http://blogs.forrester.com/marketing/2009/10/the-end-of-marketerblogger-relationships.html

http://masscontrolsite.com/blog/?p=59

Until later…

Reba

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All kidding aside, what I didn’t realize is that developing an ‘elevator pitch’ is not so much about where it’s delivered as much as it is about knowing what your business does and being able to tell others. It’s about taking your company’s main focus out of the obscure recesses of your head and putting it into words for the world to hear. Come to find out, doing this isn’t always an easy task.

When the ‘time’ presents itself, and it will present itself, having a memorized ‘elevator pitch’ for your business will help you communicate what your business does and you won’t have to worry about going off on a long-winded, disjointed, tangent. In fact, a well constructed ‘elevator pitch’ helps others quickly decide whether or not they want to know more about your business. And the fact that you know exactly what to say when that ‘time’ presents itself, gives you a distinctly higher possibility of having your audience want to know more.

One thing I learned while writing the ‘elevator pitch’ for this website is that summing up what your business does is not all you will gain. The process of writing the pitch actually helps you realize what the one most important thing is that you want your customer to know about your business.

What is an ‘elevator pitch’?

An ‘elevator pitch’ is a succinct summation of what your business does. It should be easy to understand and should take no longer to deliver than it takes to ride an elevator to the top of a short building. It should be delivered in such a way that it excites the listener and entices them to want to know more.

How do you write an ‘elevator pitch’?

• Do not use a cookie cutter template that is easy to find on the internet. Make your pitch unique and give it personality.
• An ‘elevator pitch’ is not a sales pitch. Do not allow it to sound cheezy.
• Your pitch must be easy to understand by anyone, even your grandmother. Do not use acronyms or industry jargon.
• The core of your ‘elevator pitch’ should convey benefits to your customer. This is where you should explain why your business is unique and better than your competitors.
• Ensure it is no longer than 30 seconds. This will drive you to focus on what’s most important about your business in the eyes of your customer.
• Lastly, memorize it, rehearse it, inject passion, confidence, and personality.

Delivering your ‘elevator pitch’.

• Practice it, and then practice it again, and then again and again. Out loud in a mirror. Determine how it will be different when delivering it to different audiences and practice it some more. Get to the point where it rolls off your tongue naturally.
• Get over any apprehension you may have about ‘tooting your own horn’. Delivering an ‘elevator pitch’ about YOUR company is all about telling how YOU will deliver.
• Speak at a pace that shows calm confidence. People can be put-off when you speed through a rehearsed speech. Make sure it sounds natural.
• Remember the first rule of sales – ABC – always be closing. Give your speech to everyone, don’t save it for only those you think are customers, you never know when a potential customer is sitting at your table or…standing in the elevator with you.

An effective ‘elevator pitch’ is designed to give its audience enough information that they will know what you’re talking about and then have enough interest to want to know more. It should not overwhelm, intimidate, or make the other person feel dumb. And it should not be so detailed or long that they tune out.

Here’s version 2 of my elevator pitch for Internet Marketing Boomer and I still think it needs work, actually, a lot of work:

“I help internet business owners find success online by explaining and teaching online marketing concepts through the articles I post on Internet Marketing Boomer. I do that by examining, reviewing, reporting and recommending internet marketing knowledge products as well as writing about how to set-up an internet business and website, how to drive traffic to that website, and examining the different options people have to make money online. Basically, with what I write, I help internet business owners find the information they need to succeed online.”

The tag line I’ve developed for my ‘elevator pitch’ is:

“Helping internet business owners find the information they need to succeed online.”

Keep it concise, to the point, and easy to understand. Deliver it with passion, confidence and personality while keeping it shorter than an elevator ride up a short building. Do all that and you will have an ‘elevator pitch’ that not only helped you pinpoint what your business does but will allow you get a lot of people interested as well.

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Of course, I must say, Tony was definitely a star, the man is a genius. Reese and Kern really didn’t have much to offer but a couple of stories where Tony elaborated as to how and why those stories are a big part of why the two were so successful. I was kind of amazed at how they both appeared to be so small (personality wise) next to Tony who is so charismatic and absolutely larger than life.

This video actually got me so interested in Tony that my husband and I are considering going to Chicago in October to attend his Unleash the Power Within seminar. It will cost us a small fortune but maybe, just maybe, it will give us much more in return.

