With more than a decade of experience in marketing, ranking from pay-per-click to direct mail, I’ve seen a lot of failures and far more successes when it comes to marketing.
Today, the art of marketing is far more complex than it once was. However, many of the same basic principles still apply. Too often, professional marketers and small business owners overlook the basic techniques that have separated successful campaigns from those that never turn a profit. Here is my all time list of effective marketing tips.
Know your audience. Successful campaigns get that way because marketers know their audience. They fully understand their needs, how to help meet those needs and how to create demand. Knowing and understanding your audience through proper market segmentation means a well targeted campaign that generates a profitable return.
Focus on the offer. A marketing offer is the driving force of marketing promotions that drive results. In fact, market testing has proven that the offer is the most significant criterion for conversion. Focus on your offer if you want to be successful.
Split test. Never ever run a campaign without testing something. One of the most common is a split test which allows you to simultaneously test two versions of something. It can be a web page, post card, or email. Split testing is essential for improving performance.
Never work alone. The most creative ideas come from working with other creative people. Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers or great ideas. You may start with an idea, but an open dialog with creative individuals will make it better.
Don’t sell on price. I’ve seen so many marketers fail because they sell on price alone. This leads to a discounting war, lower profitability, and often bankruptcy. Rather, focus on creating so much value that the perception of price becomes insignificant.
Consistent messaging. Consider the entire user experience before you launch a campaign. From email to website to offer, is the prospect having a consistent user experience? If they are, your campaigns stand above 98% of others.
Create value after the sale. As marketers, it’s our job to understand our market segment and build relationships, not dump people off at the front door of our store and walk away. Focus as much of your energy on building relationships with customers as you do prospects.
Test. Test. Test. In addition to split testing, you should consider multiple forms of testing in each marketing discipline. For direct mail, test headlines, offers, copy, time of direct mail drop, etc. Consider testing a life long mission.
Integrated Marketing Works Best. You can’t rely on one form of marketing to carry you to success. It’s okay to generate most of your leads or sales through PPC marketing if you will but what happens when that dries out? Use multiple media sources to meet your goals.
Nothing can replace experience. You can run out and hire all of the best consultants in the world, but you still have to do the work. Nothing can replace actual experience. It will make you a stronger marketer and more successful in the long term.
Apply these helpful marketing tips if you want to be truly successful. These techniques and tips are applied by successful marketers on a daily basis. The result is an ever growing success rate of marketing success.
About the Author
Are you looking for marketing tips that will take your marketing to the next level? Visit the marketing tips blog for helpful information, tools, and marketing secrets you won't find anywhere else.
©2009 MarketingScoop.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Watch Out for These Doorstep Scam Artist Tricks
The impending 2010 US Census is just one of several ruses a scam artist might use when he or she knocks at your door. There are plenty more.
From panhandlers begging for money and bogus students selling magazine subscriptions to phony utility workers who want to get into your house or get you outside, these scammers know all the tricks.
Read the entire article here.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
From panhandlers begging for money and bogus students selling magazine subscriptions to phony utility workers who want to get into your house or get you outside, these scammers know all the tricks.
Read the entire article here.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Improve Your Marketing With Social Bookmarks
Generate word of mouth with powerful social marketing tools.
As an Internet marketing professional, I try to keep on top of new marketing avenues and opportunities for leveraging word-of-mouth. In recent years, the method by which individuals get their information has evolved and so have the tools for sharing information from one individual to another. Social bookmarking is now a popular method of communicating among younger audiences and is proving to be an effective marketing tool for increased exposure of products, services, and brands.
Imagine telling your friend about a recent story you just heard. That story could be newsworthy, provide information about a given topic of interest, or perhaps an online video you watched that had you rolling around in laughter. Once you communicated that to your friend, he went ahead and sent an email out to 4 of his friends who then forwarded that email to dozens more – and so the story goes.
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing. With the help of the Internet, this type of marketing has grown in importance and has been accelerated with the advent of social bookmarks.
Popular bookmarking sites allow users to identify, with just the click of a mouse, online content that they deem worthy of sharing. As more and more individuals identify the same content, it receives a higher priority on social bookmarking sites and continues to grow in importance. Social bookmarking sites are like a multi-level marketer’s dream!
The most popular social bookmarking site is Digg.com which has an Alexa ranking of 98 and boasts more than 8 million monthly visitors. Other popular sites like Technorati (1.4M monthly visitors), and Del.icio.us (1.3M montly visitors) illustrate just how big social bookmarking has become. Taken collectively, these sites are continuing to garner more supporters and changing the way consumers share information they deem valuable.
From a marketing perspective, this creates an opportunity for improving the effectiveness of our marketing practices. Word of mouth has always been an effective means of marketing but has been difficult to initiate and manage. Today, with the help of social bookmarks there is now an easier way to encourage and promote the sharing of your information.
Recently, I added a footer on my blog to encourage users to “share” information they deem valuable. This has created an opportunity for users to interact with content and start the viral marketing effect all online marketers seek. When considering the merits of social bookmarking, there are a few guidelines to consider.
1. Your content needs to provide value or be unique. Social bookmarking doesn’t happen on its own. You need to provide content that’s worth sharing. Whether that content is helpful to someone seeking guidance, unique, funny, or just plain novel, it needs to provide value in order to be shared.
2. Make bookmarking easy. Have you placed the appropriate social bookmark icons on your webpage in a place that’s closely aligned with the content you wish to share? Are the bookmarks easy to identify? Make sure your customers and prospects don’t need to work all that hard in order to share your information.
3. Encourage communication. Don’t just paste some social bookmarking icons on your website, ask for support. Common phrases like, “Share this” or “Bookmark us” are a great way to get the wheels of social media moving.
If you’re not leveraging social bookmarking tools then you’re word-of-mouth campaigns aren’t being optimized. Reach more people, more quickly, by leveraging your website’s visitors, prospect, and customers. Ask them to share your information and create valuable content that encourages viral marketing. Utilizing social bookmarking as a preferred marketing medium can help improve awareness of your products and develop a preference for your brand..
*Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert, search engine optimization specialist, and the President of MarketingScoop.com. He has more than 12 years of marketing experience and had appeared on The TODAY Show, Bloomberg Radio, and other major media. Visit MarketingScoop.com for further details and more marketing articles.
As an Internet marketing professional, I try to keep on top of new marketing avenues and opportunities for leveraging word-of-mouth. In recent years, the method by which individuals get their information has evolved and so have the tools for sharing information from one individual to another. Social bookmarking is now a popular method of communicating among younger audiences and is proving to be an effective marketing tool for increased exposure of products, services, and brands.
Imagine telling your friend about a recent story you just heard. That story could be newsworthy, provide information about a given topic of interest, or perhaps an online video you watched that had you rolling around in laughter. Once you communicated that to your friend, he went ahead and sent an email out to 4 of his friends who then forwarded that email to dozens more – and so the story goes.
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing. With the help of the Internet, this type of marketing has grown in importance and has been accelerated with the advent of social bookmarks.
Popular bookmarking sites allow users to identify, with just the click of a mouse, online content that they deem worthy of sharing. As more and more individuals identify the same content, it receives a higher priority on social bookmarking sites and continues to grow in importance. Social bookmarking sites are like a multi-level marketer’s dream!
The most popular social bookmarking site is Digg.com which has an Alexa ranking of 98 and boasts more than 8 million monthly visitors. Other popular sites like Technorati (1.4M monthly visitors), and Del.icio.us (1.3M montly visitors) illustrate just how big social bookmarking has become. Taken collectively, these sites are continuing to garner more supporters and changing the way consumers share information they deem valuable.
From a marketing perspective, this creates an opportunity for improving the effectiveness of our marketing practices. Word of mouth has always been an effective means of marketing but has been difficult to initiate and manage. Today, with the help of social bookmarks there is now an easier way to encourage and promote the sharing of your information.
Recently, I added a footer on my blog to encourage users to “share” information they deem valuable. This has created an opportunity for users to interact with content and start the viral marketing effect all online marketers seek. When considering the merits of social bookmarking, there are a few guidelines to consider.
1. Your content needs to provide value or be unique. Social bookmarking doesn’t happen on its own. You need to provide content that’s worth sharing. Whether that content is helpful to someone seeking guidance, unique, funny, or just plain novel, it needs to provide value in order to be shared.
2. Make bookmarking easy. Have you placed the appropriate social bookmark icons on your webpage in a place that’s closely aligned with the content you wish to share? Are the bookmarks easy to identify? Make sure your customers and prospects don’t need to work all that hard in order to share your information.
3. Encourage communication. Don’t just paste some social bookmarking icons on your website, ask for support. Common phrases like, “Share this” or “Bookmark us” are a great way to get the wheels of social media moving.
If you’re not leveraging social bookmarking tools then you’re word-of-mouth campaigns aren’t being optimized. Reach more people, more quickly, by leveraging your website’s visitors, prospect, and customers. Ask them to share your information and create valuable content that encourages viral marketing. Utilizing social bookmarking as a preferred marketing medium can help improve awareness of your products and develop a preference for your brand..
*Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert, search engine optimization specialist, and the President of MarketingScoop.com. He has more than 12 years of marketing experience and had appeared on The TODAY Show, Bloomberg Radio, and other major media. Visit MarketingScoop.com for further details and more marketing articles.
Monday, December 21, 2009
20 Smart Steps to Stop Repair Scam Artists from "Fixing" Your Wallet
Whether it's in your home, under the hood of your car or deep in the inner workings of your PC, repair scam risks are lurking in the darkest corners of our property.
And they're every bit as troublesome -- and much more costly -- than the gremlins that got them there in the first place.
A quick dip into the YouTube archive, for instance, turns up videos from recent, separate investigations by TV stations in three countries -- the US, Canada and Britain -- that show computer repair scam merchants at work.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
And they're every bit as troublesome -- and much more costly -- than the gremlins that got them there in the first place.
A quick dip into the YouTube archive, for instance, turns up videos from recent, separate investigations by TV stations in three countries -- the US, Canada and Britain -- that show computer repair scam merchants at work.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Friday, December 11, 2009
STOP REACTING AND START PRO-ACTING TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS C.J. Hayden, MCC
If you're answering calls, replying to emails and notes, responding to invitations, and receiving referrals and leads, it probably feels like you're taking a lot of action to market your business. But it may be that a good deal of what you're engaged in is actually RE-action.
Waiting to hear from the right prospects is nowhere near as productive as proactively taking steps to seek them out. And a stream of incoming communications can take up time and energy, but doesn't always lead to closed sales.
Consider these suggestions for getting out of reaction mode and becoming more proactive in your marketing.
