Successful Home Business Marketing Tips Blog for the work at home based businesses

Importance of building your own opt-in list

2006-12-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Importance of building your own opt-in list
Copyright © 2006, Colin Meunier
http://www.WhoisColinMeunier.com

Building your own opt-in list can be the most important thing that you can ever do when building your online business. The fact is that if you are building an online business promoting online businesses & Affiliate programs and you are not building your own opt-in list, you are almost wasting your time.

You see the main objective with your online business is to build a customer and client list. The main objective with your website is not to sell your visitor, but to capture their email address. Well actually your website has two main objectives, pre-selling your visitor on your products and services as well capture their email address. Today I am only talking about capturing your visitors email address and building your opt-in list.

Ok, you may be asking right now.

Colin what exactly is an opt-in list and why would people want to give me their email address?

Well the answer is, your opt-in list is a list of people that have given you their email address in return for something of value.

Ok, now you may be asking, but Colin what can I offer of any value?

Well the answer is that this can be a mini email course, an ezine, a free report, or even just a mailing list of people who want to know when you update your website.

So now you may be asking, but I am not guru and I have not made millions on the Internet what can I teach or tell people that will make them want to learn from me?

Ok now, lets just hold on a minute here. The answer to this question is actually more simple than you think.

You see you are already both teacher and student. You are always learning from someone, just as there is always someone learning from you. Think back to grade school when you had grades 1 -12. The reason for 12 different grades is because some students are a little more advanced or ahead of you and at the same time you were a little more advanced or ahead of others. Well this is true as well with Internet marketing or promoting an online business and Affiliate Programs.

So the point is that there is always someone that can learn from what you know.

Ok, so with all that said, lets get started building your opt-in list.

Here are a few key features to consider before building your list:

1. Content- This almost goes without saying, but is very much worth commenting on. The best thing to do before you start building a subscriber base is to create some content articles. You want to have some quality information of good value ready to send your subscribers when they subscribe or opt-in to your list.

2. Personalize your emails- This is actually a very important element to your emails that you send out to your subscribers. You want your subscribers to feel as though you are taking to them and not a group of people. This is done by including their name in the emails you send out to them.

3. Brand your name- This is simply sending emails to your list from YOU, not some company name. Think of all the emails you get right now in your inbox. Which of those emails look more friendly? Are they the emails sent to you by some company such as ABC Marketing Firm, or by a friendly name like Colin Meunier? -- -- Well I tell you I much rather get emails from the author and not a company name.

Ok, so now that you have your content for articles lets get you some subscribers.

Tip#1.
First step is to put an opt-in box on your website's front page. Then make sure that people can subscribe to your opt-in list from every page on your site. This opt-in box will capture your visitor's email address and put it in your autoresponder.

If you have not received my article on the "Importance of a good autoresponder" visit http://www.enterfreedom.com/responders.html to learn more about autoresponders.

Tip#2.
Use pop ups! Yeah I hear you. You may be saying right now. Colin are you suggesting I use those most annoying pop ups? --- Yes. But No,

Well I am actually suggesting you use pop unders, and set them to only appear to the visitor only once per visit.

You see the reason why so many people use pop unders and pop ups on the Internet is because they Do work. I receive a good number of my subscribers from my pop under.

Another type of pop up I use that is bringing in a good number of quality subscribers for me is the Lightning Pop Up. This is the Pop Up that come up asks you to click OK or Cancel. When a person subscribes to my ezine using this Pop Up they are subscribing with their default email address, making sure that their email is a quality address.

You can create both Pop Us, the Pop Under & the Lightning Pop Up, with Brian Garvins Lightning Pop Up generator. You may find it here: http://hop.clickbank.net/hop.cgi?mindshare/lightningp

Tip#3.
You can submit your opt-in list to ezine directories or databases. Here is a small list of directories to start with. You can also do a search on google for more.

http://www.list-city.com/ http://www.e-zinez.com/cgi-bin/hyperseek/hyperseek.cgi http://www.published.com/index.html http://www.homeincome.com/search-it/ezine/index.html http://ezine-universe.com/ http://www.disobey.com/low/addere.shtml http://inkpot.com/submit/ http://catalog.com/vivian/intsubform2.html http://paml.net/submissions.html http://www.ezinestoday.com/freesubs/ http://www.diysearch.com/ http://ezineadsource.com/submit.htm http://www.ezinesearch.com/search-it/ezine/ezine-add.html http://www.ezinesplus.com/ezines/cgi-bin/add.cgi http://www.published.com/add/ http://www.infojump.com/publishers/pub/submit/ http://www.site-city.com/members/e-zine-master/ http://listtool.com/cgi/listTool/addList.cgi http://www.newsletteraccess.com/database/reg.html

Tip#4.
Use free giveaways to get people to subscribe to your opt-in list. You are going to want to give something of real value away, not just some cheap giveaway. The more valuable the free gift you have to giveaway the more subscribers you will get.

