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

Hi and welcome to today's issue of Keeping In Touch. I'd like to extend a big, warm welcome to our new subscribers. We're happy to have you with us.

Wow, it's been a busy week. Even the weatherman decided to work up a few snowfalls in Calgary and Colorado - it's much too early for that, in my humble opinion. We're just beginning the fall season - not winter.

I even wrote an ebook this week. It's called eMail Is Dead - Get Over It and you can download a copy of it here.

No Mail.

As you know I've been rewriting the Home 4 Success website. An associate of mine suggested I take a look at PHP Nuke - I'll let you know what I think about it.

Bob Osgoodby provides sensible advice in today's Feature Article, A Great Opportunity. You hear arguments pro or con where affiliate programs are concerned. When determining if an affiliate program is good for your business, you should make certain it will complement your business. Don't just sign up and use the ads that the affiliate company provides. They may have worked when the program was created but the catchy phrasing or titles will soon lose their appeal as the ads are exposed. Put your own touches on the ad without changing the intent or meaning of what the program presents. I'm as guilty as the next person for using the 'canned' ads but you'll find your response to them goes down the longer they are out there.

Our Special Feature is called If I Only Had A Brain ... by David Cole. Every way we turn it seems that someone somewhere is throwing something in our faces. Be it television, junk mail, email, advertising - whatever - you see things like 'You're not a man unless ...' or 'Lose weight in your sleep' or 'No prescription needed ... The reality is you have to have a good sense of who you are and where you stand. Don't accept anything that does not reflect on who you are as a person.

Have a great day and keep on smiling.

Lois M. Jeary

Publisher, KIT
Contact Me

Internet Tip of the Week
by Bob Osgoodby

Every time you turn around it seems you see another affiliate program which promises you vast riches. They give you all the sales material you need and even throw in a free web page. How can I lose, one might think. Everything is all set up for me, and all I need is get a bigger PO Box to handle all the checks that will roll in. Your web site will be carried by the search engines, you have the "pre-written" ads ready to go - how can you loose?

A few ads are placed here and there, and the responses "trickle in" but there are few, if any sales - time for a reality check. If you have seen one affiliate web site for a particular product, service or opportunity, you have seen them all. There are a number of affiliate programs, which have thousands of people who have bit. Why should a person go to your site when they know from the URL (address of your web page) what it is already? They won't. Am I saying that affiliate program don't work?

No - I am saying that the tools they provide "don't cut the mustard". It is a proven marketing fact that it takes 5-7 exposures to your ad before someone might purchase from you. If you have a "canned" web site, what are the odds of them coming back to you to buy? Slim to none.

So how does a person who is serious about marketing an affiliate program get you to buy from them? First, they "deep six" the affiliate web site as their primary web contact, and create their own. On their web site they provide content which is interesting for anyone who stops by. They also change the content on a regular basis to keep them coming back, and let them know when it does change. They also provide a link to their affiliate web site.

The next step is to try to get a listing on the search engines. Now, think about this. There are most likely several thousand people who have an identical web site to the one you get as an affiliate. What do you think the odds are of someone "stumbling across" your site when surfing the web? Again - slim to none. But if you have your own site, your chances take a giant leap forward. The link to your affiliate site is a minor part of your web site, even though it is where you want them to eventually wind up.

Now - can you use a site that is not your own domain? While not the preferred route to take, it is "head and shoulders" above the link you get from the affiliate program. Most ISP's give you web space free. Learn a little HTML code and you're in business. Or, if push comes to shove, hire someone to do it for you. Let's face it, if I see a URL that I recognize as an affiliate program, and I've been there before, I will simply "click away".

The old saying, that if a "salesperson sells them self first, the sale of their product or service follows shortly thereafter" is certainly true. Establish yourself on the web and in the newsletters/ezines as someone who can be trusted, and is knowledgeable in their field. If people get to know and trust you, your recommendation to join your affiliate program will carry a lot more weight.

Now that you have control over your web page, you should have a guest book that visitors can sign. Now you have their email address. Folks, these are literally worth their weight in gold. You can now send them email about upcoming events on your web site, and not be accused of spamming.

Run a contest on your web site - the prizes don't have to be off the wall. An ebook (and there a number available free) can be your prize - and again more email address. Write a free newsletter/ezine and publish it on a regular basis - even more email addresses. As long as there is content of interest, they won't mind a gentle reminder to visit your web site.

Consider a "non-competing" partner to help you with the site or to write articles for the ezine. It makes no difference to you if there is another link to another affiliate program on your site. If they are willing to share the work in return for the link, it is to your advantage. The key here is "non-competing".

