Conversation With A Newbie
By: Stuart Reid
I've been inspired to write this short
piece to answer THE most common questions I hear. It takes the form of
a fictional discussion.
NEWBIE: "How do I make money on the Internet?"
ME: "You need to sell `something` to `somebody` - and of course make a profit."
NEWBIE: "What??"
ME: "You need to persuade people to exchange their cash for your goods."
NEWBIE: "That's another way of saying the same thing. Don't you have any practical advice?"
ME: "First, you need to know what
people are willing to spend their money on. Discover what they want to
buy, or would like to buy.
Second, you need to reach these people. You need to be where they are, to go where they go.
Third, you need to present what they want in the way they expect it."
NEWBIE: "Sure, that sounds like common sense to me. But if it was that easy we'd all be doing it!"
ME: "It IS that easy! There is NOTHING
else. There's a lot of tactics you can use to make the process more
likely to succeed, sure, but at the end of the day your job is to give
people what they want.
You could specialise in one market.
You could target any market that is likely to give good results. You
could - if you were that kind of guy - blatantly scam everyone for a
quick buck, but you'd quickly crash and burn that way.
You need to build a reputation. That
involves trust. It takes more than just throwing offers at people -
make friends with them first."
NEWBIE: "Now we're getting somewhere!
I know what you mean - I'm getting sick of the same offers clogging up
my mailbox each day, and if I am surely everyone else is?"
ME: "To some extent, yes, that's why
you need to develop your own style and personality. The market is very
busy, so you need to distinguish yourself. For example, it doesn't mean
you shouldn't jump on the bandwagon *if* the current in vogue product
is worth it - but you should try to make your offer differ from
everyone elses!"
NEWBIE: "Right. Ditch those carbon-copy promotions, then!"
ME: "You've got it! Write your own ads, include your own bonuses, that kind of thing."
NEWBIE: "So, what can I do to reach
these people and find out what they want? Is it just a matter of
reading the messageboards, and when someone needs help send them to a
good offer, with my affiliate link?"
ME: "There's so much you can do here. Personally, I think that way is pretty unlikely to succeed.
Remember you need integrity - a good
reputation. You need to distinguish yourself in whatever market you
choose (even if you are active in all markets). Your own web site and
mailing list are a good start, and are almost essential. That way you
can develop a following.
Then you need to build a basic
strategy that encompasses ALL your marketing activities. A good
starting point is to drive visitors to your website, and capture their
e-mail address. Then provide them with good information and carefuly
chosen offers where appropriate. With an autoresponder this can be
automated.
Make your site a useful resource for
them to return to with perhaps some changing content to encourage
repeat visitors, such as a Blog, or a online newsletter, or a "xxx of
the Day" type feature.
Once this is in place you have a good
platform to work from, and then you can answer that board members
question. If it sounds like hard work, I apologise, but you don't need
to do it all at once. In fact I'd encourage you to start as soon as you
can. You'll never come to anything if you constantly try to perfect
everything. Build something first, and improve as you go along."
NEWBIE: (thinks for a moment)
"Hmmm... I kind of know that already. But this isn't what I read at
other peoples sites. They say I can make a couple of thousand bucks in
a few months. After all, they did!"
ME: "Don't fall for the
greed-merchants. Sure, they may have made that much and have the proof
- but they didn't start from the same position you are! Let's get back
on track here:
Now you have a site and a list (or at
least something that will start building your list) it's time to do
some research. There's plenty of messageboards you can hang out at for
a start. They are one of the most useful resources I know of.
Then there's the e-zines. Sign up for
a bunch (use a spare e-mail address!). Any that you like, stick with.
Any that are just endless ads or don't provide the information you
need, unsubscribe.
You can also use the Search Engines
to see what comes up. Just enter interesting terms into Google (like
"Internet Marketing") and view the sites you are offered. Don't pay for
anything - at least until you've done a little research to see if the
product on offer is worth it. A question in a forum would get you good
opinions. And don't forget the ad-words boxes on Google pages. The
people who place these have enough faith in their product to pay for
visitors, so they are surely worth a look."
NEWBIE: (excitedly) "This sounds cool, but I need a little more practical advice. Like - How do I get money from all this?"
ME: "You're still missing the point.
Money *will* come, but make friends first. Profits are made with
affiliate programs, products you have created or have resell-rights to,
and possibly services you provide. They are all potentially lucrative.
People will be wary of buying from
you until they know you. And with the market as it is TRUST is
essential. I'm sorry to labour this point but it is very important.
Place your offers strategically at
your website, and in your e-mails, but always second to the help,
advice and friendship you offer. Give things away - software, ebooks,
articles etc. Things like this do wonders for your image. And when you
do "sell" it is more about persuasion than blatant in-your-face `Buy
This!` advertising.
