Monday, May 30, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #78 - Moms Rule, But ...

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B2B Tip #78 - Moms Are Way Underpaid
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Here's a quickie - and perhaps a shocker. According to a USA Today article I read the other day - Moms are way underpaid, particularly the stay-at-home Moms. In the article, according to Salary.com, you're worth $131,471.00 per year.

Pretty cool ... but the article also says that society is ambivalent about Moms.

That stinks.

And at even at $131K per year, in my opinion that doesn't even come close to your real worth. Be Blessed, Moms ...

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

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #77 - Alias Alarm

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B2B Tip #77 - Aliases and Free Email Accounts
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I've touched on this before, but it's worth repeating.

If you use some silly email alias and a free email account, no one will take you seriously.

Period.

An alias is some silly nickname other than your own. Common free email accounts are Hotmail, Yahoo, and a variety of others. Real businesspeople recognize this lack of commitment and serious attitude.

Every day, I look at every notice of any person who joins my list(s.) I am still amazed at people who have these stupid aliases like SuperTurtle ... or FredsGoat ... or those people who use a single initial for their first name and a single initial for their last name.

How can you seriously see yourself building any relationships doing things this way?

Add to this the fact that if your email is FatBoy4@hotmail.com ... businesspeople will see you as a joke - someone who has no clue how to have a real business on or off the Net.

So - again - my serious advice is to get rid of that nonsense today, and get yourself a real domain ($9) and hosting ($5) and a real email address that looks like a real person ... and get your act together.

I also get silly JV offers every day from people who are so uninformed and so without-a-clue that I simply shake my head and delete their silly emails.

This is exactly why you need to get a copy of "First Contact Secrets" before they're all gone.

Go to http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com right now and grab a copy fast. I have 15 copies left now, and this unprecedented course will not be reprinted in its current form.

Snooze and you lose. Plain and simple.

Use silly email adresses and free email accounts and you lose. Plain and simple.

If you're not serious about doing what needs to be done to actually achieve the success you truly, deep down inside want - why are you wasting your time playing around?

On the other hand - if no one has ever explained this to you this way - let me be the first. I really care about your success out here, and the basics will make you or break you.

FAST!

Save your money and don't buy all the crappy ebooks that promise you the world and deliver virtually nothing. Listen to the real people who really do the real things out here ... and be careful to find the people you can trust.

People who tell you the truth even if it stings a little.

Which is why I tell you to ditch the silly alias and free amail account.

That's good advice. Please listen to me here. Do it today. If you won't invest a few bucks to do the right thing, save your precious minutes and go do something else.

I'm not trying to be ugly here - just giving it to you straight.

Someone needs to tell you the truth. I hope you appreciate it.

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

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #76 - Safe Losers

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B2B Tip #76 - "Only Losers Play It Safe"
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Here's a reprint of an article from the USA Today newspaper in February 2005.

It's certainly worth reading ... and considering if there's any application to ourselves.

Here it is:


Only losers play it safe
By Tim Wendel / USA Today Feb. 2005

That's become the mantra of sports. But as we hunker down to watch the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's Super Bowl, the upsetting truth is, that in a society that puts a premium on risk-taking and competitive gusto, coaches often take just the opposite approach.

Time and again, an entire season can ride on a field-goal attempt — often beyond the 45-yard line. I know. I grew up a Buffalo Bills fan. I can still see kicker Scott Norwood's 47-yarder in Super Bowl XXV sail inches wide of the right upright.

That's why it's difficult not to pick the Patriots Sunday. Not only do they have one of the clutch kickers in the game in Adam Vinatieri, but he's backed up by Bill Belichick, a coach who rarely plays it safe.

Vinatieri's kick may have won the Super Bowl three years ago, but what's often forgotten is that bold play-calling gave his foot a chance.

At Belichick's urging, with time running out in regulation, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passed the ball downfield. Such daring put Vinatieri in position for glory.


Beyond the sports world

Playing it safe gets you some wins, but rarely does it get you the win. Examples aren't confined to the world of sports:

• While President Bush didn't have a mandate after the 2000 election, he ran the country as though he did. He tackled education reform (a traditionally Democratic issue), reformed Medicare (a sacred cow of Washington) and pursued a bold foreign-policy agenda. And he won re-election.

