Chip’s B2B Tip #50 - Precious Paula

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B2B Tip #50 - Off topic; purely personal ...
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If you don't know, my wife Paula and I were in an awful car wreck last Saturday, Feb. 5th, 2005.

Paula died.

I've been bedridden since that day.

This is off topic for my blog, but that's OK. I have not made a post since the morning of the wreck.

My son-in-law's sister sent me this below about Paula, so here is my only post for now.


"If you could see me now"

If you could see me now you wouldn’t shed a tear.
Though you may not understand why I’m no longer there.
Remember my spirit that is the real me because I’m still very
much alive, I’ve just been set free, Oh, if you could only see!

I have beheld our Father’s face and I’ve touched my Savior’s
Hand. All of Heavens angels rejoiced as I entered the promised
land. Beyond the gates of pearl I’ve walked on the golden streets.
I’ve touched the walls of jasper and dipped my foot in the
crystal sea. The beauty is beyond words and nothing could
compare, I’ve even seen your mansion and someday
I’ll meet you there.

Let Jesus be your guide because His word will show you the way!
So please don’t cry because we will meet again someday.


Chip
Valentine's Day 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #49 - Frankenstein Copywriting

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B2B Tip #49 - "Hit The Switch, Igor"
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If you've spent much time around copywriters (I have) you know they come in all shapes and sizes.

And you know they aren't known for typically having small egos. Add to this the fact that copywriters are also some of the highest paid people around. Not a bad group to study, then ...

Some of them have formulaic acronyms to help you understand how they do what they do. And many of them tell you what you need to know and sell you how to do it.

So what's the average person to do?

Well, frankly, few if any great copywriters just 'fell into it.'

The vast majority of them worked at it (I just scared some of you away) ... amassing great swipe files ... and they all test everything like crazy ... from the size and face of their fonts to the headlines, colors, and pictures they use (or don't.)

Take a deep breath, Pilgrim.

Anyone can learn this stuff because copywriting is a combination of part science, part art, and part formula - for writing results-pulling copy (that is, after all, the usual goal.)

RESULTS are all that really matter!

Here's that ugly "P" word ... practice. (Yikes.)

Yes, its true - to be a good writer you have to ... write.

Write like crazy - nonstop - and don't you dare stop to edit anything (including spelling errors) while you're "in the flow." Just write. Don't stop. Edit later.

(Editor's note: You could possible arrive here at my B2B Tips blog and find some typos and goofy sentence structure. Why? I practice what I preach. I write my post. Then I take a quick look at it, and hit 'Publish.' If you should arrive here while I'm proofing a post - you'll see it. But come back a little later and it will be fixed.)

Some people give you good advice and tell you to study the masters. Others give you good advice and tell you to hand-write (rewrite) those proven successful sales letters, ads, etc., till you learn the deal.

Others give you good advice and tell you to write every day ... write something - anything ... but write for at least a couple of hours each day, preferably at the same time each day (discipline.)

They're all right ...

But the greatest copywriters will always be like Dr. Frankenstein. They put the parts together, hit the switch, and study what happens.

If the 'monster' just lies there and does nothing, they change a part and hit the switch again.

At first you might be like Thomas Edison ... it could take you countless tries to get that lightbulb to light. But your progress will be swift and sure if you keep after it.

So what are you waiting for? Get with it.

Put some parts together, study, revise, rewrite, and give that 'Start Your Engines' cry ...

"Hit the switch, Igor."

"Yes, Master," Igor replies ..

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 #48 - Not Your Mama's ...

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B2B Tip #48 - Spam is not your Mama's lunchmeat ...
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Spam, shmam ... what's the big deal? Well ...

I spend the first few minutes of every day deleting email spam.

I get vocal spam from telemarketers all during my day.

I stand by the trash can and throw away direct mail spam every day.

I pass billboard spam every time I drive.

I use my trusty remote to avoid TV spam as often as possible.

I get fax spam that costs me real dollars every day.

Now - these vermin are figuring a way to spam the blogs.

They've perverted every communication method known to man.

They won't stop.

Live with it.