Copywriting is the way you persuade
your `friends` to buy. This is maybe the most important skill you can
learn and it comes with practice. Appeal to their *wants* (not their
needs) and give plenty of reasons why your product will improve their
life. As a famous copywriter said - sell the Sizzle and not the Steak!"
NEWBIE: "I think I get the point
now," (laughs). "But can you tell me straight, with no bull, is this
just a paper exercise or does it really work? Do YOU actually make
money on the Internet, or do you profit from others dreams?"
ME: "Hey! I object to that!" (also
laughs). "No, seriously - I do make money. I don't make hundreds of
thousands, I don't make enough to retire to some carribean island
(yet!), but it is a nice second income. It most certainly is NOT a
dream. It's a reality.
You have to go with the flow
sometimes, and you have to chalk up bad results to experience. Some
things that work well for you may suddenly collapse and you need to
start again, but it's all a learning experience. You are always
learning. Always!
Spend carefuly. Don't jump into the
latest so-called money-spinner, unless you're 100% sure, and make
friends before you sell. Or rather, `persuade to buy`.
Find the path you like. Invest the
profits, or at least some of them (I know it's hard, but resist the
temptation to spend). Running your own business is something many
people aspire to, and with the advent of the Internet it's NEVER been
easier."
NEWBIE: "Hey, thanks! I don't know it all yet but I'm raring to go. I sure appreciate all your help."
ME: "No problem. Just remember, when
you are on a roll be sure to help others yourself. See the business as
a long term venture that includes short term rewards, if you know what
I mean. I hope I'll be hearing from you in the future. Be seeing ya!"
You are free to use this article wherever and
whenever, in whatever format you choose - as long as the authors
by-line is included at the end. If you publish on-line a live link
would be appreciated!
Available online at: http://www.netpreneurnow.com/mini.shtml (along with a number of articles)
Also available via Autoresponder: mailto:conversation@netpreneurnow.com
About The Author
Stuart Reid publishes Netpreneur News and is the webmaster of
Netpreneur Now. To receive the e-zine, view the Blog, or access the
wealth or Resources at NetpreneurNow.Com and MembersSite.net simply
click below. There is absolutely no charge!
http://www.netpreneurnow.com
webmaster@netpreneurnow.com
News Bytes From The Web
By: Jim Edwards
Copyright 2006 Jim Edwards
* Sony Offers "VoIP" *
Electronics
giant, Sony, jumped on the VoIP (Voice over IP) bandwagon recently to
offer long distance calls through the Internet. http://www.SonyIVE.com
They join a long list of providers competing for your Internet phone call business, including: Skype, Google, and AOL.
Sony claims their service includes a video component that rates superior to all other offerings.
Their
IVE (Internet Video Everywhere) can also make video calls to video
enabled mobile phones, telephones and other devices intended for video
conferencing.
In fact, the IVE "Meeting Room" enables you to
hold video conference calls with up to six users just as you would a
regular telephone conference call.
Users also receive a unique "video phone number" which other users can call and, if you don't answer, leave you a video message.
The basic plan comes free of charge and goes as high as $20 a month for the group calling and video "meeting" room features.
* Camtasia Alternative *
Camtasia software rates as the 800-lb. gorilla of the screen-capture software market.
It
enables you to capture your screen, narrate the action, and publish
your videos in multiple formats (including publishing to FLASH for
streaming on the Web).
Unfortunately, Camtasia comes with a stiff $300 price tag which often inhibits the casual user from getting the software.
A less expensive alternative can be found at http://www.AimOneSoft.com which publishes the Aim One Screen Recorder.
This software captures either the full screen, window, or a fixed region of your screen as an AVI or WMV video file.
This type of software can make the creation of software tutorials and other computer training a breeze.
The
one drawback to the software is that it does not convert to flash, so
that limits your video delivery over the Web to the WMV file format
(which will exclude MAC users).
* Urban Legends Reference Page *
Log on to http://www.Snopes.com and find a wealth of just the type of information that nobody should pass along to anyone else.
Bill Gates giving away a million dollars if you forward this email to 12 people?
AOL offering free housing to all Web designers?
Yahoo and Google founders set for a mud-wrestling match next Saturday with a live simulcast on both sites?
Do you need to drink 8 glasses of water per day to avoid dehydration?
The
Web makes it almost too easy to create and pass along rumors, legends
and outright falsehood (along with destructive "info-viruses" that
cause people to delete important files from their computers and
encourage unwitting friends to do the same).
