Every marketer knows that article writing and blog posts are an essential daily task.  What are the best tools to use to write your blogs?

Tools…  I need tools to write a blog post?

Nothing more than a text editor is needed… but these tools can make your life a lot easier.

First, I recommend a small pocket sized note pad that will fit in your pocket.

Why? How many times have you been out and about and an idea pops in your head? “Hey, that would make a great blog post.

Guess what. By the time you get home, that wonderful idea escapes you completely.

Carry something at all times to jot down these article idea gems. I never sit down to my computer and wonder, “What am I going to write about?”.

You could also use your phone for this as well.

The next tool, of course, is your writing software. I prefer a free software package called TextPad. There are others out there… I even used Windows notepad for awhile, but I like the extra features of TextPad.

Why not use Microsoft Word? Primarily because Word tends to add additional codes that are not seen, but they are picked up in a copy and paste operation. If you are using WordPress as a blog platform, it can cause a few problems. However, I do use Word after I have completed my article to check for grammar and spelling.

To get the search engines to pick up on your blog, it is suggested that your article be 400 words or more. My preferred blogging platform, IBO Toolbox, has a limit of 2500 characters. How do you quickly determine these numbers?

Word processors have these capabilities, but using TextPad I can select View/Document Properties, and immediately see my word and character count.

Another great tool for letter and word counts is an free online webtool that can be found at http://www.lettercount.com .

So reviewing the process…

Record you ideas on a notepad or maybe your phone.
Compose your blog article using TextPad, or a similar piece of software.
Check your word and character count.
Copy and paste into a word processor to check grammar and spelling
Publish

Here are the links…
Textpad – http://www.textpad.com/
Letter Count – http://www.lettercount.com

P.S. As mentioned above, IBO Toolbox offers a great blogging platform that will get you hundreds of page views…  and it’s free. IBO Toolbox also offers an incredible array of other great marketing tools…  and did I mention, it’s FREE?

Here’s the link ==> http://www.ibotoolbox.com/teinvited3.aspx?jid=14433

Popularity: 13% [?]

Marketers often say that one of the biggest issues they encounter is coming up with new ideas for blog posts and articles. Deciding on what to write about often produces what we commonly call “writer’s block”… you just stare at the screen, but nothing happens.

Here are some great question/answer type sites you can use to generate some article ideas. People use these sites to both ask and find answers to question on a multitude of subjects.

This is really a three-tiered strategy.

First, go to one or more of these sites to discover what needs people have in your marketing niche.

Second, go write an article or blog post to answer that need.

Third, go back to the original question and refer them to your blog post or article that answers their question. This not only gives you an idea for your blog, but also can generate business prospects as well.

Here are the Question/Answer sites…

AOL Answers
http://aolanswers.com/

Ask.com
http://www.ask.com

Ask Bar ?
http://askbar.com/

Simply Explained
http://simplyexplained.com/

Ask Me Help Desk
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/

UnAsked
http://unasked.com/

BlurtIt
http://www.blurtit.com/

Answers.com
http://wiki.answers.com/

Fluther.com
http://www.fluther.com/

Yahoo Answers
http://answers.yahoo.com/

Popularity: 34% [?]

I hope every marketer has made the commitment to posting at least one article to their blog this year. This is undoubtedly the best task you can do each day to promote your online (or offline) business.

With that in mind, I pose the question… “How do you come up with new high quality ideas for your blog posts?”

Most blog readers are only going to look at so much “hyped-up” opportunity ads disguised as blog posts. As soon as they figure out that this is another one of “those” blog posts, they’re gone.

It is vastly important to provide your blog readers with quality content that they can use. Develop a relationship. Make them want to come back to your posts again and again. Once you have earned the reader’s trust and respect, it will be much easier to partner with them.

How do you find blog post ideas?

Start first with your main online business opportunity. Is there a product or a service that that totally separates your company from everything else out there?  Is there something totally unique about one or more of your products that you can educate your reader about?

Motivational and “How-to-Market” articles can really create a trust relationship with your readers… “Hey, this guy really cares about my success.”

Use YouTube. Take a specific aspect of online marketing and do a YouTube search.  Find a great video clip to get you started. Take some of the ideas from the video clip, and then add your own thoughts.

