One of the proudest days of my life… the day I give you Internet success through a unique gift you can only get from me!

 

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Howard Martell

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Ludwig van Beethoven (1820) by Joseph Karl Stieler
By Dr. Jeffrey Lant

Author’s program note. Today is a red-letter day for me… one of the most important days of my life. For such a day nothing short of one of our weary world’s greatest masterpieces, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” (1824), will do . Please play it before you read this article. You cannot but feel the thrill and exultation. If a human being can do this, human beings can do anything. Find it in any search engine and turn up the volume. Then you’ll know how I am feeling now as I prepare to give you a gift only I can give and which has taken me a lifetime to perfect.
Deaf… sublime.
When great Beethoven sat down to compose his 9th Symphony, of which the “Ode to Joy” is perhaps the most celebrated part, he was stone deaf. Yet in his capacious, extraordinary brain the music rang out to thrill the world. He could have said, “a deaf person cannot compose,” everyone would have understood such a conclusion and offered the usual words of sympathy… but that is not the way of people with a mission to improve the world. They recognize no obstacle! Do not give way to defeatism! And reach deep into themselves to find what they alone can give the world and its people who rely upon such genius for relief! Instruction! And improvement! For you see those who have such a gift must give such a gift… and today I give such a gift, the greatest I have ever given, to each of you.
The struggling world… and the profound promise of the Internet.
I have now been on the Internet over 18 years, about a third of my life. During these years I have witnessed humanity’s struggle to make sense of this monumental invention which has the undoubted power and demonstrated potential to connect people everywhere and enable them to say what they want to say without shackle or inhibition.
Now think a moment: for the first time, the very first time, in the long cycles of humanity each person can, with the simple expedient of an Internet connection, present himself, in all his wonderful uniqueness, to others who have the ardent desire to do the same, without the pernicious intrusion of any of the world’s Thought Police who have intervened with impunity and malice in all previous epochs.
The Internet brooks no interference… no one telling you what you can do…when you can do it. Yes, for the first time in human history each person has a voice that can be heard… that must be heard…. and so transform the world — for good and ill.
Is it any wonder then that I have selected “Ode to Joy” and recommended that you play it now… for on our troubled planet we need all the help we can get and the Internet is here to provide it.
Commerce…
From the very first minute far sighted folk saw that such a means of connection could prove to be a superb means of commerce. But how? Most didn’t know and so, without guidance, commenced a struggle which left them frustrated, confounded, angry and, too often, embittered. How, they wondered, could this astonishing invention produce a golden outcome for them? It was a question that millions asked — and continue to ask — but which only a comparative handful have ever answered successfully. With the almost daily assistance of my cherished partners George Kosch and Sandi Hunter, I have found such success… and been given the opportunity to give it to others. Today we celebrate that opportunity and its ability to uplift! Enrich! And empower people worldwide.
It all started with a blank sheet of paper.
