Article marketing, or promotion through free publication of your articles, is by far my favourite online marketing strategy for online exposure and search engine optimisation. It is highly effective to boost your profile, generate qualified leads and drive traffic to your website. Best of all, it’s free and has long-lasting results.

So, what the benefits of Article Marketing?

1.     Positioning

By generously sharing your unique information, you can elevate your status from ‘Knowledgeable’ to ‘Expert’ and position yourself among celebrities. Not only people prefer buying from Experts but they’re also willing to pay more for their products and services. So, why not stand out and command higher fees?

2.     Pre-selling

Although this is the most important reason for writing articles, it ranks second on this list because you first need to build you credibility and earn your reader’s trust before selling.

Compare your article to a song you hear on the radio. If you like the song, you rush to the shop and buy the CD. You trust the CD to be good based on only one song.

Likewise, if people like your article, they’ll follow the link to your website to subscribe to your newsletter, buy a product online or contact you. The article serves as a sample that pre-sells your products and services.

3.     Readily available material

If you know your business well, you already have this unique information on hand. It’s a matter of putting together a series of articles using your wealth of knowledge. And if you hate writing, why don’t you talk in a microphone and send your recordings to a freelance editor or ghostwriter for transcription and editing?

4.     Viral marketing

Like a virus, your article can spread fast around the internet. Should someone like your article enough to share, it will travel quickly by email and social media. Viral Marketing or online word-of-mouth is perhaps the best credible and no-cost spin-off of Article Marketing.

5.     Long-lasting benefits

You only need to write your article once to benefit from unlimited online exposure. Your articles will continue to be displayed on websites and web search results for many years to come without requiring any effort or money on your part. Unlike PPC (Pay Per Click) listings, your incoming traffic doesn’t depend on money spent on bidding campaigns.

6.     Organic Search Engine Results

Your articles will be listed under the ‘organic’ search engine results. These are based on relevance to the keywords searched. Organic search results are perceived to be unbiased and therefore more credible than paid ones e.g. PPC adverts. This could be likened to the credibility of newspaper articles versus paid adverts. Research reveals that 70% of web users click on organic search engine results versus 30% on paid listings.

7.     Search Engine Optimisation

The number of backlinks or incoming links to your site will increase with each site publishing your article. In Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), the number of backlinks is an indication of the popularity of a site and determines the website ranking on Web Search Engine results. So the more backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank on web search results.

8.     Free publicity

Usually with publicity, you have no say on what people publish about you. For example, journalists edit interviews to suit their needs.  But with Article Marketing, you write your own promotion in the Resource Box. It becomes a cross between publicity and advertising. The content of the article publicises your expertise and the Resource Box advertises your business. Because you generously share your information, people are receptive to your advertising.

9.     Lead Generation

Each time your article is published on blogs, email newsletters and other sites, you gain a new source of qualified leads coming to your website through the link from your Resource Box. Can you imagine how many people you can reach this way? For one reprint in an email newsletter, you can already gain instant exposure to 100s and 1,000s subscribers, depending on the size of the list.

10.  Revenue generation

You can create a new income stream from your website with Google AdSense and affiliate programs when you place their adverts beside your articles. With affiliate programs, you’ll receive a commission for each sale generated through your affiliate link and with Google AdSense, you’ll get a commission for each click on text links or banners.

11.  Recyclable resource

Publishing your articles will force you into a writing discipline and will give you a better indication of what people like to read. What articles are most read? From this market research and source of material, you can instantly create popular products such an e-course or an ebook that you can sell or give away for free to build your list.

12.  Sense of achievement

On a personal level, you’ll find that writing articles will help you clarify your mind and provide you with a fulfilling sense of pride and achievement long after you’ve written them. And as you become an authority in your field, you’ll gain special recognition and respect from friends and colleagues.

Can you find a cheaper way to promote your business with such valuable long-lasting results?

Abstract from Speed Article Marketing: Unleash the Expert Within and Take the Competitive Lead 

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Would you like to add a new program or course to your portfolio with minimal effort?

Buying a licence for an established product could be an excellent alternative to creating a new product from scratch.

