What is the purpose of writing articles?

What is the purpose of writing articles?

The purpose of writing articles is first and foremost to educate people, to give something of value to the reader, to pass your knowledge or expertise of a particular subject onto others.

Within the internet marketing industry and in fact many other industries, it can be a lucrative way of driving traffic to your website and the other real beauty is it is FREE.  What I love about Ezine Articles is that writing just one article can mean a Google position on many different pages within your niche.  The added bonus is that once you have had your article published, it is out there sending traffic to you for many, many years to come.

Before writing – what is the purpose of your specific article?

Any good article author will tell you that you should always sit down before you write any article and determine what the purpose of that particular article is.  For example, if your intention is to rate in the Search Engines then you will need to use long tail keywords so your article will appear when people type that keyword into the Search Engine.

If you are writing an article to submit to a blog post or a niche related forum where your target  market hangs out, then you don’t even need to bother too much about keywords at all.  Your purpose on this occasion is not to appear on the Search Engine Results page but to offer something of value to your hungry audience.

Search Engine Ratings or Value to the Reader?

I have never written any article yet that has started with me aiming solely to get ratings in the search engines.  Instead what I have tried to do is to answer the questions that I sought answers to when I first came into internet marketing.  If during my many visits to the forums that are out there, I see a reoccurring question then I will do some research if necessary and attempt to write an article on that also.  Again this is about providing value rather than ratings.

Now this doesn’t mean that I totally ignore the Search Engines but just that I do not dwell on it so much.  The day I made the decision to no longer focus on keywords, keywords, and more keywords was the day I felt a huge burden lift from me.

There is also a lot of software out there that promises to take the ‘arduous’ task of writing articles away from you.  Some claim that you only need write one article and their software will spin it to make several more articles out of that one.

My question to you then is “what is your purpose of writing articles?”  “What are you attempting to achieve?”  I ask this because in my opinion, the fact that you have opted for an easy way out suggests that this is all about ‘you’ and ‘taking’ rather than ‘giving’ value to your readers first and foremost.

Internet Marketing – Newbies can’t teach me anything!

Well, how arrogant does that title sound when you read it aloud?

But it was a comment made to me the other day and I have to admit it left me quite shocked.  I was showing a contact on one of the social networking sites some excellent training I had received and the remark to me was “how can someone who has only been in the Internet Marketing business for less than 2 years teach me anything”?

The successful Internet Marketer I had introduced this person to is an Award Winning Internet Coach, and when he hosts webinars, no less than 800 of his members turn out to hear and be educated with what he has to teach.  So, for someone to make such a snap judgement after listening to only a few minutes intro, left me quite speechless (not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination lol).

You see, I have never been someone who is afraid to admit they don’t know something and I always say “a day wasted is a day I haven’t learned something”.  I am never too proud to ask whoever is the best person to teach me how to do something and that is because I do not judge people.

What I’ve found since coming into this industry is there are a lot of ruthless people – yes we find this in all walks of life but there seems to be an abundance of them in Internet Marketing.  People who profess to ‘know it all’ and really only ‘think they know it all’.  No human being ever ‘knows it all’ when it comes to anything, there is always room for improvement.

So, please forgive me venting in this blog post, but my message is to this type of person ‘don’t think you’re all that, allow yourself to swallow that pride you have but be careful of choking!  I would also ask you to be prepared to accept that newer people into the industry bring fresh eyes to what is an ever evolving and fast moving business that doesn’t rest on its laurels – you may do this inadvertently because ‘no-one can teach you anything’ and this will be at your peril!

PRIMO Vacations – Hot Weeks 25th February 2010

Again, some unbelievable resorts and deals here.  It never ceases to amaze me at how little these condos or villas can be got for.

For instance, just look towards the bottom of the list and how inviting does Sand Pebble Resort, Treasure Island Florida sound?  As I sit here writing this blog post looking out my window at about 4-5 inches of snow, the idea of being anywhere in Florida, especially Treasure Island sounds soooo appealing.

