Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly Newsletter

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Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #19 March 29, 2001
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
It's Time To Keep score of Your Business
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
Anyone For Darts?
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
It's Time To Keep score of Your Business

Tim Fulton is a nationally recognized small business
consultant and advocate. He has been involved in the field
of Entrepreneurship for the past twenty years as a
successful business owner, a small business counselor, and
a university professor.

Tim Fulton
TCF Business Development
(770) 350-9088

Editor's Comments: This is a very good article on keeping
your finger on the pulse of your business. Sound advice!
------------------------------------------------------------

Tim Fulton

I enjoy playing golf but it can be a very frustrating game.
For that reason, I typically do not keep score when I play
golf. I find that it makes the game more enjoyable when I
leave the scorecard and the half-pencil in the clubhouse. I
have also found that over the past three decades that I
have played golf, my game has not improved at all. If
anything, it has deteriorated over this time period. But
then it is hard to tell because I don't keep score.

Many small business owners manage their business just like
I play golf. They don't keep score. Their reasoning is very
similar to mine as well. They say it just makes running
their small enterprise that much more frustrating if they
must look at monthly financial statements or weekly sales
reports. In addition, since they work in the business every
day they know how the business is doing. What other
information could they possibly need?

When friends ask what I normally shoot when I play golf, I
usually respond with; "mid-nineties". That sounds pretty
good and it seems about right. The funny thing is that when
I do actually keep score, I usually shoot in the high-
nineties and low-hundreds. In other words, I don't score as
well as I presume I do.

Many small business owners think the same way. When I ask
the business owner questions about profit margins, sales
figures, specific ratios; I will either get a blank stare
(bad sign) or a rough estimate. Upon examining their
financial statements, I usually find that their "rough
estimates" are overstated (sometimes dramatically).

I tell small business owners that the question is not
whether they should be keeping score of their business or
not. What they are operating is not a leisurely walk in the
park slapping a silly white ball from tee to green. This is
their livelihood. This is their dream. This is their
business.

Instead, I inform them that the key question is what to
keep score of? What should they be measuring and monitoring
on a regular basis? How can they keep a pulse of their
business on a day-to-day basis?

My dad was an entrepreneur. He was not the owner of the
business but he had to think like an owner. He was in
charge of operating a large warehouse distribution center.
I can remember being in his office and always seeing a
small piece of notepaper (this was before "Post-Its") in
the upper front corner of his desk. On that piece of paper
there were three numbers scribbled down. On one occasion I
asked my dad what those numbers were. Little did I know at
that time that I was about to receive one of the best
business management lessons I ever received; in or out of
business school.

My dad responded that his bookkeeper brought him this sheet
of paper every day with three (3) numbers written on it.
The numbers included the past day's total sales, this day's
bank deposit, and the amount of accounts receivable
outstanding that particular day. He explained to me that
those three numbers gave him the "pulse" of the business
each and every day. This is how he kept score of his
business. Through his experience in managing this business,
he knew what to look for in these numbers. He knew what was
"below-par, par, and above-par". He knew when his business
"game" was on and when it was off. No guesswork here.

No one-day's number would cause a panic. He was more
concerned with patterns. Were sales increasing? Were
receivables under control? He had a mental chart of each of
these figures and would take action when action was
necessary.

In addition to these daily reports, he would also receive
weekly sales and inventory reports. He paid close attention
to the monthly financial statements when they arrived.
However, it was those daily reports that he relied upon
most and allowed him to best keep score of his business.
They were timely. They were accurate. They were critical
to his ability to successfully manage this multi-million
dollar operation.

What numbers should you be receiving every day? You decide.
Possibilities include sales figures, bank deposits,
inventory levels, employee timesheets, production reports,
accounts receivable, accounts payable, and profit margins.
Every industry has different areas of performance that need
to be looked at regularly.

I think three (3) is the magic number. Pick any three of
these numbers and watch them every single working day. That
is your mini-report card for the day. That is your
scorecard. Set reasonable standards for each figure and be
prepared to take action when necessary.

Keep score of your business and watch it improve and grow.

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From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

I'll keep it short this week. The new site will launch on
Monday! As promised, I will provide a link to a teaser so
you loyal readers can see. I wasn't sure what portion of
the site would be best and was about to settle on using the
"About Aaronz WebWorkz" section (a static one-page) when it
occurred to me..."It's previewing in the newsletter.
Right? So why not show off the newsletter section?!" So
here you go:
http://www.aaronzwebworkz.com/sneakpeek/

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
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"Hi Aaron,
Just an FYI about domain name slamming in a recent
newsletter. Apparently it is reaching serious levels and
GoDaddy is warning all their customers that Verisign
(Network Solutions) is trying to con them with misleading
domain expiration notices. I can attest to this because I
have gotten a few of these myself after switching. It
seems the battle of the registrars is just beginning! I
have already registered my complaint at the ICANN registar
complaint site
(http://www.internic.net/cgi/registrars/problem-report.cgi)

--Jim Sewell
Kingdom Unlimited Computing Services
http://www.KingdomUnlimited.com"

Thanks for the heads up, Jim!

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
Anyone For Darts?

Owner, Editor, Joe Bingham
Copyright 2001 All rights reserved
NetPlay Newsletters

Subscribe:
http://www.netplaynewsletters.com

Editor's Comments: Another great article from Joe Bingham.
------------------------------------------------------------

How many bull's-eyes are painted on your back?

Actually, there are probably so many on you, they would
have to cover your whole body, not just your back.

What am I talking about? Targeting.

It's important in business that you target the right kind
of people for marketing your product or opportunity, right?