For example of what I am talking about have a look at this page giving away free eBooks for subscribing to my ezine "EnterFreedom Marketing Tips" http://www.enterfreedom.com

Tip#5.
Continue to seek information and tips on how to keep building your opt in list. Learn from those that are very successful and have great tips to share when it comes to building large optin lists. One great place to keep learning about building your optin list is at 'List & Traffic' by Jimmy Brown.

Go here: http://listandtraffic2.com/go.php?2132

and learn more about List & Traffic memberships.

Happy Prospecting!

Resource Box:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Colin Meunier publisher of EnterFreedom Marketing Tips Ezine !
Helping Networkers Create Multiple Streams of Residual Income
By using Internet Marketing Promotions. Get Your F.REE Subscription
Today & Receive Special Bonuses. Visit: http://www.EnterFreedom.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you feel inclined to re-publish this article, you may do so, providing you republish the article in it's entirety and the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to info@enterfreedom.com

If you do not have a network marketing program, or business that you are working with, or if you are interested in the program that I am working with right now then visit my site and read my story and see how I may be able to help you.

I also welcome any comments or questions. Please feel free to email or call me.

Why you need Auto Responders

2006-12-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

Importance of a good AutoResponder
Copyright © 2006, Colin Meunier
http://www.WhoisColinMeunier.com

Of all the tools on the Internet that I have used and looked at, I would have to say the nothing compares to an autoresponder. Yes that right. I don't think I will ever come across anything on the net that will come close the importance of an autoresponder.

I can honestly tell you that the most important thing I ever did in all my years of running my own internet business was purchasing an autoresponder.

Actually to be honest, I have purchased many different Types of autoresponders.

So I know how important it is to have a good dependable autoresponder. Marketing experts agree that potential customers rarely buy on the first contact. In fact, a prospect needs to see your message up to seven times or more before making a purchase. What this means to you is having to continually place your message in front of your prospect to make the most sales. This can take a serious investment of your time. Imagine delivering instant information by email to anyone interested in your product or service. Now imagine as well sending out an additional follow up message to your potentials customers at any time you decide to without any additional work on your behalf. How much would your profits increase and your business grow with a tireless salesman working for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week who follows up with each and every potential customer? This is where an autoresponder has your back and completely automates the entire process for you!

More benefits of an autoresponder system with multiple responders are: - Creating a list of your downline group for updates - Multiple e-mail campaigns - Creating an opt in list or ezines - Use the responders to answer common questions - Creating an automated e-mail training course like - the one you are reading now

So the point is that if you are a serious Internet marketer and want to really automate your marketing an autoresponder is not just an option, it is a must and a need. You may be asking yourself where you would get an autoresponder and what one would cost. Well I will tell you that there are many companies to go and buy this wonderful tool. Some companies will charge you a monthly fee for each responder and some charge you a monthly fee for a certain amount of responders, and some charge you a monthly fee for unlimited responders. I suppose it depends on how many responders you want to get going. I suggest unlimited so that you can do many e-mail marketing campaigns and create ezines etc. Some companies have different features to the responders they offer.

The autoresponder that I am using and highly recommend can be found at http://responders.enterfreedom.com and the cost is about $19.95 per month. This I find is a very low price for the responder, for it has many other features with it as well and has great 24hr online customer support. I highly recommend you check into this autoresponder system.

Happy Prospecting!

Resource Box:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colin Meunier publisher of EnterFreedom Marketing Tips Ezine !
Helping Networkers Create Multiple Streams of Residual Income
By using Internet Marketing Promotions. Get Your F.REE Subscription
Today & Receive Special Bonuses. Visit: http://www.EnterFreedom.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you feel inclined to re-publish this article, you may do so, providing you republish the article in it's entirety and the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to info@enterfreedom.com

If you do not have a network marketing program, or business that you are working with, or if you are interested in the program that I am working with right now then visit my site http://www.colinmeunier.com and read my story and see how I may be able to help you.

I also welcome any comments or questions. Please feel free to email or call me.

The importance of a good webhost.

