Chip’s B2B Tip #40 - Testing Trials

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B2B Tip #40 - Testing and Tracking
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Should you test your headlines, copy, offer, price points, etc.?

Yes.

Should you track your results?

Absolutely.

Problem is ...

Most testing and tracking programs are expensive, difficult and time-consuming to implement and manage (take a ton of time) and ... the kicker ... can you really trust the results they give you?

Another problem ... most (if not all) of these sorts of program and services give you a bunch of numbers as your results, and don't tell you how to understand the data, track your trends, or implement the correct changes to consistently improve your results.

So ... in a word ... YES - you should do both testing and tracking. But to keep your budget in line and your sanity intact, you can test headlines, offers, copywriting, etc. without going through all the headaches.

Set up separate landing pages for every offer. Or set up different email autoresponders for every offer. Or do both of these. Sure, you can re-use the text in each one (if it works) - so after the setup is done, just watch your results.

Also, print out every promotion and keep it in a regular ol' file folder so you can quickly compare ads and results at any time ... jusy copy n paste it, or use your PrintScreen function.

(And throw enough traffic at your offer to make the results mean something.)

When someone comes up with a real solution that is inexpensive, easy and fast to use and maintain, gives you results you can trust and advice on how to improve your numbers - I'd sure like to see it ... hook me up as a beta-tester for this thing ...

To get yourself removed from the testing and tracking trials and tribulations - that would be definitely something worth seeing.

All the best -
© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/ (new)
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

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Chip’s B2B Tip #39 - NotePad and David

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B2b Tip #39 - NotePad, the David among Goliaths
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Today we have a short tip/technique blend ...

MS Word, and its associated competition, are the Goliaths of the word processing world. For what they are designed to do, they are extremely proficient.

One little reliable friend that seems to be forgotten by many is the David of our story, NotePad. Residing humbly in the typical Windows Start/Accessories folder, NotePad waits patiently for its day to shine.

For me, that's every day ...

I use NotePad every day. How?

I have a single NotePad file that contains my sig files, urls, descriptions, and the like. When I need one of those, I bring up NotePad, select what I want, and use the happy little copy and paste combo.

In addition, I dump tons of text into other NotePad files to strip away all the formatting and junk I don't want when I don't want it. We'll cover other valuable NotePad uses in future tips.

So, all in all, NotePad is a trusty little friend you should use.

Often.

© Chip TarverThe B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

*** Share this post with your friends - simply click
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PS - I just copied that sig file from a NotePad file I keep open all the time ... ;-) ...

Chip’s B2B Tip #38 - Conversion Secrets

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B2B Tip #38 - Convert More Visitors to Sales
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Part One
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Having traffic to your web site is wonderful.

... And mandatory for your survival ...

But if your product, copy, call-to-action, or offer are weak and don't convert visitors into customers, you have a bigger problem to consider.

In a word ... conversion ... converting these prospects into sales.

Here are five ways to help immediately increase your conversion rate, all of which will convert more of your traffic into sales and deposit a lot more money in your bank:

1. Improve your sales letter.
If this is your home page, landing page, whatever - there's nothing more important right up front than your sales letter. You need at least basic copywriting skills to craft a decent sales letter.

2. Change Your Headline.
If the first thing people see (your headline) is weak - will they be enticed or intrigued to read the rest of your sales letter? (probably not)

3. Put your biggest benefit at the top.
You have to hit 'em between the eyes with the biggest reasons to do business with you. If your big benefits don't get the job done, the visitor won't be there long enough to read your smaller benefits.

4. Bullets.
Again - put your big benefits first - in attention-grabbing bullets, and then you can also explain in more details why each bullet is a big benefit of your product or service. People buy benefits - not features ...

5. Cadence and flow.
Your sales letter needs rhythm ... flow ... interest ... pace ... and it needs to take people on a journey, as if you were taking a walk together talking about your product. Be conversational. Be interesting.

Some smart folks have said that there's no such thing as a sales letter that's too long - but there is such a thing as a sales letter that's too boring.

To see Part 2 of Conversion Secrets, click this link ... http://businesstobusiness.blogspot.com/.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog (new)
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/ (new)
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

*** Share this post with a friend - simply click
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*** They'll thank you ...

Chip’s B2B Tip #37 - Love Is ...

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B2B Tip #37 - "Love Is The Killer App"
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In Tim Sanders' wonderful 2002 book of this same name (Crown Business Publishers) Tim takes us on an adventure designed to teach us how to win business and influence friends.

Wait a minute ... isn't that backwards?

Aren't we taught to win friends and influence people?

Or is this really backwards?

Tim calls himself and people like him a new breed of businessperson called a "LoveCat."

Hmmmm ...

Tim breaks down his wonderful book into four main sections:

1. The Lovecat Way
2. Knowledge
3. Network
4. Compassion

Each of these sections takes you to a new way to do business. A very new way to do business ... where it's all about people and relationships instead of greed and avarice.

I highly recommend this book to you.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

*** Share this post with a friend - simply click
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*** They'll thank you ...

Chip’s B2B Tip #36 - Forum Follies

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B2B Tip #36 - Are Forums a Waste of Your Time or Not?
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In a word (2) ... yes and no.

Online Forums - of any type - have a wonderful opportunity to be a rich place of amazing knowledge, exchanged freely in the spirit of helping one another ...

... Or they can be a groups of thinly-veiled advertising posts.

Most forum are both of these things.

Forums are typically run by their moderator(s) - many times the owner of the forum.

Too much freedom = too much board spam.

Too much censorship = too few participants.

In addition, most forums typically have their share of neighborhood bullies hiding in the hedges of the forum waiting for it to get dark enough that they can jump out and say, "BOO!"

It seems to come with the territory.

On some forums, different opinions are valued and respected. On others - don't you dare disagree with some of the 'regular posters' or they'll do their best to set you on fire (flame you.)

It's all a "Power Trip" for some people ...

In the end - decide for yourself.

Take any topic (like Internet Marketing) ... add the word 'forum' to it, and put that phrase in any reasonably reliable search engine. You should get a list returned of many different forums for you to look at.

If you just hang around (lurk) ... you can see the temperature of the board.

If you post, always try to establish yourself as a person who is helpful first and promotional second. Only offer product suggestions when they meet the need of a specific post.

In a word - have fun with it - and then decide for yourself if it was a good use of your time (or not.)

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

*** Share this post with a friend - simply click
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*** They'll thank you ...

Chip’s B2B Tip #35 - One Magic Button

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B2B Tip #35 - The Magic F5 Key
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This is a quickie ...

If no one has told you this ... when you're looking at a web page to which you've been before, there's a chance you're really looking at an old (cached) version of the page or search results.

Yes - it depends on what sorts of computer maintenance, etc., you do on your PC, as well as the order in which you open web pages, how you handle cookies, etc., ... but ...

Whenever you visit a search engine, web page, etc., it takes about one second to hit the magic F5 key, just to be sure you're seeing the absolutely newest version of the page. This refereshes the cache and your browser.

