Aug

27

Infusionsoft Sees Three-Year Sales Growth of 304% Despite Recession, Change in Revenue Model

Gilbert, AZ (Vocus) August 27, 2010

Inc. magazine ranked Infusionsoft No. 984 on its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. In the last three years Infusionsoft has grown its customer base of small business marketers by 800% to more than 20,000 users. Infusionsoft continues to thrive during the recession because its web-based marketing automation tool helps small businesses grow quickly and efficiently without having to hire more staff. Keeping costs down is a big concern for small-business owners, more so now than ever as the struggle to get capital continues and consumer spending is stagnate.

Aug

18

Blogging is a great way to get started making money online, but it takes work. All good things come with some effort, right?

Doing nothing is the absolute worst thing a new blogger can do. Yet, that’s exactly what happens to many bloggers when they first get started. While trying to get their blog just perfect, they do nothing and, instead, spin their wheels and go no place…slinging mud the whole time!

Meanwhile, they get frustrated, their dreams fade, and they end up giving up before they even get started. It’s sad, especially since many of them are talented writers, passionate about their topic, and have a lot to share with the world.

Aug

16

If you’re doing your e-mail marketing through Infusionsoft, and you have not customized your opt-out link, you could be losing subscribers unnecessarily.  There are two reasons to create your own opt-out link.  One is because someone may want to update their e-mail address. Second, someone may want to opt-out of your weekly promotion e-mail, but not opt-out of your monthly newsletter.

Infusionsoft’s default opt-out link allows for one thing:  unsubscribe from all e-mail marketing!  Ouch!

Aug

11

You might be asking yourself: What’s the difference between Email Marketing 1.0 and Email Marketing 2.0?  Or What’s so great about Email Marketing 2.0?  Well, hopefully I can answer some of your questions here.

Email Marketing 1.0 (regular old email marketing) means that you’re sending the same email and the same message to everybody, no matter what.  Email Marketing 2.0 is smarter and adapts your message accordingly, automatically.

Aug

2

Marketing…the word can strike fear in some, causing them to hide under the covers, while others put on their gladiator armor and are READY to strike it with their sword!!  What does marketing do to you?  What do you think of when you hear the word?  Cold calling?  Door to door sales?  For a lot of businesses, during the dog days of summer business slows down.  Now is a great time to look at your own marketing and implement (or change) your marketing strategies.

Jul

27

The Internet has become a way of life for 75 percent of the population in the United States (according to Internet World Stats).  But how reliable is the information they’re seeking and you’re finding?

The recent stories of Shirley Sherrod are a real life example of how misinformation on the Internet can harm someone.  In this case, a blogger posted a portion of a speech she had given which made her appear to be racist.  Shortly after, she was forced to resign as Georgia State Director of Rural Development for the United States Department of Agriculture.  This is the short of the story — there are a whole myriad of other issues involving this case, which I won’t get into in this post because this is about being aware of the Internet and the misinformation it provides.

Jul

6

Yesterday started out a good day….  I was taking the day off in celebration of 4th of July.  Late morning I was searching the Internet for a recipe — yes, I was going to cook — when McAfee started popping up that it blocked this Trojan and that Trojan.  What??!!  I was just looking for a recipe!!

Then next I get a window pop up called Defense Center Installer and to click okay to continue installing.  No!!  Not what I want!!  Then another window — Windows Security Center warning me I don’t have any antivirus installed and yet Defense Center Installer telling me I need to uninstall my current antivirus software before it can install.

Jun

15

Here we are midway through 2010 and it definitely feels like summer here in Georgia!  I’m very thankful to be a Virtual Assistant, where I can sit inside with the air conditioner during the heat of the day!!  Heck, even early morning and evening have been hot and steamy this week!

But enough about the weather…  As I said, we are midway through 2010 and now is a great time to stop and evaluate where you are in your business.  You know, evaluate whether you’re on target with increasing sales by 10% or sending out a weekly newsletter or posting on your blog at least a couple of times a week — whatever your first of the year goals were.  Have you checked yourself yet?

