your site, you’re OUT OF BUSINESS.
We all come into business with different cash positions. Some are cash flush with great incomes either from their jobs or other business endeavors. Some are just squeaking by. Regardless of your circumstances, there is a marketing plan to fit your budget.
Either You At Work Or Your Money At Work
There’s only two ways to work, make money, or to get things done — Man at Work! or Money at Work! There’s just no way around it. If you view that from the entrepreneurial perspective, there’s only two ways to market, add friends in Facebook, bring traffic to your website, write articles, build a blog, etc. Either you do it or you pay someone to do it for you. Paying for it can include simply hiring someone to do the work for you such as building a website or even adding friends to Facebook. Or it could mean paying for some kind of online system or computer program to do some or all of the work for you. While there’s lots of free tools and strategies out there, you still have to do some work to set it up (or, once again, pay someone to do that for you) Enough said there…
It’s important to budget both your time and your money. I find that people usually have more of one than the other. In my case, money isn’t as critical of a consideration as is my time. I really have to work at getting the time to do the things I want to do and therefore, I need to be careful to spend my time ONLY on the things that move my business forward. If you have more time than money, then you need to have laser-sharp focus on your spending.
To financially budget your business you simply need to decide how much money you can afford to get things going and how much can you afford monthly to maintain your overhead. Start up costs and ongoing overhead need to be considered. Your monthly overhead will include (depending on your budget), your business overhead, your capture page system, your blog, your email auto-responder, phone expenses, advertising (such as PayPerClick, banner ads, classifieds, etc), and web hosting.
Especially when you are starting out, you should spend 90% of your time and money on marketing. Get to a point where you have more leads than you can handle, then make some adjustments.
So here’s a list of marketing possibilities grouped into two categories: Free and Paid
FREE
Social Marketing
· Facebook
· Twitter
· YouTube
· BetterNetworker
· Blog
· UStream
Content Marketing
· Video Marketing
· Article Marketing
· Press Releases
· Squidoo / Hubpages etc
PAID
· Pay Per Click (Google, Yahoo, MSN others)
· Ezines / Solo Ads
· Banner Advertising
· Facebook Social Ads
Most of the FREE options have some tools you can purchase to help you automate some of the tasks. For instance, there’s article submission software that can automatically submit your articles to hundreds of Article Directories for you. There are similar programs for videos to distribute them all over the internet.
Simply decide if you want to put you to work or your money to work or both! There’s so much you can do for free but you can accelerate your growth if you decide on some paid strategies as well.
This is Napoleon Hill condensed to his finest thoughts and ideas.
“Whatever the mind conceive and believe the mind can acheive; Regardless of how may times you may have failed in the past or how lofty you aims and hopes may be.”
Napoleon Hill was a true artist when it came to the fine art of success, motivation, and communication. We can all learn from his legendary philosophy.
We all struggle with commitment, persistence, perseverence and focus. In this video, Mr. Hill takes us on a journey to success via his timeless truths.
What is the most important thing you must contribute to your own success? It is the persistent and prevailing desire to make that success happen with your business. Network Marketing is likely the only business on the planet that is do-able by ANYONE. These days if you have a phone and an internet connection you can be successful in this business.
Why is desire so important to your success? Because along the way you will meet obstacles. You will meet up with frustration. You will take two steps forward then three steps backward. There will be days when you just want to quit. That's when your desire kicks in and you press on to your goal. Anything worth doing is not going to be easy. And here's the really good news!
Unlike most conventional businesses, everything in Network Marketing can be learned and you can achieve anything you want. The things you don't know can be learned. The resources necessary can be found and acquired for pennies. Success in our industry comes mostly from not quitting! Let me say that one point again because it is so important.
Success in our industry comes mostly from not quitting!
Desire is a a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment: sucn as a desire for success or fame or love. By getting a large amount of people to do a small amount of duplicatable tasks each day you can create wealth based on the consumption habits of others! It's not complex - it just takes consistent persistance.