Just a helpful shortcut if you need it ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

*** Share this post with a friend - simply click
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*** They'll thank you ...

Chip’s B2B Tip #34 - Sales in a Nutshell

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B2B Tip #34 - Selling the Easy Way
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'Selling' really boils down to just a very few things:

1. The right message
2. The right audience
3. The right timing

Sounds simple? Well, it is and it isn't.

As far as I know, Dan Kennedy coined the term "Message to market match."

That encompasses numbers 1 through 3 above.

Remember that people more often buy what they want instead of what they need. So one main challenge you have is establishing 'the want.'

Another challenge (for me especially ) is that many people buy something on emotion - but keep it based on logic. I have a really hard time getting all emotional about selling. To me, it's purely a logical decision.

I need (want) it or I don't.

I'll buy it or I won't.

Pretty simple for me, but the pundits would say I'm an anomaly.

I already knew that ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog (new)
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/ (new)
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

*** Share this post with a friend - simply click
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*** They'll thank you ...

Chip’s B2B Tip #33 - Know-It-Alls

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B2B Tip #33 - Just Say NEXT!
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This is a shorty here ...

If you find yourself in the unenviable position of talking to someone who - as soon as you begin a conversation and he or she replies the first time - is a 'know-it-all' ... just say NEXT.

You'll meet people online and offline who think they are Legends in Their Own Mind.

I had the distinct displeasure of talking to a potential client here ... who to show me how much he knew about Internet marketing, search engine marketing, and such - typed his own company name into a search box, and was quite proud when he came up as the top listing.

"That's cheating," I said. "Every company should come up first when they type their own name in a search box. What you did was a 'lookup' - not a search."

"Well - we know what we're doing, and we don't need anyone else's help," was his reply.

You can't effectively work with people whose ego is so big they always walk in its shadow.

Learn to say "NEXT" and go on.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com.blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #32 - Selling, Schmelling

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B2B Tip #32 - Don't Try to Sell Anything
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If no one has ever told you this - let me be the first.

People DO NOT like to be 'sold.' They like 'to buy' stuff.

One of the fastest and most efficient ways to improve your sales is to quit trying so hard. And always remember that people buy benefits (the hole a drill makes, not the drill) - not features (it's light and fast.)

1. They like to buy stuff - they don't like to 'be sold' stuff ...
2. They respond quicker to a 'want' than a 'need' ...
3. They avoid pain faster than seeking pleasure most times.

So - if for no other reason than 'testing' - rethink your own processeses and test some new theories. See if you get different results. At least you'll make your potential customers more comfortable as you concentrate more on them and less on yourself.

Become an Assistant Buyer - instead of a 'Salesperson.'

Don't try to sell anything. Help people buy it instead ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com.blog/ (new)
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/ (new)
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #31 - Pace Your Race

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B2B Tip #31 - Pace Yourself
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Tires screaming ... beads of sweat dripping into your eyes ... everything around you a blur ...

Does this describe you as you attempt to launch , market, or publicize your business?

Relax. Don't worry ... ;-) ... be a long-distance runner instead of a sprinter. Take a hint from nature. Even the fastest of the big cats can only run super-fast for a very limited period of time.

Then they crumble into a pile to rest.

Are you in "a pile" right now? Headed for one?

Then today - relax for a change.

Enjoy the journey ...

If you act desperate - you are. If you act needy - you are. People pick up on this stuff, so you're not fooling anybody ... and you're really hurting yourself more than you're helping.

Business takes time because relationships take time. (And all business is built on relationships before it's built on products.)

All JVs (Joint Ventures) are all about relationships, too - not products.

So - relax today - enjoy the adventure. Keep your confidence level high.

Expect a 'yes.'

You'll do much better today if you'll pace your race.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com.blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #30 - Time Trials

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B2B Tip #30 - Time Goes On
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"Got a minute?"

That's a pretty popular saying, isn't it?

Well ... OK ... Got a minute?

"For what?" you might inquire ...

To see a way of thinking and strategy that just might get you on the right B2B journey.

Where would you find that? Grab yourself a copy of Mark Victor Hansen's "One Minute Millionaire." In this book he shows you three separate and distinct ways to generate real wealth.

You're probably already doing at least one of them if you're reading this post.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com.blog/ (new)
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/ (new)
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #29 - Value's Virtues

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B2B Tip #29 - In the Eye of the Beholder
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What does the title of this post mean?

"The value of virtue is directly tied to the eye of the beholder" ...

In other words, you only add value to someone if they think you do.

"Why should I care?" you ask?

Well ... the only way to get into the enviable position where you can do business with people (e.g. JVs or otherwise) is to add value to their life. Plain and simple ...

"How do I do that? you ask?"

Simple ... do at least one of these three things:

1. Do something for them they cannot do ...
2. Do something for them they will not do ...
3. Do something for them they just don't feel like doing ...

That's how ... ;-) ...

Otherwise, you're just noise in the marketplace ... trying to be heard above the cacophany of other voices shouting as loud as they can.

If you can establish your value, you arrest people's "Why should I care" mindset and get them to thinking about what you want them to think about.

You.

Themselves.

Your door is now open.

So - know your deal, know your skills, know your offer. Then you'll know value's virtues and be able to capitalize on them on a daily basis.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com.blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #28 - Twenty-One Minutes

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B2B Tip #28 - A Little Goes a Long Way
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If you're like many people, you waste more than 21 minutes each day just deciding what you're going to do 'today.'

What if you could rethink and retool those 21 minutes into a disciplined section of time that would set up and lay out the rest of your day ... making your whole day more fulfilling and more profitable?

Would you do it?

What matters most is what you do day after day, consistently heading toward your goals and dreams. Each of us at times gets sidetracked. No big deal. Just get back on course.

But what if you don't know your course?

If you'll invest time each day in acquiring and honing leadership skills, over the long haul your assets compound like interest and you enjoy substantial growth. Your 'course' reveals itself to you ...

Then there's no telling what you can accomplish.

You'll become more effective in every area of your life.

And it all starts with a small daily investment in you.

It's OK to make mistakes. Fail fast and fail forward. Every failure gets you closer to success ...

The bad part is when you do nothing, or do something and fail - and then immediately give up. As I've said before, you can't lose till you quit.

Your success odds are never worse than 50/50 ... something will work or it won't. Why not try?

No matter where you are right now, you can learn new skills and new ways of thinking - and you and your leadership skills can (and will) grow.

If you want a great and helpful tool to put you on this enlightening journey, get the book "The 21 Most Important Minutes in a Leader's Day" by John C. Maxwell (Thomas Nelson - 2000.)

It's a life changer, to be sure ...

© Chip TarverThe B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com.blog (new)
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com (new)
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #27 - Powerful Purpose

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B2B Tip #27 - What will you do with your dash?
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Let me say right up front that the inspiration for this post comes from someone else. I just wish I could remember where I heard that phrase, so I could give that person credit.

It comes from a story I read about "your dash."

