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Archive for August, 2008

Dear ETR: “Where do you suggest we start rebuilding?”

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

“Your ETR newsletter is great – but it seems to be for earners and those that are employed. My husband and I are starting again now, as our business has just failed. We have 6-10 months of rent left and 3 small children.

“Where do you suggest we start rebuilding? I am learning website design and have 3 websites and an e-book. I am getting website traffic, but no sales. How do I get people to buy my e-book?

“Thanks for your help.”

Kate
Geroge, South Africa

Dear Kate,

First things first: One or both of you must be employed. This is important. You have to take care of your family.

If you can, find employment working for a business that is similar to the business you want to start. I explain how to do this in Automatic Wealth for Grads, and I’ve discussed it in several past issues of ETR.

Next, you need to figure out why your last business failed. My bet is that you ran out of money before you figured out how to make profitable sales. That is the main reason businesses in the first stage of development (from start-up to generating reasonable cash flow) fail.

Before you spend another hour on planning your future, buy Ready, Fire, Aim and study everything about stage-one businesses. You’d also benefit from reading Automatic Wealth. Most of what you need to know about being successful is contained in those two books.

Third, if you want to be successful in the e-book business, you have to know how to develop titles that will sell – and you have to know how to sell those salable titles. You will find out how to do both by buying Bob Bly’s e-book, “How to Write E-Books for Fun and Profit.”

Keep us posted on your progress.

- Michael Masterson

[Ed. Note: Send your questions to AskETR@ETRFeedback.com. Include your full name, your hometown and state, and the ETR team may answer you in an upcoming issue.]

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The SPV Secret to Getting Others to Do Your Bidding

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

Issue #2448

WEALTHY: Their business went bust. Now what? (Michael Masterson)
HEALTHY: Build muscle and get stronger at any age (Craig Ballantyne)
WISE: Eric Hoffer on persuasion

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

3 simple steps to a powerful persuasion technique (Paul Lawrence)
A word that can be a compliment or an insult (Don Hauptman)
It’s Good to Know… about products labeled “green”
Add “kerfuffle” to your vocabulary

(more…)

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Kerfuffle

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

A “kerfuffle” (ker-FUH-ful) is a disorderly outburst or commotion.

Example (as used by Don Hauptman today): “Last year, a kerfuffle erupted over Sen. Joseph Biden’s presumably well-intentioned characterization of Sen. Barack Obama, against whom he was then competing for the Democratic presidential nomination.”

[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker ... build your self-confidence and intellect ... increase your attractiveness to others ... just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR's new Words to the Wise CD Library.]

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2 Supplements for Mature Men

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

Strength and muscle mass are two of the most important components for healthy living in older folks. If you don’t have strength, every activity is going to be harder than it should be. So you’ll be happy to know that there are two nutritional supplements that can help you build strength, no matter how old you are.

Canadian researchers divided their study participants – all of them older men – into three groups. One group received a placebo, another group received creatine (a supplement marketed as a muscle-builder), and the third group received creatine and protein. All of the men completed a 10-week strength-training program.

At the end of the study, both groups receiving the creatine increased body mass and muscle thickness. But the creatine-protein group had the greatest increase in lean tissue mass (5.6 percent) and the greatest increase in bench-press strength (25 percent).

So if you are looking to maximize your muscle gains – at any age – consider adding a protein-creatine supplement to your nutrition program.

[Ed. Note: You don't have to be in your 20s to be fit and strong. Just by making a few simple changes to your lifestyle, you can feel better and live longer. Learn how right here.

Fitness expert Craig Ballantyne can help you lose weight and gain muscle mass. Get the details on his Turbulence Training program right here.]

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The Language Perfectionist: Is This Usage Brilliant or Dim?

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

Last year, a kerfuffle erupted over Sen. Joseph Biden’s presumably well-intentioned characterization of Sen. Barack Obama, against whom he was then competing for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Well, he did win the consolation prize a week ago.)

Sen. Biden called Sen. Obama “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”

The controversy focused on the words “clean” and “articulate.” Biden claimed that his use of the word clean was taken out of context. Said Biden, “My mother has an expression: clean as a whistle, sharp as a tack.” Okay, maybe we can accept that. But the fact remains that many blacks perceive the word articulate as patronizing. Noted one commentator: “Black people get a little testy when white people call them ‘articulate.’”

Yet, in all the verbiage about the incident, I couldn’t find anyone who noted another problematic word in Sen. Biden’s statement: bright.

More than two decades ago, language guru William Safire observed: “When applied to a child, the word is unfailingly upbeat… but when applied to an adult, bright carries a subtle put-down.” The connotation, echoing the luminescent metaphor, is “less than brilliant.”

Because of the word’s condescending implications, one writer advised that it never be used to describe anyone over the age of 12. Even if you’re not running for elective office, this is a good rule to observe.

[Ed Note: For more than three decades, Don Hauptman was an award-winning independent direct-response copywriter and creative consultant. He is author of The Versatile Freelancer, an e-book recently published by AWAI that shows writers and other creative professionals how to diversify their careers into speaking, consulting, training, and critiquing.]

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It’s Good to Know: It May Not Be “Green”

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

Think you’re saving the planet by being a careful consumer? Think again. Ninety-nine percent of products labeled “green” – as in environmentally friendly – do not live up to that title. That’s according to a recent study done by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing. Products labeled “all natural,” “CFC-free,” “organic,” or “made from recycled materials” may not be as earth-friendly as their manufacturers would like you to believe.

So don’t automatically choose that more-expensive-but-worth-it product. Do your research, read the entire label, and determine for yourself how “green” it really is.

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The SPV Secret to Getting Others to Do Your Bidding

Saturday, August 30th, 2008

I love the movie business. (You already know that from reading some of my articles in past issues of ETR.) I’ve even produced a feature film. So I happen to know a few people in the “biz.” And a recent encounter reminded of a powerful persuasion technique that can apply to almost any situation.

You see, a few months ago, a couple of independent film producers approached me to help them raise funds for a film they were working on. The movie was almost completely shot. All they needed was about $50,000 for some scenes that they had decided to add.

The producers were willing to give me a piece of the action, as well as a producer credit and a small part in the film, if I could help them find the money. But despite the fact that the film was almost finished and had a few known actors in it, it was still a highly speculative investment. Even so, it was potentially very profitable. And I thought it might be an attractive deal… for the right person.