Your time will not be wasted by watching this video, you don’t even have to opt-in. I didn’t post an affiliate link because his affiliate program is through Commission Junction and I’m having a hard time keeping a CJ account. So just click through to watch and learn while Tony explains how your beliefs affect your potential, your potential affects your actions, your actions affect your results, and your results affect and reinforce your beliefs. He explains how this cycle can either end up being a downward spiral or build you up with no limits.

Here’s the full link:

http://tonyrobbinstraining.com/320/interview-with-frank-kern-and-john-reese/

Enjoy as I did!

Reba

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When was you’re last memory lapse?

How do you keep track of everything that needs to be done?

Is today’s “information age” maxing out your memory?

Have you noticed it getting harder to rely on your memory and you need a better way to remember little things?

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Can anyone relate? I’m not that bad yet but sometimes I wonder!

Let’s discuss ~

Cheers,

Reba

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In the first video, Zig talks about the formula he uses for setting and accomplishing goals. Do all the following in writing (writing it down is ESSENTIAL):

1. Identify your objective – what it is you want to accomplish
2. Set the date you expect to complete your goal – put a date on it
3. Identify your obstacles – things you need to overcome
4. Identify the people, groups, and organizations you need to work with – who will help you
5. Devise a plan of action – include time limits
6. Identify what it is you need know – do you need to learn anything
7. Identify all the benefits to you if accomplished – “what’s in it for me”

Check out Zig ~ I love him, he’s such a motivator:

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In listening to Zig speak, I’m not only motivated but a bit overwhelmed. Just the thought of doing all the steps can be more than we think we can handle alone, not to mention following through on everything. Having help is really okay. Getting someone to push you a little or having a system to follow can really be the difference in reaching your goals or just saying “I wish I had followed through” later.

If you’re looking for a system to help you reach your goals next year, check out Gary Ryan Blair’s (The Goals Guy) new program called “Got Resolutions?”. If focus, discipline, and accountability were the things that prevented you from achieving your resolutions in the past, then you must get the “Got Resolutions?” program!

Earlier this year you probably set some goals and resolutions, made promises to yourself, and ended up with unmet goals and unmet resolutions. Don’t let that happen in 2009. As Zig said, you need to devise a plan. Let part of your plan be to get some help and accountability to reach your goals next year.

Got Resolutions?

Cheers!

Reba

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By making just a few changes in the ways you handle a few little things each day, you can grow your business and increase your profits substantially.

Stay tuned over the next ten days and I will share ten important ideas that can help you increase your business and grow your profits in 2009.

Day 10 -

LEARN A NEW SKILL IN 2009

By learning a new ‘in demand’ skill it will most certainly help you grow your business and increase your profits in the coming months and years. Personally, I think copywriting is the best skill you could possibly learn and it’s worth the monetary investment to take a class or course. The ability to write effective sales copy, not only helps you write your own sales letters to promote your own products and affiliate promotions, but you can also charge a high price for your sales copywriting services.

If copywriting just isn’t for you or is too time consuming to pursue, there are many other skills you can learn. Watch internet marketing forums or sites like e-Lance to see what skills you can learn to enhance your business in 2009. Here’s a short list:

• Web design
• Article writing
• Graphic design
• SEO Techniques
• LSI Techniques
• Time Management skills
• .PHP, MySQL, HTML, Java, Flash, Ruby on Rails, or any of these related skills are highly sought after and pay very well
• How to create your own product
• How to land a joint venture (JV)
• Basically, anything creative that you can come up with!

Whether you learn the new skill to use solely for your own business or so you can sell your services — you will profit highly from acquiring one of these skills. If you learn the skill to use for yourself, you will save money on outsourcing adding straight to your bottom line. If you learn the skill in order to sell your services you will also (obviously) profit greatly from that route as well.

Take article writing for example. If you learn how to do this simple skill, you can profit in at least 3 ways:

1. Writing articles for yourself to promote your products/services, etc.
2. Saving money by not having to outsource
3. Selling your article writing services for even more profit

You will leave money on the table if you don’t learn a new skill this year. Think about it. There are so many little nooks and crannies that can be squeezed to add profits and long term income streams to your business. Your efforts can really add up and make a significant difference in the success of your business.

CONCLUSION

It is clear that there are a lot of things we can do to grow our business and increase our profits, no matter how successful or unsuccessful we have been in the past. The past is done and gone. What matters is the present, which is what shapes the future. The future is important because it determines where we will be in a year, two years, five and ten years.

Will you be happy? Healthy? Wealthy? It’s really all up to you.

Implementing even ONE of the tips I’ve outlined over the last ten days will help you grow your business and increase your profits during 2009 and beyond. Taking action is always the most important factor in the end, no matter how great of an idea or plan you have in mind.

