Archive for April, 2006

Jim Edwards here with a quick UK update…

In this article (below) I discuss how the “rules” of the
online game apply to everyone.

No matter where you are… no matter what you sell… no
matter who your market is, these rules apply to you.

For some, you might think this is review or even “basic”.

But my question to you is: Are you obeying the rules as
well as you could / should / must to gain the success you
say you want?

Let this article (below) serve as a wakeup call and reminder
about that basics of what we all must do to succeed online.

By the way…

This is a UK update because I just finished up my first-ever
UK Workshop here in London… and boy did it go over well!

Anybody who ever said the English were snotty or offish
obviously has never been here. I just spent 2 incredible
days with some of the nicest, warmest, most engaging people
it’s ever been my privilege to speak to. And based on their
comments, they had one heck of a time with me too

I’ll definitely be back in the UK soon.

Ok, on with the article (below).

Feel free to share this article on your blog, on your
website, in your autoresponder, or in your newsletter (see
simple reprint instructions at the end).

To your success!

Jim

PS – To those of you who asked when I’m going to launch my
new membership site, it looks like it will happen in June.

Stay tuned

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

No Loopholes In Online Bizz “Rules”

– by Jim Edwards

© Jim Edwards – All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I just finished teaching an intensive 2-day workshop in
London, England about creating ebooks and operating your own
profitable online info-publishing business on a shoestring
budget.

As I stood in front of a crowd almost 5,000 miles from home,
I realized (yet again) that the Internet represents the
great business equalizer of the 21st century.

Anyone with a great idea and the guts and patience to
persevere and act on that idea can succeed online, often
beating out much larger companies that can’t adapt quickly
enough to prosper or profit.

I also realized while standing in front of the crowd that
despite arguments to the contrary, people all over the world
buy and sell online for exactly the same reasons.

Anyone who tells you that “My market is different” or “It
doesn’t work that way in my country” has forgotten the basic
rules for selling online.

Bottom line: Anyone selling anything online – regardless of
their location – must obey the following “rules” or risk
many heartaches and an empty wallet.

** Targeted Audience **
What exactly do your customers want and what words do they
use to describe the products and services they will
purchase?

Don’t assume you know how and what they want to buy – ask
them!

From this research you will determine the “keywords” your
customers will use to find your business while surfing and
using search engines.

You should then focus completely on these keywords while
constructing your entire web presence and advertising
campaigns.

** Focused Website **
Your website should center exclusively on those issues
directly related to what you sell online.

If you sell “purple widgets” then only write about the
characteristics, features and benefits of using your purple
widgets.

Take great care in your copy writing to keep your text
focused on one subject per web page and make liberal use of
your keywords and their synonyms.

Constructing your “mini sites” in this manner will aid you
greatly in keeping people focused on your sales message long
enough to make a buying decision.

** Targeted Traffic! **
A website without visitors rates the same as designing and
constructing a 30-foot billboard and then hiding it in your
basement instead of setting it by the highway.

Don’t fall victim to traffic scams which promise thousands
of visitors for only $100.

Those schemes don’t work because the traffic isn’t targeted.
http://AdWords.Google.com makes the best place to start
getting targeted visitors because you only pay for the
visitors you actually receive (pay-per-click), not for the
ads you run.

** Build Relationships **
Successful online businesses build relationships with their
customers and prospects.

You can only do this if you stay in touch with them through
value-added mailings, emails, and updates.

Online businesses whose only communication involves repeated
“pitches” or opportunities to spend money don’t fare as well
in the long haul.

A group of loyal customers and subscribers will sustain an
online business owner much longer than a fat advertising
budget ever could.

** Stay Informed **
Understand that creating a successful online business
requires commitment to a process of constant promotion and
continuous education.

You must stay current on cost-effective promotion techniques
for driving traffic to your site as well as any factors
specifically affecting your market online.

–
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how
to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted
visitors to your website, affiliate links, or blogs…

-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links?
“Turn Words Into Traffic” reveals the secrets for driving
Thousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliate
links… without spending a dime on advertising!
Click Here> http://www.TurnWordsIntoTraffic.com
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your
ezine, blog, autoresponder, or on your site so long as you
leave all links in place, do not modify the content and
include our resource box as listed above.

Feel free to substitute your affiliate link in place of
our link in the resource box.

Earn up to 50% on every purchaser you refer!

Affiliate details are available here:
http://www.ebookfire.com

If you do use the material please send us a note
so we can take a look. Thanks.

© Guaranteed Response Marketing, LLC

Jim Edwards here with my latest article (below)…

It runs in the newspaper tomorrow, but you get the “scoop”
today

This week’s article (below) is about 3 really great pieces
of PC software that WON’T cost you one, thin dime! They are:

- An audio recording / editing program…
- A desktop RSS feed reader…
- A mind-mapping program…

They’re all pretty cool – and you can’t beat the price.