• Thanks to the phenomenal success of iPod, Apple owns 65% of the burgeoning MP3 market. But CEO Steve Jobs isn't about to tell his players to drop back into a prevent defense (which sports fans know prevents one thing: winning). Apple recently came out with a low-cost model of the iPod and is also rolling out an inexpensive desktop computer, the Mac Mini.%

• China is turning heads by taking chances. Not only will it host the 2008 Summer Olympics, but the communist country is roaring in business and recently put a man in space — a watershed moment for a country that at one point in its history walled out the world (the ultimate prevent defense). It is now intent on literally giving the rest of the planet a run for its money.

• After Martha Stewart was found guilty of lying about a stock sale, she vowed to appeal her five-month sentence. But she soon realized that to win, she needed to make tough choices. Stewart decided to serve her time and forge ahead, tackling her opponent instead of waiting to be tackled. Her decisive actions and optimistic voice said one thing: winner. Her company's value, which had dropped to $489 million at the end of last year, soared to $1.3 billion.


The what-if game

Coaches readily draw parallels between sports and business, even sports and life. The winning ones will rush out with a tome about how Average Joes should adopt their philosophy or aggressive management style. Yet so few follow their beliefs when it counts. They play it safe — and lose.

That's what San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, New York Jets coach Herman Edwards and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher did at crucial moments this postseason. Each will now be able to play the what-if game this Sunday — either in front of the TV or from the bleachers in Jacksonville.

The playoffs are one thing, but even the NFL's biggest stage — the Super Bowl — abounds with coaching miscues and blunders.

Which brings me back to 1991: Norwood's kick went wide by about 18 inches. If he'd been a few yards closer, the Bills probably would've won a championship instead of being remembered as the only team to reach the Super Bowl four consecutive times and lose every time. Fans like me are left to second-guess every play and loss.

Unlike corporate boardrooms and political "war rooms," though, the white-knuckle decisions of Super Bowl Sunday are open for us to dissect on Monday morning. Just ask Norwood. Or Brady, for that matter. Justice is swift when dozens of cameras are watching, and those who play to win — even if they ultimately lose — have an easier time answering questions in the locker room after the game.

The trophy that will be hoisted in one locker room Sunday night was named after NFL coaching great Vince Lombardi. No one dare ask whether he played to win. He did. "Winning is not everything — but making effort to win is," he said.

Such a simple thought — if only followed through.

A contributing writer for USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Tim Wendel is the author of Castro's Curveball and The New Face of Baseball. He is also a member of USA TODAY's board of contributors.

I hope we all consider if this article applies to us personally.

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

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #75 - BlogStreet

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B2B Tip #75 - Check Out BlogStreet
.

Go ahead - check it out. They have tons of blogs in tons of categories.

http://www.blogstreet.com

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

Chip’s B2B Tip #74 - Email Organization Tip

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B2B Tip #74 - Email Folders Tip
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Here's a quick tip to help you organize your email folders ...

I have way too many email folders because I prefer to be organized about stuff. The problem is that when you have lots of folders, you have to do lots of paging down (or up) in the folder list.

Here's a quick tip on how you put a particular folder at the top of your folder list, regardless of how it naturally appears ... you simply put and exclamation point in front of the particular folder name.

Example - I have a folder called George McKenzie. To put George's folder at the very top of my folder list, I right-click it and change the folder name to !George McKenzie. Now it's at the top.

You can do this with as many folders as you desire.

Hope this helps you in your organization.

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

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #73- Latest B2B Tips Rankings

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B2B Tip #73 - B2B Tips SE Rankings On The Move As Usual
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In my honest effort to keep you informed - whether or not it's personally favorable to me - occasionally I look up my keyword phrase ( 'b2b tips') in a half-dozen or so search engines.

I just did that this morning, and here are the latest results:

Google - #1
AOL - #1

MSN - #3
Yahoo - #4
Altavista - #4
WebFerret - #5
AllTheWeb - #6

This is the 6th month of this blog - and I took off a lot of time after our 2/5/05 wreck - but the results for my keyword phrase have been relatively consistent over time (although changing,) so my personal position on blogs has not changed. Having your own blog is one of the excellent ways to establish yourself as a trusted expert in your chosen field.

Go right now to my site at http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com and get yourself a free copy of my free report called "Exactly how to have your own free blog set up and hosted in three minutes or less - the how-to guide you can't go wrong using."

If for any reason you don't do this - then you have to ask yourself if you're really serious about using all the tools at your disposal - especially the FREE tools.

Why? If you don't have your own blog - you're missing one of the most relevant (free) tools available, and one of the very best ways to get your content 100% delivered 100% of the time.

Chip
http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com
http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com/blog
http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #72 - Super-Size

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B2B Tip #72 - Fries With That?
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Mark Allen had these tips in his newsletter today. I wanted to share them with you because Jim D. says things that make a lot of sense, and can make you additional bucks, too.