Well, have you ever wondered how many others out there have
their sites on you?

Sometimes I think the Internet is like a big game of darts,
only the object of the game is simply to hit the board,
nothing else. When you do hit the board, you get points,
and those points translate into dollars.

Sounds simple, right?

It would be, except there are 30 million people constantly
throwing darts at the same time. Darts are flying
everywhere, bouncing off each other, sticking into
everything, and the sheer numbers of them completely blank
out any view of the board. Consequently, there is an area
about 100 feet in diameter that is covered in darts. Few
people really know where the board actually is, and fewer
still have ever seen the bull's-eye.

So, what happens? Well, with no one really knowing where
to shoot anymore, they try the following three tactics.

1 -- They throw blindly, hoping to hit eventually.
2 -- They recruit others to throw on their behalf, thereby
increasing the total number thrown and the chances of
hitting the mark.
3 -- They forget throwing, and begin to sell darts, "how to
throw darts" manuals, and maps of where to find the board
to those still convinced that throwing is worth the effort.

All this leaves me to wonder, does anyone out there really
know what we all started throwing darts at to begin with?

And where do people get the 'maps to the dart board' if
they haven't seen it themselves?

So basically what we have is people that have never thrown
darts, or have given up throwing darts, selling information
on how to throw darts to those still throwing darts. Plus
those throwing darts are acting blindly on the information
they buy, and recruiting others to throw blindly along with
them?

Well, I don't know about you, but it seems that no matter
what your dart throwing tactics are, you still not
guaranteed to hit anything simply because of the sheer
numbers of competitors.

So what's my advice on the matter?

Simple. Put up another dart board, and charge people to
throw at it.

In other words, think beyond the regular game. Innovate.
Create. Re-think. You can't always repeat others success
if their success still dominates the market. Learn the
principles and then re-define them to work with your own
plans.

Oh, and by the way, my dart board is at
http://www.netplaynewsletters.com

Come by for a toss sometime.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:unsubscribe]

This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #18 March 22, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
Simple Steps For Fraud Prevention and Gaining User
Trust
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
Painted Carpets and Life's Lessons
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
Simple Steps For Fraud Prevention and Gaining User Trust
By Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

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Current statistics show that e-commerce in online sales
accounts for only 1% of the total retail sales in America.
Surveys have shown that consumers still fear online fraud
and consider this the number one reason they do not shop
online, if they do not already do so. Fraud on the
Internet is more common than offline, but current
statistics show it only accounts for 1.14% of all
transactions online (IT advisory from Gartner published
November, 2001).

What can be done to quell the fears of potential customers?
Chances are that, alone, you can't do much to fix this
situation. Major banks, credit card companies, and online
security organizations are rolling out big plans for fraud
prevention measures. Until they reach a consensus and find
a common solution instead of individual ones, things aren't
going to improve anytime soon.

Despite this, there is something the average Webmaster or
e-commerce site owner can do. Measures already in place
and commonly used are a very good beginning towards this
unilateral security utopia the banks hope to achieve. The
five steps outlined below will get you on your way towards
higher sales and safety on your site.

1) Inform your customers of their rights, your policies,
and other important facts. Make sure that somewhere on
your site they can find a copy of your privacy policy,
terms of service, returns policy (more on that below),
security measures in place, etc. You may also want to tell
them that some credit card companies such as Discover,
MasterCard, and VISA exempt customers from paying ANY
online fraud charges to their card. All credit companies
are required to charge-off (not charge the customer) at
least $50 of any fraud charges to their account.

2) Give an air of professionalism on your site. If your
site looks hokey or amateurish, you won't get customers to
buy from you. Those that do may feel a bit squeamish about
it unless they know you personally or have some other
outside reason for trusting you. Avoid these problems by
having a professional, clean, and well-maintained site.

3) Secure Socket Links and 3rd Party Verification should
be used in all information transactions that involve
sensitive data. Someone sending you his or her credit card
number, home address, or other personal information should
be able to do so through a secure link from his or her
browser to your server. Secure Socket Links can usually be
set up by your site administrator and 3rd Party
verification can be gained from Verisign™ or Thawte®. This
verification shows that someone else has looked at your
procedures and has verified that your business is
legitimate.

4) Phone or email to verify large purchases before
shipping. If the average sale through your site is $32 and
someone makes a purchase for $300, you should go an extra
step to verify that person. A simple phone call, email, or
other personal communication with this customer will show
them that you are looking out for their safety. I made a
purchase of $480 using my PayPal™ MasterCard debit card and
received a phone call within two hours from PayPal™ to
verify that the purchase was intentional. It surprised me,
but I feel much better about using that card to make
purchases now.

5) ALWAYS accept reasonable return and refund requests.
Deal with them promptly and professionally, no matter how
the customer acts towards you during the process. Refund
only the amount you feel comfortable giving and ALWAYS
refund in the same way they paid (e.g. credit their credit
card account rather than send a check). It may seem a
hassle, but this activity and the informing of your
customers that you are willing to do this instills a lot
of trust. I know that, personally, my biggest fear in
ordering something online is that I may not get what I want
and may not be able to return it.

If you follow these steps and consult with a web
professional about your site's needs for security, you will
not only help yourself avoid problems, but you'll show your
visitors and customers that you mean business! Literally!

For more information on security information, I suggest
visiting www.secinf.net. Just about every book, white
paper, and article written on security issues is available
there.

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

This month has gone by quickly. I announced the launch of
a new Aaronz WebWorkz site slated for April 1st. Funny
thing is, I didn't realize that that was April Fool's Day.
I usually notice things like that. Well, this is no
Fool's Day joke. The new site will be easier to navigate,
load faster, and have a few more goodies than the current
one does. Next week's issue will have a sneak preview for
newsletter subscribers only!

