Newsletter 'Pathway To Success' #9, 2002:

Issue #9 - Pathway To Success Volume 2, Issue #9, 5th May 2002
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'Pathway To Success'
Volume 2, Issue #9, 5th May 2002
Publisher Irena Whitfield
http://www.thecassiopeia.com/

A Proud Member of World Wide Web Chamber of Commerce, Dedicated to Responsible, Ethical Business

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Victory belongs to the most persevering. Napoleon

Introduction by the Publisher:

I welcome new subscribers, hope you will enjoy getting our Ezine, reading it and making use of its content in your lives and wish all the success you want for yourselves. We are here to help you to get where you want to get.

Get one of the Feature Ads in our Ezine:
http://www.thecassiopeia.com/WebmasterMall/EzineAdPrices.html

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Editorial: Another fortnight has flown away, and I'm talking to you again. I must apologize for the little progress Smartie is making because Spring is in full swing here, my garden takes up most of me and I'm not working so hard on him. Also, I must apologize for a couple of messed up links within him, corrected now.

However, I started to update the past tips (because many of the old ones don't exist any more - eg free software) and will prepare a summary online edition of all of them for Subscribers only.

Another limitation on my work due spring comes to courses. I didn't announce May courses in the past Issue because May will be open to only 5, served on the first-come-first-served basis. So, if you need your problem solved, don't wait.

To answer your questions regarding confidentiality and say a couple of words about the courses and my services: all of it is personal, no general autoresponder responses, individual solutions based on your current situation, nothing general, automatic. You can be a hundred per cent sure that any information you tell me is highly confidential, I will never publish nor mention your name nor your business anywhere, the same applies to your site reviews. You can rely on my word that I consider it private and will never publish any of it.

Thank you for all your great responses, looking forward to more :-), doing my best for you to enjoy both of the Versions and wishing you a sunny and profitable fortnight.

Irena Whitfield

P.S.: I should admit that the Versions ie email and online are not identical, there is more motivational items, special tips and today, a special contest started. Watch out for a 'Good Windows Feature', send the correct URL of it, and the first 5 will receive a special success package. I'm not easily impressed but I am by this one. See above how to get it: Read the Current Subscribers' Issue Online.

P.S.S.: If you have a tip you want to share with Subscribers, please send it to us. It will be published and your business will get a FREE exposure. ibc3000listbot@thecassiopeia.com

P.S.S.S.: Looking forward to your great articles, ideas, feedback, requests for site reviews, proofreading, help. ask@thecassiopeia.com

If you prefer text email, please let me know to put you in the text group: pathwaytosuccess@thecassiopeia.com

If you wish only an announcement in your email whenever the fresh Issue is out and read the online Version, you can request it at: digest@thecassiopeia.com please put 'Pathway Announcement' in the Subject Line.

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Smartie, the Robot is around my site and tries to keep all the links in a better shape than I myself can manage, so, please if you spot a broken link, please let him know. smartie@thecassiopeia.com He's got a face now and soon will be talking to you freely, learning fast.

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I wish happy birthdays to all of you having your birthdays in this period. Have a look which tree influences your character by the original Celtic Tree Horoscope. You can have a Book 'Celtic Tree Horoscope', Luxury Edition, FREE now at:

http://www.thecassiopeia.com/ePublishing/Published.html

Get it customized, join our FREE Affiliate Programme and make money:

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May 1 to May 14, Poplar, the Uncertainty
Look very decorative, no self-confident behaviour, only courageous if necessary, need goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very picky, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organisers, tend to philosophy, reliable in any situation, take partnership seriously.

May 15 to May 24 Chestnut Tree, the Honesty
Persons born under this tree are of unusual beauty, do not want to impress, are well-developed, have sense of justice, are vivacious, interested, born diplomats, but irritable and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self-confidence, act sometimes superior, feel not understood, love only once, have difficulties in finding a partner.

Publishing dates:
'Pathway To Success' is published every other Sunday. Next Issue is supposed on 19th May 2002.

If you like our Ezine, please rate it at the Cumuli Ezine Finder http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra22191.rate
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Today's Feature Article

Pareto Principle

by Michel Fortin

I would say that the Pareto Principle applies to many things regarding online sales and marketing, from my experience, such as: 80% of your traffic will come from 20% of search engines. As well, 80% of your traffic will stem from 20% of marketing activities.

The moral? Stick with the majors (unless you target a niche, and there are niche- or topic-specific engines out there that cater to your target market). Also, stick with those activities that are the most productive -- and drop the less unproductive ones.

I would also add that 20% of your traffic will be genuinely qualified for and interested in your offer (at least, far more than the remaining 80%) -- and, as such, are most susceptible to buy your offering. (Whether they actually buy or not is a whole different story, and is based on a site's effectiveness, copy, navigation, payment process, etc.)

