By Jimmy Krug -

I don’t believe there’s such a thing as the “best” business model in any industry. You could argue that McDonald’s has the best business model in fast-food. You would have somewhat of a point there. Of course, they have the product that makes the model work for them. The model itself is useless without the right product.

If you’re thinking about starting a business online and working from home, the number of options that are now available may seem a little bit overwhelming to you. Keep in mind, most of the “easy-money” packages out there are loaded with information that doesn’t work, never worked, or used to work but no longer does so effectively.

Once you recognize this, you can stop chasing ghosts and start focusing upon building a real business (the kind that has the potential of being sold one day for a nice profit).

When starting something new, something you’ve never done before, do your homework! What’s right for someone else may not be right for you, even if you share a lot of similarities. I’ve altered my business model a few times since starting online. For me, the worst model was the one that was the most popular – the Affiliate Model.

The Affiliate Model

With the Affiliate Model, you promote someone else’s products or services in exchange for a commission. The main benefit of this model is avoiding the time and energy it takes to create a product or service, do market research and write sales copy. All you have to do is pick a product in a niche that’s selling well and start promoting it on your website or blog.

I’ve sold and continue to promote only a handful of affiliate products. The reason is simple. I don’t want to invest my time and energy promoting someone else’s brand at the expense of my own. If you’re looking to add a product or service to you existing line… the affiliate model makes a lot more sense.

I’ve watched several marketers implode their businesses by focusing 80-90% of their efforts marketing new affiliate products every week to their lists. It doesn’t take long to burn a list out these days with repeated sales offers.

Some people might disagree with me and that’s okay. I’m speaking from personal experience, having sold products online since 1998. Even so, this is a perfect example of why you have to think for yourself and not rely upon another person’s opinions as “gold.” We all know how that works out.

The Services Model

This is a great business model to use if you have a specific skill that’s in high-demand. The greater your skill set is, the greater the potential to create a very profitable business. The downside, however, is that you’re trading time for money. If you’re not working, you’re not making money. You can always outsource some of the work to avoid “maxing out” your billable hours if you get really busy and things start moving in the right direction.

There are a lot of businesses and individuals who will gladly pay for services that they want to avoid handling themselves.

Some people look down upon the Services Model because they see it as nothing more than trading time for money. On the other hand, if you’re trading time for “good money,” the final outcome will be dramatically different than the average working stiff punching a clock somewhere.

The Information Publishing Model

The Information Publishing Model is one of the most profitable models out there if you have the right kind of information. You build a list; develop products you own the rights to and more. Information products can also be used to market other products and services you offer. You can also, as I did, create information products to help other businesses to do the same.

Like the other business models, this model also has its downside. You’re responsible for the product creation, customer service, market research and more.

After years of researching different industries, I’ve found that just about any business type can benefit in some way, shape or form from producing their own information products.

The Drop Shipping Model

The Drop Shipping Model enables you to market and sell products that someone else produces and warehouses. Your responsibility is to collect the payment from the customer and send the drop shipping company their cut along with the customer’s shipping information. The manufacturer handles shipping for you.

The upside of this business is that you build a customer list. The downside is that there is usually a whole lot of competition! You’ll be selling the same product as dozens or more of other drop shippers in the same market. If you find a unique way of marketing the product, however, you can do very well.

The Consulting & Mentoring Model

The Consulting & Mentoring Model has the same basic pros and cons as offering a service. With consulting or mentoring, you’re once again trading time for money. There is a significant difference when it comes to compensation, however. Coaches and mentors aren’t cheap. At least, they shouldn’t be. Sure, some offer a program or series of videos that are inexpensive. There are some mentoring programs that have a do-it-yourself approach. They offer videos and other types of training materials. True one-on-one programs are a different thing altogether. They give you direct access by either email or phone (or both) to the coach or mentor.

To be successful, you need to have the necessary skills and experience in your chosen industry. Fake it till you make it doesn’t apply here.

Many people have asked the question, “How do I know what to charge for my services?” The only way to accurately answer that question is by researching your specific niche.

Most beginners are afraid if they charge too much, they won’t get any clients. If you charge too little, however, you’re perceived value will reflect that as well. If you’re a beginner, you may want to consider starting in the “middle” J.

Choose The Model That’s Right For You

Over the past 25-years I’ve spread myself extremely thin at times, trying new things while maintaining others. I’ve met a lot of people along the way who’ve done the same. Settling on one thing is nearly impossible for some people. If that’s you, don’t feel bad. Many entrepreneurs are addicted to what I call “the process.” I was one of them.

We love starting something new. We love trying new things. I can relate. I’ve been there. Sooner or later, though, it will do you a world of good to find what’s right for you and forgetting about the rest of the “stuff” that comes down the line.

Where do you go from here?

Go ahead and read the articles, books and courses to learn what works. Decide what path seems best for you when you consider all the options. Then forget about what everyone else has done and do your own thing.

By Jim Straw –

In order to succeed, you must first “lose” your mediocrity

There has been much written, and said, about why and how people succeed. The contention being that, in order to succeed, you must learn, and then apply, the principles and techniques used by others who have gained success.

But, knowing the principles and techniques used by others who have gained success doesn’t qualify a person to succeed. If it did, all of those who have read and studied the various, and many, books, booklets, plans, and programs on the subject of SUCCESS would, by virtue of their knowledge thereof, be successful.

Statistically, 98% of the people in this country never reach a level of anything more than sustained mediocrity; only 2% ever really achieve success. – WHY?

The answer is simple. – They have never “qualified” for success, because they refuse to “pay their dues.”

These people (the 98%) are so wrapped-up in “protecting” and “maintaining” the level of mediocrity they have achieved that they will not risk one iota of what they have.

It’s like the young boy who, at long last, got his first pair of really fine shoes.

Now, these shoes were exceptionally fine. So fine, in fact, that the boy spent many hours wiping and shining them – while keeping them safe from scuffs, neatly wrapped in paper, in their box under his bed.

A number of opportunities presented themselves for the boy to wear the shoes, but he chose to safe-guard them and wore his older shoes instead. After all, if he wore them, he would run the risk of scuffing them or dulling their glittering shine.

When the day finally arrived, when the occasion was most important, the boy learned, to his disappointment, that his feet had grown and the shoes no longer fit him. (I gave that pair of shoes to a more needy neighbor – and, from that day forward, I have never again been afraid to lose anything.)

Unfortunately, most people are like that boy. – They read all of the books, booklets, plans, and programs about the principles and techniques used by others to gain success. As the boy did with the shoes, they let the opportunities to use what they have learned pass them by – or, they make a half-hearted start, but never continue past their first small and futile attempts.

Why do they hold back? – Because they fear losing what little they have. They “protect” their meager and mediocre position so well that they never lose it.

At retirement age, those people look back with pride at the fact that they have ventured little and lost nothing. But, not unlike the boy and his shoes, they learn, to their disappointment, that that which they protected so well will not sustain them after their retirement and they are forced to seek aid and assistance from their government, family and friends.

Those people have never “qualified” for anything better, because they have never “paid their dues.”

If you haven’t, yet, gained success, look around you. What are you protecting? If you lost it all tomorrow, would you really lose anything of great value?

People fail, not because they cannot succeed, but because they are unwilling to risk what they have. They “protect” their mediocrity until it is all they have left.

The struggle to achieve success is not unlike any great battle in any war. ­ The victorious army is always the one that gives-up the position it has won in order to advance against a better, more advantageous position. Only the losing army stands and defends a mediocre position.

A young Lieutenant once asked a wise General, “Why should we try so hard to reach a position at the top of the hill? As we charge up the hill, our enemies will surely take the positions behind us, and we will lose what we have gained; even if we take the hill.”

The General, a very wise man, replied, “Yes – but, it is much easier to charge down-hill. When we have taken the higher position, we will charge back down the hill and recover all that we have lost. Then, we will charge down the other side of the hill.”

The people who make up the 2% that achieve success are forever charging up the hill – losing all behind them – and then charging back down the hill, on both sides, to regain anything they may have lost and achieve even more success.

