Donna Knight’s Internet Marketing Tools and Reviews

Some of the internet marketing products you buy will be compressed as a zip file. You will need Winzip to extract the files. It also handles less common archive types such as gzip and tar. Here are some other reasons to use Winzip:

• Compress files before you upload them to your website for sale.
• Compress files before you e-mail them to someone. Zipping the file will keep it from getting corrupted while traveling through the email system.
• Speeds up download and sending speed due to smaller file size
• If putting files on a floppy disk, CD or even DVD, zipping them will allow you to fit more files on the disk.
• Zipping a file before emailing it will keep it from being blocked as a potential virus in some email systems.
• Archiving and compressing files on your hard drive that you don’t use very often.
• Anytime you need to make files smaller

You can download it at http://www.winzip.com .

- Donna Knight

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The Adobe Acrobat Reader is one of the most useful tools for internet marketers. You need it to read ebooks in PDF format. Download it at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

- Donna Knight

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Confidential Internet Intelligence Manuscript II by Mark Joyner
This book is the follow-up to CIIM I. It is a result of more recent testing that once again generated amounts of money most people can only dream about.

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Here’s a list of highly recommended sites:

Confidential Internet Intelligence Manuscript by Mark Joyner
This is one of my most highly recommended internet marketing books. If I had to name a book that has been the most useful in helping me make money online, this would be #1. The best part is it is based on massive testing done by Mark Joyner as CEO ofAesop. His massive mailing list (as much as 1 million subscribers) allowed him to do extensive testing and make 10s of millions of dollars, and this book embodies the results.

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Have you heard about Preople.com? This is a relatively new site I discovered which will tell you the rank for your name on the internet. The higher the number, the more famous you are. Of course the problem is that if there is a famous person with your name, this is not really your rank. It’s the rank for your name. It turns out Preople is a high traffic site and if someone looks up your name on Google, Preople’s listing for your name could be at the top of the results. That’s why you need to claim your name as quickly as possible by signing up.

Here are 10 more reasons you should use Preople.com:

1. To be the top dog among the (fill in your name here)’s. If there are multiple people with your name, you want to claim your name on Preople.com before someone else does. For example, if you’re Jill Smith, your goal is to be the top Jill Smith in the world. This is not for the faint of heart because the other Jill Smith’s will hate your guts for stealing their glory. But hey, think of it this way, whether the other Jill Smith’s love you or hate you doesn’t matter, at least you’ll be famous. And we all know that an egotistical maniac like you loves to be the center of attention (Oops! Did I say that out loud…).

2. Preople has a blog feature you can use – Search engines love blogs so this is one more blog to help boost your search engine ranking for your own name.

3. To post links to your other sites in your blog postings (without spamming). Links to your site not from a site owned by you helps the search engine ranking for that site.

4. To improve your name rank on Google. Preople is a high traffic site and I discovered that when I look up my name preople is one of the top 10 listings. It didn’t used to be. That just goes to show you that search engines show preople.com a lot of love, and for that reason you should too.

5. To boost your search engine rank for free – I prefer free search engine optimization over hiring a search engine optimization expert for 1000s of dollars any day… but then I am a cheapskate.

6. To boost your Preople rank by posting to your blog

7. To score one for the living. One thing I noticed is that obituary listings get very high ranking. When I search for Donna Knight, most of the links are dead Donna Knight’s. That really bothers me because I like to think I’m going to live forever, and I hate being reminded of my own impending doom. If you use Preople, you will win out over the dead people, especially because dead people can’t blog — Oh shoot! I’m going to Hades for that! Nevermind, I’m an atheist.

8. To boost your traffic. Preople tells you how to boost your Preople rank on the front page. These same methods will boost your name brand recognition and traffic rank to your own site.

9. To post your profile, so that even if the name rank isn’t really you because there’s someone famous with your name, the profile attached to that name will be yours and that famous person can’t take it away from you.

