Blogging is a business. It is not a hobby. Blogging requires you to develop a reputation in a particular industry, to have authority, and demonstrate the necessary skills to make it work. This means you are building your brand (your name) online. I use my full name for my blog, StacyZahn.com. This allows me to become a figure of authority in marketing and personal development.

Choose A Niche And Domain Name:

Identify a niche or subject that you are passionate about and choose a relevant domain name. It is also good to have your domain name mention what you are promoting. For example, if your blog is going to promote yoga training videos, your domain name could be “www.yourbestyoga.com”.

You need to have passion for what you are going to promote. If you don’t have passion, then you will not get far. Donald Trump really opened my eyes with the whole passion talk.

Research what is doing well online. Keyword research is also crucial and a great resource to use is the Google Adwords Keyword Tool. It is free to use and you will be able to see what keywords in your niche are being search for the most. You can also see how competitive certain keywords will be if you use those for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes.

To register your domain name, once you decided on one, go to GoDaddy. You will receive one free e-mail account to get you started. It will be directed at “@yourdomain.com”.

Host Your Domain Name:

Hosting your domain name is mandatory. It gives your blog a spot on the Internet. You can use any hosting service, but I recommend Host Gator.

Setting Up Your Blog:

I personally prefer Host Gator because installing a web site or blog is very easy. I have a video presentation that shows you step-by-step how to install your WordPress blog. If you have any questions, let me know. You may also contact the Live Chat on Host Gator’s web site.

I only recommend WordPress and honestly would not use anything else for making web sites, even though I have used many other web site building services.

So, now you have a hosted domain name, you most likely are looking at the blank editing page. Now, you have to add content so you give your visitors a reason to continue to go back to your web site.

Writing Content:

You have to go back to the keyword research again. Now, since you have your domain name, you have your niche or subject in mind. You need to simply write content or add products that are relevant. If you are not a good writer, you can find articles that you can spin so it looks different from the original. It is also best to take your time and write something that you thought of. Don’t worry because it is a bit nerving to write your first few articles.

The keywords you chose will go into the content of your articles, the posts’ tags, and be used as anchor text to create incoming links. If you are using WordPress, install the Platinum SEO Pack and the process is completely simplified.

Promoting Your Web Site:

Advertising either requires time or money (or both), depending on which method(s) you choose. PPC methods are quick but require money. Free methods, such as social media sites and forums, require time.

You need some incoming links. If your content is good, some of these will grow “organically,” such as if you install the Sexy Bookmarks plugin for WordPress. This will allow your readers to share your content with others. If you have a blog, you also need to have Facebook because this is how to build connections and your brand. Always have more incoming links than outgoing links. This means you should avoid most reciprocal links. It is also great if you link from one page on your blog to another page.

Here are some great resources:

• Hubpages is a social networking venue. It is not a blogging platform. This site has high visibility with the search engines. You can also make money here on the articles you post, as they offer a revenue sharing advertising model.

• Blogger allows you to set up as many free blogs as you would like. You may use Blogger to solely generate incoming links.

• Ezine Articles is a free article directory that ranks well with the search engines.

You can generate links by:

1. Writing content that people enjoy reading so much they link to it.
2. Asking people for a link through e-mail, telephone, et cetera. If you go this route, make sure you ask related sites to link to you.
3. Commenting on other blogs. Don’t spam. Make respectful comments that contribute to the discussion.
4. Purchasing links. Try this at your own risk. I personally tried purchasing links but did not have any success.

If you are looking for products to promote on your blog, you may check out the following:

• Google Adsense. Contextual ads based on the content of your pages using a pay-per-click impression model. This means you get paid when people click on the ads.
• Clickbank is a great place to find excellent products for your blog. Be careful and do your research so that you don’t promote a rip-off product. A similar web site is Pay Dot Com.
• Commission Junction
• Amazon
• ShareASale

Note: Amazon and ShareASale may take up to two (2) business days to get your application approved. If you do not get approved, ensure you understand the reason(s) and get a solution so that you will get approved on your second attempt.

Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on how to blog and make money at the same time.

– Stacy Zahn

©2012 stacyzahn.com. All Rights Reserved.

By building your own list with your own autoresponder, you will be able to keep that list forever, taking it with you wherever you go, and communicate to your subscribers at any time you want. Try not to over do it on the e-mail frequency though! You will also build trustworthy relationships with your list subscribers. This is important in branding yourself as a leader. People opt-in to your list because they want to follow in your footsteps or experience the knowledge you already know.

So, what exactly is an autoresponder?

An autoresponder is a service that automatically delivers information by e-mail to opt-in subscribers that are interested in a product, service, or mentorship program. This is the tool that handles automated communication to every subscriber on your list, all at once.

Why can’t I just send my e-mail to any list of subscribers using another automation e-mail system?

