September 24, 2009

How to Earn More When You've Cut All You Can... Use the
Pre-Authorized Payment Option to Your Advantage... Three
Fears That Should Never Stand in Your Way... Are You Listed
in the Info Marketing "Yellow Pages?"... and More.

While one of the first steps on the road to financial freedom is to reduce your spending, you're going to reach a point where you simply can't cut any further.

Before you reach that point, or at any time really, you should be looking for ways to increase your income.

Many feel that finding a new job is the best way to increase your cash flow. And, for some, this is certainly a way to do it. But, for those of us who are in a good position either self- employed or with a company we appreciate, then looking for a new job is the last thing on your mind.

Doug D'Anna often talks about creating "multiple streams of income," something he's an expert at doing.

Rather than finding just one money source to pay you more and more, the key to achieving lasting success is to have several sources and, when you need more money, to increase those sources.

Where then can you find more money sources?

I always tell people to take a look around them right where they are. Sure, you may find a penny on the ground, but what I mean is that, in your home or wherever you are, there are quite possibly dozens of ways to create a new stream of income.

As an information marketer, I see an opportunity in everything. Someone who has a collection of old model cars has the ability to create a model car information product. The person who follows sports stats with a keen eye also has the opportunity to turn these into an info product.

Of course, you don't have to create something new to start a secondary income. You can market existing products unavailable in your current town. Or, you can join a team of online affiliates and market to people anywhere on the planet.

I truly believe that the best way to become successful (and rich) is to cut expenses where you can and increase your income, not from one source, but from as many as you can.

Do you find it difficult to keep track of when your bills are getting paid each month? As a result, do you end up missing a payment here and there?

If you answered "yes" to the following questions, then you might want to consider setting up pre-authorized payments with your bank.

Almost every single company out there today will offer you this option. Pre-authorized payments involve having the balance from, let's say, your cable bill, automatically taken from your checking account every month on a set date.

This date is usually determined by the company's computer, but when you contact them to set up a pre-authorized payment plan, most often they will let you pick a day that works for you.

Many companies even offer certain incentives to their customers for choosing this method of payment! I receive five percent off of my cell phone services because I have each month's payment taken directly from my account. This option is attractive to the company because they get their payment on time, and it benefits you because you never have to worry about mailing or calling in your payments.

Also, by having pre-authorized payment set up for all your bills, you can correspond the day the money is removed from your account to work with your paychecks.

I have my bills paid on the same days I receive my regular royalty checks. While it is a bit tough to see the money go out of my account just as fast as it went in, I do enjoy the simplicity of the process and the comfort of knowing that my money is going to pay my bills on time.

This not only simplifies your life, but it eliminates the possibility of late-payment fees, trips to the bank or companies you owe money to, and having to mail your bills. Plus, your credit rating will benefit, too; since your bills will automatically be paid every month on time, you will show lenders that you are a responsible and organized individual.

If you're about to venture out into the world of entrepreneurship, it's quite possible that you are feeling a mix of emotions. They usually range from excitement and optimism to nervousness and fear. The truth is, when you run your own business, the stakes are higher and the risk is greater. Not to mention, if you've never done something before, you can have a hard time figuring out exactly what to expect.

If you are feeling fear, don't worry. It's human nature. We are almost instinctually prone to feeling fear about the unknown. You're probably asking yourself a number of questions about whether or not you're cut out to be an entrepreneur, if you can handle the hard times, or exactly how you're going to take your business to the level you'd like to achieve. These are questions asked time and time again by entrepreneurs, and what you're feeling is completely normal. Here are a list of the top fears shared by entrepreneurs and what you can do to overcome them and succeed in business.

1. Fear of Failure: So many entrepreneurs who eventually fail begin their new self-employed careers with a defeatist attitude. They believe that they will not succeed, even if they hope and say otherwise. This mentality is reflected in the decisions they make and the direction their business takes.

It's essential to develop a "can-do" attitude. This means that you truly believe you are capable of growing your business and becoming a successful entrepreneur. One of the tricks to doing this is by setting short-term goals and noting when you've met them. For instance, keeping a log of all the accomplishments you've made along the way can really help build your confidence and show you that you're making progress.

