3.
Feature Article:
* Exclusive *
"Interview with Kenneth Poirier: SafeList Expert"
By: Cort McCadden
Just over a year ago I interviewed Kenneth Poirier when I
did my article on Safelists. Like most of you I thought
Safelists were pretty much a thing of the past since many
of the lists that I used for the article's research are
no longer in existence. Not so with Kenneth's lists, his
Mail-Pro Web Services network has over 150 Safelists.
Cort: Kenneth, many of the lists that I used for my research
don't exist and yet your network has expanded to over 150
lists. What's your secret?
Kenneth: As much as I hate to admit it there's no BIG
secret. I think if I had to single out one main factor of
what I do and how I do it that has contributed to my
continued growth it would be working closely with all my
customers. I use the three little pigs as an analogy. I work
closely with each of my customers that are willing to learn.
I build my "house one BRICK at a time and make sure
each is properly mortared before going on to the next".
Support is so important as most know only basic computer
skills. Having come up the same way but without the
support I realize the value of a good source of information,
so learning to first do it myself, and then passing on the
knowledge is the mortar that makes my business strong,
and will allow it to grow.
I also feel that being self-sufficient is a very important
factor to my continued growth. In 2 1/2 years I have gone
from computer illiterate, to just finishing putting my 6th
and 7th server online and building my own computer. The
important thing here in learning all this is it not only
allows me to cut my own expenses considerably, but even
more importantly it allows me to control every aspect of
my online ventures which is one very key point that most
online businesses don't have. With that on my side I can
effectively pass on my knowledge to my resellers to help
them better run their own businesses.
The end result is EVERYONE prospers.
Cort: Kenneth, I asked you in advance to visit our site at
http://www.spyfest.org since we are not a typical
Internet Marketing site selling ebooks from the experts.
Instead we are marketing an event called SpyFest 2003.
So can we benefit using Safelists?
Kenneth: I think that any product or service can benefit
from the wider exposure created from email advertising on
Safelists. Where once the only way to reach a wide
audience was expensive TV commercials, now one can put
their presentation on a web site and use email advertising
to hit a global market rather than just local. For this
particular event I definitely say that in reaching the right
targeted audiences you could do very well with email
advertising. Looking at the website I see an event one
could plan a vacation around, and that would probably
be the angle I would take in advertising the event.
Cort: How big a role does Email Marketing play in your
current success?
Kenneth: Email Marketing has played a very important
part of my success. Even though my business revenues are
fast approaching the high five-figure mark, my own
advertising budget is still under $100 a month. This is
mostly due to email advertising.
I've heard more than once that Safelists are losing their
effectiveness and to a point they are, most are anyway.
I have always been opposed to some of the new software
appearing on the Internet everyday. Email box cleaners
are a prime example. Why would someone want to sell
something that will stop people from reading or even
seeing their ads? Safelist submitters also have
contributed some to this as well.
I take a very scientific approach to my email advertising,
tracking all my ads with tracking leads, and analyzing all
traffic to my site in order to get the best response from my
ads. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as slapping some words
on an email and people will automatically respond. Any
tool in any profession is only as good as the person
wielding it.
Cort: The big hoopla with Email Marketing is the Spam
Filtering. Has this affected your business? If so what are
you doing to combat it?
Kenneth: Spam filters have become a problem but haven't
really affected my own business too much. We have spent
a lot of time weeding out the services that use these spam
filters and banning them from our own servers. It's a
temporary solution at best, but one none the less. We do
our best to keep people from signing up to our services
with these, and for the most part, people understand.
Cort: Do you ever use HTML Email Marketing?
Kenneth: Now that I have begun the graphics design
portion of my own learning regime, I am fast becoming
addicted to HTML Email Marketing. Nothing beats a good
visual presentation. I am actually working on adding an
HTML option to all my own services as I feel it will
become more popular as more people learn to do html for
themselves.
Unfortunately, tutorials and good websites with HTML
instruction are few and far between, BUT if there's one
skill to teach yourself if you're running a business on
the net, it's HTML most definitely. Why send someone a
plain text ad when you can just send your web page?
Cort: If you had it to do over again what would you do
differently and why?
Kenneth: Well I have been asked this question a couple
times now, and to be perfectly honest I wouldn't change a
thing, EVEN the months of barely getting by. Adversity
builds character, and power is gained through knowledge.
In building my business the way I did I got a true
appreciation for what the "average" person really needs
to find some success of their own.