Desire can overcome your lack of education. Desire can overcome your present circumstances. Desire can trump frustration. Desire can keep you going when everything and everybody tells you to quit. Desire is the pilot of your success that will get you to your destination regardless of your feelings.
I remember years ago I was on a plane and landing in the middle of a rain storm. It wasn't a really bad storm, but as the plane was bouncing and bumping and rolling through the dark clouds on its way to the ground, I was a little freaked out. OK... I was A LOT freaked out! I was thankful that there was a trained pilot at the controls that was going to get us safely to our destination. He landed the plane despite my anxious feelings (and those of many other people on the plane that day).
Desire is your rational pilot when the irrational seeds of doubt, frustration, and despair enter your world. If there is no driving desire, then the knowledge and the resources will be of no use. Real, unique, meaningful desire is what will make success happen and is what will make it worthwhile.
When is the last time you revisited your WHY? The true motivation that pushes you forward day in and day out; Your desire in the forefront of your mind that helps you continue even in difficult times? I hope at least weekly.
Check your Desire Daily. Decide that you will do the things necessary to carry you forward. Decide on your core beliefs and (of course) that your family, your health, etc are more important than your business. But then aside from those things, tell yourself that there is NOTHING more important than your success. Not your favorite TV show, not your love of 'playing' on your computer, not the opinions of others, not ANYTHING!
Desire is the pilot; the guiding light that will take you to your dreams.
There's so may misconceptions available these days. If you are a Network Marketer, you may be misunderstood by your friends. Well... Let me say you WILL be misunderstood by your friends.
I want to offer you a few absolutes of what is not included in the realm of network marketing in order to help you weather the little gusts of cold wind from your friends when they come.
Here's my list:
What Network Marketing is NOT
* It is NOT an INVESTMENT PROGRAM! Just because you bought a business opportunity, it will forever be a business ‘opportunity’ and not a business if you sit and do nothing. This is not Unit Trust or Mutual funds or a Fixed Deposit Savings Account. The money doesn’t grow by you becoming a distributor. The more you invest doesn’t mean you will necessarily earn more.
* It is NOT a GET RICH QUICK SCHEME! Those who make it big in MLM within a short time are the EXCEPTION to the NORM. Do you have what they have? (The experience, built trusts, contacts, paid the price) Everyone who has made it had all paid the price.
* It is NOT totally a SALES RECRUITMENT PROGRAM. Some like to sell. Some are salespersons, being good in sales will not make you succeed in MLM.
* It is not MUSICAL CHAIRS. It is never about whom gets there first, sponsor a few people then sit down and watch the group build itself while the latecomers miss out on the opportunity forever. Remember that if the downline works harder, they will eventually earn more than their uplines.
* It is not a 9-5 JOB. In a 9-5 job, some people get away without doing any work sometimes (they still get their salary). But it is very obvious in Network Marketing that what you GIVE is what you GET.
* It is not a CLONING MACHINE. I am not down playing the need for uniformity and like-mind direction but remember that EVERYONE is DIFFERENT. Different people have a different personal touch when it comes to recruiting. Their relationships with their prospects vary from groups to groups.
* It is NOT a 100 METER DASH. It is a marathon. Business builders must pace themselves over a period of time. Going ‘all out’ to the point of exhaustion is just bad because it is the quality of the work that counts, not the quantity. Don’t ‘close the back door’ or jump into the deep end without a float.
* It is DEFINITELY not a RELIGION. Please never ever treat your business like it is the ONLY business worth getting into (friend, if you don’t get into MY MLM and if you join others, you are not my friend). They are NOT losers if they don’t join you! Please don’t ever, EVER do this. You will lose a lot of true friends.
OK... that was pretty direct. And you should always be kind and direct.
Next time we'll talk about What Network Marketing IS
Spam. Nobody likes it. Well, maybe someone does. Someone in some lonely little one-horse town in the middle of Wyoming. But we do like friends, relationships. laughter and just plain goofing off.
We need less spam and more friends. That's something I think we all can agree on.