Not unlike the losing army, most people will never succeed, because it would mean that they would have to give-up the mediocre position they have protected for so long.

In order to succeed, you must first “lose” your mediocrity. – Success doesn’t happen any other way.

By Jimmy Krug –

PLR (Private label rights) products and systems are very popular in the world of Internet Marketing. It’s easy to understand why. It takes time to write fresh, thoughtful, insightful content. Especially regularly! Try writing a quality monthly newsletter or blog. It requires some focus. Try writing a weekly blog for that matter! It may be easy at first, but after awhile, you’ll find yourself challenged in some way, shape or form.

I know, I’ve been there! There have been times I’ve been 600 or more words into and article, eBook or blog post – only to scrap the entire idea because honestly… it was crap. I’m not saying that everything your write and produce for your business (or your business in the making) has to be solid gold. It doesn’t. What I’m saying is, if you’ve been creating (or trying to create) content for any length of time, you know when you’re giving it your best and when you’re just filling space with fluff.

The PLR Shortcut

This is one of the main reasons buying private label rights to an existing product/publication is so attractive. All the hard work has been done for you.

Private label products have a place. If you really want to stand out in your niche, though, you have to have original content.

Does Stephen King Do All His Own Writing?

I used to wonder if Stephen King had a team of writers working under him like they have on TV shows and series. Over the years I watched in amazement as he churned out one novel after another. I heard that some writers bought story-lines and plots from other writers and basically “fleshed-out” the story. After reading his book “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” however, I was finally convinced that King lived, breathed and ate his craft and was most certainly “doing the writing.”

Original content. That’s what he produces and that’s why his books are so memorable (if you enjoy horror). They’re infused with his personality.

Yes, buying something another person wrote and changing it however much or little has its place if you’re a marketer (as opposed to a full-time writer or author). Ultimately, though, what’s going to set you apart from everyone else isn’t the product someone else wrote. It’s your own, original content stamped with your unique personality that will ultimately separate you from the pack.

In my own business, I’ve purchased PLR products before. Most of them I rewrote because I wasn’t happy with the content once I started digging into it and analyzing it. Basic chapter titles and the main facts remained. Just about everything else was gutted and replaced it with my own content. These were publications I used to originally promote different services to offline clients.

If you’ve got a lot on your plate, PLR can (at the very least) get you headed in a focused direction.

For example, I understand how email marketing works. I can write a short or long (if necessary) book on the subject if I had to. Why would I buy a PLR publication on the same topic? It all comes down to saving time.

It’s All about Speed and Testing the Market

You can buy a PLR product, make your changes and have it live within 3-4 days. If the response to the short publication is good… you can go ahead and create a full publication, blog, video series, etc., for the topic. The short publication always precedes the long one. If the market doesn’t respond and it flops, you’ve lost days instead of months. This is a very simple way to test new ideas and markets.

Some markets go through downward trends that last awhile. We’ve seen this amplified since 2007. If you’re in a market that’s trending downward, you’re not going see a great response resulting from your efforts. If you’re new to a market, don’t assume anything. Find people who know the market well enough and ask questions. Find out the good and the bad about the market you’re getting involved in, not just “how much money” is in it.

A few of my friends are public speakers. They get paid by corporations and organizations to come in and motivate their employees. They hired me to help them promote their products and services with online publications (eBooks, blogs, newsletters, etc.) As I worked with them, I began seeing patterns in the “speaking biz.” From the outside, it looked one way. On the inside, though, it was much different.

Every Niche Market Has Its Own, Unique “Headaches”

Let me be completely honest with you when I say this… on the outside, EVERYTHING looks different than it actually is in black and white reality. I don’t care what market you’re talking about. Every niche has its own “headaches.” You just have to determine which headaches you’re better equipped to deal with and which ones you’re not.

Article Blogging – How to Refine Your Ideas Even Further

I got involved with WordPress about six years ago. Actually, you can say I went “all in.” Seeing the way the Internet was developing along with the growing complexities of SEO and content creation, I came to the conclusion that in my case… either WordPress, Joomla or Drupal would provide me with the automated tools I needed to grow my business into the next decade.

After about three months of deliberating, I chose WordPress. Six years later, I’m thrilled with my choice!

Articles (or blog posts) are even shorter than special reports. You can experiment with a variety of topics in a particular niche and watch how your readers respond. Not that you will necessarily get a lot of comments about what you’ve written (spammers and backlink junkies aside). You can simply look into your control panel’s statistics page and see how many visits certain articles get as compared with others over the course of weeks, months and even years. All it takes is a month or two to know if you have a hit, near hit or miss.

You will soon realize that certain articles get a lot more traffic than others and you can adjust your strategy from there.

As you do this, you’re creating original content which can later be used in many ways. You can develop a special report from one or more articles. The articles can ultimately become chapters in an eBook or course. Articles can be turned into audio or video products, too.

The average blog article these days are only 600-700 words in length. In other words, they’re not full-length features like the one you’re currently reading. They’re much shorter.

With your blog, your content is basically archived forever – or at least as long as the site remains online.

Not only do are you creating original content that can be used today or further down the line, but you’re also branding yourself as a writer/publisher in a particular niche in the process.

It’s a win-win situation across the board.

It Pays To Be Original

Recently, I met journalist at a friend’s birthday party. The subject of the conversation eventually began revolving around the topic of Online Publishing, eBooks and Blogging. She told me, “I’d love to start doing something, but there are a million-and-one blogs out there already about every topic.” I agreed but added, “What do you think about the quality of information you’re getting or reading?”

Her response was priceless. “Terrible!” she said. “The quality of writing, the information, it is complete garbage 99% of the time.”

As I went on to explain to her, therein lies the opportunity. Many blogs are being written strictly for SEO purposes these days. The readability of the content is wrist-cutting bad (that’s really bad!). People NEVER return to these sites again. They’re a waste of precious megabytes.

Other blogs are created to be nothing more than “Ad Machines.” The content is fair. You may find one or two useful things here or there, but nothing to write home about. I’m talking about blogs in this section, but you can apply this to special reports or eBooks as well because we’re talking about the quality of the content.

The quality of content has spiraled so badly over the past few years (in favor of the quantity of content); you can easily become a standout writer/publisher in just about any niche you can think of today – if you focus and stay on topic.

It Takes Time, But Not That Much Time

Personally, I can write one or two quality articles – per niche, per month. That may sound like nothing but over time, let’s say six to twelve months, that translates into a quality blog, eBook or special report of substance. Is six to twelve months too much of a time investment? Not if there’s money to be made (in my opinion). Remember, this is how you test.

The first special report or blog article you write may not generate too much interest. Neither may the second, third or fourth.

If you’re consistent, though, from one month to the next, you’ll “suddenly” have a body of work you’ve created. The sum of your work will be greater than the individual parts as far as establishing your expertise on a subject. You can apply simple technique to any niche or topic. One writer I know did this on the topic of wine and wine tasting. That’s how he started. He’s now considered an expert and publishes a column in several magazines.

I encouraged one of my clients, a doctor (a regenerative medicine specialist), to use this system to write easy-to-understand articles about the type of medicine he practices and its practical benefits. Since starting his blog six months ago, his practice has increased its number of patients noticeably. He told me last week that he couldn’t be happier about the progress his business has made in such a short span of time.

Anyone with a little focus and patience can do this. You can, too.

Some Things to Remember

• Pick a niche and commit to it for 6 months.
• Decide if you want to create articles (for a blog site) or special reports (that you’ll market through a regular site, your social media profile, existing networks of friends and business associates, etc.
• Create one or two articles or special reports per month.
• Track your results. Use whatever tracking system (high-tech, mid-tech or low-tech) that you feel comfortable with.
• Adjust from one month to the next (tweaking your topic, adjusting your focus, etc.).
• Create or offer a product or service based upon all the info/data you’ve received from doing the above (or use all the above to market an existing business or product line).
• Repeat this process in another niche if you enjoy doing it as much as I do. If the niche flopped, find a new one and don’t give up!
• Dig deep and become “the” go to person in one or two niches. That’s the lifetime plan.
• Eventually, God willing, you can sell your business and enjoy your golden years in Florida, Arizona or the destination of your choice J.