I am not just a writer, but a published writer, which is a very different thing. To write to connect should be every writer’s objective… and it has certainly been my objective since my first article appeared in print 59 years ago, when I was 5 years old. You may well imagine what a heady thing it must be for that child, any child to experience such excitement. Once you’ve had it, you spend the rest of your life wanting more and doing what is necessary to get it. In this regard I have been most fortunate… having written thousands of articles and 18 books, mostly on business themes. My word has been carried — and frequently, too — on radio, television and on the lecture circuit. But my connection with the Internet has radically transformed the entire matter of content and given me the means to give you substantial advantage every single day.
How?
As I have often said and frequently written and emphasized, “the list is the business, the business is the list.” Thus each person desiring to succeed in business must spend a significant amount of time building a list, and this activity must be a part of each and every day that you desire to remain in business and increase your profit.
But maintaining your list, growing your list cannot, on the Internet, be your sole objective; that would be protecting your list and ensuring that you can use it daily to email ad copy to your subscribers. The problem is, if you only email ads day after day to these subscribers, they will quickly become disenchanted, even disgusted, with you… and manifest their displeasure by unsubscribing your list, thereby depriving them of all benefits you offer and yourself of their golden custom.
This is the exact situation in which most Web marketers find themselves… and why so many of these people are killing their lists, thereby killing their profits.
Here’s where I — and Bill Gates — enter the scene and why you need to pay attention to our message. Gates has famously and enigmatically said of the Internet, “Content is king.” What does he mean? Just that people will not put up with an unceasing avalanche of ad copy; they need more, much more. They need content… and if you create a blog and give them this content you can accompany it — every day — with the ad copy that generates the revenue. Problem is, most people cannot write engaging, meaningful copy and cannot afford the cost of hiring the people who could create such copy for them; it’s just too expensive.
That’s where I come in… I can and will produce such copy — for free. And today we recognize and celebrate the completion of the first 365 articles, one for every day of the year. These articles, all about 1500 words in length, are timely, intelligent, often provocative, always informative and, my signature and pride, beautifully written. Let me explain the importance of these articles and why you are fortunate to have them: they save your all-important lists from being destroyed by your subscribers, people who want more than a steady diet of ads and as such are invaluable.
Let us be very clear with each other: if you email nothing but ads, you will kill your list and thus obliterate your business. Thus, you have these options. Email the ads anyway and test my thesis (suicidal); try to write such copy every single day yourself (highly unlikely given your writing skills). Or you could hire the necessary talent to do the work, thereby breaking the bank. Or…
You could use the copy I have created for you… and which I give to you, thereby enabling your list and with it your business to grow and flourish while I provide the necessary (and always beautifully written) copy. And that is why we are celebrating today… not just for what I have written… or how well I have written — but because with these often lyric articles I am keeping your online business on the profit path.
“You millions I embrace you,” and give you the best of which I am capable for our mutual joy — freude! So now finish as we began… with Beethoven and his “Ode to Joy”. For we, now working together, have everything to be joyful about! Let the celestial sound soar… as we do — together! Freude!
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About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Republished with author’s permission by Howard Martell http://HomeProfitCoach.com . Check out Massive Traffic Ultimatum -> http://www.HomeProfitCoach.com/?rd=sk9BRJWy