I knew an investor who was interested in the film business. And it seemed to me that he would be the perfect fit for this particular independent film project.

He was a very shrewd businessman. So, because of the high risk involved, it would’ve been difficult for me to convince him to make the investment based strictly on its profit potential.

I needed to find another way to create intense interest on his part.

The approach I decided to take was to appeal not to his values as a businessman but to his personal values as a family man. I did it by using the “SPV” (stimulating people’s values) persuasion technique.

I knew that this potential investor would do almost anything to help his children. I also knew that he had a son in film school who was studying production. So I checked with the producers and asked if the investor’s son could play a role in the film’s production. They readily agreed. Then I went to the investor and presented the opportunity to invest in the film as one that would give his son’s career a boost.

Was he interested? Of course, he was.

A deal was quickly closed and everyone got what they wanted. The producers got the money they needed to finish the film. The investor got his son some solid experience in his chosen profession. And I got what had been promised to me. Had I approached the investor and presented the opportunity strictly in terms of its profit potential, I’m sure he’d have passed.

Using the “SPV” persuasion technique can be a powerful way to get others to see your point of view and take the actions you want them to take. Here are the basic steps for putting it to work:

Step 1: Analyze the person you wish to persuade.

First, you must get an understanding of the deeply held values of the person you want to persuade. To do that, pay attention to more than what she professes to believe in. You have to observe how she behaves and lives. What kind of clothes does she wear? What kind of car does she drive? Is she always early for work, or does she scramble in 15 minutes late every day? Does she do any volunteer work? The more you know about her, the better.

Step 2: Identify which of the person’s values/beliefs you are going to stimulate.

Let’s say you want to persuade someone to buy an expensive watch. One of the things you notice while studying him is that he wears tailored suits that fit him like a glove and white shirts that are always crisply pressed. So you come to the conclusion that he strongly believes a person has to look sharp in order to be successful. Based on this, you decide to create a persuasion plan that focuses on the way that watch is going to enhance his professional appearance.

Step 3: Create and execute the persuasion plan.

If your target rejects your initial proposal, it is going to be tough to get her to change her mind. (To do so, you’d have to get her to admit that her first decision was incorrect. Not an easy task.) Thus, to maximize your chances, you want to start out with a well-thought-out persuasion plan.

At the very least, that plan should answer the following questions: How will you bring up the matter? Will it be with a phone call, an e-mail, or in person? Will the sole purpose of that effort be to get your target to accept your proposal… or will you mix it with other business or conversation? (In my experience, being direct is the best approach.)

Your target will probably realize what you’re trying to do. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In the example I cited above, I made it clear to the investor that I would be benefiting if he put up the money for the movie. It made no difference to him, because he felt that he would be getting so much out of it that mattered to him. In fact, by being honest and up front about what you stand to gain, you’ll strengthen your credibility with the other person. When he understands your motivation, he won’t worry that you might have some sneaky agenda up your sleeve.

As Michael Masterson has pointed out, decision-making is initially the result of a gut reaction, not a rational process. That’s why it’s much easier to convince people to do what you want them to do by using the SPV technique than by simply presenting a logical argument. While this persuasion tool gives them a good reason to say “yes,” it taps into their emotions first. If you can do that, you’ll have the maximum shot at achieving your goal.

[Ed. Note: Knowing how to persuade people can get you everywhere. It can help you move up the ranks in your career, get people to buy your products, and so much more. You can become a Master of Persuasion in your own right by learning more of Paul Lawrence's highly effective persuasion secrets here.

And for persuasive tactics that you can use to make more money for yourself and your company, check out Breakthrough Advertising. The strategies you'll discover helped one man make over $2 BILLION in sales. Get the details here.]

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Trope

Friday, August 29th, 2008

A “trope” (TROPE) – from the Greek for “turn” – is a word or phrase used in a way that changes its meaning from literal to figurative. (Metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech are tropes.)

Example (as used by Daniel Patterson in The New York Times): “Few things capture summer’s carefree spirit like a perfect piece of fruit. Eating berries off the vine, still warm from the sun, is a pastoral trope.”

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Avoiding Airport Food

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Yesterday was a nightmare travel day. I got stuck in the Aspen airport due to a delayed flight. When I landed in Denver, I had to make a mad – and I mean MAD! – dash from one end of the airport to the other.

Thanks to my healthy lifestyle, I’m in tip-top shape – so I made it with minutes to spare. And as soon as I got on the plane, I recharged my batteries with the healthy snack I had brought with me: an apple, a banana, and some raw almonds.

I went into that trip (as I do every trip) well-prepared to avoid the bad food choices you can easily make when you’re traveling and in a hurry. And that preparation started long before I headed to the airport with the two high-protein, high-fiber meals I had to help keep my appetite in check…

Breakfast at home: omelet with vegetables, grilled fish & peppers, fruit (pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, watermelon), and V8 juice.

Lunch at a Mexican restaurant: grilled chicken salad (2 breasts) with jicama, salsa, black beans, and avocado (I substituted the salsa for the dressing. And I said “no thanks” to the tortilla chips.)

As a result of my preparation, there’s no doubt I felt much better and had more energy than everyone else on the 3.5-hour flight to Toronto. And that allowed me to get 3 hours of quality work done on the plane.

So whenever you travel, carry raw almonds and apples in your bag, or grab them at the airport. You’ll find almonds in every magazine shop, and apples and bananas at almost any coffee shop.

[Ed. Note: Keeping healthy is well within your control. A big part of it has to do with making smart choices when it comes to what you eat. You'll get easy-to-follow advice that will help you stay healthy here.

Balance out your healthy diet with short, high-intensity exercises. Find out which exercises can help you burn fat and build muscle right here.]

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How to Handle Economic Predictions

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Economists really stink at predicting one of the most important events they track: Recessions. A recent study of 60 recessions that hit various countries in the 1990s found that only 3 percent of “consensus forecasts” (as they’re known in financial circles) made by groups of economists correctly predicted one of those recessions a year in advance. And when they did see one coming, they underestimated its severity by a long shot.

Who knew that economists were such cockeyed optimists? Like historians and political analysts, they’re much better at breaking down past events than calling future ones.