Here it is:

Profitable Upselling Techniques

The easiest way I know of to increase sales dramatically is to sell more to someone who is already buying. (Of course that also means doing it the RIGHT way.) Think about it. How many times have you gone to a store or made a call with a specific purchasing mission in mind, but ended up spending more, for whatever reason?

Jim Domanski reveals 10 profitable upselling techniques below to help you get the extra sales you're missing every time you talk to your customers (or complete a sale):

1. Sell first and tell later.
Never, ever attempt to up-sell or cross-sell until you have all the information necessary to fulfill the first order. In our rush or excitement to up-sell we sometimes forget that the customer has an order to place. Selling additional items too early in the call might turn the customer off. You could lose the original sale.

2. The rule of "25."
The value of an add-on sale should not increase the overall order by more than 25%. For example, if the original order is $100.00, you should be cautious in your attempts to exceed that order by $25.00. Despite the fact that people are motivated to buy, they still have a mental limit as to the amount they will dispense. For whatever reason, that figure rarely exceeds 25%. Generally, going above that value is only marginally successful.

3. Make a profit.
This is more of a management, rather than a salesperson decision, but the whole point of the exercise is to make money. The item(s) you choose must make enough profit to at least cover the cost of the additional time you spend on the phone. One source I've read claims that you must show at least a $4.00 profit on each add-on sale.

4. Don't dump junk.
There is, on occasion, the urge to use cross-selling and up- selling to move unwanted inventory. This in itself is okay provided the customer isn't saddled with useless or defective products. If you are clearing stock that won't be replaced, let the customer know. If it is a discontinued line, don't hesitate in letting the customer know. If you don't, you'll be sorry later.

5. Don't dump junk.
Limit your choice of add-on items to those that clearly relate to the original purchase. If a customer were buying a blazer he has seen in a catalogue, suggesting a shirt and a tie makes sense. Suggesting a goose-necked garden hoe, however, does not.

6. Familiarity breeds success.
The more familiar your customer is with the add-on item, the more likely he or she is to buy. Cross-selling and up- selling is not the time to introduce a brand new product, unless the price is unusually low (Refer to #3.) New products take time to sell using features and benefits. This will take additional time. The purpose of the up-sell is to increase the order while the buying motive is strong. Introducing something unfamiliar will only confuse the customer.

7. Plan, plan, plan and plan again.
Again, likely a management issue, but your life will be much easier if the program is well planned and implemented. For instance, not only must you decide which products to sell, you must determine what product(s) they relate to. So, if you are going to up-sell with ties, you've got to decide, in advance, which blazers they will match.

8. Train to avoid pain.
Ensure that you are trained on the products or services offered. Make sure you understand them. Rehearse the skills necessary to get the customer to say "yes." One catalogue firm spends 40 hours on training designed to demonstrate how a particular add-on applies to and benefits the customer.

9. Test with the best, then roll with the rest.
Okay, another management issue that you might want to make your manager aware of. Test your cross-selling and up-selling with your best people. They have the drive and initiative to work out any of the kinks. Introduce the cross-selling and up-selling program to the rest of the sales reps only after you are sure of the test results.

10. E=MC2.
Your cross-selling efforts (E) will be directly dependent on how motivated (M) you are. Cross-selling and up-selling takes additional time and effort. If there is no reward ... if you are not motivated ... chances are the program will not be a rip roaring success.

Compensation (C) is always a critical factor in selling and perhaps more so when you are asking for that little extra with each sale.

The other C stands for Control. Whether you are a sales rep or a manager, the ability to control the direction of the cross-selling and up-selling activities will determine success. In other words, measure your productivity, your performance and your profitability. If there is something lacking in any one of these areas, make changes.

Use these tips to your B2B profit.

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

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #71 - Google News

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B2B Tip #71 - News on Google
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Besides their new desktop utility that's coming out, here's some other info on Google from WebProNews, and from Dr. Andy Williams. I hope you find the info interesting and useful.

Interesting news from WebProNews.
Antonio Gulli of the University of Pisa (Universita di Pisa) and Alessio Signorini at the University of Iowa have completed another study of search engines.

Their current study estimates around 11.5 billion pages. That's a lot of pages, which they break down by the 'coverage' of search engines.

Google, the largest engine claims to cover 8.1 billion pages. The study says it's really 8.8 billion pages at a coverage rate of 76.2%. They were closest to their estimate of coverage area.