In some "Circles of Friends", Facebook and other social media has turned into one big salesmanship convention. Let me tell you just one thing if I may.
You'll never SELL anyone on or into your business. Just doesn't work that way. Posting streams of endless links, product pictures, listings, paths to webinars about your business or product will only earn you the HIDE click on Facebook, an UNfollow on Twitter and a SPAM label in peoples' email inbox.
Social Media such as Facebook, Twitter, Better Networker, Friend Feed, My Space Active Rain and countless others are designed for social activity.
There's a fine bit of finesse required to blend social and business activities. The insurance agent who takes some of his best clients out for a round of golf is wise if he mentions NOTHING about insurance all day long. The mortgage broker who takes several of his best Realtors out to lunch will be miles ahead spending the time asking about their families and recreational passions. The network marketer who builds relationships instead of spamming friends will come out way ahead AND will have more fun in the process.
So if you've been dropping links and product announcements and spamming your friends with messages about your capture page, you might want to take a step back and evaluate your approach. And if you're putting spam up on THEIR walls... well remember that's like putting a sign for your Circle-K over your neighbors 7-Eleven sign. Just not cool...
People will do business with people they know, like and trust. People will do business with you AFTER they believe you are someone with whom they can relate.
EzineArticles.com is one of the largest and most popular writing sites on the internet. Their site will give you not only great exposure to your business, ideas, philosophy and point of view, but they will also teach you how to be a better writer.
You can write on virtually any subject. There are literally hundreds of categories. Here's just a few of the main categories. There's dozens of sub-categories under each one.
Internet and Business Investing Insurance Writing and Speaking Communicaations Relationships Health and Fitness Automotive Cancer Arts and Entertainment Book Reviews
Well, I think you get the picture. You can take a good look if you like at: http://ezinearticles.com
If you strategically sprinkle key words throughout your article, you'll develop great search engine results for people looking for ideas on your subject
There's even a blog ( http://blog.ezinearticles.com ) to help you not only submit your articles, but to help you write and structure your title, key words, excerpt and body of your article.
They even have tutorial movies to help you navigate the site, submit articles and a host of other opportunities available at EzineArticles.com. Here's an example of a tutorial movie on submitting an article. http://media.ezinearticles.com/v/submit-article/submit-article.mov
Writing skills and exposure are essential to any internet marketing endeavor in the 21st century. Ezine Articles is an exellent path to both.
You hear a lot about Attraction Marketing these days. I have to admit it's kind of a catchy phrase. But beyond the catchy-ness of it is a powerful, yet elusive new wave of influence and potential that is still untapped in today's marketplace. For those who CAN tap into this innovative form of advertising there are great rewards waiting. So here's the first of a 5 part overview of the system, what people are saying about it and what the 'experts' are doing with it.
SYSTEM.... I love that word. Can be a great acronym, you know. Save You Some Time, Energy and Money!
OK, back to Attraction Marketing. This system has taken some leaders in our industry from some very meager beginnings to 7 figure incomes in less than 2 years. Certainly worth a good study.
People are bombarded with information and opportunity these days. We used to have answering machines so we wouldn't miss a call. Now we have them to screen calls. We used to look on the mail with anticipation, now we look at the mail with skepticism (ever seen "junk mail" that looked like a bill or a check made out to you?)
Just like knights and their castles, we’ve built electronic moats around our lives to keep the unwanted people out.
In the days of old:
They called up to the watchman; we call into the phone.
They threw small stones over the wall to get their attention; we throw direct mail into their mailbox or email inbox hoping for a response
They stood at the drawbridge door and banged on it until it was answered; we stand at their door and knock hoping for a friendly face on the other side.
Solicitations are looked upon with disgust. We just don't want to be bothered. Yet people who start home-based businesses resort to exactly those bombardment tactics only to meet with failure. How many of them fail? Sadly, 95% of people who start a home business fail and quit within 90 days.
You can work and slave and run up the numbers the old fashioned way and hope to get enough sales before you run out of gas or money. Or you can position yourself in such a manner in the marketplace that interested prospects find you, and contact you.