 Here’s when this option would be worthwhile considering:

1. Urgency: You need an instant product NOW. Your existing clients are keen to hire you for more work but you’ve gone through your repertoire. You have no time to create a new product.
2. Priorities: You don’t want to spend time on product development because this means you’ll have less time for immediate earning activities. Mortgage repayments and children upbringing expenses can sometimes get in the way!
3. Risk management: You don’t like taking risks. Why invest time and money on re-inventing the wheel when a similar product exists on the market. New product development doesn’t come with a guarantee of success.  
4. Money: You might not have the financial resources to start your product from scratch considering the associated costs e.g. market research and marketing. Developing a new product can be financially draining especially as the timeframe can be unpredictable.
5. Credibility: You don’t have the academic qualifications, experience or reputation to back up your new product. Offering a branded product could boost your credibility and bottom line. 
6. Training: You might be starting a new career in the training or coaching industry and need training wheels. Support from the Licensor and fellow Licensees can be not only reassuring but vital.
7. Self-confidence: You don’t believe that you have the skills and abilities to create a top product at least… not yet.  
8. Maintenance hassle: You don’t want to be involved in product upgrades or accreditation issues. Delegate this worry to the Licensor!
9. Marketing: You’re not interested or have the knowledge to market your new product. This is often where people fail. They can’t market their own products.  
10. No ripples: You don’t want any change to the way you operate your business. Unlike a franchise, you can announce a new product but it’s ‘business as usual’ with … a new point of attraction.

Creating a new product is very satisfying but let’s face it, it’s not all rosy. You need time, money and persistence.

Keep an eye on the Franchises & Licences category for new licences coming available in the Australian Speaking, Training and Coaching Industry alternatively look at the New Business Opportunities on the Australian Training Guide.

 P.S. Like with any other agreement, always check credentials, figures and fine print before signing on the dotted line.

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Loan*Calculator! Plus v2.6 includes seven easy-to-use calculators in 1 program.

• Loan calculator
• Compound/Simple Interest & Calendar Math calculator
• Remaining Balance calculator
• Accelerated Payment calculator
• Balloon Payment calculator
• Amortization Schedule (Basic)
• Refinance Advisor

The program is easy to use. Just start it up, select a calculator and answer the questions by filling in the-blanks. Click on the [CALC] button and you’ll have an instant answer to your question. The results from any calculator can be copied to the clipboard for inclusion in another program including email or printed to any printer. Additionally, you can run multiple instances of a calculator in order to make fast side-by-side comparisons.

They also included an easy uninstall option in the event that you try this program and decide that it is not to your liking. Loan*Calculator! Plus fully supports Windows Add/Remove program feature.

Loan*Calculator! Plus is FREE for personal use and runs on Windows 98, 98SE, ME, NT 4.0, 2000 as well as all versions of Windows XP and VISTA.

Try Loan*Calculator! Plus™

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Son, if you really want something in life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They’re about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

Working hard is not enough to secure your financial future.

How many people bet on the lotto to pay off their house, take holidays or simply finance a comfortable retirement?

Well, you’ve guess it … millions!

 What is MAP?

The Master Achiever Program (MAP) is a personal money management roadmap to help people reach their goals and objectives.

This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s about ordinary people learning to channel their personal wealth to make their dreams come true without lotto win or any other windfall.

“The foundation of wealth is sound money management”, says Kevin Gibbs, Director of Qwest Money Management Systems.

MAP was designed by professionals in the financial services (banking, accounting and financial planning) over a period of nine years. It covers financial education including debt reducing strategies, reporting without budgeting and forecasting.

Through MAP, clients experience a liberating feeling of being in control of their financial future as debts reduce and money becomes available for lifestyle choices.

The role of the Licensee is to simply guide the client through the comprehensive step-by-step Master Achiever Program.

Master Achiever Program business opportunities:

1.  Stand-alone Business: You can start a new career as a Financial Coach and make the Master Achiever Program your core business.
2.  Add-on Product: If you’re already a Business Coach, you can integrate the Master Achiever Program in your coaching program.
3.  Follow-up Coaching Program: If you teach wealth creation, you can use the Master Achiever Program in a follow-up coaching program. MAP becomes the money management blueprint, the first step to accumulating wealth.

Do you qualify for a Master Achiever Program licence?