Yahoo ranked second, severely underestimating their owncoverage rate. Yahoo estimates coverage of 4.2 billion and were actually closer to 8 billion or a 69.3% coverage area.

MSN claimed it covered 5 billion pages, and the study showed an actual estimate of 7.1 billion or 61.9% coverage. This is their beta too. They could give Google a run in the future.

Ask Jeeves/Teoma ranked 4th, estimating 2.5 billion covered, and the study said 6.6 billion or 57.6%. The indexed web hit about 9.4 billion or 81.4%

One caveat: There are billion of pages in various systems that the search engines haven't grabbed. Search Engine Watch says some estimate over 500 billion pages.

Remember that with all SEs, relevancy is still the key to it all. All those sights are pointless if they don't give good, reliable information.

Here's the url to add yourself to Google, with some thoughts below from Dr. Andy.

http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl

From Dr. Andy:
"My advice here is to add a link from a page already in Google, andlet Google find the site for itself. Avoid hidden text or hidden links. Don't employ cloaking or sneaky redirects. Don't send automated queries to Google. Don't load pages with irrelevant words. Don't create multiple pages, subdomains, or domains withsubstantially duplicate content. Avoid 'doorway' pages created just for search engines, or other"cookie cutter" approaches such as affiliate programs with littleor no original content."

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

Monday, May 16, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #70 - Fast Deal Finders

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B2B Tip #70 - Amazon and eBay - find it fast and cheap
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Another quickie you can use today ...

Before you buy anything - check Amazon and eBay first.

http://www.amazon.com
http://www.ebay.com

You can search for any product, any name (even yours,) and about anything else you can dream up at these 2 sites. This will take you less than 2 minutes, and can save you a bunch of money.

Why not use these resources first? It just makes good sense ...

Sure - there are others - but these 2 will give you a great headstart.

© Chip Tarver
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #69 - Google Strategy

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B2B Tip #69 - Help Google Find You
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This is a quickie today ...

1. Go to http://www.google.com/alerts.

2. Look for "Create a Google Alert - Enter the topic you wish to monitor." A Google Alert is a news notice Google sends you when your topic is 'found' by Google. You can even get 'news' on your own name or product to see what others are saying (if anything.)

3. Enter your own name, your product, your competitor, or anything else you want news about, or any topic you want to 'help' Google find. Use the correct keyword(s).

4. Pick the frequency you want this news to come to you.

5. Repeat as necessary.

There you have it - a way to help Google go out and find info on whichever name(s) or topic(s) interest you. You can have as many Alerts as you desire. And - in each alert you get links at the bottom to either add more alerts, or cancel current alerts. Quick ... easy ... and very informative!

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

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #68 - 15 Things

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B2B Tip #68 - You'll Be Surprised ...
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Is this off -topic for a B2B Tips blog? You decide ...


"15 Things You Probably Never Knew or Thought About"

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. If not for you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique.

9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look. You most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it. But if you believe in yourself, probably - sooner or later - you will get it.

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know.

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

A Minute: They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Take the time ... to live and love.

If you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day.

Editor's Note: You'll also see that lightbulb go off over your own head that helps you finally understand the real, ultimate value of networking with people of like mind and like purpose - like your own.

As the Beatles sing ... "All You Need Is Love."

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

Chip’s B2B Tip #67 - Hype Horrors

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B2B Tip #67 - Get Real, CowBoy (and CowGirl) - NO GURUS
.

Having just returned yesterday from speaking in Chicago at The System Seminar, I was painfully reminded of exactly why I put together "First Contact Secrets" ... (http://www.firstcontactsecrets.com.)

All of the awful ways people are rude and interruptive were brought painfully back to the front of my mind as I watched people be exceedingly rude in their approaches and introductions.

O My Gawd - it's pitiful and pathetic.

Just as one specific instance ... Perry Marshall had asked me to go sit down with him so we could have some private time together. Being friends who rarely see each other in person - this was a great chance to have some time to talk privately.

No offense - but the subject matter is private, and irrelevant to the point I make here.

So Perry and I went to the other end of the large foyer area and sat on one of the benches. My guess - being generous here - is that Perry and I had less than 5 minutes to talk privately before various people began walking all the way across the foyer just to interrupt us.

Their intro? "Hi, I only have two (or 3 or 1 or 4 or whatever) questions I want to ask. "

OK - WAKE UP CALL ... NO NONE CARES HOW MANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK when your approach is selfish and rude.

Frankly, your lack of manners and etiquette qualifies you as a clown - not a marketer.

