It amazes me when 10 days go by, in a flash mind you, and I realize I haven’t posted to this blog. The fact is there has been a ton of activity online and off, with the arrival of my newest service Impact Advertising, along with increased activity over at Whole-Hog-Blogs.

That doesn’t take into account the numerous phone calls and emails I get throughout the day. I, unlike those “millionaire gurus,” work, work, work online – and regardless of what they claim you do not have to do, it’s all b.s. You must work to get things done.

Ever had a “reality” job? One outside the virtual world? Do you think the employer would allow you to show up and just sit there for 8 to 10 hours doing nothing? Yeah, I didn’t think so (and if you DO know of a job like that, let me know LOL!).

Actually living in Nevada, we feel the pain of the economy I believe worse then most other places in the U.S. And, pretty soon, we’ll also be feeling the heat – not because our legislature is capable of making any decent decision on how to run the State – but because summer is coming.

Our spring lasts from a few days to – if we’re lucky – a couple of weeks. Then BAM! It’s into the 100s and stays there well past the time most folks are starting to experience autumn.

For those online, now is the time to really hunker down and get to work. Whether you outsource some of your marketing and advertising or choose to continue going it alone (or in team packs if you’re part of that sort of affiliate program), now is not the time to drop your guard. I’ve watched too many people work during those “cold winter days” and nights, only to be suckered away from their keyboards as the “nice weather” sets in.

That’s not to say you don’t, and shouldn’t, take a break every now and then. But just do yourself a favor and avoid the “great now I have to start all over” syndrome when fall hits and you’ve let everything slide. Now that’s depressing (and costly)!

Okay, it’s back to work for me and thanks for taking the time to read.

DO NOT FORGET that COMMENTING and leaving your name and link to your website is the smart strategy!

Commenting on blogs has got to be one of the best ways to generate back links to your own website and/or blog. The simple act of reading a post, looking for the Comment link or button, filling in the fields with your name, an email address that is never used, and the all-important link to your web site makes sense not only link-building wise, but it also enhances your own reputation online.

Another tool to add while you comment is an Avatar that represents either yourself or your website or just a symbol to associate you with the image.

From the Wordpress web site:

According to the Gravatar.com website, Gravatars are Globally Recognized Avatars, or an “avatar image that follows you from weblog to weblog appearing beside your name when you comment on gravatar enabled sites.” You register with the Gravatar server, and upload an image which you will use as your avatar. The gravatar image is keyed to your email address, so that it is unique to you.

From the Gravatar.com site itself:

Your Gravatar is an image that follows you from site to site appearing beside your name when you do things like comment or post on a blog. Avatars help identify your posts on blogs and web forums, so why not on any site?

If you click on the title of this (or any) post, you’ll easily get to the commenting section. This post also shows either the number of people who have posted a comment or – in the case of a brand new, not yet responded to post – a No Comment. You click on that link and you are taken to the area where you can add your two cents.

Adding an image further enhances your online presence. And Gravatars are a simple way to do that. So not only is commenting FREE, but an excellent linking building and personal or product name branding recognition marketing method.

Just be sure that you comment on what you read. Comments that are nothing but ads are considered spam and are deleted.

It’s your time involved – but a free marketing strategy to use. Make good use of your time and make yourself stand out from the crowd by signing up for, and using, your Gravatar.

(Note: Blogs and forums that allow gravatars will automatically detect and pull in yours. You don’t have to do anything other than signup, for free, for your own gravatar.)

(P.S. The new services ARE coming. Just final testing and tweaking going on.)

The other night I was watching the end of one show which lead into (obviously) the next. It was an “intervention” documentary and, frankly, after about five minutes or so I just had to turn the channel. However, those first five minutes were definitely eye-opening!

The segment of the show I watched featured an older man (family man) who was so far gone on pain killers and the like that he actually believed AND SENT information from emails we all tend to receive. You know (hopefully) the ones I’m talking about:

o The President of Country X is going into exile and needs your help stashing his billions. All you need to do is send your banking information so he can hide his money. Then when he’s safely out of the country, and collects, he’ll give you a nice fat bonus for having helped him out.

o You’ve Won! Somehow, though you never actually entered any contest anywhere, you are the grand recipient of a million dollars. All you need do is… well read the above.

The thing is… this guy BELIEVED all this! He’d already lost over $600,000 and was STILL doing it.

Of course the devastation on his family was tragic, and watching the guy was heart-wrenching. So that’s when I turned the channel. (I can only hope that putting the guy into rehab worked.)

But having watched even the small portion that I did served a purpose, at least for me. There are way too many scams out there, and even more people willing to believe just about anything.

Should you find a program that sounds legitimate, exciting or even just too good to be true, you do have resources at your disposal:
continue reading "Scams Know Them When You See Them"

According to studies run by the folks over at Getresponse (an autoresponder I use myself), sending personalized emails has its up side and its down side.

They analyzed over 53,000 of their own messages sent out to their massive list over a three month time period (September to December 2009). Evidence appeared to suggest – at first glance – that personalizing the subject line was the way to go.

However, upon further inspection (really digging down into their tracking) they discovered what most internet marketers would call “alarming” information.
continue reading "Too Personal? That Just Might Be Your Problem"

As the year winds down, it’s time to start thinking and planning and implementing for the New Year. Ask yourself, “Wouldn’t it be great to actually be an info marketing wizard?!”

Let’s start your New Year out right, shall we? So much plain crap circulates around the net about making money online. The sad truth is that too many people actually believe it.

So let’s take a look at just three (3) – there are plenty more, trust me – myths you need to rethink:
continue reading "Info Marketing Wizard Planning Now For 2010"