“What all licensees have in common is a true love of helping people and a thorough understanding of the principles of effective money management. Interestingly some of the most successful licensee’s come from a non finance background… their explanation for their success is that they’ve not been brainwashed!” says Kevin Gibbs.

Here’s the link to create your roadmap to a new source of income Qwest Money Management Systems, creator of the Master Achiever Program

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I came across a powerful way to determine how much to charge in the book  How to Make One Hell of a Profit and Still Get to Heaven from Dr John F. Demartini.

Here’s how it goes…

The lady asks Dr John. “I want to position myself at the top of the market, but I don’t know what the fees are up there. How do I decide how much to charge for a one-day corporate training that isn’t too much or too little?”

Dr John answers: “I can give you the exact price, but you have to answer some questions for me.”

“Is it a dollar?

Of course not.

Is it $100?

No way.

Is it $500?

You mean I just have to decide?

No, just watch what happens. Is it $1,000?

No.

Is it $2,000?

Nope.

Is it $4,000?

No.

Is it $5,000?

Um, no.

Is it $6,000?

Too high.

Is it $5,500?

Yes. Actually $5,600 feels exactly right. Thanks very much.”

The fee you charge reflects your self-worth. As your self-confidence grows, your income will follow.

Big EGO, plump fees?

P.S. Be realistic. Skills, knowledge and experience do matter!

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How much should you charge? Calculate your hourly rate based on your costs, number of billable hours and desired profit. But remember that your hourly rate should always take into account factors like market demand, industry standards, skill level and experience - things that unfortunately we can’t put into a calculator!

Try Freelance Switch Calculator Hourly Rate Calculator

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Have you notice how people react differently to Let’s do it!?

Some will take action NOW, some will assess the situation and overcome obstacles even before they present themselves, some will stand back and wait for instructions, etc…

Gaining insights on the natural behaviour of people and learning to appreciate diversity save time, frustrations and conflicts.

In your role as a Trainer or Coach, would you like to

•  Take the guesswork out of client’s behaviour style and achieve greater success, much quicker?
• Position yourself as a highly efficient and professional Coach or Trainer?
• Boost your credibility with insights based on unbiased assessments?

DISC can fast track successful outcomes in your training or coaching business and build you an enviable reputation as an insightful, efficient Trainer or Coach.

DISC is a personality report or inventory used worldwide in the training and coaching industry to assess natural behaviour styles. DISC is the acronym for the four behaviour styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness.

Applied in corporate, business and personal situations the DISC inventory can lead to professional and personal insights.

By assessing behavioural styles before suggesting solutions, you’ll be able to design valuable training and coaching program in line with your clients’ strengths and motivations and therefore, produce impressive results in less time.

As a Coach, DISC will enable to

• Manage expectations
• Set the ideal learning environment
• Understand what motivates your client
• Communicate effectively and build stronger rapport
• Suggest realistic and achievable strategies in line with your client’s personality.

As a Trainer, DISC will enable you to

• Understand the dynamic of the group and maximise teamwork
• Take full advantage of the group’s diversity
• Improve communication skills
• Create a climate of trust and respect between participants
• Learn to deal with difficult or disengaged participants.

On a personal level, DISC will help you to:

• Better understand your strengths and shortcomings
• Be more tolerant of other behavioural styles and appreciate diversity 
• Adapt your style to your client or audience
• Gain self-confidence by being able to backup your claims with a proven industry tool
• Become more efficient. You’ll be able to quickly tap into people’s strengths to achieve successful end results.

Professionalism and efficiency are highly valued by clients. Adding DISC to your Trainer or Coach toolkit will give you the competitive edge and take your personal training and coaching business to the next level. 

Resources:

How to Use the DiSC to Be More Effective Every Day

: A cheat sheet from www.Manager-tools.com

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82 PROVEN Strategies to SNATCH BACK 5-10 Hours a Week …No Matter HOW Disorganised You Are! is a free ebook written by Angie Spiteri, Australian time management expert.

You’ll find 82 techniques, strategies, tips and tricks tested across different industries and personal styles. They address common time stealing issues that people suffer from yet don’t quite know how to overcome.

You do not have to read this book from cover to cover. Why waste time? All you need to do is refer to the index, find your particular challenge or problem you will find some very easy to implement solutions.