In the coming months, you’ll hear a lot from these so-called scientists about the recession not being as bad as expected… about a coming market turnaround or the economy bouncing back. Take all of it with a grain of salt. Their track record says it’s probably not true. On the other hand, whenever you hear dire warnings from them, take it very seriously. Those are likely to be true.

[Ed. Note: You can make money during this recession with the energy sector. ETR Investment Director Andrew Gordon has uncovered two best-in-class drilling rig companies that will be on the receiving end of a tidal wave of cash. And he's ready to reveal them to you. Learn more here.]

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A Quick Way to Get Inexpensive Traffic to Your Site

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Issue #2447

WEALTHY: What to make of economists’ forecasts (Andrew Gordon)
HEALTHY: Eating healthy while you’re on the go (Craig Ballantyne)
WISE: Robert Browning on expanding your reach

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

A quick way to get inexpensive traffic to your site (Alexis Siemon)
What’s to blame: your marketing or your product? (Suzanne Richardson)
It’s Fun to Know… about bulletproof haute couture
Add “trope” to your vocabulary

(more…)

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Fast and Cheap Banner Testing With Google AdWords

Friday, August 29th, 2008

If you’re like most business owners just starting out with a brand-new website, you want to know the fastest and cheapest way to drive targeted traffic to it. Worried ETR readers frequently write to us with this concern. “I need traffic and sales now!” they say. “Help!”

One method I’ve recommended in the past is to launch a PPC (pay-per-click) search campaign on Google AdWords. But you can also use Google to test online media buys on other sites with banner ads and other creative formats. There are a couple of reasons why banner testing through Google is a great way to generate fast and cheap traffic and sales.

Bypassing Standard Rate Card Fees

At a recent in-house marketing meeting, ETR’s media buyer mentioned a new banner campaign she was preparing to launch on a well-known financial website.

Usually, a website will charge you a fee for the number of “impressions” your banner serves – how many times your banner will be displayed to visitors to that site. This fee is expressed as CPM (cost per thousand impressions), and is listed on the “rate card” page of the website, along with the prices of all the other advertising options the site offers. Kind of like the sticker price on a vehicle at the dealership, experienced media buyers know that the rate card price is a number to begin negotiating from.

When you’re setting up your banner on a site, they will either lock you in to X amount of impressions or will keep your banner running for Y days. Sometimes, this is a perfectly reasonable agreement. But it can be too expensive to be worthwhile for a test. (And, as you know, testing is critical when it comes to your marketing efforts.)

In this case, our media buyer lamented that the financial website’s ad representative refused to go lower than the rate card price of $18 CPM for her banner test. I recognized the website’s name and knew that they were part of Google’s Content Network – the network of sites that display Google ads. So I suggested we use Google AdWords to serve our banners on the site… for a fraction of their rate card price.

Not only can you get banner space much cheaper through Google AdWords, you can also get your campaign up and running much faster and with much more flexibility than you can when dealing directly with the publisher. Plus, you aren’t locked in to a set number of impressions or amount of time. If the campaign isn’t performing well, you can stop it whenever you want. (More on that later.)

This leads me to the next reason for launching a banner test campaign through Google AdWords…

Expanding a Small Niche

Let’s say you’re a believer in the ability of a PPC search campaign on Google AdWords to drive traffic and sales to your website. But maybe your business is in a very specialized niche that not many people know about. The keyword research you did for your product resulted in few keywords with even fewer searches. You know there are people interested in what you’re selling, but they might not know how to search for you. How do you quickly reach this niche market?

With a fast and cheap banner test on Google’s Content Network, of course. You can target your campaign by demographic, by site, or by category to find the perfect space for your banner and launch your test on your terms with your desired budget. Here are the steps to take:

• Open a Google AdWords account. Couldn’t be easier. Type “Google AdWords” into the Google search box, and follow directions.

• Create a Placement Targeted campaign. This is different from a Keyword Targeted campaign, but many of the same settings apply that let you target your banner ads in more specific ways than you might be able to do with a traditional banner buy. For example, using geo-targeting to specify what areas of the country or world will see your ad. You will also have AdGroups, like you do with a Keyword Targeted campaign, and you can use your AdGroups to organize your campaign by product, banner type, or any other way you choose.

• Research placements. This is the where the fun starts. Once you create your campaign and AdGroups, you can access Google’s easy-to-use interface to research and pick the websites on which you want to run your ad.

There are several ways to search for sites. You can browse by category. You can search by topic or keyword. If you know the particular sites where you’d like to advertise, you can simply enter their URLs – and then Google will even list several other sites similar to the ones you’ve chosen. Lastly, you can select the demographic that you’d like to target, choosing by age, gender, household income, ethnicity, and whether there are children in the home.

After you enter your criteria, Google will list all of the matching sites, along with the ad formats they accept (text ad, banner ad, video ad), and the number of impressions each site receives per day. (Very helpful if you are looking for volume.)

• Bidding and budgeting. Next, you’ll be able to bid on the CPM that you’d like to pay. And when you realize how low you can go, you’re going to start to get giddy. Keep in mind, however, that you are competing with other advertisers for that banner ad space – and the higher your CPM bid, the more impressions you’ll likely receive. It’ll take some tweaking to find a balance between the amount you want to spend and the volume of impressions you need in order to run a good test.

I’ve found that you can run a good test with anywhere between a $1-$3 CPM – which is a heck of a lot better than a rate card price of $18! After you set your bid, you’ll want to determine a daily budget, giving yourself enough wiggle room to get the number of impressions you need on a daily basis.

• Uploading your banners. Determine the banner sizes your sites accept and upload them to your campaign. Each banner should link to a landing page you’ve set up, complete with sales copy for the product you’re selling. You can assign a different landing page URL for each banner, or you can point them all to the same one if you like. There is a short review process for each new banner you upload to your campaign, but once they are approved you’ll be up and running!

The flexibility you get by running a banner campaign through Google AdWords really kicks in when your campaign is live and you can monitor your results. If you see that you’re not receiving enough impressions, you can immediately adjust your bidding. If you are getting great traffic and conversion rates, you can immediately increase your budget. If you see that a particular site isn’t performing, you can remove it from your campaign in seconds. The same goes for your banner headline, graphics, and layout. Changes can be made on the fly without waiting for an ad rep or account manager to make them for you.