And by the way, this is not a gender-specific observation ... so take it to the bank when I tell you that you need to quickly buy a copy of "First Contact Secrets" before they're all gone - and read it repeatedly cover-to-cover.

So - where does my title above ("Hype Horrors") fit into this rant of mine?

Too many less-than-scrupulous marketers who only care about extracting your credit card will tell you all kinds of hype and BS about what THEY think is important to the success of your Interenet efforts ...

Most of what they tell you is CRAP.

What's most important is building relationships - not their product du jour.

As long as you fall for their BS and hype, you also fall into their trap. You buy their junk you don't even need - because they lie to you in their sales letters and you fall for it.

WHAM! - The clang of their bear trap crushes your ankle bones, and you don't even know it. Now someone has to come rescue you, or you might starve to death - or bleed to death.

Frankly - that's the goal of the hunter who just trapped you.

Until you realize, recognize, and accept that hundred-million-dollar sports teams practice every day on THE BASICS - and you need to learn the basics of business, too - you're stuck in the Hype Rut from which you might never escape.

A rut is a coffin with both ends kicked out ...

You'll just be the same noise in the market that all the other rude, selfish, and immature people are, and you'll never achieve the greatness that's within you right now.

But you'll surely have a bunch of crappy over-hyped products the so-called 'gurus' convinced you that you need to buy ... sitting on your 'if-I-ever-get-to-it' shelf ... when many or most of these products are not worth the paper or bandwith it takes to deliver them to you.

So you decide - is what I say here true - or not ???

For more on this extremely important topic - on how to avoid being suckered by the Guru and Hype Monster Clown Group - and why The Basics are now and always the real keys to your sucess - stay tuned ... same bat time, same bat channel.

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

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #66 - Amazon in Your Pocket

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B2B Tip #66 - Amazing Amazon
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So - you just thought Amazon was the new Wal-Mart of the skies, eh?

Wrong, Pilgrim - very wrong ... read on ...

A dear and wonderful friend of mine, Randy Gilbert, who also happens to be one of the "Good Guys" out here, has put together an article for you that you simply must read.

Ignore this information at your own peril. Below, Randy gives you almost a dozen ways to use the massive behemoth - Amazon - for your own benefit. Worth a read? Yep ...

Here it is:

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

"Eleven Creative Ways To Use Amazon.com to Get Free Publicity - Even If You Haven't Written a Book"

By Randy Gilbert, author of the best-selling book "SuccessBound"


** How Can Amazon Be a River Of Gold? **

Amazon has created some hard feelings among authors, because it takes an enormous chunk of the profit for selling books and products.

Although I'm not trying to defend Amazon, I would like to expand the horizons of authors and help them to see how they can proactively turn Amazon into their own "River of Gold."

Stand back and consider that Amazon is loaded with people who love to buy books and products in your subject area and who are trained to use their credit cards online. They are the kind of people you want to have come to your own website and buy lots of things from you.

By helping them to flow into your own sales funnel, they will become gold to you.

You can get these people to your website if you take advantage of the opportunities that Amazon is giving you. If you are not introducing yourself to your potential customers every time they are logging onto Amazon, you are making a really big mistake (HUGE!).


** Your Perfect Customers Are Visiting Amazon! **

How do I know your "perfect customers" are visiting Amazon? Well, simply because they are buying every type of book on Amazon that is in your specialty area, genre, and niche. If you don't believe me, then who do you think are buying all those books?

How do I know people who shop on Amazon use their credit card online? Because that is how you buy things on Amazon. Additionally consider this, Amazon knows they are a proven source of people who buy on the Internet, because they have branched out and are now selling just about everything else under the sun.

I'll say it again, Amazon has trained millions of your potential "perfect customers" to use their credit cards online (impulsively), and you can attract them to your websites by branding your name in front of them every time they shop there.


** Amazon Is Ten Times Better Than Walmart! **

Amazon is fast becoming the Walmart of the Internet. But size is not the issue.

What makes Amazon ten times better than Walmart is that Amazon is willing to share its traffic with you!!

Can you imagine being able to duplicate yourself and being allowed to stand in every Walmart store, holding out your book and introducing yourself? And even better, can you imagine having a display of your books and products next to every other complimentary product that is sold in every Walmart?


Well, that is what you CAN DO virtually on Amazon.


Here Are 11 Ways To Sell More Books And Brand Your Name

Below are listed 11 creative ideas for turning the people who visit Amazon into your own "perfect customers." Follow these 'Golden Tips' and you will see your book sales on Amazon increase dramatically and you will have lots of perfect customers going to your other websites.

