We all know that saying thank you improves customer service… However doing it online sometimes is a little more difficult to do. Recently, Apple ‘thanked me for filling a customer service survey’…

I thought it was such a great way of saying thank you that I wanted to share it with you – to say thank you for reading this blog!

Thank You

This is one of my favourite types of strategies – the LITTLE THINGS that make a BIG DIFFERENCE. I am going to incorporate this with all my product thank you pages – if that increases customer service and repeat business by just 1 percent, it means thousands of dollars, but MORE IMPORTANTLY it means happier clients.

That is one of the fundamental principles of Exponential Marketing - ADDING VALUE every step of the way – EVEN after the transaction is complete.

After all a satisfied client can give you a referral and come back to buy something else…

OK, while I have you here – start or keep giving recommendations to people on Linked In. If you haven’t done it yet – SHAME ON YOU!

Start GIVING them to clients so they will reciprocate and give YOU recommendations. Aim to give 1/day or /week when things are quiet. You’ll quickly start to see activity increase! Make sure when you accept the recommendations they give YOU, that the following are done. You’ll want to make these edits when you RESPOND to the Recommendation, not before. Consider it a mini-checklist.

SEO Tip: Linked In Recommendation Checklist Read More »»

Today’s blog post is a tip that can save you countless hours managing remote contractors via the Internet if you use freelancers via online sources like www.Guru.com. It’s one of the many tips and techniques I teach my most elite clients at events such as Internet Millionaire Marketing, which by the way is now available as a Home Study DVD Program…

Internet Freelancer Management Tip

Use Google’s new Google Docs functionality to SHARE DOCUMENTS with your freelancers and contractors. Once you’re registered, it’s self evident how it works. I teach my clients how to optimise this incredible tool, but as a blog subscriber I wanted to make sure you knew about it.

If you want to learn how to maximise the use of Internet Marketing Tools and Techniques like these so you can minimise the time you spend trying to make money on the Internet, take a look at our programs and events – I can tell you one thing…

The top 5% of the people who do make money on the Internet do something the others don’t.

First they INVEST in themselves realising that a  $27, $47 or $97 investment pays for itself INSTANTLY with 1, 2 or 3 detailed instructions like how to use a Google Doc and the pitfalls to avoid when dealing with freelancers…

Join the top 5% and start to make more than the other 95% combined who are still struggling and reinforcing the adage that the Internet is the EASIEST thing that is HARD TO DO.

Anything is HARD to do when you don’t have the click-by-click paint-by-numbers instructions… Get them now – and acquire Internet Mastery!

Hi, this is a courtesy post to make sure you don’t miss out on this 4-day sale of the SME Entrepreneur Business Building ToolKit. As you well know, having an Internet business is… well… a business. This incredible collection of business building tools is being sold at a one-time-only garage sale for an incredible price that will have them flying out of the storage locker. Get yours now while stocks last.

This is the only blog post I am going to make about this sale because I know you’ll go to the product page right now to check it out!

Every once in a while, a company creates a ‘new business model’ worthy of reflection. Fonolo is one such example. Click on the hyperlink to see how they took something everyone hates and created an intriguing new business model. Time will tell if it’s commercially viable and profitable, but as an Internet Exponential Marketing enthusiast, you want to take examples like this and ask yourself:

Read More »»

I’m at it again – I will be on Sydney radio again, don’t forget to tune into Sydney’s 2RRR FM 88.5. The Radio Show is called “Money Talks” hosted by David Haseldine on 2RRR 88.5 FM. The show is broadcast live from 8-9 AM Wednesday 8 July 2009. When you tune in, you’ll to get some exponential ideas on stress free wealth creation ideas. The podcast will be made available after the show on www.NextBestStep.com.

Should I spend time on FaceBook? I get this question a lot. Here’s my answer… Time is our most valuable resource… If you’re having fun, that’s cool. But realise you’re having fun – not achieving your goals by chatting, tweeting and following other peoples’ lives…

What would happen if you invested that much time into your income generation, business-building efforts, can you imagine what you could achieve…?!?!?