By Jim Straw -
Which enlarges to…

Do all ‘opportunity seekers’ … even me, when I was just a business tadpole … begin by believing in the unbelievable? — Are we all ‘gullible’ until our experience teaches us the facts of business life?

If we weren’t ‘gullible’ and we didn’t respond to the ‘get-rich-quick’ ads, would we ever have graduated to the ‘real’ businesses in which we have made our fortunes?

How many people begin by reading and responding to the bullstuff-ads and then give-up after finally realizing there ain’t any free lunches? — How many quit? — How many graduate to a ‘real’ business?

Can the absurdity of the get-rich-quick, bullstuff-ads be justified or, at least, defended?

Does the end justify the means? — Is it acceptable to use high-powered, bullstuff-ads to locate the ‘real’ would-be entrepreneurs, then nurture and culture their ambition?  Or, by so doing, do we kill-off the entrepreneurial spirit of too many who would have, otherwise, become successful and productive elements in our society? — Does the possible good outweigh the potential damage?

In order to find an answer, let s look at …

The Victims Of The Bullstuff Ads

Over 90% of these people have no experience in the business world whatsoever.  The only perception they have of business is what they have seen depicted in the movies and on TeeVee, or read about in trashy novels.  They’ve read about people who have become fantastically wealthy overnight and thrilled at stories of Howard Hughes, Ted Turner or Bill Gates.  But, they still have no earthly idea what it s all about.

Statistically, these people have an average annual income in the range of $17,000 to $21,000.

About 50% of them start with the best of intentions … a ‘wage earner’ needs to add a few bucks to his take-home pay to buy a few niceties and extras for his wife and kids – or – a ‘homemaker’ dreams of bringing in a second income to relieve the pressures on her husband and give the kids a little extra  – or – a ‘burned-out executive or middle management type’ just wants to find a way out of the rat-race.

The other 50% are motivated by the economy alone. — Money is their only goal. (Later I m going to tell you more about these people and the affect they have on the market.)

No matter what their motivation, all of these people become ‘opportunity seekers’ looking for a way to make their dream come true.

Most ‘opportunity seekers’ … over 80% … even if they start with the best of intentions, don t really want another ‘job,’ although that s the only way they have ever made any money. — They really don t want to ‘start a business’ either, because that would mean quitting their ‘job,’ leaving their comfort zone, taking a risk, and giving-up what income they currently have.

For those reasons, they disdain any opportunity that appears to offer a job of work, or requires actually starting a real, day-to-day functioning business. — In their logical left-brain, they know there ain’t any free lunches – but – their emotion-charged right-brain has been convinced that ‘free lunches’ may exist … if they only knew the ‘secret.’

Can we really blame them?

Over the years, less-than-knowledgeable journalists, dilettante novelists, superficial screen writers, socialistic government agencies, and other assorted fools have led them to believe that business is a zero-sum game … meaning every time a business takes in $1 in revenue, someone else loses that $1. — A totally illogical premise espoused by people who have never ‘produced’ anything of real, tangible value … negating the value-for-value exchanges (barter) upon which the real business community was founded.

Is it any wonder these naive ‘opportunity seekers’ become easy prey for ‘bullstuff advertisers’ who promise they can Get Rich … Overnight … Without Working … Using Some Secret Method or Technique?

After all, since they have been convinced that business is a zero-sum game, all they have to do is learn the ‘secret’ way to make some other sucker lose money to them. — They have never been taught the concept of value-for-value    exchanges, therefore, all they have to do is come up with a way to separate the other guy from his hard-earned money … like the ‘bullstuff advertiser’ separated them from their money.

But, blaming these naive ‘opportunity seekers’ for their participation in ‘bullstuff opportunities’ is a little bit like blaming the mugging-victim for being robbed – but – in the case of physical robbery, the victim doesn’t usually turn around and try to rob other people to recover what they lost.

In today’s economy, only about 20% of ‘opportunity seekers’ will even consider offers that appear to offer a ‘job’ of work or an opportunity to ‘start a legitimate business. ‘

What about the other 50% who are motivated by the economy alone where money is their only goal?

Every time the U.S. economy is “top heavy” … the stock market making new highs, unemployment and interest rates making new lows, and the news media filled with feel-good stories about the economy … the number of ‘bullstuff advertisers’ seems to expand exponentially. — Then, when the economy equalizes, the number of ‘opportunity seekers’ drops off rapidly and dramatically, putting the ‘bullstuff advertisers’ out of business. — Here s how it happens…

During a “top heavy” economy … like today … the top 20% are rolling in the dough. — The bottom 20% are going broke … evidenced by an ever expanding bankruptcy rate.

In-between, 60% of the economy is stagnant … working their jobs, keeping the bills paid, living a relatively stable existence from day to day. — From this group comes the “economically motivated” opportunity seekers.

These people aren’t really interested in ‘bettering’ their existence.

They just want to get their share of the economic-boom they’ve been reading about … maybe even get rich, if they don t have to ‘work’ for it.  After all, every day the journalists are telling them how ‘average people’ (just like them) are making millions investing in the stock markets – or – people who s retirement accounts were now worth millions of dollars because their fund managers had ‘wisely’ invested in the stock markets.

Unfortunately, these people don t have enough money to invest in the stock market … or, even if they have the money, they don t want to take the time to learn ‘how’ to invest … and their employers don t offer any retirement plans to make them rich, so they become ‘opportunity seekers,’ looking for cheap and easy ways to buy a ride on the gravy-train. — In other words, they are looking to  ‘invest’ in a cheap opportunity … like the Big Boys do in the stock market … and let somebody else do the work, so they can get their share.

As the “top heavy” economy persists, the economically motivated opportunity seekers make up a larger and larger percentage of the market. — And, since they really aren’t looking for anything that smacks of ‘work,’ or ‘starting a real business,’ they almost willingly play the zero-sum game of business they believe exists … losing their money to the ‘bullstuff advertisers’ who, they imagine, will eventually teach them how to win the game too.

With the increasing market universe of economically motivated opportunity seekers, the number of ‘bullstuff advertisers’ also increases … giving even more credibility to the zero-sum game of business they espouse.

Hide & Watch!

When the stock market takes its next BIG plunge … which it must, eventually … and the news media begin lamenting the death of the economic-boom, predicting a recession or depression … the economically motivated opportunity seekers will retreat to the security of their jobs.  In their wake, they will leave the drying carcasses of the ‘bullstuff advertisers’ of today … dead or dying in a market with an ever smaller market universe.

If I had the time and space, I could probably go back and compile a list of the ‘bullstuff advertisers’ who suffered that fate when the economy equalized in the mid-1980s. — Whether it happens this year, next year, or the year after, you can bet your bippy it will happen.

Of course, right now, some of you are probably saying…

“What Does That Have To Do With Selling my products or services?”

Nothing, really – but – it goes to the very heart of building your business … no matter what product or service you sell.

To succeed, you must understand the subtle, but profound, impact the economy has on the motives of your potential customers.

By relating these facts to you, I hope you will begin to realize … no matter what product or service you are selling … how very, very important it is for you to…

Know Your Customers!

Not just ‘what’ they can or will do with your product, but what motivates them to want your product or service in the first place. — The better you can define their motives, and the conditions that generate those motives, the better prepared you will be to “give your customers what they want.”

And, always remember…

Business Is NOT a Zero-Sum Game!

Unlike the ‘bullstuff advertisers’ … be sure you offer a true value-for-value exchange, so your customers will still be with you when the conditions that motivate them have changed.

‘Bullstuff advertisers’ love to talk about all the money they’ve made. — Money is their goal – but – money is only a way of keeping score; nothing more… a tool to be used; not an end unto itself.

Dedicate your efforts to making customers … not just sales … the kind of satisfied customers that stay with you year after year; through thick and thin.  The money will come as surely as night follows day.

