Bill Gluth's Blog

How to Learn List Building Secrets

When it comes to learning more about something, like list building, the big question comes up, “Who do you listen to and observe.”

Most people know that the best way to learn something is to model someone who is successful at doing what you want to do.

The problem is that takes effort and patience so many people do not want to go down that path.

As part of a Mastermind group I belong to, we are exploring the list building question. What are the options in learning list building and who should you model if you want to build a huge list?

In thinking about it, there are two types of people you can listen to.

1. The Internet marketers who are selling a list building product.

2. People like Seth Godin, David Meerman Scott and Michael Gerber, for example, who are on a mission to change the way business owners think and do business.

These people are looking to improve and challenge existing business building, marketing, selling and communication practices. They are helping people create meaning and true value in a business world gone a bit haywire.

Personally, I’m going with option 2. Seth Godin, David Meerman Scott, Michael Gerber and many other “mission marketers”.

They are walking the walk and living their philosophies every day.

While I know the Internet Marketers are well intended, they know the secret of information marketing. That secret is, sell something, keep offering more to the same people, and sell them more.

They same people keep buying  because they think they will learn a secret that will change their results quickly.

I guess I’m just sentimental when it comes to marketing. I enjoy watching marketers on a mission so much more.

Who do you tend to listen to when wanting to learn something? The comment line is open. Just click the "Comment" link at the bottom of this message.

How Trying Can Ruin Your Business

Here’s an interesting fact. The word “try” can be the kiss of death to your business accomplishments.

The reason is the word try indicates to your subconscious mind that you really don’t think it’s possible to accomplish the task you’re considering.

You use the word try as a way fend off the feeling of failure.

“I tried, but just couldn’t get around to __________ (fill in the unaccomplished task).

Instead of trying and being disappointed, use this approach.

Think of something important you want to accomplish.

Decide with firm conviction you’re going to do it.

Set an exact date and time to accomplish the task.

Schedule it in your time planner. If you don’t have a time planner, get a simple one going today. I like the “At a Glance” calendar books for their simplicity and effectiveness.

Stick to your schedule and accomplish the task.

Treat it like any other important appointment. You cannot blow it off because something else came up any more than you could dismiss a sales call or client meeting.

Repeat with every important task you have.

How to Create a Plan

In any given month, most small business owners will need to plan something to reach an important goal. A majority of people just wing-it and see what happens. Most of the time important goals are not reached

A better option is to plan. Think, write your plan on paper, schedule time each day to accomplish the step, be disciplined enough to acoomplish the plan.

It's really pretty easy if you break it down into steps.

1. What needs to be accomplished (the goal)

2. Who benefits and why should they care

3. Where are you at today

4. What steps must happen to go from where you are today to your desired goal.

5. What time and day will you accomplish each step.

I personally like outlines best. Step-by-step, at scheduled times, you accomplish each step. In a short time, the goal is reached.

Try it. Just follow the outline above and let me know how it works

Small Business Press Release Secrets

“How do I attract more qualified prospects into my sales pipeline,” is probably the most frequent question I receive. Press releases make an excellent vehicle to accomplish that.

Start by understanding your buyers and the keywords they may use in a Web search for your type of business. Get to know who your buyers are and what’s important to them.

Write consumer based releases that address the issues that are important to your buyers. Don’t wait for the big news to hit, get them out there in volume.

Add links that bring people to a landing page on your Web site that expounds on the idea mentioned in your release.

Write a release that communicates TO each client group and not AT them. Add the keywords and phrases your best clients are most likely to use in your release.

Add a free trial or consultation offer to your consumer release to improve effectiveness.

Pay attention to major news stories, and tie in your product or service to that event. Link back to specific pages on your Web site to reinforce your story.

Once your release is done, send it to your clients as a marketing touch. Encourage them to share it.

Measure the results. Keep track of where your leads are coming from to see how many are generated from each release. Use that information to improve your content and press release program.

It takes work, that’s for sure. But the cost is low and the payoff is great.

Use consumer based press releases and you’ll have great content that attracts people who are most like your best clients, consistently.

I learned a LOT about the new world of press releases from David Meerman Scott and his excellent book, The New Rules of Marketing and PR. He also offers an excellent eBook, which is available from his blog

Here’s One ReasonYou May Feel Depressed About Your Business

There are days in running a small business when you may feel depressed, overwhelmed and hopeless. If you ever experience those depressed feeling days, here’s what to do about it.