But then again life is NOT about just working… REALLY IT’S NOT!

Read More »»

Every once in a while a really cool idea crosses my desk that I just have to share with you. In this case it comes from none other than Australia Post. I have not yet used this service, but I thought you might need it before I do. I am streamlining ALL my operations and have this service slated for a Sept-Oct review.

If you do use it, please let me know how it goes.

I am in beautiful Melbourne for the second part of Internet Technical Mastery – a 4-day event split into two parts BECAUSE there is TOO much content to be delivered in one go… I am on stage right now explaining how:

• You can get get real human feedback on your website pages for pennies on the dollar.
• Create an on-going flow of visitors to your website for FREE, a flow that feeds on itself WITHOUT additional effort and management
• How to get those visitors to buy MORE from you and opt-in to your list WITHOUT unsubscribing once they get their ‘joining gift’

Sorry to rub it in – but it’s a Platinum Program Event that’s not open to the public – but our annual Exponential Internet and Business Building Bootcamp is open to the public… Don’t miss out on it this year…

In my previous post, I revealed the TOP mistake people make with their website. Today’s post is the worst mistake they make once they’ve resolved that issue. This is becoming even more prevalent now – in fact the top so-called Internet Marketing ‘gurus’ have fallen into this trap recently and frankly it’s surprising they don’t know any better.

First and foremost you can’t use a strategy that works ‘en masse’ if you don’t have that economy of scale – second, you can’t and shouldn’t take anything for granted – especially the goodwill you’ve created with your list.

Confused?

Don’t worry, you’re in good company.

Lately, I’ve noticed that even the top Internet marketers are ALL promoting the same affiliate products that frankly are pure garbage – they are playing the numbers game with their lists of 10,000, 100,000 or bigger lists.

What they don’t know is that they are ruining their reputations.

I won’t name names, but I had a lot of respect and admiration for people who presented with me on stage and all I get from them now are the standard pre-formatted affiliate product SALES E-MAILS that ‘nobodys’ sent me 2 or 3 hours BEFORE… => THEY HAVE NO DIFFERENTIATION and no ’stature’ left, no preeminence…

They are just flogging one thing after another claiming it’s the best thing since sliced bread…

But it gets worse – there are all these affiliate tools and ‘tricks’ out there that once again violates the relationship you want to be building with your list…

Still confused?

Again, you’re not alone – there is MORE NOISE AND CONFUSION OUT THERE than ever.

That’s why the Internet is the easiest thing that’s hard to do.

On your own, you’re left to fend for yourself – we have on-going programs and events to cut through all the crap that’s out there to make sure you don’t continue to spend more than you’re making on the Internet.

But then again, don’t forget there are only 5% of us who make money on the Internet – more than the other 95% COMBINED. There’s a reason.

We do stuff others don’t.

We’re not into the ‘get rich quick’ approach.

We do things that WORK and that foster goodwill, reciprocity and ALWAYS creates VALUE for our prospects and clients.

Recently I was sent a tool that this person thought was a smart way to make quick money, not realising that by doing so he’s violating the very relationship he wants to foster with his list…

It’s Internet Marketing suicide – by the time he figures that out, it’ll be too late. The relationship will have been violated and the point of no return crossed.

Want to avoid making these mistakes and learn what these suicidal tools and tips are to avoid? You need to become a client. I give a LOT of STUFF away for free on my blogs, but the really priceless stuff I keep for my clients – otherwise why would they become clients?!?!

Hmmmm….. Interesting isn’t it?

Here are your choices:

1. Become an Internet Mastery Silver Momentum Member.
2. Attend the Wealth Without Worries Investor Briefing – It’s FREE.
3. Attend our next Boardroom Briefing where I explain our programs in detail with 3 hours of value-packed content.
4. Plan to attend our next Exponential Internet and Business Building Bootcamp in Sydney in July.