That s how I have survived and prospered, even during those times when the whole world seemed set against me.

By Jimmy Krug –

The ABC’s of any subject give you the basics you need to get started. Basics are very important because that’s the foundation you build upon. In some cases, you don’t have to go far beyond the basics to excel in your chosen field or area. Sports provide many excellent examples of this. There have been standout athletes over the years that excelled far and beyond their contemporaries by mastering and sticking close to the basics.

I’ve watched certain boxers over the years that broke records and achieved tremendous longevity in the sport by mastering the basics. They weren’t big knockout punchers. They didn’t have incredible defenses. They didn’t apply overwhelming pressure against their opponents. Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe are a few good modern examples. Neither had the flash of an Ali or Leonard. They didn’t have the defense of a Willie Pep or Pernell Whitaker. They didn’t have the punching power of a George Foreman.  Even so, they kept winning and winning and both hold records for most title defenses in their respective divisions.

During their fights, announcers would say, “They don’t do anything great, but they do everything well!”

The same could be said about champion athletes in other sports as well.

At the very least, you have to have the basics under your belt.

The Basics of Information Publishing

Let’s take a quick look at the basics of information publishing. It’s common knowledge that people come online looking for information. Although the model has changed over the years, publishing is a big business that’s only getting bigger. From PDF eBooks to Kindle, Blogs to Membership sites (and don’t forget publishing on-demand services) – there is no end in sight.

1. You have to pick a niche you’re knowledgeable in or in the process of becoming knowledgeable in.
2. You have to have the tools to write and create your finished product (Word, Open Office, Adobe Acrobat, etc.)
3. You have to have a website with a sales letter from which you sell your product from. You also need to secure a payment processor (Paypal, etc.)
4. You have to collect names and build a mailing list.

Those are the basics of the information publishing business. There are other things we could add, but you get the general idea.

If you never did anything else but still managed to do all those things really well, you could make money writing, publishing and marketing information products.

You could do a joint venture here and there to help speed up the sales and the list growing process… but all things being equal, even if you didn’t, you’d still develop a solid business over time if your product was good.

GETTING BEYOND THE BASICS

Now, let’s take a look at what exists “beyond the basics.” I call it the XYZ’s of information publishing. These are things you encounter when you’re in the midst of the process that people don’t always tell you about.

Problem: You discover you’ve picked the wrong niche.

Picking the right niche isn’t as easy as some people would have you believe. When I wrote my first booklets, “Car Buy Secrets” and “How-To Erase Your Poor Credit Rating,” I found out from experience that I didn’t have any follow-ups “in me” to continue in that particular niche profitably.

My Car Buying and Credit Repair booklets were a great way to get started in the publishing business. They become the foundation upon which my reputation was built. I remained in that niche for three years. Afterwards, I began writing in the self-publishing niche for business owners interested in publishing paper and ink booklets to promote their companies, products and services. It wasn’t long before my consulting service (the backend, money-making product) began developing.

I added all kinds of services to that business including SEO services, webhosting, graphic design, etc. It all started with a single booklet title (like a seed) and grew from there. Was that the plan from the beginning? Nope. I flew, basically, by the seat of my pants.

ADVICE

Test several niches if you’re not certain which one is right for you. Sometimes the only way you really learn is by DOING and experiencing all the little ins and outs. Reading about it is great, but doing it is where your education will increase by leaps and bounds.

Problem: You’re A Lousy Marketer.

As it turns out, you write and produce good information products. Heck, they may even be great! Only thing is – your marketing campaign results in “crowds of people” not buying your product. People just don’t respond to your sales copy.

There are plenty of sales letter formulas and examples you can learn from and borrow online as well as offline. There are also plenty mind-map examples you can find, too, showing you how the process works and what you need to do from start to finish.

The problem is, most people take “a little of this” and “a little of that” and splice it all together. The results are something that sounds like an overt sales pitch and I’m sure you already know, “People hate being sold to.”

The best salespeople sell just enough to make it seem as though the buyer is making an informed decision. They give enough information to make the next logical step a “buying decision.”

In person, if you talk to someone who’s a potential client or customer, you can talk to them and find out what they’re looking for and offer them a solution to their problem. You can provide them with a service to meet the need. You share the benefits of doing business with you and if you leave them with a good feeling, they’ll often make a decision to do business with you. That’s a simple business transaction.

That’s what you want to capture in your sales letter and materials.

It takes a little practice to get it right. Okay… it takes a LOT of practice to get it right.

ADVICE

Reverse engineer your publication creation method by writing your sales letter first. List all the benefits your readers will get by purchasing your product. Then, go back and write your publication outline to mirror the sales letter. While this method isn’t practiced by many, those who’ve struggled with creating a more effective sales letter/marketing package swear by this method.

A friend of mine who’s been publishing how-to books for many years told me this method has worked wonders for him (he hates writing sales letters).

MORE TIPS

1. If you don’t know how to make a decent looking website, use WordPress to create your website on your own domain. If you don’t know how to do that and don’t intend on building multiple websites over time, hire someone at fiverr.com to do the job for you. Sites on blogger.com and WordPress.org are not the way to go.
2. If no one or very few people known you exists, give your eBooks to local business owners. This is a simple way promote yourself, provide value to new readers and open the doors to a variety of networking opportunities.
3. If you’re WordPress site isn’t showing up the search engines under your keywords and phrases use the following basic plugins – (All-In-One SEO, Google Sitemap Generator, Maxblogpress-ping-optimizer).
4. If you can’t create a decent looking product box or book graphic, hire someone for $5 at fiverr.com – minimally. You don’t have to invest in software unless you enjoy the cover creation process.
5. Sales flat-line. If you send out a mailing to your list or do a joint venture and get less than satisfying results, don’t give up! There are people who will see you offer who (for whatever reason) can’t or won’t be able to purchase your offer initially. Keep your products out there and continue to market them. Change headlines; tweak the text or the offer, etc.

Is there anything that I know today that I wish I knew about the information publishing business when I started? I’ve learned so much over the course of time that one single thing doesn’t stand out. If anything, I would say to make sure you treat this like a business because that’s exactly what it is. Like any other business, you’ll need patience, organization and the ability to adjust to the changes that inevitably come.

There may be plenty of frustrations and challenges along the way, but the rewards definitely outweigh the effort. The technical methods may change, but the publishing business is here to stay.

By Jim Straw -

This month, let’s explore the world of …

Classified Advertising

When I have finished, you’ll know more about the classified advertising game than 90% of the self-styled mailorder “gurus” who got rich selling “how-to get rich in mailorder” information.

To begin with, there are two reasons the self-styled mailorder “gurus”don’t show you their “successful”classified ads. — (1) They don’t have any because they’ve never done it, but they did read about it somewhere and copied the idea from something a real mailorder professional wrote years ago … you are supposed to “do what they say, not what they do.”– (2)  If they do, really, have a   “successful”classified ad, they don’t want you … and a few hundred others …  using the same ad; diluting the effectiveness of the ad for them.

One of my all-time “big”response ads was:

FREE BOOK — “Offshore Banking Is Not Evil.”

Over 30,000 people requested that “freebie”in 1988. — Every “Free”booklet I sent out cost me nearly $3 … plus the cost of the ads.  Instead of the usual 15% to 20% conversion rate (paying customers) I usually got from “inquiry”ads, the rate was a low 2% to 3%. — That promotion ate my lunch.

In 1989, I changed the ad to read:

OFFSHORE BANKING is not evil.  Free.

Each inquirer received a one-page flyer … which cost me about 20¢ to send to them … offering the book for $10. — The response to the ad was much, much smaller but the $10 price tag on the book paid for my ads and my conversion rate went up to 30%, producing a significant profit on the very first mailing.

Unfortunately, when the self-styled mailorder “gurus”… who got rich selling “how-to get rich in mailorder”information … tell you that “you can get rich by running classified ads,”almost everyone gets the impression that, all you have to do is run a classified ad and your mailbox will be filled with cash, checks and money orders. — That’s a misleading, half-truth, at best.