The normal cost of a 1 week stay at this luxurious resort is $1325 but it’s here good to go for a measly $284 and it’s a 1 bed condo which sleeps 4!  The offers available to us members just keeps getting better and better.

Check this little lot out here:

Want to find out how YOU can access these, start creating some wonderful memories and earn $500 per sale just click HERE

Want to Earn Money Fast? – Avoid these Top 10 Pitfalls

A lot of people join the online industry lured by the loud promises of a quick way to make money, become the next millionaire and not really having to do that much work to become this.  Oh, and whilst getting there you will only have to work 2-3 hours each day because the majority of this money will be earned whilst you are asleep.

Does all this sound familiar?  How many websites/blog posts/YouTube videos have you seen where these claims are made and that ANYONE can make money online?

You will NOT earn money fast if….

Truth #1

You come into the business telling yourself that if you haven’t make $xxx by this time next week/next month then it’s never going to work.  97% of people FAIL to make money online so why is that?  I will explain through these next few paragraphs.

Truth #2

You expect to know it all and that no-one can teach you anything.  You are not open to learning new skills preferring to use what you think is the best strategies.  Failure to understand the ‘process’ first.  So many people are in a rush to make money online that they do not take the necessary time to learn a few simple new skills first.  Only once you understand these skills  – and implement this knowledge – can making money online become a reality.

Truth #3

Once you’ve paid your initial outlay for your business opportunity, you will not have to pay any more money.  Yes there is FREE marketing methods and some of these can be extremely lucrative, however to be the best that you can be you will need to invest in some real internet training.

Truth #4

You have signed up with a coach/mentor that does not have your best interests at heart.  Your definition of coaching and theirs appears to be on different pages.  Many times I have heard the cries of “My mentor always tells me WHAT to do but never takes the time to explain HOW to do it”.

Truth #5

You are not prepared to put in the effort needed.  Yes I know you may have been promised you only need work a couple of hours a day but that is once your business is up and running and for the most part automated.  That does not happen overnight nor with just 1 hours work per day.

Truth #6

You have been easily dissuaded from being successful by the Nay Sayers – those people who had no hesitation in telling you it wouldn’t work out and that was even before you started.  No such thing as a ‘Get Rich Quick’ scheme they told you and I would definitely endorse that but hey, why shouldn’t you make lots of money online.  Just because others have failed, why should you?  There’s only 1 of you so whatever happened to anyone else is irrelevant because they are not YOU!  Just think if a mother seeing her baby trying to get on its feet and constantly falling down tells the baby “now don’t bother trying anymore because you’re just never going to be a walker”, what chance does the baby have of learning through failure?

Truth #7

Failing to build relationships with people online.  Thinking that you just have to make a quick sale and that is it.  People buy from people they know and trust so you HAVE to nurture that relationship you have with your online friends and potential customers.

Truth #8

Linking up with cynics online through forums and other social media outlets.  Cynics love to play the blame game and are habitual victims and boy do they wear that victim t-shirt with pride.  Have you noticed one main trait that successful people have? – an utter lack of cynicism.  The world doesn’t owe them anything, they will go out and seek what they are looking for, they are driven, focused and will find a way around any obstacles they encounter.  Can you name a successful cynic?  I bet you cannot and that is because cynics do not become successful.

Truth #9

Failing to see the ‘bigger picture’, unrealistic expectations, not having done due diligence whilst researching business opportunity, speaking to the wrong people prior to coming into the online industry.

Truth #10

Probably the exact opposite of everything gone before here.  It’s getting so overwhelmed by all that is going on in the online industry that you cannot see the wood for the trees.  This is because what seems like something good to have a look at results in you signing up on someone’s mailing list and before you know it, you receive about 50 emails to your inbox each day.  They all have to be read though don’t they?

Summary

Every example I quote above I have personal experience of in some form or another and it was because of that and people I speak with now that I wrote this article.

If I could turn the clock back and give myself advice it would be – invest in some solid training, unsubscribe from every mailing list except your main opportunity and/or your training provider.  Have a stronger belief in yourself, keep that vision you had when you first came in and do not let anyone talk you out of it.  Remove yourself from cynics, victim t-shirt wearers and surround yourself with optimists and successful people.