2. Fear of the Economy: The current economy doesn't do a lot for the confidence of entrepreneurs and is definitely something that is striking fear into most people across the country. That being said, it isn't something that should necessarily shake your confidence or make you scared.

You see, many successful new businesses are started in the wake of economic turmoil. This is because entrepreneurs generally have the ability to go against the grain and find opportunity where most may find trouble. In fact, successful brands like Hewlett-Packard and Samuel Adams were created during recessions. As our needs as a society change, it is entrepreneurs like you who are able to fill them.

3. Fear of Being Able to Sustain: Even before you get your business off the ground, you'll need money. This is also the case when you look to expand and improve operations. Deciding where and how to allocate the funds -- and acquire the funds -- can be quite a daunting task.

The only way to get the funding and exposure is to get out there and make sure the right people know you exist. Market tirelessly and take advantage of every networking opportunity, or anything that you can do build recognition for your business. This may include appearances, sponsorships, community involvement or anything else that can promote your message and build a recognizable brand for your company. Attempt to align your business with other reputable companies in your area. This should help your credibility and encourage people to take your new business seriously.

By preparing yourself for the common fears that entrepreneurs experience, you can put yourself ahead of the game and position yourself for success.

** Are You Listed in the Info Marketing "Yellow Pages?"
By James Burt, Online Marketing Expert

TV shows, interactive communication, downloadable music...is there anything you can't get off the 'Net?

My father and I were talking about this a few weeks back. He's retired and does a lot of traveling. Even he's amazed that he can get flight tickets and read whole magazines online. My father was thinking that a lot of old media, especially print, might be completely phased out -- magazines, ticket agencies -- by the Internet.

I am not as negative about this, as I think some things will remain, in whatever lesser or greater forms. However, I am a big believer of being on cusp of new things rather than not and getting left in the dust. And one thing I advise info marketers to get on is the phone book.

Pardon me: the online directory.

When it comes to print media, nothing is bigger in size than your Yellow Pages and phone book. A book by Proust or the old Bible cannot compare in girth. Now these big fat books are online too, but also in many forms. Online directories are designed for both the general public and business people to access your business' information right on their computer screen.

You can get on them, too, and I highly recommend these to anybody with their own business. A lot of them are free of charge and can bring new people right to your web site. But you should keep some things in mind before you get registered.

One thing you should do before you go register for an online directory is decide which ones you want to get on to. I say "ones" deliberately, as, after doing a quick search, I have seen how many are actually out there and how many of them are free to register for. You should get onto as many as possible. You will find directories categorized by your region, your business type, or even what Internet provider you use. Check them all out and decide which ones work best for you. Try to get on as many as possible.

As well, before you do any of that, check the price tag of these directories. My recent Web writing job for a firm that specialized in online business taught me a lot about Web directories and what is involved with them. This place spared no expense and when I finished one of their subsidiaries' copy assignments, the firm took the web site and registered it on the most expensive directory they could find. There was a reason was that this particular directory almost always got is registrants clients or, at the very least, online traffic. If this sounds like something that you want, great. But it will cost you. If you are short on cash, perhaps start with directories that are free and see what is generated there. To be sure, even those directories see prospect clients looking them over to search out a service on a regular basis.

Once you get registered on an online directory, make sure your advertisement there is up to snuff. You will likely be called upon to write a short ad for your business and then add a link back to your site. Keep your ad brief and use the relative keywords to your business in the ad. If your info business is a sports related business, you should include "sports," "stats,""scores," and "news" in the ad.

I would also suggest, especially if you get into a higher end directory, that you create a bigger, Yellow-Pages-style ad for the directory. That is, one with slogans, borders, and even graphics, with all of your contact info. Again, check your finances to see if you can do this. I like to see info marketers go for maximum success, and this is a way you can do it.

When you think about it, the Internet at its best is a sort of endless business property stake. It's a place where anyone can go and get onto to show the rest of the world what they have to offer. Online directories can help you hone this claim, so you are put into an area where you can get to the people you want to serve and direct them to your info marketing business. In the end, the message is clear: get on it!