You will literally be turning Amazon into your own "River of Gold."

[Authors side note: I almost hate to share these, because I feel some of them have been my own little money-making secrets. However, I know that if I don't give good things away, I will not get good things in return. So here they are. Please use them for your own benefit and feel free to share them with others.]


Golden Tip #1 - Tell People 'About You' and Become A Celebrity

Amazon has given you a very special place called "Your About You Area," that is a goldmine in itself. This is your own area that you have complete control over. You can post a flattering picture of yourself, and if you want, include your family or even your book.

You should use your "About Me" area to its maximum extent allowed. You can post who you are, what books you've written, how you can help people, and most importantly, which of your websites they can go visit to get your help. This description of yourself can go on and on for up to 4,000 characters (~650 to 700 words).

But here's a note to the wise; be sincere, be personal, don't include any hype, and stay within Amazon's guidelines. Amazon's guidelines say no domain names, URLs, or hyperlinks. Also, no commercial advertising, promotion, or solicitation. Therefore, you only promote yourself and describe your websites and their addresses with words. I also describe what I will give to people who contact me and so far Amazon says that's OK.

To find "Your About You Area," click on your store tab. For example, if your name is Jan, then the tab will most likely say "Jan's Store." Then click on the sub-tab "Friends &Favorites." Next, look down on the left of the page and click on "Your About You Area." Please, don't let this vein of gold go untouched.

To find out more, now visit: http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=218969


Golden Tip #2 - Use Your Branded Name as Your Amazon Name

In "Your About You Area" there is a place for you to type in 'Your Name.' It may sound like a simpleton idea, but I recommend you enter the name that you want people to know you by.

Check out this vein of gold. If you have more than one specialty or branded website, you can open an Amazon account for each. All you have to do is create a separate account using another email and purchase something from that Amazon account. I have 3 accounts. One for my "Dr. Proactive" niche, one for my Host of "The Inside Success Show" niche, and one for my "Amazon Best Seller Secrets" niche.

There's no cost, so why not?


Gold Tip #3 - Don't Be Shy, Recommend Your Book!

As you view a book that you like and it is even remotely related to your book, you should recommend your book on that page. This is a great opportunity for you to get the name of your book all over Amazon. The only caution is, don't do this in any sort of SPAM fashion. Just do it at the same pace as you normally use Amazon.

The Amazon sales page only shows one recommended book title for each category, which is the one with the most number of recommendations. So, if you have a mailing list of loyal readers and customers, you should be bold and ask them to recommend your book too.


Gold Tip #4 - Review Other Books and Tell People Who You Are

If you're like me, you have just about every other book in your subject area and you have read them all (that's another reason why you are an expert). Use your expertise to review other books and review them in such a way as to give yourself credibility.

In addition to becoming known as the person people can trust (which in itself is a sufficient reason to write reviews), people will find out what books you've written because you are going to close each review with "Your Name, author of YOUR BOOK." This is a legitimate credential that Amazon wants you to use (because they like it when you sell lots of your books and they wish everybody did).

And, if you're a speaker, consultant, or coach, you can also use your other legitimate credentials. For example, I often use, "Randy Gilbert, Host of The Inside Success Show" on my radio show account. On my Dr. Proactive account I end with, "Randy Gilbert, Proactive Success Coach."

You need to be cautioned on a couple of points:

You cannot sell yourself in the review or it will not be posted. It should definitely be an honest review of the book. Also, never, ever use a demeaning tone in your review. You will quickly brand yourself as vindictive and nobody will read any more of your reviews or your book. If you always have the highest respect for other people's thoughts, and you write objectively, you will earn the trust of the people who read your review and they will want to read your book, too.


Gold Tip #5 - Post A Review Of Your Competitor's Book

In addition to reviewing all of the other books in your subject area, you should post a review of the books that might be considered your competition. For those of you whoare unfamiliar with writing book proposals, these are the books you identify as being available to people who are looking for information in your subject or specialty area.

The thing I like most about doing this is, whenever your competitor is receiving a boost in sales, perhaps due to some good PR they've received, your name and book will be seen more often, too, and your own book sales will inevitably rise.


Golden Tip #6 - Use Listmania and Become THE EXPERT In YourSubject Area

On every sales page and "Your About You Area" there is an opportunity to create a list of books for whatever reason you choose - it's called "Listmania. This is one of easiest and most effective things you can do on Amazon to brand your name and become known everywhere as THE EXPERT in your subject area.

Some people create really corny lists, but not you. You are going to create lists of books in your subject area and write short (200 character) reviews that will create the picture in other people's minds of you being the top expert in your field.

