MLM Woman Online - Issue 65

MLM Woman Issue 65
June 2002

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From the Desk of the Editor

Welcome to the 65th issue of the MLM Woman Newsletter. I hope you enjoy this month's issue and my selection of articles to give you inspiration and ideas on how to improve your business and marketing skills.

Going Nowhere FAST!

In Southern California where I live, everyone seems to be in a real hurry these days. People zip by me on the freeway doing 75+ mph and get frustrated by anyone that is foolish enough to try to drive at the 65 mph speed limit. It doesn't matter what time of the day it is, everyone is rushing around trying to get somewhere else FAST!

I often find myself wondering what all the hurrying is about and if these people rush through everything else in their life as well. I expect that they do and miss quite a lot of the good things in life in the process. Our hurry up culture tells us, "Speed is Good!".

I find that many people want to hurry up and build their business fast too. And when they come up against an obstacle or a problem, they become very frustrated and want to quit and look for another business that will make them rich faster.

They never realize that because of their lack of patience and unwillingness to allow a business to grow slowly over time, they are actually just going nowhere real fast.

Like a garden, a successful business takes time and attention to grow strong and to yield a bountiful crop. You can't rush Mother Nature and you can't rush your life and business either.

So slow down this month, take some time to learn new things and to plant some patience in your business garden. Remember -- real success, the kind that lasts, comes from doing the little things right, day after day after day.

Linda Locke, Editor MLM Woman

Becoming "Real" Online

The Internet has created an incredible opportunity for current or potential business owners. But there are factors and issues to consider to be effective online.

How Are Online Businesses Like Traditional Ones?

First, forget the idea that the internet can make you rich overnight without any effort. It takes time, effort, and money to become successful online. Gee, isn't that true in a traditional business as well? What other similarities do online and traditional businesses have? Well, you need a plan. You need to develop your business and marketing plans and you need to determine how much time and money you can invest initially and monthly.

Speaking of marketing, like with traditional businesses, you need to advertise, advertise, advertise. You need to define, specifically, exactly what you will offer, be it product or service, and you need to define, specifically, exactly who your customers will be. Then you need to slant most of your marketing efforts toward that audience. All of these things are true whether online or off.

You Have A Website?

Also, if you have a website for whatever purpose, no one will know it exists unless you advertise it. There are literally billions of web pages out in cyberspace now, and yours will be a drop in the ocean unless you spend some serious time and effort making sure people can find you. Simply having a site online is just not enough. No one will visit you electronically if they don't know you are there. And they won't know you are there unless you tell them.

How do you know how to tell people? There are all kinds of ways, but some caution needs to be used to both preserve your personal and business integrity and to brand you as an expert in your field--which over time will help you gain more customers and get more business. The important thing to remember is to be a "real" person, because people can see right through insincerity and can hit the delete key faster than you can blink. It's better to be sincere in your efforts than it is to try to hard sell or push anyone, because, think about it: Do you like to be pushed or bullied into anything? Remember to always think in terms of what your audience, individually, is thinking and how you would like to be treated.

Here are just a few of the FREE ways to get noticed, but there are more and I'd love to hear your thoughts, options, comments, etc about this:

Build An Email Opt-In List

First, on your website, offer free reports or newsletters (like this one), or whatever you want based on what kind of business you have, in exchange for people's email addresses. This is called an opt-in list and gives you permission to email information to them. DO NOT gather up emails from everywhere you can and send them stuff. That's spamming and can get you booted from your ISP and completely destroy any credibility you might have been able to build. You can also buy contact information, called leads, from several different lead generation companies. These leads are typically generated from people answering ads asking if they are interested in receiving information on business opportunities. Build your list and send information about business in general and about your opportunity regularly.

This does not mean every day. Once a week or every month or whatever. Put yourself in their shoes and consider how often you'd like to be solicited--on top of all the other emails you get every day, and act accordingly.

Visit Forums and Chat Rooms

Choose some forums and visit them regularly. And not to just tell about your business. In fact, it might be better to not talk about your business at all, but rather offer advice, information and answer questions when you can about different aspects of having an online business. Over time, people will get to "know" you and look to you for advice as an expert. Don't hit them with your business, but always include your URL in your signature line and lots of people will check you out that way.

Submit Your Site To Search Engines

Be sure to check rules for submissions, but periodically submit each page of your site to search engines like Yahoo, AltaVista, DirectHit, Google and Excite.

Find Similar Businesses and Swap Links

I know that sounds counterproductive, but just think about it a while and you'll understand the beauty of this. People who end up on the other site will see the link to your site and you will benefit from their curiousity when they click through to your site. Yes, it works both ways, but just think about how many potential customers or partners you could attract.

These are just a few of the many options for marketing online. Please feel free to send me additional input on what works for you!

