The Silent Avatar Speaks

Hello readers,

We all have dreams and aspirations for ourselves…. things we want to do, or become.

I thought it was about time I found out exactly what you are trying to achieve online (yes YOU, reading this now).  You maybe be faceless, but as a reader of my blog I take a great interest in how I can help you get where you want to go.

Seems like a pretty straight forward question, but I guess like most people you haven’t really sat down and defined what you want to achieve.

And by that I mean have you got clear about what you want you want your end result to be from your online efforts?

It seems that while the motivating factor to doing anything online is to make more money (any there are plenty of ways to do this), the people who seem to make the most money are the ones that have a clear defined goal and a passion for what they do.

Yes.. goal setting takes time, and we get caught up in the “hows” of what we are trying to achieve.

Goals must be measurable, and have a timeline.

For instance… a good primary goal will be a statement like:

“By the 31st December 2010 I will have 1000 readers of my blog, and be a online speaker at Internet Marketing Events. That’s what I want to do. That’s my goal. Call me crazy, but I enjoy public speaking.

Notice too how the goal is measurable and has a time line. Either I will be  doing what my goal states or I wont. Either I will be doing it by the time I stated, or I won’t.

How to achieve this becomes a series of secondary goals.  Your secondary goals define the “how” to get to your primary goal.

So what’s your goal for your online business?

My aim through this blog is to allow you to tap into the years of knowledge which I have accumulated about internet marketing, affiliates, web design, and of course general business sense.

Are there others online who can give you this information? Sure. But each of us have our own unique problems and questions and it’s not always possible for our own unique questions to be answered.

If you have a question for me that you would like answered, just post a comment and I will answer.

My passion is working from home, having escaped the rat race and daily grind of working for a “boss’. It’s taken 3 years of dedicated commitment to do this and I treat what I do as a “business”.

Initially, a significant amount of this time has been taken up just getting a handle on the “who’s who” of internet marketing, and the strategies they use to build a business.  I’m now at the stage where I am time poor and have to start outsourcing work, but the good thing is I have recognised that the trade off is more time for me to do what I do best.

Just recently I was watching the Oprah show and there was a discussion about enjoying what you do, and it boiled down to this. Do what you love and nothing else.

“What?” Yes. The focus has to be on what you do best, and let others do what you don’t like (or would take too much time to learn). I would love to know how to code websites, but is this part of the bigger picture and will it take me towards my primary goal? No.

I like that idea.  What about you? You want to be or do what?

Post your comments and start thinking about what you want to achieve.

“Dream it. Live it. Be it”

Tags: Hot Off The Press, SEO, Tools For Your Business by the silent avatar
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I’m sure you’ve heard about people who have “IT” – that something which makes them stand apart from the rest. Sometimes the “IT” is almost indefinable, but whatever “IT” is we all would like a piece of it for ourselves.

This “IT” is that undefinable something that is alluring, almost magical about the person which draws you into their space, and makes you happy to be there.

The same can be said about websites.

Only after much learning I have determined what makes a good website, and what makes a great website defines for me the “IT” factor.

When I come across a website with “IT”, invariably the site has all the components of a website which makes you come back again and again.

It takes time to know how to define “IT”. I’ve spent thousands of hours looking at websites, and diving into Internet marketing circles, following those who have “IT”, and discovering how they translate their “IT’ to their websites.

If you look at enough successful websites you too will get to know elements which encompass a successful website.

These elements (and they are simple), greatly enhance the chances of establishing customer (or reader) loyalty.

So just what are these elements?

Keep reading and I will reveal all.

1. Top of the list is a way to capture email addresses.
Whether you have a sell a product, information, or offer a service no website is complete without offering a way to capture email addresses. There are many ways you can capture email addresses – offer newsletters, product updates, free reports, competitions, upcoming product launches, notification of “specials”, free giveaways (products). Start looking at successful webistes and see what they do to lure visitors and always offer a way for your subscribers to unsubscribe.