This is where the Justice System comes in…

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (15 U.S.C. 7701, et seq., Public Law No. 108-187, was S.877 of the 108th United States Congrass), signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 16, 2003, establishes that you cannot send solicitation e-mails to someone’s inbox without first getting their permission. This is why it is crucial to get people to opt-in to receive any solicitation e-mails.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR AUTORESPONDER CAMPAIGNS:

1. Give your subscribers what they are looking for. Address their needs and wants.
2. Know where your prospects’ pain points are and give them a solution.
3. Get straight to the point for why your subscribers opted-in to your list. Don’t talk about something completely off-topic.
4. Build a relationship with your prospect by allowing them to get to Know, Like, and Trust You.
5. Provide your subscribers with action steps to take, such as a business transformation course.

HOW TO GET SUBSCRIBERS:

1. Use a capture page that has an opt-in subscriber form
2. Make videos and submit them to video sharing websites, which lead to your capture page.
3. Use ezines to write solo ads, which lead to your capture page.
4. Check out my “Free Traffic Generation Methods” page for more ideas on how to get leads to your capture page.

AUTORESPONDER E-MAIL MESSAGE TIPS:

Tip 1 – Hard Carriage Returns

Making your e-mail look good and stand out from others is important, even if someone opted-in into your mailing list. Many people create a new e-mail campaign and just type and type, not using a hard carriage return. If you have a program that automatically wraps long lines, such as Aweber, then you okay. The word wrap is usually after the 70 to 80 characters mark. If you do not have a program that wraps long lines, your e-mail is going to decrease in the comprehension rate. You should also keep a line length of no more than 65 lines.

How to avoid this problem?

Use hard carriage return before you get to the end of each line.

Tip 2 – Fonts and Styles

Some people want to impress their readers with cool looking fonts and writing styles. Remember that you are in a business and it is better to express rather than impress. Using basic fonts and styles is best for all readers. Avoid CAPS through your entire e-mail message because IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE YELLING. It’s just plain unnecessary! Also, avoid complex wording and legal terminology. Your reader should not have to get out their dictionary while reading your e-mail.

Tip 3 – Writing Methods

Hyped up messages about how new software changed people’s lives, including yours, will just cause the natural reaction of someone to be hesitant. If the e-mail is written in the “You” view, the reader is able to connect with the information better. This means you should profile your audience and ask yourself what the reader will get from reading your message. Will this outcome be negative, neutral, or positive?

Asking questions sparks interest and creates a connection as well. When you ask the reader what is missing in his or her business, the reader can think of answers. By doing this, the reader can see how your traffic generation software will improve the struggling business.

Avoid sounding too much like a business person in your e-mails. People like reading e-mails that have passion in them but don’t sound too much like the “Good Guy”. For example, if you are struggling to make money online, wouldn’t you want to hear about how someone that was just like yourself changed their financial future by gaining the shared education, without hearing hyped up nonsense?

I personally use and recommend Aweber. I have not used GetResponse, but I have heard positive feedback about it.

Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on building lists with an autoresponder.

– Stacy Zahn

©2012 stacyzahn.com. All Rights Reserved.

The closely guarded, top secret to motivation is…

“Motivation arrives on action, not the other way around.”

This means that once you discover what you’re passionate about, you need to just start putting it into action. There really is no such thing as procrastination. If you are reading an article on how to be a successful marketer, you’re taking an action. If you’re sleeping, you’re also taking an action. If you’re sitting in front of your television five hours a day, you’re taking an action. It is just best to realize what actions you take will have good impacts on your targets.

Ask yourself these questions:

“Where do I want to be in one year from today?”

“How am I going to get to my target?”

“Are the actions am I taking allowing myself to get closer or further away from my targets?”

You need to just start working on what you are passionate about. Do not focus on perfection because your work will evolve as you go along. If you, like many people, wait to feel motivated before you start your ‘work’ you never will see any good results.

Sometimes, the brightest ideas can come to you when you’re resting in bed in the morning, or when you’re interacting with a group of friends. Carry a notepad and a pen with you and capture those ideas so that you can make them a reality!

Motivate yourself by taking action today and watch what blossoms!

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts and help others become motivated!

– Stacy Zahn

©2012 stacyzahn.com. All Rights Reserved.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #1 – TESTING THE WATERS

Determine what your interests really are and what you can do to earn based on that interest. Remember, there is always going to be competition because there’s an overwhelming amount of affiliate marketing tips, business opportunities, and advice out there on the Internet. If you are new to marketing online, it can be a scary situation because you don’t know if you are being misled or if you’re actually receiving information that will help your brand in authority.  Start with one step at a time, one site at a time, and one eBook at a time. Add in a few services and/or products that may help you as well. Many marketers come into the industry and then take too many steps at once and then give up.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #2 – PROMOTE WHAT YOU KNOW

I always see marketers promoting affiliate products that they themselves have no knowledge on, as it was not tested. Make sure that you become a product of a product, which means you know the product inside and out. This gives someone the impression that you do indeed know your stuff. Avoid going to Clickbank and promoting 30 different random products on your blog because this could damage your reputation.  The last thing you need is to realize there’s 100 scam reports on that product you decided to promote without looking deep into it.

Promote something that you know and trust. You will get more followers by doing this.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #3 – FOCUS ON RESIDUAL INCOME

There is a rule in affiliate marketing that “Lifetime commissions equal lifetime profits”. Look for network marketing and monthly membership businesses and services to promote, as this means you just have to work hard one month to reach your desired income level and then you don’t have to start all over the next month. It’s like retiring!

