The three sites are:

Submit Your Article: This membership site has been around for years. They now allow you to submit an unlimited number of articles each month for a very reasonable price.

Each article is submitted to thousands of online publishers. The better your article, and depending on the topic, your article could be published on thousands of sites. This is definitely one of the best article submission membership sites online today.

Free Traffic System is another article submission site I belong to, and have since the summer of 2009.

When you sign up, you have a choice of joining the free membership, a Pro membership, or a Pro lifetime membership. At first I signed up for the free membership, but after 2 months I changed to the Pro membership, and then I found it such a great tool that I signed up for the lifetime.

I recommend you sign up for the Pro Lifetime to start with, as I think they offer a special price when you first sign up. It’s great to have access to the Pro tools without having to pay a monthly fee.

The third article submission site I belong to is My Article Network. I joined that site in the summer of 2009 at the same time I joined the Free Traffic System. The blogs that my articles get posted to are completely different, so I have found it is worth the money to be a member of all three of these.

Using these three article submission sites I have seen a significant increase in the number of visitors to my sites. A new site I started last spring saw a big spike in visitors after I started posting to these article submission sites. The first month after submitting articles the new site went from a dozen visitors to a couple hundred visitors. The site has a very narrow topic, so I was pleased with the results.

If you need more visitors and you need more links that use keywords, I highly recommend each of these. If you want to start with one of them, try the free section of Free Traffic System, although I do highly recommend you sign up for the lifetime membership if they offer the special lower lifetime price. You’ll end up saving money.

Share This

What Mike Stewart (known as the Internet Audio Guy and Internet Video Guy) recommends, and what smart marketers use, are the following:

For audio recording and editing:

Sony Sound Forge
Sony Music Studio (if you want to create professional sounding CDs with your recordings, after editing them in Sound Forge)

Both of these are each less than $100.

Video editing:

Sony Vegas Movie Studio (which sells for about $80-$100)

For recording your own tutorials, Camtasia Studio is the best. I paid to upgrade from version 5 because version 6 allows you to convert your digital camera movies to a format that can be uploaded to the Internet. Previous versions of Camtasia Studio did not let you work with any files except those made by Camtasia, so version 6 is a big jump forward.

For putting video and audio on the web I use Mike Stewart’s new S3 Media Player, which makes allows you to upload your video or audio to the Internet in 2 or 3 clicks. It is super simple.

To host my audio and video files I use the same system that Mike and many other professionals use, Amazon S3. Usually the cost is about ten cents for each gigabyte you upload, but right now through June 30th it is only three cents per gigabyte.

Why use Amazon’s S3 instead of YouTube to host your videos? Because YouTube can decide at any time to cancel your account, in which case your videos disappear from the Web. By uploading your videos and audios to Amazon S3 you know that nothing is going to happen to all your hard work.

Mike’s S3 Media Player uploads your videos and audios to Amazon’s S3 in seconds and then gives you the code that you can paste into your Wordpress blogs or onto your html websites. You can set the videos to play as soon as someone lands on your page, or you can set them to play when someone clicks the play button. It’s a powerful tool that is reasonably priced.

No one else has a program like Mike Stewarts’ S3 Media Player, but you can get Sony’s products on Amazon or directly from Sony for less money than what Mike sells them for. Why I prefer buying from Mike is that he includes tutorial videos that tell you how to work with Sound Forge and Vegas Movie Studio, tutorials that he has created himself. I find it easier to learn something when I watch someone else, instead of just reading a manual.

Another benefit of buying from Mike is he includes a bunch of music clips, each about one minute long, that you can use in your recordings. I use them as background music for my videos, and as intro and exit music for audios.

Or, for $10 a month you can join his Two Buck Themes membership site. Each month you receive five new music clips, each about one minute in length, and a video tutorial on how to use Vegas Movie Studio, Sony Sound Forge, sound equipment, or anything you request in the forum. I have found this membership to be a good deal.

Video has been shown to improve website sales, and putting video onto YouTube and other video sites (after also uploading it to Amazon S3) is a great way to get exposure for your websites. With Sony Vegas Movie Studio, Sony Sound Forge, and S3 Media Player it has never been easier. And if finances are tight right now, you will appreciate that all three of these can be purchased for a small investment.

If you are interested in joining Two Buck Themes, then I recommend you join and then purchase the S3 Media Player. Members, at this time, get a good discount.

Share This

Four years ago last fall I tried to get started online without any training, and after 4 months I had not made a dime. After I joined Blog Success (which was Content Desk back then) I started to generate a regular monthly income, and I was happy.