Beyond the internal stuff going on, there is a lot going on
in the world as well. Business 2.0 (www.business2.com)
published their "101 Dumbest Moments in Business" in this
April, 2002 issue. Among the expected Enron-executive-
bashing listings are some other great moments. My
favorites revolve around Fox News. The first is:

"Fox News Channel hires Geraldo Rivera. And sends him to
Afghanistan. With a camera crew. And a return ticket."

That basically says it all.

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey, Aaron. The article you ran last week about customer
service is right on the money. I am an eBay Powerseller and
deal mainly in knick-nacks and I know that to compete with
larger wholesalers I have to shine in customer service. My
track recod speaks for itself: 1,492 feedbacks and only 2
neutrals. This is through service. Your articles are right
on!"

--Linda Y. (No web listed)

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
Painted Carpets and Life's Lessons
(c) Martin Avis, 2002

Martin Avis is a management and training consultant.

To get your unfair advantage (and 6 free gifts) in
Internet marketing, business and personal success,
subscribe free to his weekly newsletter, BizE-zine.
mailto:subscribe5@BizE-zine.com or visit his
information-packed web site at http://www.BizE-zine.com

BizE-zine: Success strategies that really work.


Editor's Comments: This is a pretty good article that may
make you re-think your perspective.
------------------------------------------------------------

I went to bed last night knowing that I had an article to
write this morning. As is my way, I 'programmed' my
subconscious to come up with the perfect topic. Little did
I know how that would turn out!

My first job this morning was to paint a wall in my
daughter's bedroom. What I didn't yet realize was how that
one little job would end up being a lesson for business and
for life.

I was half way through when Charlotte came to 'help'.
Now, if you have a seven-year old in your house, you'll
know that their idea of helping is to chatter away, keeping
Dad company.

My paint brush was full of paint and heading for the wall
when Charlie yelled out, "Daddy! Look at that car outside!"

Predictably, the car was nothing to be bothered by, but the
large blob of white paint that was now sitting on her
carpet was.

* Lesson number one: Don't let outside interests distract
you from the job in hand.

Of course, I had broken my own rule by not putting down any
sheeting to protect the floor.

* Lesson number two: Don't start anything until you are
properly prepared.

I didn't want the wall to dry patchy, so I figured I'd
finish off the paint job and clean up the spill later.

* Lesson number three: Don't put off until later what you
should do right away.

When the wall was all done, I walked back to admire my work
- completely forgetting about the spill. You guessed it: I
stepped right in it!

* Lesson number four: If you focus too hard on the big
things, the little ones have a habit of biting you.

Of course, I didn't notice that my foot was now covered in
white paint until Charlotte started pointing and saying
"oooh!"

* Lesson number five: Try to be restrained in your language
at all times.

When my wife saw what had happened she very matter-of-
factly said,

"Well, that carpet needed renewing anyway. Now you can put
down that wooden floor you keep talking about."

* Lesson number six: The smallest mistakes lead to the most
expensive solutions - in both time and money.

While all this was going on a little voice in my head was
saying,

"You wanted to know what to write about today ...
ha..ha..ha."

* Lesson number seven: Be careful what you wish for.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:unsubscribe]

This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #17 March 15, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
6 Steps to Great Customer Service
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Bonus Spotlight Article
Tax Preparation and Filing Online - It's All About
Comfort
=> Guest Column:
SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE!
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


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6 Steps to Great Customer Service
by Aaron Turpen of Aaronz WebWorkz

------------------------------------------------------------

In all of my reading of sales, marketing, and other
materials that include the topic of customer service, I
have noticed a trend. In my own business, I have also
noticed a trend of things about which I receive comments or
praise. These things are what I believe to be the key to
great customer service. I've broken them down into six
"steps" or "categories." They aren't in any sort of order
as each is as important as the other.

These steps are fairly simple and are either obvious or
overlooked. All small businesses have one thing in common:
they provide superior customer service. If they don't,
they will not be around for long - their larger competitors
will eventually drive them out. Customer service and the
ability to personalize are what mark a small business and
draw many customers to them. Small businesses online,
especially, can set themselves apart from their competition
if they provide superior customer service.

The six steps I've formulated with my own experience are:

1. Drop everything to answer email, phone, or whatever…
No matter what you are doing, if you receive a phone,
email, or other communication from a customer or potential
customer, drop whatever you're doing to answer that
communication. Even if it's just "OK, I'll get on it,"
you'll convey to that customer that you are there for them
and quick to respond. This is especially true with
prospects who may be asking a question or requesting a
quote.

2. Do a little extra.
This "go the extra mile" bit has been repeated over and
over. It is repeated often because it is one of the
simplest and most tried-and-true methods of making contacts
into customers and making customers into repeat customers.
Throw in a little extra - you don't have to give away the
farm, just do the little things that make people know you
paid them personal attention. Include a thank you note in
your shipping box, do some extra "bonus" work on their
website, give them a branded pen… do something extra and
they'll appreciate you for it.

3. Keep your promises.
If you make a promise to have something done at a certain
time, in a certain way, shipped at a certain speed, etc.,
do your best to make sure it gets done. Stay up all night,
get to the post office early, do whatever it takes to get
it done the way you said it would be.

4. Address problems immediately.
Sometimes this one falls in with step number one. If a
customer comes to you with a complaint, change, etc., jump
on it and fix it as quickly as you can. The faster you get
it fixed, the better off you'll be. Customers like to know
that you are on top of things and will take care of their
issues quickly and fairly. Do this and you'll always be
number one to them.

