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Are You Referral Worthy?
Referral business is the least expensive way to win new customers. In addition, it has the highest possible leverage and the best potential payoff. Most importantly, a prospect whose name you received through a referral is much more likely to listen to your pitch and less likely to seek out other sources to meet his or her needs. You come to them with a built in reference.

Get Publicity Now! Tie Into A Breaking News Event
Can you pounce on a breaking news event? Not everybody can, but if your subject has breaking news potential then you’d better be ready to take advantage of it with a press release and pitch that is thought out and ready to go.
Successfully selling your product or service
You may not see it this way, but no matter what type of business you operate, you will have to sell. Whether you are selling your product, your service or simply your company's reputation, you have to be good at it to guarantee the long-term success of your enterprise.
Lesson #2: Rewards Are In the Results for Clients
“In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative, original thinker unless you can also sell what you create,” said Ogilvy. “We sell – or else.”

Simply Success: How a Down to Earth Cook Rose to the Top
Proudly on display in the front of Rachael Ray’s home is a sign that reads: “Martha Stewart doesn’t live here.” She may not be Martha Stewart, but Ray has found her own equally successful style of cooking and presenting herself on the road to success. How did this young woman who never stepped foot inside a culinary training institute become on of the industry’s most popular and well-known cooks?

Recognizing Genius: Rubber Bands and Dresser Drawers
Gene Weingarten has an interesting anecdote in the weekend Washington Post on how violinist Joshua Bell's parents recognized his talent at the very young age of 4:
To Listen or Not To Listen
Yesterday, I was on a conference call with an entrepreneur that I’ve backed in the past. He wanted to walk me through the idea for a new business that he was working on. His goal was simply to get feedback from me at the very early stage of his idea – he wasn’t pitching me for an investment. We got about five minutes into the pitch when I interrupted him.
Get Right to the Point
I once hired a very qualified young man. I expected him to be great. But boy, was I ever wrong. This guy took so long to explain everything that I began to dread talking with him. He was just too slow. Yes, he was thorough and painstaking, but he couldn't keep pace. He wasted too much time.
Bite Your Tongue: Eight More Ways To Improve Your Presentations
There was such a positive response to the speaking tips of Doug Lawrence (email) that I asked him for more stuff. Taking a cue from the fact that “Bite your tongue” was the most popular tip, here are more:
Disrupt-Then-Reframe Selling: How to Close a VC?
Have you heard of the concept called “disrupt-then-reframe”? The theory is that you introduce a non-sequitur or unexpected element into your pitch and then immediately inject a call-to-action. The disruption theoretically neutralizes critical thinking and makes a person more susceptible to agree.
Your Revenue Forecast Is Wrong
I received several questions in response to my post titled The Purpose of Numbers on a Y Axis and my followup post titled The Lack of Numbers of Y Axis Doesn’t Disqualify You. One of the questions prompted a rant in my brain that often spills out of my mouth when I’m on the receiving end of an early stage pitch.
The Ether and the Scrum
Every day I get emails from entrepreneurs that make me think. In this case, it’s from a friend who is on the fundraising trail. He started off the email with “I felt compelled to share this with you as someone who would appreciate it.” I thought it was dynamite and asked him if I could share it since – in its unedited form – it captured so nicely what I expect many entrepreneurs feel. And, just as importantly, it’s something I hope VC’s realize that entrepreneurs – even very experienced ones – feel.
Right and Wrong of PR Pitches
For years I was on the pitching end of PR and, while I still do some for my own promotion, I am more often on the receiving end of pitches these days.
Pitching your business idea to potential investors
Before you approach the bank or other form of financier to fund your start-up or business expansion, you need to be sure that you've done your research and have confidence in your Business Plan. You then need to prepare and practise your business pitch.
Pitch More Faster Read Versus Listen
As part of our Do More Faster book tour, we’ve been having a pitch session each day called “Pitch More Faster.” During the hour, we hear four pitches that are five minute each and give direct feedback / suggestions on the pitch itself (not the content or the business, but the pitch.)
When There's 118 Seconds Between You and Success
I had him. I knew it. I had been ready with my pitch and when I got him on the phone, I sold him big time. But as soon as I heard he was hooked, I stopped. I didn’t try to close the sale then and there. Instead, I tried to better position myself to take advantage of his interest and asked him for a bit of time a few days later.
The Magic of Jiffy Lube, Sales Adaptability and Plagiarism
Perhaps you've noticed that while driving past a Jiffy Lube during (slow times for them) your commute there may be a mechanic out front, holding a sign, offering a discount, hoping you'll pull in. I don't know about you, but I am not particularly moved by a guy in a jump suit waving for me to stop. But it made me wonder, does this work?

ANATOMY OF A GOOD DIRECT MAIL PACKAGE
An analysis of a good direct mail package.
Handling Rejection from the Media!
Rejection means the media isn't interested in what you have to promote that day...there is always another day. Don't take rejection personally...it could be more about timing than anything else.
Are You A Dinosaur
Do you really know your business? To know your business you must know all the operating metrics as well the core of your business model. Business is part art and part science.

Low Hanging Fruit
Begin anew with the basic fundamentals everyday and one of the best business fundamentals is to remember to pick the low hanging fruit.
Internet Home Based Business--Plan for Mastery
Internet home based business; planning is essential to your business success. One of the most effective ways to market your product or service is through the Internet. This article will address a business plan for home based business...
SEVEN WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS IN YOUR LIFE
To help you relieve stress in a crazy world seven examples are provided to give you actions you can consider when dealing with some of the often-cited causes of stress.
Resonsible leadership in an interconnected universe
What does a leader's responsibility mean in times of crisis and the established knowledge that we are living in an interconnected universe consisting of energy and consciousness only?
Understanding and Managing Your Stress
Stress management is, in its simplest terms, your ability to deal effectively with all the combination's of pressure that come at you on a daily basis. It is your ability to operate under optimal levels of stress without letting the pressure build to the point where you cannot cope. This is normally accomplished by developing a process of both prevention and intervention.

Role of the Supervisor: Retain Your Best Talent
Employees’ confidence in the ability of their supervisor is one of the most important predictors of retention. Employees want to feel proud of being part of a successful organization and therefore worth an investment of their time. Supervisors must accept the fact that to a large degree employee turnover is their responsibility.
How to Leverage Your Work to Make More Money in Less Time
When you create a product, service, process or system for your small business it takes a lot of thought, planning and time. It's important that you find ways to leverage your work by using it again and again to make more money in less time.
How to Create an In-Demand Information Product in 30 Days
It doesn’t matter what kind of small business you have, you can create a downloadable information product in 30 days or less. Information products are in demand, and you can use them in multiple ways.

Why Starting a Home Based Business is Appealing to an Increasing Number of People
If you have been thinking of starting a home based business, you are among the thousands of individuals with the same mind set. Most people do not have sufficient information to make an informed decision. This article will provide enough information for you to decide if you want to do it.
Five Elements to Financial Freedom AND Fulfillment
In ancient times, five elements were used to symbolize the harmonious workings of the universe. Using a similar approach, I have identified five elements that, when properly deployed, will help us build a solid financial structure and reach high for our dreams - elements that will lead us to our ultimate joy and fulfillment in life.
The 7 Pillars of Purpose Driven Entrepreneurship
Follow your passion, uncover your purpose, and create a successful business, living it. Learn the 7 pillars essential to create a purpose driven venture.
Starting a Home Based Business Opportunity and What it Requires
Starting a home based business opportunity on the Internet is appealing to more people on a daily basis. Before accepting the challenge, it is important for you to know what is required. Here you can get information that will help you to make an informed decision whether it is something you can and want to do.
5 Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Do For a Business or Executive Coach
Are you a business or executive coach overwhelmed with administrative tasks? By working with a virtual assistant you will have more time to create additional revenue and build your practice. Here are 5 tasks that you can easily delegate to your virtual assistant.
THE ACORN THEORY
The Acorn Theory was first postulated in the modern era, at least in the public domain by James Hillman, author and psychologist, in his bestselling book; The Soul’s Code. It is Hillman’s view that one of life’s greatest mysteries is the question of character and ones destiny. In this theory he proposes that our calling is inborn and that it’s our mission in life to realize its imperatives. He has called it the “acorn theory,” the idea that our lives are formed by a particular image, just as the oak’s destiny is contained in the tiny acorn.