I’d love to save you from making mistakes like:

• The person who spent $6,000 and 3 weeks to get a 3-day $1,000 website upgrade done.
• The ‘know it all’ who spent twice as much on her Google Adwords than she should have – which was the difference between making and losing money on that product for an entire month’s sales.
• Getting on Google’s blacklist and not being able to open an account!
• Getting the wrong people to opt-in and killing your sales in the process.

If you’ve heard the world turning off the lights for an hour, it’s called Earth Hour and IT’S TODAY… It’s a SMALL WAY to make a BIG IMPACT on getting this message across and helping save our fragile planet. Click on the hyperlink >>Earth Hour << to REGISTER so your effort gets counted.

Today’s blog post is a special invitation to an event created exclusively for our most elite Platinum Program Members. Usually, you would never know this event occurred and would not get an invitation. I’ve decided to give you the opportunity to attend BECAUSE of the life-changing aspect of this one skill.

As a reader of this blog, you’ve demonstrated your commitment to the Exponential Mindset – doing out-of-the-ordinary things that create extra-ordinary results.

It’s a one-time-only event and I wanted give you the chance to consider it. You won’t get a reminder about this.

This is a private event – NOT publicly advertised. You won’t find it anywhere on our website.

Please give it serious consideration. This skill, as unbelievable as it sounds, works.

Read the e-mail from start to finish and ask yourself just one question:

_____________________________________________________

Question: What could be better than Speed Reading?!?!

Dear Exponential Mindset Enthusiast,

You should know by now that I have been speed reading for more than 10 years. I taught myself this priceless skill when I decided to go ‘back to school’ to do my MBA and Ph.D – FULL TIME.

Since I was a self-employed entrepreneur, I couldn’t afford the opportunity cost of closing my businesses to go back to school on a full-time basis. I didn’t consider the part-time study option because I don’t have the patience to take what would have been up to 10 years of study…

Just so we’re clear on the value of SPEED READING as a starting point:

If I can speed read at 1,800 words per minute and the average person can only read at 300 words a minute, that means I am 6 times faster.

It means I can read a bestselling book like The Tipping Point, Blink, Simplexity or Good To Great in 2-3 hours whereas the average reader will take 12 to 18 hours.

Those are costly hours. If someone values their time at only $100/hour, that means it costs them $1,000 to $1,500 MORE to read ONE BOOK than it costs me…

To put it another way – in the time it takes them to read 1 book, I can read 6. In the time it takes them to read 2, I can read 12. That contrast should hammer home the need to learn how to speed read NOW!

If you haven’t yet bought my speed reading video program – you simply must do it right now. Click here to DOUBLE YOUR READING SPEED IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS – GUARANTEED.

Have you heard of Quantum Reading? Some people call it ‘Photo Reading’ which I think is misleading. I’ve said over and over again that I didn’t believe it worked because I wasn’t able to find anyone who could teach me and convince me it can be taught to the average everyday person.

That changed last year when I was presenting at an event – Ioho DeBeer was in the crowd and claimed she could (1) read 25,000 words per minute, (2) she could teach me AND (3) teach anyone else.

So I called her bluff.

She trained me 1:1 with the condition that IF it worked and I was convinced it could be taught to others, that I would promote it to my clients.

But there was a problem.

Her course was 3 days long.

I couldn’t afford to spend that amount of time to learn ONE skill and neither could my clients, friends and colleagues.

So Ioho and I designed a SPECIAL EXPONENTIAL version of her Quantum Reading Course – JUST FOR YOU.

This is a one-time-only offer. One day, take-no-prisoners full-on approach to get through 3 days of content in one day.

>> Click here to register now – this is a one-time-only session <<

If you’re keen to make this QUANTUM LEAP – make the time – you’ll gain it back in the time saved Quantum Reading.

If you’re wondering how this works – you’re just going to have to trust me and take my word for it.

The only thing I strongly suggest is that you learn to speed read BEFORE you attend the first session. I believe it will greatly improve your chances of acquiring this priceless skill.