The truth of the matter is …

There Are Three Distinct Purposes For Classified Advertising!

One purpose … the one most people envision … is that of actually “selling”something in the ad – or – getting people to send you money for “information”about your product or service (enough to pay for the ad and give you a profit).

That approach might work if you are “selling”a very specific product or service (something you can fully and completely define, in detail, in just a few words), to a very specific targeted audience (so knowledgeable of the product or service your ad will be readily understood), at a very “cheap”price … usually less than $3. — Or …

You might be able to “sell”a Catalog … for $1 to $3 … if the catalog itself appears to have a perceived “value”for the reader … such as:  “WOOD WORKING  Equipment, Tools & Accessories – over 3,000 items.  Catalog $2.”– That would work because the reader knows that a catalog with 3,000 items is worth something.  Of course, you probably aren’t going to make any money directly from the ad    because it will probably cost you more than the $2 to print and mail the catalog. — But …

If you are trying to get people to send you money for “information”about your product or service … no matter what it is … you’ve got to make your classified ad so intensely intriguing that the reader’s mouth waters in sheer anticipation of receiving it.

Granted, if you can get $1 to $3 for your information, you can eliminate a lot of tire-kickers – but – you’ll also get a much smaller response to your ad   – and – in most cases, when the inquirer realizes they have “paid good money”(even if it’s only $1) for your “advertising”materials, you have less chance of converting that person to a “paying customer.”– That’s why I never asked for even a SASE (i.e. Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) in any of my classified ads.

Unfortunately, the self-styled mailorder “gurus”… who got rich selling “how-to get rich in mailorder”information … know that their high-powered, bull-stuff (you know what I mean) ads have mislead you into believing you can “get rich selling stuff in classified ads.”  So, they attempt to teach you the “art”of classified ad writing in their “get-rich-quick-in-mailorder”materials.

Using the A.I.D.A. formula (i.e., Attention – Interest – Desire – Action) … although they have (probably) never done it themselves … they try to teach you how to write hard-selling ad-copy in 50 words or less.

Hey!  If you think it’s hard writing a 4 to 16 page letter to sell your products or services, try it in 50 words or less. — That’s why they don’t give you any real examples.

Okay!  Selling something, or getting people to send you money for something, is one purpose of classified ads. — What is the second purpose?

Believe it or not, the second purpose is …

The original “How-to Make Money From Classified Ads”method!

Nearly 40 years ago, I paid $1 for the report. — it’s bundled-up in my old archives somewhere – but – I’ll never forget the ad it used to teach the method:

DINING ROOM SET.  Table, 6 chairs, hutch, server.  Solid oak.  (($25))  Moving.  Must sell. (The price was optional.)

Using that ad, the writer explained a little bit about the psychology of the ad … especially the “imperative”at the end and, if memory serves, he gave a  number of different imperatives you could use in your ads. — The price was optional because he only recommended listing a price when it was so low it made the reader’s mouth water. — The rest of the report was about “how & where”to find old furniture, equipment, cars, etc., to “sell”in the Classified Section of the newspaper.

It ain’t mailorder, but … believe it or don’t … back in my younger days, I made a nice piece-of-change using that method.  (I’m sure it’ll work just as well today … if’n you wanna try it!)

That brings us to …

The Best Purpose for Classified Advertising!

If you haven’t already guessed it — the best purpose for classified advertising is Lead Generation … getting inquirers … building your mailing list.

That’s what the self-styled mailorder “gurus”… who got rich selling “how-to get rich in mailorder”information …  really mean by what they say in their high-powered, bull-stuff ads – but – they know That’s “not” what they mislead you into believing.  So, they have to mislead you further by trying to teach you to write hard-selling ad-copy in 50 words or less.  But …

The BEST Classified Ads ONLY Locate & Identify Your Prospects!

All you should ever want from your Classified Ad is for interested readers to “raise their hands and be recognized.”– That’s it.  Nothing more.

Even the original “How-to Make Money From Classified Ads”method only used Classified Ads to locate and identify those people who might want to buy the used merchandise you had available.

When any “legitimate”mailorder marketer tells you that you can make big money from small classified ads, they mean you can use Classified Ads to locate and identify prospective customers who want or need products or services like yours. — Once you have located and identified a prospective customer, it is up to your sales material … like any good salesman … to “make the sale.”

Only the self-styled mailorder “gurus”… who got rich selling “how-to get rich in mailorder”information … will mislead you into believing anyone gets rich “selling”products or services in Classified Ads.

Although most mailorder marketers … professionals and amateurs alike … make it a point to create a separate inquiry (classified) ad for each of their products or services, back in the early 1980s, I realized that anyone who responded to a classified ad about any kind of money making opportunity was a “prime”prospect for any and all of my products.

So, I came up with 2 or 3 “generic”ads that pulled the names and addresses of people who were interested in making money … the idea was very simple.  All I wanted the reader to do was “raise their hand,”then I could send them mailers on any and all of my money-making products and services.

Now, I’m gonna tell you …

A REAL SECRET About Classified Advertising!

Every month … as the editor of “WorldWide Business Exchange”… I wrote over 100 Classified Ads for my subscribers.  They didn’t even know what I was doing for them. — And, every month … regular as clock work … I would get cussed-out by one or more of them.

Why did they cuss me out? — Because, they had sent me 4 or 5 pages of sales material “selling”their products or services – or – they sent me their hard-selling classified ad they spent hours and hours writing but, all I did was put a half-dozen words in the publication.

A month later, they would call or write to apologize … when they discover that my half-dozen words out-pulled all of their previous efforts.

Why? — Because …

Classified Ads ARE NOT Intended To Sell!

Classified Ads should “tell”- or – “arouse curiosity”… get the reader to ask for more information … not sell!

Think about it!

A Classified Ad is called a “classified”ad because it appears under a “classified heading”in the publication.  Therefore, anyone reading that specific “classification”must be interested in the products or services so classified.

<>So, all you have to do is “tell”them what you have – or – “arouse their curiosity”about what you have. — Since they are already reading the “classified”ads, they know they have to get in touch with you, somehow, in order to get all the details.  Your ad just has to tell them how to contact you.

YES!!  You can make a fortune from small classified ads … once you realize that …

Classified Ads Are Only a Tool For Prospecting!
it’s up to your sales material … like any good salesman … to “make the sale.”

Another Lesson to be Learned

Email marketing is much the same as Classified Advertising.

Your email message should never try to sell your product or service.  It should only entice the reader to visit your sales page for the whole message.

Let your Sales Page do the selling … as it should.

By Jimmy Krug -

Many of my friends are “into golf.”  Others are into computers, movies, cooking, exercising, etc. The list goes on and on. Everyone’s into something, right?  It’s hard to find a person who doesn’t have an above average interest with a particular subject, hobby or pastime.  Some call this a “passion.”  Passion may be too strong a word for others, though.  Especially today.  That’s because the average person has so many demands upon their time, day-in and day-out, they don’t usually set aside time to pursue the things they’d really enjoy pursuing.

If you ask the average person what their passion is, they’ll probably just stare at you with a dumbfounded look upon their face for a moment or two.  Ask them what their interests are or what type of things they’re “into,” however, and you’ll start getting some feedback.

Why am I bringing this up? Because the Internet may be the easiest place there is to actually make money pursuing something you enjoy or love being involved with.  In other words, you can make money by doing something you’re “into!” For some, it’s a concept they’ve abandoned long ago. It’s a difficult path for some people to navigate. I’m talking about bridging the gap between making a living and doing something you love, enjoy or have a passion for.

Finding the bridge between what you’re currently doing and what you’d like to be doing may not be as hard as you think. Whatever your interests are, the easiest way to start online and create your first website is by creating a blog.  The movie “Julie and Julia” is a true story about a young woman who began writing a blog about Julia Child’s infamous cookbook.  She set out to make every recipe in the book within a year.  She used a blog to record her journey and was catapulted to fame as a result. The movie that followed was based on her story.

She became famous as made and recorded the results of every one of Julia Child’s recipes in 365-days. The blog remains as a testament to her journey.