About the Author

Expert life-juggler Cheryl Levey is an internet entrepeneur, telecommuter, and freelance writer/web designer on top of being mother and wife! She's the first to tell you that variety is the spice of life--and that juggling it all isn't always easy, but it is fun! Check out her internet company at http://www.bizonlineinc.com and sign up for her FREE monthly newsletter that offers tips, ideas and resources for how to create--and balance--what you want in your life and business. You CAN create the internet business you want!

Climb YOUR Tree To Success!
By Debbie Budesky

"He who would have fruit must first climb the tree."
-- Thomas Fuller

Climb the Tree? What the heck kind of name is THAT for a business???

Well, it's simple really. This quote sums up my philosophy about life in general. But more specifically, it exemplifies my sincere belief that we sometimes have to be willing to "go out on a limb" in order to get what we want out of life -- and this applies to our personal lives as well as our professional lives.

In order to achieve the goals that we set for ourselves, we have to take some chances. Risks. OUCH!!! There's a word most of us hate. But there's not getting around it. Everything worth having in life involves some element of risk.

Whether you're pursuing a romantic relationship, trying to secure a mortgage on a new home, looking to advance in your current job, seeking a career change, or thinking about starting your own business -- all of these goals involve some level of risk.

"What if he/she doesn't like me?"

"What if they don't think I'm qualified for the job?"

"What if my new business fails?"

WHAT IF??? What normal person wouldn't ask him- or herself these questions when facing a potentially life-changing situation? We all do, as we contemple changes that we hope will better our lives.

BUT -- the difference between those of us who succeed and those who don't is that those who succeed take chances. They take risks. Hopefully, these are calculated risks taken after careful research and consideration, but they're risks nonetheless.

"Climbing the Tree" means not only taking risks, but being prepared to put forth the EFFORT needed in order to attain the goal. It means making a COMMITMENT to do the work and put in the time necessary to reach the "fruit" at the top of the tree.

I know you've probably seen all the scams out there.

"Make a Million Dollars By Next Week" scams are all over the Internet and they're a dime a dozen. I've seen hundreds of these things land in my own email box, and I'm not ashamed to tell you that over the years I have actually fallen for a couple of them.

But as Conrad Hilton once said, "Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

Don't quit. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving.

I am here to tell you -- there is no overnight road to success. Yes, you CAN make money with your own business online. With some effort, time, commitment and a plan you can achieve everything you've dreamed of. Learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.

Climb your tree. Take your chance. Success is not an accident -- it's within each of us to create our own destiny. Discover yours, climb your tree, and reach whatever your "fruit" happens to be!

Expect Success!

About the Author

Debbie Budesky is a seasoned network marketer and Internet entrepreneur, and publisher of Climb the Tree -- www.climb-the-tree.com -- a site dedicated to providing personal and professional development resources for the online marketer. Subscribe to the Climb the Tree "Free Quote of the Day" and receive motivational "pearls of wisdom" in your email box for daily inspiration! -- quoteoftheday@hotresponders.com

How To Improve Your
Sales Copy to Get More Sales
By Bob Leduc Copyright 2002

A few small changes in your sales copy can produce a big increase the number of sales you get from your web pages and sales letters. Here are 12 simple things you can do to improve the effectiveness of your sales copy -- and increase your sales.

1. Make sure every part of your message focuses on the customer. Convert anything about you or your company into a customer benefit. For example, replace "14 years of experience" with "pleasing customers just like you for over 14 years".

2. Write your message the way you would write to one person. Many people will read your sales copy. But each person will read it individually. Effective sales copy makes each reader feel like you are writing personally to him or her.

3. Communicate in simple and informal language. Replace words like "originate" with "start" and "receive" with "get". Use active words in the present tense to grab your prospective customer's attention and hold their interest. People stop reading if they begin to feel bored.

4. Convert technical words and phrases into common words. Use words every prospective customer will clearly understand without stopping to think.

5. Replace general words and phrases with specific descriptions. For example, replace a phrase like "get fast results" with "our new clients average 9 percent more profit in the first 60 days".

6. Divide long paragraphs into 2 or more short paragraphs. People read short paragraphs because they look easy to read. But they skim (or skip) long paragraphs because they look like a challenge.

7. Include some bulleted or numbered lists to make your message:

Visually attractive
Easier to read
More clearly understood

8. Don't overdo the attention getters. Too much bold type, underlining or all upper case letters makes your message harder to read. Use them sparingly to highlight important
benefits or features.

9. Eliminate anything cute, clever or humorous. It diverts the reader's attention away from your message.

10. Keep your message positive and upbeat. Positive copy usually produces better results than negative copy ...except in politics.

11. Make sure your message flows smoothly. Readers should be able to visualize what you're saying without noticing the words you're using to say it. Keep them engrossed in your
message.

12. Avoid sensation and hype. They lower your believability and cause you to lose sales. Tone down any claims that sound exaggerated -- even if they are true.