Affiliate Marketing Tip #4 – GET TRAFFIC AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

You need to get traffic to your website or blog. Some marketers think this is a challenge. It only seems this way if you are buying bulk leads, using low-traffic websites, and paying for solo ads to sites where people are only interested in reading your ad to earn a couple cents. No one is interested in joining your business or buying your product or service.  You should only be spending about 25% on building and maintaining your website or blog and the other 75% should be spent on getting traffic and building relationships, such as on Facebook.  Stop buying traffic because the truth is that you’re only wasting your money on wrongfully targeted traffic.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #5 – BUILD A LIST

Every part of marketing online should start and end with a list. Build a list and you can keep it forever. Many marketers try to avoid this but it’s one of the common marketer mistakes. Besides, if you really want to brand yourself and offer value, start building your list today.

… and no, you should never use a free autoresponder because it just doesn’t do the job correctly. Not only that, but it looks unprofessional.

When you make a list campaign, tell the viewers what it is about. Don’t start sending out health supplements discounts from a website if you are in Internet marketing. You’ll get people unsubscribing so fast, you won’t know what hit you. Simply by sending out one “bad” e-mail to your list can destroy your reputation for the long run, so plan ahead of what you’re going to offer.

Well, there you have it! Apply these super affiliate tips today and you’ll be more than one step ahead of the other marketers. After all, you do want to be in the top 3% of online marketers.

Leave me a comment below and share your thoughts!

– Stacy Zahn

©2012 stacyzahn.com. All Rights Reserved.

Change is inevitable. As you get older, your passions may change. The past few years have found me in the midst of much change. I have spent the last year quietly reassessing my life and deciding what new path I wish to take.

I have shut down a semi-successful business opportunity that was not contributing to my passion and long-term goals. I focused on short-term goals, but now I have my priorities in the right place.

There is no opportunity shortage out there, but you should do only what you absolutely love to do, not just because it will make you money.

My choices have led me into a whole new online world. It is now a time of renewing myself for whatever might come next and I don’t see it ending any time soon. I have taken a stand for what I am passionate for.

This was the process of figuring out “What I want to be when I grow up”.

I have connected with so many people, through social media, that it has helped me to make myself aware of my dreams and targets, at a much quicker pace.

I have spoken countless of times on the importance of following your passion and I really do believe that every person is gifted with a unique set of talents and skills that will help reinforce passion.

At this point in my life, I recognize the personality, talents, skills, abilities, strengths, knowledge, and passions that I have to be proud of.

Leave a comment below and share what you wanted to be or what you are going to be. Share your goals, strengths, abilities, and passions! Let your unique imagination soar!

©2012 stacyzahn.com. All Rights Reserved.

… So I found this awesome new income opportunity, at the time, and wanted to sign up distributors right away. I created an awesome blog, put an autoresponder form on the page, and then shoved the link into people’s faces. Isn’t this how it’s supposed to be done?

Well, no.

When it comes to building your business, nothing could be further from the truth.

I did actually do fairly well bringing in distributors; however, they only stayed for about 1-4 months. They also did not sign up their own distributors, so the income I made depended on my efforts. I thought I was going to make a lot of money off of other people’s efforts too, like the sales video said!? Okay… back to marketing reality.

This isn’t just a “turn key announcement” where everyone will jump on board. Does anyone really know what is offered by you? Things have changed when it comes to building a business online. You not only need tools but you also need systems in place. You need connections and trust. After you build a relationship, you can make a sale.

This is the rule for the top marketers:

1. Build relationships (trust)

2. Making a sale

Even though I was branding myself and building connections on my blog, others were not. They then became distracted, frustrated, and left the company (and me).

So what is the mistake exactly, in simpler terms?

Well, it is not providing information on what value you bring to the table before you even mention anything about a sale. Really, no one wants to be told to buy something by a stranger, so if you have done this already, just stop, and start building relationships. The best way to do this is by using social media, such as Facebook.

If you still don’t understand this clearly, think of it this way: You know your friend is building a sturdy birdhouse because she always wanted to. Ask yourself, would your friend be better off if you sold her nails to build the birdhouse or sold her an actual ready-made birdhouse? Your friend would want the nails to build what she wants – the sturdy birdhouse, so by telling her how great your super strong nails are, she can build a nice, big birdhouse that will withstand harsh weather conditions.

Give people what they want, not what you think they should buy. This is how you get targeted leads, which turn into sales, because it is seen to them that you can provide value.

Another situation could be that you are a knives sales person. You find a couple and offer a demo on how dangerous it is to have dull knives rather than sharp, smooth knives. You are educating the couple and making them realize they must buy these knives to avoid safety issues.  You’re asking for a sale without even asking directly for money, as you’ve shown a demo!

So take a good look at your Internet MLM sales funnel and determine how you are actually promoting it. Are you offering training to help someone earn their first $100 online this week or are you begging them to join your business? Ask yourself, what the purpose of your marketing efforts are and why you are online marketing to begin with.

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts!

– Stacy Zahn

©2012 stacyzahn.com. All Rights Reserved.