Jun

2

When you started your business, you knew that you would have to have the online traffic to make it a worthwhile venture. With your marketing plan, ideas were already recorded to help that become a reality. Here’s one you may not have thought about: newsletters. They bring the reader into the “know” and that could mean dollars and cents to you.

A business website gives visitors the basics of your operation. You want to use your resources to tell them about what you do and why they need to do business with you. There is not always enough space to put columns or tidbits that would be important to readers but not necessarily part of your main marketing agenda.

May

19

How do you build trust with others? You get to know them and find out what they are all about. While that’s easy face-to-face, it can also be done virtually if you are willing to work at it. But why is it important to build trust with your virtual peers?

Building relationships with your readers is vital to your business. Remember that your goal is to make money and for that you will need people to visit your site. But visiting your site is just not enough in and of itself.

May

12

Awhile ago I was busy building products and a shopping cart in Infusionsoft*.  While I’ve worked in Infusionsoft for about six years, and I’ve worked in the shopping cart area previously, this was the first time building it from scratch.

The client did have a shopping cart in 1 Shopping Cart and had an organized spreadsheet of his products, both made organizing and building in the new system easier.  Before starting this project I didn’t have a checklist of steps, but since I anticipate having other similar projects, I made notes and created questionnaires and checklists that I can use the next time.

Mar

22

So you’ve decided to hire a VA and delegate?  Now what?  How do you go about it?  How do you know if you’re getting someone reliable?  With literally thousands and thousands to choose from, how do you know you’re not hiring some fly-by-night company?  Just where do you start?

Well, here are some steps you can take to help you find just the right person.

First, make a list of the tasks you want to delegate to a Virtual Assistant.  There are Virtual Assistants who specialize in certain areas — such as Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing and Shopping Carts — or certain programs — such as Infusionsoft, 1 Shopping Cart and Top Producer.  I specialize in Infusionsoft.

Mar

11

How do you build trust with others? You get to know them and find out what they are all about. While that’s easy face-to-face, it can also be done virtually if you are willing to work at it. But why is it important to build trust with your virtual peers?

Building relationships with your readers is vital to your business. Remember that your goal is to make money and to do that, you need people visiting your site to start with…  But visiting your site is just not enough in and of itself.

Feb

25

Whenever I hear that, I think of the old Fox 5 news commercial in Atlanta: “blog, blog, blog….blog, blog, blog”…blah, blah, blah….blah, blah, blah.  They were advertising their new blog and encouraging interaction between viewers and the newscast.

You’ve read about the importance of blogging for your company and the importance of commenting on other blogs, but how do you organize it?  How do you know who to follow?  What is following?

Feb

12

It started snowing this morning at about 11:30 — a couple hours after it was predicted to start, but it started.  Where we live in Georgia we do not normally get much snow.  We did have one evening that had a snow/sleet mix a month or so ago.

Today’s snowfall, however, was pretty.  It is still pretty as I look out the window at the security light, which is lighting up the tree with the snow shimmering off it.  This picture does not do it justice!

Feb

12

Visit Reader Blogs and Get to Know Them

Readers visit your website or blog each day. They are there for information. They may keep coming back because of your charm or wit or just to get to know you better before they try your product or service offerings. Let them know that you are real person by returning the favor and visiting them too.

Everyone is a REAL person but not everyone comes off like they are. Business owners who intentionally stay aloof from their readership set themselves up for all sorts of scathing comments. They are like royalty in ivory towers – high and unreachable.

Jan

29

You’ve heard what assuming can do, right? But what about if you assume your business tools are working properly…and they’re not? What happens when a prospect calls and your voicemail system isn’t working properly? Or what if a prospect visits your website or blog, and gets an error?

It can happen. Just because it works today does not mean it will work tomorrow!