Home Business Opportunity-Research a Company Thoroughly Before Investing Your Money
Who is the ideal candidate for starting a home business opportunity? If you have been laid off recently or have been unemployed for too long, you need to get busy and look for a legitimate home business opportunity on the Internet. You will find information in this article to help you.
Internet Home Based Business Opportunity and What you Need to Start
These tough economic times call for an alternative to the traditional job. As more jobs continue to be outsourced and the unemployment rate climbs to double digits, an Internet home based business is the only viable alternative. This article will provide information you need before you join a business opportunity. Be careful not to make your move too soon.
Resume Writing: 3 Quick Tips To Get You Noticed
Resume writing is as much an art as it is a skill. This article gives practical tips on improving your resume.
Starting a Home Based Business-to Start or not to start is the Question
To start or not to start a home based business is the question most asked by individuals looking for an alternative to the traditional job. If you have lost your job recently or have been unemployed for more that 9 months and your benefits will soon expire, we need to talk. This article will provide information to help you make an informed decision.
Home Based Business Opportunity--Working Towards Maximum Productivity
If you already have an Internet home based business, this article will provide tips and ideas for increasing productivity.

Which Type of Advertising Works Best?
One of the greatest problems businesses have is knowing which type of advertising works best.
Internet Home Based Business Opportunity-Effective Research Tips
This article is all about helping you with starting an Internet home based business opportunity. You will see effective tips on researching and selecting a legitimate opportunity. Continue reading and take advantage of the valuable tips.
20 Ways to Say No
Saying no is tough sometimes. But it’s a necessary skill if you want to live a life with any kind of balance. Demands on our time, money and other resources can take all that we have if we allow them. And failing to use this important word leads to resentments in our relationships, over-scheduling, overwhelm, over extending, frustration and inattention to our own needs or goals. When we aren’t good at it, coming up with a “no” on the fly can be very difficult. I encourage my clients to create some ready phrases so that they are prepared. The trick is to:

What Is The Definition Of Financial Freedom?
For many people the definition of financial freedom is the position in life where they think all their money problems are over. Is that truly when financial freedom is achieved?

CHOOSING AFFILIATE PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE IS HARD WORK
Those who are in charge of affiliate programs care if you choose the best affiliate offer to promote. In fact, it is part of their job requirement to assist you in making this kind of selection. You are working for them as an online sale professional. This means that you get paid to drive traffic to the offer that the affiliate manager is in charge of heading. The hard part comes when you view the webpage of the program in question. Do you choose to get behind the site that is promising their top reps a new computer, a dream trip to a place that is known to be lovely, or the program that rewards its tops affiliates with 2000 dollars in cash? Your job as an internet marketer is to see clearly, and base your decision on the facts so that you can start promoting as fast as possible.
SQUEEZE ALL YOU CAN OUT OF YOUR AFFILIATE PROMOTIONS
Selling to current clients is one of the easiest jobs in existence. It is tons easier to sell a product in this manner because you already have a relationship with this person. They know that you can deliver, they have already bought what you have offered, and you do not have to prove that you can be trusted.
CHOOSE YOUR AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WISELY!
What affiliate programs are you currently promoting? Did you choose 3 random affiliate offers, throw them in a hat, and just pick the first one that you could grab? Unluckily, there are too many new affiliates who choose what they will promote unwisely. Picking an offer should be done in a way that will greatly increase your chances of doing well. If you pick in an unwise manner, you may be wasting a large amount of time and effort promoting something that is doomed to fail from the beginning. The good news is that there are several tips that you can follow to decide on which offer is best.
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS CREATE PASSIVE ONLINE INCOME
Membership programs are the rental real estate of the internet kingdom. In other words, these types of programs provide passive income on a monthly basis for those who operate them for a living. This type of business is smart for any online marketer to have in their online bag of tricks. In this article we will mention several types of membership site models you may want to consider.
Why You Should Consider Starting a Home Based Business
You need a home based business even though we have been led to believe there is a recovery happening as we speak. However, average citizens, the little guy and gal continue to suffer as the unemployment rate moved into double digits. A home business on the Internet is the best option.
Some Tips for Starting an Internet Home Based Business
Any business can be promoted online if you have a website. The blog on your website helps you interact with your customers and build strong business relationships. You could also look for many free methods available on the internet to market your business. Therefore, a website is an absolute must for any Internet home business.
Why Social Media is Just Like Sex.
Let me start with an apology. For those who don't know me, you might be put-off by the title of this article, "Why Social Media is Just Like Sex." But if you do know me, you might be a little more comfortable with the title. After all, there really are some parallels between the two. So check out the article and find out for yourself why social media actually IS like sex.
Which Social Media Tool will be the First to Become Irrelevant?
A recent survey conducted by the 60 Second Marketer with marketing directors around the globe asked "Which social media tool will be the first to become irrelevant?" The answer may surprise you. Check it out.
The Top 13 Social Media Tools for Marketers
There are hundreds of different Social Media tools available, so it’s easy to get confused by them. But social media tools are a little easier to understand if you break them down into three categories - tools that help you network, tools that help you promote and tools that help you share content. Here’s a quick rundown of the top 13 Social Media tools for marketers. I’ve also included some brief tips on how to use each of them.
CPA CAN BE PROMOTED TO AN OFFLINE AUDIENCE
CPA Networks provide a fantastic vehicle that can take you to the destination of your small business dreams. However, you may not ever reach your online destiny without the proper marketing knowledge. Simply put, a CPA company will pay its members when someone takes a particular action. If you are promoting an offer that requires a person to buy a fat loss product, that person must be able to find your product on the internet in order to purchase. It is very simple in theory, but many people who promote to others have a tough time driving traffic to their offers. You can have the best offer in the world, but it means nothing if not a single soul realizes that it exists.
Promoting Your Internet Home Based Business with Article Marketing
This article is about promoting your Internet Home Based Business using article marketing. Thousands of business entrepreneurs on the Internet adopt this form of marketing and promoting. News and information you can use.
How can you make your press release stand out?
Not all press releases are created equal. If you the media to take notice there are five key elements you've must have.
VIDEO MARKETING MAY BE WHAT THE ONLINE AND OFFLINE WORLD IS LOOKING FOR IN 2009
Video marketing is almost as popular today as Google Adwords. In case you have not heard, youtube.com was bought for over 1 billion dollars by Google.com. What makes this even more amazing is that this occurred over two years ago. If you are not putting the power of this marketing weapon to use in your own internet marketing home business you are leaving tons of money on the online marketing table. Fortunately, you can now put this incredible resource to work for you if you just utilize a few quick tips. This article will serve to enlighten any fellow online business owners with several video marketing pointers.
What's Wrong With Multitasking?
Switching back and forth among tasks creates stress and divides your attention. Plus, it’s harder to remember where you left off and requires more thinking.

What's Your Passion?
80% of the working population feels on some level, unhappy, dissatisfied, and unfulfilled. In all likelihood, 4 out of every 5 people you meet are frustrated, under-enthused and not feeling like they are living their “purpose”.
Is Your Financial Comfort Zone Keeping You Stuck?
If you'd like to change your financial set point and increase your income here’s what to do:
What You Should Learn From Union Organizing
This article discusses what companies should learn from union organizing and how management by listening to the voices of the workers can build a better work environment
Losing Focus and Clarity of Vision
This article discusses the lack of focus and clarity in vision and mission statements an how to regain this clarity and focus.
How to sell yourself to others
So you've got all the great closing tactics down but you are still not closing. Here's why.
How Can a Virtual Assistant Help Me With My Bookkeeping Virtually?
Are you a small business owner who hates to do their own bookkeeper? This article reviews the steps involved in working with a virtual bookkeeper. By utilizing a virtual bookkeeper this will allow you more time to do the things that you love to do.
When Did You Last Put Your Ear To The Ground?
Adept trackers, Native Americans used to put their ears to the ground to hear horses' hoofs miles away. The ground carried the sound. Later, the train tracks did the same thing if you put your ear to the track, you could hear the train coming from miles away. When Did You Last Put Your Ear To The Ground? Explore these simple ways to "tighten" your marketing tactics from face-to-face to voice mail. Start measuring how you connect with your prospects and make it matter.
REINVENTING YOURSELF
Recently and again, I had an opportunity to visit with Geoff Currier on The Nighthawk, CJOB’s evening show. Geoff asked me to join him in a discussion of how some people manage to re-invent themselves and he used the example of Frank McCourt the author of Angela’s Ashes to start things off. As a Life & Business Coach my work with clients is all about reinvention but perhaps not in the way you may think.