Reactive: Accept referrals and leads as they happen to come to you.
Proactive: Identify likely referral partners and build relationships with them.
Any sort of networking usually produces leads and referrals, but when they're unsuitable, they just take up your time. An interior designer I know joined a networking group and started receiving referrals from other members. But none of them were appropriate for her high-end business. She not only had to spend time responding to these off-target prospects, she also had to find tactful ways of explaining to her networking buddies that she served only wealthier clients.
Instead of just getting to know more people, make sure they're the right people. Intentionally seek out folks who are in contact with your ideal clients on a regular basis, then let them know how your business can help those clients. Targeted networking will turn into targeted referrals.
Reactive: Accept invitations to networking groups and business meetings as they come to you.
Proactive: Seek out the people, groups, and events most likely to lead to your ideal clients.
Where you meet people will influence who you have a chance to meet. My interior designer acquaintance joined that networking group just because someone invited her; she knew nothing about it before joining. When it turned out to not be a good fit, she got smart and began looking for better places to network.
By asking others with a high-end clientele about their networking habits, she discovered a leads group of professionals serving wealthy clients. The group included a financial planner, personal banker, insurance broker, estate attorney, real estate agent, residential architect, and a landscaper. By joining this group, she was in regular contact with people who not only knew clients in the right income bracket, they also were likely to know exactly when they might need design help.
Reactive: Respond to the prospects you've met or heard from most recently.
Proactive: Follow up consistently with your best prospects.
Especially when you get busy, it's easy to fall into the habit of doing only what's in front of you. People you just met, and calls or emails you've recently received, can consume all your attention. But what about the prospects you met last month, or who you talked to a couple of weeks ago? Instead of using a "last in; first out" approach, prioritize your follow-up.
A client of mine with an executive coaching practice felt like he was drowning in possibilities. Then he decided to concentrate his follow-up efforts on just five companies who met all his criteria: he knew they needed his services, matched his industry experience, and could afford to pay. Instead of being pulled in a dozen directions, his focused follow-up quickly led to a contract.
Reactive: Try out the "flavor of the month" as your new marketing approach.
Proactive: Decide on a practical, realistic marketing plan and employ it consistently.
Being overly reactive isn't always about responding to communications. Sometimes it's about responding to ideas. When someone suggests an exciting new way you might get more clients, it's natural to feel drawn to it. But before reacting to suggestions like these, pause and consider whether this new approach will produce better results than what you already have planned.
What will it cost in time and money to change direction? What momentum or opportunities might you lose by not completing what you've begun? What would you have to let go of in order to make good use of a new approach? If you've already put considerable effort into your existing marketing strategy, why throw it out the window now just because someone suggests another approach "might" be better?
Reactive: Start your day by responding to emails, phone calls, incoming mail, and social networking posts.
Proactive: Begin each day by working on your own highest priority.
This one change in how you spend your time can make a dramatic difference in the results you're able to produce. Instead of beginning your day by seeing who has contacted you; start by deciding who you want to contact. Tackle your marketing outreach or other important marketing projects first thing in the morning, before checking email, voice mail, Facebook, or Twitter. By making marketing the first thing you do, you'll also make sure it gets done.
Remember, whenever you react to others, you are usually helping them achieve their goals. But when you proactively set your own agenda, you are most likely working toward yours.
Copyright © 2009, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
Waiting to hear from the right prospects is nowhere near as productive as proactively taking steps to seek them out. And a stream of incoming communications can take up time and energy, but doesn't always lead to closed sales.
Consider these suggestions for getting out of reaction mode and becoming more proactive in your marketing.
Reactive: Accept referrals and leads as they happen to come to you.
Proactive: Identify likely referral partners and build relationships with them.
Any sort of networking usually produces leads and referrals, but when they're unsuitable, they just take up your time. An interior designer I know joined a networking group and started receiving referrals from other members. But none of them were appropriate for her high-end business. She not only had to spend time responding to these off-target prospects, she also had to find tactful ways of explaining to her networking buddies that she served only wealthier clients.
Instead of just getting to know more people, make sure they're the right people. Intentionally seek out folks who are in contact with your ideal clients on a regular basis, then let them know how your business can help those clients. Targeted networking will turn into targeted referrals.
Reactive: Accept invitations to networking groups and business meetings as they come to you.
Proactive: Seek out the people, groups, and events most likely to lead to your ideal clients.
Where you meet people will influence who you have a chance to meet. My interior designer acquaintance joined that networking group just because someone invited her; she knew nothing about it before joining. When it turned out to not be a good fit, she got smart and began looking for better places to network.
By asking others with a high-end clientele about their networking habits, she discovered a leads group of professionals serving wealthy clients. The group included a financial planner, personal banker, insurance broker, estate attorney, real estate agent, residential architect, and a landscaper. By joining this group, she was in regular contact with people who not only knew clients in the right income bracket, they also were likely to know exactly when they might need design help.
Reactive: Respond to the prospects you've met or heard from most recently.
Proactive: Follow up consistently with your best prospects.
Especially when you get busy, it's easy to fall into the habit of doing only what's in front of you. People you just met, and calls or emails you've recently received, can consume all your attention. But what about the prospects you met last month, or who you talked to a couple of weeks ago? Instead of using a "last in; first out" approach, prioritize your follow-up.
A client of mine with an executive coaching practice felt like he was drowning in possibilities. Then he decided to concentrate his follow-up efforts on just five companies who met all his criteria: he knew they needed his services, matched his industry experience, and could afford to pay. Instead of being pulled in a dozen directions, his focused follow-up quickly led to a contract.
Reactive: Try out the "flavor of the month" as your new marketing approach.
Proactive: Decide on a practical, realistic marketing plan and employ it consistently.
Being overly reactive isn't always about responding to communications. Sometimes it's about responding to ideas. When someone suggests an exciting new way you might get more clients, it's natural to feel drawn to it. But before reacting to suggestions like these, pause and consider whether this new approach will produce better results than what you already have planned.
What will it cost in time and money to change direction? What momentum or opportunities might you lose by not completing what you've begun? What would you have to let go of in order to make good use of a new approach? If you've already put considerable effort into your existing marketing strategy, why throw it out the window now just because someone suggests another approach "might" be better?
Reactive: Start your day by responding to emails, phone calls, incoming mail, and social networking posts.
Proactive: Begin each day by working on your own highest priority.
This one change in how you spend your time can make a dramatic difference in the results you're able to produce. Instead of beginning your day by seeing who has contacted you; start by deciding who you want to contact. Tackle your marketing outreach or other important marketing projects first thing in the morning, before checking email, voice mail, Facebook, or Twitter. By making marketing the first thing you do, you'll also make sure it gets done.
Remember, whenever you react to others, you are usually helping them achieve their goals. But when you proactively set your own agenda, you are most likely working toward yours.
Copyright © 2009, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
7 Tips on How to Use PCs to Protect Yourself Against Scammers
Using the Internet and PC tools to Protect You
The Internet is teeming with sites that claim to help you avoid scams. But you have to be careful because many of those same sites are either out to trick you into thinking you're already a victim or to charge you for services you don't need.
But there are 7 failsafe Internet actions and PC tools you should be using to limit the risk of getting scammed.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
The Internet is teeming with sites that claim to help you avoid scams. But you have to be careful because many of those same sites are either out to trick you into thinking you're already a victim or to charge you for services you don't need.
But there are 7 failsafe Internet actions and PC tools you should be using to limit the risk of getting scammed.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Thursday, December 3, 2009
10 Celebrity Scam Tricks That Lurk Behind the Names of the Rich and Famous
The celebrity scam, which uses the names of famous people from the worlds of entertainment, sports and politics, is a common way of trying to hoodwink the public.
Mostly, names are used to make the scams seem more believable. If a star's name is attached to a story or product, it must be genuine, mustn't it? Or so the thinking goes...
Many of these tricks also fall into other well known scam categories, like supposed lottery wins, with the tricksters hoping use of a star's name will lower your natural skepticism. Others are less well known.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Mostly, names are used to make the scams seem more believable. If a star's name is attached to a story or product, it must be genuine, mustn't it? Or so the thinking goes...
Many of these tricks also fall into other well known scam categories, like supposed lottery wins, with the tricksters hoping use of a star's name will lower your natural skepticism. Others are less well known.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Digital Passport Use Fuels Identity Theft Concerns
Gotta digital passport card? Well, at the last count, more than a million Americans have already been issued with the new security cards, called U.S. Passport Cards, introduced in July of last year.
And no sooner had they arrived, than stories started hitting the Internet warning that the microchips on the devices could be read by scanners from 20 or 30 feet away.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
And no sooner had they arrived, than stories started hitting the Internet warning that the microchips on the devices could be read by scanners from 20 or 30 feet away.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Friday, November 20, 2009
How to Spot a Holiday Scam -- and Find Genuine Bargains
Bogus online stores and websites peddling cheap knock-offs of branded products masquerading as the real thing are at the top of the big holiday scams of 2009.
As we head into one of the busiest shopping and traveling periods of the year, it pays to wise up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas scam risks that the increasingly smart crooks have lined up.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
As we head into one of the busiest shopping and traveling periods of the year, it pays to wise up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas scam risks that the increasingly smart crooks have lined up.
Click Here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Alexa Updates Their Algorithm: Rankings Change
Written By Michael Fleischner
If you’re a big fan of Alexa rankings, you may have noticed some significant changes during the last few weeks. In fact, every website’s Alexa ranking has changed based on a new and improved ranking methodology.
When Alexa began displaying rankings about ten years ago, it was with the goal of showing Alexa Toolbar users how popular any given site was within the Alexa community. They generated the rankings through an analysis of Internet usage by people who use the Alexa Toolbar. Since that time they’ve seen that the Alexa Rankings have become a yardstick by which website popularity is measured. In recent months Alexa users thirst for knowledge beyond Internet usage outside of the Alexa Toolbar was increasingly of interest. This is the fundamental reason for a revision in Alexa methodology.
Alexa’s new rankings system is much closer to what users want. They now aggregate data from multiple sources to give everyone a better indication of website popularity among the entire population of Internet users.
Below are a few common questions Alexa anticipates from the Alexa community, along with their answers.
My site’s ranking has changed. Was it wrong before?
Your ranking wasn’t wrong before, but it was different. Alexa toolbar users’ interests and surfing habits could differ from those of the general population in a number of ways, and we described some of those possible differences on our website. While the vast majority of sites’ rankings were unaffected by such differences, we’ve worked hard on our new ranking system to adjust for situations in which they could matter.
