My Favorite Online Business Tools » Susan

Managing Multiple Blogs With Gmail and Posterous

Susan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:40:00 +0000

Coming up on my second year of blogging and internet marketing and I find myself with dozens of domains and at least 12 blogs that I want to keep up to date with fresh content. Until recently this had been a major challenge but I have finally come up with a process that simplifies the task.

Using only gmail, Google reader and Posterous, I can now easily post to two or three blogs each day.

To accomplish this takes a about 30 minutes to an hour set up for each blog that you want to manage but the set-up time is time well spent as it will save you many hours in the future. Here's the basic steps to get started with your own Blog Management System:

If are not already using gmail, sign up for a gmail account to use has your master account.
If don't already have an email address specifically for your niche, sign up one with gmail.
Redirect your mail from this address to be redirected to your master account. (This will allow you to view all incoming mail in one place) To do this go to Settings: Forwarding and POP/IMAP: Add a Forwarding Address. This is a two step process as you need to verify the address from your master account and then come back and Enable Forwarding. You can at this time elect to Delete the mail from the original box or Archive a copy after forwarding.
The next step is to add your niche address to your master email account as a Sending From address. This will be done from the Settings tab in the master email account. Just pick Send From Another Email address and add your niche address. Again this will have to be verified.
The next step is to create a Posterous account for your niche, using your unique niche email address. Add at least a half dozen sites to autopost to, including your blog in this list is optional. Some experts believe you publish to your blog separately.
Now you are set up to add content to any of your Posterous accounts directly from your master email account simply by selecting the niche address as your Sent From address when emailing a post to post@posterous.com.
You can also add your master account as a Contributor to your niche Posterous account by going to Autopost page and selecting Contributor tab, adding your master email account to each niche Poserous account. Doing this will make it possible to post to any Posterous account (and it's related autopost pages) through the Email this options in Sharoholic or some other quick email key. When using one of these choices you must email your post to post@nichename.posterous.com… where nichename is replaced with your Posterous page name. For example: I can post this article to My Favorite Online Business Tools directly from my email account or by emailing the article to post@posterous.com from one of the email addresses listed as Contributors for that account.

Setting up my blogs to post through Posterous and Gmail allows me to use the Google Reader to research and study my niche and and using the Email button in Google Reader I can direct a comment on a article in my Reader to any Posterous account that has my master account is listed as a contributor.

If you run into a problem following these directions, please let me know. This is my first attempt at outlining the procedure…there may be glitches.

Why I Am NOT Buying Affiliate Marketing 2.0

Susan — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:13:05 +0000

How many emails did you receive this morning for the launch of Affiliate Marketing 2.0? I deleted at least six before starting this post. I read two because they came from folks I really like and have met personally which goes to show that relationships (ROI) do work.

So why am I not jumping on the Early Bird Link and signing up?

Reason 1: If you watched the first four videos you will noticed they touched on the necessity to pick a strategy and sticking to it. That is exactly what I am going to do. It is not that I think Affiliate Marketing 2.0 is not an excellent program. It looks GREAT. It is just that I am already following a great program and I am convince that any of these wonderful programs advertised online and via email will lead to success IF a person starts at step one and follows through to the end of the program. So that's what I am going to do, stick with the one I am currently do until I have completed the entire process.

Reason 2: Reason 1 is really the motivation of my actions but I am giving reason two for disclosure purposes just so someone doesn't call me later. Affiliate Marketing 2.0 doesn't accept affiliate partnerships with folks like me who don't have a list of at least 5000 followers so even though you will find links to the program in this post they are one of two things, links to contest that is running along with the launch, and yes I get points if you enter the site from that link or links that will take through the affiliate link of one my favorite marketing gurus, Bill McIntosh. So if you are not currently working through a marketing program and you decide that Affiliate Marketing 2.0 is the package that you want to buckle down and work through and you buy it through Bill's link be sure to follow up and send Bill a copy of your receipt so you will get his bonuses along with your purchase.

So that's it. Whatever your choice, good luck on your business adventure!

ps.. Photo of AF logo was blatantly borrowed from AffiliateDotCom site, hope they don't mind .
As mentioned above, I may get contest points or brownie points for the above links and thus may receive prizes or cash as a result if you decide to purchase through one of the links.