Quantum Reading, like any technique takes an investment of practice, but I am sure you’ll agree that consuming a bestselling business book in ONE HOUR means you could start to read 50 to 100 books per year EASY and that would have a DRAMATIC EFFECT on your income, wealth and/or career.

This is a one-time-only opportunity. I am not planning on promoting or scheduling another Quantum Reading event this year.

Speed Reading and Quantum Reading will become part of my Personal Mastery Program curriculum in 2010, but that’s a year away… You can’t afford to wait that long!

Here’s what you need to do.

1. If you haven’t already, buy my Speed Reading Video Program – it’s only $47.
   
2. Learn or practice the speed reading technique so it becomes ‘second nature’.
3. Register for this Quantum Reading session – even if you’re not Sydney-based. Plan your trip to combine it with other business and meetings. We scheduled it the day before Killer Kopywriting to kill two birds with one stone.

Here’s what you will get:

1. Ioho DeBeer’s Quantum Reading Course – the Exponential Version that is condensed to 8 hours to give you all the skills and techniques 3 times faster than the regular course with a $500 saving (because I have negotiated this special deal just for you.)
2. Her regular follow-up sessions as part of the Quantum Reading Program.
3. 2 Conference Call Sessions with me to make sure you are focusing on the Exponential Distinctions I have learnt as a Quantum Reader. These are insights I will only be sharing with my clients. These are the ‘2mm’ 1% Improvement Doctrine Distinctions that you have come to expect from me. They are the short cuts no one else knows about. I will personally help you make sure you get the breakthroughs you need to get to ‘consuming’ a business book in 1 hour.

If you have any doubts about this – it’s not for you.

I am only expecting 10 people to attend. This is not for everyone. In fact LESS than 1% of the population speed reads and only a small fraction of them ever go on to Quantum Read…

If you want to learn this life-changing, career-accelerating, profit-enhancing skill, there is only one thing to do – make the decision now to attend. It’s the only chance you have this year. If you don’t attend this Exponential Edition, you’ll have to spend $500 more and 3 days to learn this skill.

Once the 10 people are registered, I will focus on other e-mails and won’t be promoting this again BECAUSE it’s really only for a very select group of people.

You’ve already decided to attend – just register to secure your seat.

>> Click here to register now – this is a one-time-only session <<

P.S.
Due to the compressed format of this VERSION of the course, it’s not appropriate for grade school students. Only mature high-school and uni students should consider attending. If you have sons, daughters, nieces or nephews who you think are ‘up to it’, this is the gift of a lifetime.

Imagine how this can change a student’s life?

I know that I could not have achieved what I achieved academically, acquiring 5 university-level degrees without Speed Reading – Quantum Reading is EVEN MORE powerful.

That being said, there is no need to ‘sell’ this capability – you either value your time, education and training at this most elite level or you don’t.

As I mention in my Squash Lessons For Marketing, there are spectators, social players, competitive players and Champions.

This course is for Champions.

Champions who know they can Awaken The Genius Within themselves by learning strategies like this that will make them become a lot ’smarter’ than they are with a lot less effort.

A one day investment (two evenings in this case) that pays off for a lifetime…

I need to say this one more time – this is a one-time-only opportunity in Sydney in 2009. I won’t be promoting this again until 2010. Just so you know… I don’t want anyone saying “but I thought you’d do this again soon…” I won’t until 2010.

>> Click here to register now – this is a one-time-only session <<

Without wanting to sound alarmist, imagine if your laptop or computer hard disk crashed RIGHT NOW. How would you recover? How long would it take you to get your backups up and running? Today’s post is NOT about data or disaster recovery or an advertisement for Apple’s Time Machine that creates backups automatically for you -

It’s about creating a passive income business…

Guess what? Backups and a passive income business are related – when you design your ONLINE SYSTEM to be completely web-enabled, your laptop’s hard disk becomes completely irrelevant.

Sound impossible? It isn’t.

I teach our Internet Mastery Silver Massive Momentum Members exactly how to do that.

make sure you learn how – before your hard disk crashes.