Click on the logo below and you WILL be one of the 3% who make a success within this industry.  You will receive first class training, at your level and at whatever pace you want to go at.

26 FREE Videos 'A Web Business Explained'

Hot off the Press – Luxury Vacation Bargains

I just wanted to quickly get these AMAZING deals out to you before they all get snapped up.

Firstly take a look at these beautiful locations that feature in our highlighted resorts this week.  We stayed at Plantation Island in Florida some years ago and when I say it was luxurious, that is so much of an understatement.  Oh, and by the way, we paid just short of $2500 to stay there for 2 weeks in a 1Bd condo.  Here is some information I took from the resort website and it is someone looking to sell their timeshare apartment there.  Just check out the price then visit the Primo Site to see that you can access this standard of accommodation for the rest of your life for pennies in the dollar.

Plantation Island
Ormond Beach, Florida, United States

Rent: US$1,100/week
Buy: US$7,000 plus closing costs (more info)
Availability: Almost Any Time

Unit Size: 1 Bedroom/1 Bath (sleeps 4)
Check-In Day: Any Day
Available Season: High Season
Use Type: Annual Float Wk

Ownership Type: Deeded Timeshare
Annual Maintenance Fees: US$300

Why on earth would you want to pay out the high costs of timeshare and then an annual maintenance fee – have you lots of money to just throw away?  If so, can you throw it in my direction please?

No, all joking aside, we had timeshare for years and until buying into Primo Vacations, we continued to pay the extortionate annual maintenance fees but NO MORE.  We continue to enjoy the luxury of the accommodation which is important to us on holiday, and all the money we’ve saved I spend on shopping…….

The next thing I want to share with you is these incredible deals, savings of up to 80%+ on many of these 5* resorts.

Check out how you too can make massive savings on luxury holidays for you and your family FOREVER.  Not only that, you can, although you don’t have to make Primo Vacation Club a home business for you and earn $500 on each sale.  Do the math and see how quickly you can give up that day job and really rev up the earning potential.

Work hard = nice relaxing vacations.  Treat you and your family to 5* luxury, no fighting for spots by the pool, mix with like minded people at these resorts (or not if you prefer your own company) – all this for mere pennies in the dollar.

Vacations are a multi billion pound industry – want to be a part of it?  You don’t have to, you can just use it for some great memorable vacations but the option is always there!

Why so many people give up on their online business opportunity

A question I am asked time and time again is “can a complete newcomer make money online”.  My response to that is, and always will be “absolutely YES, if the correct mindset is in place”.  The correct mindset CAN make money online.

Now if you’re reading this article here and already you have those doubts in your head, those nagging fears and you’re questioning yourself in this business, do you know what? – That is absolutely fine, it really is and I almost embrace that.  I was like that when I started out in the online industry.  I was excited about my new business, of course I had fears and I questioned myself many, many times as to whether I could do this.

There has never been a better time than right now to start an online business.  Please do not start thinking that you’re too late, that you should have done this years ago, that you’ve missed the boat because nothing could be further from the truth.

Just think about Google for a second, Google is almost 12 years old.  Imagine 12 years into the car industry or the computer industry or the airline industry.  Do you think people are saying “oh well, it’s almost 12 years old now, we’ve missed the boat”.  Absolutely they are not, people are always looking for the next best thing, how to improve on what is already out there and the world of the internet is no different.

Here we are into the second decade of the 21^st century and this is the perfect time to start, to really consider an online business.  The web is still in its infancy, yet it’s not a fad, it’s not a phase, it’s not going to disappear.

The fundamental fact about the internet, if you decide to really take this seriously, is that you can reach an unlimited audience and the entry costs are pretty much next to nothing.  Compare this to any other business and there simply is no comparison.  This opportunity that is in right in front of both you and I has never been seen before in our lifetime but I suspect there’s a part of you that actually does know that, and it will never be seen again.