Your dash is that spot between your birth and your death, the 'dash' on your grave marker stone. This dash encompasses your entire life from start to finish.

I have at least one personal opinion about this up front ...

... You can only ever call yourself a success when you create successors. Take your knowledge and expertise to the grave with you, and all you've done is enrich yourelf.

Next, understand that you have both a spiritual and secular purpose.

Those of us who walk with the Lord know our spiritual purpose. It's all about Him. Yes - I absolutely urge you to consider Him in your own life, but that very important decision is one you'll have to make. It is not the main point in this post ...

As to your secular purpose - what do you stand for? What's important to you? What will you be remembered for? What will your grave marker say?

That's the importance of your dash ...

I also believe we come into and leave this life naked and alone for a very good reason. We are a blank slate upon which we write our own mission, vision, purpose, and life experiences.

What are yours?

Not sure? That's OK.

Here's an easy way to start finding out. Consider these situations ...

1. If money were absoluetly no concern, and you never had to work another day in your life - exactly what would you do every day?

2. In your daily life, what excites you beyond measure, and is something you look forward to doing with great anticipation and expectation?

3. What are you really good at?

One of the biggest joys in life is when 'the lightbulb' comes on and you have your answers to those 3 specific questions. I hope they have stimulated you into asking and answering the questions for yourelf.

You'll be glad you did.

The best part is finding your purpose, and the worst part is missing it.

Don't ever put yourself in the position of getting old, looking back, and saying, "I wish I had."

Had what?

Found my purpose.

If you'd like some help with these issues, get Rick Warren's book titled "The Purpose Driven Life."

It's good beyond description and will definitely help you discover out what you stand for ... (if you really want to know.)

All the best -
Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com.blog/ (new)
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/ (new)
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #26 - Internet Branding Rules

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B2B Tip #26 - The Down-Side of Kleenex, AT&T, and Microsoft
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What? How can there be a 'down-side' to these massive brands?

Wake up with a runny nose ... grab a Kleenex ... and at least for a moment things are good in the world again ...

Right?

Well - that 'depends' ...

If I say, "Fast hot pizza delivery in 30 minutes or less," - which company do you think of?

If I say, "Just do it," - which company do you think of?

OK - you get the point. (By the way, the answers were Domino's and Nike.)

The downside for Kleenex was that they did such an awesome job of branding themselves - and their name became such a household word - they lost some rights to their own brand.

Kleenex became such a well-known brand that when they were legally challenged - Kleenex was declared a 'generic name.'

AT&T had great branding and tecnological success, too. Then the government forced them to break their company into "Little Bells."

Microsoft has done such a great job - the government (and their competitors) are trying to force them to do the same thing.

What's the moral here?

Obviously, if you can create a brand that's worth billions, a brand that's so successful all your competitors and the government want to knock you off your pedestal - it's fair to say you've definitely accomplished 'something' ...

Many of us won't ever accomplish this, so how do the rules of Internet branding apply to us?

In their excellent book named "The 11 Immutable Rules of Internet Branding" - Al and Laura Ries tell us that some things will never change (this is a great book you should definitely buy.)

On the back cover, they also give the top 11 reasons you should ignore their book. As 'Mr. T' is fond of saying, "I pity the fool" who fits any of these categories...


Here are the 11 reasons you might think you wouldn't need to read it:

11. The Internet is nothing but the hula hoop of the 21st century.

10. The Internet is just another medium like television.

9. We're too busy moving our brand into all the new markets opened up by the Internet medium

8. Haste makes waste. Let's not jump into the Net too quickly.

7. The global market isn't worth bothering with when business is so good in the USA.

6. We can afford to lose money and make it up in advertising revenue.

5. Why rush, there's always room for a second brand.

4. The name doesn't matter. What counts is the setup of the site.

3. We're in luck. We managed to snag the category name.

2. We don't need any help. We just need to put our catalog on the web.

... And the Number One Reason ... (drum roll, please) ...

1. We have the best brand name in the business. Let's use it on our site.

This book gives you real, tangible information on how to build your company, product, service, or self into a hot and profitable brand on the Internet.

But a word of caution ... perhaps you might not want to be as sucessful as Kleenex, AT&T, or Microsoft.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #25 - Ten Great Books ...

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B2B Tips #25 - Ten Great Business Books You Should Read
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Here's the list.

If you want to know why I chose them and how each book will specifically help you, go to http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com and find out ... (0nce we get this list mounted on the site.)
.


1. “The Purpose Driven Life” – Rick Warren – Zondervan 2002

2. “The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day” – John C. Maxwell – Thomas Nelson 2000

3. “The One Minute Millionaire” – Mark Victor Hansen – Harmony 2002

4. “Love is the Killer App” – Tim Sanders – Crown 2002

5. “Positioning” – Al Ries and Jack Trout – McGraw-Hill 2001

6. “Marketing Warfare” – also by Trout & Ries – McGraw-Hill 1986

7. “The End of Marketing as We Know It” – Sergio Zyman – Harper Business 1999

8. “Word of Mouth Marketing” – Jerry Wilson – Wiley 1991

9. “The 11th Element” – Robert Scheinfeld – Wiley 2003

10. “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” – New King James version

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #24 - Google's Paralysis by Analysis?

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B2B Tip #24 - Has Google broken its own algorithm?
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Hear me out before you judge me on this ... because this post is more of a case study than some sideways promotion of this B2B Tips blog ...

From time to time I search for my keyword phrase for this blog in a half dozen search engines.

Wouldn't you?

On Yahoo, AllTheWeb, and AltaVista - for the phrase "B2B Tips" - I'm still on page one near the top.

Using WebFerret, a metasearch engine that queries multiple search engines and ranks all the results ... this B2B Tips blog is page one, number 11 of all B2B sites ...

The other day - on Google I was on page 3. Now I don't know where I am. But I can tell you that there are golf sites and a whole bunch of other nonsense in the first few pages of results for B2B Tips (no - I'm not talking about paid sponsor links.)

Work with me here ... I'm interested on B2B Tips to help me in my business, so I go to Google and type in the popular acronym B2B (tips) ...

Google gives me a golf site and other un-related sites ... and leaves out a blog specifically designed and populated with B2B tips, techniques, and musings?

Has Google gotten so overly analytical, gotten so focused on chasing the money, tried so hard to be King of the Hill, and tried so diligently to avoid the scammers taking advantage of it ... that Google has broken it's own algorithm?

Regardless of where I show up, as of late I've found that Google just "ain't what she used to be" - no matter which search terms I use ... so I'm using more reliable search engines now ...

Any opinions?

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #23 - Web Warlocks

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B2B Tip #23 - Watch Your Back (and Front)
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Well - if it could have gone wrong, it did ...

Last night we did a teleseminar with Brad Fallon and about 200 of our 'closest friends.'

We had moderator problems, audio problems, levels problems, we could not mute the audience during the call (and yes - we had at least one heavy breather who never muted himself or herself...)

... And if that's not enough, for the first time, the recording also failed to record, too.

Moral of the story - Life Happens ...

And you know what - that's OK.