The moral of that one: is your site targeted and focused on that important 20%? Or does it try to appeal to everyone? Being all things to all people will likely help you to stumble onto some people who will visit your site and respond to your offer -- it's the law of averages. But the underlying problem is that, which such an approach, you must generate a large quantity of hits in order to produce a certain result (you're focusing on that elusive 80%, in other words).

The more general or broad you are, the more you will need to paint your website, content and marketing messages with broad brushstrokes in order to appeal to everyone. In the end, the traffic you do generate will be just as general or broad -- in short, less qualified for your offer. Even if your product is a perfect fit for some visitors, it will only be a fit for a small percentage (20%). But the "generalness" you project will likely convey that your value is equal to that of others and that there's no added value in buying from you -- so, you will lose that 20%, even if they are highly targeted.

More specifically, out of the small handful of qualified prospects that hopefully hit your site, a large number of them -- if not all of them -- will likely leave due to your apparent lack of understanding of their specific needs, goals and concerns.

However, the sales you generate will increase dramatically if your site is narrowly centered on a specific theme, product or outcome -- and, particularly, audience (that important 20%).

So, there is much truth to the statement that you will get more with less. And online, where there is so much more of nothing, less is indeed more. Therefore, by narrowing your focus to that important 20% (20% of your products, 20% of your website, 20% of your audience, etc), you will likely broaden your sales (that is, that 20% will generate 80% of your sales and profits).

I guess Vilfredo (Pareto) was way before his time.

Regards,

Michel Fortin

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Michel Fortin, CEO, The Success Doctor, Inc. Visit his site at: http://SuccessDoctor.com

Comment: If you'd like to learn more about Pareto Pinciple, please click here

Today's Motivational Reading

The Top 10 Steps to Becoming a Millionaire

by Dr Philip E. Humbert

There is perhaps no more important decision than to take charge of your own financial future. We live in a world of opportunity, and yet most Americans are buried in credit card and other debt. We are surrounded by people who are getting rich, but most of us are running in place. If you can read this, you are literate, have a computer, you are part of the "wired generation". You can become as financially independent as you wish to be. Here are the Top 10 keys to your financial success:

1. Decide to be financially successful. This is different than wishing, hoping, wanting or even desiring to be rich. Make a commitment that this is going to happen! Financial independence is not an accident or matter of luck, and it usually requires some inconvenience. Have you decided to achieve this goal?

2. Understand how money works. Most of never studied finance or investing in school. Most of were never even taught to balance a checkbook! To master anything, you have to understand it. Read. Study what successful people do. Take classes.

3. Master your relationship with money. Some of us spend for excitement, to show off, to prove we can. Some of us are addicted to spending, and some of us are just careless about it. Whatever your relationship with money, understand it and develop a relationship of respect, appreciation and gratitude. Use your money, rather than allowing it to run your life.

4. Set specific goals. They should be challenging, but not unbelievable, just out of reach but not out of sight. Challenge yourself to be out of debt by a specific date. Make a commitment to saving an exact amount each month.

5. Develop a budget. A budget is a set of dreams and aspirations. It's how you really, really want to use money to benefit your family and run your life. Budget to buy the things you really want, and to eliminate the "impulses", the toys that waste too much of our income. A budget is a map to your destination. Have one and use it!

6. Reduce spending. Yes, this comes after making a budget, because when you begin getting control of your money (rather than the other way around) you have powerful new reasons to reduce expenses. Most self-made millionaires live far below their means! You should to.

7. Begin investing. Most of us spend or speculate. Both are roads to disaster! Invest in things you understand. Invest cautiously, wisely, and regularly. The objective is not to "make a killing", but to get rich over time. Know and obey the distinction between gambling, and putting your money to work for you.

8. Increase assets. Most people try to increase their income, and that's a mistake. Making more money means paying more taxes. It takes time and hard work. And, when wealth arrives in the form of cash, it's easier to spend. Millionaires buy stocks and buildings, they invest in assets that will make them rich - and that are hard to spend on a whim!

9. Reduce taxes. Most Americans pay more in taxes than for food, clothing and shelter combined! It is your largest expense! The poor and middle class don't realize how much they pay because it's deducted from their pay check. The wealthy know there are legal and appropriate ways to shelter income, to invest in socially-responsible ways, and that the tax code encourages this. Learn the tax laws and use them for your benefit! (Yes, it's the most boring reading you'll ever do, and worth it!)

10. Use your wealth wisely. Someone once said, "The reason most of us aren't rich is that we'd spend it all on ourselves." Give. Share. Help others. When you use money to make a difference, to have a positive impact, you get the chance to do more. Being greedy and selfish will not draw money to you. Investing in your community, will!

To begin your education about money and becoming a millionaire, I highly recommend several books on the subject. Two of the best are: "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas Stanley and William Danko, and "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter.

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Dr Philip E. Humbert, author, speaker and personal success coach. Dr Humbert has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for your own success! It's a great resource! Visit him on the web at: http://www.philiphumbert.com And, be sure to sign up for his great newsletter!"

