- Blogs are not new.  

- Blogs will not make you rich. (Although if you use a blog the way I show you here, you can make an excellent income).

- Blogs are not much different from regular websites.

So Why Do You Need A Blog?

You need a blog because you need a 'Center' or a ‘Head Quarters’ for your online business.

Imagine your blog is your Head Quarters. You build your blog by adding content. Over time you turn it into a useful authority site in your chosen niche market.

The idea at this point is not to sell, but to inform and share useful information whilst building a list of subscribers that you build by giving away a free report or something similar.

Now you can start to create products that are related to your blog’s content that you sell on other, regular websites.

But instead of finding ways to generate traffic to all your other money making websites, you simply concentrate on driving traffic to your blog (Head Quarters).

And from your blog you can link out to your related websites.

Obviously this is a simplistic description, but that’s basically a superbly effective method to creating a successful online business.

Take my blog for example - The-Profit-Club.com. I have links to all my related websites. That’s all my websites that involve internet marketing.

I don’t hard sell my products because I don’t have to. Visitors that arrive at my blog are there because they have an interest in internet marketing. The links to my paid products provide more relevant information.

People are so much more likely to purchase a product if they feel they haven’t been sold to. A recommendation from a trusted source if far more effective than a standalone hard sell.

I do have other websites in other markets (although I would strongly advise you stick with just 1 market first) but I wouldn’t link to them from my internet marketing blog.

The nature of a blog makes it much easier to update and publish new information and get ranked in the search engines better than a traditional website.

Another huge advantage to having a blog as your Head Quarters is so that you can collect names and email addresses to build your all-important list.

Not only can you then offer your related products on your blog, you can also email your list about them and any new products that you bring out. Not to mention other products in your market that you are an affiliate for.

Using your blog in the right way, especially as I’ve mentioned here, can really produce a significant income.

That’s why you need a blog and the sooner you start one the better!

If you’re serious about building a successful blog then there is only one resource on the internet today that you should consider. Yaro Staraks Blog Profits Blueprint.

Yaro also runs a Blog Mastermind Coaching Program. I took his course last year and it has been the best investment I have made so far with my online business.

You can read my review here.

If you are interested in Yaros excellent coaching program, here are the details:

Blog Mastermind Coaching Program 

Please be aware that it is not some cheap, thrown together course. It is a real opportunity for you to create a successful, money making business. 

If you are a new to blogging and what blogging is all about, I’m going to share with you some useful, basic knowledge in my next post.  

It will be aimed for a newbie and will cover the most frequently asked questions about blogging.

I probably should have written that post first, but sometimes I prefer to just dive in to the good stuff!

So if you have just read this post and haven’t got a clue how to even start a blog, don’t worry, I’ll be covering the basics very soon!

~ Peter Tremayne

 

   

 What's better than getting free stuff? …

 … Good quality, really useful free stuff, that's what!

Over the years I've picked up numerous free tools and products that really are worth having.

Many of these items certainly helped me when I started my internet business when I had very little money to buy anything.

I've decided I'm going to set up a new section that lists all the free resources that I use or have used in the past that I believe you will benefit from.

Before I put them into the 'Free Stuff' section I will post a review of them explaining how they can benefit you.

So let's get cracking on a couple of neat, free products:

Recommended Free Resource - File Compression   

7 - ZIP

7Z or 7 - zip is a great alternative to WinZip.

Basically 7 - ZIP and WinZip will open your zipped files and allow you to send large files like powerpoint presentations or photos.

The difference is 7 - ZIP will open virtually anything. It's very efficient and very fast! I haven't found a folder or file that 7 - ZIP hasn't been able to open yet.

If you've already got WinZip and happy with it then stick with it.

If you would like to use 7 - ZIP instead, delete WinZip after you've downloaded it. There's no point having them both.

Unfortunately 7 - ZIP doesn't work on MACs. MAC users will need to use something like Zipeg. 

Recommended Free Resource - Multi Media Player

VLC Player 

The chances are if you watch a lot of videos you will have come across a number of files you can't play.

You're informed that you need to find a codec to handle them. Then it starts to get messy. You even can't find it or you have to pay for it. 

That's when you need VLC Media Player.   

VLC Player from VideoLAN is the most widely compatible multi media player available.

It is much like 7 - ZIP in that whatever media file you come across, the chances are VLC Player will be able to play it.

It can handle various audio and video formats including (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, …) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.

This little program sits quietly in the background for you to call upon quickly and effortlessly and only takes up around 32MB of your hard drive.  

If you know of any free resources that you think will benefit others, please drop me a line or fill in the comments box below.

~ Peter Tremayne

 

   

Wow, it’s been quite a while since my last post back in June!