It's all very simple, they need someone they can turn to for
answers, support, and last but certainly not least motivation
and confidence building. If someone told me five years
ago that I would be sitting here today doing what I'm
doing, I would have flat out told them they were crazy!
Not only did I not know the first thing about computers,
but the thought of selling to someone face to face scared
the heck out of me.
It's truly amazing what one can accomplish with just a
little bit of confidence, and if that's my role in this new
"revolution" then I accept it gladly. Much like the
Industrial Revolution, people's lives and the whole way
they do things is going to change drastically. Also, like
the Industrial Revolution, we will have to adapt. Those
with the patience and determination to stick it out and
build solid businesses out of brick and mortar will be
the ones that find true success. Not just money success
but the feeling of a job well done, and there isn't a
better feeling in the world!
Mark Twain said it best: "Keep away from people who
belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but
the really great make you feel that you, too, can become
great." That quote says it all, what I believe, the way
I am to my customers and potential customers.
Cort: Thanks, Kenneth. Kenneth has written an eBook,
"Power Promotions Made TOO Easy" which tells you
exactly how to become effective in your advertising and
how to turn one time sales into dedicated, long time
customers. You can request a free trial version copy by
going to http://www.easy2cashin.com where you will also
receive a free copy of his "Safelist Directory" eBook just
for visiting. Also you subscribe to "Power Promotions
Advertising Tips" Ezine where Kenneth passes on new tips
and tricks, he has developed and uses himself to hold his
top ten position in the Yahoo search engines.
###
Cort McCadden has been a contributing writer to Money
Makers Monthly and Direct Sales. Currently he is
fulfilling his James Bond fantasy by producing
SpyFest 2003 aboard the Queen Mary.
Check it out at http://www.spyfest.org
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4.
~/~ SOHO Help Desk ~\~
http://www.demc.com
"Finding Affiliates"
Today's SOHO Help Desk offers suggestions on how to
acquire affiliates for reselling your products/services.
If you have a valuable tip, promotional idea, question
or answers you would like included in an upcoming issue
of DEMC, all you have to do is submit it by email to -
helpdesk@demc2.com
Here's this week's subscriber question:
=== Help Request ===
From: Jon
Hi,
My name is Jon, I need to know how could I promote
an auction site to get more bidders and sellers.
Thanks,
Jon
Send your answer to: helpdesk@demc2.com
=== Answers For Madhu ===
Madhu's Question:
>I am selling an eBook through my website.
>I have set up a 'Reseller Program' for that with Click
>Bank, offering 50% commission to affiliates.
>In what all ways I can get more Click Bank affiliates
>to sell my eBook?
From: Codrut Turcano
Dear Madhu,
My suggestions is to advertise on clickbank's
login page (it's only $25 per day!) so you can
GET a large amount of TRAFFIC within few days.
Make sure your HEADLINE attracts attention!
You should offer some exclusive, valuable BONUSES
to motivate your affiliates to sell your product.
You could offer a *FREE* copy of your product,
money PRIZES, advertising, etc...
Keep making profits,
Codrut Turcanu - Ad Writing Expert
http://www.BizMarketingSecrets.com
===> Find Affiliates Outside of Click Bank
From: Valerian Dinca
Hi Madhu,
I would not limit yourself to just Click Bank affiliates.
Consider doing some of your own promotion to find more
resellers.
If you can spend some money the best way in my opinion
to make more sales and build up your affiliate base is
to buy traffic. You can start, spending $20 for 10,000
visitors from http://tinyurl.com/f06v and then see if
you need some adjustments.
When your site converts enough visitors into buyers and
Affiliates invest in driving more visitors. He who
controls traffic, controls profit.
If your budget is minimal, then the best way is to look
for joint ventures. Partner with publishers, as their
mailing lists are a gold mine for you. Do some research.
You may discover that there are very popular newsletters
which are targeted to people who use/need your ebook.
May you succeed,
Valerian Dinca
Fr^^ Work At H^me Opportunities http://tinyurl.com/ebxh
===
Send in your feedback for an upcoming issue.
Email your questions, advice and/or thoughts to:
helpdesk@demc2.com
Be sure to include your SIG and contact URL with your
post as we'll be sharing any viable ideas/information
in an upcoming issue of DEMC E-Magazine.
======================
5.
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175,000 subscribers for as little as $36, plus details on How
To Get a FR^E Ad in DEMC E-Magazine Go To Visit Our Web Site:
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