Life Lesson for Internet Marketers

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:28:41 GMT

Acceptance, encouragement, and well wishes given from the heart of another person is always a wonderful gift. Today I received such a gift from such an unlikely source that it has prompted me to tell you of it. To me, the experience of which I'll tell you relates to Internet marketing because it demonstrates the very essence of 'relationship building'...the much talked about activity within Internet marketing circles.

I had a problem this morning. It was a rather large problem which was not within my power to solve. It involved a misunderstanding with a very large company whoes success or failure does not depend on my particular participation with them. There was no reason for this company to be caring about my problem. This was a problem which involved money. Noone knows better than I that a business is 'in business' to make money and, according to this company's records, I should pay them a large sum of money....well, it may not have seemed to be so much to someone else but for me, it was a bankrupting amount. I dreaded the contact with this company which was impossible to avoid and put it off for as long as possible.

I did the housework and the laundry. I cooked...enough for the next three days. I wrote letters. I checked on the community's sick people. I made a grocery list. I fed the pup and decided she needed some petting....she allowed it just for a minute but chose to play with a canine friend from next door. With nothing left to do except, maybe, wash the windows, it was finally time to bite the bullet and make the call.

That hateful, automated recording with the multiple choices was the first sound to be heard coming forth with a statement that all lines were busy...I could remain on hold but it might be better to call back at a latter time. Well, I'd come this far, so hold I would. After being entertained by the complete works of Bethovan, the automated system verified that I was still there and that I didn't intend to go away. Shortly thereafter I was delivered, electronically, to the first company representative who had to go through a verification process....are you who you say your are?...are you approved to conduct business with this account....oh, yes, just what is the account?....now, who did you say you were? After receiving a clearance which should allow me to work for the Pentegon, I was finally ask the reason for my call. By then, I'd almost forgotten, but I managed to stammer out the fact that I had a problem and didn't know what to do.

I was very serious about having a problem and needing help with it. The company representative realized that I was serious....about what, he still didn't know...but the tone of voice from the representative changed immediately. It came to mind that he might think I was suicidal. This person seemed to actually care about the fact that I had a problem, regardless of the nature of that problem. He gave reassurance immediately that the problem could be taken away if I could explain a little about the situation. With my explanation, he told me, honestly, that he was not the person who could provide help...he needed to send me to another person. Repeating himself several times with 'don't hang up', 'the transfer will take just a minute', 'this person can help you', he actually gave me hope and a reason to remain on the line for the transfer.

Representative number two began our conversation by verifying everything that had been previously verified. I asked him to actually look at the account so that he could see for himself where and when the problem had taken place. He did. After looking at it for just a moment, he took a firm stand. I could hardly believe it when he saw the problem for himself and immediately knew how to reverse all the activity that had led to the charges in question...but, he was not the one who could actually do that....hold on while he got a particular lady on the other line. He would remain on the line with us until he was sure she understood what was needed. As the connection was made, he verified with her that I was verified and then explained to her what the problem was and where the problem was located.

This third and last representative took charge. With a few clicks on her computer, she was able to eliminate all evidence that the problem ever existed and to issue a credit statement in the amount that was needed to clear all costs resulting from that problem. My mouth was open. This huge, profit making business, actually gave up money that they could have forced from me. These people... all of them...had taken me at face value. They had taken the problem out of my hands and had made it disappear. That was 'big'.

But, here is the real biggie....these three were real people working with a real person. They were willing to expose bits and pieces of themselves during our time together on the phone. It seems that the three of them and myself all had something we could relate to with each other. We could identify something within the other that opened a door for more self exposure and self awareness. When the call ended, I sat still for a while and rehearsed the items of information that had been revealed to me. I knew first names, race, geography, a home remodeling project, a teenaged son's car wreck, part time job, overweight problem, sister's divorce....the list went on. Each of these three people gave me the gift of themselves.

Real people working with real people. No one was trying to impress the other with more or better knowledge. There was a problem with all persons involved working to solve that problem. One person knew their limitations and passed the situation on to someone who didn't have those limitations. That person took time to look, listen and understand so that they could call in the person with the knowledge and power to solve the problem.

Isn't this an Internet marketing lesson? In making contact with a prospect, we don't have to know everything. We do need to listen and clearify any problems being related to us. Perhaps we can take care of the prospect's needs immediately. Maybe we need to honestly say we can't help but we know from where the help can come. The one, and only one, rule in contacting a prospect is to be openly and honestly who you are...just a person willing to work with another in problem solving activities.

This turned out to be a great day. I'm financially sound again (and all my housework is done!).