[Ed. Note: Banner ads should be a part of any multi-channel marketing campaign. And, as Search Engine Marketing Specialist Alexis Siemon points out, Google's Content Network makes setting up your own banner campaign easy and cost-effective. You can learn more about the best ways to market your Internet business at this fall's Information Marketing Bootcamp. 12 speakers will reveal exactly how you can make between $100,000 and $1.2 million your first year. Get the details here.

And keep reading ETR for details on the new multi-channel marketing book by MaryEllen Tribby and Michael Masterson.]

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Reader Feedback: “I took your advice, and have been enjoying a 30% increase in my sales ever since.”

Friday, August 29th, 2008

“Thank you for such a great e-mail newsletter.

“The article ‘How a Google AdWords Campaign Can Help You Rev Up Your Sales‘ by Alexis Siemon was an eye opener for me. The two sentences ’Google isn’t the king for nothing. Appease the king and he’ll share his gold.‘ jarred my senses, and have been indelibly fused upon my business brain. I took that advice, and have been enjoying a 30 percent increase in my sales ever since. THANK YOU.

“How, exactly, did I put Ms. Siemon’s advice to work? It couldn’t have been more simple. I started a Google AdWords campaign. Started, not modified or improved.

“I had done Yahoo, MSN, and Google search engine submissions before, but never tried Google AdWords. The ‘king’ was ‘appeased,’ and he almost immediately started to ’share his gold’!

“I had wondered why people told me I was so hard to find online when I have the largest, most relevant website for what I do. I tried a Google search myself, and… nothing! Well, almost nothing. The first reference to my website was eight pages in. On Yahoo, I was always #1, and about #3, #4, and #7-10 – four hits on the first search page. I hardly even showed on Google. So tell your readers to learn from my mistake and don’t EVER take your placement on one search engine for granted due to your placement on another. $100 a month in AdWords is equalling about $5,000 a month in extra ‘high margin’ sales for me. That was valuable business advice if I’ve ever seen any. Thank you again!”

Danny Bowes
ImportTractorParts.net
Foresters Falls, Ontario, Canada

[Ed. Note: What's the best way to get more of the information and advice you want the most? Let us know what you like! Write to ETR at ReaderFeedback@gmail.com and tell us what's helped you, what you love, and what you want to see more of.]

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The Other ROI

Friday, August 29th, 2008

So you’ve put together a super product. And you’ve got a stellar copywriter who’s selling the pants off of it. And your marketing team is sending the ad copy to millions of subscribers to e-newsletters everywhere. But when the results come in, your big campaign has been a big flop.

That’s when the blame game starts…

Your copywriter blames the product. “My copy is pitch-perfect,” he says.

Your product-development team blames the copy. “This is the best product we’ve ever made,” they say.

You’ve got to make a change, or the money you’ve spent on your campaign is wasted.

So where do you look?

MaryEllen Tribby has the answer, which she revealed in a recent ETR marketing meeting. And it has to do with that all-important metric, return on investment (ROI).

MaryEllen has told us before that ROI is the only thing that matters when you’re reviewing your marketing efforts. As long as it’s over 100 percent, you’re doing fine.

But ROI can also tell you what needs improvement: your product or your marketing.

What you do is look at both Net ROI and Gross ROI.

• Your Gross ROI is what you have when all of your orders have come in – when all of your prospects have had a chance to look at your ad copy and buy your product. If you have a high Gross ROI, your marketing is doing well. It means that people are connecting with the ad copy… that the landing page you are sending them to is relevant and enticing… and that they want to buy what you’re selling. If the Gross ROI is low, your marketing could use work. And that’s where you start testing – different headlines, different ads, even different e-mail lists.

• Your Net ROI is what you have after all your cancellations and refunds have come in. So, depending on whether you have a 30- or 90- or 365-day money-back guarantee, it could take up to a year to figure out your Net ROI. If your Net ROI is high, it means that your product is exactly what you promised in your advertising. If your Net ROI is low, it means that your product doesn’t work well, doesn’t fulfill what the ad copy promised, etc. In short, it means that your product needs work. (Now, it’s possible that the product is really good, but the ad copy misled people about it in some way. But that’s a different lesson for another day.)

“You may ‘know’ that your product is fantastic,” said MaryEllen. “Or that the ad copy is stellar. But what you ‘know’ doesn’t matter. Stick to the numbers. Net ROI shows how well your product did. Gross ROI shows how well your marketing did. Once you know what’s not working, you can get in there and fix it.”

[Ed. Note: MaryEllen Tribby has 20 years in the marketing trenches, so when she speaks, we listen. You may not be able to sit in on ETR's marketing meetings, but you can still get MaryEllen's advice on marketing and business building. Let her - along with 11 other Internet marketing, copywriting, and business-building experts - show you how to make between $100,000 and $1.2 million in 2009. Get the details here.]

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6 Strategies That Make Writing Easy

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Issue #2446

WEALTHY: Wait ’til Christmas to benefit from this sector (Rick Pendergraft)
HEALTHY: 11 natural energizers (Dr. Jonny Bowden)
WISE: Ralph Waldo Emerson on speed

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

6 strategies that make writing easy (Clayton Makepeace)
$1.49 million a year for mastering one thing (Suzanne Richardson)
It’s Good to Know… how to prevent hearing loss
Add “panoply” to your vocabulary

(more…)

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Dear ETR: “Are there any foods that can energize my 80-year-old father?”

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

“I am the caregiver of my 80-year-old father. He is diabetic, hypertensive, and experiences dementia, a symptom of his Alzheimer’s.

“My dad is on multiple medications. I carefully plan his meals, but, depending upon his mood, he does not always eat properly or get the rest he needs. So he is typically grouchy, uncooperative, and combative when he wakes up in the morning, late in the evening, and occasionally throughout the day. Also, he is so boring and sedentary that his behavior can be unduly stressful and alienating for me. Moreover, he gives me the impression that he has lost the will to live.

“He can walk – usually with a cane for support. And his brain seems to be okay, because he remembers the names and faces of his friends and relatives. But are there any foods that can energize him?”

Alicia McDonald

Dear Alicia,

First, let me say that I really sympathize. You are describing my own father in the last years of his life. This is not a picnic.

Don’t be lulled into thinking that everything’s okay with him “brain-wise” because he remembers family and friends. His brain may not be working on all cylinders, and that may be why he doesn’t interact well with people or have any interest in what’s going on around him. Plus, don’t underestimate the enormous power of medications to produce all sorts of unwanted side effects.