I love Listmania, because it allows you to put your branded contact information (see Golden Tip 2) on every sales page for the books in your subject area (or any other area you choose). Another great thing about Listmania is that it will show up almost instantaneously, where as a review can take several days.


Golden Tip #7 - Become The "Answer-Man" on Amazon

If you are an authority in a field (which you are as an author) there is a wonderful feature on Amazon that has your name written all over it (or it should have your name all over it). It's called "So You'd Like To..." and it's the place where you can post your 'how to' articles. Use this to show the world you can help them find the answers to difficult questions and solve their pressing problems.

In your articles you will list all of the books that are appropriate to the topic, which then does a magical job of posting your articles everywhere in your subject area. So, when your perfect customer is out looking for an answer, they will quickly be introduced to you.

This is the ultimate article publishing phenomenon and Amazon has brought it to you free of charge.

A word to the wise, don't pitch your book, just write interesting articles and people will want more of what you write. They will eventually want to buy your book because you are the one answering their questions and meeting their needs.


Golden Tip #8 - Look Like a Prolific Author and a Big Publisher

In addition to paper books, you can sell ebooks and other products online on Amazon. Your ebooks by the same title will be shown with the same type of page. The reviews for your ebook will even show up on your paper book. It's a fine way to get more exposure.

Under the Amazon Advantage program and you cannot list abook for sale that isn't ready for sale. However, if the e-book is ready (and the paper book has not been printed,) you can begin to sell your ebook and begin getting reviews.

If you have them, you can also sell lots of low cost ebooks (that might otherwise be booklets or reports) and by doing so make yourself look like a prolific writer. I'm discovering that you are not limited to just written ebooks either, because you can sell audio and video pdf file ebooks (the kind with links in them for listening or viewing online).

This is a feature of Amazon that is still being explored, but by the looks of things, it is going to turnout to be another area of pure gold for 'infopreneurs' like us.

Another good reason to sell as much as possible on Amazon, that your titles will automatically be available on a range of other major web sites: Borders.com, CDnow.com,Target.com, VirginMega.com and Waldenbooks.com.


Golden Tip #9 - Use Google Adwords To Put Your Domain URL All Over Amazon

Amazon is a joint venture (JV) Partner with Google Adwords and they post the top selling Google Adword ads on every book sales page that has the same keywords, which includes the words in the title and author's names. When you select the title or authors name as your keywords, your ad will show up under "Customers interested in this title may also be interested in" on that book's page.

Although advertising on Google Adwords isn't free (you set the amount it will cost you), the payback can be enormous, especially if your product is pulling in more money that it costs to advertise. Even if it costs you money, the exposure on Amazon is worth every penny, especially when you combine it with the next Golden Tip.


Golden Tip #10 - Link Your Main Website to Each of Your Book(or product) Reviews.

(This tip is a 'two-fer,' so pay attention) ... By linking your main website page to each book's sales page that you've posted a review for, you can make your review show up on Google. I noticed this happening a short while ago when I was studying how to use the new strategy called "LinkMeshing" to improve my own site's ranking on Google.

And, if you use this tip in conjunction with the Golden Tip#9, it will turbo-charge your own websites ranking, because it is very likely that your website's URL link will show up when Amazon's sales page is indexed. And, because Amazon is so popular, it will make your own website jump up; maybe even to the third, second, or (cross your fingers) first place listing.

(Isn't that cool?)

I can't tell you any more right now because I'm still testing it, but don't forget to sign up for getting information about the guide when it is completed. To find out more, now visit: http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=218969.


Golden Tip #11 - Get your book onto Amazon's Top 100 Bestseller List

I've saved the best for last -- YOU can proactively control your sales rankings on Amazon. Therefore, by intentionally driving up the sales of your book, you can earn yourself the lifetime credential, "Best-Selling Author."

Amazon rankings are completely systematized, so when you get people to buy more of your books on Amazon, your ranking will increase accordingly. The more books you sell, the higher your book's ranking will go. Your goal should be to sell enough in one day, for your book's ranking to go all the way up to the #1 position on Amazon's Top 100 Bestseller List.

After you have followed all of the first 10, this will be alot easier, but the others are not a pre-requisite.

There is now a proven Internet marketing strategy that you can use to deliberately drive up the sales of your book. You don't need to be an online expert (you don't even need to have previous experience), you don't need to have a large mailing list (in fact, you don't need a list at all), and best of all you don't need a fortune in cash (believe it or not, it can be done with ZERO COST).