Dorothy Allen, Financial Stress Survivor Contact Email: Skype: DixieDays Phone: 601 510 3581 Marketing and Lead Generation for Serious Business Success Life Styles for Home and Business

Data Maintenance

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:28:23 GMT

Organized Data is Better

One of the first things I ask for help with when I started doing something on the Internet was 'organization'. The information piles up so fast that there needed to be some kind of system to keep up with what was there...to be able to put your hands on it without too much trouble.

The response I was given was that there is no system. Everyone figures it out for themselves. Well, that's O.K.....except for newbie's who haven't begun to understand the need for some type of retrieval system. It takes a lot of trial and error with various methods...meanwhile they are losing their stuff.

That's why I'm exposing my 'system' to you guys. Maybe it will help. If not, ignore it. Nothing lost.

Dorothy Allen's "System" 4 Organization

I use notepad...it's clean, flexible, easy to use. I started with a folder called 'My Info Stuff'...name it something that you'll remember. Inside that folder are other folders. They are labeled according to the type of information they contain. For instance, there's one labeled 'Resources'.

Inside 'Resources' I file the notepads appropriate to that file. One notepad may be labeled, 'Resources I use' Another might be labeled, 'Resources to Investigate'.

Now, on the note pad itself, is listed the 'Name of Resource' (Something you make up that you will recognize when you see it). Under the name of the resource, enter the url to the resource, the username and password if you had to sign up for it, date signed up (or used), where used (part of blog, website, ad-campaign, etc.)

Use the same notepad for the next item...here's what makes it easy... List your next item either above or below the present listing, depending on alphabetical order. Most of us know the ABC's, so when I'm looking for PayPal, I know it's going to be down the list about half way listed with other resources I've used beginning with the letter 'P'.

I usually put a dotted line between the individual resources just to help my vision realize that one listing has ended and another began.

There's no end to the number of folders that can be created and no end to the notepads within each folder if more categorization is needed.

As stated above, this is not the 'only way' to organize your information, but it is 'a way'."

Sincerely

Dorothy Allen
Skype: DixieDays Phone: 601 510 3581
Personal Email: drthyallen@gmail.com
Marketing and Lead Generation for Serious Business Success
Life Styles for Home and Business

Affiliate Marketing: Is It For You?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:47 GMT

Definition of 'Affiliation': "a social drive to be associated with others in 'interdependent relationships', involving 'using others for help or support' without making them responsible for problems: Adoption; association or reception as a member in or of the same group."

Upon reading that definition, it was apparent that no better description of the Veretekk Marketing and Lead Generation System is available. It is a group of like-minded people working together to accomplish a common Internet marketing goal. Any Newbie or Work at Home Mom will find this Group to be the right company to keep if being a successful Internet Affiliate Marketer is the ambition.

Large numbers of people seek legitimate work at home jobs. You may be one of them. The numbers increase daily. They wish to make money from home and are constantly searching for Work From Home ideas. When a serious search takes place, the amount of information is staggering. The act of sorting all that information can be exhausting and time consuming. This is another area where membership with the Veretekk Internet Marketing Group is extremely helpful. The group has the combined experience of all its members to draw from. Chances are that real opportunities can be identified for the new marketer.

It is suggested by active Internet marketers that Newbies who are making their first efforts at making money from home should consider affiliate marketing because it is easier and faster to produce income. It's important for me to say that Newbies who are reassured time and time again that they can be financially wealthy within a very short period of time should be careful about accepting that information. For a majority of those who make the beginning effort at promoting products from home, the promise of instant success and riches never happens.

There are a few beginners who manage to see through the fog of hype and false advertising. They come to an understanding of the type of activities required of them in order to make money from home. They realize that it takes consistent, time consuming, concentrated effort. Their success isn't accomplished overnight and dollars don't float from the sky in bucketfuls to be put in their pockets. Insight into how the internet works along with consistent, persistent effort can and does eventually bring income. It may even be a great income and the new Internet marketer may develop a claim to fame as an Internet marketing guru who then proceeds to mentor others as to how their success can come about.

An Internet marketer must have a product or service to work with The choice of product has been difficult for me. There are many independent work at home business men who women who are selling their own unique products, but there are many more who become affiliated with other businesses that actually own the products which are for sale. It has taken a long time for me to become acquainted with a particular product with which I 'relate'.....one that I can recommend whole hartedly and without hesitation. That's a good feeling to have toward something you intend to promote to the public.

This might be an area that needs further discussion. There is a well-known, successful marketer who told me that you find the product that will sell and then you learn to love that product. I found that advice contrary to my particular personality. Again, that's probablly a fault. But, it has been a big enough fault to hold me back for quite a long time. Finally, a product that I, personally, could love came along and now I can actually do promotions, sell the product, and feel very good about the entire process. The other successful marketer could feel good about it if the product sold regardless of how he, personally, felt about it. Can you say which of us is right or wrong?