2006-12-21T21:49:00.000-08:00

The importance of a good webhost.
Copyright © 2006, Colin Meunier
http://www.WhoisColinMeunier.com

If you are serious and want to create income with any business or affiliate program you need your own website, with your own content that will pre-sell your program.

So to have your own website, you are going to need a place to put it on the Internet so that people may visit it. This is a web host, a company that will place your website on their servers.

Let me share with you a little story about a situation that I had experienced in the beginning of 2003, and why a dependable web host is a must.

You see I had my website http://www.enterfreedom.com/ hosted on a web host server that had disappeared in a matter of a few hours. Yes in a matter of a few hours. I know it was only a few hours because my website up and operational in the morning and when I returned in the evening my website was not up. I had gone to the companies website whom I was buying the space from, and found that they had vanished as well.

So keep that in mind with your website host. One day you might lose everything if you put your website on an unreliable web host.

Now I was lucky for two reasons. One reason being that I had noticed and caught this in time, and the other is that I had another web host already that I was able to transfer my data over to.
You see I had previously just purchased some autoresponders from a company, which provides hosting as well. (wwKiosk) I would have used this hosting to begin with if I had not already had hosting when I decided to use the autoresponders.

Well anyway, that night I had sent an email to wwKiosk through the help desk for instructions on transferring my data over. I had the necessary information by the morning and my website was back up and running the next day.

The best host you can ask for on the Internet in my opinion is Kiosk. Not only do they back up their data, they back up their back ups. wwKiosk has a whole list of features and other services like the autoresponders I already mentioned.

or even if you want to update the web host account you have, So if you are looking into getting a new web hosting account this is a great deal.

I highly recommend their service and I strongly recommend that if you are looking for the best web host, you look no further that wwKisok web hosting.

Click here to get a better idea of the features and benefits wwKiosk has to offer: http://webhost.enterfreedom.com/

Resource Box:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Colin Meunier publisher of EnterFreedom Marketing Tips Ezine !
Helping Networkers Create Multiple Streams of Residual Income
By using Internet Marketing Promotions. Get Your F.REE Subscription
Today & Receive Special Bonuses. Visit: http://www.enterfreedom.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you feel inclined to re-publish this article, you may do so, providing you republish the article in it's entirety and the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to info@enterfreedom.com

If you do not have a network marketing program, or business that you are working with, or if you are interested in the program that I am working with right now then visit my site http://www.ColinMeunier.com and read my story and see how I may be able to help you.

I also welcome any comments or questions. Please feel free to email or call me.

Why you should choose network marketing for a home business

2005-01-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

Copyright © 2003, Colin Meunier
http://www.EnterFreedom.com

"Every wealthy person knows that the key to financial success is not how much money you make, but how much money you keep."

What exactly do wealthy people know and do differently than the poor and middle class?

What exactly is the wealthy investing in and how do they get to keep their money?

To get right to the point, the wealthy invest in "business systems" and they keep most of their money because they have better tax advantages of owning those "business systems".

Now I want to emphasize the words "business system" and not just business. The reason you want to focus on a business system is so that you can efficiently and effectively sell more products or services in larger quantities WITHOUT you, as your business grows.

A business system is a REPEATABLE PROCESS that produces a profit.

Most people that own their own company think they own a business when they actually own their own job. Without them (the business owner) they would have no business, the business would fall apart.

T. Harv Eker says, "If you are the major "cog" in the machine then you're automatically the major "clog" in the machine."

When you have an effective and efficient business system your business will run and create even more profit without you being there. Your business system must be a repeatable process that will create a profit without you.

Building and or buying into your own business system can cost you both a lot of money and time. It is this reason that the average person will not get into business and thinks it is too risky to start a business.

Today with network marketing (mlm) the average person can now buy into and build they're own business system. For a reasonable entry fee, people can buy into an existing business system and start building their business. There are very few comparable opportunities to own a business for such a small initial investment.
In network marketing you have unlimited support. Although you own your own business, you're not alone. In network marketing you are in business for yourself, but not by yourself. You become part of a team.

In network marketing you don't need a sales or business background or prior experience with the product you're selling. In this business your upline and company will help you learn all the necessary skills and provide the training and marketing materials needed.

Remember a business system is a repeatable process that produces a profit.

In network marketing you will be on the fast track to personal growth. Your growth in self-confidence, communication, and leadership skills never stops.

Building your own online network marketing business (mlm) can be your most profitable and secure way to enter financial freedom.

