http://www.articlealley.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com In the course of my business, I routinely make referrals to other products and business service providers that I know or use regularly. In 99% of the cases, I've actually used the product or service myself or have a good relationship with the person who i... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/referral-marketing-tips--3-expert-strategies-to-prevent-a-great-referral-from-going-bad-2423974.html 02nd April 2012 The old adage, "Don't put all of your eggs into one basket," is especially true in today's economic climate for any business. Just as you would never let all of your income be derived from one or two clients, creating a diversified business where you have... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/6-quick-ways-to-stabilize-your-business-with-multiple-revenue-streams-2403067.html 06th January 2012 "I hate to market myself" is a very common complaint I hear from many of my clients. Some are introverts, who are naturally averse to self-promotion, while others just don't realize that they also wear the hat of Marketing Director when they start their o... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/6-proven-strategies-in-helping-introverts-easily-and-effortlessly-market-themselves-2401899.html 04th January 2012 Your client attraction device, also known as an ethical bribe or free taste, is the information that you give away on your site in exchange for a visitor's name and email address. I call it a client attraction device because it helps to build your list. U... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/10-proven-methods-to-promote-your-free-client-attraction-device-2401113.html 30th December 2011 Many blog readers still prefer to get blog updates via email, despite the popularity of RSS feeds, I know that I'm one of those, since I have 21,000+ unread blog posts in my Bloglines account. Most RSS readers don't provide subscriber statistics, so ther... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/how-to-double-your-blog-subscribers-with-these-4-bestkept-secret-blog-marketing-strategies-1916746.html 22nd December 2010 Even though videos are one of the hottest Internet marketing strategies today, I have been very slow to jump on the video marketing bandwagon. Why? Because making a talking head video of myself is about as enticing as dipping my body in honey and watchi... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/video-marketing--how-introverts-can-get-more-clients-online-with-screencast-videos-1696134.html 11th August 2010 If you teach what you know in some way (as a speaker, author, coach, trainer, or consultant), you'll soon discover that no one buys training, consulting or coaching. They buy a solution to their problems. So, rather than trying to sell your service (a gro... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/signature-system-5-proven-steps-to-creating-a-signature-program-that-attracts-clients-like-crazy-1683760.html 06th August 2010 I hear from clients constantly who say that their clients can't afford to pay them, or that they're constantly besieged by requests for "pro bono services." Don't get me wrong -- helping those in need is an admirable part of any business plan and busines... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/5-proven-tactics-to-uplevel-your-client-base-1474256.html 26th March 2010 Tired of the day-to-day struggle of chasing one client to the next? Want a better way to run your business that enables you to better predict your monthly income? One of the best ways to stabilize your income when you're a self-employed service profession... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/recurring-income-tips-13-examples-of-continuity-income-in-a-servicebased-business-1456366.html 18th March 2010 All of my clients are exceptional at the service they provide for their clients. However, many of them come to me for coaching because they're having a hard time filling their practices and finding clients. Almost without fail, they tell me that this is... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/marketing-tips--the-internet-marketing-secret-that-stops-small-business-owners-in-their-tracks-1398110.html 16th February 2010 I've had an online business since 1999, and I started it from my rural, East Texas hometown where the reigning industries are bass fishing, forestry and timber, banking, and education, none of which are markets in which I have any interest in working. So... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/how-to-get-95-of-your-clients-from-internet-marketing-1390691.html 11th February 2010 Once you have created an information product, you may think you've completed all of the hard work. Unfortunately the most challenging piece of product creation is yet to come -- the creation of the sales letter landing page where you talk about and sell... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/copywriting-tips-13-steps-to-creating-the-perfect-sales-letter-template-1390505.html 11th February 2010 Distributing your articles to various article banks and directories online (what I refer to as article marketing) won't work for you unless you have a well-developed resource box. A resource box is the bio information about the author that appears at the... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/article-marketing-7-essential-elements-of-an-article-resource-box-that-gets-clicked-1385391.html 09th February 2010 One of the most difficult concepts to grasp for online business owners who are writing their own sales copy is to write about the benefits of your product/service, rather than the features. Even though this skill is critically important, I would guess tha... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/copywriting-tips-how-to-market-benefits-vs-features-1382817.html 08th February 2010 Unfortunately, this scenario is a reality for all of us who use social networking -- it's not a matter of IF your Twitter or Facebook account will be hacked, but simply WHEN. I've been on the receiving end of messages from my friends whose accounts have b... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/what-to-do-if-your-facebook-or-twitter-account-is-hacked-1379682.html 05th February 2010 A new year always brings New Year's resolutions, as well as the urge to purge things from your life and business and begin anew. I caught the decluttering bug between Christmas and New Year's Day this year and removed from my office many boxes of physical... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/business-planning--your-17point-new-years-business-inventory-and-cleanup-1373945.html 02nd February 2010 You may feel as though you're on a hamster wheel when it comes to measuring your marketing. You run, run, and run some more, but don't seem to be getting anywhere. That feeling is perfectly natural if you're not measuring your ROI (Return on Investment)... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/marketing-results-7-crucial-stats-you-need-to-track-your-marketing-success-1370123.html 01st February 2010 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Many online solo service professionals wonder how they will ever become known in their industry, given the easy access to the abundance of information found online. Almost everyone claims to be an expert, so it stands... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/how-to-become-your-industrys-leading-expert-in-30-days-1303824.html 18th December 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com One of the most difficult aspects of being an independent service professional is being seen as credible and as a viable expert in your industry. Until recently, that process often took years and required an investment... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/7-strategies-for-building-online-relationships-with-industry-vips-1283493.html 09th December 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Teleclasses, also referred to as teleseminars, teleconferences, and webinars (with the added component of seeing a presentation) provide a platform for online service business owners to connect virtually with prospects... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/15-powerful-ways-to-promote-your-teleclass-1255203.html 25th November 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com About a year ago I fired Internet Explorer as my primary browser. Why? Because it crashed on me constantly and took forever at times to transition from one site to another. I've found the Firefox browser much more u... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/top-10-firefox-browser-plugins-1219053.html 05th November 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com One of the quickest ways to build your email marketing list is by creating an ethical bribe, or what I refer to as a client attraction device. This free giveaway serves to entice visitors to your site to sign up for y... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/ethical-bribes--10-most-effective-client-attraction-device-giveaways-1217491.html 05th November 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com I'm in the process of completely rethinking my business model, and that will be my primary focus as I plan this year's business retreat for myself. Your business model doesn't have to be at all complex, but should pro... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/business-planning--4-steps-to-creating-your-online-business-model-blueprint-1196212.html 23rd October 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com I recently realized that much of my 1970's childhood upbringing both enhanced my natural tendency toward introversion and prepared me to own a virtual online business. I grew up out in the country, about 10 miles out ... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/7-reasons-why-an-online-business-is-the-perfect-business-for-introverts-1189662.html 20th October 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Many times, when you sign up for a free giveaway or purchase an item, you are taken to an OTO (One Time Offer) page, where you'll be given the opportunity to purchase a "never to be seen again, one time offer," which i... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/how-to-use-your-ezine-thank-you-page-to-create-a-one-time-offer-1139826.html 01st October 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com I often get asked the question, "How do I get more followers on Twitter?" Many of my clients want to pay a sum of money for the latest scheme to get them 10,000 new followers in 24 hours or some such nonsense as that.... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/twitter-marketing-how-to-be-followworthy-on-twitter-1107368.html 22nd September 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com When you have an online component of your business, experiencing ecommerce fraud is becoming the rule rather than the exception. No longer is it a matter of "if" this will happen to you but "when" it will happen to yo... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/top-8-signs-of-ecommerce-fraud--how-to-detect-fraudulent-credit-card-transactions-1090856.html 16th September 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Twitter, as a popular social networking platform, is a viral marketing strategy all on its own, especially if your followers like your tweets and retweet them to their followers. However, I've recently noticed another ... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/twitter-marketing-6-steps-to-creating-a-viral-marketing-campaign-with-twitter-hashtags-1055014.html 29th August 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Amazon's Kindle is a electronic book-reading device that allows people to purchase and download electronic versions of books, newspapers, and magazines. Now, you can have your blog available to Kindle readers, as well.... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/amazoncom-marketing-how-to-get-your-blog-published-on-amazons-kindle-1050083.html 25th August 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Client testimonials can make or break a web site. They are a vital factor in establishing a relationship of trust with new visitors to your site. Visitors want to see that others just like them have hired you or purc... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/10-most-effective-questions-for-takeaction-testimonials-1012850.html 02nd August 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com For years I've resisted the urge to create a squeeze page for my email newsletter. A squeeze page is a one-page site, or a landing page on a site, that has one call to action: convince the visitor to enter her name a... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/ezine-marketing-how-to-triple-your-ezine-optins-with-a-squeeze-page-1006252.html 30th July 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com I often want to find out more about someone before I decide to do business with that person. To get the information that I need, I Google the person's name and see how well-known they are online and what they have to... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/5-secrets-to-creating-a-powerful-google-profile-1000619.html 27th July 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com As people search for information online, they use a series of words, what are referred to as keywords, to find the information that they are seeking. Keywords are the core of any market research conducted by an online ... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/7-secrets-to-successful-keyword-research-988248.html 18th July 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com I see the well-known Internet marketing gurus do this all the time -- they begin to try and sell to me when I first opt into their list. This has worked quite well for them over the years, but I think the tide is turn... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/5-best-strategies-to-develop-a-responsive-email-list-986985.html 17th July 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Every day, my inbox is filled with emails promoting yet another new marketing strategy or promising results that will cure all of my marketing ills. Most of the strategies are flash-in-the-pan -- here today and gone t... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/internet-marketing-the-1-marketing-mistake-made-by-75-of-online-business-owners-979533.html 15th July 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Everyone is talking about social networking, and many claim social networking to be the panacea for all of your marketing ills. Marketing on social networking sites like Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter can help you inc... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/social-networking-10-steps-to-finding-your-target-market-in-facebook-961761.html 01st July 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Social networking using Twitter seems to be the most popular way to connect today, from celebrity Ashton Kutcher's challenge to Oprah to reach one million friends first (Ashton won) to a U.S. State Department official ... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/7-strategies-to-finding-your-target-market-on-twitter-956735.html 29th June 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Continuity programs are the "new" online business model that has recently escalated in popularity. No longer is it good enough to simply sell information products for a one-time sale or sell your services online. Ins... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/5-most-effective-online-continuity-program-models-952574.html 27th June 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Recently I was asked in an interview to imagine that I was starting all over again, and as a newbie, how I would fill my business in 60 days. Things have changed tremendously since I began my online business in 19... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/8-secrets-to-fill-your-business-in-60-days-948636.html 23rd June 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com In my first foray into the self-employed world, I created stenciled floorcloths and wallhangings and sold them in juried craft shows around New England. I did what all of the authors of self-employment books said to do... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/3-secrets-to-avoiding-isolation-an-an-online-entrepreneur-921831.html 06th June 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com As an online business owner, you face treacherous Internet security risks every single time you're online. Viruses, hackers, and spam await you at every turn. The reality is that these threats are always going to be... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/internet-security--8-proven-tactics-to-eliminate-threats-from-spam-viruses-and-hackers-890357.html 13th May 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Much has been written on how to locate and define your target market. However, there is a problem with this process. Once you have defined that target market, you're probably completely overwhelmed with all the detail... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/how-to-create-your-target-market-profile-887934.html 12th May 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com If I had to begin my business again from scratch, I would look at forming strategic alliances and seeking joint ventures partners much sooner in my business growth plan. Asking a more successful business owner to help... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/joint-ventures--the-4-secret-questions-you-must-answer-before-seeking-joint-venture-partners-861345.html 17th April 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Increasing online visibility is the goal of most online business owners. After all, without visibility, you have no traffic and thus no business. However, when you start to research how to increase your online visibil... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/10-best-strategies-to-massively-increase-your-visibility-online-807013.html 03rd March 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 OnlineBizU.com Despite my best efforts, this past week I lost both my primary and secondary computer systems. After losing my primary desktop several years ago, I vowed I would never let myself be caught without an operating PC. As... http://donnagunter.articlealley.com/data-recovery-10-most-effective-computer-backup-tools-802206.html 02nd March 2009