Don't Lose Your Focus
Of the many obstacles business people face one of the hardest to overcome is our loss of focus.

C- Level Selling -- Subtleties Make Big Differences in C-Level Selling
Just a few words rephrased, or a few actions rearranged can make huge differences when it comes to winning over C-level executives and closing sales. However, without a sales coach you’ll never pick-up what needs to change with your approach and/or delivery.
THE NEW RULES OF ATTRACTION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Recently, we’ve heard a lot about how we should be using social media to appeal to the younger generation. However, much of the focus has been about the tools and how they work, but little about how and why they appeal to the younger generation.

KNOW THE ‘HOT SPOTS’ OF YOUR DM PACKAGE
What are the ‘hot spots’ of your direct mail package? They are the parts that you want your readers to be drawn to, to pay attention to.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CONSUMER FATIGUE, ONLY MARKETING FATIGUE.
Don’t just blame the recession, there are other factors at play when trying to market to consumers.
"WHAT WE’VE GOT HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE."
When it comes to charities, one neglected area where communication fails miserably is during Post Gift Communications.

Is An Internet Home Based Business The Best Way To Make Money From Home?
There are a huge number of new home based business opportunities on the Internet and growing more by the day. Everybody is having a hard time and looking for ways to generate income. What is the best way to make money from the privacy and comfort of your home? Of course, a home based business opportunity on the Internet. To learn more, continue reading.
EFFECTIVE Meeting Facilitation - Say Goodbye to the WOMBAT
"Oh no! Another meeting! That's 3 hours of my life I'll never see again!" If you've ever felt this way or suspect you've evoked this response in others, read on. A new acronym has popped up that defines many meetings. Many people are now referring to meetings as a WOMBAT (Waste Of Money, Brains And Time). To turn your meetings from WOMBATs to EFFECTIVE, here are some tips to create an environment where participants can bring their strengths and ideas to the table. EFFECTIVE meetings have not only positive discussion, but also a will to make important decisions and to take action.

Sales Coaching – How to Find Clients
What do you do when you are just starting a business and need your first client? What if your existing clients have closed their purse strings? What if you just want to grow your business and the only way to do that is to get more buyers?

Short and Simple Copyrighting Tips
Since copywriting is another form of sales, learn how to sell. Whenever you have the chance, read books on selling. This will make you see life and the way you approach you future customer or you do you marketing completely differently. You will also find below 5 short and simple copywriting tips which will allow you to achieve a sales person or good internet marketer state of mind.
How To Make Money From Home Using Forum Marketing
What is the best way to reach potential customers? That is the million dollar question for most home businesses. Generating leads is often the toughest part of any enterprise and without leads there is no way to ensure future growth.

What's Your Favorite "F" word ?
Interesting replies I received from a Tweet on Twitter concerning thankfulness. This is an article you'll really enjoy.
How to Get More Things Done With Ease and Elegance
Here’s is a quick checklist of what you need to know so you can beat the odds, and create more and more of what you want in your business and in your life with ease, grace and flow.

The Four C’s at Work: A New Approach to Team Building & Why It’s So Important
The Four C’s at Work: A New Approach to Team Building & Why It’s So Important
Starting an Internet Home Based Business Opportunity – Is it the Right Venture for You
For anyone unemployed or may be next to be laid off, this article is required reading. Since most individuals are not sure what to do about it, here is a suggestion for what you can do; Your mission should you decide to accept it, is to prepare for starting an Internet Home Based Business. You will discover that it is the only viable alternative to a traditional job. Read more.

Which Would You Prefer, Wealth or Welfare? (it's a trick question)
The relationship between the words "wealthy" and "welfare" would surprise most people today. By the time you finish, you will realize you should have both.
LEAN INTO YOUR DISCOMFORT
I must admit that learning to lean into my discomfort has had a very positive effect in my life! It was a process over time but the value of being able and willing to do it, was magnified 10 fold during my two year battle to survive my deteriorating lungs, followed by another two year journey back from the edge of death to good health, after surviving a 13 hour double lung transplant operation. My new lungs came from a 40 year old man who lost his life in a car accident when he was killed by a drunk driver. His incredible gifts saved the lives of four people. I know about discomfort!
Self Motivation
This is an except from my book on self coaching. Chapter 6 deals with self motivation which is an essential ingredient in the self coaching process. This is an excerpt from my book: Deep Coaching: A Guide to Self Directed Living. You can find a free preview of three chapters to download and get directions to download the ebook or buy the book on-line. Thanks for having a look.
An Accountant or a Leader - but rarely both
Sometimes I think that the world is divided between the people who make things happen and those that account for it. I know it is an over simplification but all the personality assessments, type indicators and their like break us into four types: The Pragmatic, the Analytical, the Amiable and the Extrovert.

Having a Purpose
As children we are always asking the question ‘why?’ This often results in the majority of adults becoming frustrated with our incessant questioning. Through this we learn to tone down our questions as we get older. This, however, does not mean that we are not curious and do not want to know. In our workplace, or anywhere we are asked to make a commitment and strive to achieve something, the question looming in our mind is why? Why are we doing this? What is the point? What will we achieve as a result of doing this?
Are You a Forced Entrepreneur?
Many people are making the recession a blessing in disguise to hone their talent and skills, to spend time with family and community, and to get connected with themselves all over again!

Starting an Internet Home Based Business
Starting an Internet home based business is the best alternative to a traditional job during this deep recession in the United States and the rest of the world. If you have a late model computer with high-speed Internet access and basic computer and Internet skills you are good to go.
Internet Home Based Business
There are many different people starting an Internet home based business these days. A large number of people have computers and know how to operate them. They also have state-of-the-art computers with high-speed Internet access and are ready to tackle the business of running an Internet home based business.

How to Cold-Pitch a Reporter
If you ask journalists their biggest peeves with PR people, and especially with people trying to do their own PR, the most frequent response you’re like to get is “they waste my time with off-topic pitches. If you think the rest of us have crowded inboxes… triple it for journalists. They are looking for excuses to hit the delete button or drop your precious press kit in the recycle bin.
Succeed With Social Media
The key to success with social media–and I’ve built my business on it since 1995–is to interact with others the way you’d like to be interacted with. Call it the Golden Rule of Cyberspace–it’s not so different from the Golden Rule of every major religion.
You’ll Need to Be More Than a Full Time Resource for Your Home Based Business
Many people jump on board in a home based business opportunity without really understanding the commitment required to be successful. Prior to getting started, you need to educate yourself and understand you are the one that will be the resource for your business. To learn more, read the article on tips to be more effective.
Home based Business - Understanding the True Value of Customer Support
At the core of any successful business is making your customers happy. The only way to ensure you do that aside from excellent products or services is to have great customer support. To learn more, read the article.

Cubicle Courtesies Unlock Doors
It’s true that the close quarters of office cubicles in companies are a breeding ground for hot tempers, resentments and damaged relations. It’s also true that most of our complaints about our co-workers are valid and should not be ignored. The challenge is to devise and employ strategies to create goodwill in the office so that minor annoyances do not explode into a toxic work environment that no one will benefit from. Open environments and cubicles are here to stay. Ensure that your business relationships enjoy that same longevity by employing strategies of cubicle courtesies which will open doors to a more productive and enjoyable workspace.
The Day our Icons let us down
In the seventies Marks and Spencer plc, in UK was the icon of the retail industry. Everyone used M&S as a benchmark by which they measured their performance and aspired to achieve. National Westminster Bank was the biggest bank in UK and the bank that handled the Bank of England. British Airways was the major airline in the world and a company that other airlines looked up to. There were similar organizations in North America as well and other parts of the world. Then the world changed. In the 80’s the world shifted gear. The icons were found to be set in their traditional ways. In fact all three of these companies were challenged to the level that they nearly disappeared.
Using self-talk to conquer your goals
Having a positive mindset can help you achieve your goals with ease.

