Choosing a good domain name

Choosing a good domain name isn’t as hard as it’s been made out to be. Here’s a question on that topic that just hit my email inbox along with my reply:

Jim:

Different programs will tell me that in order to find a good domain name I should try to acquire one that’s at least six months old so it doesn’t get passed over by a search engine. I always thought that a domain name was something I had to invent to reflect either my name or the name of a product I wanted to promote. Can you enlighten me here?

Thanks for your time.

Dave Z.

My Answer:

Relax – very little of the overall odds of success rely on your ability to pick a good domain name up front.

Chapter 7 & Chapter 20 from my “101 Free Marketing” book cover this topic in depth, but here are the general guidelines:

If you have input to add please leave a comment!

How I get so many success stories from my students

I just got a private message from someone whose name you’d probably recognize. He and I have something in common. For both of us, a big part of our business is teaching Internet business concepts to individuals and businesses. He’s been doing it for far longer than I have though, and he is far more well known than I. I consider him an early mentor in my success. It was an honor hearing from him. Here’s what he wrote to me yesterday:

Jim,
How are you?

I like the way you’re getting success stories. How are you getting people to IMPLEMENT so you can GET your success stories?

This is my goal for 2013!

(to get students to implement and get more success stories from students)

-Identity protected

My Reply:

I think my reply would make a good blog post. I won’t mention you by name b/c I don’t want any negative exposure for you.

I gave it some thought, and I think (it’s an educated guess really) that the results I’m getting from students comes primarily from a combination of the foundational education I give up front (for example in my silentsalesmachine.com book – which is where most customers discover me) and a few other factors.

The SilentSalesMachine.com book spends significant time teaching about what DOESN’T work, mixed in with a heavy, and repetitive dose of what I know for SURE does work. I pound it and pound it till they are sick of hearing it. This helps keep my students from falling for other “shiny objects” outside of the tight circle I draw in the sand.

I have the advantage as well of having been in the business a long time (like you), so I can smell a scam a mile away, and I teach my students how to do the same. I’m not one to promote the “latest and greatest” ideas that come along. I let new ideas prove themselves first before I even take a look. My readers trust and respect my opinion b/c I take my time and avoid the “bandwagons” that roll through town.

Finally – don’t be too impressed. It takes a lot of ebook buyers to produce one awesome success story. You know as well as I do that on average, people by nature are easily distracted, too busy to be serious, and lack follow through on most resolutions they make – but when I get a serious student who is ready to work we are turning out a LOT of success stories these days!

Great hearing from you-

Jim

PS: Use the “Testimonials” link at the top of my blog to see some of the cool stories we’ve been getting.

I need your help with something

We are putting together a new online training program to help as many people as we can. Several people will get in for free.

I’m convinced we have the strongest track record in the industry as measured by “people we’ve helped launch REAL businesses online”, and I want to get as many people EFFECTIVELY exposed to our approach as we possibly can.

Before I put together this new training though, I need your help with something…

I need you to watch the below video and then answer as many of the following questions as you care to (leave your response as a comment on this blog post):

What problems are you facing (in your business)?
How can I help you out?
What are you doing that’s working well?
What format do you prefer be used to deliver training to you?
Why should you be one of those I let in for free?
What price do you think is fair for something like this?

Using webinars to get your message out

Bold claim? Yes, but Joel is going to show us how he’s taught several people to do just that on this free webinar.

My team and I have begun doing training webinars and I’m amazed at the response and simplicity of this as a business model. We’ve just recorded this training webinar for you on the topic of “webinars”. In this free training we show you 5 unique ways to profit quickly (and in a big way) from webinars.

Use this link to get access to the recording – I’ve arranged for a permanent replay on this page (it says it will be pulled down soon, but it won’t be):

https://imgroup.infusionsoft.com/go/wisjc/jimc/

No matter what business you are in, or how “new” you are to online business you’ll benefit from this training.

In case you are asking…

“What’s a webinar?”

A webinar is an online event that is “hosted” by a small number of presenters, and attended virtually by an unlimited number of “attendees”, students or fans that take it all in and interact with the presenters online. Live attendees love the great content, the chance for live interaction is energizing for everyone, and the synergy is contagious. The results? Undeniable.

Why I’m excited about webinars:

I’ve learned so much lately about webinars, and have begun doing very well with them as a source of new leads and income – so I wanted to teach you how to use them as well for yourself in your business (or for any client).

On this webinar Joel will be teaching us how you or your business (or a client’s business) can take advantage of 5 simple & highly lucrative webinar strategies…even if you lack a product of your own, or are just getting started online.

Have a question? Post it below and we’ll be happy to help you out.

Your Big Plans vs. Online Reality

We tell kids (quite irresponsibly in my opinion) that they can be anything that they want to be when they grow up.

That deceptively poisoned message is the same overly simplistic message that so many online entrepreneurs are falling for when they believe that their idea is sure to be a big hit because they read the right book or bought the right course.

Many bad paths are taken, and many dreams are unnecessarily dashed because no one steps in with the wisdom of a reality check.

It’s time for a dose of reality from your buddy Jim…

Some sample random reality checks:

• Did you know that fewer and fewer websites actually matter online? Sure, there are more and more sites popping up every day, but GONE are the days of building little sites that you really don’t care about and trying to drive random traffic to them to make a few sales or affiliate sales.
• True experts are floating to the top. What are you doing to become one?
• The people that are doing well in my circles of influence are the people who understand that the Internet is becoming a tool of genuine RELATIONSHIPS & INFLUENCE and is becoming less and less of a place for anonymous “quick”, lazy opportunity. With a bit of work, the doors to success are WIDE OPEN, but it’s not a game open to just anyone.
• Selling “physical” products sounds like hard work (which scares off the weak), so there is HUGE opportunity here.

If you are wondering what I tell my kids about the whole “you can do anything” myth, it goes something like this:

“You are meant to serve and do amazing things with the talents, creativity and drive that God has put inside you. Don’t waste it. Keep learning, and always seek solid advice from trusted, accomplished and wise people before leaping. If you think you ‘know enough’ you are still just getting started and lack the humility required for true success.”

It’s the same advice I have for the online entrepreneur that has yet to leave their mark.

What other “reality checks” do you see on the horizon? Leave a comment on any of this – I’d love to read your thoughts.