Jan

20

Recently I had a situation occur that upset me. It was one of those tea-kettle boiling, ready to boil over, whistling experiences. When I get that upset – both angry and hurt at the same time – I shake, I cry, and I try extremely hard not to explode. Luckily, there was a third party present to take the kettle off the heat. And I appreciate him tremendously, as I do not like to go there!!

Jan

14

Originally Published: 2/27/2009

When you hear the word discipline what pictures come to mind?  Perhaps a parent disciplining a child who has done something wrong?  Maybe military personnel being disciplined for a bad act?  Or maybe you think of someone disciplining themselves on the foods they eat and the activities they do to lose weight?

The word “discipline” can have several meanings.  The meaning I’m discussing today is pertaining to a business owner, entrepreneur, solopreneur — you name it.  In what ways does a business owner, entrepreneur and solopreneur require discipline?

Jan

13

Originally Published:  2/23/2009

Communication is an important piece when working with a virtual assistant — or when working with any subcontractor. While in some cases we do perform “miracles,” we are not mind readers.

To have a successful working relationship with a VA, it is important to communicate.  If there are specific elements of a project you want included, communicate those.  If there are deadlines that need to be met, communicate those also.  All relevant facts should be communicated to the virtual assistant.  Do NOT assume that your virtual assistant is thinking along the same lines as you and will know all those elements of the project.  What you might consider an important piece and a can’t-live-without piece of the project might be something the virtual assistant sees as something that doesn’t need to be included.

Jan

12

Originally published:  1/11/2010

Here we are beginning Week 2 of 2010!  How are you doing?  Are you still giddy and excited about the prospect of 2010?  Or are you feeling overwhelmed and back into your regular routine?  Do you remember your goals for 2010?  Or are they tucked away in a drawer?

The first week of 2010 was very productive for me, and the second week is moving along at the same pace (yes, even though it’s only Monday — you should see the check-offs!).  Organization and time management are HUGE when trying to stay focused and move toward your goals.  For my time management, I use time boxing.  Click here to read my previous post on time boxing.

Jan

12

Originally published:  12/21/2009

I don’t know about you, but for me, this time of year is c-r-a-z-y!!  It is busy, busy — preparing for the holidays, reflecting back over the past year — the good, the bad, and the ugly — and preparing for next year.

There were some goals I didn’t meet and others I did.  I didn’t take as many training classes as I would have liked, but I did continue to delve deeper and deeper into Infusionsoft, a web-based program I’ve worked in for several years, and dabbled in WordPress, as well as WishList Member.  I did meet my goal to write a newsletter twice a month; however, fell short on my blog.  The blog is on the list for 2010 – redoing it using WordPress and being more consistent with writing.

Jan

12

Originally Published:  3/29/2009

Several months ago I came across the term time boxing.  I looked into it and set the practice into motion.  It has been a life saver!

If you ever feel like you don’t accomplish enough in a day or feel like you’re spinning your wheels, keep reading.  Time boxing can help you be more productive and help you feel like you’ve accomplished something.

Jan

12

Do you wish you could clone yourself?  Do you wish there were more hours in the day?  Do you wish you could spend more time building your business?  Is your business running you?

If you answered yes to any — or all — of these, you need a Virtual Assistant (VA)!!  A Virtual Assistant can help you gain hours, help you build your business, and work side by side with you….virtually, of course.

Jan

12

Originally Posted:  2/18/2009

We have a total of five horses.  Three mares (Gypsy, Anna Marie and Summer) and two geldings (Cody and Poco).  The geldings had been kept in a different pasture, far away from the mares….until a week and a half ago.  We decided to put the five horses in the same pasture.

It’s been interesting to watch the dynamics and personalities of the horses as they figure out their new herd hierarchy.  In the pasture by themselves Cody was the top horse.  But Sunday evening, Poco became his protector, keeping the girls fought off and protecting Cody, who seemed to not want to defend himself.

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