Resource Box:
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Colin Meunier is the owner and publisher of MLM & Affiliate Marketing Tips Ezine: Subscribe Today training@enterfreedom.com
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If you feel inclined to re-publish this article, you may do so, providing you republish the article in it's entirety and the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to info@enterfreedom.com

The need for personal development

2005-01-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

Copyright © 2003, Colin Meunier
http://www.EnterFreedom.com

Why is there such a need for personal development?

The answer is that your inner world creates your outer world.

What you see in your exterior world is only a representation of what is going on in the inside. There is a saying, and that is that, it is not enough to be in the right place at the right time, but you have to be the right person in the right place, at the right time.

- Who are you?
- What do you think?
- How confident are you?
- How do you feel about yourself?
- What are your beliefs?
- What are your habits & traits?
- What is your ability to act in spite of fear?
- What is your willingness to do what it takes, comfort or not?

Your inner character traits and beliefs are the most important element of your success in business.

When people buy into your network marketing opportunity they are not buying into your product or opportunity, no matter what you think.

When you are presenting or offering your products or services to other people they are either buying your energy or notbuying your energy.

You must grow your inner character to be able to make it in Any business, whether it be MLM or Affiliate Programs. If you think you can skip over the personal development and just gather the other tools, placing ads, working leads, and building your business by just focusing on your outer world, you will not make it in this industry.

You see your income & your business can only grow to the extent that you grow.

When you raise your own energy people will naturally be attracted to you. Building a business is all about relationships. You are going to have to become the person you want to be, and raise your own energy to attract the right kind of people to you and your business.

The one thing that wealthy people know and do differently than poor people, and I am talking about people with a poor mentality, is that is how they think differently.

You see when a poor person wants to become wealthy they buy what a wealthy person has so that they can do what a wealthy person does, so that they can be wealthy. This mentality is a HAVE, DO, BE mentality.
A wealthy person knows they must become that person so they can do the thing that will make them wealthy and then they will have the things that wealthy people have.

This is a BE, DO, HAVE mentality.

When you decide that you want to be and that you are already wealthy, you will be wealthy. You will only have to work out a few adjustments.

You must BE, DO, HAVE.

OK! A step you may want to take is requesting my FREE special report on how to create a drastic change in your life fast. This report will teach you in 5 steps how to create fast drastic and long lasting change in your life, whether it be quit smoking, drinking, or change your financial situation. Request the report by sending blank e-mail to change@freesupersponder.com

Resource Box:
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Colin Meunier is the owner and publisher of MLM & Affiliate Marketing Tips Ezine: Subscribe Today training@enterfreedom.com
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If you feel inclined to re-publish this article, you may do so, providing you republish the article in it's entirety and the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to info@enterfreedom.com

Home based business - What business are you in?

2004-08-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

Mind your own business
Copyright © 2004, Colin Meunier
http://www.EnterFreedom.com

Are you minding your own business?

Ok, what does this really mean to mind your own business?
I am sure you are saying right now,of course I am!

Let me put it this way.
If I were to ask you what business you are in, what would you answer?

Now if you are like the 95% or most people that are involved in MLM or network marketing;
you most likely said something like:
- My business is MasteryTV.
- My business is Excel- My business is USANA
- My business is Retire Quickly
- ETC.

Am I correct?
Let me paint you a picture. I want to show you an example of how sure I am with this theory.
Last week I had gone to a business seminar here in Victoria. This seminar was named “Financial Super Stars” and was put on by a couple of the top business philosophers, Brian Tracy & William D. Danko. These two talked on some great lessons on building a business and becoming financially independent, along with a line up of other great speakers that talked on real estate investing, stock market investing, and Internet marketing.
One thing I just love about being at these seminars is the abilityto meet and network with like minded people.
I was with a friend of mine who I already explained this theory, and I wanted to show him this proven statistic among network marketers. I said to my friend “watch this” as I approached a person who I already knew was involved with network marketing.I started talking with him and then I asked him what his business was. This person then answered me and said his business wasExcel. I then said to myself, he is not minding his own business.

Ok, at this moment the best answer he could have given me wasa 30 second sound byte. I have discussed the 30 second sound byte in another article. If you have not read that article you cansend me an email and I will send it to you.

The truth is that if you gave an answer similar to the above and said something like USANA, Excel, ETC. you are wrong.

Are you confused yet?

Lets take Excel for example. Excel is a telecommunications company that offers people a business opportunity who wantto recommend the service to their friends and family. Where people go wrong here is they think that excel in itself is the business opportunity. You see the real opportunity with Excel is the ability to create a monthly residual income, the ability of better tax advantages,and the most important opportunity of the ability of building a network of people. Thats theopportunity.