5. Follow up on problems, questions, etc.
If you answer a question, fix a problem, etc. then you
should follow up on it later. Send an email, make a phone
call, or send a thank you note to the customer and let them
know that you appreciate their concerns and hope that your
fix was to their liking. This piece of customer service is
also a great tactic to use after quoting a project or
answering a question about a product. It can create
follow-through on the customer's part and mean a sale or
contract!

6. Personalize communications.
This may seem obvious, but a lot of people using mass-
marketing techniques (especially auto-responders) fail to
do this. Personalizing communications makes the communiqué
seem more…well, personal. When I read email which starts
"Dear Sir," I immediately get defensive and think of it as
more SPAM or junk to throw away. I may not remember asking
for it in the first place. If the email starts out "Dear
Aaron" or "Dear Mr. Turpen," I become interested because I
know that there's a good chance I either asked for this or
know the person sending it to me.

These six steps are great ways to boost your customer
service from average to great. Start implementing them and
see the results!

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

I would like to start out by congratulating Chris, owner of
Publish4u.com, who made top spots with his keywords in
Yahoo! Congratulations Chris!!

A lot of things are going on and things are looking up for
most of us, I believe. Since times have been rough for a
lot of people, I thought I would focus this issue on what
makes small businesses stand out from their larger
competitors: service. I've also included a special
feature (I'm calling it a "spotlight") on taxes and
e-filing. It's both timely and useful.

Next week we'll take a look at online fraud and some
measures you can take to protect both yourself and your
customers from becoming victims. This is a big issue and
believed to be the number one thing which holds back sales
online.

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that the format, the
content and the length are all impossible to fault. It's
really easy to F this stuff up - just look at the crap
that's out there."

--Rob K. (no website)

Thanks, Rob! I appreciate your constant support.

"Hey Aaron!

"Funny article about actually offering a product for the
$20, err, $19.95 PayPal payment. I know you were being
partially sarcastic with it (and unfortunately partly
serious) but a Multi-Level Marketing uhem, methodology with
no real product to offer is called a pyramid scheme and is
illegal in the States. That's what our "Double-Diamond"
comrades use to keep it legal - there is actual product
there.

"Keep the newsletters rolling - they are great!"

--Jim Sewell (http://www.KingdomUnlimited.com)

Thanks, Jim. I didn't write that article (wish I had),
though. That article comes from our most popular
contributor, Joe Bingham from Netplay Newsletters.
www.netplaynewsletters.com.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
SPOTLIGHT: Taxes/e-filing
Article removed at author request
------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE!
By Diane St. James Copyright (c) 2002

Diane St. James is a mortgage professional with 21 years
experience. Her website http://www.abcmortgage.net exists
to help educate people about the Maze of mortgages. She is
the author of "How to Get a Mortgage," an E-book filled
with vital tips and secrets, and publishes a biweekly Ezine
called Diane's Mortgage Tips + Other Tidbits. To subscribe
mail to: DMortgagetips-subscribe@topica.com

Editor's Comments: Useful tips and good information for
service-oriented business practices!
------------------------------------------------------------

Are you scratching your head wondering why you aren't doing
so well with your Internet business? After all, you've
registered a catchy name that you own all by yourself, not
a www.mainsite/mysite/indexfour.com type of URL. You've
submitted to all the major search engines and even paid
some to get it listed. You've joined a lot of Egroups that
you can network with and promote you website to, and you
may even have started an Ezine and built up some
subscribers. But you just aren't making much in the way of
income from it?

Well, take a good hard look at the service you are
providing. Are you treating your Internet business like a
Business, or a hobby? Are you getting back to people right
away? Are you following up, giving prompt service and
attention? Are you making sure everything you deliver is of
good quality and that packaging is adequate? If not, this
may be the demise of your business and now I'm not just
talking Internet business.

Here are some examples of some recent Internet Business
transactions that I have experienced.

I recently purchased a gift item to have sent to some
relatives as well as myself. Everything went smoothly
until we all received our packages and they all arrived
damaged? The problem? Poor packaging. Not just one but
all of the items were damaged. If only the person who made
these beautiful things packaged them with the correct and
sufficient amount of packing material, it would have been
so much better. Nobody likes to get a gift that arrives
broken. Luckily this person insured the packages and is
more than happy to replace them all. She has been
professional in her handling of the broken gifts, but it
all could have been avoided and my nice surprise was
somewhat spoiled.

Many of us doing business on the Internet pay for
advertising either on websites or in Ezines. I recently
purchased a 'spot' on someone's website and my payment had
cleared the bank. I did get an email from the person 3
days after the initial 'order' asking for clarification as
to the placement of my link. We discussed it back and
forth via chat room and she said she'd possibly get it
listed that evening. Two days later it was still not there.
I emailed her a friendly reminder and she emailed me back
about it being a hectic day. Two days later it was still
not up yet. A week has gone by since I placed my 'order,'
which is really what it is, and it has still not been
completed yet.

Recently I was asked to write a mortgage related article
for someone's Ezine soon to be publishing its next issue.
I received two follow up emails requesting the article by a
certain date. I obliged and emailed them an article several
days before the 'due date' they requested. I had heard
nothing since. Not even an acknowledgment that they
received my article. For those of you who have ever written
an article or even a book report for that matter, you know
that it does take some time and thought to produce one. I
did finally send an inquiry email and found out they hadn't
published that issue yet as there were delays. Will I write
another article for them? Probably not.

While I'm up here on my soap box you may ask, well what
about you? How is YOUR service? I humbly provide a
recent example. You can decide.

