This weeks ABC is Q for Questions (and Answers) ~ Where do you ask your questions when they come up?  Well, Yahoo! Answers has started gaining importance on the search results and a good way to implement organic SEO for a web site or keyword is to answer relevant questions on Yahoo! Answers. In fact, some businesses spend significant resources answering responses on the site as a way to connect to their customer. A peer review system of answers results in high quality output and encourages users to rely on Yahoo! Answers.

What are your thoughts about it?  Can you see this as a useful strategy for your business?

Come back again for more ABC’s of Online Marketing!

I was glad to read this post from Mark Hayward regarding the steep learning curve he had in becoming familiar with Twitter.  I experienced a slow start at the beginning too.  In his article Mark outlines the top 10 ways to drive traffic to your business blog, all from using Twitter. They are:

• Change the Default Logo
• Show Up
• Complete the Bio Profile
• Brand Your Small Business Twitter Background
• Social Proof Matters
• Be Sincere
• Use Twitter Search
• Collaborative Relationships
• Useful Links and Hash tags
• Power of the Picture

Mark was very thorough in his descriptions and posted examples as well.  It is definitely worth visiting www.ProBlogger.net to read the entire post!

Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

One of the best blogs around that’s dedicated to Affiliate Marketing is written by Geno Prussakov.  He discusses a variety of issues related to affiliates, keeping them apprised of news and events in the industry, plus he has made some predictions for 2010.  The 6 predictions that Geno has made are in these categories:

• Social Media
• Mobile Marketing
• Transparency
• Conversion Rate Optimization
• Online Video
• Legislative Fights

To find out more detail of what trends he expects during the next year, visit: www.amnavigator.com

Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

Here are some interesting statistics regarding baby boomers nearing retirement from moneycentral.com, which you can read in full HERE.  Please let me know your thoughts about them…  Can you relate or are they far from the mark in your opinion?

• Now nearing retirement, the oldest baby boomers face perhaps the most challenging economic environment since the 1930’s.
• Boomers’ 401k plans were battered in the 2008-09 market meltdown – just as the first wave of boomers prepared to retire.
• About 15% of homeowners 55 to 64 recently owed more on their homes than the homes were worth.
• More than half of affluent 60 year olds (with about $1 million in investable assets) are revamping their retirement plans.  The most popular strategy – work longer.
• Today’s 50 year old boomers anticipate retiring four years later (at age 67) than 50 year olds did in 1996.
• Among 50 year olds, 41% say they will never be financially capable of retiring; 23% have not started to save.

If you are concerned at all about your retirement have you considered learning new skills to begin an online business?  Take a look at this before searching anywhere else.

Until next time,  J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

This is an older post by Brian Clark, but I just recently came across it and thought it explained 5 major points of Blogging quite well.  He addresses the business reasons to blog (not just the social ones) and hits these areas succinctly:

• The Law of Value
• The Law of Headlines and Hooks
• The Law of “How To”
• The Law of The List
• The Law of the Story

Take a look at the entire article here ~ www.CopyBlogger.com.  There is a plethora of other valuable information there as well! Enjoy…

Until next time, J.

“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

Mexico is an annual trip for me.  My folks live in Zihuantanejo for 8-12 weeks out of the year and it’s a great place for me to visit them without all of the other distractions of get togethers when home in the Bay Area.  Plus, it’s a retreat for my mind and body!  I rent an apartment on the beach, walk about 3 miles every morning, work for a couple of hours, and then see what the day will bring.

Having just spent both time (2 weeks) and money in Mexico, I thought you might be interested in some of the activities I chose during this visit and what they cost.  The dollar and the peso fluctuated, but for this I’ll use the low side of 12 pesos to the dollar….

