October 30, 2008

The Most Powerful and Profitable Business Opportunity for
You Right Now... Negotiating like a Pro When Making a
Purchase; Part 2... Don't Panic... The Forecast for Black
Friday... and More.

** The Most Powerful and Profitable Business Opportunity for You Right Now
By Adrian Newman, co-founder of the WLI

There's a little-known business that is making millionaires out of ordinary people. Even in a time when it seems that the opportunities to become rich are all washing up, those who are in this quiet business continue to be making it big.

When you take a look at the people in this business, you simply can't help but be impressed. They drive fancy cars, live in luxury homes and yet you'll never hear them worry about the price of gas or making mortgage payments. That's because when they receive their mail, it's full of checks, made out in their name, for hundreds — even thousands — of dollars.

If you've never heard of this business, well, you're certainly not alone. But, when business owners and everyday people looking to make it big come to me for advice, this is the business I tell them about.

This little-known business is called information marketing. It's the business of helping out others by providing them with the information they not only need, but are more than willing to pay you for.

I've seen this success firsthand. Witnessing a 4-page letter printed on plain white paper bring in over $338,107.00 was like experiencing a miracle. One I saw with my own two eyes. And this business is loaded with even more perks. You can be your own boss. You can work as much (OR as little) as you want and still make loads of cash. You get to experience the rush of success. You can even get started without putting up a lot of money.

There's just one thing that you may be missing to help you achieve success as an information marketer. Call it a blueprint or a game plan, but what you need is guidance, a hand to take you through the ins and outs of this lucrative and powerful business.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 31, 2008, is going to be the start of something very special (and very profitable) for you. I'll be releasing a detailed and exciting program showing you how to make loads of money as an information marketer and I want you to be one of the first to enroll.

When it comes to negotiating a new price on an item, there are seven tips you should keep in mind that could help make every deal a success. Last week, we covered the first three. So now let's get to my last four rules for negotiating effectively:

Rule #4: Always negotiate. Look, if you always just pay the sticker price, you'll never get a great deal or save money. In our culture, consumers almost always assume that the cost of items cannot be negotiated, so they just pay the ticket price. This is a mistake. If you don't make an attempt to negotiate the cost of the item, then you will never know if it's even possible to get a better deal. Seriously, you would be surprised at how many businesses are receptive to giving their customers deals, especially with today's rising competition between stores. By giving customers a deal, most businesses know that they will gain your loyalty, and that means future sales for them. So don't be afraid to ask for a deal — you have nothing to lose and more money to gain.

Rule #5: Don't let them pressure you into a bad deal. The negotiation is over when you say it is. Stay firm, yet polite; and, most importantly, make sure that you are crystal clear on your goal of getting a good deal. Don't settle on a price that you are not completely happy with. Just because you are negotiating the cost of an item does not mean that you are automatically obligated to buy it. You can walk away from negotiations if you feel that you are not getting the best deal possible or that the salesperson is trying to take advantage of you.

Rule #6: Do your research beforehand. You don't think the Los Angeles Lakers go into a game with the goal of just throwing the ball around, do you? Of course not! They have a game plan. You should have one, too, before going into a store. This is a very important tip. Before you set out to do your shopping, take some time to do your homework. Research the item you are interested in purchasing and do some comparison shopping. Find out what stores are selling the item and which one offers the best cost. This is a great tip for small-ticket and large-ticket items. When it comes to larger items, such as appliances or cars, you may even want to invest in a consumer guide. You can even go online and research the item you are interested in. See which stores offer it for less, if it is less costly to purchase it used or online, and what other consumers think about the certain brand or model that y! You are looking to buy. Even half an hour of research could literally save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on items.

Rule #7: Keep things simple. When it comes to negotiating, always remember to keep things simple. Keep the conversation with the salesperson light, focus on your overall goal, and don't get into nitpicking. Nitpicking and complaining will only cause you to lose sight of your main objective, which is to save money. Remember that all you want to do is focus on a lower price — and possibly other perks — and that's it! Don't let negotiations become too marred, and don't let the salesperson try to confuse you or take advantage of you by throwing too many factors into the discussion.

** Don't Panic
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher

The cover of the fictional book within "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" reads, "Don't Panic."

I find myself repeating that phrase again and again, it's a sort of mantra I use when a plan appears not to be working or an unexpected roadblock suddenly appears.

I take a deep breath and say to myself, "Don't panic." Quite possibly, you're starting to feel the impact of the Wall Street implosion or housing bust. Up next, experts are predicting a similar effect on the credit card business, with limits reduced, interest rates hiked and access to credit dwindling.

While a reduction in available debt is probably good for those who spend too much time in shopping malls, it can be quite the burden for small business owners.

Many, unable to secure bank loans, use their credit cards to cover expenses before sales. So, with limits slashed, even if your business is able to pay of your balance, you can see that there's a problem.

Here's where that phrase of advice certainly comes into play. "Don't panic."

Small business owners are a resilient bunch and, quite frankly, they are used to things simply not going their way. If you're new to the game, then it's time to seek help from the elders and find out how they dealt with things back in the mid-90s or before.

One path they might suggest would be to hone the focus of your business. Over the past few years, it has seemed like the only way to get ahead was to offer more. More products, more services...and, as a result, more upfront costs.

Now, the tables have turned and the businesses that are about to succeed are those that focus on specific niche markets and maximize their appeal and connection to a core group of customers.

Evaluate your position, take stock of what is working for you, and, most importantly, "Don't panic."

In exactly one month less a day, it will be one of the biggest shopping days of the year. And this year, things are shaping up to be bigger and better than ever.

If there is one positive thing you can take away from the current struggling economy, it's that the retail stores that rely so much on consumer spending are taking desperate measures to boost sales in these desperate times. For you, it will equate to some of the biggest savings you've likely ever been offered.

On Monday, CNN featured an article saying that retailer Sears' Black Friday circular was leaked, and it's offering sales described by professionals as "definitely better than last year." In fact, some of the hot-ticket items like flat-screen HDTVs, "Blu-ray" players and home appliances like washing machines will have reductions of 50%-60%! And if Sears is offering those types of prices, it should be interesting to see how competitors like Wal-Mart stack up. This could truly be one of the biggest years to save that we've ever seen.

Although these great deals may provide you with the opportunity to save on Christmas gifts or on items for your home, you should take your own financial situation into account before you start spending. After all, are you really saving if you can't afford the items to begin with? It's important to use restraint during times like these, and if you've only got $200 in your bank account, you simply can't afford a new TV for $499.

The good news is that you do have a month to save up if there are some deals you'd like to take advantage of. If you start making the right decisions now and curb your spending habits over the next month, you can pay for that big-ticket item in cold, hard cash on Black Friday, instead of slapping it on the credit card and possibly putting yourself further into debt. Take a look at some of the ways you can cut back over the next 30 days and reward yourself with a new purchase on Black Friday. Then, continue your saving mentality as you move forward into the future and regain control of your financial power.