Start by finding a holistically minded MD or a naturopathic doctor and revisit his med list. See what is really essential and what isn’t. If you can get him off ANY of his drugs, do so. And if one of them is a statin drug for high cholesterol, be sure to talk to your doctor about dumping it. “Lowering cholesterol” has absolutely no benefit for a man his age, and may even be a risk factor.

Consider giving him some supplements – notably, COQ10 and L-carnitine, which may help with energy. Consider, too, the super trio for brain health: acetyl-L-carnitine,
phosphatidyl serine, and GPC. All of these have been shown to help with memory, thinking, and sharpness.

Your challenge is going to be to get him to eat. People in your father’s age group are frequently under-consuming protein and, thus, vitamin B12, an important vitamin for both energy AND thinking.

Without question, get him on a vitamin D supplement immediately. It’s been shown to increase both mood and physical performance in older adults, not to mention stronger bones.

Try to center his meals on protein (eggs – whole eggs!), grass-fed beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and – most of all – fish. Both fish and fish oil will be a vital addition to his diet. Fish oil is highly anti-inflammatory, which your father really needs. It also helps with mood (which could help with motivation and engagement). I can’t begin to tell you how important that is.

The less sugar and white stuff (potatoes, bread, cereals, etc.) he eats, the better, though you may not be able to or need to cut them out entirely. But to the extent that you can give him more protein, you’ll be able to energize him more. And don’t skimp on the fat, especially from egg yolks, coconut and coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, nuts, dried fruit, and even butter.

- Dr. Jonny Bowden

[Ed. Note: Natural methods - including the foods you eat and the supplements you take - can have a powerful effect on your health. For more natural ways to feel better and live longer, check out nutrition expert Jonny Bowden's book, The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth.

Have a question for an ETR expert? Write to us at AskETR@ETRFeedback.com and we just may print a response in an upcoming issue of ETR.]

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Lickety-Splittedness: How to Write Better Sales Copy, Faster

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

If you’ve ever felt like the Earth cooled in less time than it takes you to crank out a respectable first draft of your sales copy, listen up. I’m going to tell you about some of the things I do to tear through the process.

Here are six little tricks that help me a lot…

Trick #1. Compartmentalization.

Writing an out-of-the-park grand slam promotion is a process that consists of many steps, hundreds of actions, and thousands of tiny decisions:

Thinking about who your prospect is and why he needs your product…
Coming up with your attention-getting strategy – your theme, headline, and lead…
Researching your product, your competitors’ products, and their promotions…
Organizing your attack – determining the order in which you’ll guide the prospect through your reasons why he should buy…
Pouring the appropriate research, notes, and ideas into each section of your outline…
Writing your first draft…
Buffing and meticulously detailing each succeeding draft until you know that you couldn’t improve it even if someone held a gun to your head – and that any change you consider at this point will actually weaken the copy…
And, finally, sticking a fork in it, because it’s done.

Now if you have a lick of common sense, you’re going to feel overwhelmed when you contemplate all the steps you have to complete in order to perfect the project at hand. And that’s okay. It just means you’re in touch with reality.

But you’re going to have to get past “overwhelmed” and on to work. And the only way I know to do that is to mentally chop the job into little, tiny, manageable pieces. So you tell yourself something like this: “I do NOT have to write a promotion today. All I have to do is the research. Or part of the research.”

Thinking about the work this way does more than just relieve your anxiety. It blows all that procrastination you’re usually guilty of at the beginning of a project right out of the water.

Trick #2. Something my pal Rich Schefren calls “getting into a flow state.”

Ever have a day when you sit down to work and the next thing you know it’s time for dinner… you have to force yourself to stop… and when you reflect on the day, you’re amazed by the quantity – and, more important, the quality – of what you accomplished?

That, my friend, is the flow state Rich talks about. And getting into that flow state is my goal every time I sit down at my desk.

Fact is, flow state equals money. Because the more flow states you experience during a project, the faster the project goes and the better your work output is.

But flow states don’t “just happen.” They’re kind of like hummingbirds: They show up naturally if you just create an environment that attracts them. For me, that means a light dinner and a good night’s sleep. An enclosed work space. No interruptions. No distractions. And every tool I need to do that day’s job readily at hand.

That’s just me. You’ll have to figure out what works for you.

Trick #3. Constantly visualizing success.

Yes, I know. What could possibly be more hackneyed than dusting off the decades-old concept of “positive thinking”?

Thing is, like all laws that survive the test of time, positive thinking works.

My fantasy is the phone call I’ll get from a wowed client when he sees my copy for the first time… the call telling me he had to put on three shifts to handle the orders… and, of course, all the great cuddling I’ll get when my wife sees the royalty deposit on our bank statement.

Whatever your motivation, try keeping it in mind as you write.

Trick #4. “Know thyself.”

Feelings are more intense than thoughts. So they can have a way of blanking your mind and freezing you like a biker who just spotted a grizzly in his headlights. That’s why you have to understand how negative emotions affect your work. For example, you may feel overwhelmed at the beginning of a project. Discouraged when a solution doesn’t come fast enough. And then your inferiority complex kicks into overdrive when you see how others have done it.

It helped me when I realized that 99.9 percent of all negative emotions are probably not caused by objective truth. And, therefore, the vast majority of all bad feelings are baloney.

So when I experience a negative emotion while I’m working, I pause for a moment and ask myself, “What thought zipped through my mind just before I got bummed out?” After recognizing how ridiculously wrong that thought was, I can almost instantly dismiss the negative emotion and dive back into the work.

Try it. It works.

Trick #5. Screw the rules!

You’ve learned too many copywriting rules. And, frankly, they’re getting in the way. So instead of worrying about the rules, focus on your prospective customer and be a salesman in print. Think, “If I were in a room with my best prospect and needed to get his attention, engage him, present the reasons why he should buy and close the sale – what would I say to him?” Then let the conversation flow naturally out of your fingers to the keyboard and into your document.

There’ll be plenty of time in later drafts to think about which rules you broke or didn’t follow. The first draft is about speed.

Trick #6. Do some bedtime reading.

Let your last action each day be to read what you wrote that day. File it away in your subconscious mind. And go to work the minute you wake up in the morning so the connections your brain made overnight find their way onto the page.

