For 30 years, I’ve been having the same conversation with my partners. The subject is: What do our customers want from us — doom or zoom? Do they want more news about how bad the economy is? Or how clumsy and/or corrupt the government is when it tries to “help”? Or how completely out [...]
On 10.13.09, In Blogging, Coaching, Income Building, Internet Marketing, Online Business, by Dirk Tietjen
How do you attract the best possible people to your business? How do you snag that rare person who can help you grow and improve your company? How do you find someone capable of doing what you do . . . when you don’t want to do it any more? Ask successful business owners what [...]
On 10.05.09, In Income Building, Internet Marketing, List Building, Niche Marketing, Online Business, by Dirk Tietjen
A man looks at his youth and says, “I wish I knew then what I know now.” That’s what “Eric,” a pot dealer who spent four years in jail, said to me after he had become a multimillionaire. Eric was talking about what he had learned about direct marketing. I gave him a job after [...]
On 10.02.09, In Communication Skills, Income Building, Internet Marketing, Online Business, by Dirk Tietjen
When I was in my thirties, I was urged to run for political office. I put together a campaign committee of about 12 enthusiastic supporters. And I started to get carried away with the idea of making a difference in my state. Then I called a politician I had worked with. I asked him if [...]
On 09.28.09, In Income Building, Internet Marketing, Niche Marketing, Online Business, by Dirk Tietjen
My ever-present, effervescent managing editor Suzanne came up with another good suggestion last week. “You know Richard Russell,” she said. (Richard Russell writes the Dow Theory Letters.) “I just came across an essay of his about the ideal business. It was very popular with his readers. His criteria mesh well with your advice, but I [...]
On 09.25.09, In Income Building, Internet Marketing, Niche Marketing, Online Business, by Dirk Tietjen
Last week, at least 30 people pointed me to a video of an unconventional wedding on YouTube. With pop music blasting in the background, it showed the wedding party (including the bride) dancing down the aisle in an elaborately choreographed routine. Maybe you’ve seen it. It’s gotten more than 8 million views. YouTube – coupled [...]
On 09.22.09, In Income Building, Internet Marketing, Niche Marketing, Online Business, by Dirk Tietjen
One of the most daunting things about starting your own Internet business is the idea of creating regular, unique content for your website. You can raise your eyebrows and sigh. It’s okay. But you are going to need this fresh content if you want to get anywhere with search engines. Plus, your site visitors will [...]
When starting a small business, your first steps should be researching your target market, developing a marketing plan, and testing offers. In other words, taking action to turn your business idea into a real business by making sure you can sell your products at a profit. Unfortunately, many first-time entrepreneurs let their anxiety about such [...]