The somewhat now-indiginous spam is not your mama's lunchmeat any more. And remember that commercial that said "Parts is parts"? Spam is spam ...

Well - every way we invent to communicate with one another is going to be exploited and perverted by those groups of people who can't, won't, and don't market legitimately, and who will take every shortcut they can scheme up to try to get to the Wizard's Castle faster than Dorothy, Toto, and the crew.

Yeah - spammers are so low, they're under the barrel - not the bottom of the barrel.

And the people who make the real money doing this nonsense are the illegitimate open relays, catch-all URLs and redirects, and the offshore bulk emailers.

The rest of us suffer through it, and it's not going to change any time soon, regardless of the spam legislation that is enacted or not (which hurts real marketers far more than the "spammer trash.")

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 #47 - Say What?

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B2B Tip #47 - Your Mental Rolodex
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At times, I'm not sure if I'm Blessed or cursed because my mind goes mach 2 all the time.

Yes - I wish I were more diligent about writing everything down. I'm "pretty good" at it, but I have a long way to go to get better ...

Sure - like so many others, I've spent a small fortune on DayTimers (something else to be diligent about) and I've bought the ubiquitous hand-held tape recorder (where is that thing?) ...

So - learning to work with my own weaknesses and shortcomings, I have reverted back over 40 years (not a very smooth thing for a guy who's supposed to be so high-tech to say) ... and I'm now using the darling of the schoolkids around the world ... the 3-ring binder and loose leaf paper.

Say what?

Why?

I don't want a PDA (remember the hand-held recorder ... where is that blasted thing?)

I don't want another gadget ... my cell phone is plenty for me.

I don't want to plug in and synch anything else ... enough is enough ...

So with my Jurassic Park technology I've just implemented ... my total overhead is a couple of binders and a pack of paper I already had, and my setup time less than 2 minutes. Sounds pretty efficient to me.

One for the car, another for my office ... simple! Total additional daily maintenance time ... less than one minute. Take the pages out of the 'car book' and put them in the 'office book.'

That's a system I can master quickly, with zero interruptions, and there's no goofy 4-pound manual to read to learn how to turn it on and use it ... ;-) ...

So - in this post I confessed a fault to you, admitted that I don't always think high-tech has all the answers, and I don't now have a bunch of new and expensive junk to lug around and keep up with ...

Problem solved.

"Rock On" is my vote.

So - if your mental Rolodex (your mind) goes faster than you can control (like mine) - this is the tip that might remind you of an "Old Faithful System" that has worked for decades and is just as viable today.

Now where is my blasted cell phone this morning?

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 #46 - Why Not?

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B2B Tip #46 - Why Not Just Be Nice?
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If you're at all like me, you're really sick and tired of all the hype and crap circulating around the Net these days like Baby Ruth landmines in a swimming pool, especially from the "Make-Money-Online Gurus."

Don't they get it?

And at least one fellow I know (and frankly ... like) is selling an expensive product right now on the topic of doing exactly what he says not to do in person.

Go figure!

Let's stop a minute here ... hmmmmmm ...

"OK - pay me a bunch of money for something I preach about not
doing because there's no money in it any more (except for me)."

Maybe I'm just thick as a brick ... but I don't get the big picture here.

Here's one thing I do ... I create really handy tools and solutions ... and then I give them away to people, and offer to let these people give them away to other folks, too ...

We call that viral marketing in the marketing world.

Why does it work? I ...

• create something useful
• stay humble in my offer to give it to other people
• stay sincere in always wanting to help other people
• always try to use nice manners

And trust me when I tell you ... I definitely don't think I'm all that.

But I have found what works out here, what separates and differentiates one person from another, and I'm sensitive to the cirulating cacophanous cesspool of incessant hype on the Net.

So - regardless of what you're trying to accomplish out here, if nothing else - you can at least be nice (and honest) as you go about it ... and people will embrace and remember you for it.

If you want to know more about how I do this stuff, stick around a while ... ;-) ...

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 #45 - A Wise Warning

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B2B Tip #45 - I Pity the Fool
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Marketers market. That's what we do.