Take advantage of the above six “tricks” religiously on your next project, and you’ll be surprised by how much more quickly it goes and how much easier the writing feels.

[Ed. Note: Master copywriter Clayton Makepeace publishes the highly acclaimed e-zine The Total Package to help business owners and copywriters accelerate their sales and profits. Claim your 4 free money-making e-books - bursting with tips, tricks, and tactics that'll skyrocket your response - at MakepeaceTotalPackage.com.

Copywriting is just one skill you can master to help your business grow. Learn the ins and outs of copywriting, marketing, search engine optimization, and more from some of the best experts in the business at ETR's Internet Ultimatum Bootcamp. Find out how to reserve your spot right here.]

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How to Prevent Hearing Loss

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

You won’t be surprised to learn that listening to your iPod at a high volume for long periods of time – via headphones – can cause hearing loss. The cells destroyed by constant, loud music are irreplaceable. But some headphones – those that block out background noise – can help keep your hearing safe. With these headphones, since the music is no longer competing with other sounds, you can listen to it at lower levels.

(Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

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Commodities Falling, but Prices Are Not

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Commodity prices (especially oil, gold, and silver) have been falling sharply since July 15. Unfortunately, prices at the producer level and the consumer level are still rising.

Commodity prices had been soaring since last November, and producers couldn’t raise the prices of their end products fast enough to keep up. So you can understand if they are hesitant to freeze prices or lower them now that commodity prices are falling.

Combined with inflation running high and consumer confidence running low, this means the retail sector will struggle in the coming months. Most of the companies in the sector have already reported second-quarter earnings. And most were able to meet or beat expectations. However, a number of them have lowered expectations for the third quarter.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an ETF that makes money when the retail sector goes down. However, staying away from the retail sector can benefit your portfolio. Should the economy turn around in the fourth quarter, retailers will benefit at Christmas time. By then, their earnings expectations could be extremely low and easy to surpass. So stay away from the retail sector for now… but look at it again come the holiday season.

[Ed. Note: Making money these days is as much about knowing what NOT to buy as it is about buying right. Investment analyst Rick Pendergraft can show you an embarrassingly simple system he uses to make investing decisions. Learn the details

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Panoply

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

A “panoply” (PAN-uh-plee) – from the Greek for “a full suit of armor” – is a splendid or impressive array.

Example (as used by Michael Chabon in Werewolves in Their Youth): “The beige plastic bedpan that had come home from the hospital with him after his deviated-septum operation… now held ail his razors and combs and the panoply of gleaming instruments he employed to trim the hair that grew from the various features of his face.”

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The Skill That Can Make You Rich

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

How’d you like to make $1.49 million a year… or more? There is a way, and it’s simpler than you may think. Learn how to sell.

Michael Masterson has been saying it for years: Knowing how to sell is one of the most financially valued skills you can possibly have. And here’s the proof. According to research from AdAge and executive-compensation research firm Equilar (reported by MarketingCharts.com), high-level marketers earned an average of $1.49 million in 2007. (That includes salary, bonuses, stock options, and stock awards.)

Of course, these marketers work for major corporations, including Target, Netflix, and Dell. But if you aren’t lined up to interview for a CMO position at a Fortune 500 company, don’t worry. It’s possible for you to make much more than a measly $1.5 million. Just start your own business.

That’s because the ability to sell is what’s behind the success of every monster company. Do they have smart, forward-thinking people manning their businesses? Sure. Innovative product ideas? Absolutely. But they wouldn’t be anywhere if they didn’t know how to make sales.

Once you’re an expert at selling, the sky’s the limit for how big you can grow your own business.

[Ed. Note: Learn how to sell, and the world is your oyster. Couple that with your own online business, and there's no telling how much money you stand to make. Get step-by-step instructions for creating your own business... plus plenty of secrets from master marketers... right here.]

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Swedish Weight-Loss Secret

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

No, the Swedish weight-loss secret is not “Stop eating Swedish meatballs.” What the Swedes have discovered is online weight-loss programs.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute wanted to find out why some people succeed at weight loss while others don’t. One of the things they looked at was an Internet-based weight-loss club that happened to be used mostly by women. (Eighty-six percent of the users were female.)

The researchers found that, over time, 29 percent of the users lost at least 5 percent bodyweight. They also found something that backs up what I’ve been telling you in ETR for a long time: One of the strongest predictors of weight loss is social support. In this case, that social support was measured by activity in the club (as judged by the number of logins and diary entries made by users).

The conclusion: Given their low cost and 24-hour accessibility, online weight-loss clubs really do help both men and women lose weight.

Going online for social support in your weight-loss program could be one of the most effective things you can do. You might not be able to find someone to motivate you to reach your ideal weight at home or at work… but you will almost certainly find someone on an Internet weight-loss forum.

[Ed. Note: It's true - online support can be very helpful when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. Share your weight-loss struggles, diet and exercise techniques, and encouragement for free right here.

And if you want a top-notch fitness program that can help you burn fat and build muscle, check out Craig Ballantyne's Turbulence Training program right here.]

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How to Break Into the $20 Billion “Look and Feel Younger” Market

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Issue# 2445

WEALTHY: Are you falling victim to a common type of backward thinking? (Andrew Gordon)
HEALTHY: Lose weight with online help (Craig Ballantyne)
WISE: Herbert Henry Asquith on youth

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Profiting from the “ageless” trend (Marc Charles)
What’s so urgent? (Bob Cox)
It’s Fun to Know… about fruity gifts
Add “egress” to your vocabulary

(more…)

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The Urgency Conundrum

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

A business associate of mine used to fax me on a regular basis. (This was before e-mail.) And every darn fax said URGENT at the top in big bold letters. At first, I found it curious. And then, it became annoying.

Come on. Was every fax of his urgent? Of course not. And what was the result? I stopped giving any of them my immediate attention.

Being overly urgent is not the most effective approach to accomplish your goals. You see, people – especially people who may be in a position to help you – get tired of everyone wanting everything done today (or yesterday) just because they want it. So if, for example, you are always demanding that your projects be completed now, now, now – even when they don’t deserve that priority treatment – people will quickly learn to resent and/or ignore your demands.

Sure, you can sometimes achieve faster results by labeling them “urgent.” But do it too often, and you will simply alienate those involved. You can’t expect to keep getting bumped to the head of the line.