Julie’s secret was in pursuing a topic that she loved at night, while toiling away at her other job by day. There is no reason you can’t do the same, is there?

Whatever your interests, a blog can be created to –

1. Attract other people across the world with the same interests.
2. Sell products or services based upon those interests.
3. Draw enough traffic to the site and sell advertising space to advertisers.

You can set up the Blog yourself or have partners join you.

With multiple writers contributing articles, it’s very to maintain keep updated and fresh.  One of my favorite creations is – www.TheBoxingMagazine.com.  This site is actually a WordPress site with a customized design.

Designs or templates can be purchased very inexpensively.  Just look up “WordPress Templates” on Google or Yahoo and you’ll find all sorts of interesting designs.  Some free, some not. I recommend the paid sites. Recently I came across a site I’m considering joining called www.Templatic.com. This site, if you build a lot of sites, offers a one-click install option that installs everything right out of the box, graphics and all. If you’re going to be doing Internet Marketing, I recommend Profits Theme.

The important thing about pursuing a topic or area you’re “into” (especially if you’re just starting out) is the fact that you’ll be updating your site, writing articles, marketing the site… and a lot of other things, during the evenings after you leave your “day job” behind.  That means, instead of watching TV until you fall asleep, your site will take the place of your television time.

Getting traffic to come to your site won’t be nearly as difficult if you pick a topic you enjoy. That’s because you’ll already be familiar with the groups and social sites where other like-minded people congregate.  In my case, I was already visiting boxing discussion forums and had made many friends in that niche over the years.  Once my site was complete, I announced it at the boards I frequented. I also began spending time at Yahoo Answers (do a search on Yahoo Answers if you’re not familiar with the service).

Yahoo Answers is comprised of groups of people who ask and answer questions on every topic under the sun.  In my case, I went to the sports section… then, to the boxing sub-category.  I put the link to my site under each of my postings and just like that – even more traffic.  People asked questions about the sport of boxing and different fighters from the past and I gave my own answers.

Now, here’s the big difference between doing something you love and doing something – just for the money, or because you “have to.” Had I been doing everything I mentioned above – working with a topic I wasn’t really into, I wouldn’t have been able to put half the energy into the site that I did.  That’s how it works.

That’s the problem I see with people in MLM.  They don’t love their products.  They love the potential the compensation plan has.  In the end, that’s not enough for most people.  Why, after spending all day long at a day-job you despise, would you want to invest the rest of your free time doing something your heart isn’t really into?

When you’re into something, that’s where you’ll really shine.

Let’s face it, everyone wants to make money.  The Internet is filled with Get-Rich-Quick gimmicks that are here one moment and gone the next.  Con men and marketing professionals figured out long ago that “fast, easy money” appeals to the masses.  Vegas and Atlantic City are built upon the same premise.

If you’re really serious about making money online, starting out part-time. Start with a topic you enjoy and find other sites built around the same or similar topic. You can build from there. If not, it’s easy to burn out “chasing a buck” with all these ridiculous programs out there.

When you’re enthusiastic about a subject or project, it shines through everything you do.  In some cases, you can even turn a hobby into a business. Let me tell you, it’s exciting to watch your site grow and develop from one month to the next!  Before I did this full-time, I’d be thinking during the day about my business and what I would do when I got home that night.

I remember my first sales and how exciting that was.  The “You’ve Received Money” messages started coming in from PayPal. It felt great saying goodbye forever to world of punching clocks and corporate politics.

Finally, I had learned so much; other people started paying me to help them, too.  I networked locally and online and things grew from there. I’ve been doing it ever since.

Has it been easy?  Not until I got all the distractions out of the way. Those of us who were the original online marketers and business owners from the mid-90’s didn’t have any “how-to” books to read back then.  The courses had yet to be written.  Most of the courses available today aren’t worth the megabytes they’re written on, I hate to say. That’s because many unscrupulous marketers take advantage of people’s desperation to make money during tough economic times.

In my own situation, I made everything too complicated. Instead of following a simple plan and staying with it, I unwittingly took the complex route. Instead of focusing on a few sites that made dollars, I created a whole bunch of sites that made dimes.

It took a little while to figure out what I was doing wrong, but it finally clicked. I’m just like you. Stubborn.

Everyone has their own unique path and focus.  And as maddening as it can be finding it, that’s the beauty of it, too. No one can tell you what’s right for you – because you have a setting deep down on the inside that tells you whether you’re on the right road or not. Some people are heading in the general direction but they need to refine things a bit.

If you point your car towards Florida and go, you’ll get there (all things being equal). The less time you spend stopping to see attractions along the way, the faster you’ll get there. That’s how online business works, too.

There are loads of exits on the road to a better tomorrow. I know because I’ve taken my share of them.

By Jim Straw -

Back in 1977, an old millionaire friend of mine … in his late 70s … sent me a 20-question test with a personal note asking me to answer the questions and return them to him. — He said he was conducting an experiment and wanted honest answers … no fudging allowed … to all of the questions.  So, I answered the questions and returned them to him.

A couple months later, the old millionaire sent me a letter detailing his experiment and reporting the results.

The “test” he had sent to me had been published in a big-name, prestigious business magazine, with a self-scoring answer-sheet at the end of the article. — It was the “work” of a world-renowned psychologist.

After he had taken the “test” in the magazine, my old friend was disappointed to learn that he didn’t have what it took to be an entrepreneur. — As a matter of fact … even though he had been a real entrepreneur all his life with millions of real dollars in the bank to prove it … his “test” results indicated that he should have been a 40-hour-per-week wage-slave and put all his money in safe and secure bank deposit accounts.

Having failed the “test” … miserably … he decided to send a copy of the “test” to 35 real entrepreneurs he knew, just to see if he was some kind of psychological freak. — Maybe he was just a Bumble Bee, flying with the F-14 fighters.

All 35 of the real entrepreneurs … including me … who received the “test” from him were self-made millionaires … no inheritors or lottery winners.  Their educational backgrounds ranged from elementary school dropouts to a few with doctorates … ranging in age from their mid-20s to late-80s.

Guess what? — According to the “test” … not one of us had what it took to be an entrepreneur.  We all failed the “test.”

The old millionaire sent the fully-documented results of his experiment to the world-renowned psychologist who had created the “test.”  To which the learned psychologist responded, “The traits indicated in the test are necessary to becoming an entrepreneur but they are not required to be an entrepreneur.”

In other words …

If you pass the “test,” you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur – but – you can’t be one.

So … why did I tell that story?

Well, I’ll tell ya. — After taking and flunking a number of those tests, I, myself, got to wondering …

What Does It Really Take To Be An Entrepreneur?

Since I couldn’t find an answer in my own experience, I started asking each and every successful entrepreneur I met, “What motivated you to start and succeed in your own business?”

As you can imagine, the answers I received ranged from the ridiculous to the sublime … from mystical hocus-pocus to ultra-logical reasoning … from irrational psycho-babble to textbook business plans.

Then, a few years ago, a young millionaire … in his early 30s … solved the riddle for me.  He looked me straight in the eyes and said …

“I don’t really know.  One day, I decided to do it and just did it!”

So … all it takes to be an entrepreneur is a decision to be one. — Once the decision is made, you will do it!

The decision is yours and yours alone!

By Jim Straw -

Having set on both sides of the desk … both Borrower and Banker … I have seen the best and the worst of both worlds. — I have known Bankers who knew absolutely nothing about doing business required by their “job” to pass judgment on business loan applications … relying upon outdated textbook business templates to make a decision.

On the other hand, I have seen otherwise intelligent business people … with sound business plans and sometimes even successfully operating small businesses … approach the lenders with the most ridiculous “financing plans” imaginable.

In one case, a small business owner came to me for financing for his business. — He needed about $150,000 to expand the business from its current operating base.  But, instead of asking to borrow $150,000 … which was justifiable … he wanted to borrow $1,000,000; putting $150,000 into the business and using the $850,000 to create a self-liquidating sinking fund to pay off the loan.  (He told me, “That’s the way the big companies do it.”)

