Thursday, September 6, 2007
Writing and distributing articles is fast becoming a popular method of website promotion.
However, if your articles are not high-quality, you defeat the whole purpose of using articles for promotion. Web publishers are looking for quality information to offer their visitors and subscribers.
As a web publisher myself, I will not use articles that have a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. Per the terms of use, publishers are not allowed to alter articles, even if they have the time or inclination to correct all of the errors. If I come across an article with a lot of mistakes, I bypass it, even if the article itself contains a great message. If the author had taken just a little time to clean it up, it would have been perfectly usable.
While there are benefits to submitting your writing to the article databases alone, the primary goal of submitting articles is to allow other web publishers to use your material, thereby bringing more exposure and traffic to your website. If your articles are sloppy, they will not be used. Here are some general guidelines to writing quality articles:
Use a clear title - if you write an article about internet marketing, don't just title your article "Internet Marketing." Be clear about the subject of the article. For example, "Ten Ways to Increase Your Sales in Internet Marketing." Remember, the title is what will grab people's attention and encourage them to click through and read your article.
Proper spelling and grammar - take the time to be sure your article has no mistakes. Most web publishers can overlook a typo or two, but they will not use articles that need to be deciphered with a decoder ring! Most word processing software comes with a built-in spelling and grammar check. Take a minute to use it before submitting an article. Be sure you use the proper form of words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Example: "there, they're, and their" or "to, too, and two." Business-Words.com has an excellent Dictionary of words that sound the same. You can also reference Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. online, for free. This classic reference book details the rules of usage for the English language.
Avoid excessive keyword stuffing - yes, I know you want your article to be keyword-rich to entice the search engines, but there is definitely such a thing as overkill! I read an article recently where the author used the term, "home-based online internet business" over and over and OVER again. Not once did he use the terms, "it, your business, the business," etc. As a result, the article was incredibly redundant and monotonous. Sprinkle your keywords throughout the article, but also think of some alternate keyword phrases you could use that would be just as effective. For example, this author could have used phrases like, "home-business owner, entrepreneur, internet marketing, and small business."
What is the focus of your article? - some articles I've read started with one topic and then quickly meandered onto other unrelated topics, never answering the question or solving the problem posed at the beginning of the article. They more closely resembled long, rambling opinion pieces. While those certainly have their uses, most web publishers are looking for an article that helps their readers solve a problem or learn something new. The best way to do this with your articles is to keep it simple. Start by asking a question or posing a problem, and then provide the answer. Don't veer off onto other subjects in that same article (unless it is a piece that touches on several interconnected topics, in which case you can use bullet points to define them).
Use a clear author bio - another article I read recently used no author bio. It simply listed the author name and website address. Put a little more thought into it than that. When I enjoy an article, I want to know something about the author, and what their website has to offer me. I won't click through to the author's website unless something compels me to do so. Tell the readers a little something about yourself. What is your experience and expertise? What does your website have to offer? Why should they click on your link? At the same time, don't make your bio too long, either. You don't have to give your entire life story, just a quick overview of who you are and what you do.
Bottom line: You don't have to be a literary genius to write a good article. Most web publishers are not looking for perfection. However, remember that your articles are representing your business or website. If they are sloppy, riddled with errors and generally poor quality, what does that say about you and your business?
First impressions count! Always strive to put your best image out there, and it will pay off considerably.
Things to Consider Before Joining a Home Business Opportunity
If you prefer to work as a representative for an existing company instead of starting your own, there are plenty out there to choose from! There are things you should think about beforehand, however. Too many people make the mistake of jumping into the first opportunity they see. Do your homework before signing on the dotted line! Here are some things to consider about your prospective opportunity:
Are you passionate about the products/services? - Be honest with yourself on this, it's the most important question. Don't sign up with a company because others are doing well with them, or because your neighbor says it's the wave of the future. Can you really get excited about what you're selling? If yes, you will have a much better shot at success.
Is the company legitimate? - How long have they been in business? Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau or the Direct Selling Association? This doesn't necessarily guarantee the company is "good", but it's a good starting place. Also do a search for the company name along with the word "scam." Do a lot of complaints come up? Most companies will probably have a few, but if there are many, you might want to think twice.
Start-up Cost - How much does it cost to become a representative, and what is included in your start-up kit? Most business opportunities have a start-up cost that can range from a few dollars up to hundreds of dollars. However, you should actually receive something for this money being spent.
Product or Service - Is there an actual product or service being sold to customers? If there is no product or service, run far, far away! That is called a pyramid scheme, and it is illegal.
Training - Do you receive any training and support from the company? Ask how this training is presented. Is it online training? Telephone conference calls? One on one mentoring? Audio files? Printed booklets? Make sure you clearly understand what support and training materials will be provided for you.
