August 19, 2009

The Check's in the Mail... When it's Best to Meet Only 67% of
Your Customers' Demands... A New Savings Tool... How to
Deal with Troublesome Info Marketing Clients... and More.

"The check's in the mail."

I'm willing to bet you've heard that one before.

In fact, every time I used to hear that phrase, a little warning bell went off in my head. This is probably one of the most popular and continually spoken lies out there

However, over the past 10 years, I've learned that there is one business where this phrase is rarely a fib.

You see, information marketers hear this phrase each and every day. And, information marketing is the "checks in the mail" business you can start from anywhere in the world.

Not only do information marketers receive checks in the mail, day after day, but they are also receiving payouts of thousands of dollars.

I can imagine that once you get used to opening your mail and receiving all of those checks, well, it's a feeling you simply have to repeat.

Do you know what it is about receiving mail that makes most people get so excited? I'm not sure what it is myself, but capturing that feeling and repeating it every day is a realistic goal you can set for yourself.

As an information marketer myself, I can honestly say that there is no better way for you to make money now. The products you sell can come from your own experience and research and can cost very little to produce. Their value comes from the content you provide and, for that reason, if you create in-demand content, you'll be on the way to becoming a very successful information marketer.

Learn what it takes to start your own information marketing business by clicking on the link below:

http://www.lombardipublishing.com/ads/imiem/index.asp

This success formula might not apply to everyone or every kind of business, but it's a good one to know anyway.

In my business -- and I suppose the same holds true for most service-oriented businesses -- clients want a good product cheap, and they want it fast, by yesterday if possible.

Well, you don't have to spend much time to figure out that giving clients 100% of what they want will run you out of business faster than you can say, "Why am I working my butt off for peanuts?"

When a new client calls, I'm prepared to give him (or her) two out of three. Price. Product. Or time. Pick two. Sixty-seven percent is all I'll give a new client. I keep the other 33% and use it to my best advantage. Any combo works to your advantage.

If the two most important things to a client are product and price, fine. Give him your best work at a fair price, but don't rush. Give your schedule some air, and live it up. Or, use the open slots to handle clients who put a bigger premium on time.

Last week, a client called and the most important thing to him was speed of delivery, period. He called me on a Thursday and needed my first draft by Friday night. He had a Sunday deadline -- his client was in Hong Kong, a day ahead.

He had worked with me before, so I guess he expected good quality. The bargaining chip? Price.

And since so much emphasis was placed on time, it was quite easy for me to balance things out with a heavy price.

The Moral of the Story: Give 100% of yourself. But don't give new clients any more than 67%. If you do, your business won't last long enough for you to stash your first million away in the bank.

Here's that formula again:

Cheap + fast = less than best work
Fast + best work = top price paid
Best work + cheap = slow delivery

Bill Hebden's new book, "GETTING YOUR FIRST MILLION," is available now. Order yours today and get a signed edition by clicking on the link below:

http://www.lombardipublishing.com/ads/ym/index.asp

We're often told to focus on saving money. Of course, it's always much easier said than done. For starters, most people don't have the financial education to know how to actually do so effectively, plus, most of us need nearly all the money we make to support the rising costs of living.

It seems that saving, for the most part, is something reserved for people who have the luxury of being able to put money away. For those of us on a limited income, saving simply doesn't appear to be a feasible option.

In fact, low-income earners in this country are almost an afterthought when it comes to being given the opportunity to save money. After all, they usually aren't privy to middle- and high-income earning benefits like 401(k) and IRA. Also, they are unlikely to receive tax breaks on things like mortgages. At the end of the day, it seems that low-income earning Americans are being shut out of the chance to build any kind of secure financial future through saving.

Well, in New York City, this is changing. Initiatives in the largest in city on the Eastern Seaboard are making it possible for the low-income earners of the city to save money and pave the way for a brighter financial future.

Starting in 2008, SaveNYC is now in its second year of existence and is continuing to grow. The program encourages saving among low-income earners by matching contributions made to special savings accounts.