Missing the Mark in Mobile Marketing

Susan — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:18:45 +0000

You know how it is when you watch one of those promotional videos and some guy demonstrates how he brings in thousands of dollars over night with just the drop of a hat? You sit and think, well maybe this is finally the answer to your prayers, may this is the program that take you out of debt and over the top in this Internet marketing business. Last week I thought just that. I had watched the the Mobile Monopoly video through a half dozen times and it seemed like a sure thing but I still resisted the urge to jump in feet first. It wasn't until I saw the same results demonstrated in a live broadcast done by a marketing pro I knew and trusted that I finally bought the package and set up a trial run of my own.

Not having a lot of cash to play with, I set up three different tests and my results were much less impressive. A total investment of $100 (not counting the cost of the program) generated 55 leads in one niche and 16 in another. This calculates to 71 cents a lead. Not the outstanding results shown in the demos but the difference in results is likely due to my inexperience at copy writing and page design. If I work at improving my followup emails I can see a good possibility that I will regroup my investment over the course of the next month. Not a overnight success, but I do now have the beginnings of a niche related list and it includes people who have already demonstrated they are interesting the topic. A step forward, however small.

My final vote on Mobile Monopoly is thumbs-up. Even if my results are less than overwhelming, I think the program offers a great tool and educational videos on how to get started in marketing to the five billion cell phone users. It is certainly the next move in marketing and MM is well worth the purchase price.

A couple of tips I picked up on my first efforts:

Your display page is critical, keep to light backgrounds and clear readable type fonts. It is a good idea to view your landing page on a cell phone. You can see what it looks like on a mock phone display on http://testiphone.com.
Research you niche first. I failed to check sales in the niche on one product. A second look showed a very low gravity on Clickbank products in that niche. This should have been a clue that people were looking to buy answers in this field.

Mobile marketing has no where to go but up so it is definitely worth investing both the time and money to get in on the ground floor. Remember though to run tests and analyze your results. Don't be afraid to make changes or pull the plug if you run into a dead end. Last but certainly not least, if you want to avoid the pitfalls of floundering on your own, seek the assistance of an experienced Internet marketing professional. Sometimes a small investment now can save you big in the long run.

As a affiliate marketer I will receive compensation if you should choose to make a purchase through one of the links incorporated in this page.
Photo used under cc licence provided compliments of Kit Cowen/Flicker

Is Facebook In Your Toolbox?

Susan — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:08:01 +0000

The question is, how soon until Facebook takes on Google directly?

Places is the latest example of Facebook adding a feature that knocks a would-be competitor out of center stage. Foursquare, Gowalla and other location-based "check-in" services have to take a back seat to Facebook's, since most iPhone-owning Facebook members in the U.S. will automatically have access to this soon, if not already.

or so says Wilson Rothman in his latest commentary on MSNBC Facebook is the New Google

The Challenge is how do you best use Facebook as a business tool without burning out your friends and family members who have no interest in your business posts?

3 Reasons You Should Seek Professional Internet Marketing Training

Susan — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:04:16 +0000

Why get professional internet marketing training from a marketing pro?

I know you have thought about it. You may have actually tried it. Most never got seriously involved with one or just drifted from one to another, basically staying where they were in their business. Some don’t get involved because they don’t know how to get started. Others get scared off and discouraged by the apparent success and fame of the marketing guru.

Wait a moment and let’s slow down a bit. Let’s consider this.

Here are 3 reasons why you should work with a internet marketing pro, that you might consider.

At first, in its favor, let me point out that they have been around the block and know how to get where you want to go. Sure, I understand your objection that they may be just selling you a membership and not really be interested in your success at all. That which you say may be true of some, I agree, however it isn’t true of all marketing professions or membership programs.

Second off, you probably need to consider that without an expert’s help you could be overlooking some major flaws in your market plan. And, additionally, consider that you could also be missing out on some great opportunities you haven’t thought of.

And Third, if you choose the right membership program you could receive one-on-one attention. Which means that you can have your hard work reviewed and critiqued personally by someone the knows what to look for. And added to that, you could get tips about new tools or techniques as the become available!

Within all of the above info lies a very good group of reasons in favor of working with a internet marketing pro. What do You think?

So just consider that for the moment. An outstanding case has been made in favor. Maybe, just maybe, you really should sign up to work with a real internet marketing professional! I personally have found Bill McIntosh to be just the kind of internet marketing guru I was was looking for. His once a week live online workshops offer a up close and personal chance to get answers to all my questions and Bill’s insightful site reviews have made a big difference in my web traffic. With Bill’s help, I am well on my way to turning my blogging hobby into a lucrative internet business.

To learn more about Bill McIntosh’s Business Inner Circle and get the personal one on one guidance you are looking for go to Business Inner Circle Gold at http://www.myfavoriteonlinebusinesstools.com/bicelite.