Then about 2 weeks ago I heard about PPCKahuna, which focuses on SEO and making money with pay-per-click. I joined up, and am going through their 14 days training program. It is very impressive, and I am more excited about my online business than I have been for awhile because I can see my monthly income growing.

I thought I knew a lot, but now I am learning a whole lot more. I finished the 2nd day training today and have been introduced to several keyword tools that Google provides for no cost.

What I like about PPCKahuna is that Jason Katzenback has recorded webinars that take you through each step of the 14 day training program. He shows you how to use all the tools that PPCKahuna gives you access to, how to use tools that are available online at no cost to you, and what you need to do each day to reach your income goal of $50 per day in 60 days.

Blog Success teaches you everything you need to know to set up a blog, how to utilize Web 2.0 sites to get lots of visitors, tons of training, and provides a fantastic forum where you can ask questions and get answers, all at a very reasonable price.

The two programs together cost a little more than $5 a day, an amount that is very small. One cup of coffee at Starbucks, or a fraction of what it costs to eat out. If you are serious about starting an online business, pack a lunch or quit drinking $5 coffee and invest that money instead into making your dream come true.

PPCKahuna gives you the training you need to do keyword research, pay-per-click research, search engine optimization, and more. I am only through the training for day 2 out of 14, and have already learned so much that I know my investment will pay off.

If you really want to start an online business, I highly recommend you get the best training you can. Blog Success and PPCKahuna are the best I have found. They are exceptional, and you will not be sorry for spending a few dollars a day for the training you will receive.

I am excited about what I am learning at PPCKahuna. I am thankful to Blog Success for all that I have learned from them, and continue to learn, as the Internet is changing and how we do business online continues to change.

Keep in mind, you won’t make money without the right training and without putting at least 2 hours a day into it. The more time you can invest, the fast you will succeed, if you know what you are doing. Training and your time equals success.

Click Here to check Out PPC Kahuna for Yourself!

Share This

This is a free. header graphics design tool that is amazingly easy. There are tutorial videos on the site, so in less than 15 minutes you will know how to create stunning header graphics without having to pay someone else to do it for you.

You download the software, register it for free, and you will have all you need to make your own headers. I have been designing websites for four years and I’ve never seen a better program for header design. And it’s free!

I spent hours earlier today trying to design a header graphic for a new site I’m putting up. It’s a strange topic related to a certain health problem and I wasn’t sure what kind of graphic to put in the header. I finally settled on a beach scene.

Then I went onto one of the membership sites I belong to and saw that they were recommending XHeader, so I downloaded it and watched the tutorials. I wish I had seen it earlier, it would have saved me hours. I am going to re-do that header graphic for the health site, by the way.

Be sure to tell others about this piece of software. It’s not often there is such a terrific product available for free.

Share This

If you have ever thought of making your own blog to post to and use for an extra income, how can
Blog Success help? Click on that link and you can get a lot of free training.

Once you join you will get:

1. Lots of training videos to show you how to set up a blog, how to post to it, how to get visitors to your blog, and everything else you need to do to get your blog up and full of content.

2. Lots of training guides, covering everything from setting up a Squidoo lens to setting up a HubPage, from a Quick Start guide to a 60-day success plan. Members who follow the 60 day plan have seen the number of visitors to their site grow exponentially. And it’s all laid out in an easy-to-follow plan that takes you 60 days to complete.

3. Software unique to Blog Success that makes adding content easier, that helps get visitors to your site, and more.

4. An active forum where you can ask questions and get answers.

5. Jack Humphrey and other professionals who are making a living using the techniques that Blog Success teaches each member. This is Jack Humphrey’s membership site and he takes care of each member.

I’ve been a member since the Winter of 2005, and I am still learning new things from this membership site. It’s the only site I’ve been a member of since I began online. I’ve joined other memberships, but I found they were too expensive for what they offered, or I couldn’t use it to make a living.

Blog Success is different. They take you from choosing a good domain name to put
ting up a Wordpress blog to filling it with good content to using Web 2.0 sites and articles to get visitors, and everything in between and beyond.

As the Internet changes, Blog Success help lets you know what you need to do to keep up. It’s the only training you need for creating a successful blog that you can be proud of.

Share This

If you want to make some money online, or if you want to make your voice heard on the Internet, a blog is the way to go. It’s easy, quick, and gets noticed by the search engines within a day or two. Do a search for “free garden tips” and my site comes up on the first page of Google (freegardentips.info).

What did I do to get on the first page? I studied under Jack Humphrey who runs Blog Success.

Blog Success is a membership site, so you can join for a month, three months, seven months, or as long as you need it.