What you DO need, is a proven strategy and someone who has done it for himself (and others) and who can explain it in terms you can follow. To find out more, now visit: http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=218969


** There You Have It! **

Now you have 11 Golden Tips, each of which will help to increase sales of your books and other products and will help brand your name as an expert in your subject area. Amazon is rich with resources, so you can be sure more gold is going to be found by me as time goes on. If you would like to be kept up to date with future explorations of how to brand yourself as an export and sell more of your infoproducts, now visit: http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=218969.

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Randy Gilbert is the best-selling author of "Success Bound: Breaking Free of Mediocrity" and the creator of "Amazon BestSeller Secrets: How To Quickly and Easily Make Your Book a Bestseller on Amazon in Only 28 Days. To find out more, now visit: http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=218969

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Now - how did that grab you?

Golden Nuggets - eh?

Now it's your turn. Go do it!

Now visit: http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=218969

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

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #65 - Principles That Prevail

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B2B Tip - 5 Ways to Be Great
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Focus – do it now; avoid distractions

Listen – learn how now; talk less

Research – learn how now; the key

Trust & Truth – stand up for it now; mandatory for survival

Blog – you need one now (go to http://www.free-targeted-traffic.com)

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

Monday, May 02, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #64 - Brain Spasms

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B2B Tip #64 - Wiggle Your Brain
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A friend sent me the following via email today. Since I like to stretch your mind and bend your imagination in this blog, I'm reprinting the email for you below. It will make you chuckle, too, I hope.

Here it is:

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"ONLY IN AMERICA"

Only in America.....do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in America......do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke!

Only in America......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

Only in America......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.


EVER WONDER ....

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?

Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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Well - I hope you got a chuckle and a grin from this post.

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



Sunday, May 01, 2005

Chip’s B2B Tip #63 - Admirable Advice

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B2B Tip #62 - Wisdom According to Thea
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Here's a list of wise ideas you should give some attention to. Thank you to my dear friend, Thea Swafford, for sending it to me so I could share it with you.

There's a ton of Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, too, if you want to take a peek.

Here's the list:

Laws of Life :

1. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.

2. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

3. Brush your teeth before putting on your tie.

4. Buy ladders, extension cords and garden hoses longer than you think you'll need.

5. Ask anyone giving directions to repeat them at least twice.

6. Rehearse a joke before telling it.

7. Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one.

8. Over-estimate travel time by fifteen minutes.

9. Someone will always be looking at you as an example of how to behave. Don't let them down.

10. Give people more than they expect, and do it cheerfully.

11. Don't be so concerned with your rights that you forget your manners.

12. Don't dismiss a good idea simply because you don't like the source.

13. Put the strap around your neck before looking through binoculars.

14. Trust in God, but lock your car.

15. Pray. There is immeasurable power in it.

16. Once in a while, invite the person behind you in the queue to go ahead of you.

17. Always pack an extra sandwich in your lunch, it won't go to waste.

18. Never say anything uncomplimentary about your family in the presence of others.

19. When you say "I am sorry" look the person in the eye.

20. No matter how old you get, hug and kiss your parents.

21. Phone home if you are going to be more than 20 minutes late.

22. Remember that everyone is influenced by kindness.

23. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter.

24. Do your homework and know your facts, but remember its passion that persuades.

25. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

26. Be as friendly to the janitor as you are to the chairman of the board.

27. Be bold. Providence loves boldness and will assist you in ways you wouldn't imagine.

28. Never take anybody for granted and never let anybody take you for granted.

29. Never marry a woman you love. Marry the woman who loves you.

30. LIVE your life, don't just wander through it.

31. When it comes to worrying or painting a picture, know when to stop.

32. Remember that no time spent with your children is ever wasted.

33. Hold your child's hand every chance you get. The time will come when he or she won't let you.

34. Remember that you can't move up when you're holding someone down.

35. Never leave a loved one without telling them that they're loved. You may not have another chance.

37. Don't be afraid of mistakes, that's how we grow, but make each one once and learn from other's mistakes as well.

38. Always sort through the load of white laundry before adding bleach. One day that other red sock is going to be in there.

39. Don't wear flip-flops when mowing the lawn or using the weed whip. Toes never look the same after re-assembly.

40. Negative emotions only hurt you. Nobody cares that your angry. You can't do anything positive when you are being negative. Get over it.

41. Grin. It deters negativity and attracts positive people, thoughts and emotions. (Warning.... grinning is contagious and creates a cycle of grinning that can lead to giggling, and then laughter if you stay in one place too long.)

Thanks, Thea ...

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