The other day I got an email from someone who purchased my
E-book at my site but was having trouble downloading the
.exe version. In fact she wrote that she had written the
day before and had not heard from me. I searched my
various inboxes and did not see a previous email from her.

But I did immediately email her back and apologized for her
difficulties and wrote that I had not received her first
email. I asked her to what email address she wrote? If
there was a dead contact link, I wanted to fix it. I also
sent her with that email a different version of my E-book
in .pdf format so that she could just open that with a
reader program that is free. She emailed me later stating
she couldn't open it.

I emailed it again and let her know if she still had
problems downloading either version I would just print out
a paper copy of it (even though it isn't as pretty that
way), and snail mail it to her at no extra charge. Even
though I could open and read the duplicate copy I sent to
myself this time, she still had trouble. So I printed the
36 page copy for her and mailed it First Class the next
morning, not a few days later, nor the next week. This is
the kind of service I like to provide and what I like in
return as a business person.

There are some folks who provide great customer service
and these people continue to grow their businesses. One
gentleman I want to mention is Mike Smith of cmymtc.com.
He helped create my E-book but never stopped there. He
has helped me out numerous times with Internet or computer
related questions or problems and has given me much of
his time and knowledge for Free! And you know what? I
have referred people to him and will continue to do so,
because of the excellent customer service. All this great
service he has provided, will result in more customers for
him. Smart man!

Before I step down from my soap box, I want to say I know
we are all human and things can come up. It only takes a
few minutes to follow up and explain a delay. There are
even autoresponders that you can set up to at least
acknowledge someone's email or order. If you are real
busy, you can even insert wording to the effect that you
received their email/order and will get back to them within
a week due to your current workload/obligations. If you do
this though, make sure you do get back to them ASAP. At
least you are providing some sort of customer service. Act
on the Golden Rule and you will see your business flourish.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:unsubscribe]

This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #16 Mar. 08, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
"Been There; Done That"
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
All In Favor of a Revolution, Say 'AYE'!
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
"Been There; Done That"

Jo McNamara lives in Orlando, FL, with 8 cats and 1
husband.
To receive all other articles written by Jo:
mailto:articles_jomc@sendfree.com and
mailto:articles2_jomc@sendfree.com
"I wish I had discovered the Internet Marketing Success
Arsenal when I got started in Net marketing. I would have
saved countless wasted, frustrating hours and more money
than I care to think about."
http://www.what-works-online.net

Editor's Comments: This article is about Network Marketing
programs (aka MLMs). This issue focuses on them as a lot
of questions about them have come my way lately. Plus Jo
also has cats...
------------------------------------------------------------

© By Jo McNamara 2002

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of
preparation, hard work and learning from failure."
General Colin L. Powell

In October 2000, I bought my first Internet marketing
program to promote. I paid $20.00 for the program; $179.40
for an autoresponder for one year; $64.99 to be able to
accept credit cards and checks on my website; $15.00 for
monthly web hosting; and $29.95 for membership to another
club to help me advertise. I was so naïve; I didn't really
know what I was paying for. I just knew that the creator
of this program said I HAD to have all this stuff to be
successful on the Net.

I just knew I had found (or bought) my way to Internet
marketing riches! Like the happy idiot I was, I started to
advertise online. Never mind that I didn't know HOW to
advertise. All I had to do was use the headlines and ad
copy that came with the program. Gems like, "How to
quickly generate a steady steam of $20 checks into your
mailbox!" Or, "How to make $200-300 a day!"

I started advertising using FFA's. I did follow the
suggestion to open up a throw-away email account.
Actually, I would open up ten at a time because every two
days, the one I was using would fill up.

Using the advertising club I had paid $29.95 to become a
member of, I started placing ads at the classified sites.
This club had a list of sites from A to Z. I would start
with all the listings under "A" and about a week later
finally get to "Z." Of course, then it was time to go back
to "A" and start the process all over again.

Then the creative genius inside of me decided I could come
up with my own headlines and ad copy. Believe me, they
weren't any better than the ones I was copying. I remember
one that to this day turns my face red with embarrassment.
"GROW YOUR OWN $20 MONEY TREE! How would YOU like YOUR
very own $20 money tree and be able to pluck cash from it
every day when YOU want to?" Gee, how do you spell
H-Y-P-E?

After a while, not content to promote just one program, I
started signing up for other FREE! affiliate programs.
That word "FREE" would get me every time. Put an
exclamation point behind it and I can be had (cheap).
Before long, I had signed up for 20+ affiliate programs.
I couldn't be bothered with creating new headlines and ad
copy. I would just use the ones that came with each
program. I had the time, so I spent eight hours a day
promoting my programs to FFA's and classified sites. But
first I had to open up 20 throw-away email accounts at a
time to handle ALL the traffic I would be receiving.

Then I learned about surf-for-credit programs. Guaranteed
traffic! If I stay on a site for 30 seconds, I would get
one visitor to my website. Now I'm an all-or-nothing kind
of person. So I paid $50 to triple my credits for one
month. Instead of one credit, I would get three. I
figured if I spent three and a half hours surfing, I could
rack up 1000 credits a day! Who cares if it's not targeted
traffic. It's traffic to my website. I decided I'd better
start getting up at 4 a.m. so that I could do that AND
still place ads in FFA's and classified sites.

At some point in my online journey, I discovered something
called "ezines." I thought, "What the heck. Might as well
subscribe. After all, they're FREE" (I told you I love
that word). I was fortunate because I started out with
some very good ones. I began to read the articles and
after a while I was printing some of them for reference.