Home Business Marketing Tips
As with any successful business, a home business needs to be effectively marketed so that customers keep coming to buy what you have to offer. However, if you are like many that have a home business you are probably on a very limited budget. This can hinder you greatly in your marketing efforts, but fear not as there are many things you can do right now that will help you to market your home business.
When Organic SEO Tastes Too Much Like Hard Work!
This article discusses the reasons why you never see a break down on the amount of money spent on ‘organic’ SEO marketing vs "Pay per Click Advertising". Have you wondered why do companies take up using online ads more easily than using organic marketing? Find out what are the benefits gained by those brave enough to take on the challenge of search engine optimisation or SEO.
Top 12 SEO Tips To Optimise Your Website Content For Organic Search.
This article contains SEO tips and advice on optimising your website including a step by step approach to get you started.
MLM Scam Review Sites -- Just More Advertising ?
We have all seen the ads stating that they have the facts that show which companies are scams and which are not. When you read through the site, you will see many facts and "testimonials" giving details about how unfair the business treats people. There are typically two or three graphically detailed accounts of deception. After you read most of the way through the articles, you come to a point where the author states that he can save you a great deal of money and heartache. Then he lists several companies that he personally recommends, as the best place to invest your money. Seems very logical. Seems as though he is really looking out for your best interest.
MLM Pre-Launch -- Great Marketing or Just Another MLM Scam
If you have been around the MLM industry very long, you have seen all of the hype that is generated when a new "pre-launch" MLM opportunity is announced. The "pre-launch" announcement supposedly gives people the chance to get in to the new opportunity before everybody else. The question is -- who IS everybody else?

Investing in the Invisible
If you’re a business owner, you might be surrounded by sea, but you know there is land out there somewhere and you are determined to find it. You are investing in the invisible – the land you can’t see yet is the land of your dreams, your goals, and your brilliant, successful future filled with riches, profits, and rewards. If you’re thinking of becoming a business owner, you’re thinking about investing in that same invisible, glorious dream.
Information Overload – Stop Reading and Implement!
Every now and then I get “information overload” syndrome. This is when my eyes cross and I just want to take a nap or play FreeCell all day on my computer.
The Hidden Power of Questions
Business leaders who know everything and always have a great plan can climb a good distance. But they rarely make it to the top. Why not? What’s missing? Good questions—that’s what’s missing. Or more specifically, a strong questioning strategy.

Build Your Business with The 5 A’s Method
This is a simplification of basic best business practices. It is a quick tune-up check list to recommit you to what you love to do—your business. See how the ideas work for you.
Secret Pal or Powerful Tool—Your Coach
Consistently I'm asked how to select a coach or why would I want one by people I meet. This teels me they have not had a coaching experience. This article offers insights about coaching and how it may be a powerful business and personal tool for you.

Pushing Boundaries
Have you ever noticed how children are constantly pushing boundaries and checking how far they can push things? It is a natural thing to do as the child endeavors to discover what works and why.

Being Connected
There is an interesting situation in the work place these days caused by the social networking sites.

Another Conference
Who would put a team together that did not share the common goals and seek to work in harmony to complete the outcome?

Remaining Focused
Christopher Columbus set sail heading West to look for new lands. It was a daring move at a time of growing national imperialism and economic competition between states. It was risky and many thought that he would disappear off the edge of the world. However, Columbus remained focused even though he did not know exactly what he would find. In fact, he totally underestimated the circumference of the world and when he landed in the Bahamas he thought he had landed on the East Asian mainland. As with all these voyages in history, Columbus prepared as best he could for the months ahead. In part he was preparing for the unknown, but there was a lot he knew he could plan for and he recognized that his team would need to be able to adapt and change as challenges arose.
Obama on Leadership
After eight years of the Bush Administration and the last year of electioneering, the whole world watched in January, as the first African-American took the oath of office and became the 44th President of United States of America.
When to Fold 'em
One of the important aspects of leadership is to know when to stand firm and when to fold.
How Your Business Model Could Be Limiting Your Income and How to Change It
Most businesses start out with just one or two products or services. Maybe you’re selling services like coaching, event planning, personal training, web design or massage therapy, or maybe it’s an online info product like an e-book or course. Whatever it is, before long you find yourself selling time for money with your income limited by how many hours there are in the day, or you work hard to get lots of clients but the sale amount is so low and, since it’s a one time sale, you’re barely breaking even.
Compromise or Sacrifice?
In your pursuit of business or personal success, what are you willing to compromise or sacrifice? Read this article to appreciate their implications and impact on individuals.
So You Want To Work From Home
For People who are looking for the opportunity to work from home, it has endless opportunities that can put you in the three percent if your head is in the right place.

Direct Marketing Excellence explores… Effective Recruiting
Recruiting is the lifeblood of any direct marketing career. So why should you write off 80 percent of your prospects?
Gold Medal Selling
How the Formula for Beating the 1980 Soviet Hockey Team Can Help You Beat Your Biggest Competitor.
What Are These Things We Call Free Radicals? Are They Free, and Do We Want Them?
The "Free Radical" is the source for virtually all disease, illness and aging itself! Science has come a long way on this -- further by far than the medical establishment has moved on it. Many doctors will acknowledge that free radicals are the basic cause of disease, but since they don't have any drugs to treat free radicals with, they continue to administer drugs which are, themselves, often sources of more free radicals.
How Chelation Works
Here is a mechanical explanation of the chelating process -- and a comparison of intravenous chelation therapy with oral chelation.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Natural Pain Relief!
MSM stands for Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, organic sulfur. When it rains, MSM falls on the ground and is used by plants. Your body needs MSM and contains some but, if you had more MSM in your body, you would endure far less pain and suffering from arthritis, back pain, Fibromyalgia and muscle soreness.

Water Everywhere!
With water so plentiful around us, usually people question only the quality of water. Hardly anyone asks you seriously, whether you think you drink ENOUGH water. They ask, instead, what TYPE of water you drink, if they ask at all. Typically, the people who ask what type of water you drink have some sort of a water filter to sell. I’m not selling water filters!
Know When to Send Your Media Release for Free Publicity
Knowing when to send your media release to journalists and editors, can make the difference between getting free publicity or being overlooked.
How to Build a 6-Figure Income from Your Small Business
If you own a small or solo business or practice, or are an independent service professional here are some great business building ideas for you.

Seven Signs that "Great Opportunity" is Really a Scam
Don't get scammed. The Internet is bursting with excellent opportunities to make money. ... Unfortunately, it's also teeming with unscrupulous scammers who seek to get rich by scamming honest people out of their hard-earned money. One of the most popular scams out there is the "business in a box" hoax. If you are currently in the process of looking for a business idea, chances are you will come across this kind of scam. The "business in a box" pitch looks something like this: scam blurb Wow, sounds like a sweet deal. Or does it? Think about it... If a company is selling you an opportunity to sell their product, chances are they've sold the exact same opportunity to thousands of other people. (After all, why would they limit the
Advanced Sales Training - 8 What-to-Do’s About Cold Calling
We all need new customers. Cold calling seems to be our default tactic and everyone will agree, it's highly inefficient and very demotivating. So here are 8 actions to take to make it work better for you.
You Can Quote Me
The art of writing convincing quotes for press releases and other matreials
Make These Recession Survival Strategies Work For You: Courage and Entrepreneurship
Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires courage, faith, honesty, initiative trust in others and above all, the ability to take risks. Entrepreneurship cannot be learned from a book or from a seminar. It must be practiced. Know yourself, know your brand and focus on what you want to create.
The Science and Art of Great Interviewing
Great interviewers use a structured process to gather the evidence they need to make informed hiring decisions. Plan your questions in advance. Build rapport. Investigate both sides of an issue. Check for capabilities, commitment and chemistry. Learn how to detect then trust your intuition. Keep your interviews on track. And record your observations during the interview in a structured way so you can fairly compare responses of all your candidates

Google
I believe the slogan went "Stop the Insanity". The last thing I want to do is put down the Art (and or science) of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), but with google adding new additions to it's internet controlling algorithm on what seems a weekly basis, I have to reiterate a brilliant idea. The latest update from google is code-name Caffeine, previously Bourbon and before that paragon-alpha...and on and on. Here is the Website SEO tip that will stand the test of time, whether Google, Yahoo or Bing... are you ready??