I wish you all the best of success!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

P.S. Be sure to check out Gary Ryan Blair’s (you know, The Goals Guy) new program called “Got Resolutions?“. “Got Resolutions?” is a personal leadership program that provides a step-by-step system for setting and achieving your New Year’s resolutions. If you want to implement one of the strategies in my tips but know you have trouble staying focused and on target with your goals, this program might be just the thing you need to make your goals a reality in 2009. Just click the link to see what I mean.

Got Resolutions?

Ciao!

Reba

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By making just a few changes in the ways you handle a few little things each day, you can grow your business and increase your profits substantially.

Stay tuned over the next ten days and I will share ten important ideas that can help you increase your business and grow your profits in 2009.

Day 9 -

GET WITH THE TIMES

It’s 2008 and drawing ever closer to 2009. We were supposed to have flying cars by now but instead we have iPods and eBooks. Still, it’s pretty advanced compared to even 15-20 years ago, heck, even 10 years ago! A lot of internet marketers stick to what has made them money ‘in the past’ or they follow a business model that worked for somebody else, ‘in the past.’

But, what’s important is right now.

If a new product comes out tomorrow that sweeps the nation and everybody MUST have one — your job as a marketer is to go out and market it! Why would you stay back and market beepers or pagers, when iPhones and BlackBerries are the latest and greatest?

Most of the time, Amazon.com and eBay.com will be selling the latest and hottest products on the market and therefore you can get a piece of the action by promoting these items as an affiliate. Even the greats have to ‘get with the times’ every now and then. Great music artists like Paul McCartney write songs that fit the style of the current time. In the 60’s he was writing “She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” and in the 80’s he was writing “Silly Love Songs” and “Ebony and Ivory” which was very much 80’s style music.

Getting with the times is an essential part of your business — online or off — and it will most certainly result in your business growing and your profits increasing.

Here are some things you can do to ‘Get With the Times’ as far as your internet business is concerned:

• Get into video marketing
• Use Web 2.0 techniques
• Make your site look modern
• Be involved in social networks (twitter, etc.)
• Have video on your site, as well as new looking Web 2.0 graphics
• Sell Products that are popular NOW, in the current time (day, week, month)
• Follow the latest rule changes so you can keep up with effective SEO techniques (A lot of people use very outdated SEO tactics that don’t work anymore).
• Use LSI Techniques when doing SEO for your site or when writing optimized articles, etc.
• Build a list of opt-in subscribers using a squeeze page or a give away
• And anything else that is new, groundbreaking, effective, creative and profitable!

Tomorrow – Day 10

LEARN A NEW SKILL IN 2009

Cheers!

Reba

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1. Develop An ‘Elevator Pitch’ And Tell The World About Your Business Keep your 'elevator pitch' concise, to the point, and easy...

By making just a few changes in the ways you handle a few little things each day, you can grow your business and increase your profits substantially.

Stay tuned over the next ten days and I will share ten important ideas that can help you increase your business and grow your profits in 2009.

Day 8 -

‘DOUBLING UP’ TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

This is technique I like to call ‘Doubling Up’ and it’s a strategy you can  use to grow your business and increase profits every couple years.

‘Doubling Up’ can be applied to many different areas of your business. For instance, if you write articles to promote your website and it’s working well for you, what could you do to double that success? Simple. Outsource the exact number of articles you write, so if you write five articles, outsource five articles and then you’ll have ten articles. This means your efforts, as well as your traffic, as well as your PROFITS, have the potential to double.

Even if you can’t double your output, what if you increased by 50%? That would still increase your profits. If you can’t afford to outsource just yet, you can still apply the technique and write all ten articles yourself. You can even have a friend, family member or significant other help write for you as well, provided you give them a little bit of training.

What else could you do in your online business that could DOUBLE your profits?

• Create two videos instead of just one.
• Market to two niches instead of one.
• Charge double for one of your products or service (do split testing to prove which price sells better).
• Do two launches instead of one this year (with the help of outsourcing or JV partnering).
• Put up a website AND a blog instead of just one or the other.
• Double your PPC advertising budget or raise it by a percentage.

Any of the above tactics will increase your profits significantly, so there is no reason to ignore the magical potential of ‘Doubling Up.’

This isn’t rocket science but it works and it’s a tactic that’s easy to try.

What if you took it even further and did ‘TRIPLING UP’? Of course, that would take a bit more outsourcing or tripling the amount of hours you work on that segment of your business, but triple the income doesn’t sound bad at all.