That's when things started to change for me. Through the
articles in ezines, I learned about writing effective
headlines and ad copy. By applying what I was learning, I
started to make some sales.

Gradually, I dropped the other affiliate programs to
concentrate on the original one I had purchased in October.

As I became more involved with ezines and learning about
online promotion, I lost quite a bit of my naiveté. It's
hard to learn and still stay ignorant. I came to the
conclusion that the program I was promoting had too many
hidden costs and I was becoming uneasy about that fact.

I had learned a good lesson. Only promote products and
programs I used and more importantly, believed in. I
eventually found a program that I felt offered excellent
value to my customers and I was comfortable promoting it
because it came with a solid money-back guarantee.

It's been a little over a year since I first ventured into
the world of CyberMarketing. As you can see, I made quite
a few mistakes. None of them are unique; all of us go
through this. I don't think that's a bad thing as long as
we learn from our mistakes. However, I suspect most people
don't. They just figure the program sucks and wander off
searching for another one that guarantees instant Net
"success." Continually disappointed, they come to the
conclusion that they can't make money online and give up
completely. They deny themselves the opportunity to
fulfill their dreams.

I still have a long way to go. The problem with learning
is you feel obliged to apply the knowledge you now have.
I have many areas I know I need to deal with. But one of
the best things about Internet marketing is that it allows
you to grow at your own pace and do what you feel you can
in your own time.

As long as the passion, the desire and willingness to learn
is within you; as long as you don't fall victim to the get-
rich-quick mentality; as long as you focus on long-term,
rock-solid "success". There's a very good likelihood that
you will reach your goals. You'll stumble; you'll scrape
up your knees. But if you pick yourself up and keep on
moving, no matter how unsteady; you'll eventually be living
a life your imagination could only have conceived of.

"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an
unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."
Frank Lloyd Wright

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

Inevitably when I write a quote for a project, the person
asking will "offer me something in return" (i.e. want to
trade instead of pay). Sometimes this works out great as
some people have something I really can use. Nine times
out of ten, though, it's the same stuff that was pawned off
on them as valuable "information." I have no problem with
goods and services, but the value of what some people deem
to be "intellectual property" is usually dubious in my
mind. I've been online long enough to have seen a goodly
number of schemes and money-making ideas. When I was a
teenager, I bought into a lot of them.

Not any more. Anything brought to me as the "next BIG
money-maker online" is automatically trash-canned. It's
not that there might be one that works, I'm just tired of
seeing them and am more comfortable with a more real-world
view of economics: I do something, you pay me for it.

I can't say that all get-rich-quick schemes, Multi-Level
Marketing Plans (now called "Network Marketing"), and other
make-money plans are worthless. I know a few people who
have or are making a living from them. That tells me that
it is possible to do so. I decided to focus this issue on
them (more or less) as I've had a few people approach me
lately to ask my opinion on them. There you have it.

In other news, the invoicing system here at Aaronz WebWorkz
was in need of a serious overhaul. A new, online system
has been implemented and will be operational Monday. Those
of you who need one have been given a customer number.
Monday, all unpaid invoices will be re-issued through the
new system. In addition, all past invoices have been
entered into the system for archival purposes. Now if you
require a copy of an invoice, you can look it up instantly.
This should save a lot of us some headaches!

The new system is available at:
http://www.aaronzwebworkz.com/invoices/

Going to that link and checking out the pages there will
also give you an initial sneak-peak at one or two of the
new graphics which will be used on the upcoming overhaul of
AaronzWebWorkz.com! Slated for April first, this new
version of the site will be much easier to navigate and
will be in celebration of our Anniversary!

If you have any questions, let me know.

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow! Great work on that last issue. I was wondering about
how I could get started on my own with my own business and
wasnt sure whether I could do it witout fear of ending up
in a cardboard box. Now I know why I was thinking that way!
I will definitely be looking into more of this kind of
thing before i quit my job and just jump into something I
don't know anything about. Any ideas?"

--Dave Z. (website in progress)

Editor: It's a hard call to make, Dave. Avoid spendy
options and try to start small - maybe part-time, as you've
mentioned earlier, and grow from there. I was sort of
thrown into self-employment, so I can't really give you any
"ease-in" advice.

Speaking of that, my old boss sent me a note:

"Wow! I see you've taken our "First Class Service" motto
and really applied it to your own business!"

--B.P.

Editor: OK, I made that one up. :)

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
All In Favor of a Revolution, Say 'AYE'!

Written by Joe Bingham, Editor of the NetPlay Newsletters
Publish Your Own Quality Ezine with Little Work and a Lot
of Help http://www.netplaynewsletters.com/publisher.html

Editor's Comments: Another Joe Bingham great!
------------------------------------------------------------

Ok Stop!! Read this BEFORE you do any more marketing!!!

This is crucial stuff, everyone. I want all of you to take
a good, hard look at your online or network marketing
business. If you're not in one of these businesses, I want
you to understand this concept before you ever think about
starting one.

Before you sell anything whatsoever to anyone at all, I
want you to do this one simple thing.

Go to your Paypal account and send me $20.

No? You don't want to do that? Well, what if I bedazzle
you with 13 pages of 'work from home, residual income'
hype first, then ask for $20. Can I have it then?

No?

You mean after bedazzling you with my hype I still need to
offer you something else? Ok, how about an exact
duplicate of my bedazzling web site for you to use as your
own so you can ask others to give you $20 -- of which I
get half. Is that better?

No?

What? You mean your own bedazzling web site where you can
ask for money from others is not enough? What do you want
from me?