The job of the work at home Internet marketing affiliate is to send buyers to the purchase site of the product. For doing this, the work at home affiliate receives a percentage of the total sale. Affiliate marketing has become extremely popular and rightfully so. As a work at home Internet Marketing affiliate, there is no responsibility for acquiring the product , shipping the product, or even for managing the transfer of funds for the sale. The amount of income per sale for the Internet marketing affiliate may not be high, but one Work at Home Mom can promote numerous products. The good income results from multiple lines of product sales.

The general public is discovering the ease of purchasing products or services for themselves by using the Internet with electronic transfer of funds. The affiliate Internet marketer makes money when he brings the attention of the purchaser to the product desired to be purchased.

There are marketing systems which specialize in getting the attention of prospective populations for which particular products are beneficial. It has been very good for me, personally, to become educated about marketing by groups like Veretekk, 200BluePrint, and Crazy Foxes Internet Marketing Group. I am comfortable with the knowledge that these groups have exposed me to the how-to, the techniques, the tools, the writing, the prospecting, reverse marketing, cold calling, and most anything else connected with promoting a product. I dare say that the college education gave me no more to work with than these groups have.

The amount of work needed for Internet marketing can be intimidating. The how-to-do-its are never ending and much emphasis is placed on training the Internet marketing affiliate in multiple ways of marketing. Eventually, the new marketer either gives up or becomes comfortable with his own way of working. It becomes evident that there is not one perfect way to market a product. It also becomes evident that one person cannot do everything. By choosing those activities that work for himself and continuing his efforts, the affiliate Internet marketer becomes a success at making money from home.

As always, your questions and comments are considered a gift.

Sincerely

Dorothy Allen
Skype: DixieDays Phone: 601 510 3581
Personal Email: drthyallen@gmail.com
Marketing and Lead Generation for Serious Business Success
Life Styles for Home and Business

Homespun Attitude

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:17:51 GMT

Homespun Attitude From the Heart

With an amount of time passing, I've come to understand how it is possible that some readers may have gotten the idea that my particular attitude toward the rumored recession and rampantly failing financial situations is somewhat flippant. This statement is a rebuttal to comments which were not actually received but which may have been justified by the phrasing of the opinion that the Recession had nothing to do with me.

In most cases, when there is an attitude, or a stern opinion, expressed by an individual, there is most certainly a pretty good story....an event in the individual's life which created that attitude. That's certainly true of my own attitudes and opinions.

Not to get too deep into the psychology of human nature, we need only say here that people learn from experiences beginning in earliest childhood. An action causes a reaction. When the same action brings the same reaction repeatedly, an individual develops an attitude toward the action....that action is either liked and sought, or it's thought of as hurtful and avoided. The opinion of liking or disliking a particular action becomes part of the person's fundamental thinking processes forming behavioral patterns that last the life of the person.....unless an intervention of some kind takes place which proves to the person that a different reaction, attitude and/or opinion is more appropriate to the person's belief system as expressed by their thinking process and behavioral pattern. Got it? I've written a short essay called 'Truth' which is also confusing!

The previous words were used simply to express that there is a reason for my attitude regarding Recession and financial survival. I don't have that thing...the element, or mental ability.... inside of me which is required to worry about money and physical possessions. The reason I can't become overly concerned is that money and/or 'stuff' has always been available whenever it was needed. I honestly cannot tell you from where it has come, but it shows up when it's needed....and from the most surprising places.

It was only a few years ago, as the children were becoming adults, having completed their physical growth and having received all the advice about socially acceptable behavior as well as tips on retaining good character in a not-always-caring worldly environment, that an explanation concerning the acquisition of goods....physical things as well as actual money.... came to me. I remember thinking that I had failed my children in a crucial way by not teaching them about the way in which our family needs had been met throughout out lives. Being very naive, maybe I had thought everyone's survival was accomplished in this same way so that, being such a common occurrence, no discussion was needed or expected. It has to be that the children were taught by example because they go forward in the same way....with no name for it and having no words to explain it, this wondrous thing.....the ebb and flow of worldly goods that comes and goes keeping time, exactly, with the changing needs of an evolving little family....it continues in their lives as well as mine.

Time has passed and I've done some study. Maybe there is something unusual going on... not unusual to me because it's the norm. But for others, it seems unusual. There are many who do seek explanation. I'm afraid that the explanation won't come from me. All the thinking and reading about it has yet to create the comprehension needed to explain it to others. Understand that there is no 'pride' in these statements. These provided resources were, and are, gifts for which I am, and will be, eternally grateful.

