Get My Free Internet Marketing Tips Newsletter And Download Two FREE E-books! (Real $97 Value)5 Secrets of Effective Marketers
Some of the most successful people actually work fewer hours, are more productive, take fabulous vacations and still have time to exercise daily without fail.
This is because they’re “working smart,” not “working hard.”
Here are the top 5 things I have learned from them:
1. Routine and structure are key. Eat the same thing for breakfast, work out at the same time every day, sort through emails and phone calls in the same sequence each morning. Prioritize and be disciplined.
2. Don’t do everything, just the most important. Successful people are absolute geniuses in this area. Find someone to model and carefully examine how they do it.
3. Do not procrastinate. Do the hardest, deadline driven activities first, then shift gears to the fun stuff.
4. Skip long winded conversations. Get to the point and stay there. Time is money…or time could be more valuable than money because you can get more money but you can’t get more time.
5. Do not over-delegate. Stay close to your business so you know exactly what to prioritize at any given moment. Maintain your passion for what you do and most of all, have fun!
For more tips on becoming outrageously successful in Internet marketing millionaires, visit this page…
Cheers,
Stuart Stirling
How to Create Content That Leads To Sales
By Jimmy D. Brown of http://www.Affiliatenaire.com
…………………….
If you look at the average site for any given affiliate, you’ll likely find a boring, tasteless smorgasbord of prefab content that was created more for search engines to read than it was for real people to read.
While that make aid in rankings, is it really going to do any good once someone sees the site listed and makes a visit?
Probably not.
What every affiliate needs to learn is simple -
*** CONTENT IS KING ***
It’s content that leads to sales, not a strategically designed website that search engines temporarily find meets their ranking criteria.
So, let’s talk about that.
There must be a reason why some content is very good and some content is very bad; why some information is so enthralling that you can’t stop reading while other information is the cure for a sleepless night; why some words cause you to frantically take notes and some words cause you to take a break. There must be a reason.
There is.
And that reason is this - Quality writers approach content creation as a craft.
To be sure, some writers are just naturally gifted. They swing words like Tiger Woods swings a 5-iron. They can spot a good paragraph like Warren Buffet spots good investments. They write like Tom Hanks acts. Even though
they practice their art form, it comes easy to them.
Then, there are those that swing words like Jimmy D. Brown swings a 5-iron. Paragraphs are like Black Tuesday. Their writing is the equivalent of the acting in a kindergarten cantata … and they aren’t nearly as cute and lovable as those 5 year olds. Content creation is a struggle.
The good news is this: by focusing on two key components all writers can create the kind of content that generates interest and demand.
Whether you’re writing ezine articles or paid products or anything in between, there are two components that you need to develop in writing your content.
Before I explain how to weave both of these components into your content, let me first explain the reality of why these components are necessary in the first place.
People read for two basic reasons -
1. They want to be ENTERTAINED. Many people read because they enjoy a good story. They settle into their favorite chair and John Grisham whisks them off to the courtroom for a legal adventure or Sue Grafton captivates their mind in a “whodunit” or Nicholas Sparks unlocks the emotions with a love story. Or, maybe they head to the bathroom with a copy of National Enquirer to read about a three-headed alien who’s been dating Lindsay Lohan, whatever, they read to be entertained.
2. They want to be EDUCATED. There are other times when people read because they want to learn something. That drain beneath the kitchen sink is leaking again; a dormant website needs traffic; mom is coming to her house for Thanksgiving. Whether it’s a do-it-yourselfer looking to improve his home or an internet marketing looking to drive visitors to her site or a young wife looking to impress her mom with a mouth-watering turkey, people read to be educated.
So, those are the two basic reasons why people read.
There will now be a test. Close your books. Put away your notes. No talking or looking at anyone else’s paper.
What are the two reasons why people read? (No peeking!)
If you said “to be entertained” and “to be educated” then you get to continue. If you said anything else, it’s time for an XBox 360 break or a stiff cup of java or whatever it is you do to get your mind in gear. 
People read to be entertained and/or educated. And when it comes to the art of sharing information as a part of your business, including BOTH parts are important.
Listen to me carefully. This is the “ultimate” mastery of your craft -
To teach readers something desirable to them in a way that they find enjoyable.
That’s the goal. Put a great big bull’s eye right there. And fire away.
So, let’s talk about some specific practices for each of these two components.
- How can you make your content entertaining?
- How can you make it educational?
Content Component #1: Entertain.
There are many, many ways to make your writing a form of entertainment. Briefly, let me point you towards 6 methods of engaging your reader and making the consumption of your content an enjoyable experience for her…
* Analogies. A great way to keep your content flowing is to use a few analogies. That is, you compare one item to another item. Sure, I could have said earlier “writing is easier for some than others”. But, with just a few extra words I instead said, “They swing words like Tiger Woods swings a 5-iron. They can spot a good paragraph like Warren Buffet spots good investments. They write like Tom Hanks acts. Even though they practice their art form, it comes easy to them.” Honestly, which is a better read?