Obviously the second choice is the preferred. At least for me it is. If you want to succeed in this market, on the internet in the 21st Century, you have to find a way to become a WELCOME GUEST instead of a UNWANTED PEST !
So HOW do you do this, you might ask? You use the only unique weapon in your arsenal at your disposal -- The one and only thing that nobody else on the planet can use. That is YOU! While there may be hundreds, even thousands of business opportunities, there is only one YOU.
Studies have shown us over and over again that people join people, not businesses. People join leaders, not causes. People will ALWAYS choose someone that they know, like, and trust over any other factor when making a 'who do I join' decision.
When you can establish a relationship of trust with a person, the doors of opportunity will open for both of you. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. It has to be win, win or it will never work out.
It really comes down to simple economics.
If you want to make more money, you have to bring more value to the marketplace. CEO's of corporations that make tens of millions of dollars a year are no more valuable of a person that you or me. BUT... they have brought more value to the marketplace. That's why the board of directors will pay them their millions. They have become MORE VALUABLE to the marketplace.
When you become more valuable in the marketplace, people will seek you out. You will become the hunted rather than the hunter. You will never have to make another cold call because people will be calling you.
Next time we'll talk about HOW you become more valuable in the marketplace. What does it actually look like. What steps you can take to add to your value TODAY!
I've learned in my 30+ years in traditional and online business efforts that there is quick success and there is sustained success, but there's almost NEVER quick and sustained success. We'd all like it that way, but it rarely happens.
I wish I knew how to explain that particular mystery of the universe, but I don't try to do that anymore. I just let the mysteries stay mysterious.
Let me say it another way: There is no shortcut to success.
Of course I know we all have different definitions of success. To some it's just comfortable amounts of money rolling in every month, to others it's a quality of life with friends and family that nurtures the soul, to still others it's the ability to contribute to others by enriching their lives and making a difference.
My personal definition of success is all of the above. I know it might sound shallow to include money in my success equation, but all other things being equal, I'd rather have some than NOT have some.
Which brings me back to the beginning.
Many of us here on the online social media marketing world see a lot of:
How I Built An Organization of 189,000 People in Less Than 24 Months
Build Your MLM Business Lightning Fast
Offer Expires Any Minute Now!
Instantly go from sponsoring 1-2 people a month to over 50, 100, and even 300 people every single month on autopilot
....generate 50-100 leads a DAY!
An ONLINE Strategy That Generated 400,000 Leads In 12 Months
If it sounds too good to be true... it usually is.
Honestly, I don't have any personal knowledge if any of these claims really work. My guess... well, I think you know what that might be.
I'm always looking for high-quality, active people who desire to generate a second income through a proven, methodical system. Previous failures ARE NOT YOUR FAULT. Call ME! :)
,
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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What is the most important thing you must contribute to your own success? It is the persistent and prevailing desire to make that success happen with your business. Network Marketing is likely the only business on the planet that is do-able by ANYONE. These days if you have a phone and an internet connection you can be successful in this business. 
There's so may misconceptions available these days. If you are a Network Marketer, you may be misunderstood by your friends. Well... Let me say you WILL be misunderstood by your friends.
Spam. Nobody likes it. Well, maybe someone does. Someone in some lonely little one-horse town in the middle of Wyoming. But we do like friends, relationships. laughter and just plain goofing off.
Just going to keep this short. Found this great online video yesterday. It's free to watch and very entertaining.
You hear a lot about Attraction Marketing these days. I have to admit it's kind of a catchy phrase. But beyond the catchy-ness of it is a powerful, yet elusive new wave of influence and potential that is still untapped in today's marketplace. For those who CAN tap into this innovative form of advertising there are great rewards waiting. So here's the first of a 5 part overview of the system, what people are saying about it and what the 'experts' are doing with it.
I've learned in my 30+ years in traditional and online business efforts that there is quick success and there is sustained success, but there's almost NEVER quick and sustained success. We'd all like it that way, but it rarely happens.
;)
;)