We can cry about it or laugh about it, and laughing is a lot more fun ...

We can blame everybody involved, or just shrug it off..

We can put gas on this fire, or just put water on it ...

And we can give up - or keep keepin' on ...

I bet you know which of these things we'll do, don't you?

(But watch out for the Web Warlocks when you plan these things.)

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip's B2B Tip #22 - Take a Chill Pill

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B2B Tip #22 - Patience is a virtue?
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I was welcomed today by a PC that won't boot up (mine.) Something happened to it since yesterday when I last used it.

Spent an hour and $75 with HP Support. They're mailing me a disk that is "supposed to" fix the problem. We'll see.

So I'm on my new laptop. The keyboard is tiny and I don't know where the keys and buttons are, unlike on my familiar friend, my desktop PC.

So today I need a little cheese with my whine. I'm frustrated, and not particularly inspired to share a plethora of wisdom. No - today I'll punt, and ask you to check back later.

If you've put my feed in your RSS reader, you should get these posts automatically.

If not - why not?

I'm gonna take a Chill Pill ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #21 - Brad Fallon is "The Man"

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B2B Tip #21 - Brad Fallon's SEO Stomper Course is "without parallel"
.
Brad's comprehensive "SEO Stomper" course about beating the search engines at their own game is so good, I'm at a loss for words to explain it.

Brad takes you A-Z through understanding how to get solid, tangible results through the search engines. You can do this, too, if you'll just follow his 1-2-3, paint-by-the-numbers instructions.

It's not hard, and it's not expensive.

See my post (#20.) I got tangible (excellent) results in less than 3 weeks ...

If you read this before Wednesday evening 1-19-05 , click this link
to get in on a free teleseminar with Brad ...

http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/fallon-teleseminar

... or if you read this after that date, click this link to see for yourself:

http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/seostomper

Take this to the bank - You'll be glad you clicked the link!

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.Smoky-Mountain-Gateway.com (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #20 - FCS BLOG TOPS SEs!

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B2B Tip #20 - Yahoo, AllThe Web, MSN, Google, and AltaVista
.
This Stuff Works!
.
News Flash -
1-18-05 at 1:00pm eastern


I just went to Google, Yahoo, AllThe Web, AltaVista, and MSN ... and typed in the keyword phrase 'B2B Tips' (my keywords for this "First Contact Secrets" blog.)

This "First Contact Secrets" blog comes up on page one #two on Yahoo, and page one number one on AllTheWeb and AltaVista.

This blog is also at the top of page three on Google, mid-page two on MSN, and #14 of all B2B Tips searches on WebFerret.

That's not half-bad for a blog that's about three weeks old today ...

To my reader - even if you're not a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist (like I'm not) - you really can do this stuff if you know the steps to take. And don't give up ... because another thing you'll learn is that this stuff also seems to change every day.

And the day you're reading this, the site could be above or below where it was today. The worst part is that many times ... we don't even know why ... so you have to keep on keepin' on ...

Keep on keepin' on!

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
http://www.smoky-mountain-gateway.com/ (brand new)

Chip’s B2B Tip #19 - Smart Skeptics

.
B2B Tip #19 - Don't Trust Most People!
.
And don't do business with a lot of the companies out here on the Net. (Why? They haven't earned your trust.)

Man - my drawers are still in a wad after being ripped off by PayPal and eBay twice in the last 30 days.

Don't believe me?

Go to http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com/ ...

... Now - look near the bottom of my home page for the big yellow box and the 'new' PayPal logo. Go ahead, I'll wait ...

Hmmmm ... mmmmmm ... hmmmm-mmmmm ...

(I'm humming a tune while I wait for you to come back here.)

Back? Ok - cool ...

Now - see why I used the title above ("Smart Skeptics")?

The reason is because if you're skeptical of all the hyped-up trash you read online, especially from the so-called Internet Marketing Gurus - I respect you.

I applaud you.

Keep listening to the that small voice inside you that screams "NO" when you read that nonsense and garbage they repeatedly send you. Most of the time, those hyped-up emails and sales letters are designed to trick you into buying something.

Many gurus could care less if their products and services meet your real needs and wants today.

They care about themselves first, and your credit card second - in that order.

So my best and immediate advice to you is to never buy a single thing they offer you until you check them and their product out in as many places as you can. Internet marketing forums are great places to do this.

And if you want to know who we like and trust - people who when they tell you something, you can take it to the bank - go to ...

http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

... and check out our "Trusted and Recommended Resources."

That's good advice -

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #18 - PayPal-eBay Ripoff

.
B2B Tip #18 - Don't Do Business With PayPal or eBay
.
Here's a true story, complete with the emails to back it up, concerning the taliban and al qaeda of the online merchant services world, PayPal and eBay ... (yes, they harbor and conceal real-life terrorists who prey on innocent Netizens ...)

You can make up your own mind based on the story. Below I present the "real-life emails" that state the real case.

What's your opinion?

=================================

1-17-05

To Ute and PayPal -

I received your canned 'explanation.' Please see my uncanned reply below ...



On 16 Jan 2005 at 17:59, webform@paypal.com wrote:

> Dear Charles Tarver Jr,> > Thank you for your email. I am sorry to hear how much frustration this has caused you.

*** That sounds great Ute, just like the "corporate-speak" I would expect from PayPal based on the pathetic PayPal customer service I and others receive from you ... but save your canned bogus apology because I don't believe you or PayPal for a second.

> The case in question was decided against you due to buyer being able> to provide return information. Buyer returned merchandise to you on> 11-9-2004 per records from his credit card company.

*** Ute - this is a joke. Follow along with me here:

*** First - how in the world would his credit card company know the date he returned something? (Ummmm ... let's see ... that's what he told them.)

*** Ute - I buy a perfect, rare, limited edition book from Ute, get it here, and have it photocopied. Then I pitch it in a box and mail it to back to Ute, void of its original careful packing. I just drop it in a box and mail it. But since I'm a crook, I know how to work the system - so I send it "return receipt."

*** Ute picks it up at the post office, and sees that it now has creases in its cover, and has lost its original value.

*** Ute sends Chip an email saying that the book has lost its value because Chip damaged it. Chip's a rip-off, so he simply does not respond. Chip has the precious, all-powerful receipt from the Post Office showing that Chip returned it. Chip is now "protected" (rubs hands together.)

*** Ute's now got the system working against him.

*** So, Ute. Your response it the just typical PayPal BS. Having a receipt that shows you returned something is just a ruse, a sham, and a scam. It's just the way the Post Office protects crooks like "Rodney The Perp."

*** Your "receipt" does not say that the seller got his merchandise back in the same condition he sent it, neither does that receipt address or acknowlege the fact that the item cannot be sold again as original - does it?

*** So your answer is just more PayPal crap. You don't investigate squat. You don't provide any real customer service at all. If you did, you'd know that my shipping charges are non-refundable in 100% of the scenarios to try to help protect me from crooks like Rodney The Perp. No, you do the bare minimum. You got your fees, didn't you?