Compare the sales copy you are using on your web pages and sales letters with the 12 strategies on this list. Revise your copy to implement those you overlooked. You'll enjoy an immediate increase in the number of sales they produce for you. Then save this list and use it as a guideline the next time you create (or pay someone else to create) new sales copy.

About the Author

Bob Leduc is a Sales Consultant with 30 years experience in generating low-cost leads. He recently wrote a manual for small business owners, "How to Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards", and several other publications to help small businesses grow and prosper. For more info: BobLeduc@aol.com?subject=Postcards Phone: 702-658-1707 after 10 AM Pacific Time/Las Vegas, NV

Postage Stamp Training
How to Use Newsletters to Train,
Motivate, and Get New Business

By Barbara J. Winter

Any newsletter worth its postage should do more than announce your next meeting. Consider the possibilities. A newsletter can train, motivate, generate new business, share a great idea and keep you in touch with your team.

I�ve been writing newsletters for a dozen years and have used them for all those reasons. Beyond that, however, I enjoy the creative process of putting together a newsletter that�s different every issue.

The authors of the book How to Get Free Publicity say, �The best free sample you can give is free advice.� It seems to me that that describes newslettering at its best.

Editing a newsletter that�s anticipated by your readers isn�t such an overwhelming task if you keep a few simple guidelines in mind. Before you ever publish your first issue, give some thought to the following:

1. What do you want your newsletter to accomplish? Do you want to send it to your organization, customers, prospects? Do you want it to be a means for improving your ability to communicate in writing? Do you want it to be a substitute for long-distance phone calls? How about elevating the thinking of your readers? Make a list of the results you think a newsletter can create.

2. Decide how often you wish to publish. If you are a newcomer with a small organization, you might begin with a bimonthly. As your business grows, you can publish more frequently. And while putting together a newsletter can be time-consuming, once you get the hang of it, it will go more quickly. I like publishing at 6-week intervals because it provides a break between issues. If you have lots of monthly activities, you may want your readers to hear from you every month.

3. Do your legwork. Spend a day or two investigating printers and getting prices. Find out if your local print shop can get your newsletter out overnight or if they need more time. Some shops charge extra for quick service. Call the post office, too, and see if it makes sense to get a bulk permit. If you�re sending hundreds of pieces, you can save a bundle on postage. The trade-off is, of course, that delivery is slower. If it�s critical that your newsletter arrives on time, stick to first class.

4. Pick a name and design your masthead. Browse in an art store and pick up a couple of clip art books. These little gems contain hundreds of illustrations that are camera ready and not copyrighted. If you want a more personalized masthead, you could hire an artist to design one for you. If you have a passion for a hobby, or a personal symbol suggests itself, incorporate that into your masthead. For your first newsletters, keep your costs down and improvise.

5. Decide on a theme for your newsletter and organize all your information around it. This is where your job really gets fun. It�s a bit like a treasure hunt to come up with illustrations, articles, quotes, book reviews, etc., that all support your central theme. One month, for instance, you might write about some aspect of selling. Another issue could have information on goal-setting or time management. Your personal heroes could provide another theme. Once you become a newsletter writer, the ideas are everywhere.

6. Keep a file folder of possible information for your next issue and another for future issues. Clip art work, jot down quotes as you�re reading, keep lists of books or articles you want to read and perhaps to summarize or recommend to your team. Before you know it, your files will be bulging.

7. Learn to edit. A newsletter by its very nature is designed to share a lot of information in a small space. Editing is both an art and an intuitive process. Get out all the information that you�ve gathered and rank it A, B, or C according to its importance. Use the A material first and, if you have room, go on to B. Hopefully, you�ll have enough great material so you won�t need to use the C stuff.

8. Always, always keep in mind who you are writing for. If you have a seasoned organization, your newsletter won�t be the same as it will if you�re writing for rookies. Often your readers will suggest topics, so listen. A light bulb should go off when someone comments, �I just must get organized!� A how-to issue is waiting to be written.

9. Get help with your writing. You could have a regular column written by different readers. If you are going to use a long quote from a book or magazine article, be sure to get permission from the publisher. If you write asking to reprint a section from a book and explain that you wish to include it in a non-subscription newsletter, most publishers will give you the green light. They will also tell you the form to use in giving credit, usually something like, �Reprinted with permission of Best & Sons, Publishers.�

There�s no doubt in my mind that anyone in a management position can benefit from producing their own newsletter. It�s one of the least expensive tools around. Versatile, economical, and an exercise in creativity, you�ll discover dozens of ways to use a newsletter once you get started.

And when your phone starts ringing or your mailbox brings you a letter saying, �Your newsletter arrives just when I needed to hear what you had to say,� you�ll be hooked.

About the Author

After a dozen years in multilevel marketing, Barbara J. Winter is now the editor of Winning Ways Newsletter and leader of seminars on motivation and promotion. She is the author of best-selling book "Making A Living Without A Job."

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