Ongoing Costs - Are there any ongoing costs to running your business with this company? Some companies require that you purchase a certain amount of products each month, or they charge monthly webhosting fees or administrative fees.
Marketing Materials - Will you need to purchase your own marketing materials like brochures, catalogs, order forms, business cards, advertising or prospecting leads? Find out if the company offers any of these to you for free, or if they have low cost alternatives.
Quotas - Will you have any sales quotas you need to meet each month or year? Any other requirements you must meet to keep your business active?
Online or Off - Would you prefer to run your business mostly online, or off? Would you enjoy doing home parties? Some companies offer the option of both, and some do not. Find out exactly how you will need to run your business and make sure it's something you won't mind doing.
Website - Does the company give you a free website, or one that you pay for? Can you sign up customers and representatives at the website, or do you have to do it manually by phone or fax? Some websites are given for marketing and lead generation purposes, but you still have to sign up the prospects yourself. Others have more automated systems set up.
Product Delivery - Who delivers the products your customers order? Does the company ship them out for you, or will you have to do that?
Realistic income - What can you expect to earn, and how is the bulk of your income earned? Do you need to recruit other representatives in order to earn? Or can you sell product to earn a commission. Some companies offer both options. Don't fall for the hyped-up ads that claim you can earn $20,000 in a month. It may be possible, but be clear on exactly what would be required of you to earn that much money. Will you need to recruit a certain number of representatives per month, or sell a certain amount of products per month? Are you willing to do that?
When you finally choose a company to partner with, be prepared to work hard and be committed. So many ads out there make it sound so easy -- you just sign up and the money starts rolling in. Nothing could be further from the truth. You will need to show up each day and do the work, just like a job. You will need to stretch yourself outside your comfort zones and work on improving yourself, personally and professionally.
The good news is that YOU are responsible for your own success. There are no limits if you truly believe in yourself and the company you represent.
Network Marketing Training- The FAST Start MLM Success Formula
The FAST Start Training for the new MLM distributor
FAST.
That is how most people want to go in this business, and rightly so.
But you have to have a system or process to get there. That is what this training is about--a quick way to get off to a fast start and make something happen.
There are 4 key components to a good F.A.S.T. Start Training, and they are:
1) First things first.
You must be trained on the first parts of the education process in this business, and those are the important points on:
A) The Company facts and details on the history and management
B) The Products and the benefits of each product plus piece points
C) The Compensation Plan and how it works and how you make money
D) Your Upline and who they are
E) Developing your product story and your business success story
F) The Paperwork and how it is done
G) The Tools that you will use to build your business
2) Action steps you will take.
What will you do once you have gone through the "First things first" part?
A) You will learn how to do your Memory Jogger
B) You will learn how to approach and contact them
C) You will learn how to Neutralize Objections
D) You will learn how to do a Presentation
E) You will learn how to Follow up and ask for the decision
F) You will learn how to retail the products
3) Start the process Step By Step.
Once you have been trained on the basics of the Action steps, you start the actual process of Network Marketing:
A) Prospect for the initial contacts
B) Contact them
C) Deliver the Message
D) Follow up with agreed plan
E) Ask for the Decision
Prospect for the initial contacts.
This is where you choose who on your Memory Jogger will be contacted.
Contact them.
This is where either you or you and your upline contact the names.
Deliver the message.
This is where you either set up an appointment to go see them, get them on a conference call, or get them to try the product, or whatever else you set as the message…
Follow up with agreed plan.
This is where you simply follow up and keep in touch with the prospect.
Ask for the Decision.
This is where you get a decision of what they are planning on doing as far as product, business, or referrals.
This 5 step by step system is a VERY Basic and easy path to follow for the new distributor. It gives them 2 things
1) Initial Education on the basic information on WHAT
2) A Step By Step on HOW
These combined with a strong dose of MOTIVATION and LEADERSHIP will make for a HOT FAST Start training for you and your folks.
4) Then see what Path you will go with them.
Where do you go from here? Product sale? Recruiting? More Info? Referrals? Bring to a meeting? Decide what needs to be done.
Then Do it.
A FAST Start training needs to be 3 things:
1) Easy to train on
Don't complicate it…make it easy and fun, and make it easy to learn.
2) Easy to Learn
Yes, easy to learn, as if it is not, then you will only end up de-motivating and confusing many of your prospects.
3) Easy to Duplicate
THIS IS A MUST! If you do it right, and make it easy to duplicate, you will find that the training will become more and more being taught doen in your group and by your budding Leaders.
Get your folks off to a FAST Start with this F.A.S.T. Start training. It will create some excitement and also lots of activity.
PassionFire also has a SCORCHING FAST Start Training Manual- A HOT Start- The First 14 Days! Check it out at our online store for Success in MLM and Network Marketing.
blessings...doug Firebaugh
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PassionFire International
http://www.passionfire.com
http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_7.html
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