Home truths from an old hand about what it takes to succeed online. You may not like them but you need them!

Posted on August 8, 2011

By Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Every day thousands of people worldwide wake up and, hey presto!, have a great idea: I’m going to set up a business for myself online. Tons of people have done that and oodles of money is being made.
Now hear this: you are now and truly entering the twilight zone… and I want to help you get through it with maximum success and minimum frustration.
Who am I? Well, I am an old Internet hand who, since 1994, has made his primary work place the Internet and has reaped over the years a very ample reward. Now it is time for me to share with you some of the lessons of these years of learning, growth, and profits.
I know what you’re thinking: “Yikes, another old geezer from ancient times trying to help me by offering useless advice that never in a million years could possibly apply to me and my situation.” Is that how you feel when those more experienced than you are (and more successful) offer up their nuggets of wisdom? If so, reconsider and feast your eyes on this:
Item: Most home-based Internet businesses fail unless they have certain crucial criteria in place. Without these factors, you will fail, too.
Item: Your online business is most vulnerable if you have never previously been involved in business and have limited Internet experience. The failure rate here is staggering.
Item: You are at severe risk if you are trying to run a one-person online business and have no one else to advise and counsel you. This is very likely the situation in which you find yourself right this minute. You will soon discover why one is the loneliest — and least successful — number.
Now, have I got your attention?
The minute you decided you wanted to make money online, you became a failure waiting to happen. That’s why you must pay close attention to the recommendations that follow. Not only are they the result of many successful years online, they are heartfelt, because online helpful friends are few and far between… and should be listened to with the utmost respect, even if you don’t like what they’re telling you.
Home truth number 1: Life online for most would-be Internet entrepreneurs is nasty, brutish and short. It looks like this: decide to have an online business, get a website, then…. absolutely nothing. No traffic! No customers! No money! You will know this description applies to you very, very soon if you are being at all honest with yourself.
How long have you been trying to make money online?
How much have you made?
How much have you spent to launch this e-enterprise?
How much time have you wasted?
What makes you think tomorrow will be better than yesterday?
These are tough questions… and most online business wannabees never do demand answers from themselves… or at least not before it’s too little too late.
Home truth number 2: You don’t know enough about developing your crucial prospect list.
People who make money online know that the list is the business and the business is the list. Do you know this and are you focusing your expertise, time and money in developing that all important list? Or are you focusing on such inessential factors as the colors used on your website, your domain name, how many business cards you should order, etc? All such questions collectively do not have the importance and significance of this single query: what did you do today, yesterday, the day before yesterday and the day before that to build the list, the list that is the business and from whence all your profits will derive, now and forever?
Home truth number 3: You have no marketing experience or success.
Who succeeds online? People who know what marketing is, have important marketing experience, and know what marketing they must know and do daily. Sadly, the wannabees have absolutely none of these things and their lack is both obvious and fatal. You cannot succeed in business online (or off for that matter) with only rudimentary marketing skills, hoping that that will be enough. It won’t be. A thorough practical knowledge of reality-based marketing is essential. You proceed at your peril without it.
Home truth number 4: Success online means having the ability to write cogent advertising and other copy.
How are your customer-centered writing skills? The truth, please, and nothing but the truth.
Successful Internet entrepreneurs are to a person good customer-centered writers. Or if they’re not they have solved that problem by hiring someone who is. Thus, your question is this: can I write the necessary copy that gets prospects to stop in their tracks, pay attention, peruse the offer and product details, and act? Merely “thinking” you can write such copy is just not good enough. Would you go sailing in a leaky boat? Then don’t deceive yourself here either. Excellent copywriting skills are a must.
Home truth number 5: You’re not selling nearly enough products.
Want success online? Sell lots of products. Want even more success? Sell lots more. Success online directly correlates to how many products you sell and your skill in presenting them.
How many products are you selling today?
How many yesterday? The day before?
If you are not adding new products daily, you are handicapping your ability to make money online.
Every successful online entrepreneur is engaged in a strenuous search and discover mission aimed at finding more products.
Are you? If not, your Internet obsequies are near at hand.
Home truth number 6: You are not skilled in essential traffic generation techniques.
In real estate, it’s location, location, location.
Online, it’s traffic, traffic, traffic.
The sad truth is you traffic generation skills and experience are minimal, certainly inadequate to generate the necessary traffic that ensures success.
Hopefully you’ll admit this is true. Then, assuming you are willing to knuckle down and master traffic essentials, the better to create and grow your list, you at least have a prayer.
However, if you do not have the necessary traffic generation skills… and remain unwilling to say so and do something about it, you’re DOA… 100% certain to fail.
Home truth number 7… but I must cease and desist as my space for today is now at an end. There is, of course, much more I can tell you… and undoubtedly will. For now, promise me this: that you will attend closely to these deeply honest observations. And when you implement them successfully, you’ll let me know. I’d like to know how you’re getting on, with my help.
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About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc. at www.worldprofit.com, providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author’s permission by Howard Martell http://HomeProfitCoach.com. Check out Cash Renegade -> http://www.HomeProfitCoach.com/?rd=to0kJkVU

After 17 successful years online, I know the secret of Internet success. I’m spilling the beans right here.

By Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Author’s program note. Because today, August 1, 2011, is such a happy day, I wanted something suitably grand and festive to accompany this article; the kind of music that makes you want to jump up, throw up the sash on your window and, at the top of your voice, shout “Huzzah!”, because you want the rest of the too weary and downtrodden world to be as excited as you are. I’ve found that music.
It’s a royal German military march called “Hohenfriedberger marsch”, and you’ll find it in any search engine. Go get it now and let one of the most soaring of marches lift your spirits and put you in the right frame of mind to develop your own online empire into a place where such grandeur is an everyday event… and where you do so well your generosity of heart, mind and spirit match mine on this anniversary day.
Over the last 17 years online, I have talked to literally thousands of people who have begged, wheedled and pleaded with me to reveal the “secret” of Internet success. It is now my pleasure to tell you, tell all, withholding nothing.
1) Never say “How do I make money online?”. Say instead, “How can I help my customers achieve what they want?”
People who succeed online make a fetish of helping people. They know that if you give enough people what they want… you will surely and most assuredly get what you want.
This sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? A piece of cake. However, you must never underestimate the powerful pull of human ego, selfishness, and self- destructive avarice. In short, humans find it difficult to focus on others, rather than themselves. Yet it is and will always be these others who control your ability to get rich online.
I tell my marketing students “Your money is in their pockets,” the “their” being your customers. The only way to get it out is by completely changing your focus from yourself to…. them.
Cautionary note: Like everyone reading this article, you will pledge your online operations to complete customer centeredness… and for a day or two you will be an empathetic paragon. Then imperceptibly you will slide back into the inveterate selfishness that condemns so many Internet entrepreneurs to humiliating, unnecessary failure. Remember: humans are born selfish, but it is only the customer-centered who succeed. Post this message so that you never forget, for to the extent you do is the extent to which you’ll undercut and block your own success.
2) Make it easy for your customers to connect with you.
We live in an age of true communication marvels with a myriad of ways to connect, connect fast, connect now. The problem is, we don’t use them properly, rather infuriating customers by misusing these tools, or, worse, not using them at all… so that the age of instant contact becomes instead the age of thwarted contact. Are you one of the culprits?
First, review each and every means you have for people connecting with you, including email, telephone, fax, etc., etc.
Then review them as if you were the customer. Look at how you use them. When you use them. Even whether you use them.
Are you a customer enabler… or are you a customer frustrater and avoider? You’ll SAY that you are doing everything humanly possible to expedite and improve customer contact and communication. But in all likelihood you’re not. The only way you’re going to know is by acting like a customer, ascertaining just how easy (or difficult) you’ve made things. You’re likely to be amazed at the maze and obstacles you’ve erected to frustrate customer relations. As soon as you know, re-arrange things so that you don’t just THINK you are customer-centered, but actually are.
3) Make an offer… then make a better offer.
To make money, give things away. To make more money, give more things away.
The richest people online are those who give the most away. They spend their days not just creating and discovering useful new products and services. That’s necessary and essential for success… but it isn’t the key variable. That key variable is the extras, the special offer you’re going to give customers for acting NOW! In other words, the all-important offer.
Now hear this: OFFERS are what get people to buy now… thus, the better the offer, the faster the sale. It’s as simple as that. So, let’s see what you’re doing now and whether the offers you’re making will take you to the financial destiny you desire.
First, are you making any offers at all? You’d be surprised at how many entrepreneurs have a “take it or leave it” attitude about what they’re selling… punctuated with this killer proposition: “what I’m selling is so good, it sells itself.” This is one of the most foolish of propositions. Nothing, absolutely nothing, sells itself. But if you don’t have a special enticing, motivating offer with what you’re selling then you’ve cooked your own goose. Immediate re-thinking is necessary.
If you’re making some kind of offer, good for you. At least, you’ve got you r foot on the right road. Now let’s see whether you’ve got what it takes to move ahead. Review your offer in the light of what your competitors are doing, easy enough on the Web. If what you’re offering to induce immediate sale is only as good as (or less than) what your competitors are offering… then you’ve got a serious problem… and you need some serious action at once.
The offer you make, the offer that delivers the sales and the cash, must be demonstrably better than anything offered by anyone… and the customer must be able to see this at a glance….
4) Create a customer-centered blog and use it daily.
Over the last 17 years online there has been one astonishing development after another. One of the most important is the creation and development of blogging; it’s a device that every successful Internet entrepreneur understands and uses daily, the better to achieve more substantial success.
You will succeed online only to the extent you understand blogging and blog daily. Let’s start by helping you understand why it’s so important. A blog gives you the opportunity to send out advertisements daily, without risking your list as people do who email ads and nothing but ads. Your blog is anchored by useful articles and information. These client-centered articles and information protect the integrity of your list. So long as your ads are accompanied by this useful content, you can email your list regularly. Sending ads alone cannot achieve the desired objective; instead you’ll list will dwindle into insignificance.
Enjoy the game.
Successful online entrepreneurs know they’ve participating in the greatest game of our time, a game that delivers customers and customer sales 24 hours a day and can turn even the smallest home business into an unstoppable cash cow. And isn’t that just what you want?
Don’t wait another minute to get started. Put a smile on your face and set about the task before you, making liberal reference to these recommendations. It’s the way to ensue 17 years of success online, as I’ve had, with many more successful years after that.
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About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Dr. Jeffrey Lant is also a historian and author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author’s permission by Howard Martell http://HomeProfitCoach.com.Check out Above The Matrix -> http://www.HomeProfitCoach.com/?rd=qc7oyPYE

How to write the kind of blog copy that turns readers into fans who cannot live without you!