It’s full of tools and training. After going through the training you will be a blogging expert. The fantastic tools help you get lots of visitors. The tools alone are worth the membership fee.

They have laid out the training and tools in an easy-to-understand way. The amount of information is unbelievable.

Jack Humphrey has years of experience in getting visitors and in blogging. At Blogging Success you get to learn from the best.

Years ago I tried to make money online on my own, with no help. I got nowhere. I didn’t know how to choose a good domain name, how to set up a blog, how to make it look good, and how to monetize it. I don’t recommend anyone try to make a blog without some training. Blogging Success is the best training I have found, and at a great price.

Share This

Some experts say that the “goal” itself should be enough to inspire unwavering diligence toward achieving it…and there is an element of truth in that. However, the reality is that the discomforts of striving for a particular goal can sometimes cause us to lose focus.

Visualize the End Result

See your business succeeding. Visualize your bank account full and funds being added to it continually as your business grows.

Many people have found it helpful to compose a “dream board” which is an arrangement of images representative of the goal. For instance, what is your reason for starting a home business? Is it a second income so you can afford to take vacations to exotic places? Then put up pictures of your dream destination. This might sound silly, but it really does help.

Set Intermediate Goals and Reward Yourself for Small Victories

It’s human to want results now. However, some worthwhile goals may require a great deal of effort and time to accomplish. Don’t let that deter you. By setting smaller goals, you can work on each step that will eventually add up to big results in the end.

The day I made my first ten cents with Adsense I celebrated. It was a small start, but this ten cents showed me that my efforts were beginning to pay. I kept working and watched my income slowly grow.

And don’t forget to reward yourself when you reach small milestones along the way. Knowing that there are little “treats” along the journey to your goal will keep you excited and motivated. When I got to a regular $100 a month, I bought myself a little gift (a book).

Draw Inspiration from Others

Sources of inspiration to stay motivated can come from success quotes, lyrics, movies that depict people who attained their dreams through hard work or even speaking with others who have achieved what you’re working toward. If they could do it…so can you!

If your focus begins to fade or you skid on a patch of discouragement, you may find it helpful to identify an accountability partner who will encourage you to stay the course. And, in instances where your partner is also striving toward an accomplishment, you’ll experience the magic of motivating each other toward success.

Visualizing the end result, celebrating small victories along the way and drawing inspiration and encouragement from others are three powerful, easy-to-implement methods of staying motivated toward reaching your goals. Use these tips to stay motivated and go for it!

Share This

He didn’t let it get him down, but picked himself up and now has a thriving business. I have purchased several of his products and admire him and his work.

The difference between Jim Edwards (and others like him) and the rest of the world is that when they failed, they made a choice to use the experience to better themselves…to become stronger. They have gone on to create thriving home businesses.

Are you determined to reach your goal? Do you really believe you can achieve what you set out to accomplish? With determination and belief, you too can make the same choice to turn a failed situation into a winning one. How? By choosing to adapt a positive perspective and engage in edifying self-talk. Here are four opportunities to stay motivated in the midst of failure:

“The Only Direction is UP” or “It Can’t Get Any Worse”

Feel like you’ve hit rock bottom? Don’t beat up on yourself too badly. To experience disappointment, heartbreak, embarrassment and/or self-doubt is to be human. However, to wallow in this state for too long is downright destructive.

Tell yourself that it doesn’t get much worse than this point of failure and let yourself know that the only place left to go is “upward.” Use the failure as motivation to start climbing back up. When you do this, you will see that instead of running from failure you will look it in the eye and overcome it.

“I Have a Chance to Do Better Next Time”

As long as you’re breathing, there’s always room for improvement. Choose to use your failure as motivation to do better the next time around. When you remember your goal and envision reaching it, you will be super-charged to find ways to develop yourself.

For example, if you need to do better in school, make (and follow) a consistent study schedule. If you are intent on a promotion at work, take classes to increase your skill-set. No matter what the failed task consists of, you can use it to motivate yourself to get more done.

“Hmmm, I May Need to Change Direction”

Does it seem like you’ve come to a roadblock? Then the solution may just be detouring and moving toward your goal in a different way. When something does not work out as planned, you need to re-evaluate the route you are taking. So review the situation, re-group and get on a track “around” that roadblock. The track may be a different one, but it may also be a more successful one.

“This is Not the End of the Line”

Know this: everyone fails from time to time but failure is not the end of the line unless you allow it to be. You blundered, you tried, you failed and it hurts.