Tomorrow – Day 9

GET WITH THE TIMES

Cheers!

Reba

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1. Develop An ‘Elevator Pitch’ And Tell The World About Your Business Keep your 'elevator pitch' concise, to the point, and easy...

In order to reach your goals, you must maintain your focus, discipline, and accountability, especially when things get rough. Here are a few tips to aid you in staying focused on your goals, but at the end of this post I’m going to tell you about a program that Gary Ryan Blair, the Goals Guy, has developed that will give you the tools you need in maintaining that focus, discipline and accountability so you can reach your goals this year. So keep reading.

1. Create a visual reminder. A wish book contains pictures, personal reflections and other notes related to the finished goal. Visual reminders are meant to encourage and keep your eye on the prize when you hit a rough spot in your plans.
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2. Reassess the game plan. A goal is only as good as the plan behind it. Looking at that plan every three to six months lets you see what can be tweaked or omitted all together. As things change, so do the steps in that plan.
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3. Reward yourself. For every step along the way that brings you closer to your goal, celebrate. It can be a night on the town with friends, a new outfit, or a quiet weekend alone.
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4. Learn how to deal with setbacks. One reason people lose focus on their goals is a temporary delay or two. They call them failures, when in all honesty, they are anything but. Setbacks can signal that the goal needs a new direction or you need to rededicate yourself to the task at hand. Put it into perspective, deal with the hindrance and move on.
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5. Ask for help. This point can’t be stated enough. No man or woman is an island. Without help, everyone would fail at something. Support such as weekly phone calls with a friend or mentor for encouragement, focusing sessions, or even just a sounding board for you when things get a bit off course.

Now, going back to the question I started with, “What would THIS year have looked like if you’d really made major progress with all your resolutions?

What if you achieved one? How about two? Which ones? How about ALL of them? What will this year look like if you do it NOW?

Well, you can’t sit on the sofa and manifest a new home, car or a million dollar income producing website. If anyone tells you differently, run the other way.

The tips I supplied above will help you move in the right direction in achieving your goals, but what if you had help and guidance?

Have you ever noticed when you KNOW you’re going in the right direction that everything just seems to fall into place? It’s called “FLOW.” That’s what I’m talking about, yet most people don’t know how to get it or what process it takes to find it. It’s elusive. But not when you have guidance because then you KNOW you’re going in the right direction.

Does such a process exist? Is there a proven system to help you achieve every goal you desire, one that will help you to make 2009 the best year of your life?

Yes there is. It’s called “Got Resolutions?” and it can be yours!

Got Resolutions?

“Got Resolutions?” is a personal leadership program by Gary Ryan Blair that provides a step-by-step system for setting and achieving your New Year’s resolutions.

If focus, discipline, and accountability were the things that prevented you from achieving your resolutions in the past, then you must get the “Got Resolutions?” program!

In fact, here’s what Best-Selling Author Brian Tracy has to say:

“Got Resolutions? is a serious program for serious people who want to make serious and immediate change in their lives. There is no better way to start the New Year, and Gary Ryan Blair will show you how to finally turn your resolution into reality!”

Earlier this year you probably set some goals and resolutions, made promises to yourself, and ended up with unmet goals and unmet resolutions. Don’t let that happen in 2009. Right now you have the opportunity to create history rather than repeat it.

It’s easy to get started right away. Visit the link below and MAKE your resolutions reality!

Got Resolutions?

I’m wishing you a New Year of health, wealth, and happiness.

You just need to get out there and pursue your resolutions with open arms and believe deeply in your ability to enjoy the rewards of resolutions and dreams achieved.

Now THAT would be an amazing New Year’s gift to yourself, wouldn’t it?

Happy New Year!

Reba

P.S. Be sure to check out the video that explains the entire process. You’ll be glad you did!

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What have you been thinking about in the last week or so since your last post? How will you be tightening your market and what is helping you to make these decisions?

Oh boy Kelly, I sure opened the door for that one didn’t I?

To be quite honest, I haven’t come to a hard and fast conclusion. I’m having a hard time with this and I think that’s perfectly appropriate. It’s not an easy decision and it shouldn’t be.

In your post you said:

I find that many people who get exposed to the same message about focusing in on one target market are afraid to truly focus.  They don’t want to ‘exclude anyone’.  They are more comfortable targeting a demographic.  The problem with that is that it is hard for a solopreneur to monetize a demographic.