5 Simple Tips To Be More Productive
These are 5 simple tips to help keep you productive and on track in your profession or business.
C-Level Selling - Asking Sales Questions Is Easier Said Than Done
It’s easy to tell a sales person to ask questions and listen more. However, doing it is very difficult. Here are 5 steps to make the process easy and productive for closing sales.
Questions That Sell
We are working on a new campaign for a client and spent a few hours today looking at competitive web sites, ads and brochures. After about three hours we looked at each other and said, “Can you remember anything any of these companies said that stands out?” Ken said, “I bet if I took all these brochures, and removed the company name and logo, even our client couldn’t tell them apart!” Every single firm started their pitch with a description of their products and services, and lots of detail on how great they are. Then they added thrilling descriptions of their plants (usually with a picture of the parking lot) and a price list.

Who's court is that ball in? Or, that ain't my job, man.
You want to be recognized for your contribution. You may not even mind a critique when you don't live to your aims. But you don't want to be blamed for someone else's shortcomings. The people who work with you feel the same way. This article points out how to manage, to keep the responsibility lines straight.

Just the facts, ma'am
Whether or not Joe Friday ever said "Just the facts, ma'am", the facts are necessary for your operation to judge what is not right, and what to change. Objective, open eyed facts, undistorted by opinions nor politics; nor by "it's always been done that way" nor by the dreaded Not Invented Here syndrome.

Policy
Productivity can be improved anywhere, including the board room. Basic policies set in place the mechanisms that control costs up and down the P&L and balance sheet. Be sure those policies serve the organization, and not vice versa.

Give the supervisor what he needs
Or what she needs, to be productive. But what the supervisor needs may not be what your system stresses, what it spews out. Here are points to consider.

Business Coaching and Mentoring: Are They Worth the Effort?
Many people consider Business Coaching and Business Mentoring to be the same thing. Even though they are both organizational development terms, they are not synonymous. This issue of Astronology investigates the practicality of Business Coaching and Business Mentoring.

July 4rth Crash Course in History
Barbeques. Retail sales. Fireworks. These are a few of the things we think of when we consider the 4rth of July or Independence Day. But was July 4th the real day that America was born? In this issue of Astronology, we take a quick crash course into U.S. History with some startling but fun facts.

Top Salespeople Avoid Commodity Selling
If your pushing products/service you may be turning your product/service into a price driven commodity. With small changes in how you approach, talk and present can take you out of the price driven commodity race.

So what do you know – or what do you think you know?
One of my roles is to challenge current thinking. Businesses are formed and develop over time and certain ideas and concepts become embedded in the organisation. Mentors like myself challenge those ideas to ensure that the business remains fresh.
Do you have to be lucky to be successful?
Do you have to be lucky to be successful? I take time to think about my articles and an idea for one came up a couple of months ago and coincidentally whilst thinking on the topic, an associate sent me something on the same lines as my thought process.
Trapped by your business?
As with all my articles they come out of real experience and my on going conversations with MD’s and Directors. I have been quite active in the business acquisition marketplace recently on behalf of a client. The word “trapped” has come up a number of times in my travels.

Poker – a Metaphor for Business
Poker – a Metaphor for Business One of my sins (if you can call it that) is to play online poker. Not a great stakes player I hasten to add; I tend to play in tournaments with $5 to $10 entry fees. Actually I am quite good at that level and have made a small profit from my forays. But interestingly enough Poker has something to say about business that is worth repeating.

What’s the worst word in Business? FAILURE!
What’s the worst word in Business? FAILURE! No one likes failure or those who have failed. Business is supposed to be about success, making profits, achieving objectives, going places and hopefully having fun! But being in business also means taking risks and making judgements that can and sometimes do go wrong. And hitting that brick wall of failure, sometimes when you least expect it; can be very painful both financially and personally.

Management and Mentoring with Unconditional Positive Regard
This article is the first of a series of three covering the core conditions model developed by Carl Rogers and its application to Management and Mentoring. These core conditions were developed for use in Person Centred Counselling Psychotherapy and from my experience have great relevance to Management in general and my Mentoring practice in particular. Carl Rogers’ view was that everyone should be judged positively no matter what (and I mean no matter who they are or what they have done). Rogers described it as “Unconditional Positive Regard” or UPR for short. The Rogerian view is that everyone is born with a positive approach but held back by externally imposed “Conditions of Worth”.

Ethics and Business - Why Bother?
I have embarked on a difficult journey in developing skills in Counselling with the University of Hertfordshire. Part of that is a commitment to an ethical framework set out by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I consequently considered that I need to make a similar commitment to my Mentoring clients (or prospective clients). I have separately adapted/abbreviated the BACP framework Now in business many people describe themselves as ethical and portray themselves to their customers and partners in that way. Rarely do they actually set down in writing the ethical framework of how they will do business.

Mentoring to buy and sell businesses
Buying or selling a business is an emotional activity. No matter how hard Managing Directors and their advisers try, the closer the deal gets the more emotional things become I have in my career bought and sold a number of businesses. The most important thing to do whether you are looking to sell or buy is to become detached and a good way to achieve that is to use a mentor like myself to enable that to happen. Detachment comes from precise and careful planning and most importantly from clarifying clearly what the objectives are for the disposal or acquisition.

Mentoring Management Commandments
My experience as a business mentor has shown that no matter what the SME business, the owner/MD has the same issues. These are usually ? Lack of a plan ? Lack of trust of their team ? Working too hard at doing the job ? Not planning or directing the business In response I developed the following commandments for MD’s to have on their walls; I share them with you.
Passionate but not Persuasive
There are times when we have an idea be it business or otherwise which we are passionate about. But I would issue caution when relying on that passion to persuade others. Sometimes you can be passionate but not persuasive...

What Leaders Can Learn From Dog Obedience Training
It is interesting the similarities between managing the behavior of a dog and managing employee behavior. In this article we look at communication, correction, praise, structure, repetitive learning and pack behavior and how it applies to the workplace.
Mentoring to remove the barriers to your success
Mentoring to remove the barriers to your success “As a result of the one hour I spent with Nicholas, I’ve achieved more in the last 3 weeks than I did in the previous 3 months! Thank goodness for his perception, honesty, clarity of thought and encouragement”. Looks a great testimonial but there is more to this than meets the eye and at one stage I was quite questioning of my approach.

The Vacuum Effect!
The Vacuum Effect! It is interesting how similar situations appear as you go through life. I suppose when something happens once you become more aware of when it happens again. Anyway this month I had a couple of instances of what I will call “The Vacuum Effect”. This is where in companies or organisations you have a key employee leaving with a consequential effect on the rest of the business.

Mentoring to hear what you say, to know what you think!
I recently read in a book a quotation variously attributed to E M Forster and others “How can I know what I think, until I hear what I say?” Managing Director’s endeavour to direct their staff and their company to move forward and would do well to read this quotation and think hard on it. How can others do what they want when they do not understand what the MD thinks or knows? And how can they know that if the MD doesn’t that have that clarity.

Mentoring is Good For You
SME businesses have gaps in their critical skills. They run on sparse resources (people, time and finance) all focused on lots of operational details and red tape. In addition this focus is skewed by personal passions or backgrounds. What they need is a mentor!
Are you Mad to be a Director?
You don’t have to be mad to work here, but it helps! We all know this phrase from office notice boards and the like but there is an element of truth in it for Director/Owners of SME’s. For the disturbing reality is that they are driven mad by the schizophrenic nature of their role.