The new rankings should better reflect the interests and surfing habits of the broader population of Web users.
Will Alexa change the rankings again?
Alexa is constantly working to ensure that we provide the most useful data that they can. They will continue to fine tune their algorithms but don’t foresee any additional big changes.
I liked the old rankings better. Are they still available somewhere?
A lot of people liked the old rankings. However, Alexa has developed the new system in response to the huge number of requests they received from users. Having more than one ranking system at a time would be confusing, so Alexa has removed the old rankings.
The change to the Alexa algorithm is a good thing. It’s much more comprehensive and accurate, expanding beyond the traditional Alexa panel. If you’ve checked your Alexa rankings since the change, you’ll notice a change in ranking – let’s hope you’ve benefited!
About the Author
Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert with more than 12 years of marketing experience. To see a marketing expert picture or discover how to improve search engine rankings on Google and other major search engines, visit http://improvesearchenginerankings.blogspot.com
If you’re a big fan of Alexa rankings, you may have noticed some significant changes during the last few weeks. In fact, every website’s Alexa ranking has changed based on a new and improved ranking methodology.
When Alexa began displaying rankings about ten years ago, it was with the goal of showing Alexa Toolbar users how popular any given site was within the Alexa community. They generated the rankings through an analysis of Internet usage by people who use the Alexa Toolbar. Since that time they’ve seen that the Alexa Rankings have become a yardstick by which website popularity is measured. In recent months Alexa users thirst for knowledge beyond Internet usage outside of the Alexa Toolbar was increasingly of interest. This is the fundamental reason for a revision in Alexa methodology.
Alexa’s new rankings system is much closer to what users want. They now aggregate data from multiple sources to give everyone a better indication of website popularity among the entire population of Internet users.
Below are a few common questions Alexa anticipates from the Alexa community, along with their answers.
My site’s ranking has changed. Was it wrong before?
Your ranking wasn’t wrong before, but it was different. Alexa toolbar users’ interests and surfing habits could differ from those of the general population in a number of ways, and we described some of those possible differences on our website. While the vast majority of sites’ rankings were unaffected by such differences, we’ve worked hard on our new ranking system to adjust for situations in which they could matter.
The new rankings should better reflect the interests and surfing habits of the broader population of Web users.
Will Alexa change the rankings again?
Alexa is constantly working to ensure that we provide the most useful data that they can. They will continue to fine tune their algorithms but don’t foresee any additional big changes.
I liked the old rankings better. Are they still available somewhere?
A lot of people liked the old rankings. However, Alexa has developed the new system in response to the huge number of requests they received from users. Having more than one ranking system at a time would be confusing, so Alexa has removed the old rankings.
The change to the Alexa algorithm is a good thing. It’s much more comprehensive and accurate, expanding beyond the traditional Alexa panel. If you’ve checked your Alexa rankings since the change, you’ll notice a change in ranking – let’s hope you’ve benefited!
About the Author
Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert with more than 12 years of marketing experience. To see a marketing expert picture or discover how to improve search engine rankings on Google and other major search engines, visit http://improvesearchenginerankings.blogspot.com
Is This A Bad Time To Market? by C.J. Hayden, MCC Nov. 12, 2008
Economic indicators are predicting a recession. Consumer and business spending are down; unemployment is up. The holiday season is almost upon us, traditionally a slow time for independent professionals. It’s natural to wonder whether perhaps this is a bad time to be marketing your business.
Since I’ve been self-employed for almost two decades now, I’ve seen several economic cycles – and many holiday seasons – come and go. What I notice about these “down” periods is that people who frequently struggle to get clients typically think these are bad times to market. On the other hand, people who have been consistently successful at landing clients seem to believe that there is never a bad time to market. Personally, I’d vote to follow the lead of those who are succeeding.
Professionals who have built successful long-term businesses have learned that continuing to market pays off in both the best of times and the worst of times. But you may not be able to produce new results by marketing in the same old way. Here are six suggestions for how to keep your marketing up when the overall business climate is down.
1. Turn up the volume. When people are distracted by bad news, economic concerns, or holiday plans, you may need to communicate more often or more visibly. Where an email might have done the job before, now you may need to pick up the phone or send a postcard. Instead of just one follow-up call, you may need to make two or three. If your business is slowing down, make use of the extra time you have available to ramp up all your marketing efforts.
2. Become a necessity. When clients are cutting back on discretionary spending, they need to perceive your services as essential. Look for ways to “dollarize” the value of your services. How can you help your clients save money, cut expenses, or work more efficiently? Will your services help them gain more customers, increase their income, or experience less stress in tough times? Tell your prospects exactly why they need you, and why they shouldn’t wait to get started.
3. Make use of your existing network. It’s always easier to get your foot in the door when someone is holding it open. In a slow market, referrals and introductions can be the key to getting new business. Seek out opportunities to propose repeat business with former clients, too. Uncertain times encourage more reliance on trusted sources and known quantities, so warm approaches and existing contacts will pay off better than cold calls or mass mailings.
4. Explore partnerships. Working with a partner can create more opportunities for both of you. By sharing contacts, you each increase the size of your network. Together, you can multiply your marketing efforts and share expenses. A partner with a complementary business can allow you to offer a more complete solution than your competitors can. A photographer could team up with a graphic designer, for example. And you can help keep each other’s spirits up, too.
5. Meet people where they are. In a down economy and at holiday time, prospects are even more price sensitive than usual. Instead of slashing your rates to get their business, propose a get-acquainted offer. A professional organizer or image consultant could offer a reduced price half-day package for new clients. A management consultant or executive coach could propose a staff seminar instead of consulting/coaching work. Once clients see you in action, they’ll be more willing to spend.
6. Find the silver linings. When companies cut back on staff, opportunities are created. With fewer people on the payroll to handle essential tasks, downsized organizations present possibilities for project work, interim assignments, and outsourced functions. Economic changes beget other needs. People who are out of work need resume writers and career coaches. Folks concerned about their finances need investment advisors and financial planners.
Landing clients during a down period requires not just more marketing, but more strategic marketing. So instead of getting depressed by the news, get inspired by it. When you hear about coming layoffs, consider how your services could benefit those companies. When you read about negative consumer attitudes, use those words to better target your marketing copy. When prospects say, “not this year,” craft a proposal that ensures your place in their 2009 budget.
For the successful independent professional, there’s no such thing as a bad time to market.
Copyright © 2004, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
Since I’ve been self-employed for almost two decades now, I’ve seen several economic cycles – and many holiday seasons – come and go. What I notice about these “down” periods is that people who frequently struggle to get clients typically think these are bad times to market. On the other hand, people who have been consistently successful at landing clients seem to believe that there is never a bad time to market. Personally, I’d vote to follow the lead of those who are succeeding.
Professionals who have built successful long-term businesses have learned that continuing to market pays off in both the best of times and the worst of times. But you may not be able to produce new results by marketing in the same old way. Here are six suggestions for how to keep your marketing up when the overall business climate is down.
1. Turn up the volume. When people are distracted by bad news, economic concerns, or holiday plans, you may need to communicate more often or more visibly. Where an email might have done the job before, now you may need to pick up the phone or send a postcard. Instead of just one follow-up call, you may need to make two or three. If your business is slowing down, make use of the extra time you have available to ramp up all your marketing efforts.
2. Become a necessity. When clients are cutting back on discretionary spending, they need to perceive your services as essential. Look for ways to “dollarize” the value of your services. How can you help your clients save money, cut expenses, or work more efficiently? Will your services help them gain more customers, increase their income, or experience less stress in tough times? Tell your prospects exactly why they need you, and why they shouldn’t wait to get started.
3. Make use of your existing network. It’s always easier to get your foot in the door when someone is holding it open. In a slow market, referrals and introductions can be the key to getting new business. Seek out opportunities to propose repeat business with former clients, too. Uncertain times encourage more reliance on trusted sources and known quantities, so warm approaches and existing contacts will pay off better than cold calls or mass mailings.
4. Explore partnerships. Working with a partner can create more opportunities for both of you. By sharing contacts, you each increase the size of your network. Together, you can multiply your marketing efforts and share expenses. A partner with a complementary business can allow you to offer a more complete solution than your competitors can. A photographer could team up with a graphic designer, for example. And you can help keep each other’s spirits up, too.
5. Meet people where they are. In a down economy and at holiday time, prospects are even more price sensitive than usual. Instead of slashing your rates to get their business, propose a get-acquainted offer. A professional organizer or image consultant could offer a reduced price half-day package for new clients. A management consultant or executive coach could propose a staff seminar instead of consulting/coaching work. Once clients see you in action, they’ll be more willing to spend.
6. Find the silver linings. When companies cut back on staff, opportunities are created. With fewer people on the payroll to handle essential tasks, downsized organizations present possibilities for project work, interim assignments, and outsourced functions. Economic changes beget other needs. People who are out of work need resume writers and career coaches. Folks concerned about their finances need investment advisors and financial planners.
Landing clients during a down period requires not just more marketing, but more strategic marketing. So instead of getting depressed by the news, get inspired by it. When you hear about coming layoffs, consider how your services could benefit those companies. When you read about negative consumer attitudes, use those words to better target your marketing copy. When prospects say, “not this year,” craft a proposal that ensures your place in their 2009 budget.
For the successful independent professional, there’s no such thing as a bad time to market.
Copyright © 2004, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saying Thanks Is Good Marketing by C.J. Hayden, MCC
Never underestimate the power of a thank you. Recently, I thanked someone for helping me solve a technical problem. She replied to my note of thanks by inviting me as a guest speaker for a group she chairs. I didn't even know she chaired this group and had never considered speaking there. This speaking opportunity would never have occurred if I hadn't taken a moment to say thanks. It started me thinking about how often saying thank you turns into paying business.
Here in the U.S., it's Thanksgiving month, when we often pause to reflect on our gratitude. So it's an excellent time to consider seven ways of saying thank you that can bring you more clients.
1. Thank those who refer clients. When you thank people for sending referrals your way, several positive results ensue. Being thanked encourages them to send more referrals, as they know you appreciate them. Expressing thanks gives you a reason to get in touch with them, find out what they are up to, and let them know what you're doing these days, which is always good for business. It also shows them that you are a professional who follows up and follows through.
2. Thank those who refer prospects who never become clients. Referrals that don't result in business may seem as if they don't warrant thanks. But it's essential that you thank people every time they refer. When a referral doesn't turn into a client because he or she chooses someone else, the two of you aren't a good fit, or you're too busy, the prospect frequently tells the referrer that "it didn't work out." As a result, that referrer is unlikely to send you any more business.