Here’s another idea you might not have heard of… Google Alerts. It basically works like this… set up your “alert” with a keyword phrase, and Google sends you an email whenever new information is posted on the web concerning your query. It’s a great way to stay on top of the latest marketing opportunities and trends.

Here’s my favorite… use private label rights content. Find a PLR article, eBook, audio, or video in your marketing niche and use it for a launch point for your blog posts.

I did NOT say copy and paste… I said to use it as a launch point.

One eBook could give you enough article ideas for hundreds of blog posts. Believe me, you can take one content filled paragraph, and easily build a full blog post article.

Don’t have any PLR content? Problem solved.

Digital info Gold offers over 800+ FREE downloads in 39 categories. All sorts of stuff, and it is updated several times each week.

Here is the link to sign-up FREE ==> http://www.ibourl.com/gv8

Happy Marketing
Greg Ray
Digital Info Gold

Popularity: 15% [?]

IBO Toolbox is offering a FREE URL shortener called the IBOurl tool. You can use the IBOurl tool to both track and cloak your URLs.

To set up a new URL, you simply select Links/Widgets on the IBOtoolbox Menu across the top of the IBOtoolbox Dashboard.

Once you are at the Links/Widgets section, scroll down and click on the Launch IBOurl Tool link. Now you are ready to set up an IBOurl.

Type in a friendly name for your new IBOurl. Use this to easily identify and keep track of your different IBOurls.

Next, be sure to put in your Real URL correctly.

The next item is the Page Title. This information will be seen by both the viewer and the search engines, so choose wisely.

The next item is the Tags/Keywords field. I have seen no other URL shortener offer this… maybe some do, but I haven’t seen it.

When you have finished just click the “Save New URL” button on the right side of the page under the gray IBO URL System tab.

The IBOurl tool does more than just redirect and track your links. If you check the “Show Menu Bar” box when creating your IBOurl. a menu bar is will be displayed along the top of your redirected page.

The menu items include Your name and picture, your videos, your blogs, contact, and your IBO rating.

“Your Name” on the menu bar is clickable.  If the viewer clicks on your name they will be sent to your IBO Social page. Your IBO Likes are also shown, and this looks impressive to a potential business partner or client. Also, if the viewer clicks on the “more” link listed beside “Community Likes” they will be directed to your IBO Toolbox signup page where they too can become a member, referred by you.

The “My Videos” menu button opens a drop down menu where the viewer can select from you most recent videos.  The “My Blogs” works similarly, opening your 10 most recent blog posts.

If the viewer clicks “Contact Me” on the menu bar, they will open up a drop down a contact form that will be sent directly to your IBO Toolbox Contact Navigator.

The viewer can also select “Live Chat” from the menu bar, which initiates the IBO chat system.

The last thing displayed, is your IBO Rating and your social link tools.  For instance, the Facebook logo displayed on mine sends you to Digital Info Gold IM Resources, my Facebook Page Business page.

Every marketer should be using the IBOurl Tool… if you’re not a member, sign up here ==>
http://www.ibourl.com/i7y

(P.S. You can also click on the link to see the IBOurl Tool in action.)

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Popularity: 15% [?]

How many have seen a new product or business opportunity launch with the testimonials stating huge profits.  You know… “I made $3000 in the first week” or “I made my investment back in the first 3 hours!”

Well, I’m sure that there is some hype sometimes…  but I know that many people do make that kind of a killer numbers something new rolls out.

Why?  How is that possible? What are the big guns doing that I’m not?

Simple… the big marketing gurus have built and cultivated a marketing list.

When something new that they can put their reputation behind comes out, they simply send an email or video message to their list members and, presto, instant sales.

You might say, “OK, what does that have to do with me?  I’m a network marketer.”

Everything. It takes lots of money invested to build your network… right?  So, why not fund your efforts with profits from a new product launch or “feeder matrix” that will not only put money in your bankbook, but also give others the tools and knowledge necessary to build their business.

It’s called a “Funded Proposal”.  You market an inexpensive product or program to help fund, recruit, and build your main business.

Many of you may already be doing this…  minus the “List Building” part.

So, how do you build a marketing list?

I just uploaded two brand new products to the List Building Vault at Digital Info Gold.

The first, “Email List Management Secrets”, is a thorough 96 page eBook detailing the entire process.