Business owners feel depressed because they don’t see a path. They never developed the strategy, tactics and systems to attract interested prospects, generate sales, and build their business consistently.

The best way to get back on track is to focus on sales. Few people ever feel hopeless when business and money is rolling in the door.

The reason is, revenue generating activities give you hope of a brighter future while increasing your cash flow today.

Start by talking to a knowledgeable friend.The best knowledgeable friends you can ever talk to are your existing clients.

Start by talking to clients who you know really find value in what you do.

It’s easy to do if you just tell them, “I’m working on my business and wondered if you might tell me what the greatest value you feel you’ve gained from working with my company is.”

Then listen and write down what they say. The answer they give you is the key to the door of sales increases.

This understanding allows you to reach out to other people who are just like them. It makes sales more enjoyable. If you enjoy sales you’ll focus on it more.

When you focus on sales, everyday is hopeful. Every day brings the potential of growth and success.

The Easiest Way to Train me to Ignore You

I belong to an email list about creative thinking and life philosophy that I have enjoyed reading for over a year now.

This group formed a membership site. I belonged for a while, did not see any real value from the membership site and left.

About three months ago the publisher, who developed the material and membership site, started emailing me to join again. "I'm missing so much" was the plea.

Now the same exact message is coming to me two or three times per week. When I see messages from this sender I just delete them.

In essence, the publisher has trained a once interested and engaged person to ignore their messages.

Frequency is proven to work, but give me new messages. Build the value of the offer.

Please, don't keep sending me the same message over and over again. It bores me and I'll have to leave to maintain my sanity.

How to Get Sent to Junk Mail Immediately

Here are a few top tips for everyone who sends email as a primary marketing method.

Get my permission to send or don't send at all, please!

If I see a name in the subject line I don't recognize, I hit the junk button immediately.

If your company name is one I don't do business with or don't recognize, I hit the junk button immediately.

If your subject line promises fame, fortune and the "next best marketing tool" I hit the junk button immediately.

If you want to network with me, write me a personal email, let's talk about the value we can provide one another. I'm always open and receptive. If you  just email me a social network invitation, I'll probably hit the junk button immediately.

... and please, in the name of all that is professional and responsible, take me off of your list of people to send your new social media site introductions to. I'll hit the junk button immediately.

It's a busy world out there. Unfortunately, the majority of emails I receive get sent to junk immediately and there does not seem to be an end in site.

Use Friendliness, Caring and a Desire to Help Others to Build a Successful Business

We all like to do business with people we know, like and trust.

A successful business model is created by understanding what a niche group of people want and then creating a value that they are willing to exchange money for.

With that in mind, how can anyone in business stand out from competitors, gain market share and be seen as a leader in their industry?

Sincerely care about the outcome your niche market gains from using your service or product then give prospects what they want instead of what you think they need.

Take your sales hat off. Understand the challenge your prospect (the stranger) wants to solve by listening; just like you were listening to a friend.

Show them how you can help solve the challenge they’re facing by offering ideas they cannot see.

Ask if they’d like to partner with you to overcome the challenge.

Here’s why this method works.

You were concerned enough to listen. You offered good advice. You turned a stranger into a friend by authentically caring. You just made a sale. Keep following this process and your sales will soar.

You’ll also notice more happiness and satisfaction creeping into your life at the same time.

Michael Gerber and The EMyth Revisited Reminder

I picked up a new copy of EMyth Revisited yesterday. After visiting their Web site I was inspired to read the book again.

I love the quote on the last page. It is so true and often forgotten. As a reminder, here it is:

When you hear something, you forget it. When you see something, you remember it. But not until you do something will you understand it.

Great quote from a brillant man, Michael Gerber. An inspriation to us all.

Can a Corporate VP Give Good Advice About Working From Home

MSN posted an article about the pitfalls of working from home.

The problem is, the advice was provided by Rosemary Haefner who is the Vice President of Human Resources at Career Builder.

My question is, can someone who is definately in the office everyday give practical knowledge advice on working from home.

It goes back to the idea I've always embraced. When you want to learn how to do something, find someone who does it and learn from them.

Homeworkers, did you find the article at http://tinyurl.com/5pzt8n helpful?