Market Samurai – Finally A Product With No Guile

Susan — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:39:03 +0000

As an internet marketing I have also strived to only promote products that I believed to be of value. However, not everything offered ranked extremely high on my must have list. Market Samurai is an exception to that. From my very first adventures in internet marketing I have been using Market Samurai and haranguing their support deck with inquires about when I would be able to become an affiliate for their product. Up until this week that has been impossible. They did not have affiliates. In spite of this I continued to recommend Market Samurai to all my friends and associates as I truely believe it is the one marketing tool that I purchased that has been essential to my business endeavors.

I bought Market Samurai back in 2008 when my free trial ran out following my completion of the 30 Day Challenge. At that time, the program only had one operating module… the keyword research tool. I believe SEO Competition and Find Content buttons were still labeled “Coming Soon.” I delighted in opening the application to find “upgrade available for download” month after month for over the course of the next two years not only did those buttons become active but others were added and actived, including Monitization, Publish Content, Promotion and even the once separate module – Domain Samurai.

All these advancements have been added to my original purchase at no extra cost. That’s what I call customer service and value added!

I anxiously wait for the latest module “Adwords” to become active.

What’s next Noble guys? You are awesome! I am proud to be counted as one of your affiliate marketers.

Download your 12 day Free Trial Now!

You won’t be disappointed!

Still uncertain? Watch the video below to see how it works. This is an old demo and there is no “ultimately” anymore. Most of the modules that were in the works when this video was made are now in operation and work great.

So I Have Google Wave – Now What?

Susan — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:45:33 +0000

It has been over six months since I first viewed the videos about Google Wave and over a month since I received my invite to get my own Wave account. Now I am wondering what was all the hype about?

As far as I can tell, Wave works like predicted and has some incredible features like video conference, live chat/email functionality, historical review of communications and more.

Yet, I don’t see people putting all those features to work. Everyone I encounter is still using Facebook to chat, Skype to video call or Yahoo Messenger.

I’m really curious if folks are using Google Wave or not.

If you are, send me a Wave (syoungb)or email from your gmail account and I will include you in the What’s Happening on the Wave Group. Note: Google does required you have gmail to work and you need to get an invite to join. You can request an invite from Google or ask someone that already has to send you an invite. I’ll be happy to share the invites I have left until they run out.

A Second Opinion – June 25, 2009

Susan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:43:32 +0000

CPA Ninja Review and Bonus

June 25, 2009 – Herschy sums it really well here. Get your copy while they last from http://www.myfavoriteonlinebusinesstools.com/CPA_Ninja

No Freaking Way! (this guy makes $100k a day)

Susan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:36:25 +0000

Some folks I know are launching this incredible program called CPA Ninja. If you are new like me you may not know that CPA is short for Cost Per Action, not certified public accountant as I first thought. The program consist of a series of video lessons which give step by step instructions for setting up a web site that is primed for bringing you money from products that will pay you everytime someone does something like put in there email to get more info or receive a free sample or quote or fill out a survey. I haven’t completed the program myself yet as I am in the middle of another program but I have purchased it and it is next on my list.

Buy it now from here and the guys are offering some real cool bonuses along with it.

So Why Am I Selling My Mass Control 2.0 by Frank Kern?

Susan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:09:38 +0000

Mass Control 2.0 by Frank Kern

Last February I spent nearly $2000 to get Frank Kern’s Mass Control Syndicate package and yesterday I listed it on Ebay with a buy it now for $800. What’s up with that? Was it worth the original price? Lot’s of people think so. The first 500 people who bought in February also received an invite to a two or three day workshop that was held in San Diego last April. The house was packed (well over 500). I have paid nearly that much money for just the workshop or conference in the past so I thought the package was worth the investment for the opportunity to attend the workshop. In addition, I received a very nice “bonus package” from Marty Razmanith of WordPressDirect and the training and tools I received from him were also well worth the money I spent.

However, Frank Kern has a style and presentation that is well out of my comfort level so I am putting my package up for resale on Ebay. I am not saying it isn’t good stuff. He and many others are making lots of money with these techniques. I enjoyed meeting him and found Frank to actually be a really nice guy who goes to great effort to hide that fact in his promotions. It works for him. I wish him well.

If however you want to see what all the hype is about without the high price tag, you can buy my barely used (I viewed the DVDs once) package at a substantial discount here. Limited time only … sale ends Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. At the time of this posting I already have 5 bids and people watching the auction. I’m happy.