Because it will – it’s just a question of WHEN.

Then it’ll be a question of how will it cost you in aggravation, lost data, time, effort and opportunity.

That’s where an Exponential Mindset comes in – having multiple redundancies BUILT-IN so your income is BULLET-PROOF…

I’ll reveal some of these strategies in future blog posts, but if you want to make sure you protect yourself and your income – consider joining the Internet Mastery Silver Massive Momentum Program - at $97/month I am sure you’d agree it’s worth it if the next time your hard disk crashes it’s irrelevant…

If not, well… Sorry.

In response to my recent blog post to help bush fire victims, I received an e-mail that I just had to forward to you. I have to forewarn you that it may make you really, really mad – BECAUSE it can prevent/protect property and lives… but is not being used here in Australia.

As an Internet strategy, please forward this BLOG POST to your friends and family. If you have a blog, link to this blog post. Help me help you consolidate the hits to this blog post so it gets TOP RANKING in Google so MORE PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS.

Thank you for your continued help and assistance.

Earlier this morning I sent a mass e-mail from Dr Janet Hall’s newsletter to help children cope with this tragedy. Jennifer Jianjun Wang sent me a response telling me Coles is donating all their profit from Friday’s sales to the relief effort. Isn’t it amazing HOW QUICKLY SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS CAN MULTIPLY?

Click on the image below for more information and do your part to help our fellow Australians in their hour of need.

yesterday’s post was about error messages, today’s is also from Bigpond, this one explains the differences between CDs and DVDs… Very useful to know!

What are the differences between CDs and DVDs?

Of course if you’re exponential, you’ll sending the URL of this blog post to all your clients, suspects and prospects so that I get massive traffic to my blog as my REWARD for keeping you up-to-date with information like this…

You’ll also note there are NO apostrophes in CDs and DVDs… Check with Grammar Girl – this is one of my pet peeves… People who put apostrophes where they don’t belong!

First, what a fantastic day for the US and the world. Congratulations President Obama! This is a moment to be treasured and captured in a special way – unless you’ve been watching it on LIVE TV, you just won’t believe this new ‘tool’ that will blow your mind!

… It’s called PhotoSynth from Microsoft. Go to http://www.cnn.com/themoment and be amazed both by the technology and ‘THE MOMENT’.

Psst! The download is quick and easy!

Autoresponders like Aweber.com are what enable you to create a truly passive income stream, or what I call a River Of Revenue, but there are a few tweaks you need to consider to make it really work flawlessly, otherwise you’ll be spending your time doing customer support and follow-ups 24/7.

Autoresponder Tip #1

One of the first things to do with your autoresponder is to set it up correctly, that means customise the welcome message and in the case of a double opt-in, make sure the messages are all personalised, formatted and branded according to your look and feel. You want to have a consistent ‘look’ across all your communications.

I have to admit I have been lax in this regard and have it on my to do list to clean this up because now the volume warrants it. Each 1% of questions, ‘unverified opt-ins’ eats away at your profitability.

Do it once or pay for it forever…

Autoresponder Tip #2

Reinforce the step involved – either confirming, registering or purchasing with adequate copy that makes the reader feel good about completing this step. Every chance you get to be IN FRONT of a prospect or client is an OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS OR DISAPPOINT.

Autoresponder Tip #3

Write your messages CONSISTENLY, in the same voice, style and syntax. This is a CRITICAL MISTAKE a lot of people make, writing in one tone to sell and in another when sending ‘value and content’… Don’t make this mistake!

My physics teacher in high school, Mr Salvatore Lancione once told me “Consistency is the mark of a true professional”. He was right then and is still right today -> more than 25 years later!

What can I say, what a year it has been… riding the wildest roller coaster we’ve ever seen!

This is a time for reflection, introspection and yes a little bit of self analysis.

I highly recommend you write it in your journal so you have your key distinctions, insights and ideas for years to come. Of course you know to be creative, outrageous and ‘colour outside the lines’!!!