The second, “How To Build Your List For Big Profits”, is a collection of 77 killer tactics you can use to build your list, even if you’re just starting out.

There are also 34 addition list building resources at Digital Info Gold, and the amazing this is they are all free!

That’s right… your subscription to Digital Info Gold is always completely FREE – NO Strings attached.

So, get started on your own marketing list… here’s the link ==> http://www.digitalinfogold.com

Popularity: 23% [?]

Building the Business Brain: Transitioning from Employee to Entrepreneur

Many new online business owners start out building their new enterprise part time as they continue to work their current job. Their business experience centers around working for someone else. They are an employee. In most cases these individuals have been an employee for years… perhaps for their entire life.

It may be difficult for the new entrepreneur to move away from the employee mentality.

What do I mean by this?

Those who have the employee mentality are more likely to look to other people to tell that what to do. They may have difficulties in taking responsibility for their business tasks and decisions. They may find it hard to accept responsibility for their ultimate success or failure as an entrepreneur.

Which one are you…  entrepreneur or employee?

If you are an entrepreneur you think differently than the employee. The “Buck Stops Here” is a quote that comes to mind. You, and you alone are responsible for the success or failure of your business. You are the decision maker… you take both the credit and the blame.

The entrepreneur is not afraid to take risks. He will invest in his business… both time and money.

The entrepreneur understands that success is not a right…  success is earned. You don’t necessarily get a paycheck just because you put in some hours.. no guarantees.

A new business venture is NOT a scam just because you didn’t get rich overnight. 95% of all new business ventures don’t make it… online or offline.

The entrepreneur knows that he will probably be drastically underpaid as he starts his business… but, later, he may be earning money while he sleeps.

If you would like to learn more about the transition from employee to entrepreneur, you need “Building the Business Brain”, a new download available in the Internet Marketing Download Vault at the Digital Info Gold Membership site.

Remember that you may subscribe FREE to Digital Info Gold… just go to the link below and sign up…

Here’s the link ==>  Digital Info Gold Internet Marketing Insiders

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Posting articles to your blog is an activity that pays dividends untold. IBO Toolbox are rewarded even more in that the SEO structure and page rank of the IBO Social platform boosts the performance of each blog post to even greater heights.

As an experiment, I posted a blog promoting a new Internet marketing tool. I did no keyword research… no SEO. I just posted a blog article reviewing the basic product.

I waited about 30 minutes, and typed in a Google search for the product by name.  I was on page four out of millions of pages.  Now that’s pretty good. Imagine how responsive the results will be with a little SEO planning and comments from fellow IBO Toolbox members.

I really believe most marketers have no idea of the power of IBO Toolbox and IBO Social.  I have been publishing a blog on my main site for well over a year. The results have been less than encouraging.

On the other hand, I have been an IBO member for about six weeks. I have posted 22 blog posts on a variety of subjects relating to online marketing, but I do not post articles about any specific business opportunity.

Because of the holiday, I did very little on IBO Toolbox as far as wall posting and commenting yesterday. I have done nothing today at all. And yet, I just checked and I had 254 views on my IBO Social profile so far this month. I had 57 views today… and remember, I have done nothing on IBO today except check my total views.

I’m not sure I had 57 total views on my other blog in a year!

OK, I hope I have made my point. Make a New Year’s resolution to post at least one blog article per day to IBO Toolbox, and your business will be rewarded immensely.

P.S. If you haven’t already done so, grab a FREE membership to Digital Info Gold Internet Marketing Insiders…  here’s the link ==> http://www.ibourl.com/gv9

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Help Others Succeed

This will be short and sweet…

I really believe in the Zig Ziglar quote I shared before in Part 1 of the series.

“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

Success is not measured only in dollars and cents. Mother Teresa certainly didn’t have wealth, yet no one could say that she didn’t live a successful life.

Life will bring other people within your circle of influence. Your success will be measured on how you use your life to impact those in your circle.

What this means in the Internet Marketing realm is this… help everyone who comes into your Internet Marketing “circle” get what they want, and ultimately you will get what you want.

If the one in your circle is a customer looking for a solution to a problem, help them solve it. If they are a new joint venture partner, give them what they need to succeed. If you have a new distributor in your downline, find a way to lead them to success.