10. To post articles on the blog so that they will be syndicated by blog sites.
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Donna Knight is a spiritual atheist, and really does have respect for the dead because of her Native American heritage. For more articles on how to promote yourself and your site, visit Donna Knight’s Internet Marketing Tools and Reviews at http://www.DonnaKnight.com
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Copyright (c) Donna Knight, 2005. You may post this article on the internet as long as the resource box and article are kept intact

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This is a cool site I found that allows you to create your own warning label. This is a neat little thing that can be used on your website or for product creation. It’s very easy to use. You just choose the warning label with the desired shape and color. Then pick what symbol you want to use for the warning symbol. Then type in the text you want the label to have. The only disadvantage is the text is in all caps. Here’s a sample warning label I created.

Pretty cool, huh!

- Donna Knight

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By Donna Knight

Google Video is a new feature still in beta testing that allows you to upload a video to Google so that web searchers may view your video for free or buy it. Google charges a fee for items you are selling and forgoes their commission for items you wish to offer for free. In fact their site states that if your free item becomes too popular and uses too many of their resources, they will charge the user, so you have absolutely nothing to lose by using this free service. You can find it at http://video.google.com.

This is a great solution if you create your own videos but it is not a solution for video resellers because Google specifies you must full rights to the video, including copyrights to the audio and video. Most reseller licenses only give you reseller rights. They do not give you copyrights.

Google Video’s preferred formats are MPEG4 with MP3 audio and MPEG2 with MP3 audio. Their terms say that you can upload Windows Media, Quicktime and RealVideo but it will delay the approval process and they may not be able to approve your videos.

Given the prevalence of Windows Media and Quicktime Video, this is a rather curious limitation in video formats. Since this site is still in beta, hopefully they will see the light and accept additional video formats without a problem.

Google Video is beneficial to internet marketers who create their own training videos, because uploading your videos to Google Video is way to get more traffic to your site. Your video can have a link to your site.

A second way you can benefit from Google Video if you are not a video creator is to sell pubic domain videos, because these videos are not copyrighted.

What I love about Google is the fact that they are not satisfied with being the most widely used search engine. Their owners are not satisfied with being the 16th richest Americans and continue to find more revenue channels. As Google finds more way to make more money, they are literally handing you more ways to be profitable. While this is not stated anywhere on Google’s site, posting to Google Video may even help your ranking in the Main Google search engine. Because this service is entirely free and still new, if you want to sell or give away free videos for promotional purposes, don’t hesitate to upload your videos to Google Video.
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Donna Knight is a Computer Trainer and Website Promotion Specialist. She has built over 240 websites and helps new site owners promote their site cheaply. For tips that will help you save money and save time when marketing online, visit her Internet Marketing Tools and Reviews blog at http://www.DonnaKnight.com.
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Copyright (C) 2005 Donna Knight. All Rights Reserved. Permission granted to post this article in newsletters, free ebooks or websites as long as the article and resource box remain intact.

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By Donna Knight

It all started with the Mark Joyner Farewell Package which is affectionately (or disaffectionately in some cases) known as the MJFP. This was the first time I know of where someone sold source code worth many thousands of dollars that had been successfully used to run million-dollar websites. Since then, I have seen a couple dozen similar sales of source code, and you can be sure you will see more of these in the future.

WHY DO THEY DO IT?
First of all, there are multiple reasons why someone would want to sell their source code, including:
- They need funding for a project.
- They’re going out of business and won’t be using it anymore.
- They spent $100,000 to get it programmed and would like to save someone else money and time.
- They are using a new version of the source code but the old source code is fully functional, especially for smaller sites.
- For a few people, such as Jeremy Burns, selling private label source code has become a business in and of itself.

WHAT TYPES OF SOURCE CODE
The types of source code you can buy include website scripts and software programs. Some people will refer to eBooks as source code but I don’t consider them to be. By source code, I’m referring to desktop or website programming or code.

