February 23, 2009

Who Is James Burt?... Allies and Colleagues -- Some People
Who Can Help You with Your Info Marketing Business...
Why You Shouldn't Treat Making Money Like Winning the
Lottery... An Opening for Investment Opportunity... and More.

** Who Is James Burt?
By Adrian Newman, Founder of e-Wealth Daily

We're already well in to 2009 and, with the New Year, we're making a few changes here at e-Wealth Daily.

The first big change has been welcoming new team members into the family here. Our goal is to keep bringing you the latest information that could help you build wealth, run a successful small business and make it through tough financial times.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to James Burt. He joins us with an energy and spirit I believe you will find truly inspiring. He knows the ins and outs of the information marketing business and is here to give you a unique look into one of the most powerful business opportunities on the planet.

How powerful? Well, James has spent the past few months with my team searching far and wide for some of the best of the best in the information marketing business.

In addition to contributing to the e-Wealth Daily Bulletin, James also maintains his own blog, "Confessions of an Info Marketing Specialist," which you can read by visiting http://infomarketingstarter.blogspot.com/

We look forward to sharing with you James' expert advice and unique views on how you could achieve more success and make more money using information marketing to your advantage.

Below, you will find James' first e-Wealth Daily article after a short message from "Miracle Max."

** Allies and Colleagues -- Some People Who Can Help You
with Your Info Marketing Business
By James Burt, Online Marketing Specialist

One of the benefits of being at the Information Marketing Institute is that you are surrounded by real pros. My colleagues Adrian Newman, John Hurd, and Mathew LeCompte are seasoned writers who can come up with great copy in a flash; we have top notch in-house customer service representatives; our technical staff fixes Internet problems at light speed.

What can I say? I'm quite fortunate to work in a place with a lot of hard workers and, for me, free in-house assistance. Now you may not have this option. As an info marketer, you might be a totally solo enterprise. But that's alright. You can still gain allies to your information marketing business fairly easily.

Here are the most common questions you should ask yourself when going to seek help from a professional:

-- Whom do I need? This is the toughest question, but with most information marketing businesses, you should get in contact with a computer repair service and be communicative with your Internet host providers. These people's phone numbers are good to have close to your phone in case your computer crashes and you need assistance quickly. It is also good to get to know a copy editor and graphic designer, as you can send them your writing to be proofread or contract them to create good logos, web site designs, etc., for your business.

-- Where can I find them? With the abundance of online services these days, the best place is to check is the Internet. Popular sites like Craigslist often post people who provide copy editing, graphic design, or technical support services. These professionals are cheap and you can often wind up building a good professional relationship with them after a short interaction. Check around copy and print shops as well, as these types of professionals often post their services on the shops' message boards. Depending on the type of your information marketing business, you might also want to consult trade publications as well.

-- How much do I compensate them? Again, this can be a tough question. Ask them what their rate is or, if you are on a tight budget, offer them a flat fee for their services. No one likes to be cheap, but often people will help you just to get experience if you are short on cash. If they do the job well, it's a good idea to refer them to friends, family, and other professionals.

-- How do I know they are reputable? If you're unsure of their skills, ask for a portfolio or references. If these requests aren't met to your satisfaction, search out other help. Remember: this is your business. You want the best, so you have to get the best. This includes professional associates.

My friend works on film sets. The work often involves long hours and sometimes for little pay. But he loves the collaborative atmosphere -- everyone is helping everyone towards a common goal. Keep this in mind when you search out external help for your information marketing business. The best collaborations you make will only strengthen your
business.

** Why You Shouldn't Treat Making Money Like Winning the
Lottery  
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher

The other day, I was talking with an old friend about a business opportunity he is considering. After going through a rather elaborate story about how he discovered this new plan, he told me, "You know, once this comes together, it will be like I've won the lottery."

Now, he was very excited about his new moneymaking plans and was in a rush to meet with someone he hoped to do business with in the future. So, I wished him all the best as he went on his way.

For some reason I can't explain, that phrase "like I've won the lottery" really started to bother me. While getting a one-time cash windfall of millions of dollars certainly would be great, I don't believe this is how anyone should consider a business venture.

Let me explain...

It's a fact that many people who win the lottery end up wasting their winnings on frivolous luxuries and, sooner or later, they end up back where they started. How could someone waste all of that money, especially when it comes to millions of dollars?

Well, the simple fact is that people who come into a lot of money at once rarely know how to manage that money and make it last. This was part of the reason that they didn't have much money to start with and, unless they get some assistance with managing all this new money, they are bound to simply spend like they did before winning.

Here's why that simple phrase "like winning the lottery" bothers me. If you treat making money like many people treat their lottery winnings, well, that money is not going to last.

Just take a look at some of the richest investors in the world. Let's take someone like Warren Buffett. He makes his incredible fortune not by hoping for one massive cash windfall, but by pacing his investments. He puts his money in things he feels have a lower risk and he sticks with them, year after year.

My advice then is: when you're searching out your own moneymaking ventures, really consider for how long this opportunity has the potential to make money.

While landing a lump sum of money can certainly feel like a godsend, I, for one, wouldn't count on it solving all your problems. Consider this: money that comes in year after year can also be money that lasts.

** An Opening for Investment Opportunity
By Michael Newman, Self-made Millionaire

There aren't many investments out there that are a sure thing, especially these days. That doesn't mean, however, that good investment opportunities don't exist. You just have to be smart about it.

The reality these days is that many people are losing their jobs, having a hard time paying for their homes and looking for an effective way to keep a roof over their heads at a minimal cost. Well, if you happen to own a home and are looking for help with your mortgage payments or just looking to make some extra income, you could be standing above the investment opportunity of a lifetime.

If you haven't considered it before, it might be worthwhile to consider the possibilities and opportunities attached to turning your basement into a rental apartment. By charging a reasonable price for rent, you should be able to take advantage of a growing market seeking affordable accommodations.

Of course, it's no small investment. You'll have to put in flooring, plumbing, a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. You'll also likely have to do some work to get the proper building permits and also ensure that your apartment is up to code, and that your neighborhood is, in fact, zoned for basement apartments.

Although there is some work involved, this venture has the potential to pay some huge dividends. For starters, the work you put into the basement will pay itself off over time. Once this is done, you can start putting the rent money you're paid towards your mortgage, thus giving you some help and freeing up some more money to use as you please. Once your mortgage is paid, you can continue to rent out the basement and use the cash as a supplementary income to save, spend or use in retirement. There are a number of options that you have.

If this is something that sounds interesting to you, I advise looking into it a little more closely with some good research. It is a good opportunity to make some money when the times are slow and when they're good. In fact, in good economic times when people have more money, you'll be able to increase what you charge for rent!