By the way…

My new membership/subscription site is well underway

We plan to launch early this summer.

FAIR WARNING: When we do LAUNCH the member site, we will be
offering charter memberships for only a 72-hour kick-off
period.

That means you’ll be able to join the site for WAY BELOW the
regular membership rate, but ONLY for 72-hours and then the
price goes up forever!

Charter Subscriber status will carry some very real
additional benefits too

Since we’ve had so many people ask, I thought you should
know the status and be aware there will be some real
benefits for immediately signing up when the time comes.

Ok, on with the article…

Feel free to share this article on your blog, on your
website, in your autoresponder, or in your newsletter (see
simple reprint instructions at the end).

To your success,

Jim

P.S. I’ve just finalized the arrangements for my next cruise
“The Jim Boat II”! So keep your eyes peeled for an
announcement about that as well. The last cruise was so
much fun that I already have 23% of the slots filled and
haven’t even announced it yet! Check out this cool video
of the last cruise:

=> http://www.IGottaTellYou.com/cruise-video.html

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

3 Free Online Gizmos Everyone Should See

– by Jim Edwards

© Jim Edwards – All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

* Free Audio Editing Software *

Log on to http://audacity.sourceforge.net and download a
just plain cool PC software you can use to record, edit,
convert and mix audio tracks right on your computer.

Ideal for people who need to create audio CD’s with a basic
microphone, create the perfect party mix, or perform basic
sound editing.

Available free of charge, this open source utility makes it
easy to convert old tapes and records into more permanent
CD’s just by hooking up to the microphone or line inputs on
your computer with a $10 cable from Radio Shack.

The software works with both MP3 and WAV (CD) files, and
also decodes the AU and Ogg Vorbis audioformats.

The software also allows you to adjust volume control on
individual tracks, fade volume in and out, and remove static
hiss or any other consistent background noises.

Overall, Audacity makes an excellent tool for anyone just
getting started in audio editing or who doesn’t want to
spend $100 or more on commercial audio editing software.

* Free RSS Feed Reader *

RSS feeds represent a huge part of the future of online
communications as email gets less and less reliable.

Primarily associated with blogs at the moment, RSS feeds
(stands for “Real Simple Syndication”) make it possible for
subscribers to get notified about newsletter and site
updates automatically and without the need for email
notification.

The problem, until now, has been that most RSS readers were
designed for geeks and propeller-heads, not for everyday
users.

However, log on to www.FeedReader.com and you can change all
that.

Feed Reader offers just that, a simple-to-use, easy-to-
understand PC software program that doesn’t eat up a lot of
hard drive space or suck up all your memory.

If you want to subscribe to multiple blogs and news feeds,
but don’t want to get bombarded with ads or pay for
software, give FeedReader.com’s free software a try.

* Free Mind Mapping Software *

Log on to http://freemind.sourceforge.net and grab a copy of
“FreeMind,” a free mind mapping software program that rivals
the functionality of programs costing $200 or more.

I’ve used mind mapping software for years, and even paid for
one that cost me over $200.

I found that I actually only used about 10% of the features
of that commercial software, and I also found that FreeMind
gives you all those basic features and more (for free).

Plus, if you’re just getting started with mind mapping, this
software makes a great place to start without forcing you to
make a large investment in software. Mind mapping is an
absolutely indispensable technique for writing outlines,
brainstorming projects, and outlining essays and
professional papers.

As with any free software, you get what you pay for, but in
these three cases, I think you get a little more than your
money’s worth.

However, always remember that free software normally does
not offer any support and, as with any software, you should
proceed carefully.

Always back up your important files before installing any
software (paid or free).

Also, if you are at all unsure about a piece of software, go
to Google and search for reviews on the software before
installing.

A quick search for “‘Product Name’ software reviews” can
yield some very interesting and helpful comments before you
spend time and energy installing and testing the software
for yourself.

–
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-
step and click-by-click how to finally create your own
money-making mini-sites…

-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up
Your OWN Moneymaking ‘Mini’ Websites… Without Being a
Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying
Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!”

Click Here => http://www.MiniSiteCreator.com
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your
ezine, blog, autoresponder, or on your site so long as you
leave all links in place, do not modify the content and
include our resource box as listed above.

Feel free to join our affiliate program, substitute your
affiliate link in the resource box, and earn a healthy
commission on each sale…

Get the details here:
=> http://www.minisitecreator.com/affiliate.html

If you do use the material please send us a note
so we can take a look. Thanks.

© Guaranteed Response Marketing, LLC

Jim Edwards here with a VERY important video update…

=> http://www.igottatellyou.com/did-video-break.html?