There still is the question about whose business it really is then ifit is not your business, and what is your business.
Taking Excel still for example on the answer to whose business it is. The business belongs to the person who founded Excel, not you.The fact is you are only part of his marketing plan, or method of marketing. This might sound a bit harsh but its true.

Lets go back to the meaning of network marketing. I amsure you are very familiar that network marketing is only a method of marketing. A method that is proven very well in the past 20 + years. A method that uses affiliates, reps, ordistributors to spread the word about a certain company and their products and services.
So what is your business?

- Well that is something you are going to have to figure out.
Let me give you give you an example of minding your own business,with one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the world, Ray Kroc. For those that are not familiar with Ray Kroc, he is the founder of McDonalds. This is one of the most important lessons that I learned in the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad”by Robert Kiyosaki. If you have not read Rich Dad Poor Dad I fully recommend you read it.

In the book Rich Dad Poor Dad, lesson #4 in chapter 3, RobertKiyosaki talks teaches the lesson “Mind Your Own Business”

Robert uses the example of Ray Kroc.

Ray Kroc in 1974 was asked to speak to an MBA class at the University of Texas. After the class Ray Kroc had gone out for some beers with the students and then asked them the question.
What business am I in? Ray asked them.

Everyone just laughed at Ray because they thought he was joking. Then all the students answered Ray Kroc and said he was in the hamburger business. You know, McDonalds!

Woulden't you have said the same thing?

This is kinda like the person who would answer the question of what business are you in with; I am in telecommunications or I am in Excel. Right?

You see the fact is that Ray Kroc's business was not the Hamburger business or McDonalds at all.
Ray Kroc may have had a lot of focus on selling hamburgersand selling the McDonalds franchises, but that was not his business.

Ray Kroc's business was actually real estate!

Ray Kroc never lost sight of his own business. He was always“minding his own business”

The McDonalds franchise was only the vehicle that allowed him pay for the real estate he was buying. Each person who buys into the McDonalds franchise is only an affiliate, rep, or distributer for Ray Kroc. These people are in fact helpingto build Ray's business. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as you understand that is what you are doing.

You have to think of your network company in the same way that Ray thought of his McDonalds franchises, if not thenyou will always be minding someone else's business.

This all fits together the same way with MLM & Affiliate marketing. You see the MLM business opportunity or the affiliate program that you are promoting is only your vehicleto provide the income and money you need to build your own business. You must realize and think this way.

When you figure out what your business is you will be able to begin building it.

This is the very reason why I tell people they need the following basic tools for minding their own business.

1. You do need your own website.

- Ok, I can hear people saying right now, but, but, but, I do have a website. My company give me one when I joined the program.

Ok, if thats you, you are going to have to go back and read this article over again, because what I am saying is that you need YOUR OWN website. You need a website that promotes YOU, or YOUR company, NOT your network marketing company.

With this website you are going to mind your own businessby promoting YOU. If you are marketing an MLM or Affiliate program you will then market the programs from YOUR website. This way people will see YOU before they see your MLM or Affiliate program.

If you are not a techie or able to build your own website, thenyou need to hire someone to do it for you, but you do NEED your own website to build credibility and start minding your own business.

2. You need web hosting.

Web hosting is where you are going to host YOUR website. This is a server that will hold all your pages for your website.

You are going to need QUALITY and RELIABLE webhosting.If you have read my article on the importance of a good webhostthen you will remember how my website and webhost had disappeared one evening, because I was not using a reliable webhost.

The webhost I now use is very reliable and I have been using them since Jan. 2003 with no problems.

3. You need your own database, or contact list.

This is where you focus on building YOUR own list of people you can contact over and over with and build relationships with. The greatest tool in the world I have ever come across for building a database and contact list is an autoresponder. I personally can not imagine going without one.

These are the 3 basic things you will need to start “minding your own business” on the Internet. I personally can not think of doing any business without them. In fact I can as well explain how even an offline company needs these tools to build their business. Trust me, even a barber needs these tools to succeed in the coming years. I willgo into that on another day.

So the moral of the story, and lesson for the day is, Mind Your Own Business!

And so shall you prosper!

Resource Box:
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Colin Meunier is the owner and publisher of MLM & Affiliate Marketing Tips Ezine: Subscribe Today training@enterfreedom.com
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If you feel inclined to re-publish this article, you may do so, providing you republish the article in it's entirety and the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to info@enterfreedom.com