Here’s why I haven’t posted a single article or created any new content on this blog or any of my other websites…

I took a mini retirement!

If you are familiar with Timothy Ferriss’s book ‘The 4-Hour Work Week’ you’ll understand where I’m coming from.

If you haven’t read the book then;

1. I highly recommend you do read it because it is absolute ‘must read’ and..

2. It basically means I’ve been away to different places and taken a long holiday (mini retirement) - 7 weeks off to be precise!

The most I did was to check my emails every now and again and reply to the odd customer support query. The rest of my time I spent in Southern Spain, Gibraltar and moving into my new beautiful home back here in the UK.

That’s the real beauty of running an online business that is mostly 100% automated. It allows you freedom to take time out to do the things in life you really want to do or need to do.

Since I went full time with my internet business in April 2006, this is the first occasion I’ve taken so much time off. But the experience has been beneficial in so many ways…

As well as traveling and moving into my new home, I also took the time to re-evaluate my internet business and decide what I really wanted to concentrate on in the future.

I made some big decisions and drew up a new ‘life plan’ i.e. where I want to be in 5 years time, doing what, etc.

Now I feel totally refreshed and eager to get started again! I’m just bursting with new energy, new ideas and new projects.

I also read a couple of great books that were recommended to me by other successful entrepreneurs.

That sounds quite a flippant statement ‘just read a couple of books’ because if you know me you’ll know it takes me ages to read a book … I’m talking anywhere from 6 months to a year!

But before I took my time off I made a pledge to myself to read at least 1 book from cover to cover before I returned to my business.

Well I not only read 1, I read one and three quarters! Just got 1 more chapter to read on the second!

The first book I read was 'The Magic Of Thinking Big' by David J. Schwartz. What a great book! I just couldn’t put it down and urge you to read this book as soon as you can.

I’m not going to turn this post into a book review (although I will write a review for you soon) but just trust me when I say “go and read it now”.

The second book that I’ve nearly finished is 'The E-Myth Revisited' by Michael E. Gerber. This has been a really enlightening read. The author explains the reasons why 80% of small businesses fail in their first 5 years and what you can do about it.

Again I’ll write up a review later, but it is another book that should be high up on your ‘to read’ list.

Even though I’m now back into the swing of things, I’m still going to read as many new books as I possibly can. In the future I want to be like those people you here about with a big library full of great books! (I have half a shelf so far!)

There’s a saying I heard somewhere that went “Rich people have big libraries, poor people have big TV’s.”

Obviously taking 7 weeks off is not an option to most people, especially if you work for someone else. But you can do something similar with just a few days off.

Spend some real quality time evaluating your business. How you see it progressing, if you really enjoy what you’re doing, if not, what would your ideal online business look like?

Take a broad look at all the aspects of your business. You may find that you are very happy how it’s going. You may think of some great ways to improve it. Or you may just decide to ditch the whole lot and start something new.

There’s nothing wrong with ripping up everything you’ve done up until now and starting afresh.

Here’s why … you won’t lose the knowledge you’ve attained so far.

In this game knowledge is power and once you understand how something works you can easily duplicate it or adapt it in a totally new project.

Sure you may lose your subscriber list, but it’s really not difficult to build another. Your new business will grow faster and become more successful because you will be more committed and enthusiastic. 

Having time off work can do wonders to your energy levels and your sense of perspective.

But don’t take time off and sit around worrying that you’re not making any money.

Use the time constructively. Read some internet marketing reports you keep meaning to read. Read some self improvement books like the ones I’ve mentioned here. Re-evaluate your life goals if necessary. Just make sure you use the time positively.

DO NOT feel guilty for taking the time off. Otherwise there’s no point in doing so.

I became a little anxious half way through my break that I hadn’t updated my blog. I was worried that my readers would think bad of me and that I was being lazy etc. etc.

But these concerns were self inflicting. You gotta remember, no-one really cares about your blog, your website, your sales page 'to that extent'. (No matter who you are - including Seth Godin!)

Sure when you make a good post, people comment on it and it makes you feel good. But on the whole no-one's going to lose any sleep if you never appear online again!

It’s a harsh fact, but true all the same. Apparently it’s a good idea to keep posting at least once a week so you keep the relationship with your readers. Who says? I’m sure you don’t think anything less of me now? Do you?!

Also since I’ve been away, I’ve actually added a further 245 subscribers to my list!

So there you have it. I’ve been away for 7 weeks and I’ve had a fantastic time! I’ve read a couple of great books, re-evaluated my business strategy and my life goals.

Now I’m back and bursting with energy and ideas. I feel like I’m a child again on Christmas morning!

I have lots to share with you and hopefully you’ll enjoy my future posts.

Cheers!

~ Peter Tremayne