Instead, say thanks for every prospect, no matter what happens. It you end up not working with that person, tell the referrer why. If the referral wasn't on target for your business, say more about who would be a good client for you. If you're too busy, explain that it's only temporary and future referrals would be welcome. And if the prospect chose someone else, express thanks for the great opportunity and that you'd appreciate more just like it.
3. Thank your clients. Even when you are interacting with clients daily, taking a moment to thank them for their continued trust will increase their respect for you, boost their loyalty, and encourage them to refer others. Thanking past clients for the work you did together is often a much more powerful and gracious way to stimulate repeat business or new referrals than asking for those outcomes directly.
4. Thank the leaders of groups you belong to. Association officers, program and membership chairs, and special interest group leaders deserve your thanks for the hard work they do. And, these high-profile individuals are often asked to refer someone with a particular specialty for an interview, speaking engagement, or business opportunity. Expressing your thanks gives you a chance to get better acquainted with them so they'll think of you first.
5. Thank people who mention you in articles, blogs, and social networks. It has happened to me more times than I can count that I have thanked people for mentioning me or my work in an article or Facebook, Twitter, or blog post, and they have replied by asking me to speak for their group, be interviewed for an article, or contribute to their blog. Saying thank you increases the affinity between you and those you thank. It makes them want to find other ways to engage with you.
6. Thank those who provide good service. A lovely way to thank people who serve you and your business is to offer a testimonial they can use in their own marketing. Making your thanks public can result in higher name recognition for you and your business, inbound links to your website or social networking profile, and sometimes even gains you priority service because the recipient of your testimonial wants to keep your goodwill.
7. Thank prominent people who inspire you. Those who generously give of their time to help and inspire others are seldom thanked enough for their efforts. When you go out of your way to give thanks, you'll stand out and be remembered, adding influential people like these to your personal network.
So many ways to give thanks may suggest that you could spend your whole day thanking people, and that's not a bad thought. Saying thank you isn't just a nice thing to do, it's a practical approach to strengthening relationships, encouraging referrals, staying in touch with your network, and reminding people what your business is about. With thank yous leading to business in so many ways, perhaps they should become a significant part of your marketing strategy.
And by the way, thank you for reading this article, buying my book, and sending referrals my way! I appreciate your trust and look forward to serving you for another year.
Copyright © 2004, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
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Here in the U.S., it's Thanksgiving month, when we often pause to reflect on our gratitude. So it's an excellent time to consider seven ways of saying thank you that can bring you more clients.
1. Thank those who refer clients. When you thank people for sending referrals your way, several positive results ensue. Being thanked encourages them to send more referrals, as they know you appreciate them. Expressing thanks gives you a reason to get in touch with them, find out what they are up to, and let them know what you're doing these days, which is always good for business. It also shows them that you are a professional who follows up and follows through.
2. Thank those who refer prospects who never become clients. Referrals that don't result in business may seem as if they don't warrant thanks. But it's essential that you thank people every time they refer. When a referral doesn't turn into a client because he or she chooses someone else, the two of you aren't a good fit, or you're too busy, the prospect frequently tells the referrer that "it didn't work out." As a result, that referrer is unlikely to send you any more business.
Instead, say thanks for every prospect, no matter what happens. It you end up not working with that person, tell the referrer why. If the referral wasn't on target for your business, say more about who would be a good client for you. If you're too busy, explain that it's only temporary and future referrals would be welcome. And if the prospect chose someone else, express thanks for the great opportunity and that you'd appreciate more just like it.
3. Thank your clients. Even when you are interacting with clients daily, taking a moment to thank them for their continued trust will increase their respect for you, boost their loyalty, and encourage them to refer others. Thanking past clients for the work you did together is often a much more powerful and gracious way to stimulate repeat business or new referrals than asking for those outcomes directly.
4. Thank the leaders of groups you belong to. Association officers, program and membership chairs, and special interest group leaders deserve your thanks for the hard work they do. And, these high-profile individuals are often asked to refer someone with a particular specialty for an interview, speaking engagement, or business opportunity. Expressing your thanks gives you a chance to get better acquainted with them so they'll think of you first.
5. Thank people who mention you in articles, blogs, and social networks. It has happened to me more times than I can count that I have thanked people for mentioning me or my work in an article or Facebook, Twitter, or blog post, and they have replied by asking me to speak for their group, be interviewed for an article, or contribute to their blog. Saying thank you increases the affinity between you and those you thank. It makes them want to find other ways to engage with you.
6. Thank those who provide good service. A lovely way to thank people who serve you and your business is to offer a testimonial they can use in their own marketing. Making your thanks public can result in higher name recognition for you and your business, inbound links to your website or social networking profile, and sometimes even gains you priority service because the recipient of your testimonial wants to keep your goodwill.
7. Thank prominent people who inspire you. Those who generously give of their time to help and inspire others are seldom thanked enough for their efforts. When you go out of your way to give thanks, you'll stand out and be remembered, adding influential people like these to your personal network.
So many ways to give thanks may suggest that you could spend your whole day thanking people, and that's not a bad thought. Saying thank you isn't just a nice thing to do, it's a practical approach to strengthening relationships, encouraging referrals, staying in touch with your network, and reminding people what your business is about. With thank yous leading to business in so many ways, perhaps they should become a significant part of your marketing strategy.
And by the way, thank you for reading this article, buying my book, and sending referrals my way! I appreciate your trust and look forward to serving you for another year.
Copyright © 2004, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
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Sports Scam Artists Play for High Stakes
Since probably more than half the population has an interest in sports, it's no surprise that various types of sports scams are equally widespread.
In fact, the growth of the Internet has contributed significantly to the increasing incidence of one of the most common variations -- the sports betting scam.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
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In fact, the growth of the Internet has contributed significantly to the increasing incidence of one of the most common variations -- the sports betting scam.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Stephen Trantel Wall Street Insider Serial Bank Robber July 12, 2009
A Wall Street trader, Stepen Trantel, lived a secret life as a serial bank robber.
Stephen was on top of the world. He had worked for a trading company but was now self-employed, betting his own money, on the future price of oil.
Stephen said in his best year he made about $300,000 and thought he could finally afford to buy his wife Jeanne the house of her dreams. “Bought the bigger nicer house in Rockville Centre and we were on our way you know. Just didn’t plan enough ahead,” he admits.
The mortgage and other expenses had tripled. There were fancy cars, private pre-school, and Stephen was struggling to keep up with the bills.
As his troubles and debts mounted, Stephen decided not to tell Jeanne or anyone else how bad things had become. On top of that, his mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Stephen’s attention became divided, and he began to lose big money. He says he probably lost well over $200,000.
He had to do something, so he joined a prayer group.
“Stephen would be at the prayer group every week,” remembers family friend Pat Reynolds. “He eventually stopped coming and I wondered why. And I asked him and he said every time he would come on a Tuesday and pray for financial success he would go to work Wednesday and get crushed. He would lose more money than ever.”
Read more details here.
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Stephen was on top of the world. He had worked for a trading company but was now self-employed, betting his own money, on the future price of oil.
Stephen said in his best year he made about $300,000 and thought he could finally afford to buy his wife Jeanne the house of her dreams. “Bought the bigger nicer house in Rockville Centre and we were on our way you know. Just didn’t plan enough ahead,” he admits.
The mortgage and other expenses had tripled. There were fancy cars, private pre-school, and Stephen was struggling to keep up with the bills.
As his troubles and debts mounted, Stephen decided not to tell Jeanne or anyone else how bad things had become. On top of that, his mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Stephen’s attention became divided, and he began to lose big money. He says he probably lost well over $200,000.
He had to do something, so he joined a prayer group.
“Stephen would be at the prayer group every week,” remembers family friend Pat Reynolds. “He eventually stopped coming and I wondered why. And I asked him and he said every time he would come on a Tuesday and pray for financial success he would go to work Wednesday and get crushed. He would lose more money than ever.”
Read more details here.
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BlackBerry Tour 9630 Reviews July 14, 2009
The BlackBerry Tour 9630 by Research in Motion (RIM) has been reviewed as the best CDMA BlackBerry smartphone available.
Two reviewers called the BlackBerry Tour “the best Verison smartphone,” while one just wrote that the BlackBerry Tour is the “no-brainer” choice for CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks.
The reviewers liked the QWERTY (the most used modern-day keyboard layout) keyboard, sharp, crisp screen, standard 3.5 mm headphone jack and push email.
The BlackBerry Tour is a world smartphone with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Moduale) that will work in 220 countries on GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) networks with a Verizon SIM that is pre-installed or an added SIM.
Many reviewers also liked the integration of contacts calendar with social networking services such as Facebook and Myspace.
Lack of Wi-Fi was a major fault of the BlackBerry Tour found by reviewers. Wi-Fi should be coming in later models. The camera was not highly rated for shutter delay and quality of the auto focus. And the video capture had a few glitches. Call quality and battery life were reviewed from good to excellent.
Read more details here.
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Two reviewers called the BlackBerry Tour “the best Verison smartphone,” while one just wrote that the BlackBerry Tour is the “no-brainer” choice for CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks.
The reviewers liked the QWERTY (the most used modern-day keyboard layout) keyboard, sharp, crisp screen, standard 3.5 mm headphone jack and push email.
The BlackBerry Tour is a world smartphone with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Moduale) that will work in 220 countries on GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) networks with a Verizon SIM that is pre-installed or an added SIM.
Many reviewers also liked the integration of contacts calendar with social networking services such as Facebook and Myspace.
Lack of Wi-Fi was a major fault of the BlackBerry Tour found by reviewers. Wi-Fi should be coming in later models. The camera was not highly rated for shutter delay and quality of the auto focus. And the video capture had a few glitches. Call quality and battery life were reviewed from good to excellent.
Read more details here.
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MyBlackberry Social Network July 14, 2009
Research in Motion (RIM) is launching MyBlackberry, a social network community July 14, 2009 for device owners to rate and review applications. This will be the first officially-sanctioned online space for BlackBerry fanatics.
MyBlackBerry will feature three basic social features.
Personal profiles for MyBlackBerry users will apparently center on the device you own. Level of detail and user profiling is up in the air at this point.
A key feature of MyBlackBerry will be ratings and reviews of applications. Reviews should become an important outlet for BlackBerry application developers.
Community forums is another feature of MyBlackberry where a threaded conversation can take place among BlackBerry owners for mutual support.
Read more details here.
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MyBlackBerry will feature three basic social features.
Personal profiles for MyBlackBerry users will apparently center on the device you own. Level of detail and user profiling is up in the air at this point.
A key feature of MyBlackBerry will be ratings and reviews of applications. Reviews should become an important outlet for BlackBerry application developers.