Another “business borrower” came halfway around the world to my bank in the South Pacific to try to borrow $25,000. — The loan may (or may not) have been justifiable but his business was too far away for us to get a real picture of his “local trade area” business. — When I directed him to take his request to a bank or loan company in his home town, his reply was, “They all know me.”  (I guess he figured I didn’t know him, so I would give him the money.)

Beyond that … in case after case … “business borrowers” approached my bank without knowing for sure exactly how much money they needed, or what the money would be used for. — In most of those cases, the “cash” requirements of the business could have been reduced to near nothing by utilizing leasing, factoring and vendor financing. — In those cases where I could work with the borrower, I would take the time to show them how to use leasing to satisfy their equipment needs; factoring to give them a faster cashflow; and vendor financing to increase their inventory … without borrowing any money at all.

Unfortunately, in the majority of those cases, the “business borrower” wouldn’t listen to anything that didn’t put the “cash” proceeds of a loan into his grubby little paws. –  Their attitude was, “Just give me the cash.  Then, I’ll use it to get what I need.” — But, as every banker knows, “cash” only has value in a business when it is “necessary” to the business … not just a “wanna have.”

So, if you are looking for “financing” for your business, you should …

First Determine Exactly What You Need!
(Most Likely, You Don’t “need” As Much As You Think.)

Back when I was serving with the “Active Corps of Executives” (ACE) program with the “Small Business Administration” (SBA), I was called upon countless times to review the loan applications of, and interview, small business people seeking SBA loans.

My job was to find out whether or not the loan amount was sufficient to the needs of the business; or excessive. — To that end, I looked at each loan application and asked myself a series of multi-part questions.  Questions you need to ask yourself, before you even begin your search of business financing.

Question #1:  Is any part of the loan to be used to buy equipment of any kind? — Can that equipment be leased, or will the business need the cash to buy that equipment? — If the business must buy the equipment, is there a ready market for that used equipment should the business fail?

Question #2:  Is any part of the loan to be used to buy inventory? — Do the vendors in that particular business offer their goods on consignment?  Open account?  Short term (90 day) financing? — What is the minimum cash required for starting inventory? — What kind of cash reserve should be set aside for future and on-going inventory? — What is the anticipated annual inventory turnover? — What is the industry ‘norm’ for inventory turnover?

Question #3:  Does the business currently have any Accounts Receivable? — How much? — What is their aging?  (How long do they stay unpaid?) — Can the borrower Factor the current Accounts Receivable to generate some of the cash requirements? — Are the Accounts Receivable too old to be Factored?  (That probably means the business should be required to review their credit policies.)

Applying just those three questions to your “business financing” needs will put you ahead of the game. — You will better know what you really need – and – by noting the answers to those questions in your “Loan Proposal” or “Business Plan,” you will be able to show a banker where you have made an effort to use alternative sources in your planning. — But …

What If … even then … The Bankers Won’t Loan You Any Money?

Well, don’t feel like the Lone Stranger. — Over the years, I have seen even the best thought out and presented business loan applications rejected by Bankers (and the SBA) simply because the lenders lack a working knowledge of the business community they are serving.

In that case, you might want to use …

The Greatest Financing Tactic Of All!

Over the past 40 years, I have seen more money raised using this method than any other. — In one case, I saw it generate over $500,000 in “private” financing in less than a week.

What is it? — What is it?

Believe it or not, all you have to do is run a “Classified Ad” in the newspaper … preferably the newspaper in the largest city near to you.  But, it’s not what you say in the ad, it is “WHERE” you place the ad.

What? — Didn’t I just tell you to place the ad in the “Classified” section of the newspaper?

YES – but – you probably think the ad should be in the “Business Opportunities” section. — It shouldn’t. — In order to reach the people you need to reach, you should have your ad published in the “PERSONALS” … that’s where it will be seen by the Private Investors you will be seeking.

Now, here is the customary, and generally acceptable, ad to use:

PRIVATE INVESTORS Wanted for new ____________ enterprise.  Minimum investment $xxxx.  ROI ____%.  Business plan available.  Call:

Of course, the ROI (Return On Investment) you offer should be significantly higher than the interest being paid by local banks. — Today, 12% to 14% are good numbers.

You should have a well thought-out Business Plan prepared to tell your story to anyone who calls – but – don’t mail it to them.  When a potential investor calls, set an appointment … time and place … where you can meet with them. — This will allow you to separate a lot of the “tire kickers” from the “real players.” — Take a copy of your Business Plan with you and be prepared to answer any questions.

Note:  Have your attorney prepare the necessary promissory notes and/or any other legal documents you might need.  Take a set of those forms with you, too.

In some cases, you may be able to convince the investor to write a check right then – but – in most cases, you will have to leave a copy of the Business Plan and any necessary forms for them to “think about.” — Follow up with them. — Respond to any further questions they may have. — ASK them for a loan … or investment.

Should the investor decide “NOT” to participate, ASK them to return the Business Plan and forms to you … by mail, or in person.

A lot of work – but – when you really need the financing, it is a small price to pay.

Then again, you could …

Take Your Business Public!

Hey … that sounds a lot harder than it actually is, today.

Using “Form U-7″ under the “Small Corporate Offering Registration” (SCOR) … adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association in April, 1989 … your business can…

Raise up to $1 million annual … Sell stock to an unlimited number of non accredited investors … Use ads and telemarketing as general solicitations  … and … Allow registered brokers and officers to sell the offering.

When you use the SCOR Form U-7, you don’t have to go through the regular registration process, or even file any documents with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Beyond that, it is even easier when you need less than $500,000 because, under $500,000 you don’t (usually) have to have audited Financial Statements.

Rather than try to explain the SCOR program to you, I high recommend you cough-up a paltry $14.95 and buy a copy of “How To Raise $1 Million for Your Business”  … the most revolutionary manual ever written on the how, why, what, where, when of selling up to $1 Million worth of your stock to the public … a step by step manual with sample replies … including all important “contacts” who can assist you in getting the job done the right way.

With the information and resources in, “How To Raise $1 Million for Your Business” you could be selling free trading stock in your company … with no restriction for resale … quickly and hassle free in as little as 30 days.

Order your personal copy of “How To Raise $1 Million for Your Business” directly from the publisher at:  http://www.salesmart.com/scor.htm

Once you have your SCOR offering prepared, start selling the issue to your family, friends, associates, and co-workers.  Also, place your classified ad in the newspaper again only, this time eliminate the ROI and change “Business plan available” to “Prospectus Available.”

This might just catch the eye of a Big Bucks Venture Capitalist, or some stock brokers, who will be impressed with the fact that you already have a prospectus.

By the way, with a SCOR offering, any Stock Broker can sell the stock for you … in any state in
which you file the registration.  (I suggest only registering in your own state to begin with.  If a stock broker wants to sell the stock in another state, let him register the offering in that state for you.)

Of course, there are other ways to get financing for your business – but – these are the best ways I know of and I know they work because I’ve either done it myself or helped others do it. — But, no matter how you go about it, always remember …

STRAW’S LAW OF BUSINESS FINANCE

Business financing is an expedient; not salvation. It is ONLY a way of spending tomorrow’s earnings, today. If the project AND borrower, combined, cannot logically indicate future earnings; the lenders won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole.

Note:  Now that you’ve read this letter, go to: http://www.businesslyceum.com/finance.html and read my article entitled, “Business Financing – To Be or Not To Be.”  (I think you’ll learn something.)

By Jimmy Krug –

Online publishing has changed a lot over the years. One year in Internet time is like three years in “real time.” Things change quickly. Something that’s hot one minute is cold the next. Attention spans are getting shorter all the time. One thing hasn’t changed, however, and never will. People are still people and enjoy “escaping” from the hum-drum realities of everyday life. The Internet provides the perfect outlet for many of them.

As a publisher of non-fiction information, you need to realize that there are masses of people who use non-fiction content, just as others use fiction, as a form of escapism. It’s true. People buy books teaching them how to do things they have no real intentions of doing. The buy these books because they enjoy reading about “how” it’s done.