There are times when I think that trying to explain IT only reduces the grandness of IT. I think of holding a beautiful flower in my hand, and in trying to define how and why it is beautiful, I rub and pull on the petals to get deeper into the mystery of it. Then, with each effort to get more understanding of its beauty, more damage is done to it so that, in the end, the flower is destroyed , the beauty is gone and no understanding was gain after all. We see young children do this with their valued toys. They remove pieces and parts trying to get to the secret of how it works only to have pleasure ruined.

'The Secret", "The Science of Getting Rich", "The Theory of Manifestation", "Pay It Forward", "The Master Key"..........all of these attempt to create an understanding of the very real happenings I've witnessed. Still, there's something missing. Books are written, speeches are made, instruction manuals are provided, and pulpits are filled with speakers trying to teach a pattern of behavior which will bring money and material possessions into the life of the seeker. I have no words to dispute those teachings and descriptions. But, like the Recession, I can understand these things in my head but I don't feel them in my heart and I can't put my finger on the place in my life where IT lives.

IT lives within, everywhere within. IT's a thought, ITt's a reaction to need, it's not a secret but it's not talked openly. There is no doubt that IT is meeting the need, as the need arises......and IT's taken for granted....assumed. No thought about how IT works exists. In fact, there's no thinking about IT at all. There's just accepting, undoubting assurance that as a need arises, the resources needed will be available. Please remember that I speak of 'need' and not, necessarily, of 'want'.

For the lack of an external explanation that I can hold on to, I've associated it with a religious phrase. I call IT living in Faith. It never crosses my mind that there will be a shortage of anything needed for my family. I remember a time or two wondering where something would come from because it wasn't a common need to be met at that time -- we needed a hospital bed (electric with side rails and a particular mattress) -- but there was never a doubt that it would come to us when the time was right, and it did.

The action of needing, the reaction of having that need met, the attitude of unquestioned belief in the reaction, the creation of an opinion that needs will be met........that's why I spoke of the Recession as if it were some obsolete illness which had already been cured long ago.

The act of sitting down and making a list of things I want and then concentrating on that list until it comes to me.......I cant' do that.....I don't 'want' anything.....nor do I 'want for' anything. It seems very real to me that a general recession can't touch any of this.

How does this all relate to Internet Marketing and my place in that world? I don't know. I don't even care. I do know I'm here. I don't think it's an accident. I believe the 'Wondrous Meeter of Needs' is preparing me for something. My preparation is an ongoing process

The process of preparation is in itself entertaining and interesting. Other people, also being prepared for something, have shared their lives and ambitions and have become real friends in mind-to-mind and heart-to-heart affiliations. Our existing selves, intertwined in this way, leave me to wonder if we are to achieve something together. Are we the ones to set examples for others to follow? Are we becoming a 'cyber rescue unit' for those others who actually are being hurt by recession? Time will tell. The direction has been set and the path is being followed. Interesting, isn't it? I wonder where it all goes. One day, I'll tell you from where it came. In looking back, one has to recognize that this is a planned trip. There has been nothing haphazard about it.

Dorothy Allen, Fellow Space and Time Traveler and Financial Stress Survivor
Contact Skype: DixieDays Phone: 601 510 3581
Marketing and Lead Generation for Serious Business Success
Acquire Benefits Group
CrazyFoxes Internet Marketing Network

Recession? What Recession? Where?

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:32:40 GMT

Recession? What Recession? Where?

History is being written presently. The notes will continue for a while marking this action, or that, from dignitaries within and without the government as they attempt to make a place of recognition for themselves during this fluctuation of America's economy.

From where I sit, it's almost a theatrical production...repeating an old plot...with much fan-fare, hub-bub, and to-do. The scenario, this time, will be painfully slow in unfolding. We can distinguish the characters in this production by the role they play. The good guys (white hat boys) will have bright white teeth shown continuously behind never ending wide smiles. These are the happy news fellows who see only sunshine and good times ahead. On the other side are the doomers and gloomers with turned down lips and worry lines creating the look of ruined finery...symbols of sweetness and goodness having run amuck leaving a muddy trail behind them.

There are other groups of characters in this scenario that are clearly recognizable also. There's the big eyed, palms out, hurtful expression players of the game who are saying 'I didn't do it! It's not my fault.' And, there's the stuffed shirts, hands in pockets, strutters who go around saying, "I told you so! But, no. You wouldn't listen. So, look at you now!"

