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- Oct 10th, 2008
- 0 Comments
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Here is a question I DONT have to ask you.I have stated it in the past and will state it in the future (very near). Here it is:
Do YOU think Video helps to sell a product?
If someone can exhibit visually in addition to written HOW a product works, and the benefits you can expect to receive, sales will increase.
Anyone going to argue with that?
Good.
So here is my question.
Tell me how you feel about Audio?
If you hit a squeeze page, sales pages, any page, and there is audio that plays automatically, as simple as a welcome and as thorough as a reading of the content on the page… are you MORE inclined to sign up? Does it draw you into the content?
Naturally with all mediums, it depends on the content, same with videos. For arguments sake, lets say the voice is not whiny, annoying, too monotonous, too strong accented, etc..
The voice is pleasant
The audio explains what you can expect to receive
The audio is personalHere is an example (new window will open) of how I use this feature to allow you to listen to my introduction to a call I recorded (just under 2 hours FABULOUS MEGA PACKED call just btw
) - I personally think IN this case you want to know what comes next. Unfortunately I didn’t record the intro to the call with this purpose in mind - I was only talking to the people listening. I have learned that lesson and from now on, I speak to BOTH crowds. YOU + THEM.
Has that audio, my voice, etc., encouraged you to sign up - or the opposite?
How easy was that to create you ask? So easy. A very simple step by step process. If video is something that only ’she and he is doing’, then this is certainly a very nice baby step in that direction.
I was so hasty in removing all opportunities for ME to earn from this blog, that I removed some real valuable tools. Especially those I felt were being sold by every online marketer… but, it is a really good product! This extremely easy to use, step by step audio creation tool is being sold for a heavily reduced price for my blog readers, and something I have used MANY ways.
Here are some features:
- It’s Attractive (lots of color and style selections)
- There is NO Time limit to the playback (I have put up 3 hour calls!)
- It can be programmed to play Automatically (or not..)
- It’s NOT downloadable (for some this is a real advantage)
- The listener can be directed to ANOTHER page when the audio is complete. Therefore you can include some audio + images of why a product is awesome, and then direct your visitors, via your affiliate link, to the product sales page!
AND…AND….AND…
If you feel this product can help you, check it out, but PLEASE just answer the question for MY benefit. Does Audio do it for you?
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- Oct 2nd, 2008
- 19 Comments
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Here is something ELSE at which I excel:
I spend money. I am really really good at spending money.
Therefore I decided I could use this superb, and certainly unique quality, to assist YOU in making some extra cash today.
Not long ago I was chatting with an online superstar and he asked me ‘what are my 7 focused results?’. I could dedicate an entire blog post (or a product) to this discussion, but the outcome of that discussion, despite having names hurled at me (a focused result is a much harder concept than just the sum of those 2 words!), was something that should change the landscape of how I do business.
I felt compelled to just deposit some money in his paypal account.
I would like to do the same for YOU.
Can you share with me an:
- idea
- concept
- somehow to be more productive
- something your grandparents, mentor, etc. told you,
- something you read on a blog
- or heard in a speech
- etc., etc.
Please DO NOT think I am asking for your next million dollar idea. I have more than I can handle of amazing ‘money making’ ideas. I am seeking philosophies, thoughts, stories. I am seeking ways to add to my quality of working life, and see more fruits from my labors. I want a little piece of what makes YOU successful in my corner.
If you can comment here, I will be happy to be the judge of what it’s worth, and send it along to your paypal address.
Feel like sharing, or just getting off your chest, with no money added in the mix? ‘Freebies’ strongly encouraged as well.. just dont disappoint and leave without saying ANYTHING. Certainly you have something to share?
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- Sep 26th, 2008
- 3 Comments
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Besides enjoyment, can you see how this video will generate buzz for the Movie mentioned, and increase sales?People are blogging about it, twitting about it, and more. It’s HOT. It’s also just a sample of what is being offered daily.
Some more examples:
- Gap has an annual contest allowing you to submit pictures of your children for a chance at being a Gap Model! This is awesome on so many levels + guess what could happen when they hit the site to sign up?
- Rich Schefren just spent 26 hours STRAIGHT! conducting a live Ustream Video to create buzz for
his new One on One Coaching Program. Oh yeh, that baby’s live and you Need to check it out HERE!. - Living overseas I haven’t been able to enjoy this, but my brother Evan says it’s the next big thing. So if you are stateside, check it out and make me jealous!
The list could go on to include the video I just received hoping to inspire me to pray harder on Rosh Hashannah (it didnt work), Frank Kern’s new masterpiece, Sarah Silverman’s plea to Jewish grandchildren to tell your grandparents in Florida to vote for Obama, as we know Florida has swayed the vote before, etc etc..
So you want to make some money? Sell more products? Convert more visitors to sales? Get more eyeballs on YOU or YOUR services?
Great!