2. A Blog
A blog is a great way for your site visitors to get to know you. Keeping the blog topics relevant to your site is a way to share information about your particular niche. It’s also a great way to add content to your site and keep Google happily indexing your site for new content. Comments posted by visitors are also a great way for them to communicate questions and add to your content.

3. Newsletter
Successful sites offer their visitors the opportunity to keep abreast of what is happening with their business. It’s not hard to put together a newsletter which contains information about your site. It doesn;t have to be a long drawn out newsletter. In fact, with most people being time poor, newsletters which omit “waffle” are appreciated by us all. Writing about your services, tips, advice, and the like will keep your subscribers in contact with you and continue to build relationships.

4. Great sites give things away for free.
Creating a relationship requires you to instill trust in your site visitor. Giving away something free enables your site visitors to get the “warm and fuzzies” about you and your site. Offer quality information, free products (if you can), in fact anything which relates to your niche enhances the perceived value of what you are giving away.

5. Tell-A-Friend
Give site visitors the opportunity to Tell-A-Friend. While visitors are on your site they may find information which they feel would benefit a friend. Make it easy for them to tell their friends about it. Personal recommendation is the best recommendation and using this method allows you to grow your business virally.

6. Their websites are professional.
Credibility starts with your website. If you are intending to present yourself as a professional, then getting a professional looking website is a must.

7. Offer video (or at the least audio)
Video is a great medium for engaging your site visitors in a more personal way. Broadband is becoming more mainstream and using video to present products, show “how-to’s”, or even to introduce yourself goes a long way to putting a face to what really is a faceless medium.

8. Contact details or help desk
So often I go to a website and the contact details are non existent, or worse I have made contact and no one responds (even after repeated attempts). No matter how good the product or service or information you offer, be prepared to offer support for your site visitors when they need it. Lack of support for your customers can seriously damage your online efforts. Remember the relationship with your site visitors doesn’t end with the purchase.

9. Successful websites network with others.
Sourcing a Joint Venture parture is one of the quickest wasy to grow your business. I’ve included an ebook to download on Joint Venturing which is worthwhile reading.

JV Givewaway Secret Special Report.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to post.

Enjoy!

Tags: Hot Off The Press, Web Design by the silent avatar
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I couldn’t resist making this post in the wake of the launch of “Review Crusher”.

What? You haven’t heard of Review Crusher? Where have you been?

Mike Filsaime is at it again churning out yet another “buy this and it will make you money” product.

I sat through the whole painful video introduction which (if you took out all of his bragging and name dropping, and who he rubs shoulders with), it could easily have been condensed down to 10 minutes.

(C’mon Mike! Do you think we all have tons of time to just sit and watch a “brag fest”?)

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m no party pooper and good on Mike for getting to where he is (and no doubt his skydiving exploits are testimony to the money he has made to enjoy his down time) As Mike freely confesses.. he work’s hard and parties hard.

I’ve been reading Mike’s emails and watching product launch after product launch since I purchased the Butterfly Marketing script. All up I am probably on about 5 of Mikes lists (which means I get copies of all of his emails from all 5 lists! – which is another peeve of mine), and I’ve unsubscribed from others because it was just getting ridiculous with the duplicate emails).

But seriously.. lengthy product introductions like Review Crusher is enough to send me (and I’m sure many others) screaming up the garden path saying “Get to the point!”.

Was the waiting the 50 odd minutes worth it?

In my opinion? No.

Look.. the premise for this product is to be able to open up your own “Review Site” and without taking anything away from Mike I’m sure the product does what he says it does.

BUT… I couldn’t help thinking that even though you can customise your own template (so individual sites can be different), it still boils down to a few more hundred review sites hitting the internet courtesy of Mike Filsaime.

Now there is some benefit in creating your own review site, and before we get into what those benefits are, what about the competition who is already out there? Mike Filsaime has his own site for reviewing internet marketing products called MarketingProductReview.com.

As at the time of writing MarketingProductsReview.com’s Alexa rank was 28,927,768. Compare that to this sites ranking of 1,213,502. Enough said.

Dig a little deeper and I find that the traffic stats for MarketingProductReview.com is 140,832 (down 27,135)

The Reach, Traffic and Page Views are all down.