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Howard Martell

by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
This is an article for people who want to be smart bloggers! Bloggers who change lives! Bloggers who get people to sit up, take notice and say, “Wow! That guy is right! That guy is on the money!” Bloggers who don’t just want readers…
… but fans who sit next to their computers waiting for your next blog post.
In this article I am going to show you the secret to becoming a producer of “must read” copy…. and becoming, in the process, a person who goes way beyond having readers… instead creating fans.
400,000+ words in the last year.
This article celebrates achieving a “personal best” goal for me… a goal I challenged myself to make one year ago…. and which I have, with the publication of this article, now achieved. I wanted to see if I could write at least 400,000 words of copy in 365 days; not just drab, undistinguished, pedestrian copy either, but copy that’s timely! Intellectually distinguished! Lyric! Insightful! Yes, the kind of copy that stops people worldwide in their tracks and forces them to sit up! Take notice! And pay attention… because they just couldn’t bear to miss a single word!
And I am pleased to tell you that this is precisely what has happened! My blog, where you can find all my articles, now generates millions of hits and a stream of gratifying comments from people worldwide who feed my ego and make my day.
This is me!
And it can be you!
1) Tell stories.
The greatest communicators on earth — Jesus! Abraham Lincoln! Mark Twain! were story tellers. They used the power of stories to make things easy for their audience to understand… and to drive home their points, no matter how difficult and complicated.
You must become a story teller, too, not just a finder and disseminator of facts. Facts alone don’t move people. Mere facts don’t capture minds. Facts, no matter how important, don’t touch hearts. But stories do… they always do… and that is why your blog posts must rely on stories that capture people and leave them begging for more…
2) Today’s successful article starts with yesterday’s motivating “heads up”.
If you want readers today, titillate them yesterday. You see, the power of yesterday is to entice readers today.
People will only be moved to the extent that you move them. If you want readers tomorrow… the crucial process of exciting them starts today.
“Tomorrow! A story of love! Power! Treachery and despair! A story that will move you! Outrage you! And, if there’s a tear in you, cause it to fall! All coming tomorrow to a computer near you!”
This’ll get ‘em!
3) Write short sentences where every word counts.
Thanks to the marvelous technical tools writers have nowadays, most don’t write; they “typewrite”, in the withering phrase of Truman Capote. He was masterful, and he knew that writers could kill their points, their stories and their readers by pouring out too many words and sentences straining to digest them.
Don’t make this mistake.
Look at the sentence length in this article… short, punchy, easy to take in at a glance…
Your sentences should move accordingly.
Moreover, prune your articles mercilessly. A sentence that exceeds just a few words is a sentence smothering itself. And dead sentences will never move live people.
4) Short paragraphs give a story the air and space they need.
Today’s readers are restless readers. They are overwhelmed with information… but have the same number of hours in a day as Caesar. In short, they are looking for a reason to put your copy down… never to be picked up again.
Short paragraphs and airy lay-out forestall this tragedy.
Look at this article… short, often real short, paragraphs with pages that look inviting, easy, not prolix and hard.
Contemporary readers demand ease… and if you don’t give it to them, they walk… fast.
5) Make your people real, not caricatures.
The reason volumes of commentary don’t work is because its authors create card board characters. They then laud the characters they like and demolish the ones they don’t. Not only is this unfair… but it makes for lousy copy.
What distinguishes the best commentary is the way you handle people whose opinions you may not only dislike, but actually abhor. Do you give them the courtesy of presenting their point of view fairly, objectively, honestly… or do you want just a cheap shot that not only misrepresents the people you’re writing about… but proves you’re a writer not worth reading?
This point is worth elucidating because it’s one too many commentators miss.
One reason writers like writing commentary is because it turns them from word peddlers into gods, omniscient, all-powerful, always right, never wrong, with the ability to access every human heart and brain at will.
Such people of course become insufferable in short order.
Your job as a commentator is to be sure you have done everything possible to ensure that all the people you write about are presented without prejudice, honestly, completely, with sincerity and with care.
This does not mean you necessarily agree with their positions or actions. It means you intend to give your readers the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth… even if you strenuously disagree.
Only when you have done this can you in good conscience and to best effect proceed to your opinion. Because only if you have allowed even your most pernicious characters their say… can your say be meaningful, insightful, and worth reading.
Use these recommendations.
The best commentators can have enormous influence… which is why you must use your commentating position wisely, not least by producing copy that moves your readers, with every word you write.
These suggestions will help.
By using them you will produce copy — starting today — that changes your readers’ outlook, opinion, point of view, one apt word at a time. When you do this not only will you have a legion of readers, followers and fans…. but you’ll deserve them!
About the Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. He is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author’s permission by Howard Martell http://HomeProfitCoach.com. Check out Cash Renegade -> http://www.HomeProfitCoach.com/?rd=to0kJkVU