Oh, right! I need to include subliminal messages in that
bedazzling web site that induce people to buy. I need to
include LARGER THAN LIFE words to lead people to the belief
that 'pure gold' is waiting for them after they enter their
credit card information. I need to use 'secret terms',
'catch words', and 'hypnotic writing' to lead flocks of
credit card toting morons toward the 'BUY NOW!' button.

Is that enough now? Can I have my $20 yet?

No?!

Well, how about if I throw in some information on how to
get INSANE traffic to make you OBSCENE profits?

Is the deal good enough now?! Will you travel HYPNOTICALLY
to my site in an INSANE fashion and send me some OBSCENE
money?! Please?!!

Wait, I'll even make the offer more appealing. If you
order now, I'll dramatically reduce the price. Ready, here
it goes.

(insert drum roll, fireworks exploding in the background,
and sounds of 1000s of cheering fans borrowed from a live
Bon Jovi CD)

Now only $19.95!!!!

(continue cheers and fireworks, but dramatically cease drum
roll)

There was that dramatic enough? Now can I have my $20, I
mean $19.95?

No?! What do you mean NO?!!! Why won't you buy from me?
I what? I don't really have a product? What the
'h-e-double Eiffel Tower Toothpicks' does that have to do
with anything?!!!

(Insert sound effect of a phonograph needle being drug
backwards across a record. Something like Zrrrrrrrpppp!)
(It's so hard to do sound effects in email. Now I know how
the writers of the early Batman TV shows felt. POW!)

What do you mean I have to sell an actual product? This is
Internet Marketing, I thought all I had to do was create a
site and ask for money and it would be given to me? What
has happened here?

Oh no! You don't suppose the porno sites have all the
OBSCENE profits locked up, and the INSANE traffic got
busted for driving while intoxicated, do you?!

You don't think everyone has awakened from their HYPNOTIC
trance and that my SUBLIMINAL messages are being screened
out by Microsoft with the use of a special filter made
from 3D glasses first used by movie patrons to watch 'The
Creature From the Black Lagoon", do you?!

I mean, what if all the SECRET TERMS have been revealed?
What if all the CATCH WORDS have holes in their nets? What
if there is no BEDAZZLEMENT left?!

What if... What if... No.

What if from now on we actually have to offer something of
VALUE in order to make sales?

What if our businesses have to actually provide BENEFITS to
our customers?

My goodness. This could be the end of Internet Marketing
as we know it. This could be a significant transition time
in history when the scheme, scam, and screw type of
businesses go under, and the legitimate ones rise to the
top.

This could be an enormous change in the way people view the
Internet and Network Marketing as a whole! This could be
the beginning of a revolution!

At least that's my plan.

All in favor say 'Aye'.

------------------------------------------------------------
If you wish to send your own articles to be reviewed for
inclusion in this publication, please send them to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
Except where noted, this publication and all of its
contents are copyright (C)2002 by Aaronz WebWorkz, all
rights are reserved. To reprint an article, send an email
to mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com for permission.
------------------------------------------------------------
List Maintenance:
To subscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:subscribe]

To unsubscribe
[mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject:unsubscribe]

This newsletter is produced by Aaronz WebWorkz, a complete
online services provider. To view information or to see
back issues of this publication, please go online to:
www.AaronzWebWorkz.com. Please direct all comments or
questions to the editor
(mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com).

------------------------------------------------------------
Aaronz WebWorkz Weekly E-Zine
A Weekly Newsletter of Hints, Ideas, and Resources for
Friends and Customers of www.AaronzWebWorkz.com
Issue #15 Mar. 01, 2002
Aaron Turpen, Editor, aaron@aaronzwebworkz.com
------------------------------------------------------------
By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of the
Aaronz WebWorkz E-Zine. You are receiving this newsletter
because you requested a subscription. Unsubscribe instruct-
ions are at the end of this newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

=> Feature Article:
Playing "Follow The Leader" - The Downfall For Many
Entrepreneurs
=> From The Webmaster
=> Readers Talk Back!
=> Guest Column:
The Simplified Profundities of Internet Marketing
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Copyright and Reprint information
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information


------------------------------------------------------------
Playing "Follow The Leader" - The Downfall For Many
Entrepreneurs

By Noel Peebles
Get Your 100% FREE mini-course "17 Powerful Secrets
That Have Made Business Owners Into Millionaires."
100% FREE! Simply send a blank email to:
mailto:instantsellbusiness@ReportsNetwork.com

Editor's Comments: This is a good piece on the mindset
that an entrepreneur or any self-employed person needs to
have success.
------------------------------------------------------------

A good education is always a good start in life, but think
about this for a moment:

Most formal schooling prepares us to work for others. If
we are good at following school rules and what the teacher
says, then we will probably do okay in the job world too.

Success in the job world, just like at school, depends on
how good you are at playing the game of "follow the
leader." When your boss says jump - you say how high? Just
like at school, the boss tells you when to show up, imposes
acceptable standards of dress and performance, sets
assignments and deadlines etc.

If you behave yourself at school, try hard and do your
homework on time, then you are rewarded with good marks,
good report cards, good friends, certificates, camps,
vacations, trophies and special recognition for outstanding
achievement.

The job world is no different. You are rewarded with a wage
or salary, commissions, promotions, fringe benefits,
bonuses, satisfying work, friendships, training programs,
vacations and special recognition for jobs well done.

In short, if you were good at playing "follow the leader"
at school, you'll probably be good at playing follow the
leader in the job world too.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking "working for someone
else." I'm just making a point - to be successful in the
job world, you need to be a good follower and a good team
player. This sense of belonging and security suits most
people just fine.