Yesterday Microsoft released their Internet Explorer update
that changed the way “active x” controls integrate with
video (they did it because they got sued over a patent).

Honestly, the reaction on various webmaster message boards
was something approaching total HYSTERIA! (the geeks were
freaking out!)

Well, the bomb hit yesterday (April 11)…
the smoke cleared… and this video will show you *EXACTLY*
what the impact is on your ability to market with videos
online in the future.

Watch this 4:27 second video right now so you totally
understand the REAL impact this has on video marketing and
how you can move forward from this point.

Watch it right now…

=> http://www.igottatellyou.com/did-video-break.html

If you have a comment about this update, please do so below

To your success!

Jim

PS – My friend Armand Morin just made one of the most
incredible videos I’ve ever seen… this is absolutely
amazing (frankly, I’m actually jealous that I didn’t think
of it first). It will blow your mind!

Watch this => http://www.michaelleeaustin.com/promo.html

© Guaranteed Response Marketing, LLC

In their update intended for April 11th, Microsoft will
disable / modify some of the functionality in its Internet
Explorer Web browers. This will affect “ActiveX” controls
for rich and dynamic media such as streaming audio and
video.

Before you get caught up in the hype, read this article.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Microsoft Loses Patent Lawsuit

– by Jim Edwards

© Jim Edwards – All Rights reserved
http://www.IGottaTellYou.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

One of the top news stories this week that got virtually no
popular press involves the judgment against Microsoft by a
small company with a big software patent.

University of California and Eolas Technologies, Inc. hold a
patent which Microsoft, according to several judges,
violated with its popular Internet Explorer Web browser.

Without going into painful technical detail, the patent
involves the “ActiveX” technology enabling Web browsers to
display both web pages and content such as streaming audio,
Flash, QuickTime video and other “rich” or “dynamic”
content.

Despite heated input by the Internet community to invalidate
Eolas’ patent because of its broad nature, Microsoft lost
every appeal and effort to get the patent nullified.

Bottom line: Microsoft faced two choices. First, they could
pay the patent owner and keep things moving along, business
as usual (much the way Blackberry did recently when a judge
found them guilty of patent infringement).

Second choice: Microsoft could avoid future licensing fees
by changing their IE browser and removing the offending
code.

Which do you think they chose? Ding-ding-ding!

You guessed it, Microsoft chose to avoid paying millions
more by simply removing the offending code.

Unfortunately, that decision means a bit of trouble for a
few million web designers who use Flash, streaming movies,
and more.

Ultimately, the change to IE may force visitors to sites
with rich content to click on an object to enable it before
they can interact with it.

Not a huge deal. However, time will tell what ultimately
happens and the actual impact on sites running rich content.

But before everyone starts screaming that “The sky is
falling” and “our websites are broken,” let me ask you a
question.

Do you really think that companies like Macromedia (makers
of Flash) and sites like Google Video will let a few changes
in Internet Explorer put them out of business?

I don’t think so!

If anything, this change will force companies to step up to
the plate and discover ways to serve dynamic content that
does not depend on ActiveX.

Sure, it will mean some pain for both content creators and
users in the short term, but in the end I honestly believe
that, through innovation, we will all end up with a better
solution than what currently exists.

In other news today…

** Hollywood Goes Online **

Six major movie studios recently announced their intentions
to start selling new-release movies via Internet download
from the site MovieLink.com.

But before you jump for joy at watching “Brokeback Mountain”
on your pc, understand a couple of facts.

You can’t burn the movie to DVD, and the downloadable films
carry a price tag of around $15-30, a price comparable or
more than a physical DVD you can purchase at Wal-Mart.

As a rabid DVD consumer and enthusiastic computer user (with
six in my home office alone), I can tell you right up front,
there is no way in @#$%* I’ll pay 20 bucks for a movie I
can’t “veg” out with in front of the TV.

Are they insane?

Until it gets to the point where you can download a new-
release movie, burn it to DVD or put it on your iPod,
downloadable flicks will remain, at best, a novelty.

–
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the
creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-
step and click-by-click how to finally create your own
money-making mini-sites…

-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up
Your OWN Moneymaking ‘Mini’ Websites… Without Being a
Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying
Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!”

Click Here => Money-Making Mini Sites
-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your
ezine, blog, autoresponder, or on your site so long as you
leave all links in place, do not modify the content and
include our resource box as listed above.

Feel free to join our affiliate program, substitute your
affiliate link in the resource box, and earn a healthy
commission on each sale…

Get the details here:
=> http://www.minisitecreator.com/affiliate.html

If you do use the material please send us a note
so we can take a look. Thanks.

© Guaranteed Response Marketing, LLC