Can you image yourself doing nothing else than relaxing? (By the way, this ebook is not only for people in the speaking, training or coaching industry.)

Download this time management free book (no registration required).

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 “If I reduce my fee, I’ll take more bookings and make more money.”

This statement assumes…

• People buy on price.
• Cheaper price means more profits.

Will you really sell more? If so, will you make more money?

What you need to consider is that your expenses to provide the service remains the same, the discount is taken solely from your profits.

If your booking sells for $200 and your expenses are $50.  You’ll then make a profit of $150.

If you give 25% discount, you make $100 profit. So to make $300 profit, you must now sell 3 bookings instead of 2. Will you sell more bookings to compensate?

Discounting is a practice that has spread through the internet with eBay and last minute deal sites.

It can work as a lead generation strategy if you have financial back-up or sell from the platform. It can also be used for a ‘last time offer’ training or speaking event.

But you’re on shaky grounds if you intend to use ‘discounting’ as a long term marketing strategy for extra bookings. You may be spiraling down and squeezing yourself out of the market.

Here’s why.

Discounting…

1. Cheapens your product. Your unique course is downgraded to a commodity. Your ‘life-enhancing’ course becomes a mere transaction.
2. Reduces your profit margin. How will you generate the income to grow your business and fund your desired lifestyle if your profit margin is eroded?
3. Raises doubt in the mind of clients. Was the service overpriced in the first place?
4. Attracts bargain hunters. At any time, those clients will defect for a better offer. By charging two different fees for the same service, you are at risk of losing loyal full fee paying clients who represent a better lifetime value.
5. Reduces the number of full fee bookings. “Why should I pay full price? I’ll wait for a last minute deal.” Even worse, you might miss out on the booking once the buying impulse is gone.

As a rule of thumb, avoid discounting your speaking, training or coaching program unless you clearly state that the situation is a one-off, not to be repeated offer. And stick to your word.

Discounting can have a direct negative impact on the profitability of your business. Charge what you deserve!

Download 24 Powerful Offers to Double the Value of Your Training for free (see right sidebar).  Discover ways to increase the value of your speaking, training or coaching business instead of discounting.

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Do you feel under pressure to sleep less to fit more in your day?

Do you question yourself, “How much sleep do I really need to function properly”?

In a fascinating documentary on Sleep Deprivation, the experts concluded that we need 8 hours of sleep per night:

• 3 hours of shallow sleep
• 3 hours of deep sleep to revitalise our body
• 2 hours of dream sleep to recharge our mind and consolidate memories.

But what happens if you don’t want to sleep your life away?

The consequences are staggering…

“Not sleeping will kill you quicker than not eating.” It can cause diabetes, heart attack, obesity and even depression.

The documentary was centered on the results of tests and observations on a healthy Volunteer, a young man probably in his early 20’s, who was to sleep only 3 hours per night for a week.

Here were the highlights:

• Our brain can go to sleep even though our body is awaken. 25 minutes of micro sleeps were recorded during the Volunteer’s driving tests. The Volunteer was unaware of those micro sleeps. 
• Our physiology can deteriorated in just one week. The volunteer’s insulin production halved placing him in the pre-diabetic range. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the risk of diabetes by 50%.
• Sleep deprivation deregulates the appetite. It leads to eating more without the hunger being satisfied and therefore increases the risk of obesity and heart attack. Have you ever noticed how we tend to eat the ‘wrong’ food e.g. fast food when we’re tired?
• Tests showed that the Volunteer’s immune system was only half as effective as it was before the experiment.
• The risk of depression is 5 times higher with sleep deprivation.

The experiment ended earlier than expected because the Volunteer’s health became seriously at risk.

Can sleep deprivation affect your professional life?

Yes, for sure. Your performance, creativity and health depend on a fully functional body and mind.

Who wants to hire a sleep deprived Speaker, Trainer or Coach suffering from slow thinking, attention deficit and mood swings?

Consider SLEEP as the best investment in your business.

Stop feeling guilty when you go to bed early because, at the end of the day, you’ll recoup those hours by living longer and healthier. 

Documentary Details:  ‘Awake is the New Sleep’ (Episode 1) of Dead Tired. It was presented on SBS TV Channel in Perth, Australia.

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