However, working for someone else is nothing like being an
entrepreneur and the boss of your own business. This is
where many "new-comers" in business become horribly
unstuck.

Why? To become an entrepreneur requires a different plan or
map, because you are taking a different road, to a
different destination.

You will have to be a self-starter and not rely on others.
For example, when you work a 'regular job' your boss feeds
you work and you have to do whatever job you are given even
if you hate doing it. Your reward... a salary or wage.

Being an entrepreneur means finding WHAT to do, HOW to do
it and WHERE to market your ideas. It requires a different
mindset of focusing on opportunity rather than security.

To survive as an entrepreneur you soon learn:

· You won't know everything, no one does. You never stop
learning.

· Motivation alone will not make you successful.

· Knowing everything about your specialty or the
manufacturing process will not overcome a lack of business
and marketing skills.

· People will not automatically rush to buy what you have
to offer.

· Without sales you are out of business.

It's not enough to just know what you know. You also need
to know what you don't know... and what you need to know.

These can be hard lessons to learn and unfortunately, many
entrepreneurs find out too late.

© Market Leaders Limited.

------------------------------------------------------------
From The Webmaster
by Aaron Turpen, Editor
------------------------------------------------------------

A lot of news this week nationally. Allen Greenspan let
the country know that he believes the economy is now in an
upswing - and a lot of analysts agree. That is for sure
good to hear.

If you subscribe to Inc. Magazine or see it on the shelf,
I would recommend picking up the March 2002 copy. There
are several good articles this month, one dealing with tax
planning - "Tax Planning For Tough Times" on page 126.

There's also an interesting read about X-It Products (who
make fire escape ladders) which saw their premier product
idea being stolen by a rival (Page 92).

I hope everyone has had a good week!

------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Talk Back!
------------------------------------------------------------
"If I had two email addresses I would subscribe to your
ezine twice! keep up the good work!"

--Amy N. (website not listed)

------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to send a comment or letter to the editor
for inclusion in this newsletter, please address it to:
mailto:newsletter@aaronzwebworkz.com?subject=TalkBack!.
All are welcome to give their opinion, criticism, or kudos!

------------------------------------------------------------
The Simplified Profundities of Internet Marketing

Written by Joe Bingham, Editor of the NetPlay Newsletters
Subscribe to 1 of 3 Quality NetPlay Ezines, See which one
fits you at: http://www.netplaynewsletters.com

Need To Publish Your Own Ezine?
I'll Write It For You and Show You How to Make It
Successful!
http://www.netplaynewsletters.com/publisher.html

Editor's Comments: Another great read from Joe Bingham!
------------------------------------------------------------

People make things way too hard to understand on the
Internet. I mean, come on, marketing CAN'T be all that
complicated. So, it's about time someone, like say me, cut
through all the crap and just plain offered some SIMPLE
answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Now, you must realize, however, that just because these
answers are reduced to the simplest form it does not mean
they are not profound answers that should be not
contemplated upon.

In fact, you should always contemplate my simplified
profundities. Why? Because how profound will they be if
they don't get contemplated?

Anyway, below are some of the most common questions asked
about Internet marketing and the simplified profundities
that answer them.

QUESTION: What is the best business or marketing
opportunity?

SIMPLIFIED PROFOUND ANSWER: Mine.

I know that sounds very simple, but think about it. Have
you ever met an Internet Marketer that didn't tell you his
or her business or opportunity was the best? Of course
not!

Now you see how the simple profound answer works? On to
other questions.

QUESTION: What is the best way to get traffic to my web
site?

SIMPLIFIED PROFOUND ANSWER: Take it from somebody else.

Traffic is not this vast, endless group of mindless idiots
being led around by marketing strategies. They are people
and while there are a lot of them, they are not limitless.
They all start somewhere when they log on to the Internet,
their home page, and only move from that page in one of two
ways. One, they enter a search in a search engine. Two,
they click on a link in an email they received which is
either an ezine, personal email, or bulk mailing. From
there, they move from sites they visit to other links
listed on that site OR they go back to their email or
search engine.

That tells you what you have to do to get traffic. Either
you take your traffic from someone's search engine, someone
else's site, or you take it from someone else's email list.
From there, if your smart, you will build your own.

QUESTION: How do I get targeted traffic?

SIMPLIFIED PROFOUND ANSWER: You target them.

Guns have sites and good marksmen use those sites.
Shooting from the hip only works when done by someone who
has practiced many thousands of shots in that manner.

So, either you take thousands of pot shots from the hip
until you figure it out by trial and error, or you stop,
take a look at what you are aiming at, and target it.

Targeted traffic is not achieved by chance. It takes some
research and effort to find sources that relate directly to
what you are advertising. Simply blasting at huge numbers
is not targeting.

QUESTION: How can I make money on the Internet?

SIMPLIFIED PROFOUND ANSWER: Sell something that is worth
buying!

No explanation should be needed with this one, but yet this
is a most profound statement when considering some of the
worthless junk touted as valuable around the Internet.

QUESTION: Who is the BEST writer on the Internet?

SIMPLIFIED PROFOUND ANSWER: Me.

Hey, writing is my business. What am I supposed to tell
you I'm not the best? What kind of marketing would that
be? I'm out to make a living here. If I don't stand up
for myself and say, 'Look here! See what I have to offer',
who will?

This is a BIG Internet with a LOT of players. You
absolutely have to find your best and put it out there.
Don't make false claims, but certainly don't be shy in
standing up and showing off the abilities you do have.

Well, there it is. Simplified Profundities. Who but the
BEST writer on the Internet would have thought up such a
novel concept?

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