Let me give you an example. There are loads of single people who buy books on how meet and attract the opposite sex who never really intend on putting what they learn into practice. They just want to read about the psychology of how it’s done. You can buy books that will teach you the techniques spies use to obtain important information. Why would you buy a book like that if you had no intention of entering the world of “covert activity?”

The answer’s simple. The information is a form of entertainment.

Maybe one of the techniques you learn actually could come in handy one day, right? You may be laughing, but this is how many people think. I once bought a book that taught beginners how to make a simple, romantic dinner for two. I read it, but never actually committed to USING it. I thought I might, but by the time I was finished, I figured it would be better to go out to a nice restaurant instead.

THE RISE OF KINDLE

eBooks have come a long way since the 1990’s. With the advent of Kindle, the market has really changed significantly. Kindle books now outsell paper and ink books more than three to one and the numbers continue to grow every day.

I bought one for my father and my girlfriend over the holidays. Both are avid readers. Me? I just downloaded Kindle for the PC and read the books on my laptop. My girlfriend has a library like you’d see in one of those old English films with books lining the wall from floor to ceiling. She’s read every single book, too. I figured the Kindle would be good for her because there’s simply no room left for more physical books.

My father is getting up there in age. He’s 79-years old and has some arthritis. Holding the book open for more than fifteen minutes actually bothers his hands and sometimes it’s difficult for him to turn the pages easily.

Long story short, both of them love their new Kindles (The Kindle Touch $99). In fact, I did an informal survey of those I knew who bought the black and white Kindles with the e-Ink technology. Not one of them wanted to go back to purchasing paper and ink books again. How quickly things have changed in the last five years.

The publishing revolution is in full swing and if you’re reading this article, you’re in the perfect position to take advantage of it. If you want to succeed as an author, the odds of doing so have never been so much in your favor as they are today.

Kindle and the Amazon Publishing System is not just a here today – gone tomorrow “fad.” It’s the real deal. A few writer friends of mine have already published several titles and are making money with Amazon’s marketing and publishing system. It’s not difficult to get started either.

Here’s how it works.

1. 1.      Go to Amazon and signup for their Kindle Publishing Program: www.kdp.amazon.com/
2. Write your eBook in either Microsoft Word or Open Office. Make sure you insert a “page break” after every chapter so in the final formatting, Kindle will be able to read where one chapter ends and the next one begins.
3. Save the Word Document as a webpage (.htm & html)
4. Download Mobipocket Creator http://www.mobipocket.com/en/downloadsoft/productdetailscreator.asp This is the program you will use to convert your book into the final format for Kindle.
5. Choose “Import” to import your book.
6. Go to the “Cover Image” tab and click on the “Add a Cover Image” button. Then choose the image file you want to use as your eBooks’ cover and press “Update.” A good size to choose for your cover artwork would be 1280 pixels high by 846 pixels wide.
7. Go to the “Build” tab and click on the “Build” button to convert your manuscript file into the PRC format. When you are ready to publish your eBook, you can upload the PRC file into the Amazon Direct Publishing system.

Those are the seven basic steps.

KINDLE PUBLISHING VS. DO IT YOURSELF PDF eBooks

I’ve been selling and buying PDF eBooks for years. A lot more goes into the do-it-yourself process than the Kindle process.

The biggest hassle I’ve dealt with over the years is with automating the sales/download process. In my  own case, I wasn’t happy with just “hiding” the url of the download page. I kept looking for a system that was virtually 100% theft proof. There are also issues of customer service and support that go along with people losing their download links, needing questions answered, etc.

With Amazon, you don’t have to worry about any of that. All of that is taken care of for you. All you have to do is take care of the product creation and you’re all set. After that it’s hands-off.

The second biggest hassle with the do-it-yourself method is creating 3-D eBook covers that LOOK GOOD. Creating so-so ones or lousy ones is easy! The better looking covers take a little more time and effort to create. One of the ways around this issue is found at Fiverr.com. Just look for eBook cover design and you’ll find plenty of people who will design a nice cover for you for only five-bucks. You can’t beat that.

When I first started, however, I wound up buying several different Photoshop scripts, Box-Shot 3D and other cover creation programs.

I learned over time how to design and create my own product cover graphics. This was great and I don’t regret, hassles aside, having done so.

With the Amazon system, however, none of the special cover creation software or scripts are necessary. All you need is a basic “flat” book cover design. No need for 3-dimensions, drop-shadow effects or any of the other extras. As you can see, there are definite pluses with the Amazon System for beginners and veterans alike.

MARKETING

When it comes to marketing, the traditional method involves building your own website, getting traffic, building mailing lists, creating products and making sales.

With the Amazon system, traffic generation becomes a non-issue – as long as your topic is one that traditional readers gravitate towards. For example, most Kindle owners do not fit the business opportunity mold. They are not “Internet Marketers.” These are people who enjoy reading as a lifestyle. This includes people of every income bracket.

While I highly recommend having your own website/blog, if you’re just starting – you can still sell your own product without having one by partnering with Amazon.

My friend Joe is retired and writes both fiction and non-fiction. Recently, he wrote a series on famous Mafia personalities and published the first volume with the Amazon Kindle program. If you have an interest in that subject and look up “Mafia” or “Mobster” related titles on Amazon… Amazon will suggest other titles to you – including Joe’s. With this method, his book rose to #8 on the best-seller list for that category. Getting known and building a readership can be that simple.

This works with any subject matter. If you write a book that’s similar to a current best-seller (topic-wise), Amazon will help market your title to those who bought similar titles in that niche. That’s how it works in a nutshell. Amazon makes money when YOU make money. It’s an ideal business relationship with their current business model.

CAN YOU REALLY MAKE MONEY SELLING “CHEAP” OR INEXPENSIVE EBOOKS?

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. At the end of the day, is there really money to be made selling inexpensive eBooks? First, please take note of my use of the words “cheap” and “inexpensive.” In my world, cheap is something that saves money but skimps on value. For example, you buy a cheap lunch at McDonalds and have heartburn an hour later. You could have gone to the Chinese restaurant and had something with vegetables in it for around $8.00 for lunch. But, you start thinking about the economy, get depressed, and decide to save a few dollars. At the end of the day, did you really save anything? You ate a lousy lunch with little to no nutritional value because you were too cheap and in too much of a hurry to sit down and eat a healthier lunch. People waste money like this all the time.

Cheap eBooks have little to no value. The books and their authors are here one day and gone the next. Inexpensive books and eBooks, however, are much different. Inexpensive simply means the product doesn’t cost a lot when compared to similar products in the same market. If you create a good product that adds value to the readers’ life, believe me, they’ll be back for more.

The marketers of old used to be fond of saying, “It’s easier overall to sell 10 products at $100 per unit than it is to sell 100 products at $10 per unit.” That may have been true a decade ago… but let’s face it, times have changed. Inexpensive is in these days and will probably continue to be for some time to come. Selling in volume is possible when you have the right marketing vehicle in place. For many authors, Amazon is providing that vehicle.

People are heavily weighing value in their buying decisions these days. They aren’t parting with their money as easily or as indiscriminately as they did in the past. And when it comes to credit, the buy now pay later lifestyle has become a thing of the past for many consumers.

Obviously, there are still people making high-end purchases. The question is, are these people active in YOUR market?

SUMMING IT UP

Kindle is definitely not the route to overnight riches. With multiple titles, however, and other backend products/services available for your readers, it’s definitely worth considering. If you enjoy writing but hate marketing, Amazon may very well be the dream partner you’re looking for.

As for myself, I’ve been supplying online services (in some way, shape or form) for offline clients since 1998. It’s evolved into great little niche since then. Even so, when time allows this year, I will most certainly be jumping onto the Kindle ship to see where it takes me. If possible, I encourage you to do the same. You never know until you try!

On a final note, you can buy and read Kindle books without purchasing the Kindle reader. To download the reader software for your PC, laptop, MAC, etc. Simple go to Google and type – “kindle reader for pc, MAC, etc.”