Allow yourself time to grieve it but then let it go so that you can get back to the business of reaching your intended goal. Your goal IS your motivation. Remind yourself that the only positive option is to seek ways to turn the situation around. Then tell yourself that in the morning, you will begin again!

Share This

This, of course, does not need to happen. It is possible to pick a viable business opportunity. As discussed in a previous article, there are five top reasons many home-based businesses will never work. Let’s discover six additional reasons why, if people are not careful, their home business could fail.

Reason#1: Most new opportunities have no way to help people make large amounts of money. Many opportunities will give great ideas for making money, but then leave people out in the cold by having them do everything on their own. There simply is not a good support system. Nobody should be a part of a business opportunity such as this.

Reason #2: Unfortunately, some home business opportunity promoters will take people’s money and run. There are too many fly-by-night companies out there that will not hesitate to scam people.

The problem is their promotions sound just as good as everybody else’s. To avoid this, home-based business opportunity seekers need to be very skeptical about each business opportunity they are presented, examine them carefully, and then make an informed decision.

Reason #3: Some home-based business opportunities have people work long hours for little pay. People end up getting burned out, tired, frustrated, and eventually quit. Why become part of a work at home opportunity that is like a regular job?

Reason #4: Many business opportunities offer products nobody wants. Never, ever try to market anything people could care less about. Everyone who tries to do this is doomed to fail.

Always remember that the market for your products or services comes first, and the product or service must offer something exciting that people want. In addition, it is best that the company that offers the product or service has a proven marketing system that automatically sells to people the exciting product or service.

Reason #5: Many home-based business opportunities force people to become salespeople. Because things are not set up right, people are forced to face rejection constantly. Avoid this type of business since most people hate to sell!

Reason #6: Most work at home opportunities pay small sums of money and no residual income. This is a recipe for disaster! If people sell low-ticket items that don’t sell for very much money, it’s going to be almost impossible for them to obtain financial freedom and to become rich. Never become part of any home-based business opportunity that forces one to sell tons of items just to make a decent profit.

So, there you have it-six additional reasons why many home-based businesses will fail. Carefully look for potential problems with any home-based business opportunity, make sure it does not meet the criteria for any of these six problems outlined, and then make an informed choice.

Share This

Everyday there are thousands of people looking to start a home-based business. In addition, there are hundreds more who start a work at home business and then fail miserably.

Why? It is because they fail to see that the business opportunity was not viable and junk to begin with! Can this trap be avoided? Yes, if people learn to target the gems and reject the scams. Let’s discover the top five reasons why many home-based businesses will never work.

Problem #1: Most new opportunities are totally unproven. The fact is many of the opportunities are too new! The market for the products and services is not well-established yet.

Usually, the only people who get rich with these opportunities are wealthy Fortune 500 companies that have tons of money to spend anyway. Opportunities that are too new are too risky! It is important to let others who can afford it pave the way.

Problem #2: Most of the money-making methods are the same old boring plans and programs. Many opportunities claim to be new and innovative, but really are not.

Some look new, but in reality are only a facade! With a little research, you will see that there is nothing “new” at all about them. What is important is to get involved in an opportunity that is new, different and better than others, is rock solid, and is part of an explosive combination of the three hottest emerging multi-billion dollar trends.

Problem #3: Many home-based business opportunities only make the promoters rich. Average people who are involved in these plans almost never make any money. Only those considered the “heavy hitters” make the real money; they are the ones who have all the connections.

Problem #4: Many of the hottest and exciting money making opportunities are immoral and illegal. This is something that has to be avoided at all costs! Never, ever, get involved with any opportunity that looks and sounds good, but due diligence shows to violate ethics and laws. Who wants to go to jail?

Always ask what is the product or service behind the opportunity, where is the market for this product or service that is supposed to take the world by storm, and would it be possible to make lots of money without all the hype and buzz?

Problem #5: Many opportunities are not long lasting. In other words, they are here today and gone tomorrow! They are pure hype with no type of firm foundation behind them; there is no “real” product or service. When all the hype runs out, the market is gone for good! Never become involved in a home-based business opportunity based on pure hype.

So, there you have it: the top five reasons why some home-based businesses will fail. Carefully look for potential problems with any business opportunity; avoid them, and you will be well on your way in finding a true legitimate business right from the start!

I would add that another way to fail is to go heavily into debt without assurance of a way to pay it off. It’s best to try to stay within your budget.

Jim Edwards has built a huge business by following this plan at the beginning. He had just come out of filing for bankruptcy and was limited to a credit card with $300 credit that he had to pay off each month.

Using these limited resources he has created a multi-million dollar business that has provided him and his wife with a lifestyle that we would all like to enjoy.

Share This