How many times have you paid more than you feel you should to get information you know you must have to be successful online?

The beauty of it all is that you do not have to do this – it’s ridiculous really – when online marketing and advertising how to’s and more exist right now at paper back prices.

Trust me, I have two large computer hard drives – no make that three – stockpiled with all the “advice” and “secrets” and (supposed) “directions” every marketer and advertiser needs to know. Many, many, many of them I paid WAY too much for… rehashes of the same old same old. Sad imitations of (existing Private Label Rights (PLR)?) copy either never modified or not modified enough. In other words, extremely generic information too basic to justify its expense (if new I’d be willing to pay, but not be gouged… and I’m not new to all this).

So what do I do? I rely on staying on top of things in an economical fashion.

For instance, this weekend my Dime Sale running includes seven (7) reports, up to 350 internet usage tactics, covering: (more…)

It’s hard enough nowadays without some separate entity deciding what’s worth printing and what’s not. I’m not going to mention this third party company by name, but it’s fair to say my frustration level with them is rising by the second.

Typically some bloggers do make posts for other companies in return for payment. This blog occasionally posts these types of promotions after careful consideration. I don’t just post willy nilly, it has to make some sort of sense for me to share it with you. However, when stupid “rules and regulations” get in the way, making a post invalid, it is immensely frustrating. The average advertiser wants 100 to 200 words. I regularly post 300 to 600 words about their company. (more…)

A reoccurring theme on this site is money – specifically of the “how to” variety. So today’s post provides you with another resource to check into – a how to get paid to blog. This can be (and is) lucrative for many. However, that said, you should be aware that Sponsored Blogging (Is) Not As Easy As It Seems.

A quick check of Wikipedia reveals numerous facts you should be aware of: (more…)

I’ve been meaning to write this post for several days now, ever since I read an article in our Las Vegas Review Journal dated Monday, February 16th. In fact, it’s been sitting on my desk just waiting for the right moment to go from paper pile to post.

What really caught my attention was the headline, “Cultural differences: Economic values may explain why businesses owned by Chinese-Americans are faring well in the recession.”

We see all too often people pulling away from the very thing they should be doing during down times or slow times or tough times – especially online. The energy exerted to build a business is tamped down (or shut down) in the hopes that somehow, magically, sales will continue – in spite of no advertising or marketing.

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Here’s something that very well may (and should) change your perspective on “should I or shouldn’t I be advertising and marketing or even blogging?”

“The fortunes of a newspaper published out of a second-floor Chinatown Plaza office may give us insight into differing attitudes about money and ways of surviving tough economic times.

In a time when a 162-year-old national news chain such as the Tribune Co. file for bankruptcy protection, the Las Vegas Chinese Daily News is actually growing, fueled by an increase in advertising. The paper has gone from 16 to as many as 36 pages since printing its first copy five years ago.”

The article goes into further details by defining how different cultures view our current times; “…many Chinese business owners consider a time of economic stress a time to spend money on advertising.”

This advertising “outlook” is considered to be a definite separation of U.S. and Chinese cultures. Where the former sees nothing but doom and gloom when it comes to doing business, the latter are taking advantage of great rates and exceptional deals. These factors also attribute to the fact that over 20,000 valley residents of Chinese heritage are surviving the highest unemployment rates in a generation.

“Chinese attitudes about money include the notion of saving profits and growing slowly, instead of leveraging long lines of credit and expanding rapidly, several business owners said.”

Now here’s the best part, and what I’d really like you to come away with (having read this post… thank you):

“The Chinese rely more on what is known as a relational economy, compared to Americans, who function more in a “me economy.” The Chinese system is based more on, “I do something for you, you do something for me,” with everyone being on the same level.”

Sounds a lot like the Golden Rule applied with a fine paint brush to the art of keeping customers coming back by treating them right.

So if you’re asking yourself, “Is now a good time to slow down with my marketing and advertising?” we think it best to tell you the answer is no.

Recovering lost ground is costly.

Instead, plan and budget for an amount comfortable (and affordable) for you in today’s economy. Be it $10 or $1000, keep your business plans afloat and keep them growing.

We’ve said it before and we’ll keep on saying it. The internet waits for no man, woman, or child. Let up for even a tiny bit of time and your competitors are going to sweep right over you.

Your wise move is again budgeting. Keep your ads out there, continue investing your time and energy, too.

These rough times will not last forever, even if (in the moment) the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t shine very brightly.

Stay on top of what you’ve been doing, and when the sunshine hits, you’ll be well positioned – ahead of your competition – in the months and years to come.