Another group of players. resembling a group of high school students on science fair day, pop up once in a while with their large glasses, the clipboards, wearing suits looking much like lab coats. Their job is to propose actions to be taken which should, by all the theoretical data available, turn this economy around. Of course, there is a duplication of this group with contrary theories who are shouting about dire consequences should we be so stupid as to follow the ideas of the first group.

While the people described above are up there doing their thing, the rest of us are here, where we've always been, doing what we've always done....surviving. All the chatter about the 'condition', all the finger pointing, all the preliminary studies about making things right....none of that has anything to do with those of us who don't have the time, nor energy, to waste on the useless activity.

I don't think many of us have been asked what we need as help, nor what we think about any of this. But, we're told, those people are working hard on our behalf. We're not to worry because they are making things right. Am I the only one who thinks that the best thing any of them can do for us, the survivors, is to get out of our way? I truly believe that the fixers speak a different language from those for whom they are fixing things . They speak of wheat futures....we speak of the cost of a loaf of bread. They speak of the price of a barrel of oil...we speak of how much it cost for a gallon of gas. They speak of real-estate coming down in value...we see the monthly fee for rent being raised again. We may as well be working on completely different sets of economic problems.

It's obvious to you at this point that I surely do not understand the economy or how to fix it. But, there are certain things that we, as individuals and as survivors, can do....will do...to carry on with the life and the traditions which we hold dear. Like others of you who have spoken here, I don't recognize the words depression, recession, slow economy, stock market crashes....none of that has anything to do with my daily life.

Survivors, we are. The ingenious ways in which we develop strategies to survive are really more fun that solving the economic thing. I don't have it in me to worry one minute about it. Why? Well, there's nothing I, personally, can do about it.Then, I don't really believe it. Next, I don't depend on it. Also, the most precious things in this life are not affected by it...family, friends, the grandbaby's sweet smile, my pup's devotion.

I realize that the economy is serious business. Perhaps I should think about it once in a while. But, I have more important things to do just now, such as writing this little essay and clipping the coupons for tomorrow grocery store trip. Then I have to prepare for the guests arriving this weekend to stay all through the holidays. There's that spot on the back 40 I wanted them to see during their stay this time.

The recession is just going to have to wait a while if it wants me to take part. I don't have time.

Dorothy Allen
A Working Mom and A Financial Stress Survivor
Skype: DixieDays Phone: 601 510 3581
Benefits for People, by People
Email: drthyallen@gmail.com

Communication

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:27:07 GMT

Lots of people look at that word, communication, and wonder what all the big to-do is about. Communicate. Big Deal! Open your mouth and speak...or, take up the pencil and write...or, sit at the computer and send an email...or...

It's true that many methods of communication exist today. The various ways in which to communicate are becoming more each day with the evolution of technology. But, just because there is a physical means to communicate does not mean that communication has taken place.

The definition of the word, communication, tells us that the act of communicating means the passing of information from one mind to another mind. So, regardless of the effort being made, if the information is not actually passed to another mind, you have not communicated.

With our young children, we wait patiently and insistently for them to receive the information being transmitted to them as we repeatedly try to communicate the word 'no'.

It is obvious that the information doesn't reach the young mind...we did not communicate...in the beginning. It takes repeated efforts and, at times, some type of behavioral reinforcement, before communication of that bit of information is successful.

For us, as marketers, the need to communicate is fundamental to the success of our business. Telephoning, emailing, blasting ads, rotating in traffic exchanges...all of these are simply ways in which we are trying to communicate. Getting someone's attention first... having someone recognize that we are attempting to transmit information... and then, to have that someone actually receive the information we are transmitting.... for us, that is communication at it's highest level.

What the someone actually does, or doesn't do, with the information we've communicated is, in a way, a communication of it's own. There will be a response to the received information. The buying of our product is the highest level of positive response to our communication. Taking no action at all concerning our information is the highest level of negative response. It may not be possible for the marketer to have proof of the response level in-between those two extremes. Chances are, the receiver of the information actually thinks about what has been communicated and then puts that thought process to one side as they consider other communications.

It is said that a sale usually doesn't take place until after the 6th, 7th, 8th time of being exposed to the information. With that understood, it is to the marketers best interest to continue efforts at communication to the same market group for some period of time before changing direction. The addition of some kind of positive reinforcement may aid in the reception of transmitted information... something like a downloadable freebie or a certificate of discount.

I hope this bit of 'education' concerning communication will be helpful to other Work at Home Moms such as myself.

Dorothy Allen, A Work From Home Mom
Email: drthyallen@gmail.com
Skype: DixieDays Phone: 601 510 3581
CrazyFoxex Marketing Specialists
Best Ever Marketing and Lead Generation
Life Styles for Home and Business