Recently someone communicated to me that he felt Article Marketing was not an effective marketing strategy for online marketers.  How about for those of us who are in Direct Sales?  Do you feel that Article Marketing can be an effective part of your marketing strategy?

It's important to keep in mind that regardless of what type of business you're in, as long as you are marketing on the Internet there are four basic things that all businesses need:

1.  Content Creation: This is the only way people will get to know what you do and what you have to offer.  Your blog should be your main home for your content.

2.  Traffic:  Traffic or readers are essential to our business.  We want to invite and encourage visitors to our website to read and comment on our posts.  At the same time we want to return the compliment by commenting on the blogs of fellow bloggers.

3.  List Building:  This takes traffic a step further because it's a way to capture this traffic so that we can build a relationship with them and market to them.

4.  Product Creation: The goal for which everyone who markets online should strive is to create your own product.  If you are in Direct Sales, you realize that this means your own product, and not one that the company you market for produces.

All of the four basic needs mentioned above can be met through Article Marketing.  Let's look at the first need:  Content Creation.

As noted previously your blog should be your main home or hub on the Internet.  Every time you write a blog post (more…)

Featured "Monday Writer"

Featured “Monday Writer”

– Judy Mick

In business and in life, being motivated (and positively motivated) is the most important characteristic you can have.  There are many ways you can build motivational habits on a daily basis.  Habits can be hard in the beginning, but give it 30 days and see how naturally they come!

1.  Have visual motivators. These are extremely important because your surroundings create the attitude you have every day.  A few things that you can post on your wall or your computer include:  positive quotes, a beach house you want to buy, a motivational calendar, etc.  Anything that makes you feel good.  I admit to all of the above!

2.  Stay around positive people. Your friends should be people who build you up, make you feel good and support your endeavors.   If you have a friend who always shoots you down, makes you feel bad about yourself……don’t hang out with them.  Or, you could ask them why they are always so negative – maybe they don’t realize that they are.  Just make sure you are around positive, supportive people.

3.  Read or listen to motivational and inspirational things daily. These will help you strengthen your mind and build up your confidence.

4.  Positive Self-Talk. Write down some positive affirmations and repeat them to yourself daily.  It makes you feel good about yourself and gets your mind on the right track for success.

5.  Keep Up a Positive Attitude. Always remain positive.  As soon as you stop thinking that life is so difficult – you will find it becomes easier.  Try to see the bright side of every situation.  “Stuff” happens.  Things you’re working on don’t always go as planned.  It’s how you deal with it that determines your success.

6. Share Your Attitude. Once you become a positive, motivated person – share your attitude with others.  Be contagious!  You’ll find that when you share your positiveness and passions – you will be driven to accomplish more.

Remember – attitude is a choice.  Pick a good one!

Judy

Judy Mick is a wife, avid runner, blogger, entrepreneur, positive thinker and lover of life!  Follow her exploits on her blogs at www.judy-mick.com and www.thestreakingrunner.com

This may seem like a strange question.  Why would you need to schedule an appointment with yourself? Do you find yourself saying, as I often do, “I wish I had more time.”  Do you find that you start tasks and never seem to complete them?  How many reports have you started in the past three months or more and not completed them?

If any of the above questions even remotely sound like they apply to you, it's time to make an appointment with yourself.  Many of us who have an online business have other businesses or may work outside of the home, whether it's a 9-5 job or another schedule that takes you away from home.  You also have family and other  responsibilities, which may or may not include young children.

It's very easy to fall into a routine of crisis management, where we just attack what seems to be the most critical at that moment.  I know that has happened to me a lot recently…and that's not good business practice.  It's not a good practice for any part of our lives.

Scheduling an appointment with yourself means that you will need to take time to put in writing all the short term things you need to do in your life, not just your business, then take time to sit down and make a realistic schedule. It would be impractical to make a schedule for only one part of your life and not incorporate all aspects.  Do not think of this time as time wasted because it's critical so that you (more…)