Tracking the Return On Investment of Your PR Campaign
There's an old sales adage that says "People buy from people they know, like and trust," and public relations (PR) is one of the most cost-effective ways to build the awareness, goodwill and credibility that help influence buying decisions. Not that we would suggest that small businesses use PR to the exclusion of all other marketing tactics, but a healthy dose of PR, combined with a little advertising, direct mail, or other tactics, can provide a big sales boost for many small businesses.
Create an Amazing PR Platform - Write A Book
Writing a book is a challenge, but having a book, gives you something to promote. You’re now an expert; you’ve separated yourself from the others in your field. You have a reason to pitch your story to the media and they have a reason to interview you as an expert. So, if you have expertise in a field, you have something to say, and if you want to create an amazing PR and promotional platform – start writing.

Why Only 3% of Internet Marketers Who Use Twitter, Myspace and Facebook get Results! -100% Profit
Are you an Internet Marketer who uses twitter, myspace or facebook to produce traffic to your website and sales? Are you getting the results you want? Well 97% of people who use these social media websites aren't seeing results. they aren't getting traffic or leads which equals no money. There are a few simple rules you should be following, but if you're not you will most likely fall into that percentage of people who are just wasting their time. Find out in Omari's short article why only 3% of Internet Marketers who use twitter, myspace and facebook get results.
How to Use Twitter Effectively to Make Six Figures Or More! ~FINALLY EXPOSED!
Have you used twitter before? Well if you are a Internet Marketer then you probably have an account and you know there is an enormous amount of money to be made if you know how to market correctly on twitter. But 90% of people marketing on twitter are marketing on twitter are getting no results. They have no clue what they're doing. Well find out here from Omari what 90% of marketers using twitter don't know.
Are we All on the Same Page?
To tell great positioning stories, we need to give everyone the same frame of reference. Before we even get into the story - right up front. We need to place that paradigm shift right there in the middle of the table for all to see, and understand. We have to set the stage for everyone in a very, simple way.
Sales and Sales Leadership Lessons from Lou Piniella and the Umpire
There are some great sales and sales leadership lessons embedded in this funny story. Can you extract any of them?
Crafting Your Wow! Statement
If you have only a few seconds to communicate the essence of your company, what is the most important message to deliver? You need a Wow! statement -- a distillation of your core value proposition that is clear, concise, and compelling.
The Art of Whiteboarding a Sale
When we train enterprise sales people how to use a whiteboard to have a compelling, consistent and confident interaction with customers and prospects, we often hear, “I’m terrible at whiteboarding”, or “I have awful penmanship.” At the end of our half-day or full-day whiteboard symposiums, however, participants surprise themselves when they realize they now have the confidence to go pitch their company’s whiteboard story to C-level buyers the very next day. By following some very simple best practices, an awkward and “one-way” presentation can be turned into an engaging and fully interactive dialogue.
Goodman's Top 10 China Business Mistakes
Here is the outline for 90% of the lectures I give on doing business in China.

Tips For Using Traffic Exchanges To Get Traffic To Your Website
Once you have a website of your own you quickly realize that there are many things you have to do. First and foremost on the list is to get quality traffic and spend the least amount as possible to do it. There are many ways to do this, but one that anyone can use is traffic exchanges.

Oracle launches sourcing software on demand: Why market adaptability may ultimately derail the transition (Part 2)
In this second of our two part review of the April 9 announcement by Oracle that they are now going to offer their Strategic Sourcing and Sourcing Optimization applications on a Software as a Service (SaaS) or on-demand basis, I will focus on the more technical elements of their decision. Specifically, the potentially devastating “weak links” within their current offering that may create an unbridgeable chasm to market acceptance.

Latest PWGSC Press Release Changes Little
Last evening took an interesting turn as I began to receive notifications of the latest press release from the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Chrisitan Paradis regarding the Government Enterprise Network Services: 2009 Industry Consultations Report. The following is a copy of the press release in its entirety followed of course by my take relative to its meaning in terms of the Government of Canada’s Shared Services strategy.

Are there 80,000 reasons that Alcock borrowed a page from Gershon?
“In what has been described as the most significant restructuring of public services for a generation, the rest of the $21 billion (in savings) will have to come from overall efficiency gains such as improving the procurement system, and streamlining areas such as information technology and human resources. That’s why the skeptics are skeptical.” In case some of you are wondering if I am just repeating what I had written in Saturday’s post regarding Reg Alcock’s statement “that the “federal government is on the verge of launching the biggest transformation in the way government is managed in its history,” the above comment was made during a July 22, 2004 BBC interview with Sir Peter Gershon.

Alcock Borrows a Page from Gershon?
“In what has been described as the most significant restructuring of public services for a generation, the rest of the $21 billion (in savings) will have to come from overall efficiency gains such as improving the procurement system, and streamlining areas such as information technology and human resources. That’s why the skeptics are skeptical.”
Achieving Practical Outcomes to Complex Purchases at the Heart of the Emptoris Acquisition of Click Commerce
“I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Physician, Poet, Writer, Humorist and Professor at Harvard (1809-1894)

Small Details Big Profits
Business owners who want an edge in a tough economy don't need to put out big bucks. Focus on the little details and you'll soon find yourself rising above the competition.
Pitching the Media
This article deals with pitching a story idea to the media about you, your business or brand.
To Thine Own Self Be True - It's Better for Business - What Arthur Andersen Would Say to His Company
What Arthur Andersen would have said about the ethics scandal that destroyed the company he founded...and why saying no to the wrong client or request can jumpstart your business. As a child, you probably heard, "to thine own self be true."
Online Business Ideas - Article Marketing and Exquisite Resource Box Equals More Income Online
Having a well-written resource box along with the articles you submit in your article marketing campaign can help you to earn more online income. While the content can entice people, it is the resource box that will generate the traffic to your online business website.
Turn Your Opinion Into New Biz: How to Get Your Op-Ed Published
In business, companies are constantly looking for new ways to stand out over their competition, but don't always know how to. Most turn to marketing and advertising tactics, but the truth is, publicity could be even more effective. Publicity can come in many forms, but writing and getting an op-ed published gives businesses the opportunity to share their opinion, bring awareness to an issue or comment on a controversial topic, all while getting their name published and read by the masses. The editorial page is considered the most prestigious real estate in the newspaper, but how can you appear there?
Target Your Pitch or Suffer the Consequences
Bad pitches can cost your business its reputation. Here's how to avoid that pitfall.
Stop working and start Earning?
I want you to close your eyes and ask yourself, what you would really love to do with the rest of your life, if you didn't have to work ever again. Just think, today, you will complete the sale of your business, which means that neither you nor your family will ever HAVE to work again. I emphasized Have, because some may want to work. There are even some amongst us, who on their deathbed will be thinking how much more they could have achieved in work.

The Secret to Getting Press
Public relations enables you to build sales and get third-party credibility you simply can't purchase. But how do you get mentioned in the press? Find out as the secret is revealed!
Separating 7 SEO Truths from 7 Common Misconceptions
Have you ever read marking e-mails that promise to show you how to "win the war" with search engines? You bought the e-book or software based on the pitch that you NEED to "win the war with search engines." This entire concept is one of the most long held misconceptions probably introduced by some marketer years ago. The good news is that it is 100% entirely false. I don't know how many students have learned to breath easier once they realize that they don't have to "win the war." Follow along as I share 7 of the most popular misconceptions we hear about SEO.

Imagine SuperCharging client meetings
I don't know if you have ever been in the scenario where you are about to walk into a meeting, you know that this guy you are meeting has the potential to give you an order that will take you to the next level.

More retail Jungle fever...Retailer’s vision …(part4)
What the retailer will be looking for when you present a new product.
Launching a Successful PR campaign for Your Grand Opening
If launched correctly, an effective public relations campaign for your grand opening can pay off in a big way.

Your Website Doesn't Need A Traditional Call To Action
Sales people are taught, you always need 'a call to action,' a request to act or lose the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm sure you've seen the infomercials, website presentations, online direct marketing come-ons, and even high-pressure seminar and tradeshow presentations that will never be repeated, so you better act now. You're familiar with the language used: "act now and we'll send you two pieces of junk you don't need, but wait there's more, call in the next ten minutes and we'll add a third useless item."