*** You'd provide a phone number in your email for your clients to give you a true explanation, instead of some silly, bogus, 4-question brief email you send out ... the absolute bare minimum you have to do for your "customer service" to feel all good and proud of itself ... (NOTE: of course, it's far too much to expect PayPal to pick up a phone and call one of its clients. That's just not part of the PayPal Corporate Customer Service module ...)

*** You'd acknowledge receipt of emails from your clients telling you that someone is ripping them off. And you'd do something about it to protect your merchants like me.

*** But no - you and PayPal only want the money.

*** Greed is an ugly beast - isn't it, Ute ...

*** That's what all you're about, and all you'll ever be about, because you're just as common and crooked as the thieves you help steal stuff from your own merchants.

*** This is just one reason why so many merchants and others in the market who have suffered through doing business with PayPal hate you (see http://www.paypalsucks.com/) ...

*** Their mission statement is "PayPal Sucks, aka No PayPal, is an anti -paypal site to expose the nightmare of doing business "the paypal way."

*** That says it all, Ute. 'Nuff said ...

> As you know, our Seller Protection Policy does not cover sellers for> this kind of claim. However, sellers form the backbone of our customer base, and we deeply regret the needed to perform any reversal. Please > understand that this chargeback was investigated within the terms of > our User Agreement which you agreed to when you opened your PayPal > account. At this point, we suggest that you contact the buyer directly > to resolve this issue.

*** More typical boilerplate, "this-is-what-we're-told-to-tell-jokers-like-you-after-we-give-your-money-to-some-ripoff-again" story.

*** And it's basically ridiculous, Ute.

*** The last time I got ripped off by PayPal and eBay was just last month. Your and eBay's policies cleverly conceal and the avoid the realities of the market again by placing time and dollar amount exclusions on your so-called willingness to help (your "customer service" as you like to call it.)

*** As I said below, "> You guys are as big a bunch of crooks as eBay is. Congrats on your marriage. You're perfect for each other. You're pathetic as a merchant service ..."

*** I don't change my opinion one bit today based on your complete and utter lack of meaningful, real customer service and reasonable, viable merchant protection policies.

*** As I said - you and eBay are perfect for each other. So now, all I do is judge you by your fruit - which is rotten and stinking, having fallen off the tree long ago and now filled with worms and maggots on the ground.

*** But be aware that you, PayPal, and eBay (and the thieves you support) are in for serious trouble again because you all enable one another to steal from honest people by cleverly and slyly manipulating your own 'system.'

*** You'll "get what you paid for" over time - and reap as you have sown, too - so be prepared.

*** I'll go post my complaint emails and your ridiculous replies (and your joke of a company) in my blog now at ...

... http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog ...

*** (Oh - and I plan to take the PayPal logo off my site and discontinue doing business with the Paypal wiseguys.)

*** Drop by and see me some time, Ute ...

Have a nice life, Ute -
Chip Tarver

==============================

> > > Sincerely,> Ute> PayPal Chargeback Division> PayPal, an eBay Company

> > Original Message Follows:> ------------------------> Form Message> customer subject: Negative Balance; ; why?> customer message: Additional Information: 'Hmmm ...> >

So, what you're telling me is ... even though I sent> you the info you requested disputing the claim against> my account ... on the day you asked for it ... and even > though PPal is so unprofessional no one ever acknowledged > receipt of the info ... and even though the buyer returned > my merchandise damaged, and not in its is original shipping > packaging ... and now I cannot resell it - > > I'm liable?> > You guys are as big a bunch of crooks as eBay> is. Congrats on your marriage. You're perfect> for each other. You're pathetic as a merchant> service ...

> > Chip Tarver

> > > Copyright Chip Tarver. All Rights Reserved.

END

=======================

So - dear readers - you decide ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #17 - Blogger Resources

.
B2B Tip #17 - Resources for Bloggers
.
This is a shorty today ...

Right now I'm putting together a resource for fellow bloggers ... listing various sites, tools, people, etc., that can help you in your blogging adventures.

Stay tuned.

When I have a basic version assembled, here's the first place you'll find out about it.

Live long and prosper! (grin)

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #16 - Tire-Kickers Are a Joke ...

.
B2B Tip #16 - Dealing With Freebie-Seekers, Tire-Kickers, and Good Ol' Mooches - Like Rodney and Peter ...
.
=======================================

"Oh my Gawd!" (as the folks here in Tennessee say.)

=======================================

OK - I almost made it ten more posts without a rant ... but it didn't happen ... and this is a fairly long one, too ... so get ready ...

One cry-baby named Rodney just sent back a product of mine, with no explanation ... he just sent it back. Oh, and he sent it back damaged - and not in its original, extremely carefully packaged shipping container, peanuts, and bubble wrap.

Nope ... Rodney just pitched it in a box and mailed it ...

Then when I emailed him and asked if there was a problem ... he didn't have the decency to reply. So I waited for him to reply ... (being polite?) ...

And then I get a chargeback notice - my first one ever. I responded the same day I got the notice, but the people at PayPal are so unprofessional that they never even acknowledged receipt, or responded to me (their client) ...

That's far too much customer service to expect from Paypal. Why do you think they make it so difficult to get any help from them? PayPal, just like eBay, is only interested in your money. Take that to the bank (pun) ...

Then, I just got a smart-___ email from some guy named Peter fussing and whining like a little baby because apparently there was an autoresponder glitch, and a canned email from me went out to him that wasn't "pretty enough" to suit him (the email formatting got messed up somehow) ...


Here's the email he sent:

Mate, you must be kidding expectng me to think you have
any credibility sending me an email formatted like this.

Please REMOVE.

Thanks

Peter


Who does he think he is?

If he's not sure - I am. For one thing - he's NOT my mate ...

Rodney and Peter are part of the ever-growing, self-righteous, and completely indignant herd of tire-kickers, freebie-seekers, and mooches who get on people's lists and never do anything else.

They sit there and wait for us to give them free content (of course, in a format that's always "suitable" to them 100% of the time - and never when there's any sort of a problem with any of the technology.)

They're energy and content vampires. They suck people dry for as long as people will permit it ... but don't you dare ask them to buy something, and you'd better never have any problem with your technology.

Oh, no ... no, no, no ...

These mooches expect perfection from the people they're nursing on. They want your life's work for nothing, and they want it now. They want it pretty. They're the ones who (if they ever buy something) will either read it, not read it, copy it, steal it and sell it for half-price, return it, or waste your precious time some other frivolous way.

And if that's not enough, when I tried to get into my hosted server to remove this jerk, I was locked out of my control panel because of some other server problem. Now ... I can jump up and down and get all frothy ... or I can understand that sometimes the technology on which we so heavily depend has "issues."

Sometimes it has a couple of issues together.

So what? Life happens.

Two of the guys I know, Alex Mandossian and David Garfinkel, both have had "issues" with technology ... just one of which was having a teleseminar system go sideways when there were hundreds of people involved.

Is it embarrassing? Sure it is.

Is it a pain in the ____? Absolutely.

