The significant challenges that we face today cannot be resolved by the same level of thinking that created them.

=> Publisher's Corner
=> Feature Article
=> Review: Products or Services
=> Inspiration
=> Special Feature
=> Hot Tip
=> Ezine ADventure
=> Reader's Corner
=> Ad Swaps
=> Success Links

Hi and welcome to today's issue of Keeping in Touch. A big, warm 'hello' to all our new subscribers.

We all want to achieve 'success'. Our definitions of what 'success' is may differ, however, the ultimate prize when we achieve success will be similar.

Have you taken the time to think about how you will achieve that success? Have you written a plan that you can follow, step-by-step? Of course, you'll need help along the way. It may take the form of guidance from others who have already been there. You will probably invest in many programs or ebooks to gain valuable information. It soon becomes apparent that not all these purchases contain the tidbits of value they claim.

So, who do we trust? Glen Palo makes several interesting observations in Discover the Truth Behind the 'Secrets'. It's easy to be caught up in the language presented rather than determining the actual value of the offer.

Our Special Feature comes from Paula Morrow. When In Doubt, Ask! explains the importance of knowing who you are trying to reach out to in your marketing efforts. Skipping the research could cost you the business you have worked so hard to build. Your 'research' doesn't have to be tedious - you can use all kinds of tools to help you understand what your target audience wants from you.

Here's to YOUR success!

Have a great day and keep on smiling.

Lois M. Jeary
Publisher, KIT and KIT Klassifieds
http://www.home4success.com/cgi-bin/msb.cgi?2 http://www.home4success.com

Discover the Truth Behind the 'Secrets'
by Glen Palo

And the emperor has no clothes.

Do you believe the "heavy hitters" in network marketing or internet promotion will really reveal their secrets to you for $29.95? Do you believe there really are any secrets to success in the first place?

I don't! And I will tell you why.

First things first. Marketers use power words to get your attention. I used three power words in the title, "discover," "truth" and "secrets." Over the years marketers have found that certain words trigger emotional responses that arouse curiosity in readers (or consumers if you like).

"Secrets" is such a powerful word because people want to believe there is some magic formula behind the "heavy hitter's" success. After all, they did not become a heavy hitter without being successful. People want to know what they did that made them successful in the first place.

There are a few individuals that if you dropped them naked in the middle of the Sahara Desert in two weeks they will drive out of the desert in a new Ferrari wearing a gold Rolex watch and Armani suit with a downline of 1,000 people. In other words, they have a talent or gift that cannot be duplicated. So what does the average person do to become a heavy hitter? Or better yet, what does the average person do to become successful?

You are not going to like this.

Heavy hitters work the numbers. They use a system to work the numbers. At some point in time, they contacted enough people to generate enough business volume that created the incomes they have today. They use a system in order to predict the results given a specific number of contacts. In other words, they know if they contact 100 people, a specific number will buy their product or service and a specific number will join the business.

Secondly, once they become heavy hitters, they use their reputation as heavy hitters to create additional income. They have huge centers of influence. If Ms. Heavy Hitter decides to leave the current company and move to a new opportunity, she has enough influence that many in her organization will leave with her. Of course, those that are closest to her get the word before those that are well down in the organization.

Observation: It is amazing how many successful network marketers (heavy hitters) market generic business support and training materials. (At some point in time they will "pitch" their opportunity; "back-end" the opportunity if you will). Makes you wonder where the money is.

Does it pay to join a business opportunity "under" a heavy hitter or use their secrets?

In my opinion, the answer is a resounding NO. The reason is, to copy a phrase from the financial industry, that past performance is no indication of future success. What worked for one person, may not work for another because of differences in circumstances, individual skills and the like. Remember the guy in the desert?

In fact, joining a business opportunity under a heavy hitter may be detrimental to your wealth health.

For long term residual income, a business must be based on the retailing or consumption of products or services. Consumers must want and use the products because of the value associated with the product. Not the fact that there is a business opportunity associated with the product. If people join a business opportunity because of the compensation plan or "personality" currently promoting the opportunity, there is a tendency for them to leave when a better compensation plan or "personality" comes along. There is nothing worse than having a portion of your downline disappear because they moved to another opportunity with one of your upline members.