Subscribers' Corner:

Netpreneurs in the New Economy

by Clive Scholtz

The third wave of economic development.

Was it Confucius that said that a wise man learns from the mistakes of others, whilst a fool learns from his own mistakes? Believe me, we humans sometimes take the difficult and long learning path!!! We are in too much of a hurry.

History repeats itself and we just have to LEARN from it. We've come a long way in a very short period of time, or is it a short way in a long period of time?

Our forefathers, whilst living in caves, discovered the SECRET of making fire, but they still believed that the Gods sent weather at their pleasure or displeasure (and were very secretive about it!). Today we can actually foresee when the rain is coming, where the hurricane is forming, where it's going and we can even get out of the way of a volcano that is on the verge of erupting!! SO WE LEARNED.

Columbus, just the other day, discovered that the earth is round. Today we can pinpoint ourselves, via manmade heavenly bodies, exactly where we are. We can even follow our stolen vehicle whilst traveling towards its new owner!! SO WE DEVELOPED.

When the Internet was launched, some of us saw a great business opportunity and jumped in, venture capital and all.

What was the surprise, when after just a few short years; the 'playing fields' were leveled? It was actually a battlefield, not between the competitors, but between the pioneers, those Netpreneurs, on the one hand and the reality of Cyberspace - those unknown variables. I am talking about the dotcom bust!! Now this is nothing new in the history of mankind. If you do not dare, you are not going to get THERE or ANYWHERE. It is part of our nature and should be encouraged. AS LONG AS WE LEARN FROM IT!!!!

Well, the next wave of Netpreneurs is out in full force. There are the experts, the Gurus, the Advisors, the Consultants and everybody that will give you FREE advice, FREE systems, Free .well FREE just about anything. We are made to believe that it is SOOOOOO easy to reach our dreams, our financial independence and to EMPOWER ourselves.

Well, we have to LEARN something from the lessons of those PIONEERS, before we go any further!!!

I think it is now the time to take a break and asses. We have a number of variables that have crystallized during this initial period upon which we can make a well-informed decision as to how to reach our destinations.

Now, the first question I would like to ask is: Do we understand the NEW environment, the environment that gave birth to the Internet, through which we are now trying to reach our dreams. You see, the Internet is but a product of the environment that has become known as the New Economy. Or is the New Economy the product of Information Technology???

So, as soon as you understand the underlying principles of the New Economy, you will have your OWN reference system!!! Only then will you be EMPOWERED with the understanding of this New World.

Before you can build a business, you have to re-orientate your intrinsic belief system, your reference library. You cannot use the existing one that was created FOR you by the old environment. That is outdated. You need to adopt a new set of business tools in order to increase your chances of success on the Internet. You have to realize that YOUR system is superseded by the advent of the New Economy. It will then be easy to evaluate all those new opportunities on offer!!!

We at Cybermart believe that it is only with that knowledge that you will become a successful NETPRENEUR.

Good luck!

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Clive Scholtz is a business analyst who made an in-depth study of the principles of the New Economy and the Internet as a Business Tool. He concluded that the Internet is just an awesome Marketing Tool. He can be contacted at mailto:clis@adept.co.za. Or visit http://www.cybermart.co.za/.

Today's Tip On the Site worth visiting:

100 Top Search Engine Sites
http://www.web100.com/
100 Top Web Sites Network
http://www.web100.com/listings/all.html

Today's Tip On the Book worth having:

1) 1000 Internet Marketing Tips, Tactics and Secrets by Larry Dotson http://www.thecassiopeia.com/WebLions/1000m.zip

2) Online Library http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/

3) Get FREE Content and Information with Articles by Autoresponder http://www.thecassiopeia.com/WebLions/aba.zip

Today's Tip On Software:

1) Everyone knows what a virus scanner is and what it does. What people don't realize is that there is a wide variety of malicious software that can be more harmful than viruses, and are not being detected by your anti-virus software. "Pests" represent a whole new category of things which threaten the stability and integrity of your computer or network. You may not have been aware that these threats exist. Read more
http://pestpatrol.com/Pestpatrol/index.asp
Download the software: http://pestpatrol.com/downloads/eval/download.asp

2) On 15th May Search Engine Commando closes. Last chance to get it. http://www.thecassiopeia.com/Guide/SEC.html

Today's Tip On Learning:

1) Completely Free Web Building Tutorials ! Inside W3Schools you will find a large number of free Web building tutorials, from basic HTML, DHTML and XHTML tutorials, to advanced XML, XSL and WAP tutorials, JavaScript, Flash, graphic resources and more.
http://www.w3schools.com/

2) Today's Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Computers
Check here!

Read Our Weekly Column
http://www.thecassiopeia.com/Guide/DrEBiz.html

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He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out the plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. Victor Hugo

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Looking Forward To YOUR Success