But if you've been out here working on the Net for more that a little while, technology has at some point rained on your parade.

The Tire-Kickers, Freebie-Seekers, and Mooches will never really know this, though, because they'll never do anything of any consequence or substance out here ... and see it how it really is.

No - they'll sit smugly in front of their monitors making their mooch-demands, thinking how much they know, and saying to themselves, "I already knew that."

This is just one reason why I'm not impressed with people who have "list envy" and are always bragging about how big their list is.

Who cares? What's important is how many of the people on your list trust you enough to actually buy something ... and then if they buy something again - they're golden to you. You've made a friend ...

Problem is - the people like Peter and Rodney never "buy" anything - because they already know it all. Oh, but occasionally they "order" something, read it, and return it - just to be sure (if their confidence gets a little rocky) ...

Herd mentality ... you can follow the leaders and have the successes we enjoy (if you're willing to get off your ____ and work for it) ...

Or you can follow the swine off the cliff and drown, like Rodney and Peter.

It's your choice. Just be sure you know the exact moment you make the decision ... and if you're tired of getting the same ol' results you've always gotten, you'd better do something different than you've always done.

That's good advice ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #15 - Wouldn't Be Prudent ...

.
B2B Tip #15 - Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder?
.
Yes it wouldn't be prudent to normally be absent from your blog for a whole week. The 'blog gurus' would fuss at me. My last post was a week ago.

Why was I gone?

I'm launching 2 new sites with well over 100 pages of content
between them, and both sites had to be built.

So - I haven't gone anywhere - I promise. But being one of
those Internet Marketers who actually DOES what he talks
about, occasionally I just don' have time to post.

But hang in there - I'll be back at it real soon.

All the best -
Chip

Chip’s B2B Tip #14 - Blog Tutorial - Blogger Setup in 3 Minutes or Less

.
B2B Tip #14 - Blog Tutorial - How to set up your own blog FAST
.
This is a quickie today because I'm in the middle of a project
that demands my attention now.

If you want to know exactly how to set up your own blog here
on Blogger in 3 minutes or less, go to my site at ...

http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

... and get my brand new pdf of the same name.

Have a great day -

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #13 - Net Niche Nonsense

.
B2B Tip #13 - Search Engine Marketing 101
.
"A niche a day keeps the creditors at bay ..."

Where in the world did that come from? Oh, well ... ;-) ... onward ...

Let's invest a minute or so and look at all the current "Net Niche Nonsense." 'Net' is certainly not nonsense. 'Niche' is certainly not nonsense. So what's up with the title above?

First of all - maybe you've only been on the Net for a month or less (that's OK, of course.)

Now you're just now starting to play with search engines like Google. And ... maybe you're starting to think you might like to try your hand at selling "something" on the web and being one of those "legend-in-their-own-minds Interent 'Gurus'" ......

If you 've played with search engines much, you already know you will get one set of search results searching for 'golf,' versus another very different set of results if you search for 'left-handed Big Bertha 37862."

... Or 'blind blue parrots' ... or 'pink suede tennis shoes' ... or 'purple golf umbrellas,' (etc.)

Why?

Niches.

So?

Listen ... it's darn near impossible for the average person to dominate a generic key word like golf, travel, marketing, etc. (unless you can write really fat checks.) Plus you'll find that the multi-word keyword phrases deliver much more qualified and targeted traffic at less cost.

That's the value of a niche. Sounds pretty good so far, eh? So let's see - so far ... better traffic ... lower cost ... easier ... this is working. Now - where does the nonsense part come in?

It comes from people trying to sell you hugely expensive products that tell you what I just told you for free.

Here's the deal ... you could 'possibly' make a ton of money being the number one seller of left handed Big Berthas in your own state. But try to be a world (Internet) leader for the term golf - and you're biting off more than you can chew ...

Furthermore - why would you even want to?

The moral: Make this stuff easy on yourself (and more profitable.)

Go to http://www.goodkeywords.com and type in some different terms in the search box and see what happens. This will take you less than 5 minutes and could be real eye-opener. Once the list displays, if you like what you see, click the menu button that offers the 'copy list' action. Open Notepad on your PC and dump in the list ...

Now, head on over to http://www.Overture.com, go into the advertiser tools section, and see what the current bids are for the keywords you're playing with. Select your results, hit copy, then go to Notepad and hit paste below your keyword lists.

Another couple of minutes ... maybe ...

So - there you go. Now you can find the popularity of any keywords, save your search results data, and go to Overture and see what people are paying for those terms. Then you save what you found in a Notepad file so you can see your research on that niche whenever you want to.

Even if you can't afford to buy your way in, at least now you know the search terms people are paying Big PPC Bucks to get. Optimize your site for those 'best' keywords, and go for organic (not paid [free]) search positions until you can afford PPC, and see what happens.

The Net Niche Nonsense is people charging you hundreds or thousands of dollars to tell you what I just told you for free ...

So if you know what's popular, you know what's getting the big dollar bids, and you know how to drill down to better keyword phrases instead of generic catch-all terms ...

Now if you can throw up a content-rich site that focuses like a laser beam on just that small part (niche) of the market you want to play in ... you're in business. By the way, you can do this a hundred or a thousand times ... and if each site only made you $100 net each month ... well, you do the math ... ;-) ...

The 'net niche nonsense' is paying big bucks to hear what I just told you, and feeling like there's no way you could ever do this stuff. It's simple ... try it ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com/
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #12 - Magnanimous Mentors

.
B2B Tip #12 - Available Assets
.
Let's set forth a simple principle that you can put into effect the very second you finish reading this, and your life could actually be different in just one week from now ...

Wow - that's a pretty tall order, isn't it?

Fair enough ... let's see if it's true ...

1. Your net worth = your network ...
.......... I wish I knew who said this first (it's not me) ... but it's true. You become whom you hang around with. Want to make $500K a year? Hang around with folks who make a half mill a year. (Or hang around with 'losers' and see what happens ...) How do you find them? Pay attention to their habits ... that's where they'll be ...

2. There's nothing new under the sun ...
.......... Unless you invent something that's 100% brand new (almost unheard of) ... the most successful people have that knack (and ability and motivation) to take an existing idea an improve on it. How do you do it? Find a product ... especially one that you think, "I could have done that." Now, take it and make it better, faster, cheaper, easier ... whatever.

3. Find a magnanimous mentor ...
.......... Most people are wonderful, and interested in sharing their knowledge. Some will do it free, while others will do it for a fee. Whichever model meets your needs, find someone who will share their knowledge with you. How? On the Net, for instance, sign up for free newsletters and blogs. Get what you want out of them and save or delete them.

OK - we're done.

If you feel especially empowered, over the next three weeks (that's just one a week, you know) ... implement one of the three ideas above. If you consider yourself gung-ho, get started on all three right now.

No - of course - the results won't just fall into your lap. If they did, everyone would use them and the ideas would be so tired they wouldn't work. To your advantage, you have the fact that lots of people will say, "Yeah - that makes a lot of sense. I'll do it."