Some people like that, enjoy the process, keep up with what others are doing, and will even go so far as to reward new marketing efforts and products by trying them.

Bravo to this group. Business depends on you.

Others are repulsed.

Still others try to bend or break the rules and the system for their own personal and/or selfish gain. I know people who reward or participate in this dark-side group, too. Spammers and phishers come to mind.

But - if you think you have this brilliant idea to snag a nationally trademarked domain or trademark for your own gain, or to simply sell it back to them, or to create confusion in the marketplace, or to steal their traffic ... or ... or ... or ...

Don't do it. I pity the fool who plays this game in 2005 ...

Click the link just below, and read it instead. Save yourself a lot of time, heartache, and expense.

Like it or not, these are the rules ...

http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp-policy-24oct99.htm

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 #44 - Watchword Wiki

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B2B Tip #44 - Watch for Your Wiki
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Here's a word to watch for ... Wiki.

In essence, wikis are an emerging idea/technologial venture that provide a web space anyone can visit, participate in, make whatever changes (through a browser) to the site he or she desires, and then keep on surfin' ...

Due to some overall concerns about its security, etc., wikis have till now been often used for a place for a group of people (for instance, inside a company) to have a continual ongoing brainstorming session.

From what I hear and read, I expect the acceptance of and technology for these wikis to further develop and be more prevalent this year, so add this to blogs, rss, xml, and other trends on your Watch List.

Sure - some things catch on, and others don't.

But it's still wise to keep up with the new trends ... like blogs and wikis ...

To learn more, type 'wiki' in any search engine and get up to speed ...

© 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)

*** Share this post with your friends - simply click
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Chip’s B2B Tip #43 - Blog Tutorial - Blogger Setup in 3 Minutes or Less

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B2B Tip #43 - Blogger Blog Tutorial - How to set up your own blog FAST and FREE
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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

PS - This is a re-post of B2B Tip #14, whose permalink is not working for some reason.

Chip’s B2B Tip #42 - Miserable Microsoft Spaces

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B2B Tip #42 - Avoid MS Spaces
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As you know if you've read my other posts here, I set up a blog here at Blogger in just a couple of minutes.

Simple, painless, graceful ...

Well ... last night I had the (apparently stupid) idea of setting up a blog at MS Spaces, just to compare the experience, features, etc.

Bad idea; it was a miserable, time-wasting experience.

Avoid it.

While Blogger's setup was simple, easy, and fast ... MS Spaces was slow, miserable, unnecessary, and plain ol' ridiculous.

Avoid it.

I wrote a pdf you can get free (for now) at http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com on how to have your Blogger blog set up and hosted in three minutes. You can really do it, too.

I'll come out soon with a pdf on why you don't want to waste an hour setting up MS Spaces. It has a couple of features Blogger doesn't have - but frankly, Scarlett, I don't give a _______.

Blogger - use it.

MS Spaces - avoid it.

© 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 #41 - Top 100 Websites

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B2B Tip #41 - The Top 100 Websites
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Here''s another quickie reference for you.

Ever wonder what the Top 100 websites on the Internet are, based on the amount of traffic they get (or other factors you can choose)?

Here are two links you can click to find out ... one from TrafficRankings.com and the other from Alexa.com. They get their data in different ways, but it's still very informative ...

http://www.alexa.com/site/ds/top_sites?ts_mode=lang&lang=en

http://www.trafficranking.com/mainframe.htm
(Top 50 only – press the yellow Next arrow to see more)

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)

*** Share this post with your friends - simply click
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Chip’s B2B Tip #40 - Google Graces

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B2B Tip #40 - Google's at the Door (not Domino's)
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Here's a quickie for you today ...

Want to know if Google has been to your site?

It's simple. Go to http://www.google.com. Then type in the search box the word 'site' followed by the URL you want to check.

Example: site:www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

If you get results, you've been spidered and are in Google. Now the real fun and work begins!

(Don't forget what we shared in another B2B Tip here ... that you can press the F5 button on your keyboard to see a fresh version of the results after you look at the first screen displayed.)

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)

*** Share this post with your friends - simply click
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*** They'll thank you ...