How to prepare your Press Release / Media Alert for an effective pitch your business story
A press release brings information to the attention of the press and broadcast media, and in turn the public, generating publicity.
Why Fearbased Selling Is A Bad Bet
If you’ve worked to make your product or service the best it can be, and you’re still using fear-based marketing, shift your approach and see what happens. People will want to work with you, not out of fear, but because they trust you; you solve a problem for them, you’re reliable, you make them feel good about their purchase. They want to work with you, or buy your product out of trust, not fear.

How To Field Others’ Pitches
I learned some lessons about putting out a call for sources for my new Business With Passion TV series...
Pitching to Win and Winning that Pitch
You’ve got a viable product, you know that this large company would be very interested in it – you are now entering a high risk area – pitching your product to a much larger company.
Got Something Important To Say? Getting The Word Out
Have you got an important point that you are trying to get across. Do you have an organization and charity that you want people to know about? Do you want your business to be better known? Here are a few ideas to help get the work out.
Knowing Your Rights with the Media and Press
It is important to know your rights with the media whether you are doing a pitch for your business story or handling a media crisis.

Why Most People Fail to Make Money Online
Internet is, in my opinion, the best tool ever invented. I just love it. It has made starting companies a lot easier. However, most Internet companies fail to make any money. Why is that? Is starting an online business different from starting any other business? Yes and no. Yes, the technologies change. And no, most basic principles still apply. You still need to understand your target market, learn what they want, and provide them with it in a cost-effective way. You still need to learn what their buttons are and how to push them. You still need to know about finances, leadership, management, marketing, and sales.
Getting Past the Executive Gatekeeper
Some sellers fail miserably when trying to gain access to a company executive. Unfortunately, rather than taking the time to develop a strategy, they smile and dial, hoping their canned pitch will be enough to get an appointment. This strategy doesn’t get many sellers past today’s sophisticated executive gatekeepers, and many aren’t willing to give a seller a second chance.

A public relations coup
How I got the Globe and Mail newspaper to feature me in a story about moonlighting.
Compelling Brochure Copy - The Basics
Effective brochure composition requires more than (just) compelling design. In planning your promotional materials, you need to pay as much attention to content as you do to visuals - and vice versa. Just as you’re hiring a professional design firm to compose the visual elements of your brochure, so should you consider hiring a professional copywriter to assist in optimizing the verbal messages you want to get across. That said, nobody knows your business better than you, and if you are going to undertake your own copywriting, there are a few basic points you should consider.
A Real Life View of PR
Many mistakenly view PR as an emergency measure, a tool to be utilized during a crisis, or as a temporary supplement to a marketing campaign. In reality public relations is the most effective strategic business tool at your disposal. You should be garnering media coverage within the second or third month, but an effective media relations is not something that you do for a couple of months, put in mothballs for a year.

How to Stop Using These 3 Sales Killing Words
One of the problems with any profession is you tend to use language that sounds good and makes sense to you. Yet, that language is a turn off to the people you want to work with. And the real kicker is you don’t even realize the impact certain words have on your potential clients.

BEYOND CONVENTIONAL SELLING
Having just returned from Copenhagen where I've been working with my favourite client; I realised that between us we have created an oil company version of 'The Tipping Point'. Essentially, you could describe this as an insatiable learning epidemic that is beginning to invade the entire global organisation and the reason for this success is so obvious, so simple that anyone could do this.
Sales Appointments to Sell Free Services
Barbara left a voice mail for me today. 10 points for Barbara. She got me to call back. 10 more points for Barbara. When she finally had me on the phone she asked, and who are you with? -20 points for Barbara. It was over for me right there...Read MOre

Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts
Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts
The Mind of the Customer
Providers of key business or mission critical solutions must engage and connect with their customers on a higher level. A standard supplier relationship will simply not generate or sustain that vital degree of trust.
How Writing Radio Can Help You Become a Better Writer
Keep reading to discover three ways writing radio can help strengthen your writing style. (Oh, and these tips will also help you write better radio copy too.)

Cold Calling Winning Attitude
While cold calling, as well as in all communication, 3% is verbal and 97% is non verbal. It’s all about your attitude.
Turn Cold Contacts into a Hot Network
Most Sales People sell at networking events, successful ones build credibility.

4 Secrets to Successful Cold Calling
In the world of cold calling, there can be a lot of negativity. It’s not easy to talk to someone you haven’t met – especially when you experience rejection so much of the time. Most people who sell really dislike cold calling, and I don’t blame them.

How to franchise your business
If you are ready to take the step to start selling your own business as a franchise, you’ll need to do a lot to make it viable. Your business is a success. You have a cadre of loyal customers, strong earnings and a steadily expanding base. At this point, many business owners look to franchising their business as the next step. Though this is a good alternative, and potentially very lucrative, selling a franchise is a vastly different enterprise than running it. You’ll need to master new skills if you want to be a success in the highly-competitive world of franchising. Here is a brief list of what you need to be aware of:

Earn Money Working Online: Marketing with Podcasts
Originally derived from a combination of "broadcasting" and "iPod" podcasting, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, is "a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player." The general accepted definition however, has expanded to include video as well as audio.

7 Things to Know Before You Work From Home
Before you jump into a work at home program you should consider the following. There a lot of pitch pages that will urge you to buy and paint a very pretty picture such as, “make a six figure income working only 30min”. Do not fall prey to over hyped scams. This is not to say that all the programs you come across will be scams but there are a lot of them out there. Yes getting a great deal on a great product is well, great but you won’t know if it a great if unless you do your research.

One Size Does Not Fit All
Don't rely solely on one press release to do all of your work. It's important that you modify the release to fit the needs of the media outlet you're pitching.

Press Conferences
It's important to know when to hold a press conference. If you think that a press conference is the way to go, nine times out of ten you're going to be wrong.

Press Release Review
A quick overview to review before sending your releases out.

Book Review: Fundraising For Social Change
If you work for (or with) a non-profit, this book is a must-read. Kim Klein (the editor) focuses on key problem all non-profits face: acquiring, retaining, and upgrading donors.
Rule 15 A Good Story Never Stops in the Middle
This is Rule #15 in a series of articles on "21 Ways to Increase the Power and Profit of Your Advertising Without Spending an Extra Cent," by Brad Sugars.

The PR Doctor’s Prescription For A Great TV Guest Appearance
One of the media opportunities that you will seek is to appear on TV as a guest of a show or to be interviewed. This article will focus on the times you are a guest on a specific show. First, it is important to note that the television news media are literally inundated with pitches for media appearances every day. So when your chance arrives you want to be prepared. So what are the strategic actions you can take to be a top TV guest? The PR Doctor offers the following prescription of strategic actions to help you achieve that goal.
Recession-proof PR
Hard economic times are, ironically, the best times to aggressively launch a PR campaign.

Follow-up Calls: Welcome to the PR Mine Field
Making follow-up calls is important to any effective public relations campaign, but if you are unprofessional in how you address the media, or verbally harass the media, you're going to destroy any interest that your press release may have created.

The PR Follow-up Ph.D
Making PR follow-up calls can be a difficult proposition. You may be a natural salesman, and your clients may indeed love you, but you're playing a different game when you’re contacting the media.

The PR Doctor’s Prescription of Strategic Actions For A Healthy and Strong Pitch To The Media
The news media is literally inundated with pitches for media coverage every day. Unfortunately a very large percentage, some say as high as ninety (90) percent are useless form letters and from people who have done absolutely no research about the media where they have sent their pitch. Media pitches that are done with a lack of media-savvy are real irritants and can really greatly diminish your chances of getting the media attention you want. However, there are proven professional ways to improve your chances with the media by being strategic in your pitches to the media. So what are the strategic actions you can take to improve your “pitches” to the media? The PR Doctor offers the following prescription for a healthy and strong pitch to the media.
Why Most Ads, Sale Letters, and Websites Don’t Turn A Profit?
Most ads don’t work because they are like the enlarged version of the company’s business card. If you want to make money with your advertising, you got to structure your ad exactly how you would conduct a sale presentation face to face with a potential buyer. Remember that those who buy a four inch drill are really buying four inch holes. People aren’t interested in what you have for sale; they are mainly interested in solving a problem. Before starting your sale pitch in print, you got to be successful at “selling” the problem first. Think it this way…what is one reason most of your customers are buying from you?