But they never do a single thing. So their tomorrows look exactly like their todays.

I promise you ... if you do nothing ... that's exactly what you'll get in return.

Find yourself one or more magnanimous mentors, however ... and your life could truly be totally different a week from today (it will be ... just watch and see.)

Which scenario makes the most sense to you?

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #11 - Geronimo Gurus & Chicken Little

.
B2B Tip #11 - Business Credibility
.
"The sky is falling. The sky is falling."
.
Do you remember the old story about Chicken Little? Chicken Little believed the sky was falling. This was 'her truth.'

Remember Geronimo? In different stories, he was a really famous Indian Chief shown in lots of pictures and movies blazin' into a scene bareback on a beautiful horse.

What about the term 'guru'? What picture does that word put in your mind? Mid-Eastern mystic in a Nehru jacket? The egotistical Internet Marketing Mavens beating their chest and trying to sell you something they've never actually done themselves?

OK - I'll stop.

The point in this example is to get you to think. About what?

Credibility.

One half of real credibility is honesty. Instead of beating your chest and telling people they need what you sell - or they might die broke under a bridge next week without it - (or at the very least - they'll never even possibly or remotely be the success they could be if they bought your product.)

Throw in a dose of integrity. Would you try to sell 10,000-watt heaters to folks who live in Key West, FL? Would you try to sell surfboards to folks in Montana who don't go to the beach? No matter how psychologically manipulative your pitch was, your product (or service) really just does make much sense for your current audience ...

OK - again, I'll stop ...

Now throw in the technique of "Message to Market Match" (a phrase that, as far as I know, Dan Kennedy made famous. ) The nuts and bolts of this presumption are that you'll always do the very best at marketing and selling when the right target market sees the right message at the right time.

Does this idea make any sense to you?

If it does ... be sure you establish your credibility with the people to whom you want to market. Part of this strategy is telling them why they should believe what you say. Part of it is establishing yourself as the Obvious Expert in your field - the "go-to" guy or gal. You do this stuff by building trust, and building relationships.

These are not things that happen in a Kodak moment ... no - they take time. They are a journey, as well as a destination. So enjoy the journey, don't get in a hurry, and don't tell people you're something you're not.

The last result you'd ever want ... is to be called Geronimo Guru (or Chicken Little.)


© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com/

Chip’s B2B Tip #10 - Loud Shouters Bore Me

.
B2B Tip #10 - Business Etiquette
.
"The Art of War" - by the Watercooler Bullies
.
"What in the world are you talking about?" you might ask.

Well ... this might be my first rant on my new blog ... and I made it 10 whole blog posts before I let it rip ...

I'm talking about those people around you who always try to keep everyone else upset, or at least on their toes all the time ... the people who have a PhD in Brown-Nosing, and are where they are because they must know where the body is buried.

Some 'shout' with their evil vocal comments. Others 'shout' with their so-called 'concerns for the good of the company.' Still others just plain bully everyone around because they learned that when they shout the loudest - no one ever notices them.

Others whisper ...

(And their victims are too busy defending themselves to do anything.)

Yes - the person with the most to hide always 'shouts' the loudest. So if you shake your head in amazement as you watch office politics, nepotism, and brown-nosing rule the business world, understand one thing, pilgrim ...

As long as you're part of that world - you're stuck with it.

What can you do?

Get the heck outta there.

How?

I'm glad you asked ...

Look - let's face facts ... your next birthday is coming. And even though this week we entered a new year, January 2006 is just around the corner. They'll both come whether you like it or not, and whether you're prepared or not ...

So, my best advice for you is to turn off that blasted TV, and rededicate your life to yourself. That's all you came into this world with - and that's all you're gonna leave with.

Fact.

If you will look around, find something - anything - that interests you, invest the time and money into it to learn it ... if you'll do this for an hour a day in 2005, by the time 2006 hits, you could be at the very top of your field.

Why? People are lazy. They want to start at the top, earn more than they're worth, do less than they should, and be handsomely rewarded and acknowledged. If you don't work with people like this, consider yourself Blessed.

So, if you're sick 'n tired of being sick 'n tired about all the crap that goes on in business today, understand that you - yes, you - really can make a difference ... a difference for yourself ... a difference for your family ... and you could even make a difference in your world.

The key word is 'you.' You not only have to want it - you have to willing to fight for it.

The only way you'll ever 'shout-down' the shouters is to beat them at their own game. You can't change rude people, and you can't change manipulators. But you can choose not to be associated with them ... if you'll take the steps to disassociate yourself from them.

It might not happen this week, or this month. But when it does - and it will - you just beat the 'shouters' (the most boring group of people I know) at their own game!

(Ed. Note: Hey - I'm not down on people as a whole ... only the ones who deserve it!)

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #9 - Who Does It Really Hurt?

.
B2B Tip #9 - Manners in the 2005 Marketplace
.
Imagine Crabby-Appleton, the person you always hate to hear from, regardless of the reason for his or her contact. What about Grumpy Gene or Bitchy Barbara?

(They're the folks who seem to be sucking on lemons and constipated - all the time.)

What about Sister BucketMouth ... the one who never has a nice thing to say about anyone (because she's so insecure.) She always keeps the attention on anyone except herself by causing problems and gossiping everywhere she goes ...

OK - enough is enough. You get the point. There are folks in your daily life whom you honestly hate to see coming toward you, and you truly hope they never show up on your caller ID. Then there are the folks that always create smiles everywhere they go. Lots of Grandparents fit this profile.

Which of the above characters will you be? It is, after all, your choice.

Moral: don't be Mr. or Ms. Sour-Puss. Be the sweet old Grandparent type.

Polish up on your manners, your approach, and your introduction skills. You can be the person who causes a room to smile when you enter. You can be the one people stop what they're doing when you call. You can bless everyone around you, if you choose to ...

Remember the "Magic Words" of your youth ... please, thank you, yes sir, yes ma'am, and those other 'polite' terms our parents (typically) forced us to say. In the 2005 marketplace, 'manners' is the lost art, and one that definitely can and will differentiate you today from all the noise.

So let the others have their constipated, lemon-sucking party every day. They'll seal their own fate with people. You be the person whom everyone loves, and always put water on a conflict - not gasoline. The fires will start without your help, so be the 'friend' who helps people put those fires out.

People will love you for it ... and you can be one of "the few" who are bringing manners back to the 2005 marketplace ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #8 - The Number One Line

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B2B Tip #8 - Email Marketing in 2005
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With all the struggles we marketers face these days (in general) marketing on and off the Net, there are certain pundits who say the ratio of people who open your emails vs. the total number of emails you send out ... is now approaching less than 10% ...

Let's say they're off by 50% ... and 20% of your emails get opened ...

That should send a shiver down your spine. This simply means if you send out 1,000 emails, less than 100 (or up to 200) of them are successfully delivered and opened by the recipient.
Thanks, spammers ... yes, that should scare the bejeezus out of you ... if you depend on email marketing as part of your livelihood.