Worldprofit Inc., announces the release of two new services, an updated Content Management System, and a Live Face Chat Application.

Worldprofit Inc., today announced the release of two new services for Worldprofit Members, an updated Content Management System, and a Live Face Chat Application.

Worldprofit’s Director of Technology,  George Kosch officially released the new Content Management System and Design options. George relayed that the system includes a number of new features for the benefit of all Members.

- cleaner design layout

- easy to edit headings, tags, navigation menus.

- integrated social networks – Members will be able to add in favourite social network links (FaceBook,Buzz,Twitter, etc)

- customizable website backgrounds and header graphics or just colour headings

- customizable font and heading colour customization in theme sets

- powered for SEO indexing conforming to current standards

- continued focus on lead capture

- width expansion options

- continued ability to add your own products, services, affiliates, opportunities, graphics. pages etc

- prominent featured products section

- Option to add your own picture to the header (or not, your choice)

- design focus on function, lead generation and sales

- expansion of Member profile area

- easy integration of featured products

- allows Members to add a personal touch and brand identity to their website.

- built in Google Analytics and Google verification as well as for other major search engines

- Site map

- RSS feed

- option to integrate Worldprofit’s Live Face Chat

- more design options as default or customizable.

The upgrade of the design and Content Management system has been an enormous project. George Kosch stated that he can’t wait to get this released to Worldprofit Members.

The new and improved Content Management System is a value-added service, there will be no charge to current members for the design and Content Management System updates.

The second announcement today from Worldprofit is about the new Live Face Chat application. This tool allows Members to integrate into their site, and landing pages, a LIVE CHAT window. Site owners can then chat on video directly and immediately to their site visitors. The tool is unique as it allows an immediate interaction with site visitors to engage conversation for support and sales. George Kosch added that the tool is “easy-to use, instant, and puts a FACE on your online business activities, literally,  as the site owner’s video image appears on the site in real time.” Platinum VIP Members will receive the LIVE Chat tool at no cost, while Silver members will have the option to purchase it.

Members will get a demonstration of both the new Content Management System, and the LIVE Face Chat tool during the April 1st, 2011 Home Business Bootcamp Training Session.

Help videos will also be posted to the member area and full support available on both services.

Worldprofit Inc., is an industry leader in webcast applications having been one of the first online companies to offer webcasting services.

Started in 1994 on a kitchen table, Worldprofit has grown to be known as the Home Business Experts, offering web-based training and support services for entrepreneurs and small or home based businesses.

For more information on Worldprofit Inc., go to http://www.worldprofit.com

Advice on what makes business blogs work by three who know: George Kosch, Sandi Hunter and Dr. Jeffrey Lant.