Community forums is another feature of MyBlackberry where a threaded conversation can take place among BlackBerry owners for mutual support.
Read more details here.
Bookmark & Share
BEING UNIQUE IS A GOOD THING… ISN’T IT? C.J. Hayden, MCC July 17, 2009
New entrepreneurs frequently hear the advice to “be unique” in their marketing. The basic idea is a valuable one — to get attention in a crowded marketplace, you must stand out in some way. Distinguishing your product or service from the competition can make your marketing more effective. Crafting a novel marketing message can attract the notice of more potential customers.
There’s no question that an element of uniqueness in your marketing can make your business more memorable, competitive, and special to your target audience. These are all reasons why being different can be good. But how different should you be?
A student in one of my classes had noticed there were no display ads for management consultants in his local Yellow Pages. “What a great opportunity,” he thought, “to make my business stand out to prospective clients.” He spent over $200 per month on a large ad for a full year. The result was not a single phone call, unless you count the ones from vendors trying to sell him photocopiers and phone systems.
He had neglected to ask his consulting colleagues WHY none of them had ads in the Yellow Pages. It seemed like a good idea to him, and no one else was doing it, so he pulled out his checkbook. What never occurred to him — and what any experienced colleague could have told him — was that companies don’t choose management consultants from ads in the phone book.
Sometimes you can be too unique for your own good. There’s a lot in sales and marketing that is tried and true. If you decide to forge a completely new trail, you may be attempting an experiment that many others in your field have already tried with no success.
It’s not always just your marketing techniques that are a little too different. The same problem can afflict the product or service you are marketing.
I met a fellow while networking who had a “unique process” for helping companies resolve conflicts between employee groups. When I asked him to explain his process, he said I would have to experience it to understand it. I inquired how it compared to solutions like mediation or team building, and he told me it was a totally different approach that defied comparison.
Since I knew a company that needed help with a problem like the one he described, I would have liked to refer him. But I couldn’t picture myself calling my friend at the company to say, “Hi, I know someone who says he can fix your problem, but he can’t explain how. You’ll just have to hire him and see.”
Being noticeably different from the competition can help you attract customers and close sales. But claiming that you have no competition is naive. Comparisons to a known quantity can help prospective customers understand where your product or service fits in the range of solutions they are considering. If they can’t compare it to anything, it’s doubtful that they will be able to see how your offering could work.
Your market, too, needs to be a group of people who already exist and can be readily identified. A reader once wrote to ask me for some advice on getting her new book published. I asked what market category it fell into, and she replied that she hadn’t really thought about it.
I pressed her bit, explaining that her book needed to be categorized in order to be marketed and sold. Even something as simple as where to shelve it in a bookstore depended on having a category to print on the back cover. Was it self-help, spirituality, careers, business? Who did she see as the audience for her book?
She asserted that she was creating a new paradigm, and if I was going to help her, I needed to think more creatively. My reply was to tell her I couldn’t help her at all. Her idea may have been brilliant, but no publisher was going to touch her project.
Creating the perception that your product or service is one of a kind can help you capture people’s attention and make them remember you. But you have to be able to identify the people you want to reach and communicate how you can be of service in words they can understand.
You know those car commercials that go, “Zoom, zoom, zoom?” I had to see those ads dozens of times before I could remember that the car being advertised was a Mazda. “Zoom” was unique alright, but what did it have to do with Mazda? Or with the benefits of owning one? A catchy slogan like “Inspiration Beats Perspiration” may be clever and unusual, but what the heck is it marketing?
Definitely look for a unique way to express the benefits you offer to your clients, but make sure it still communicates what you actually do. It’s okay to get creative with your marketing, but don’t bet the rent money on untried techniques.
If you really want to make your marketing more effective, cheaper and less stressful, stop re-inventing the wheel. Find models that work and replicate them. I’m not suggesting that you plagiarize your competitors’ marketing copy, but when you see someone successful in your field, find out what they are doing right, and follow their lead.
Don’t let your business be a victim of “terminal uniqueness” — the belief that you are so different from anyone else that none of the rules apply to you. Being distinctive is good; being eccentric can be unwise.
Copyright © 2004, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
Bookmark & Share
There’s no question that an element of uniqueness in your marketing can make your business more memorable, competitive, and special to your target audience. These are all reasons why being different can be good. But how different should you be?
A student in one of my classes had noticed there were no display ads for management consultants in his local Yellow Pages. “What a great opportunity,” he thought, “to make my business stand out to prospective clients.” He spent over $200 per month on a large ad for a full year. The result was not a single phone call, unless you count the ones from vendors trying to sell him photocopiers and phone systems.
He had neglected to ask his consulting colleagues WHY none of them had ads in the Yellow Pages. It seemed like a good idea to him, and no one else was doing it, so he pulled out his checkbook. What never occurred to him — and what any experienced colleague could have told him — was that companies don’t choose management consultants from ads in the phone book.
Sometimes you can be too unique for your own good. There’s a lot in sales and marketing that is tried and true. If you decide to forge a completely new trail, you may be attempting an experiment that many others in your field have already tried with no success.
It’s not always just your marketing techniques that are a little too different. The same problem can afflict the product or service you are marketing.
I met a fellow while networking who had a “unique process” for helping companies resolve conflicts between employee groups. When I asked him to explain his process, he said I would have to experience it to understand it. I inquired how it compared to solutions like mediation or team building, and he told me it was a totally different approach that defied comparison.
Since I knew a company that needed help with a problem like the one he described, I would have liked to refer him. But I couldn’t picture myself calling my friend at the company to say, “Hi, I know someone who says he can fix your problem, but he can’t explain how. You’ll just have to hire him and see.”
Being noticeably different from the competition can help you attract customers and close sales. But claiming that you have no competition is naive. Comparisons to a known quantity can help prospective customers understand where your product or service fits in the range of solutions they are considering. If they can’t compare it to anything, it’s doubtful that they will be able to see how your offering could work.
Your market, too, needs to be a group of people who already exist and can be readily identified. A reader once wrote to ask me for some advice on getting her new book published. I asked what market category it fell into, and she replied that she hadn’t really thought about it.
I pressed her bit, explaining that her book needed to be categorized in order to be marketed and sold. Even something as simple as where to shelve it in a bookstore depended on having a category to print on the back cover. Was it self-help, spirituality, careers, business? Who did she see as the audience for her book?
She asserted that she was creating a new paradigm, and if I was going to help her, I needed to think more creatively. My reply was to tell her I couldn’t help her at all. Her idea may have been brilliant, but no publisher was going to touch her project.
Creating the perception that your product or service is one of a kind can help you capture people’s attention and make them remember you. But you have to be able to identify the people you want to reach and communicate how you can be of service in words they can understand.
You know those car commercials that go, “Zoom, zoom, zoom?” I had to see those ads dozens of times before I could remember that the car being advertised was a Mazda. “Zoom” was unique alright, but what did it have to do with Mazda? Or with the benefits of owning one? A catchy slogan like “Inspiration Beats Perspiration” may be clever and unusual, but what the heck is it marketing?
Definitely look for a unique way to express the benefits you offer to your clients, but make sure it still communicates what you actually do. It’s okay to get creative with your marketing, but don’t bet the rent money on untried techniques.
If you really want to make your marketing more effective, cheaper and less stressful, stop re-inventing the wheel. Find models that work and replicate them. I’m not suggesting that you plagiarize your competitors’ marketing copy, but when you see someone successful in your field, find out what they are doing right, and follow their lead.
Don’t let your business be a victim of “terminal uniqueness” — the belief that you are so different from anyone else that none of the rules apply to you. Being distinctive is good; being eccentric can be unwise.
Copyright © 2004, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
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Texas Instruments (TXN) 2Q Profit Down July 20, 2009
Texas Instruments Inc.’s (TXN) second-quarter (2Q) profit dropped 56% on lower sales and margins.
TXN or TI revenue grew from the first quarter on strong analog chip sales and a seasonal increase in sales of its calculators.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin March said that demand in the United States and Europe remain weak.
“In Asia and China, in particular, with the stimulus plan, there does seem to be signs of increased demand,” he said.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE(New York Stock Exchange): TXN report, combined with an outlook for the current quarter that topped Wall Street expectations, follow encouraging results from chip giant Intel Corp. (INTC) last week and offers more hope that conditions in the semiconductor sector are improving.
TI or TXN shares have reflected that improvement, rising 75% from their seven-year low in December and trading at their highest level since last September. However, in after-hours trading, the stock fell 1.4% to $23.31 following the company’s earnings release.
Chief Executive Rich Templeton said TI or TXN is seeing “healthy trends” in its profitability, but “it will likely take some time before the economy strengthens.” He added that revenue is also more closely tracing demand after two quarters of severe inventory corrections.
Read more details here.
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TXN or TI revenue grew from the first quarter on strong analog chip sales and a seasonal increase in sales of its calculators.
Chief Financial Officer Kevin March said that demand in the United States and Europe remain weak.
“In Asia and China, in particular, with the stimulus plan, there does seem to be signs of increased demand,” he said.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE(New York Stock Exchange): TXN report, combined with an outlook for the current quarter that topped Wall Street expectations, follow encouraging results from chip giant Intel Corp. (INTC) last week and offers more hope that conditions in the semiconductor sector are improving.
TI or TXN shares have reflected that improvement, rising 75% from their seven-year low in December and trading at their highest level since last September. However, in after-hours trading, the stock fell 1.4% to $23.31 following the company’s earnings release.
Chief Executive Rich Templeton said TI or TXN is seeing “healthy trends” in its profitability, but “it will likely take some time before the economy strengthens.” He added that revenue is also more closely tracing demand after two quarters of severe inventory corrections.
Read more details here.
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Horses, Dogs, Birds Targeted in 5 New Animal Scams July 25, 2009
With pets in two out of three American households, lucrative animal scams have a huge potential target.
From drugging difficult horses before selling them and dumping unwanted ones on unsuspecting stable owners, to phony DNA tests and bogus certification, there’s no end to the tricks.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
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From drugging difficult horses before selling them and dumping unwanted ones on unsuspecting stable owners, to phony DNA tests and bogus certification, there’s no end to the tricks.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
Layoffs, Palm Pre Coming to Verizon July 28, 2009
This recession is a long way from over if Verizon’s latest earnings are anything to judge by. Reporting second-quarter earnings that were a penny better than the 62 cents per share Wall Street had been expecting, the company said it suffered a nasty 21 percent drop in profit thanks to the econalypse, which is pinching enterprise customers pretty hard these days.
Click here to read more.