So what's the average person to do? At this moment, if you don't want to embrace the new technologies, or spend any money, you need to realize one VERY important thing ...

The most important line in your emails in NEVER your subject line ... it is now and has always been your "From" line. That never changed before, and it will never change in the future. Only through building a relationship with your reader, and treating them as individuals - not a herd - will you have a hope and a prayer of doing this.

Then, when they see your name in the "From" line of an email - it means something special to them ...

So, when people peddling all kinds of goofy stuff try to tell you their crap will get your emails opened and read ... some might be telling the truth - but a lot of them aren't - and nothing they can ever sell you at any price will ever get your emails opened if the folks on your list don't know you, like you, trust you, and rabidly anticipate the next thing you send them.

Then they're your fan club, and that's the only way to survive marketing in 2005.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip's B2B Tip #7 - Are You Just Entertainment Tonight?

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B2B Tip #7 - Relationship Building
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InfoGlut ... CyberOverload. When will it end? How can it end?

Unless you've just come on the Net in the last week or two, and you don't yet subscribe to way too many "everything's" ... you're slammed with information from all sides.

Welcome to the noise ... collisions everywhere ... bodies litter the Net Neighborhoods - a result of the "You'll be rich tomorrow if you buy my over-priced, I've-never-really-done-this-before-product" pitches, and the pseudo "know-it-alls" ...

If you're a consumer - you have your own set of "issues."

If, however, you're marketing on the Net, you have an entirely different set of (crucial) issues. Most importantly - how to be noticed, and how to be heard. If no one notices you, and no one hears your message, it doesn't matter if you're selling new Ferrari's for $99.oo each. No one will know. No one will care.

What's the answer? Rise above the noise? How?

Learn how.

Branding and positioning, critical and crucial issues on today's Net, are based on a set of proven methods, techniques, and strategies. Big companies can write big checks to accomplish this. If you can - have at it. If, however, you're like many Net-Preneurs, you have to be wise with your money and really wise with your time.

Branding and positioning are one of the things we'll touch on this blog from time to time. If this is a hot issue for you, pick up a copy of Trout & Ries' books on the topic. Their books are excellent and easy to read and understand.

Also, get a copy of my First Contact Secrets (see link below) if you're serious about doing this before New Years Day 2006 is staring you in the face. Just do something.

If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll get the same results you've always gotten.

Your Net (and offline) business will be little more than Enterntainment Tonight ... a hobby ... but will it be only 'you' you're entertaining tonight?

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip’s B2B Tip #6 - Gentle Ben or Lassie (Business Models)

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B2B Tip #6 - Business Models
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Anyone remember Gentle Ben, the TV show? Ben was a great big ol’ bear, but was super-gentle (until someone needed rescuing or whatever) - and then Ben became more like Lassie, The Wonder Dog.

“So what - why are you telling me this?” you ask.

Because a wrong action at the wrong time, or a wrong word or two at the wrong time - can make you or break you ... and because when you communicate with other businesspeople – especially for the first time – you need to be like Gentle Ben (not Lassie.)

What? Be a big ol’ bear, not The Wonder Dog?

No – be a Gentle Giant.

Because your first approach must be a combination of skills – or you’re just market noise and a nuisance ... so be polite, gentle, unassuming, and inquisitive. Throw in a tiny bit of very careful humor when you can. The relationship style you use at first will be your style for a while.

Choose it carefully.

Because more succinctly … “be Gentle Ben” and use favorite words and phrases like: "please, thank you, I was curious, perhaps, maybe, might, it could, I’d appreciate" … (are you starting to see a pattern?)

Because a worse choice of words – “being Lassie rescuing Timmie” - using: "I want you to, you need to, you will, I guarantee, right now, ASAP," or any presumptuous or demanding phrases …

The moral. Choose your words extremely carefully, and remember that once you hit Send, drop something in the mailbox at the Post Office, or speak something into your telephone – you can never take those words back ...

And depending on what you say and how you say it – you might get your answer from Gentle Ben … or feel those pearlie white canine teeth of Lassie’s.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip's B2B Tip #5 - Blog Search Engines

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B2B Tip #5 - Search Engines Just for Blogs
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Check out this link ... http://www.blogsearchengine.com ...

You can find a bazillion different blogs on every subject under the sun. I just registered this B2B Tips & Techniques blog there. Click the link now and check it out.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip's B2B Tip #4 - Are You Buzz Lightyear?

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B2B Tip #4 - For the Technology-Aversive:
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Ever feel like Buzz Lightyear (from Toy Story)?

A new friend of mine, Derek, is really smart at lots of technie stuff. I'm more like Dumbo, but I want to be Buzz Lightyear like Derek when I grow up (I'm only 50 right now.)

Flash? No problem for Derek. He wrote the book. RSS? Piece of cake for Derek. He knows that stuff inside and out. All those cool little tricks you learn from using and learning techie stuff? Derek can do it with his eyes closed. And tell me how, too. That's really cool ...

But I sometimes still feel a little bit inadequate. Ever feel that way yourself?

The moral of this little dittie is to get you to *relax* about all this techie stuff. You don't have the time to learn it all, and you don't have to know "everything" if you just know *who* to ask.

Well - how do you find these people? Relationships. I try to build new ones every day ...

How do you figure out with whom to build one? Get your feet wet; get out here in this crazy CyberNetherWorld and meet some people. Don't be afraid. After all, you're hiding behind the relative safety of your trusty monitor, aren't you?

OK - here's the deal. Do yourself a favor and meet *one *person today. Just one. How? Easy. Send someone you don't know an email. What do you say? Who cares. Just say something to try to start a conversation (say something nice.) Then see what happens.

You just might meet a new friend who's as smart as Buzz Lightyear... like Derek.

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Chip's B2B Tip #3 - What About Me, Boss?

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B2B Tip #4 - Customers Make All The Rules:
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I am your customer. I am your boss ...

I have your money.

Come and get it, if you dare ...

I don't know you, I don't trust you, and right now I don't even like you. So what are you going to do about that, Mr. or Ms. Big Shot? My thoughts when I see you are ...

"So what?"

"Who Cares?"

"What's in it for me?"

"Go ahead ... impress me ... you have 7 seconds - I'm busy."

"Right now, you have no credibility with me, I'm too busy to read what you write to me, I'm not really interested in what you have to say, and there are a hundred other people just like you clamoring for my attention."

"MY boss is fussing about my numbers, my employees are all a bunch of spoiled brats, our marketing budget has been cut, and MY boss expects ME to be a Miracle Worker."

OK - enough is enough. Like it or not ... agree or not ... these are the exact attitudes you face every time you approach someone for business. Re-read them again. Some, most, or all of these describe the pressures under which your customers operate.

Pretty tough neighborhood - isn't it?

Well, stick around. I'll help you overcome every one of these attitudes. And if you're like me and you don't want to wait to get the answers one nugget at a time, click the "First Contact Secrets" link below, and the answers are all in one place. Just the truth ...

© Chip Tarver
The B2B Relationship Pro
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com