Have consideration for other people. Your spouse, colleagues, co-workers, joint-venture partners – anyone you deal with regularly – have a “rhythm” to their day. And when they incorporate you into their schedule, doesn’t it make good sense for you to make that a pleasant (as opposed to stressful) experience?

By recognizing that many people won’t feel a need to respond to your urgent requests, it becomes your responsibility to motivate them to get whatever it is that you want done in a timely manner. You don’t want to be a tyrant, but you don’t want to be a pushover either.

You can also apply this kind of thinking to your personal goals, whether you’re learning how to play the piano, taking French lessons, or creating an Internet business. If you treat every step of your new venture as urgent, you’ll burn yourself out. To achieve the best results, work each step into a specific important-but-not-urgent time slot in your schedule.

[Ed. Note: Accomplishing your dreams - even the big ones - doesn't have to be overly complicated. Simple steps - like limiting the number of "urgent" requests you make - can help you achieve almost any goal. Learn how to get 30 more easy-to-implement goal-setting strategies right here.]

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Egress

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

“Egress” (EE-gres) – from the Latin for “to go out” – is a fancy way of saying “exit.”

Example (as used by Laurie A. O’Neill in The New York Times): “In order to keep the crowds moving through the exhibits in his traveling show… Mr. [P.T.] Barnum posted signs that read: ‘This Way to the Egress.’ Eager to view this presumably strange and exotic exhibit, the throngs would push through the door labeled ‘Egress’ – and find themselves in the street.”

[Ed. Note: Become a more persuasive writer and speaker... build your self-confidence and intellect... increase your attractiveness to others... just by spending 10 VERY enjoyable minutes a day with ETR's Words to the Wise CD Library.]

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Breaking Down an “Obvious” Rule of Investing

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Invest in strong sectors. Avoid weak ones.

This seems obvious, yes? But too often, people invest in weak sectors and avoid strong ones. Here are some of the culprits behind this backward thinking:

Bargain hunting. Strong sectors are expensive. Weak sectors are cheap. Unfortunately, when you invest in sectors where demand and other fundamentals are deteriorating, you often get what you pay for.

Bottom fishing. Does it get any uglier than banking? But investors have been recently pouring into banking in the belief that bank stocks have bottomed and are gearing up for a nice climb up the charts. Even if they do start to climb, it will be a sucker’s rally. Weak sectors are afraid of heights.

Buying yesterday’s news. High prices reflect a strong sector? Yes they do… until, that is, prices overreach and fall back to earth because the fundamentals of the market don’t support them. The housing market is a great example. At the top, prices were no longer based on affordability or equivalent rent rates. Look forward, not backward, when you choose a sector to invest in.

There are other reasons, too, why people make the mistake of investing in weak sectors. A sector may be popular, fashionable but not strong – like the dot-com sector. Or investors buy on rumors, not fundamentals. (That’s a dangerous game that can turn against you very easily.) And investors just pick up wrong information. (You can’t believe everything you hear and read.)

So, what seems like a simple rule isn’t so simple to follow, after all. But truly strong sectors can really help your portfolio grow. And truly weak ones can help kill it.

A final word of caution: If you’re not quite sure if a sector is strong or weak, let it go. It’s not worth the risk.

[Ed. Note: The best way to know which sectors are strong enough to be worth your time and money is to follow the guidance of an investing expert. ETR's Investment Director Andrew Gordon can point you toward the super-strong oil and gas sector. Discover two best-in-class drilling rig companies that will be on the receiving end of a tidal wave of cash right here.]

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It’s Fun to Know: Fruity Gifts

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Would you pay $2,000 for a honeydew melon? How about $900 for a bunch of grapes? In Japan, these incredibly high prices are not uncommon. But we’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill grocery store produce. These fruits have been painstakingly cultivated to be the most ideal specimens possible.

The Japanese don’t buy these perfect, pricey fruits to eat them. They are extremely popular as gifts. It has to do with the ancient Japanese tradition of giving away the very best instead of keeping it for yourself.

(Source: Associated Press, Daily Express)

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How to Break Into the $20 Billion “Look and Feel Younger” Market

Wednesday, August 27th, 2008

Aging baby boomers, who are retiring in droves these days, are fueling a $20 billion mega-market because they want to look and feel younger.

The market I’m talking about is nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. And you can make a lot of money selling these products on the Internet or by direct mail – even if you have limited capital to invest.

“Cosmeceutical” is a combination of two words: cosmetics and pharmaceutical. Cosmeceutical products claim to have “drug-like” benefits without the harmful side effects. Examples of cosmeceuticals include certain skin and hair care products, anti-aging creams, and moisturizers.

“Nutraceutical” is derived from the words nutrition and, you guessed it, pharmaceutical. Neutraceuticals include dietary supplements and nutritional ingredients that promote optimal health in a natural way.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have a lot of power as far as what you can and can’t do in this market. The most important thing to keep in mind is to avoid making unsubstantiated product claims in your marketing materials. Just play by the rules and you’ll be fine.

As I said, aging baby boomers are driving this multibillion-dollar “feel good and look good” market. But that doesn’t mean baby boomers are the only ones using these products. There are products in this market that appeal to every demographic.

Entrepreneurs are reaping windfall profits in this market by concentrating on and selling to “A” prospects. In other words, by focusing on people who have recently purchased similar products at approximately the same price point as theirs. These repeat buyers are pre-qualified and primed to buy.

The easiest and fastest way to enter this huge industry (and start turning a profit) is through direct marketing – by reselling products for other companies or becoming an affiliate.

Reselling products for other companies is easy. You offer their products to your “A” prospects on a website or via direct mail. Consumers place their orders with you and you ship (or have the manufacturer drop-ship) the products to them.

Affiliate marketing is similar – but, in most cases, you won’t handle any products, customer service, technical support, or billing. The company you become an affiliate for will take care of those things.

Believe me, affiliate selling works. You can get started with very little money. You don’t need to stockpile products in your garage or spare bedroom. Plus, when you sell products as an affiliate you don’t need employees, accountants, lawyers, or even a formal office space. And there is no face-to-face selling, no customer service headaches, and no back-office junk. So you don’t have to worry about database management, online shopping cart issues, software glitches, or refunds/returns.