So one has to ask the question… is having a “review site” a good thing?

Well.. if you look at the stats then it’s not an earth shattering site for a niche (and this is Mike Filsaimes site).

However if you are in looking to pad out this site with your affiliate links and someone buys on the strength of a review, then it could be a money making proposition for you.

If you’re into Internet Marketing, then forget grabbing this product for a site which reviews Internet Marketing Products. Go review another niche as Mike’s got that one covered.

By The way.. if you are interested in purchasing Review Crusher software only it’s US$1997, or you can get a payment plan option: US$497 down and US$67 per month buys you the software and membership to Job Crusher.

You can watch Review Crusher Video here (you can download the video and fast forward Mike “bragfest”) to save time.

If you want to throw your money at Mike then go ahead. If I want a review I will just Google it.

So Is there any benefit in having a review site?

I’ll let you be the judge.

Tags: Hot Off The Press, Internet Marketing by the silent avatar
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Listen up folks! Want a $3,997 site for next to nothing? … Now Complete With a Revolutionary Breakthrough Technology that “FORCES” Cash Directly Into Your Pocket!! – Guaranteed!!

Here’s another opportunity for all you budding internet marketers to make money online.

Hot off the press today comes a “new” kind of website these days – one that “FORCES” money into your pocket!

The days are now over where you were left with just “chance” on your side when it came to making money on the Internet.

A brand new “technology” has been developed that makes websites pay you by “force!”

Short of putting a gun to people’s heads and making them take their money out of their wallets and pay you without choice, this new technology might as well be the exact same thing.

This breakthrough was developed by a New York Virtual Marketing Firm, and is taking the Web by storm!

Already some pretty famous names are taking note of this new “money making invention” that “forces” money out of the Internet directly into your bank account!

A spokesperson for the NYC firm boasted proudly:

“Imagine the Worldwide-Web as an ocean of money … our new technology merely makes a way for YOU to be able to dig a big trench from that ‘cash-sea’ directly into your backyard!”

And that’s obviously a pretty amazing feat to say the very least!

People get a webpage that’s NOT ordinary by any means!

The webpage “captures” a huge segment of the daily visitors it receives and winds up upselling them repeatedly with a predictable conversion each and every time!

Plus, the webpage has a “built-in” device that allows it to generate “free traffic” without end!

So considering the fact that you get free traffic, along with a predictable and steady stream of sales conversions, you get a guaranteed source of endless income!

Additionally, the webpage you get already contains a PROVEN digital product that no online marketer can live without, and one that is delivered where all your orders are filled automatically by another firm on behalf of you, the webpage owner! (And at no costs!)

Not only that, but the webpage contains a video that makes further an irresistible offer so that people must surrender their contact information, and which also becomes a VAST double-optin list!

This list is maintained by yet another separate online firm on our behalf, and that has the HIGHEST track record for getting over 98% deliverability for follow-up emailings (the same that convert another 378% more sales for you!)

So in a nutshell you get:

• An amazing website!
• A website that converts sales automatically!
• A website that puts “forced” money directly into your pocket!
• A website that’s run by another firm for you (at NO charge!)
• A website that continues to promote for you over &over!
• A website that grows & cultivates a proven list!
• A website that functions automatically (so you never run it!)
• And a website that you get Free H0STING for!

So as you can easily see you get the whole “Sha-Bang!”

Here are just a few examples of the successes people are having using this “Forced Money” breakthrough system:

—> “Lisa C.” Made $44,047 In Just 97 Days
—> “Jay R.” Made $102,033 In Just 32 Days
—> “Cal W.” Made $317,951 In Just 17 Days

Without wasting another moment of your time, why not go to the new site that shows you how you can get this site for yourself (if you’d like) for next to nothing? …

~~~> Check it out here

But I must warn you that they are only giving away a very limited number of these “forced money” websites that forcibly pour money into your pocket! – So please [for your sake] HURRY!

Tags: Hot Off The Press, Internet Marketing by the silent avatar
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