Does anyone know how to Blog? I try to follow all of the rules of the experts. Here are a few more hints from the pros. Follow the lead and if you want to publish THESE articles, go to www.TheIncomefaucet.com and sign up for 50,000 free visitors.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
Today , April 19, 2011, is a special day for the three members of the Worldprofit blog writing team. Today we completed writing 200 business blog articles, a project which began in June, 2010. The response to these articles has been nothing short of spectacular, so we decided to discuss the reasons why this has occurred and what it means  for you and your business blog.
1) Be clear on the objective.
We are focusing this article on blogs created by businesses. Their objective is simple: make money. No business blog should ever be created which has some supposedly “better” purpose. It’s easy to forget this purpose; it doesn’t take much to unfocus a blog. That’s why we suggest posting this message prominently in your office: “It’s the money, silly.” A variation of this message helped Billl Clinton (a notoriously diffuse individual) from going off  theme and was influential in putting him in the Oval Office. This message will also work for you.
2) Designate a good writer to produce your blog’s content.
Business blog copy must be clean, clear, accurate. That means designating a writer with business writing experience. An experienced copywriter is perfect. They know how to write copy that sells… which is just the copy you need.
3) If you cannot find a copywriter,  become that copywriter yourself.
Successful copy is based on just 4 important words:
YOU GET BENEFIT NOW.
The “you” is your reader, the person you need your blog copy to motivate to contact you.
“get” is there to remind you that copy is always about what the reader (your past, present and future customer) gets from you.
“benefit” is the specific thing they get from each article you publish.
“now” is when you want the reader to respond, reminding yourself that there must always be one or more offers in each blog issue, such offers being intended to stimulate the immediate reader response which must always be your objective.
4) Master search engines.
Writing business blogs means finding and using a never ending supply of data, information, research findings, quotations of note, etc. Blogs eat up lots and lots of information.
This means becoming expert at finding pertinent data from search engines. Surprisingly we discovered that many business blog writers do not use and therefore do now know how to ensure best results from search engines.  That problem must be recognized and overcome ASAP.
Successful business writers know how to write articles with data “holes” in them, “holes” they can quickly fill by accessing search engines… without ever leaving the computer. Given the fact that not so many years ago, business writers had to use specialized business libraries, a cumbersome process at best, search engines have made all the difference in getting important data quickly and easily, all at your fingertips.
5) Always have a lead article, the focus of each individual issue.
We have found in practice that each blog issue should be anchored by a major article. The length we recommend is 1,500 words.
This article should be divided into two distinct parts; first, the actual content itself. Second, pertinent follow-up details which advise your reader what is available, its benefits, and how to get it. These follow-up details are crucial and must follow each article. (See below for an example.)
How long does it take for such an article to be researched, written, edited, etc.? Obviously that depends on the amount of research you must do, how quickly you find it, your own skills and speed as a writer, etc. However, we have found that this “anchor” article takes on average 4-8 hours.
6) Always have a “new uses” feature.
You’ve all heard the old adage, “sell the sizzle, not the steak”. That’s why you need a “new uses” feature. Select any of your products and services; then provide at least one detailed blog article on how to get the great results from its use. Remember, people buy products too achieve results; the more practical uses you detail, the more sales you make.
7) Always include customer testimonials, particularly testimonials that provide details on what individual customers did and their positive results.
Customer testimonials work. Thus, make sure you always include one or more in each blog issue. And always make a point in each blog of asking your customers to provide more.
Have a “new product” feature… and, as above, ensure the copy focuses on what it does, that “sizzle” again.
Remember, blog copy is about making money by generating reader inquiries and sales. Your readers are glad to read about new products to the extent that the copy introducing them focuses on what the customer gets.
9) Set and keep a fixed blog publishing schedule.
Your readers should expect to see your blog, like clock work, on a published schedule. They should be trained to look forward to it and respond. But if your publishing schedule is erratic, unpredictable, then your reputation will not be enhanced and your sales will definitely suffer. Ouch!
Once you’ve set the schedule, treat it religiously.
10) Always include a very special offer in every issue.
Make it a truly spectacular offer… one available to blog readers only.
Position this offer prominently. It is, after all, eye-popping.
Last words.
Blogs in general and business blogs in particular are here to stay. Businesses without them are businesses that suffer, having thereby circumscribed sales and growth. Make sure that isn’t you.
One last piece of advice: Make your blog fun read and ALWAYS easy to respond to. If you follow these instructions, your blog will steadily grow in importance as a readily available source of customers and profits. As we can tell you from personal experience, what blogs deliver will truly delight, excite, and enthuse you. A steady stream of new customers and enhanced profits tend to do that…. Get started today and see for yourself.

About the Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., providing a wide range of online services for small and-home based businesses. Dr. Lant is also the author of 18 best-selling business books. Republished with author’s permission by Howard Martell <a href=”http://HomeProfitCoach.com“>http://HomeProfitCoach.com</a>. Check out Mass Traffic Leak ->  http://www.HomeProfitCoach.com/?rd=zv3unWbc