Instead, you can focus all of your energy on your direct-response marketing efforts.

This could mean running Google, MSN, and Yahoo! keyword advertising campaigns, or even mini-infomercials. Or it could mean marketing your cosmeceuticals and/or nutraceuticals directly to consumers via direct mail.

If you choose to go the direct-mail route, you’ll need a mailing list of repeat buyers for those types of products. A good place to locate lists like this is at SRDS.com.

When you have products to sell and a mailing list of repeat buyers, you can send out a catalog (the manufacturer’s or one of your own design) and/or a sales letter. Most of the companies that offer distributor and reseller programs for affiliates already have pre-printed catalogs that you can use.

If you prefer to create your own catalog and/or sales letter, you can get lots of ideas by subscribing to Who’s Mailing What.The Who’s Mailing What archive includes more than 1,500 successful direct-mail campaigns, and most of them are for consumer beauty and nutritional products.

You should also add your name and address to as many cosmeceutical/nutritional product mailing lists as you can find so you can start receiving other marketers’ promotional pieces. Do this by buying one or two of the products in this category that you see advertised – and, before long, your mailbox will be loaded with catalogs, brochures, etc. That will give you an edge over the competition, because you’ll see what’s working. (You can be pretty sure that the promotions you receive over and over again are bringing in lots of money for the people mailing them.)

If you mail a catalog or a powerful sales letter to “A” prospects – repeat cosmeceutical/nutraceutical product buyers – the probability of making substantial sales is quite high.

If you market on the Internet by running keyword advertising campaigns, you’ll need a website to drive interested people to. And you’ll need strong copy on your website to persuade them to buy. You can educate people on the attributes and features of your products on your website. But the main objective is to sell them. Hire a freelance copywriter if you need help coming up with compelling copy for your site. Better yet, make a good investment in a copywriting program for yourself.

Once you have the copy, there are four ways to market your products online: search engine marketing (via pay-per-click advertising and organic search), e-mail newsletter ads, and dedicated e-mail promotions.

You can also post your products on all of the high-traffic marketplaces, including Amazon.com, eBay, Yahoo Shops, Buy.com, and ClickBank.

However you choose to market cosmeceuticals and/or nutraceuticals, the profit potential for these products just keeps growing and growing. The desire to look and feel younger – and maintain good health – spans generations and won’t be dissipating any time soon.

[Ed. Note: Marc Charles is an expert at discovering low-effort business opportunities with high profit potential. And now you have the chance to meet him in person... and pick his brain about the best entrepreneurial ventures around today. Just sign up for ETR's 2008 Information Marketing Bootcamp. Not only will you get to hear about Marc's freshest business opportunities, you'll also get insight into the Internet's hottest trends from 11 other money-making masters. And be prepared to be blown away. We've insisted that each speaker share at least one idea that could place $100,000 cash money in your pocket within just 12 months or less... regardless of your current level of skill, expertise, or the state of your business. Learn how you can reserve your spot right here.]

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It is mighty exhilarating to be in the company of thinking, positive, innovative minds

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

“I have learned from reading ETR that it is mighty exhilarating to be in the company of thinking, positive, innovative minds that would welcome me in their midst and challenge me to leap and grow.

“The first person I must mention is Michael Masterson, not because he started ETR or because he has made millions of dollars or because he writes well or has so many good ideas. I must mention him because he is profound. He has an inner sense of what he is all about, and it is communicated to those whose lives he touches. One feels he is very comfortable with himself, and he invites others to work hard enough to reach that place.

“If one listens carefully, the best communication with Michael Masterson is nonverbal. Michael is not going to stay comfortable, because he is about growing and developing and leaving comfort zones. That is the gift he continually presents to those who wish to accept it. He doesn’t enable, he offers. That is strength.

“The other person I would like to mention is Bob Bly. I have subscribed to several of his programs. He is practical, available, and gives excellent advice. Like almost all of the professionals involved with ETR, Bob Bly makes you feel that if you need help, ask and it will be graciously given.

“I see ETR and its contributors as a giant pool of dreamers and professionals and successful people who don’t see what is, but rather see what can be. They throw open the vault of their knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm and say, ‘Here it is. It is what we have learned. It is what we are more than willing to share. Let’s see what heights you can reach.’”

Judith Pazmino
Covington, KY

[Ed. Note: What's the most valuable lesson you've learned from ETR or an ETR expert? Let us know at AskETR@ETRFeedback.com.]

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How can writing a $10,000 check be GOOD for your business?

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Issue #2444

WEALTHY: Keeping your retirement nest egg safe (Charles Delvalle)
HEALTHY: Cancer-prevention help for smokers trying to quit (Kelley Herring)
WISE: Henry R. Luce on business

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

3 steps to getting new customers (Bob Bly)
What you should – and shouldn’t – be focusing on (Jason Holland)
It’s Good to Know… how to spot a liar
Add "otiose" to your vocabulary

(more…)

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Archive for August, 2008

Dear ETR: “Where do you suggest we start rebuilding?”

The SPV Secret to Getting Others to Do Your Bidding

Kerfuffle

2 Supplements for Mature Men

The Language Perfectionist: Is This Usage Brilliant or Dim?

It’s Good to Know: It May Not Be “Green”

The SPV Secret to Getting Others to Do Your Bidding

Trope

Avoiding Airport Food

How to Handle Economic Predictions

A Quick Way to Get Inexpensive Traffic to Your Site

Fast and Cheap Banner Testing With Google AdWords

Reader Feedback: “I took your advice, and have been enjoying a 30% increase in my sales ever since.”

The Other ROI

6 Strategies That Make Writing Easy

Dear ETR: “Are there any foods that can energize my 80-year-old father?”

Lickety-Splittedness: How to Write Better Sales Copy, Faster

How to Prevent Hearing Loss

Commodities Falling, but Prices Are Not

Panoply

The Skill That Can Make You Rich

Swedish Weight-Loss Secret

How to Break Into the $20 Billion “Look and Feel Younger” Market

The Urgency Conundrum

Egress

Breaking Down an “Obvious” Rule of Investing

It’s Fun to Know: Fruity Gifts

How to Break Into the $20 Billion “Look and Feel Younger” Market

It is mighty exhilarating to be in the company of thinking, positive, innovative minds

How can writing a $10,000 check be GOOD for your business?

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