The savings are based on a tax rebate received by low-income earners in the city called the Earned Income Tax credit. If $100 of it is put away into one of these special accounts and left there for a year, it will be matched by 50% (using private money raised by the city). The matching applies up the first $500 saved.

In the program's first year, 2008, 151 people with an average income of $15,500 saved an average of $400, according to a recent "New York Times" article. In further proof that it's working, 76% of all accounts opened remained so for the entire year. This shows that people who became involved were committed to saving.

What makes it so unique is that, once the money is in there, it is difficult to get out. There are no ATM machines or debit cards that allow the money to be spent easily. It is locked up and protected, and the more people contribute, the more they  can save for the future.

If you live in New York City, you can get more information about SaveNYC at your nearest tax-filing center.

** How to Deal with Troublesome Info Marketing Clients
By James Burt, Online Marketing Expert

Today's question: "Is the customer always right?"

Tough one, no?

If you've ever had bad service, your answer is probably immediately "YES!" Of course, if you have ever worked in the customer service field and had a bad experience trying to please someone, you'll probably start your reply with "Uh...well...depends" or just flat out "No."

I've always worked with clients or the public since I entered the workforce. Only for a few years in the publishing field did I sit behind a desk all day with no interaction with the outside world. Now I am back working with clients regularly and I enjoy it very much.

As an info marketer, I hope you enjoy it, too. Sure, providing information is the way you put bread on the table, but it should be something you enjoy as well. Of course, along with working with the public comes the inevitable client or two that is/are difficult. There's no way around it -- if you are in business for yourself, you are going to encounter a few customers who are tough to deal with. It's that simple. However, once you accept this, you can learn to roll with the punches a bit and work around this problem.

In my and a few colleagues' experience, there are a few "classes" of troublesome clients that you are going to run into as an info marketer. Here are the most common ones:

--- The Angry Guy: I worked in a video store once where a fellow would come in and complain about something almost on cue. Finally, one day, a colleague and I were about to take action with this man when, surprisingly, another client in line chastised him on the spot. The man never complained again. I hope you never have a client like this -- a perpetual bully who complains about every little thing you do. If you do, try to be calm and courteous at all times. Correct whatever problems they have in a calm, professional fashion. If their abuse continues, don't be afraid to put your foot down and offer them someone else's services since they are not satisfied with yours. That will often put them in their place and cause them to back off a bit.

--- The Know-it-All: I hate to admit it, but I had a bit of this sort of personality in me. I read a lot of comics, world knowledge books, and baseball card stats as a kid, committing all the info to memory, and was only too keen to correct someone who I heard was wrong. But I grew out of it and knew that nobody really liked a know-it-all. The trouble is that some people never grow out of this. And as an info marketer, it is going to burn you a bit when a client is continually trying to correct you on the facts of the info you provide, especially if they're wrong. There's not much you can do here. It's best just to say "thanks" and carry on with what you were doing.

--- The Whip Cracker: You might get an angry guy who complains too much, but a whip cracker is always pushing and demanding some new info from you. "When is your new newsletter coming...?" or "Have you heard about...?" are common e-mails that come to your inbox. In truth, this is a good client to have. It will keep you on your toes, force you to be organized, and always be ready for an info challenge. Don't look too hard on this guy or girl.

--- The Payment Procrastinator: I hate to say it, but you WILL likely encounter someone like this. He or she will not pay for your services and keep avoid doing so. Period. All you can do with these people is just hound them. Regular e-mails, calls, or letters are still the best way to get these people to cough up the dough. If they still don't, send a letter saying you will be inviting a collection agency to solve the matter. And if that still doesn't work, well, you might have to actually call the collection agency...

I could really go on to a few more, but will save some others for another e-newsletter. In short, as an info marketer, you just have to stay calm, cool, and collected when dealing with troublesome clients. Never let your professional stance fall and always be ready for a client's inquiry, no matter how easy or tough it may be.