Now if you’re familiar with Robert Kiyosaki and his books on success, he always says that the way to success is to stand in front of a trend.  We are all in front of the biggest trend we will ever see.  My question to you therefore is, what are you going to do about it?  Are you going to sit there and let it pass and in a few years from now turn round and say “oh, I should have got involved” or are you going to dive in despite having some fears, which I’m sure you do have, and actually get involved?

Can a Beginner Really Make Money Online?

YES, YES, YES!  Like any business though, there will be a certain number of new skills you will have to learn first.  For some reason, the web has got a kind of reputation of being really quick and you don’t have to do any work.  That is not strictly true, it’s not particularly quick, and it’s not particularly easy.  Great incomes can be made however, but only AFTER a new Skillset is learnt.

The problem or difficulty facing most people starting out online is that all these new skills are more of less thrown at you at once and we end up with ‘information overload’.  It’s at this point that many people give up, they tell themselves it’s not for them, it’s too difficult, they don’t have the skills to make money online.

What I’d like to do now is to take these new skills and break them down.  The new skills you will need to get comfortable with are:

• Correct mindset
• Simple web skills – get over that web fear
• How to create a webpage
• How to upload
• Autoresponders
• How to generate traffic

The very definition of a skill is that it can be learnt, that is what a skill is.  Just think of a baby trying to walk, takes its first steps then falls down.  Mother then says out loud “oh well, that’s it, this one’s never going to be a walker”.  No, the baby is developing a skill that needs to be perfected and the only way this is going to happen is to take a few bumps along the way, get frustrated but the baby never gives up.  You are a baby in the world of internet marketing, you will take many bumps along the way, you will probably want to tear your hair out in frustration but what you must NEVER do is GIVE UP.

Website versus webpage – what is the difference?

A Website is an online presence and it doesn’t matter what the content is for it as long as there is something online.  Every website has a domain name, and this is similar to a book having a title, your website has a title referred to as a domain name.

Although you may only have one domain name, every website can have different pages. These are known as WebPages.   Using the book analogy again, this is like hundreds of pages within the book but they all come under the one title.  A website can have hundreds, even thousands of pages all under the one domain name.

Creating a webpage – some things to note

You need an html editor and I use Kompozer, it is free to download and very simple to use.  It has a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) format, so it is very similar to putting together a word document.

A Home Page is the page that visitors see when they type in your domain name, it is your main page of your website and in the html editor it is entitled the index.html page.  You will physically save it as index.html when you are working on your home page in Kompozer.

If you have a second page you are working on in Kompozer, this must be given a different title, remember it is only your home page that you save as index.html.  An example of a page you may want to include in your website is an ‘about me’ page.  When you save this unnamed page in Kompozer as this title you must not include any spaces, for example you must save it as aboutme.html.  If you look at my blog site you will see I have different pages set up there – http://www.businessmentorblog.com.  Try clicking on the different pages and watch in the address bar when you do so and you will see how businessmentorblog.com is what would be my index.html page and I have saved the other pages as different headings.

To go straight to a webpage within your website, you simply type in the main domain name followed by a / and then the name of the page you want to go to.

Why not start right here, right now.  Enter your details in the box there at the top right hand side of my page and just see what this new online world has waiting for you.

Social Media Marketing – Do’s and Don’ts

I have lots of friends on social media sites and it can be a great marketing tool when used correctly.  It allows you to brand yourself, to meet, network and build all kinds of relationships with like-minded people.

The most common error however is that many marketers constantly lead with a sales pitch of their opportunity.

On sites like Facebook, Twitter and others, people don’t really care about your business opportunity.  They care about themselves and what other people are up to.  So with that in mind, instead of pitching your business to people right out the gate, develop an interest in others.  People love to talk about themselves especially if someone else seems interested in them.

You can lead the conversation by asking questions about them on topics related to what you would ideally like to talk to them about.  For example, ask what they do for a living and this in turn may prompt a similar reciprocal question.  This is when you TALK about your business but don’t PITCH it, just have a conversation.

You can tell right away if you are talking with a potential prospect.  If they do seem interested, give them a link where they can learn more.  Ideally this should be your blog site or hub page and even better if it has a Bio page included.  This way, the visitor will really get a feel for who you are and what you have to offer.