* Humor. A little chuckle goes a long way when it comes to the enjoyment factor of reading. Most everyone likes to laugh. (My apologies to those of you who don’t enjoy laughing. You may skip this and go immediately to the
section marked “Don’t Have A Sense Of Humor”).
Earlier, I built upon the analogy of Tiger Woods by comedically adding, “They swing words like Jimmy D. Brown swings a 5-iron.” By affording them the opportunity, you naturally make the reading experience more enjoyable. Does this mean you should make every attempt to be Jay Leno? Of course not. It just means when you have a chance to say something in a funny way do it. Don’t use too much humor and stay away from offensive humor, but by all means insert light-hearted fun when applicable.
* Acronyms. Another idea is to organize your content by using an “acronym”. I’ve used many in the past: “How To Keep Affiliates A.C.T.I.V.E. In Your Program”, “How To S.E.T.U.P. A Web Site” and “How To I.M.P.R.O.V.E. Your Writing” are just a few. In these instances, the words
“Active”, “Setup” and “Improve” were used to reveal the various parts of the content. Not only do people love them (I’ve always gotten great feedback), but it also allows you to have something original that is uniquely yours.
* Storytelling. In a recent paid report I wrote, I opened with a story about me selling Grit newspaper back in the early 1980’s and I tied it into the fact that this was an early form of the modern affiliate program model. A good story always engages the reader. Especially when it is relevant to the point being made. Keep them short (don’t launch into the great American novel - this isn’t Hemingway for crying out loud!) and lively and they’ll only enhance your writing.
* Editorials. Opinions are like noses … everyone has one. So, why not share yours? To be sure, you may want to steer clear of any controversies that might damage your reputation and business, but don’t be afraid to get personal when you write. Many times I’ve mentioned my faith in Jesus Christ
in my content. I’ve jumped up on my soapbox and preached about using integrity in your business dealings. I’ve gave my thoughts on a variety of issues that were relevant to what I was writing. And, you know what, it always gets the reader more involved in the process of consuming information. Either they agree or disagree (sometimes strongly) with
what I’m saying, but they continue reading because editorials
are interesting. Share your thoughts.
* Revelations. A simple way to get someone reading deeper into your content is to make a statement of something you’ll be sharing later in the content. It’s so easy to do. If you read back to something I wrote earlier in this article, you’d find this statement: “Before I explain how to weave both of these components into your content, let me first explain the reality of why these components are necessary in the first place.” Do you see how that works?
I set the table for what I’d be revealing shortly. I whet your appetite. Consciously or (more likely) subconsciously, you got the point that something desirable was coming later in the article. This isn’t a new concept. Think about every newscast you’ve ever watched: “Coming up later in the hour, we’ll show you how…” and “Up next we’ll share…” Building interest breeds enjoyment — especially when you deliver the goods later in the content.
So, those are just a few ways you can “entertain” your readers and make the consumption of your content an enjoyable experience.
But, what about the other component? How do you “educate” them?
Let’s take a look.
Content Component #2: Educate.
Certainly writers of all shapes and sizes know that the essence of “educating” a reader is to explain the subject matter in a way that can be clearly understood. That’s a given, right?
And certainly there are many ways to do this effectively. There isn’t a standardized formula that all content must adhere to in order to get it right. However, I do believe that there are three basic parts that should be included in virtually every piece of content written as far as those involved in selling information.
* Action Steps. If someone is intent on learning a process, they want to know the necessary steps involved in completing it. For example: If I want to learn how bake a cake, I don’t want a list of ingredients with the instructions “Mix these together”. I want a detailed, chronological list of what to do, step-by-step. Certainly, not all content is a “tutorial” (The very lesson you’re reading isn’t in step-by-step format) but, when applicable, always explain things in chronological, reasonable steps. Preferably, in 9 steps or less to avoid the appearance that the process is too difficult to be accomplished.
* Brainstorming. Two of your favorite words as a writer should be, “For example”. The missing element of most information products and associated content that I’ve read is the use of “examples” and “ideas”. Most people present some information and then leave it to the reader to figure out how to apply that information for their own use.
That’s usually not a good thing. Instead, it’s important to provide as many different examples, case studies, ideas, etc. as possible to give the reader a good idea of how to accomplish what you’re suggesting. For example (Hmmm, bet ya didn’t see that coming, huh?): I could have simply said, “You need to entertain your readers” and “You need to educate your readers” and left it at that.
Instead, I’ve been giving examples and ideas for doing each of these things. More than just information, readers crave application. They want to see the content in action; they want to see how they can use it themselves.
* Tips. Everything you write should have tips included. Everything. Tips come in many shapes and sizes: keys, tactics, techniques, ways, methods, options. As many of these as you can include in your writing, the better. All it takes is for one good idea that you’ve shared to satisfy the reader.