The source code sometimes is for private use only. Sometimes it comes with resale rights, master resale rights, private label resale rights and even master private label resale rights. Private label resale rights means you have the right to do whatever you want with it, including resell it under your own name. But you CANNOT sell it with private label rights. Master private label resale rights means you CAN offer the source code with private label resale rights.

Incidently, the MJFP was the most expensive private label source code sale I’ve seen and it only came with private label rights. You could not resell the source code itself. However, it was also the most valuable in terms of how much was paid for the programming behind it and the value of the non-source- code products.

SKILLS YOU NEED
HTML – If you don’t know anything about HTML, you probably should NOT buy private label source code. Not only will you be lost in terms of what to do with it, but you won’t be able to give useful instructions to a programmer or webmaster about what to do with it. Most of the source code buyers I’ve read complaints from knew nothing about HTML and didn’t even know where to start when it came to putting the code to use.

One exception to this is that I have seen a few sales where you only need to know how to edit a sales page, and you don’t have to have experience installing scripts. This is a deal that practically anyone can benefit from.

SCRIPT INSTALLATION – The people who benefit most from these deals are people who know some HTML and who have some experience installing scripts. It is really not that hard to learn how to edit HTML and to install scripts. There are low cost books out there that can help you. If you know HTML but you don’t know how to install scripts, it is usually not very expensive to hire someone to do this.

PROGRAMMING – You do NOT need to know programming to profit from private label source code. While I am an experienced website builder and script installer, I am NOT a programmer.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Always read the entire sales letter. In fact, read it a couple of times. I’ve bought quite a few source code packages, and I haven’t seen any cases whatsoever where people were lied to about what was required to get the source code working. The fact that bugs or missing data situations were rectified in many cases indicates to me that the seller was not trying to scam anyone. As a moderator of the MJFP forum, I saw all the complaints (and praise) about the package, so I got quite a bit of insight as to what people need to ask themselves before they buy source code. In many cases, people didn’t pay attention to the part of the sales letter where it said you needed to hire someone to configure and install the source code.

Whether you should take advantage of a particular deal depends on your level of experience and the answers to the following questions:

- Does the code require additional work by a programmer to get it working? If yes, do you have money to hire a programmer? If not, are there additional non-source code products in the package that are worth the price of the package alone? If the answer to both is NO, then you should NOT buy this source code. It will be a waste of your money.

- If the source code works as is, does it come with installation instructions that a newbie can follow? Or do you need to be an experienced script installer to follow the instructions? If the source code doesn’t include instructions, even an experienced script installer is taking a risk in buying it.

- Do they give information on programmers and/or script installers you can hire, if necessary?

- If the source code is expensive, is there a payment plan?

- Is there a refund policy? In most cases there are no refunds, so you should not buy unless you can honestly afford to.

- Are you spending your last dime hopeing this will finally be the product that will make you rich?
If so, DON’T BUY! If you are that desperate, the last thing you need to do is spend money. You probably already have products you can sell to make money. Your problem is most likely that you haven’t used what you already have. Well, now is the time.

WILL YOU NEED TO HIRE A PROGRAMMER?
If you want to add additional features to the source code, you will need to hire a programmer to do that. You can’t do it on your own and, frankly, it is not practical to learn programming just so you can use a source code package you bought. One of the best programmers I’ve ever met said it took him 5 years to feel like he had a handle on programming. Do you think it’s wise to buy something that takes you 5 years to put to use?

In cases where you will need to hire a programmer to get the source code working, you can hire one cheaply at places like Scriptlance.com and Rentacoder.com. Before you hire one, pay attention to the feedback they have. You should also ask to see work they’ve done.

CONCLUSION
There is no question most of the private label source code deals I’ve seen can be very profitable. They can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars you would have to pay a programmer to custom program it for you. Plus there’s no guarantee the programmer you hire won’t hand you unusable garbage. These private label source code sales are usually fully working code that in some cases was used to run successful websites. However, you must go into these purchases with your eyes wide open.