Get your eyes off of yourself, and help others achieve their goals.

You will be amazed at both the success you achieve and the joy you receive as you travel your journey.

Greg Ray
Digital Info Gold
http://www.ibourl.com/gv9

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Popularity: 2% [?]

There’s a quote that is fitting to this blog post that goes something like this…”a road going nowhere, paved with good intentions”.

Many times I have discovered a new marketing concept and purchased the great new marketing tool with good intentions to make it work. But all too often, nothing ever happened…  I didn’t take action.

“I have all these wonderful ideas… but, how can I motivate myself to take action?” Ideas are not guaranteed money in the bank. Ideas can lead to millions… but ideas can also be a dime a dozen.

The ideas don’t matter as much as IF you take action on them.

Choose an idea that you are passionate about… something that excites you!  And then, DO something…  TAKE ACTION!

1. Develop a daily schedule for your business.
Determine first how many hours per day you can devote to your business… maybe an hour or two per day. Schedule a time slot and stick to it.

2. Prioritize your tasks.
Make a list of all of your necessary business activities.  Put them in order from “most” to “least” important. Analyze each task… how much time will it take to accomplish each task?

Once this process is completed, develop a daily schedule. You may have to limit or delete some of the tasks… not enough time. Some tasks may not have to be done every day. Some tasks can be done while you do something else… I am always thinking about what my next blog post will be. I carry a small notepad in my pocket. If I think of a great idea When I’m grocery shopping, I jot it down.

3. Make a To-Do List.
Once you have your schedule, make a To-Do list so that you can check off each task as you complete them.  This is very important, and it does two things.  First, the To-Do list will keep you on task…  if it’s not on the To-Do list you don’t do it… not now anyway.

If you have a great idea, write it down so you’ll remember it… then back to the To-Do list.

Second, each completed task on your To-Do list will motivate you… you have accomplished another step toward your objective.  On to the next!

Here are a few links to some free online To-Do list sites…

TaDa Lists ==> http://tadalist.com/
ToodleDo ==> http://www.toodledo.com/25
25 To-Do Lists ==> http://www.solutionwatch.com/450/25-to-do-lists-to-stay-productive/

4. Put Everything in Writing
This is VITALLY important… write everything down!

Need HELP developing a business plan? I have a great resource, and it’s FREE…
Click here ==> Digital Info Gold Marketing Plan Pack

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Make this commitment… I will develop a marketing plan for my online business, and I will follow it daily.

What Is A Marketing Plan?

It is NOT a long, complicated 50 page report. Your plan just needs to be a simple outline listing the following four criteria:

1. Objectives
2. Strategies
3. Tactics
4. Daily To-Do List

Let’s break these down…

1. Objectives – Define what your business is and what you want to accomplish.

The first thing to do is define your business. For example, A network marketer is not in the business of selling their particular product… that is secondary.  A network marketer is in the business of building a marketing network.

You might be in the business of marketing an online service, or another person’s digital or physical product as an affiliate.  You might be a business coach, and you would be marketing yourself.

Next, you must decide on what you want to accomplish.

Answer questions like “Do you want to build your business to a full time endeavor? Do you want to build your marketing team to 1,000+ distributors this year?”

2. Strategies – Outline basic strategies that will result in reaching your objectives.

Define What needs to be accomplished to reach your objectives? Do you need to invest money in advertising? How about obtaining marketing tools for you and your team? Do you need to build an email marketing list?

3. Tactics – The stepping stones toward accomplishing your Strategies and Objectives

Realize some research will be needed before committing to any specific strategies. For example, if your strategy is to invest in advertising, you will need to determine what type and how much to invest. If you plan to obtain marketing tools such as an autoresponder service, check them out… ask other successful marketers their recommendations.

4. Daily To-Do List

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Develop a daily schedule and follow it. Some tasks will need to be done every day… some, maybe once a week. Evaluate the results of each task. If you are advertising online, track your ads.

By developing your Marketing Plan, it is very easy to determine your progress and evaluate your results.

Keep your plan simple… the smaller and more easy your plan is to understand, the more likely it will be that you will follow through to success.

Greg Ray
Digital Info Gold
http://www.ibourl.com/ibs

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Popularity: 31% [?]