Raynay Valles is an online marketer who turns non-performing websites into websites that sell. Email her now at rvalles@jawdrop.com or visit http://www.jawdrop.com

Today's Motivational Reading

Information Overload - The New Epidemic
by Rhonda Bailey

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HEADLINE: Information Junkie O.D.s

Sperry, OK -- Earlier this week Rhonda Bailey was found in her home office in a catatonic state staring vacantly at her computer monitor.

Inspector Dan and Officer Sarah, investigating the mystery, found that Ms. Bailey had downloaded thousands of files to her hard drive over the past six months.

Sadly, Inspector Dan shook his head, We are finding more and more of this, it is becoming an epidemic.

Finding what?, asked Officer Sarah.

Inspector Dan replied, What we have here is an information junkie. Poor kid, she never knew what hit her. Addicted to learning everything she could about how to be successful on the Internet, she craved more and more information until she finally O.D.ed ____________________________________________

No, this is not a true story. But I know many of you, especially those just starting out, feel that way.

You are going to build your business around something you know about and enjoy so you head to your favorite search engine and type in the term. Bam! There are thousands and thousands of listings. Where to start?

I love to learn and there is so much information available. It is easy to get caught up in learning something new. Then, before you can assimilate the information and put it into practice, you find another bit of priceless information that just can't wait.

And, by the time you finish reading that, the first bit of information is sitting idle in a folder on your hard drive. Then, it happens all over again. It's a vicious circle. And, worst of all, nothing gets accomplished.

How do you avoid this raging epidemic? It isn't easy. Depending on what you are promoting on the Internet, here are a few general tips (an eBook could be written on each one).

Remember - small bites - Then act on that knowledge.

Have fun. After all, you have started an Internet business so you can enjoy life on your terms, not your employer's. Make time for yourself, your family, your friends, your pets.

If you are extremely focused and driven, you actually may have to schedule this time. I wish you all much happiness and success!

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Rhonda Bailey is owner of I Hit The Mark, the place to go for straight talk to grow your business. She also publishes Hitting Your Mark Straight Talk For Success monthly. Subscribe now below. New subscriber bonus. Subscribers' resource area. hymsubscribe@directresponder.com http://www.ihitthemark.com/

Subscribers' Corner

How much does your free ad cost you?
by Linda Landry

Ever considered the cost of your free ad? Most likely we cancel the cost we incur when we place a free ad.

You must spend some TIME and energy (brain energy at least) composing your ad. Occasionally we luck out with a bright idea! Most often we spend days thinking and reciting in our head some of the wonders of our product or opp. Perhaps we are diligent and we take the TIME to write our brilliant ideas on paper and, even better, we read them out loud several times to see how they may sound to someone else. Ever tried your ad copy out on friends or family?

Next we spend TIME searching for the fr'ee opportunity to place our ad. There are many. This information highway we call the net, can boggle you down with the availability of opportunities, and you can easily get waylaid into another ' avenue' during your quest. This takes up TIME you meant to spend searching for that fr'ee advertising opportunity. There are many: safelists, faa,& classified sites, ezines and more.

Then you have to take the TIME to post your ad in all the available slots you find. The task can be simplified with the copy and paste feature. It is still very TIME consuming as you don't always wish to place the same ad and, viola' , you may get a brilliant idea in the process and compose fresh ad copy while you work! Nice, huh?

But wait, there's more! You have to make the TIME to find your ad when it is posted to see a) how it looks in print, b) how it sounds (?) in print, c) was it edited? or the way you composed it?, d) did it run? Depending on how many places you posted your ad, this could take a considerable amount of your TIME.

How much is your TIME worth? I would guess you would be quite an expense to someone who was hiring you to spend your TIME, energy and expertise to do a task or provide a service to them. You and your TIME are the most valuable assets to your biz. Did you stop and think, while doing your tax return, that you do not get to claim the TIME you spent promoting your opp? Yes, you are 'allowed' to calculate your expenses for equipment and advertising and more. You are not allowed to factor in your TIME. Unfair of 'ole Uncle Sam but that is the way it is. Your TIME spent placing those FR'EE ads is costing you money and you cannot claim it as a business expense. Perhaps the cost of purchasing a slot for your ad is not such a bad idea. Paid advertising is tax deductible. All you have to do is collect the receipt. Smart move for 2003.

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Linda Landry is the Editor/ Publisher of Cybershopnews and the proprietor of two retail websites: Galleryogifts and Galleryodefense. For more information about Cybershopnews you may email: cybershopnews@aol.com http://www.galleryogifts.com http://www.Galleryodefense.com

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