I won’t say “buyer beware” because that implies there are lots of scams, and so far I haven’t seen them. I will say “Buyer be informed — BEFORE you buy.” That is the key to your satisfaction. If you are one of the many people who has bought stuff and never used it, then save your money and work on your motivation. This won’t cost you anything and in the end it will save you lots of money, time and frustration. With the right motivation and the right private label source code, there is no question that you can be very profitable.
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Donna Knight is a Computer Trainer and Website Promotion Specialist. She has built over 240 websites and helps new site owners promote their site cheaply. For tips that will help you save money and save time when marketing online, visit her Internet Marketing Tools and Reviews blog at http://www.DonnaKnight.com
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Copyright (C) 2005 Donna Knight. All Rights Reserved. Permission granted to post this article in newsletters, free ebooks or websites as long as the article and resource box remain intact.

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By Donna Knight

So you want to sell stuff on eBay, but you have two minor problems: You don’t know how and you don’t have stuff to sell. Not a problem. For tips to get you pointed in the right direction, read on.

Before you begin you’ll need some basic equipment: A computer, Internet access, a digital camera, and some space to put your stuff in. That’s really all you’ll need. You’ll also need shipping and packing supplies but that is addressed later.

Next you’ll need to learn how to list auctions. Go to the eBay sellers’ overview: http://pages.ebay.com/education/sellingtips/index.html. This will be your lifeline. There is a plethora of information there on everything you always wanted to know and more. Don’t get overwhelmed; just take it one step at a time. You’ll see there is information on listings, on bidding, on photos, and on feedback – it’s all there.

Next you’ll need to figure out what to sell. Before you zero in on a particular niche, you need some experience and some feedback. Buyers are generally leery of sellers (and bidders who are brand new who have a feedback rating of less than 10 evaluations. While you are getting your feet wet, look around your own house first. You’d be amazed at what people buy. You could list outgrown clothing, magazines, candle holders, CD, books, flannel sheets, recipes, the ugly old lamp that was Aunt Mildred’s, all those goofy Christmas gifts sitting in your basement, or that old baby gate with a stain on it. Get the idea? On Ebay, one woman’s garbage is another woman’s treasure. You never know what someone will want.

While you want to just get experience with your first posting, you don’t want to list something that isn’t likely to sell. Do your research first before you invest the time in putting together a listing. An easy method to use is do a “search” on eBay, then look up COMPLETED ITEMS, then sort by HIGHEST price. Then you’ll see if your Tommy Bahama shirt is really worth anything. Or you’ll see that your old baseball cards had 23 listings and not one of them sold.

Pricing is another issue to consider. This is another subject you’ll need to research. You’ll do this following the same previously mentioned steps to see what the item is going for. Don’t try to overcharge. You know how you feel when you go to a garage sale and you see a pair of jeans for $15 or books for $4 each. Most people come to eBay looking for a bargain. Consider how much you have invested into the item. If you have an item from around the house, you may consider that something is better than nothing, so you may be inclined to start the bidding quite low. If you bought it with the specific intention to resell, you will, at the very minimum, want to break even, so take the price you paid for it and consider other costs, i.e. listing fees, final value fees (all explained in your lifeline – eBay seller overview above). People are much more apt to bid if the bidding starts LOW. Sometimes though, you will have collectibles that are worth a chunk of money. Don’t give away that vintage postcard that is worth $56! Make sure you do your homework before you price it.

The next big question is how do you get paid? You determine what you would accept. Online payments via PayPal (paypal.com) are very convenient. You can also decide that you’ll accept money orders or personal checks. The more options you leave your buyers, the more likely you’ll get more bids. Your goal is to get as many people as you can competing to bid on your item.