It is OK to post an ad on your social media sites wall, but it is even better to provide value in your posts.  The more value you can add and the more interest you generate in your posts, the more people will pay attention to you and seek out your profile to learn more.

In your posts you can be as dramatic as you like, controversial even, funny or whatever it takes to get attention.  Never, ever be negative or attack someone, this is so not cool.

If you really don’t like someone’s posts, then it is very easy just to delete them from your friends’ list.  Personal attacks put you in a bad light and this can have negative consequences for you.

You can drive a more targeted social media list by starting a group connected to your business opportunity.  Start off by inviting all your friends to it, and then have them invite their friends also.  You must be prepared to bring value to the group however, but it is a forum for you to promote your opportunity.

So long as you continue to provide more value than pitch and people feel they come away from your posts with something to enrich their life, they will begin to promote you without the need for pitching.

In summary:

• Build relationships with your social media friends
• Don’t lead by pitching your business opportunity
• Don’t spend time on people who are not interested in you or your business
• Nurture relationships with people who are
• Don’t send people directly to your landing page
• Send them to a blog or hub page
• Don’t spam your friends or followers with ads
• Always provide valuable content
• Don’t be boring
• Do whatever it takes in your headlines to get people’s attention

A great site for learning all the technical know how’s on Facebook

Vacation like a celebrity for the rest of your life!

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED RESORTS

THIS WEEK’S AMAZING HOT DEALS!

Wouldn’t you just love to surprise your loved ones with the ultimate in luxury vacations?

Never have to worry about arriving at your destination and wondering what it is going to be like?

You have the guarantee with PRIMO that EVERY vacation is hand picked, 5 star luxury with your every vacation requirement catered for.

READY TO LEARN MORE?

Home Business Scam – or naivety on our part?

I made this short video this morning for 2 reasons.  One was to alert new people into the world of Internet Marketing that all may not be as it seems and secondly, my annoyance that someone who I know is a decent and hard working woman has lost everything she worked really hard for.

She hasn’t lost it, she has chosen to walk away rather than partake in something that goes against what she believes in.

I remember when this new product was being launched around November 2009 and I was being signposted to it by some credible people in the industry.  It was being hailed as the next best thing and the high paying commissions put it head and shoulders above anything else or so the marketing gurus would have us believe.

I couldn’t see what all the hype was about, wasn’t able really to get what I thought was tangible evidence of how it all worked so decided to opt in myself for the FREE trial.  As soon as I did this, everything started moving really fast – pressure to get payment details set up (dodgy move #1), pressure to take part in Skype discussions for hours (dodgy set up #2), call with CEO during which he tells me he loves me (really dodgy move #3) but quite funny.

You see, being a Glaswegian, the only time you tell someone you love them is when you have a belly full of vodka and you’re wanting someone to buy you a kebab from the van outside the pub at 2am on a Sunday morning LOL!

Anyway, I watched this business with interest, got into the back office and still was unable to find out EXACTLY what it was.  I looked around, watched others marketing it and making promises, but I just WAS NOT GETTING IT!

One woman in particular and whom I refer to in my video was a very active participant.  A bundle of fun, full of positivity, building teams right, left and centre and in general full of praise for this product.  When I say she was full of praise, I was still unable to glean what the heck it was.

2 weeks had gone by now and I was no further forward.  I knew that if I remained on there for another 2 weeks, I was going to be short changed by over $120 monthly.  One quick visit to Paypal and that problem was remedied.

So, in summary, unless you know exactly what you are buying, see actual proof that it works and know and absolutely trust the seller, then please exercise extreme caution and wariness.

There are lots of scammers out there, pouncing on new marketers, giving you their sob story of how they went from nothing to billionaire in a few short months – THIS CANNOT AND DOES NOT HAPPEN so please do not fall for it.

Enjoy your business for what it is, this industry is so amazing and can be so rewarding, as long as you stay in safe waters and swim around the sharks or take a harpoon and jab them out of your way!