Addicted To The Apprentice Already And What A Mess!
Be warned – this posting reveals who has been ‘fired’ from the first episode and the rest of the post is only my observation and opinion based upon 60 minutes of edited TV, nothing more. Sir Alan Sugar with his two glum looking sidekicks are one side of the desk and 16 cocky looking candidates, the other, and the show begins. The Apprentice UK has started.
The 3 Cold Calling Phrases That Get Results
How can we possibly avoid rejection and still stay “real” while cold calling? Well, the truth is that the more genuine we are, the less likely we are to be rejected.

How to Cold Call without a Script
Linear step-by-step sales scripts have done a lot to give selling a bad name. Not because they don’t “work”, actually some people who use cold calling scripts actually do make some sales. The problem is even if you’re a good-hearted businessperson, scripts make it almost impossible for you to avoid sounding like a “salesperson.” This is a serious problem because most people respond to a sales agenda with something like, “Uh oh, I’m about to be sold something. How fast can I get this person off the phone?” If we turn away from the artificial beginning of a sales script, and approach cold calling in a different way, then we’re likely to get different responses.

How To Use Your Right Brain When You Cold Call
Unlock the power of your right brain for cold calling success!
Cold Calls - A New Way to Open
Cold Calling Tips to Create Openings for Real Conversation!
How To Throw Out Your Cold Calling Scripts
Five Ways to Be Yourself Again in Cold Calling!
No More Selling Scripts? 5 Ways to Be Yourself Again
Last week I was sitting at my desk and the phone rang.
PR FollowUp Secrets
You’ve found your story, you’ve written a release, you’ve sent it to the appropriate media contacts and now you’re ready to follow up with the media. Welcome to the minefield.
FAQ's for Starting a Franchise
Here are 11 commonly asked questions that are asked by potential franchise candidates. Note that there are no standard answers for any question. Answers can vary dramatically from one franchisor to another. Please use this as a basic guide.

PR Guarantees
If a public relations company guarantees you specific placement or a successful campaign, I suggest you start looking for the exit. But you can access what a company can do in the future by taking a look at their past track record.

Steps to Raising Money for Your New Venture
Raising money can be intimidating, especially if you are new at it. Learn the documents you need to prepare, in advance to maximize your chances of getting everything you want from investors. Prepare a "One Line Pitch," develop a Business Summary, and craft a Power-Point presentation that motivates rather than putting potential investors asleep.
3 Rules for Successful Up Sells
If your product or service allows you the chance to up sell your customer at the point of sale (and seriously, what product or service doesn’t??), then you instantly double and even triple your income if you know how to properly suggest and get your prospects and customers to buy more.
How do I get my sales people to create some urgency with the client?
If what you have will benefit your prospect enormously and they don’t go ahead now, who will lose? The prospect will, and of course so will you, but if you genuinely believe that what you have is right for your prospect you will be letting them down by not asking for the order then and there.

Is there any benefit to hiring less skilled sales people to prospect for my skilled sales people?
Telephone sales people must understand the sales process used by your team, and understand your products and services. However they must know not to talk about these on the telephone. If they do, then no appointment is needed is it? Instead they must talk only about the benefits of a face to face meeting with someone who can provide more details.
How to manage your time so you can get more done each day in sales
How to managing your time so you can get more done each day in sales
MANAGING YOUR IMAGE - Power is Perception
Who sees you and what do they see? Make your image work for you.
Prove that what you have is sellable and ask for the right amount of money
Prove that what you have is sellable. You have to pick something you can develop on a small budget and sell in a reasonable amount of time. It can take years to build a broad product and then more time to sell it. If you are looking to raise capital, that is a hard pitch to sell investors on. Find a product that you can bring to market quickly and start earning revenues with to prove yourself. Do not get distracted by your vision.

Evaluating PR Pitches – Getting Beyond the Beauty Contest
Sadly, the pitch is often the high point in the agency/client relationship. Agencies may over promise and under deliver, but equally clients may brief poorly or be seduced by showmanship or short term tactics. Objective evaluation is the answer. Adrian Maguire of online PR specialist, www.CLICKintoPR.com outlines ten things you should do and ten things not to do.
Financial Management
Most entrepreneurs I know have taken few, if any, business courses. They are creative, imaginative, and ambitious to no end, but they couldn’t tell you the first thing about what sound financial management means. If you’re not one of those entrepreneurs, then read no further. Go about your merry sound financial management way. But, if you’re one of those entrepreneurs who are finding themselves drowning in the spreadsheets and jargon of the financial world, keep reading for tips on how to stay afloat.

Perfecting Your Pitch: Winning the Hearts and Minds of Investors
The keys to increasing your effectiveness with prospective investors. This article provides a detailed overview of the components of a winning presentation, and it provides tips on what to do, and what not to do, if you want to persuade investors to finance your company.

How A Pitch Can Grow Your Business
I believe that the concept of creating a pitch can also apply to the home-based business world. As entrepreneurs, we can put together a summary of our business that will not only explain what we do, but grab the attention of whomever we’re speaking with.

Being An Invisible Business Isn't An Option-Gain Huge Visiblity For Your Business
Marketing and Advertising is one way to gain visibility if you have a big budget but what about free publicity through the media, social networking and guest blogging.

Sales Training London How Do You Make Money When You Lose the Sale
This piece is heresy for many of you. Competition ..... Kill...Kill....Kill But have you ever considered how much money you leave behind every time you fail to make a sale? I don't suppose you fancy making money even when you don't win the sale.

Other pitch Related Articles

Top 7 Tips in How to Pitch and Catch Business Referrals
Business referrals are much like the game of baseball where you pitch and catch. These 7 tips may help you pitch and catch more referrals to increase sales.
How to Pitch Like a Journalist
How would you like to get free publicity for your business on the local news? Would you like to see your local newspaper write an article on your product or service? It is possible to get on the news, you just have to learn how to pitch a story that is "newsworthy." It's not as complicated as it sounds once you learn How to Pitch Like a Journalist.
Want to Be A PR Success story? Think Like the Media
Want to be interviewed by Oprah, CNN, People, Time, the New York Times and other media outlets? Don’t pitch what you think is interesting. Create, develop and pitch stories that meet the media’s needs. Put yourself in the place of the various editors and producers. Discover what it is they need and pitch those stories.

Executives and Elevators Perfecting That Pitch
If you’re an executive, you probably already know the value of a powerful ‘elevator pitch’; that thirty second dazzling display of verbal brilliance designed to deftly sum up your position, your product, your qualifications or your company. Y But how do you keep your pitch fresh and focused. What do you leave out? What do you highlight? Here are some tips about perfecting that business pitch.
When to Pitch Reporters & Producers
When is the best time to pitch reporters or producers? Should you pitch your story idea in the morning, afternoon, or after the reporter files his story? There are better times to pitch your story idea which can be the difference between a successful or failed PR strategy.
Is Your Elevator Pitch a Monologue or a Dialogue?
When most people think “elevator pitch”, they think of a paragraph that they can utter in about 15 seconds that tells people what they do. I’ve written previous articles on "how to craft a pitch" and "how to judge your pitch’s effectiveness". But what most people forget is the goal of the elevator pitch - to start a dialogue.
Pitch the Story, Not Your Book
Pitch your book and you have a certain number of stories and media hooks. Pitch yourself, your life experiences, your anecdotal stories and your book and you’ve suddenly broadened the bulls eye…
How To Pitch Angel Investors And Venture Capitalists
I hear from a great deal of my clients that they're looking for the secret to the, "best pitch to investors." To me, this always sounds like looking for the secret to, "the best pitch to ask someone to prom." There is no perfect method. There is no secret. At the end of the day, all you can do is show up and do your best. There are, however, things you should remember to do and things you should definitely avoid.

Pitch More Faster Read Versus Listen
As part of our Do More Faster book tour, we’ve been having a pitch session each day called “Pitch More Faster.” During the hour, we hear four pitches that are five minute each and give direct feedback / suggestions on the pitch itself (not the content or the business, but the pitch.)
How to Write an Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is just what it sounds like, if you stepped on to an elevator with a potential investor and new that you had 7 floors before he got off, what would you tell him about your business? Here are a few guidelines as you create your elevator pitch.
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