So - are affiliate programs a good opportunity? If you simply join and sit back waiting for the money to flow, no. If you are a "take charge" type of person and are willing to work a little, it can be a great opportunity.

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday thru Friday. Instructions on how to place your ad are in the Newsletter. Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm

Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.
- George E. Woodberry

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. Change is not merely necessary to life - it is life.
- Alvin Toffler

When will transformation begin? It starts at the moment you decide to change. That's why it's so vital for you to stop for a moment and come face to face with one aspect of your life that needs drastic action immediately.
- Neil Eskelin

I used eBook Generator to compile the ebook I wrote eMail Is Dead - Get Over It. I have to say this is a great ebook compiler that offers many features including the 'disable' feature. This comes in handy when someone purchases an ebook, downloads it and then promptly asks for a refund.

The problem is that they still have all the information on their computers even after they've accepted the refund. Now you can disable that ebook so that they won't be able to access it. That's a pretty cool feature in and of itself.

Bottom line here -- the program is easy to use and comes with explicit, easy to understand tutorials. Armand Morin is the creator. He's got a special offer going right now that will save you money if you want to order the eCover Generator at the same time. Get yours here: eBook Generator

In the 1939 classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, we pick up the story as Dorothy Gale comes to a cross roads in the Yellow Brick Road.

Hanging upon a pole is a scarecrow, and a talking scarecrow nonetheless.

As the Scarecrow and Dorothy get to know each other, the Scarecrow goes into a song titled, "If I Only Had A Brain."

Oh, what wonderful things the Scarecrow could do......If He Only Had........

Now let's think about this for a minute. Here we have a talking scarecrow, and if you will notice, throughout the movie, the Scarecrow seems to be the one making a good many of the wise decisions for Dorothy and her band of travelers.

But sometime in his past, he had been "programmed" by the Munchkin farmer to believe the Scarecrow was so dumb, he couldn't even scare crows away.

Near the movies end, the Wizard of Oz presents the Scarecrow with a diploma. Immediately the Scarecrow spouts off some incredible mathematical formula proving to Dorothy and his friends, that he now has a brain.

While we know that a piece of paper with some fancy writing on it does not automatically give us any kind of intelligence, what really did happen was that the Scarecrow now - BELIEVED - he had a brain.

He had a voice of authority tell him so!

All the old programming from the Munchkin farmer was no longer effective.

The Scarecrow had now transcended his - OLD IMAGE OF HIMSELF - and discovered what was already there. He just hadn't realized how very intelligent he really...... really was to begin with.

Now, I'm asking you to discover something about yourself.
What Image have you painted for yourself?
Who are you really?
Is what you have become......who you really want yourself to be?
Do you go around singing, "If I Only"........
Had the money
Had the time
Was younger
Was older
Knew more people
Had more experience
Was smarter
Had more people to like me
Didn't have obligations

You fill in the blanks.

What have you programmed yourself to believe about yourself?

You see, the Scarecrow - Wanted So Badly - to have a brain, but - All Along - he had the intelligence - In Him - to begin with.

He finally became intelligent, when he stopped Wanting.....and Started Believing He Was Intelligent!

The secret is not in Want-ing!

The secret is in BE-ing!!

One of the great commercials on TV says it all,

"BE All That You Can Be."

Is it time in your life to stop want-ing and start BE-ing the person you really want to be. Just as the Scarecrow, You already have whatever you need to become that person inside yourself. Have you been Programmed sometime in your past to believe you are not worthy of being that new person?

Are you, like the Scarecrow, operating under false assumptions?

If so, simply re-program yourself and like the Scarecrow quit singing "If I Only"..... and start SEEING yourself as the person you want to BE!

The solution to all the Scarecrow's wants was there all the time, but wanting it didn't make it happen, and wanting it will not make it happen for you either.

Upon presentation of a piece of paper, the Scarecrow - Chose To Be - intelligent. All the old programming was washed from his consciousness and he now went from want-ing .....to BE-ing.

Prosperity Is A Choice!

Choose prosperity for yourself
Release those old images of yourself
BE the kind of person you want to be

The hidden success secret is discovered by each of us in that moment when we realize that ....... We already have the power within us to choose a different reality.

Dave Cole
Editor - Prosperity: The Choice Is Yours

Dave's E-zine provides you with valuable info on how to market your online business and how you can make money online. Get your FREE subscription today. http://choosetoprosper.com

If you put this code on your page, anyone who visits your site will be prompted with a box for them to enter their name. Once they've entered their name they will be directed to your page with a welcome text from you with their name on it.

All pages carrying this code that your visitor visits, they will see their name being welcomed by you. Cool, huh?

http://www.resource-a-day.net/resources/user/

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.