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I took private Spanish lessons, on the beach no less.  For one hour these cost 100 pesos each (or $8.33 USD)  In the U.S. it would cost a minimum of $25 for private lessons. My instructor, Tamara, joined us for dinner one evening…. here’s a picture.  (She lives in Portland, Oregon 5 months of the year, and Zihua the balance)

I also indulged frequently in one hour massages.  The two gals that I like are set up out front of my apartment, on the beach, under a palapa.  Imagine light breezes with the smell of the ocean and the sound of the surf.  Just walk over in your swimsuit… aahhh.  A one hour massage is 250 pesos (or about $20.80 USD)  Here in the states the minimum I’ve been charged is $80.

I had my haircut when there this time!  Of course it was pretty basic, no wash or blow, but hello- I can do that!  Know what Liliana charged?  90 pesos (or $7.50 USD)  Here in the Bay Area I pay between $55 and $100, depending on who I go to.

Para-Sailing was really reasonable too, I thought.  It came to 200 pesos (or $16.66) per person. I’m not sure what the charge here in the states would be, but it was a thrill to see spotted rays from above and the coastline of the Zihuantanejo Bay.

Food out in the restaurants is not the bargain it once was.  That is where I spent the most, well ok, I spent a fair amount on the margaritas too!

Let me know if you have any questions about other costs…. I may be able to provide the answer.

Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

Pay-Per-Click or PPC is the backbone for all paid-for advertising options and helps target specific audiences. You can buy advertising space from Google, Yahoo, and Bing, as well as other sites such as Leapfish.  Usually you post 3 line ads, that are very specific to your service or product you offer – the more interesting and relevant, the more click throughs and conversions you will experience.  PPC requires regular monitoring, high quality campaigns, a decent budget, as well as attention grabbing landing pages and a way to track effectiveness.

Come back next week for more ABC’s of Online Marketing!

I started out the day para-sailing around the Zihuantanejo Bay before sitting down to work a couple of hours.  Clearing your head does wonders to be able to sit and focus.

Below are 6 tips to put into action which will minimize self-sabotaging behaviors:

1.  When setting your goals make them big enough you need to stretch yourself, but not so large you get un-motivated.  If they end up being unrealistic subconsciously you will give up or set yourself up for self-sabotage.

2.  Break big goals down into manageable tasks.  Doing numerous small tasks will result in accomplishing the bigger ones.  You’ve heard before that you can’t eat an elephant in one bite!

3.  Keep your goals simple and revise them as your business and situation changes.

4.  Track your progress so you know what is working and if you are on target.  It’s always easier to reach your goals when you see the end versus zigzagging all over the board.  That can become time consuming, non-productive and expensive.

5.  Celebrate your success.  Allow time to say, yeah I made that happen, now I know I can keep the focus for the next milestone.

6.  Maintain balance in your life.  It’s easy to become a workaholic when you like what you do, but your family won’t appreciate it.  Plus, some of your best ideas will likely come to you when you are relaxed and/or playing.

Until next time, J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

Being a self employed entrepreneur and working from home has so many benefits.  Have you ever thought about the freedom you could have waking up without an alarm clock?  Working for awhile and taking an exercise break?  Coming back to work and not fighting traffic or paying for gas?  And now here’s another huge benefit… being able to work from anywhere?

Right now I am working from the patio of an apartment I’ve rented for a couple of weeks in Zihuantanejo, Mexico. You’ve got to love my office view!  What’s stopping you?

Until next time,  J.
“Take control of your destiny or someone else will”

This weeks ABC is O for Organic SEO ~ If expensive online campaigns are not your style, then you might like to check out Organic SEO which allows you to build a digital presence without breaking the bank.  Content driven, contextual promotion requires a bit of patience but has a long lasting impact on your online endeavour.  Organic SEO is a combination of high quality content, through articles, press releases, blogs, (commenting & posting), video marketing, Twitter…. I think you get the idea – it is when your name and/or brand over time “go viral”and show up naturally in the search engines.  Good keyword usage is critical.  This method takes longer than Google campaigns, but it is very effective over time.

Come back next week for more ABC’s of Online Marketing!