The next time you
hear something that sounds odd (such as Microsoft is preparing to
market the "iLoo", and Internet capable toilet), you should log on to
Snopes.com and check it out before taking it as "truth."
A few
keywords in the search box will let you track down any errant stories
and check your facts before passing along the message to your friends.
The
site also offers a free update by email service so you can stay current
on all the latest gossip and nonsense floating around online.
About Author
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Handy Camping Hints
By: donald vanderlugt
Handy Sleeping Bag Hint
A handy hint for making the most of your sleeping bag no matter what quality it is, is to get a bed sheet made [ sewn ] into a
Sleeve/envelope to act as a liner to fit snugly inside the bag;
this will make it easy to clean when you return home from your
adventure, just pop it into the washing machine and ready it for the
next trip.If you are like me and sometimes if it gets too hot you can
open your sleeping bag to let out the heat a bit and still feel
comfortable inside the sheet.A more warmer version would involve the
sheet being made from a warmer type of material like flannelette for
those cold encounters.
Survival Hint
A clever idea to keep warm if you find yourself sleeping overnight
without a tent or a sleeping bag, is to collect the ashes and coals
from your fire, built a shallow trench , pour the coals along this
trench evenly and backfill the soil evenly and carefully to make a warm
soil bed; not the same as your bed at home but could make the most of
an uncomfortable circumstance.
Healthy Water
After dinner when you are all sitting around the campfire at the
end of the day, make some tasty soup , make some toasted bread on a
stick or torture some marshmallows ; boil some water for the next day
if you are unsure of the quality of the water you will drink ; boil as
much as you think you may need ; to kill any germs that may be in the
water and let it cool overnight so the next day you will have enough
safe drinking water and don’t need to worry about a sore stomache to
spoil your great adventure; it may not taste as good as red wine but
you can trust it.
Cooler Trick
When we go away on our adventures we always take along our cooler
which we load with bottles of frozen water that we have already boiled
and know wont explode in the freezer at home, this way we have good
quality water on hand to help keep the contents of our cooler nice and
cool [ obviously this is only good for a few days ] and my wife makes a
fantastic fruit salad that we freeze in those square take away food
containers and readily stack to give us easy meals at any time.
Insulated Hot Water Containers
Before filling those insulated containers for your hot
coffee/tea/soup ; prefill with hot water to warm the inside of the
container and this will keep the contents warmer longer.
Silly Question;
What freezes quicker; warm water or cool water……………….answer; warm water
About Author
Tips on Finding a Fishing Guide
By: Nicky Pilkington
1.
Open Communication matters. It is important that you provide the guide
all the information they need so that they will figure out what kind of
fishing trip is best for you. Be sure to be honest in telling the guide
how much experience you have regarding fishing. This will help them to
know what advice and tips to give you so that you can make the most out
of your time.
2. Seek the help of friends and relatives. Ask your friends and
relatives who have fished and if not they may be able to provide you
with some referrals. It is better to ask them about their experiences,
the things that you need to do and things that you have to look for in
a guide. They may be also to provide you referrals of the guides they
have tried and found effective for them. This will be a chance for you
to ask if the guide they are referring you to has enough knowledge or
is accommodating to clients.
3. Browse the Internet. The Internet can provide a lot of websites
where you can find the best guides in a certain location. You can also
post messages and questions regarding the website and they may be able
to find the information you need.
4. Determine if your prospective guide is licensed. It is better
that you know that the person you are working with is working according
to the law. A licensed guide is also sure to be relied on especially
with the matters of integrity and trust. Ask the guide of their name
and phone numbers including the state-licensing bureau. A guide who is
not willing to provide you the information you are asking for is not
worth your time.
5. Find out exactly what you are paying for and how long the amount
would cover. You need to know this information for you to be able to
manage your schedule before the fishing trip and plan the things that
you need to bring which are not covered by the payment you made. Some
include the price for lodging in the package while other guides may
charge extra for that. Asking the coverage of your fees will also help
you assess if the services you will get is worth the money you will be
spending.
6. Get to know the guide. Evaluate if the guide that you will be
working with can get along with you. If not, you will just be wasting
your time and money. Fishing is a time to learn and enjoy but if the
two of you will not get along well, the whole trip might just be
ruined. Get to know the guide first before you set foot on the boat.
Exert a little effort to call the guide and make a small chat to break
the ice and make the two of you comfortable on the day of the actual
fishing.
7. Also make time to find out how long the prospective guide has
been on his job. This will make it easier for you to assess the level
of experience the guide has earned in that field. It is better that you
choose a guide that has been in fishing for many years. They are the
ones who usually have the skills and teaching techniques that will be
of great help to you.
About Author
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