Digital Daily
by John Paczkowski
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Click here to read more.
Digital Daily
by John Paczkowski
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SMS Hack Can Hijack iPhone Easy July 31, 2009
Security researcher, Charlie Miller discovered the SMS Hack of iPhone a month ago. Miller and fellow researcher Collin Mulliner will make the discovery public at today’s Black Hat cyber security conference in Las Vegas, where hosts and attendees exchange information on Internet threats and security.
The hackers could use this technique to take control of Apple Inc. computers and iPhone’s in order to steal data, disproving the long believed theory that Apple products are more secure than PCs.
The hack involves sending a series of SMS messages to hijack the iPhone. At that point, the hacker could make calls, steal data, send text messages, and basically control all functions of the phone. The hacker could even use it to hijack more iPhones.
Charlie Miller told Forbes:
“This is serious. The only thing you can do to prevent it is turn off your phone. Someone could pretty quickly take over every iPhone in the world with this.”
That is a bit of an exaggeration. First a hacker would have to know the appropriate phone numbers to use to hack an iPhone.
The researchers also found a similar “remote control” texting bug in Windows Mobile, and other bugs in Android and the iPhone that can let hackers boot the phones off the network.
Miller and Mulliner also found a hole in the iPhone’s Safari browser way back in 2007 when it was first launched.
Get More Details Here on SMS Hack of iPhone
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The hackers could use this technique to take control of Apple Inc. computers and iPhone’s in order to steal data, disproving the long believed theory that Apple products are more secure than PCs.
The hack involves sending a series of SMS messages to hijack the iPhone. At that point, the hacker could make calls, steal data, send text messages, and basically control all functions of the phone. The hacker could even use it to hijack more iPhones.
Charlie Miller told Forbes:
“This is serious. The only thing you can do to prevent it is turn off your phone. Someone could pretty quickly take over every iPhone in the world with this.”
That is a bit of an exaggeration. First a hacker would have to know the appropriate phone numbers to use to hack an iPhone.
The researchers also found a similar “remote control” texting bug in Windows Mobile, and other bugs in Android and the iPhone that can let hackers boot the phones off the network.
Miller and Mulliner also found a hole in the iPhone’s Safari browser way back in 2007 when it was first launched.
Get More Details Here on SMS Hack of iPhone
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Tutor Scam Alert for Work-Seekers August 5, 2009
A recent email from streetwise Scambusters’ subscriber Scott about a tutor-help-wanted ad he answered in Craigslist put us on the trail of tutor scams for this week’s issue.
We weren’t surprised to uncover multiple variations of basically the same theme, along with a number of other, different tutoring scams — all aimed at taking money for nothing.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
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We weren’t surprised to uncover multiple variations of basically the same theme, along with a number of other, different tutoring scams — all aimed at taking money for nothing.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
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Affiliate Marketing: Succeed Online by Michael Fleischner
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways for website owners to earn some extra cash. Millions of products are sold each and everyday online, and with each transaction, many individuals earn a commission.
So how can you get a piece of this ever-increasing affiliate product pie?
Simply stick to the tried-and-tested methods that have worked for many years and still continue to work well in the affiliate marketing world of today – you’ll be sure to win! With the top three affiliate marketing strategies given here, you will be in a very good position to increase your sales and be successful in the amazingly profitable sphere of today’s affiliate marketing programs online.
1. Having unique web pages to promote each separa
te product you are marketing. Do not just throw them all in ‘en masse’ to save a little money on web hosting.It is desirable to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.
Actually, having said that, there are quite a few web hosting companies that will allow you to host Unlimited Domains on your account – so hosting charges should not be a problem if you go down that road.Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial appreciation on what the products can do for those who purchase them.
Try to include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure, however, that these customers are willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.
You can also write articles displaying the uses of the product and include them on the website as additional pages. Try to make the pages attractive and compelling. Also, don’t forget to include a few requests for them to act on the information.
Each headline should attract the readers and encourage them to try and discover more, possibly even to contact you. Draw attention to your product’s special points. This will help your readers to learn what your page is about and will possibly make them want to find out more.
2. Offer free reports to your readers. If possible, locate them at the very top of your page so they simply cannot be missed.Try to create personal-type auto responder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign-up box.
According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospective client.Only one of two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: a) a closed sale or b) the prospect leaving the web page never to return again.By placing useful information into their in-boxes at certain specified periods, you will later remind them of the product they were interested in and may find out that the sale is soon closed.
Do make sure that the content of your messages is directed toward specific reasons for buying the product. Never ever make it sound like a sales pitch.Focus on important points showing how your product can make life easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email.
As much as possible, avoid having the word “free” in there because some of the earlier spam filters dump those kind of contents straight into the junk so no-one even gets the chance to read them beforehand.Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing out on something big if they do not take advantage of your products and services.
3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product. Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in what you are promoting, they will be among those who move on and never come again.
Write articles for publication in e-zines and e-reports. This way you can locate publications that are focusing on your target customers and what you have put up might just grab their interest. Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 300-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.
Always try to remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or subscribe to your services. If you can generate as many as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, this means that you can make 10 sales, based on the average statistics.
The methods defined above are not really difficult at all to do, if you think about it. It just involves a small amount of time and a definite plan of action on your part.Try to use these tips for several affiliate marketing programs. You can end up doing something that not every affiliate marketer can do and that is, maintaining a really good source of income and being successful in this business. Besides, when you become successful, think of those regular massive pay-checks you will be receiving!
About the Author
Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert and owner of The Marketing Blog. Learn how to improve search engine rankings with The Webmaster’s Book of Secrets.
Bookmark & Share
So how can you get a piece of this ever-increasing affiliate product pie?
Simply stick to the tried-and-tested methods that have worked for many years and still continue to work well in the affiliate marketing world of today – you’ll be sure to win! With the top three affiliate marketing strategies given here, you will be in a very good position to increase your sales and be successful in the amazingly profitable sphere of today’s affiliate marketing programs online.
1. Having unique web pages to promote each separa
te product you are marketing. Do not just throw them all in ‘en masse’ to save a little money on web hosting.It is desirable to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.
Actually, having said that, there are quite a few web hosting companies that will allow you to host Unlimited Domains on your account – so hosting charges should not be a problem if you go down that road.Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial appreciation on what the products can do for those who purchase them.
Try to include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure, however, that these customers are willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.
You can also write articles displaying the uses of the product and include them on the website as additional pages. Try to make the pages attractive and compelling. Also, don’t forget to include a few requests for them to act on the information.
Each headline should attract the readers and encourage them to try and discover more, possibly even to contact you. Draw attention to your product’s special points. This will help your readers to learn what your page is about and will possibly make them want to find out more.
2. Offer free reports to your readers. If possible, locate them at the very top of your page so they simply cannot be missed.Try to create personal-type auto responder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign-up box.
According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospective client.Only one of two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: a) a closed sale or b) the prospect leaving the web page never to return again.By placing useful information into their in-boxes at certain specified periods, you will later remind them of the product they were interested in and may find out that the sale is soon closed.
Do make sure that the content of your messages is directed toward specific reasons for buying the product. Never ever make it sound like a sales pitch.Focus on important points showing how your product can make life easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email.
As much as possible, avoid having the word “free” in there because some of the earlier spam filters dump those kind of contents straight into the junk so no-one even gets the chance to read them beforehand.Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing out on something big if they do not take advantage of your products and services.
3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product. Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in what you are promoting, they will be among those who move on and never come again.
Write articles for publication in e-zines and e-reports. This way you can locate publications that are focusing on your target customers and what you have put up might just grab their interest. Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 300-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.
Always try to remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or subscribe to your services. If you can generate as many as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, this means that you can make 10 sales, based on the average statistics.
The methods defined above are not really difficult at all to do, if you think about it. It just involves a small amount of time and a definite plan of action on your part.Try to use these tips for several affiliate marketing programs. You can end up doing something that not every affiliate marketer can do and that is, maintaining a really good source of income and being successful in this business. Besides, when you become successful, think of those regular massive pay-checks you will be receiving!
About the Author
Michael Fleischner is an Internet marketing expert and owner of The Marketing Blog. Learn how to improve search engine rankings with The Webmaster’s Book of Secrets.
Bookmark & Share
If Affiliate Marketing is tough for you, see the easy side.
I have discovered a completely cool site that helps affiliate marketing novices get on the road to success. And this is not any old marketing site. It is designed specifically to make affiliate marketing easier for its users.
If you are "no good" at affiliate marketing like I am, this is the right place for you.
I never would have thought of looking at this site, except that my trusted friend from my social network of 5 years told me about how good this place was. I would have passed it up as a scam or fly-by-night scheme if I had not paid attention to it.
This place is called ACME People Search
You create your own niche people search engine here, And you can get 8 income streams going all at once. Tissa the APS(ACME People Search)owner will help you get started for free for one month. Then after that you can still get your fees paid by Tissa if you become a super sponsor in the ACME People Search Forum.
I admire Tissa's site for requiring education. You can learn step by step how to market online at WAU (Wealthy Affiliate University.) They have a forum there where you can get help on many of the details about marketing online.
I give ACME People Search an A+ for effort on educating and helping it's newest affiliates.
Be prepared to do some work when signing up as an affiliate at APS.
Bookmark & Share
If you are "no good" at affiliate marketing like I am, this is the right place for you.
I never would have thought of looking at this site, except that my trusted friend from my social network of 5 years told me about how good this place was. I would have passed it up as a scam or fly-by-night scheme if I had not paid attention to it.
This place is called ACME People Search
You create your own niche people search engine here, And you can get 8 income streams going all at once. Tissa the APS(ACME People Search)owner will help you get started for free for one month. Then after that you can still get your fees paid by Tissa if you become a super sponsor in the ACME People Search Forum.
I admire Tissa's site for requiring education. You can learn step by step how to market online at WAU (Wealthy Affiliate University.) They have a forum there where you can get help on many of the details about marketing online.
I give ACME People Search an A+ for effort on educating and helping it's newest affiliates.
Be prepared to do some work when signing up as an affiliate at APS.
Bookmark & Share
Monday, October 19, 2009
Obama to Propose Strict New Regulation of Financial Industry June 17, 2009
This week the Obama administration will propose the most significant new regulation of the financial industry since the Great Depression which includes a new watchdog agency to look out for consumers’ interests.
The new plan is expected to be released Wednesday. Our government would have new powers to seize key companies like insurance giant American International Group Inc. whose failure jeopardizes the financial system. Currently, the government’s authority to seize companies is mostly limited to banks.
“We had a system that proved too unstable, too fragile. . . . Those are things we have to change,” Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Monday at an economic forum in New York.