If you share 10 ways to do XYZ and number 7 clicks with the reader, they’ll love you. It doesn’t matter what else you write in the content, they are happy because they learned something useful. Tips are the information publisher’s best friend. A veteran might read your material and already
know 99% of what you’ve written, but that one tip on page 47 just floored them and they are esctatic. Share as many different tips as you can. Your readers will thank you later. Well, the grateful ones will.
So, there you have it, the two key components of your content.
Don’t forget the goal with these:
To teach readers something desirable to them in a way that they find enjoyable.
When you begin to build THAT kind of content into your websites and blogs, you’ll have a site that will do more than impress the search engines, it will impress those who arrive at your site and take a look around.
Never forget this truth: search engines don’t buy what you’re selling. People do.
…………………….
Jimmy D. Brown is the author of “Affiliatenaire”, teaching you how to create big-time affiliate commission checks in only 1-3 hours each week. Discover how you can get cash in the bank without a website, experience or even an idea! Visit http://www.Affiliatenaire.com
…………………….
Choosing The Best Price For Your Ebook
You’ve got your ebook published and ready to sell, but you’re starting to think, “how much should I sell my ebook for?”
Finding the right price for your ebook is essential to the success of your product. Pricing your ebook can be a double-edged sword.
If you charge too little, people will think it’s of little value, and they won’t purchase it, or even it they do buy your book, you will have to sell thousands of copies to get to the point where you can begin to see a profit.
If you price it too high when compared with your competition, you will find yourself steadily lowering the price, which will cause you all kinds of
new problems in the future.
For example, if you sell your ebook at first for $39.99, and later reduce it to
$24.95, don’t you think the people who bought it for $39.99 are going to be pissed?
Choosing the right price for your ebook is one of the most critical parts of the marketing process. The first rule of pricing ebooks is to never underprice.
Determine the highest price your audience can afford, and then if you find your book isn’t selling, you can always reduce the price.
Before you take that step, make sure you are promoting your book like crazy on the Internet and on websites. The price should be aimed at bringing in profits, but you should never forget that price is one of the factors that people use in judging the value of your ebook before they buy it.
So always start with the highest price, and then launch a mega-marketing campaign.
Pricing an ebook is particularly difficult because ebooks are a fairly new commodity. Since they are digital, the value of an ebook is as confusing as the understanding of what digital actually is to the average layperson. This means that we must look at ebooks in a different light in order to determine
their actual worth in this brave, new cyber world.
Let’s look at the difference between a book in print and an ebook. A printed book is an object you can hold in your hand, store on your bookshelf, even hand down to the next generation. It is priced on factors such as paper stock, design and production costs, and marketing.
But the fact that unites ebooks and print books is that they are composed of ideas. It is the ideas in these books that have the ability to change, or possibly transform, people’s lives.
What do you think an idea is worth when evaluated against the cost of paper and ink?
It is the IDEAS that are valuable! That is how you determine the cost of your ebook.
What should I charge for my ideas?
There are all different formulas and methods for determining the correct price for your ebook. Let’s begin with honing in on your ultimate goals.
Decide if your goal is to get wide distribution and maximum exposure.
This goal is aimed at drawing customers to your business or service, or to establishing the credibility of your reputation. If this is your main goal, you should aim to keep your price on the low side.
Some authors have even priced their ebooks at a profit loss to draw a high number of new customers. The key is to find a price that maximizes your profits and the number of books you sell.
This is an excellent pricing strategy if you are looking to acquire long-term customers. Long-term customers are extremely likely to buy from you again
and again as long as the first ebook they buy is of exceptional quality and beneficial to the customer.
However, if your book contains valuable and more importantly NEW information, references, or techniques then you should aim to price it on the high end.
After you figure out your goal, you must figure out what your audience’s need is for your ebook. For example, does your book solve a particular problem? If it does, and solves it in a way that hasn’t been written about in one hundred other ebooks, you will be able to achieve high sales at a high price.
If your book solves a problem or answers questions in a new and unique way, you should price your book as high as you can go. You will achieve larger profits this way, but bring in fewer customers. Just make sure the
question or problem that your book solves is one that is important and relevant to the majority of your market audience.
If your ideas are not common knowledge, or you are presenting a brand new
technique, you will be able to sell books at a high price. Just be prepared for your competition to undercut you on price as soon as they hear about your
book.
Keep in mind that the above pricing strategy is temporary. Eventually, you will cease to sell books at this high price. So figure out in advance how long you plan to offer your ebook at this high price, and when that time is up, change your pricing strategy.
If you want to see large profits over customer draw, aim for an audience that is looking for easy solutions to their problems at a low price. If your book is aimed at solving one particular problem rather than general advice, then you can charge more.
Start at the highest price the market will bear to bring in the largest profits, and plan to discount the book a number of times throughout the year.
Good luck and stay tuned for more!
Stuart Stirling