Well, that’s me. I find myself not wanting to exclude anyone and I know I need to get away from that mindset, so that’s where I am. But I have made a few decisions.

I sat down with Brent and we talked about who visits our site, who we want to visit our site, and how to capitalize on the visitors we end up with. We decided that Internet Marketing Boomer really is MY site, not Brent’s, because he just doesn’t have time to work on it. So, we’re going to change the site to not include him.

Now, it’s up to me to decide where to go with the site and I feel my strengths lie in working with people who are new to internet marketing. I’m also strong with the visual and simple technical aspects of setting up websites.

I was listening to an interview that Willie Crawford did with Craig Perrine about breaking into the inner circle of internet marketing. It was apparent in the interview that Willie doesn’t think that anyone who is fairly new or doesn’t make any money at internet marketing should be teaching the skills. However, Craig seemed to think that it’s okay as long as the people being taught are a couple of steps behind the teacher.

I agree with Willie to an extent but really resonated with what Craig said. I’ve been studying internet marketing for ten years. I actually made a great living in the late 90’s selling a product to a niche market by email marketing to my list of 20,000. However, after that venture ended and I went back to a traditional job, the internet became saturated with “internet marketing gurus.”  This caused the “make money online” market on the internet to mature and now it’s hard to re-enter after being absent for so long. There are so many techniques and tactics being used today that are very sophisticated and until I can get up to speed and actually use these newer tactics, I feel like a newbie again.

On the other hand, I do have lots of experience and tons (I mean tons!!!) of training. I’ve purchased all the programs that are supposed to teach you how to make a million on the internet and I’ve actually studied them. I know how to set up a site and drive traffic to it. I understand marketing. I know how to email market. I can write. I have time. And lastly, I’m not desperate, I have a job that will hopefully last until I’m ready to leave it.

So…I feel I’m capable of teaching this stuff, at least at the “getting started” level (I don’t care what Willie thinks). I’ve just not been here long enough to have the traffic I need, much less the trust I need from my readers, to make a full time living.

But my time will come, I’m certain of it.

Why am I certain?

Because I’m putting in the work (oh Lord, am I putting in the work) and I’m continuously upgrading my knowledge. I’m a member at mentor sites like MomMasterminds, Traffic Secrets 2.0, and The Internet Marketing Inner Circle. I’m actually TAKING ACTION. I’m doing what I need to do to get to where I want to be. And I just know it will happen, I can feel it.

And you know what? I also know, if the people who are just a couple of steps behind me, if they follow my journey and take action to stay up with me, they will find success as well.

So, back to your original question, how am I tightening my market?

1. First, instead of marketing TO boomers, I’m going to market AS a boomer. My voice will be from the perspective of looking towards and getting close to our later years. I’m going to talk about things like, building assets, finding what we want to do, making a living doing something that’s meaningful to us, leaving a legacy for our children and even helping our children find a meaningful career by using internet marketing skills. I’m just going to change the perspective of what I talk about.
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2. Next, I’m going to narrow my focus to include only those who are new to internet marketing. I’m not going to narrow the age group, I will just narrow the recommendations and teaching to beginner level and build from there. And as I learn and grow more knowledgeable in the techniques and tactics of internet marketing, so will my readers and followers.
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3. Next, I want to be sure to treat all my readers and followers with great respect. I want them to know I care about them. I’m hoping this will come across in my writing and I think I’ll be able keep this mindset because I’m not desperate to make money. Since I’m working a job, I know the struggle of trying to build a business while maintaining a career. I also know what it’s like to be a newbie and I’ll be empathic to that and will help in every way I can.
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4. Lastly, at a later date, I’ll go back and try to re-focus. Right now, I know I’m aiming at a market that‘s probably a bit too broad, maybe even too broad to bring success. But I see this as a process and as I proceed and grow, I will be able to identify my market by those who find my work interesting and useful. Until that time, I don’t want to define too tightly.

Kelly, you could almost use this CBC as a case-study for what it’s like to be a new internet marketer. Your questions are insightful coming from a voice of experience and probing enough to make me THINK. To me, this CBC feels a bit like I’ve been through a series of coaching sessions. I’m sure your ability to do this is why you’re able to be a coach and a good one from what I hear.

What was it that allowed you to tell yourself, “I know enough about internet marketing to teach others how to do it.” What gave you the confidence to actually act on your special abilities? Do you find that fear of what others will think is often the main factor that holds us back?  How does a newbie find the confidence that will allow him or her to take action?

Looking forward to your response.

Cheers!

Reba

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