In addition, the administration wants to impose regulation over the market for derivatives; the murky financial contracts used to hedge risky investments including new reporting and disclosure requirements. Institutions that originate loans would be required to retain 5% of the credit risk when the loans are turned into securities.
In the heat of the financial crisis last year, there were widespread calls for the government to merge several banking regulatory agencies into one to reduce gaps in oversight and stop what might be called “regulator shopping.”
For example, AIG was able to choose the Office of Thrift Supervision for its non-insurance financial business when it bought a small savings and loan in the late 1990s. That office has been viewed as a weaker regulator, and was strongly criticized in a government report this year for ignoring repeated warning signs about Pasadena-based IndyMac Bancorp before the thrift’s failure last summer.
Barbara Roper, director of investor protection for the Consumer Federation of America said, “I’m concerned that people think we’ve stepped back from the brink of disaster and so they’re not as committed to seeing real meaningful reforms adopted.”
Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist for the Financial Services Roundtable, which represents large financial institutions, said there was still a strong impetus in Washington for regulatory reform and dismissed the suggestion that the Obama administration had missed its chance to implement it.
“This has moved at lightning speed,” he said. “You’re talking about a historic piece of reform.”
Read more details here.
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The new plan is expected to be released Wednesday. Our government would have new powers to seize key companies like insurance giant American International Group Inc. whose failure jeopardizes the financial system. Currently, the government’s authority to seize companies is mostly limited to banks.
“We had a system that proved too unstable, too fragile. . . . Those are things we have to change,” Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said Monday at an economic forum in New York.
In addition, the administration wants to impose regulation over the market for derivatives; the murky financial contracts used to hedge risky investments including new reporting and disclosure requirements. Institutions that originate loans would be required to retain 5% of the credit risk when the loans are turned into securities.
In the heat of the financial crisis last year, there were widespread calls for the government to merge several banking regulatory agencies into one to reduce gaps in oversight and stop what might be called “regulator shopping.”
For example, AIG was able to choose the Office of Thrift Supervision for its non-insurance financial business when it bought a small savings and loan in the late 1990s. That office has been viewed as a weaker regulator, and was strongly criticized in a government report this year for ignoring repeated warning signs about Pasadena-based IndyMac Bancorp before the thrift’s failure last summer.
Barbara Roper, director of investor protection for the Consumer Federation of America said, “I’m concerned that people think we’ve stepped back from the brink of disaster and so they’re not as committed to seeing real meaningful reforms adopted.”
Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist for the Financial Services Roundtable, which represents large financial institutions, said there was still a strong impetus in Washington for regulatory reform and dismissed the suggestion that the Obama administration had missed its chance to implement it.
“This has moved at lightning speed,” he said. “You’re talking about a historic piece of reform.”
Read more details here.
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Business Bad for Nestle’s Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough June 20, 2009
The Nestle company is recalling an estimated 300,000 cases of the cookie dough as a precaution after reports of food-borne illnesses in 28 states.
The pre-made dough may be contaminated with the bacterium E. coli 0157:H7, which causes abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea, said the Food And Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Young children and the elderly are more effected by the bacterium E. coli.
“While the E. coli strain implicated in this investigation has not been detected in our product, the health and safety of our consumers is paramount, so we are initiating this voluntary recall,” stated Nestle.
According to Laurie MacDonald Nestle spokes woman, raw dough was one of the things the sick people reported eating.
“The health and safety of our consumers is our No. 1 priority,” she said. “We felt the best thing to do is a voluntary recall.”
She said Nestle was informed by the FDA Wednesday night “and immediately took action.”
“We really want to remind consumers that raw cookie dough should not be eaten,” said MacDonald.
The CDC says, 66 people have become sick in 28 states after eating raw cookie dough since March. Twenty-five people were hospitalized and no one has died.
The FDA and the CDC say people who have become sick after eating refrigerated Toll House cookie dough should contact their doctors.
Read more details here.
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The pre-made dough may be contaminated with the bacterium E. coli 0157:H7, which causes abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea, said the Food And Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Young children and the elderly are more effected by the bacterium E. coli.
“While the E. coli strain implicated in this investigation has not been detected in our product, the health and safety of our consumers is paramount, so we are initiating this voluntary recall,” stated Nestle.
According to Laurie MacDonald Nestle spokes woman, raw dough was one of the things the sick people reported eating.
“The health and safety of our consumers is our No. 1 priority,” she said. “We felt the best thing to do is a voluntary recall.”
She said Nestle was informed by the FDA Wednesday night “and immediately took action.”
“We really want to remind consumers that raw cookie dough should not be eaten,” said MacDonald.
The CDC says, 66 people have become sick in 28 states after eating raw cookie dough since March. Twenty-five people were hospitalized and no one has died.
The FDA and the CDC say people who have become sick after eating refrigerated Toll House cookie dough should contact their doctors.
Read more details here.
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Take the Right Steps to Prevent Identity Theft When Your PC is Replaced, Lost or Stolen June 27, 2009
There’s probably only one failsafe way to totally prevent identity theft when you sell or give away your computer. That’s by removing the hard drive first and putting it through a commercial crushing machine!
But maybe that’s a bit over-the-top for your needs, especially if you want to give away a complete system for someone else to use.
Click Here to read more.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
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But maybe that’s a bit over-the-top for your needs, especially if you want to give away a complete system for someone else to use.
Click Here to read more.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
Was whole economy a Ponzi scheme? June 30, 2009
LONDON — It was perhaps inevitable that we ended 2008, the year we learned we were up the creek, with a great financial scandal: the Madoff Ponzi case.
What is even more remarkable is the way in which the alleged fleecing of wealthy people and charities – investors who should have known better or employed people who did – of many billions of dollars serves as a mirror for the broader culture. It shows how we went wrong and where we are left, now that we realize our errors.
Click Here to read the full article.
By James Saft
The New York Times
Published: Thursday, January 1, 2009
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What is even more remarkable is the way in which the alleged fleecing of wealthy people and charities – investors who should have known better or employed people who did – of many billions of dollars serves as a mirror for the broader culture. It shows how we went wrong and where we are left, now that we realize our errors.
Click Here to read the full article.
By James Saft
The New York Times
Published: Thursday, January 1, 2009
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Cybercrime spreads on FacebookJune 30, 2009
Fraudsters prey on users who think the world’s top social networking site, Facebook, is a safe haven on the Internet.
Lisa Severens, a clinical trials manager from Worcester, Massachusetts, learned the hard way when a virus took control of her laptop and started sending pornographic photos to her colleagues.
“I was mortified about having to deal with it at work,” said Severens, whose employer had to replace her computer because the malicious software could not be removed.
Cybercrime costs U.S. companies and individuals billions of dollars a year. Scams target and exploit those naive to the dark side of social networking, security experts say.
MySpace was the most-popular hangout for cyber criminals two years ago. Experts say hackers are now entrenched on Facebook, whose membership has soared from 120 million in December to more than 200 million today.
“Facebook is the social network du jour. Attackers go where the people go. Always,” said Mary Landesman, a senior researcher at Web security company ScanSafe.
Scammers break into accounts posing as friends of users. They send spam that directs them to websites that steals personal information and spreads viruses. Hackers take control of infected PCs for identity theft, spamming and other mischief.
Read more details about Cybercrime on Facebook here.
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Lisa Severens, a clinical trials manager from Worcester, Massachusetts, learned the hard way when a virus took control of her laptop and started sending pornographic photos to her colleagues.
“I was mortified about having to deal with it at work,” said Severens, whose employer had to replace her computer because the malicious software could not be removed.
Cybercrime costs U.S. companies and individuals billions of dollars a year. Scams target and exploit those naive to the dark side of social networking, security experts say.
MySpace was the most-popular hangout for cyber criminals two years ago. Experts say hackers are now entrenched on Facebook, whose membership has soared from 120 million in December to more than 200 million today.
“Facebook is the social network du jour. Attackers go where the people go. Always,” said Mary Landesman, a senior researcher at Web security company ScanSafe.
Scammers break into accounts posing as friends of users. They send spam that directs them to websites that steals personal information and spreads viruses. Hackers take control of infected PCs for identity theft, spamming and other mischief.
Read more details about Cybercrime on Facebook here.
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Watch Out for Mortgage Reconstruction and Foreclosure Scams July 3, 2009
This issue focuses on avoiding foreclosure scams — and helping others do so as well. Although this issue is targeted to the US program, similar scams likely exist in other countries as well.
Mortgage reconstruction — on the face of it — sounds like a good step towards reversing the real estate market collapse: a government program to help up to 7 million Americans save their foreclosure-threatened homes by significantly lowering their repayments.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
Mortgage reconstruction — on the face of it — sounds like a good step towards reversing the real estate market collapse: a government program to help up to 7 million Americans save their foreclosure-threatened homes by significantly lowering their repayments.
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
SCAM: The Nigerian Advance Fee Scheme June 17, 2009
The Nigerian Advance Fee Scam has been around for quite awhile, but despite many warnings, continues to draw in many victims. In fact, the Financial Crimes Division of the Secret Service receives approximately 100 telephone calls from victims/ potential victims and 300-500 pieces of related correspondence per day about this scam!
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
Click here to read the full article.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
Senator John Ensign Announces Extramarital Affair June 17, 2009
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev) announced at a Las Vegas press conference Tuesday that he had an affair with a campaign aide who was married to another Ensign staffer.
“They both worked for me,” said Ensign.
“Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage,” said Ensign. “It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life. If there was ever anything in my life that I could take back, this would be it.”
The news was the latest setback for a Republican Party that suffered losses of at least 13 Senate seats in the past two elections.
It was unclear why Ensign decided to disclose the affair Tuesday. He took no questions from reporters at the news conference.
Ensign’s wife, Darlene, also released a statement about the affair.
“Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation. This has been difficult on both families. With the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger,” said Mrs. Ensign.
In his statement, Ensign indicated he will not resign his Senate seat, adding, “I know that I have hurt and disappointed my wife, Darlene, my children, my family, friends, my staff and all those who believed in me. To all of them, especially my wife, I am truly sorry.”
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“They both worked for me,” said Ensign.
“Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage,” said Ensign. “It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life. If there was ever anything in my life that I could take back, this would be it.”
The news was the latest setback for a Republican Party that suffered losses of at least 13 Senate seats in the past two elections.
It was unclear why Ensign decided to disclose the affair Tuesday. He took no questions from reporters at the news conference.
Ensign’s wife, Darlene, also released a statement about the affair.
“Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation. This has been difficult on both families. With the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger,” said Mrs. Ensign.