Once you’ve sat on the proverbial couch and reflected on the past, it’s then time to look to the future that awaits you… 2009.

2009 is the opportunity of a lifetime with chaos reigning everywhere, creating boundless opportunities out of thin air for all of us to leverage – exponentially. In big bites or tiny morsels, depending on your appetite for growth and expansion.

2009 is YOUR year, when all the investments of the past come together, as a ‘mind meld’ that combines your learnings to give you breakthrough after breakthrough just when you need one.

2009 is THE year when you start to TAKE ACTION, in both big and small doses because you know it’s time for you to move forward and put the past behind you once and for all. NOT because you don’t like your life, but because you know you deserve more – a lot more.

2009 is the turning point you’ll remember for a lifetime, when ‘things changed’ for you. Like turning the pages of a book, you start to write the NEW CHAPTER of your NEW LIFE, as you want to live it. You know this is now possible because you know what you know and that’s enough to get started. You also know that there is stuff you don’t know you know, but since you know it, you’ll soon discover you know you know it and voila! you’ll have a breakthrough to take you to the next level of performance, awareness and maybe even ’sense of being’.

2009 is your ultimate performance, just as though you were in a play, on stage. It’s when you become the person you’ve always known you could be. You step onto the stage on January 1st and COMMAND THE STAGE with your PRESENCE, AURA and CONFIDENCE. You transfix the audience who are your friends, family and colleagues to utter silence and amazement that you have ‘found yourself’ and are ‘being yourself’. The performance starts on January 1, 2009 and lasts a lifetime. YOUR LIFETIME.

2009 is when the calendar switches over and in an instant puts the past behind you. Once and for all, forever. Never to be lived again. A distant memory. A recollection to help guide you in the future whilst remembering only the good and priceless lessons that needed to be learnt to bring you to this point in time. The point in time that is…

2009. Step into it…

Onward and upward!
Marc

Psst! This card was created by the one and only Paul Telling of Melbourne Australia who helps you to visualise and monetise all your sales opportunities by turning boring documents, presentations and speeches into re-usable engaging unique masterpieces that impress your audience and save you time and money!

P.S.
The postscript for today is not 2008, the year that was, but 2009, the year that will be…

Amazing
Incredible
Energizing
Exciting
Fabulous
Challenging
Great
Tumultuous
Chaotic
Effervescent
Enervating
Unbelievable
Believable
Intoxicating
Illuminating
Strengthening
Emboldening
Wonderful
Serene
Romantic
Sexy
Enthralling
Moving
Rhythmic
Acoustic
Kinesthetic
Fantastic
Excellent
Outstanding
Fantabulous
Antimimeticisomorphic
Out-of-the-ordinary
Extra-ordinary
Legendary
Profitable
Expansive
Wealthy
Rich
Cash-filled
Organic
Holistic
Pure
Serene
Sexual
Erotic
Orgasmic
Relaxing
Smooth
Turbulent
Rocky
Textured
Natural
Naked
Vulnerable
Honest
Authentic
Congruent
Whole
Peaceful
Musical
Harmonic
Orchestral
Collaborative
Family
Together
Singular
Independent
Dependent
Balanced
Inspired
Real
Healthy
Sporty
Victorious
Invincible
Gregarious
Alive
Primary
Foremost
Leader
Visionary
Motivational
Inspiring
Insightful
Raw
Unscripted
Revealing
Brave
Courageous
Confident
Entrepreneurial
Adventurous
Secure
Boundless
Limitless
Unrelenting
Enthusiastic
Enchanting
Lyrical
Poetic
Charming
Seductive
Entralling
Captivating
Entranced
Hypnotic
Calm
Oblivious
Connected
Sage
Generous
Philanthropic
Engaging
Enraptured
Silent
Awakened

Here is the Wordle of the list…

This viral marketing video strategy was sent to me by Stuart Gordon of Giant Promotions…

Ideas like this spread like wildfire!

Click here to see what all the fuss is about!

Onward and upward!
Marc

P.S.

Go on and have some fun with it!