Another key to success and long term residual income, if you are not going to work the numbers, is to take the time to develop strong relationships with your business partners. Be selective with whom you allow into your business. Ideally, they will be your business partners for a long time to come. Developing strong bonds protects you and your partners from the vagaries of business life like changes in company policy, compensation etc.

The truth is: get rich slowly. Build relationships first.

Article by Glen Palo, Editor and Publisher of the Achieve USA Home Business Journal.   Published twice monthly, HBJ offers the latest information and articles to create successful small and home businesses.  Subscribe today! 
http://www.achieveusa.com

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This is an easy to use backup system with loads of features for different types of backup processes.

To pursue success effectively, you must build supportive relationships that will help you work toward your goals. To build those relationships, you need to trust others; and to earn their trust, you in turn must learn to be trustworthy.
- Stedman Graham

Success is measured not by what you do for yourself, but what you do for another person's self-interest.
- Diane Hughes

Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one's aim.
- John D. Rockefeller

In the rush to get online, have you ever found yourself skipping over the research fundamentals, like our Online Wannabe?

For instance, do any of the following sound familiar?

Online Wannabe: (checking off the list) OK, signed up for a few affiliate programs, posted the provided websites...I know there are a lot of people online just like me, and I KNOW they'll want this.

(time goes by....but nothing happens)

Online Wannabe: Ah, c'mon! EVERYONE needs this product - it's a sure thing! Everyone says so! Maybe if I place more ads - I'll just stick a classified in this one - it has tons, so I'm sure a lot of people are reading it.

(...still nothing)

Kindly Online Mentor-Type: Maybe you should do a little research into your market - have you done a survey? Do you know what your market wants? Have you asked at the forums and discussion boards? Have you checked out your competition's ezines?

Online Wannabe: Research! Big yawn! It's boring, and I'm busy. I don't have time to do all that...You know, this online stuff isn't as easy as I thought. And I'm running out of money. Maybe I should go back to my old job...

OK, enough of this...bottom line: skip your research, and you lose. And not just your money; ultimately, you could lose your business.

Regarding surveys, have you ever done one? They are a quick and popular method for getting inside customer's heads, to discover their problems (that you could solve!) and what they really want. They've been around forever, and for good reason: they work.

If you have an existing business, aside from valuable customer insight, a survey could also uncover problem areas that you may not be aware of. Fix these, and you have a great opportunity to bring in new customers while keeping current ones in 'buying mode.'

Granted, doing a survey online comes with its own set of challenges. With everything moving at light-speed, you'll need to figure out how to grab their attention. Offering an incentive for participating (a free bonus, a cash prize, a product discount) is one proven method for improving the rate of response.

If you're new, and don't have a customer list to survey, you have a few options. For example, if you've a good track record (and the moderator clears you first), you MAY be allowed to conduct a quick survey in a forum.

Or, if you want to post a survey on your web site, Bravenet has FREE surveys and polls that can be easily integrated (http://www.bravenet.net).

Other things to keep in mind with surveys:

* Keep It Honest. Tell the participants your goals behind the survey. What you'll be using the information for (product development, whatever). Be upfront.

* Keep It Anonymous. People will always feel more free to really tell you their thoughts if they know they won't be identified. Guarantee that the information will be kept confidential and not sold or abused in any way.

* Keep It Quick And Easy. A fast multiple-choice poll or survey, that takes minutes (not hours), will have a better chance of getting answered. If you want, include a field at the end for participants who want to give additional comment. But try not to make typed answers mandatory.

Doing your research at the beginning helps avoid headaches later on, and will make your business profitable, faster!

Paula Morrow heads http://www.idealmarketingcorp.com. She specializes in public relations, information marketing and creating cashflow systems. Her newsletter, IDEALProfits, is now read in 12 countries. Subscribe and receive 5 BONUS ebooks worth $149! http://www.idealmarketingcorp.com/subscribe.html

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Legal Stuff ...

We accept no responsibility whatsoever for the content, profitability or legality of any published articles or advertisements contained within KIT.

And, although all of the articles have been selected for their content, the publishing of such articles within this newsletter does NOT constitute a recommendation of the products or services mentioned or advertised within those articles.

Be responsible! Always do your own Due Diligence before responding to any offer.