You also need to decide how you want to ship your items to the auction winners. Many sellers use USPS, while others prefer UPS. If you use USPS and ship via Priority Mail, you can get your envelopes and boxes free from USPS. If you ship First Class or Parcel Post or UPS, you’ll have to shop around for deals on boxes or envelopes and bubble wrap or packing peanuts.

I hope this isn’t too overwhelming. Yes there is a lot to learn, but it’s not rocket science. Just take it one step at a time. It’s a learning process. You’ll find that getting support makes it all the easier. Some yahoo groups (or MSN or AOL, or whatever your preference) are great sources for support and camaraderie with others who are doing the same.

So in short, if you want to just get your feet wet as a seller on Ebay and learn on your own, YOU CAN DO IT. If you do better chatting with others, those resources are available too. Use what is available.
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Donna Knight is a Website Promotion Specialist who has sold everything from digital products, including ebooks and software, to hard goods such as computers and medical transcription equipment on Ebay. For more tips to help you sell your product or service online, visit her Internet Marketing Tools and Reviews blog at http://www.DonnaKnight.com
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Copyright (C) 2005 Donna Knight. All Rights Reserved. Permission granted to post this article in newsletters, free ebooks or websites as long as the article and resource box remain intact. For product reviews, you may substitute your affiliate referral link for the product URL.

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By Donna Knight

Every business owner knows that setting goals is crucial to business success. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you’ve arrived? More importantly, how will you know when you’re heading in the wrong direction?

If you’re the owner of a small business, what is your goal? To make it to the end of the month with enough money in the bank to cover the payroll? To take a holiday for the first time in five years? To make X amount in sales this month? To acquire X amount of new customers?

Here’s one goal that every business owner should have right from the start — to become independent of the business. Small businesses turn into big businesses only when they are able to operate smoothly without the owner being present. When you can stay away for a week, or a month, or a year, and return to find the business running better than before you left, you now have the opportunity to follow your dreams – sell the business and start a new one, retire, buy a yacht and sail around the world or even think of more ways to expand the business if strategizing is your idea of fun.

True financial independence is the ability to live your life doing what YOU want to do. Do you really want to show up for work an hour early every day, leave late at night and never take a holiday for the rest of your life? I certainly don’t.

What is the solution that will allow you to build a business you can walk away from?

It’s simple. You need a system in place so that everyone in your business knows exactly what is expected of them.

When you take on a new employee, how do they learn what they’re expected to do? Does an existing employee take around and explaining how things work? How can you be sure that the new employee is learning what you want them to know?

As the owner of the business, it’s your job to ensure that a system is put in place as the business grows. The system will ensure that everyone knows what they need to know to do their job effectively. To start with, this system will include job descriptions and a training plan for each job.

Let me give you an example. How do you think companies like McDonald’s are able to manage thousands of restaurants across the planet? McDonald’s Head Office doesn’t sell hamburgers. They sell franchises, and their customers are the franchisees. The most valuable asset they have is their system. It regulates everything from what employees wear, the words they say to customers, how many seconds a patty is left on the grill, to variables within their business. Every single detail is dictated by the system.

The system makes it possible for new employees to fit in. They are educated on ‘how we do things around here’. They are taught the specifics of their job.

This is not to say that there is no flexibility in this system. In a well-designed system there is still room for individual creativity. Better ways of doing things should always be encouraged, and then and written into the system in the future after a trial run.

The system provides the framework for ensuring that the business is never entirely dependent on any one person, including you. As a business owner, your future satisfaction with your business depends on the quality of that system.

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Donna Knight is a Computer Trainer and Website Promotion Specialist. She has built over 200 websites and helps new site owners promote their site cheaply. For tips that will help you save money and save time when marketing online, visit her Internet Marketing Tools and Reviews blog at http://www.DonnaKnight.com
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Copyright (C) 2005 Donna Knight. All Rights Reserved. Permission granted to post this article in newsletters, free ebooks or websites as long as the article and resource box remain intact. For product reviews, you may substitute your affiliate referral link for the product URL.

Automatic Social Bookmarking