In his statement, Ensign indicated he will not resign his Senate seat, adding, “I know that I have hurt and disappointed my wife, Darlene, my children, my family, friends, my staff and all those who believed in me. To all of them, especially my wife, I am truly sorry.”
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Madoff Is Sentenced to 150 Years in Multibillion Dollar Ponzi Scheme June 30, 2009
Bernard Madoff was sentenced to prison today after he admitted to running one of the largest and longest financial frauds in recent history.
U.S. District Judge Denny Chin in Manhattan ordered Bernard Madoff who is 71 years old, to serve the statutory maximum sentence in prison of 150 years.
“Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff’s crimes were extraordinarily evil,” said Judge Chin.
“By giving this sentence the judge tried to send a clear message to victims he heard their pleas for justice,” said Paul Radvany, a Fordham University law professor. The judge also wanted to send a message to would-be Madoffs “you’ll face very serious consequences,” said Mr. Radvany.
The news about Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion ponzi scheme has some wondering what exactly is a ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme is a type of pyramid scheme that promises a huge return in a very short. The Ponzi scheme relies on giving big payouts to early investors to lure in new investors and using new investor money to pay off the early investors. If a Ponzi scheme is working the early investors will often reinvest their money in the corrupt scheme. The term originated with Charles Ponzi who bilked investors out of millions in the 1910s and early 1920s. At his peak Ponzi was bringing in $250,000 a day. Here’s an explanation from the U.S Securities and Exchange Commision.
Ponzi schemes are a type of illegal pyramid scheme named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands of New England residents into investing in a postage stamp speculation scheme back in the 1920s. Ponzi thought he could take advantage of differences between U.S. and foreign currencies used to buy and sell international mail coupons. Ponzi told investors that he could provide a 40% return in just 90 days compared with 5% for bank savings accounts. Ponzi was deluged with funds from investors, taking in $1 million during one three-hour period—and this was 1921! Though a few early investors were paid off to make the scheme look legitimate, an investigation found that Ponzi had only purchased about $30 worth of the international mail coupons.
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U.S. District Judge Denny Chin in Manhattan ordered Bernard Madoff who is 71 years old, to serve the statutory maximum sentence in prison of 150 years.
“Here the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff’s crimes were extraordinarily evil,” said Judge Chin.
“By giving this sentence the judge tried to send a clear message to victims he heard their pleas for justice,” said Paul Radvany, a Fordham University law professor. The judge also wanted to send a message to would-be Madoffs “you’ll face very serious consequences,” said Mr. Radvany.
The news about Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion ponzi scheme has some wondering what exactly is a ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme is a type of pyramid scheme that promises a huge return in a very short. The Ponzi scheme relies on giving big payouts to early investors to lure in new investors and using new investor money to pay off the early investors. If a Ponzi scheme is working the early investors will often reinvest their money in the corrupt scheme. The term originated with Charles Ponzi who bilked investors out of millions in the 1910s and early 1920s. At his peak Ponzi was bringing in $250,000 a day. Here’s an explanation from the U.S Securities and Exchange Commision.
Ponzi schemes are a type of illegal pyramid scheme named for Charles Ponzi, who duped thousands of New England residents into investing in a postage stamp speculation scheme back in the 1920s. Ponzi thought he could take advantage of differences between U.S. and foreign currencies used to buy and sell international mail coupons. Ponzi told investors that he could provide a 40% return in just 90 days compared with 5% for bank savings accounts. Ponzi was deluged with funds from investors, taking in $1 million during one three-hour period—and this was 1921! Though a few early investors were paid off to make the scheme look legitimate, an investigation found that Ponzi had only purchased about $30 worth of the international mail coupons.
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The Case of the Missing Referrals by C.J. Hayden, MCC
One day, the phone just stopped ringing. At first, you may not have noticed it. You were busy serving your clients, keeping up in your field, and getting the bills paid, like all good professionals do. But then a project ended or a client quit, and you didn't have a replacement waiting in the pipeline. Suddenly you realized that it had been quite some time since any new prospects were referred to you. Yikes, what's going on?
Whether you've been in business ten months or ten years, it can take you by surprise when referrals suddenly dry up. When business is thriving, referrals routinely arrive in one of two ways — either you hear from prospects who say they were referred by someone else, or people in your network pass along the name of prospects who need you. If neither of those things are happening, you have a problem. Without referrals, you'll have to work much harder to get new business.
But where have your referrals gone? You may need to put on your detective hat and do some sleuthing to find out. Here are some of the most common reasons why referrals disappear, and what you can do to get them back.
1. You've dropped out of sight. When was the last time you attended a networking event? Volunteered on a committee? Wrote an article? Spoke in public? Sure, you've been busy, but if you stop being visible in your target market or professional community, people forget about you.
Clues: The only appointments in your calendar are client meetings. When you run into colleagues, they say, "I haven't seen you in a long time."
Solution: No matter how busy you are with client work, make it a practice to do at least one thing each month that keeps you visible.
2. Your network has stopped expanding. When your contacts are limited to people you already know, your referrals are limited to only the people that they know. Without anyone new in the circle, there's nowhere for fresh referrals to come from.
Clues: You haven't added any new names to your contact database in months. You can't follow up with your network to stimulate more referrals, because you've already talked to everyone you know.
Solution: Ask the people you know to introduce you to any of their contacts who might be helpful. Spend some time getting to know these new folks. Then they will become your contacts, too, and your network will automatically expand.
3. You're networking with the wrong people. Perhaps your clients are consumers, but your networking contacts mostly have a corporate market. Or all your networking is through your professional association where most of the members are direct competitors.
Clues: You're in touch with many people on a regular basis, but no one is referring to you. When a referred prospect does contact you, their needs aren't a fit for what you do.
Solution: Identify categories of people who have regular contact with your target market, and are likely to encounter needs you can fill. For example, a small business accountant will be more likely to get referrals from networking with attorneys, financial planners, and bookkeepers than by spending time with corporate consultants, health practitioners, or other accountants.
4. People think you're too busy. When you give the impression you're overwhelmed with work, your contacts will stop referring to you. But if you wait for your workload to lighten before putting out the word you're ready for more, it will usually be too late.
Clues: You hear that one of your old referral sources sent business to a competitor. Someone tells you, "I thought you weren't taking new clients."
Solution: Return phone calls and emails from referred prospects promptly, even when you're too busy to help them. Refer them on to someone else you trust, then thank the person who sent them to you. This will encourage your contacts to keep referring in the future, as they know their referrals will always be taken care of.
The secret to avoiding the "feast or famine" cycle that plagues many professional service businesses is to stay visible instead of hunkering down in your office, and nurture your network even when you don't need it. In order to keep a constant flow of referrals coming, you need to give your referral-building activities the same high-quality, consistent attention you give your client work.
That way, you'll be able to focus your detective skills on solving problems for your clients instead of having to worry about where your next client is coming from.
Copyright © 2009, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
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Whether you've been in business ten months or ten years, it can take you by surprise when referrals suddenly dry up. When business is thriving, referrals routinely arrive in one of two ways — either you hear from prospects who say they were referred by someone else, or people in your network pass along the name of prospects who need you. If neither of those things are happening, you have a problem. Without referrals, you'll have to work much harder to get new business.
But where have your referrals gone? You may need to put on your detective hat and do some sleuthing to find out. Here are some of the most common reasons why referrals disappear, and what you can do to get them back.
1. You've dropped out of sight. When was the last time you attended a networking event? Volunteered on a committee? Wrote an article? Spoke in public? Sure, you've been busy, but if you stop being visible in your target market or professional community, people forget about you.
Clues: The only appointments in your calendar are client meetings. When you run into colleagues, they say, "I haven't seen you in a long time."
Solution: No matter how busy you are with client work, make it a practice to do at least one thing each month that keeps you visible.
2. Your network has stopped expanding. When your contacts are limited to people you already know, your referrals are limited to only the people that they know. Without anyone new in the circle, there's nowhere for fresh referrals to come from.
Clues: You haven't added any new names to your contact database in months. You can't follow up with your network to stimulate more referrals, because you've already talked to everyone you know.
Solution: Ask the people you know to introduce you to any of their contacts who might be helpful. Spend some time getting to know these new folks. Then they will become your contacts, too, and your network will automatically expand.
3. You're networking with the wrong people. Perhaps your clients are consumers, but your networking contacts mostly have a corporate market. Or all your networking is through your professional association where most of the members are direct competitors.
Clues: You're in touch with many people on a regular basis, but no one is referring to you. When a referred prospect does contact you, their needs aren't a fit for what you do.
Solution: Identify categories of people who have regular contact with your target market, and are likely to encounter needs you can fill. For example, a small business accountant will be more likely to get referrals from networking with attorneys, financial planners, and bookkeepers than by spending time with corporate consultants, health practitioners, or other accountants.
4. People think you're too busy. When you give the impression you're overwhelmed with work, your contacts will stop referring to you. But if you wait for your workload to lighten before putting out the word you're ready for more, it will usually be too late.
Clues: You hear that one of your old referral sources sent business to a competitor. Someone tells you, "I thought you weren't taking new clients."
Solution: Return phone calls and emails from referred prospects promptly, even when you're too busy to help them. Refer them on to someone else you trust, then thank the person who sent them to you. This will encourage your contacts to keep referring in the future, as they know their referrals will always be taken care of.
The secret to avoiding the "feast or famine" cycle that plagues many professional service businesses is to stay visible instead of hunkering down in your office, and nurture your network even when you don't need it. In order to keep a constant flow of referrals coming, you need to give your referral-building activities the same high-quality, consistent attention you give your client work.
That way, you'll be able to focus your detective skills on solving problems for your clients instead of having to worry about where your next client is coming from.
Copyright © 2009, C.J. Hayden
Read more free articles by C.J. Hayden or subscribe to the GET CLIENTS NOW! E-Letter.
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Smishing Scam
It's easy to guess what "smishing" is all about. It's the use of SMS messages -- texting -- as an aid to identity theft, which is still the number one cell phone scam.
The practice of sending text messages that claim your bank account or credit card has been blocked has been around for years, but obviously it still works well for the mobile phone scam artists, since police in both North America and Europe have reported a rise in incidents.
Click Here to read more.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
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The practice of sending text messages that claim your bank account or credit card has been blocked has been around for years, but obviously it still works well for the mobile phone scam artists, since police in both North America and Europe have reported a rise in incidents.
Click Here to read more.
©Copyright Audri and Jim Lanford. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission.
Subscribe free to Internet Scambusters at
http://www.scambusters.org
Bookmark & Share
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