So go run along and do something viral.(oh but PLEASE dont send me those old fashioned forwards. I possess the same amount of superstition as the next person, so when I end up reading your forward, since I inevitably DO, I dont want to hear, or read, or even contemplate that if I don’t forward this on in the next 10 minutes to 100 friends something horrible will happen. It is safer for all of humanity to delete me from your inbox. Thank you. )
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- Sep 19th, 2008
- 6 Comments
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I am totally COMING CLEAN here. The timing could not have been more ironic or synergistic.As you know I am delivering a series on how to make money online. I was in the middle of composing a post (well now it’s this one) with an accompanying audio podcast (see below) on How to Focus and selecting a target market. I had a previous post on the subject, but I receive SOO much traffic to that page on focusing, I wanted to offer MORE. (here is link to that post)
What happened? I am approached out of the blue by a marketer I admire. His skills are vast. Lets just leave it as that since it’s still an understatement. He is in the mood to do something ‘different’ this week, so he bestows upon me an offer to take advantage of his services for the week for x amount of $. An offer that is very hard to refuse.
I ask him - “How much you can accomplish in a week?”
He responds - “Depends on your leadership.”
Reasonable. But that meant my input would directly affect his output.
However, I had a problem. My Blog! My unpublished posts just waiting…
This is where I come clean. Blogging is NOT my focus, as I am not really a ‘blogger’.
Here is what creates a ‘blogger’:
- They start blogging out of passion, interest, online journaling, what have you - working off momentum - 95% QUIT!! or write too infrequently to call it any more than a hobby.
- The remaining 5% figure out how to Blog correctly. How? You write good content, engage other bloggers, you include links to other blogs on your site, comment on their site. You WORK IT.
- Suddenly those in the last category start earning money! Wow! Then they become ‘bloggers’ aka those who earn from their passion! A great place to be. They also have a responsibility to their readers, and their advertisers to maintain their blog. It may be their main source of income.
I am a blogger who aims to add value but frankly, it’s just a smart move for an online marketer. It’s something we coach people to do. It allows people to locate you, feel your personality out a bit, an ongoing business card.
I love it, and I love your comments, but when given the opportunity to spend a week FOCUSING, while I was composing THIS VERY text, I decided to take immediate action. It will only make me a more valuable blogger in the future.
What IS My Focus:
To Create / Improve revenue producing projects.
And that’s exactly what happened. (Thank you genius!)
I know this may sound a little vague. Isn’t that EVERYONE’s focus? Yes, but most dont actually focus ON IT. They focus on wanting a certain outcome, but dont commit to the steps needed to realize it. You get the difference? Therefore, to focus on something that seems so common actually makes me very unique.
Now I am sharing with you a conversation with Kelly Mccausey, an online marketer after my own heart! All over the place and overqualified, she had her hands in all pots.. but then PULLED the PLUG, and Finally started to earn money.
Watch this video, and listen to the podcast below it for the long version! Enjoy.
Listen to the call here:
How to Focus and Monetize from ONE Target Market [66:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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- Sep 12th, 2008
- 9 Comments
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I am sorry to interrupt my regularly scheduled ‘video’ posts, but I felt compelled to share this today.I would love your thoughts.
In addition, I owe several posts, all mostly complete, but on hold for information I will explain in my next post. Look out for it.
Listen to these 3 short stories:
1) I needed to find a specific printing store. I have been there several times in the past. It is located in an outdoor strip mall, sandwhiched between a few other stores. I was walking back and forth where I was sure it was located, but couldn’t seem to find it. Finally, by default I recognized it. When I was waiting for my work to be complete, I mentioned to the ’secretary’ (not sure her exact position) that it appears as if the large sign they used to have outside was missing, and I couldn’t find the place. She concurred. Then went on to her next task.
2) Within walking distance to our homes there is a large supermarket, and a smaller mini-market. Mini-markets have the reputation of being more expensive, since they are ‘convenience’ stores. Therefore they thrive on desperate purchases, or the regular subsidized milk, bread, staple items. The one which I am referring to has switched hands probably 4-5 times in as many years. Each new owner is nice, and seems full of promise! I desperately want them to succeed, but of course I also shop at the larger supermarket, since the difference in prices is noticeable.
In this mini-market there is a combination of local items + American imported items. Naturally the later being very high priced. I suggested to him the following plan! Advertise your American items for much lower prices, as in competitive prices. Here is what will happen:
- a) The local supermarket doesn’t carry these items, so he will draw people for these items, they will see his selection, and come back.. and you never buy just one item..
- b) Psychology dictates that people will make assumptions. They will assume that if he is pricing his American items at more reasonable prices, then he must be a reasonable person, and the other items in his store must be reasonably priced, and shop. There is a supermarket that is a drive away that has MASTERED that. You leave there shaking your head how did you spend so much money, when the name of the store is ‘cheap’??? .. but we keep going back and back.
3) Again - the local supermarket. A few doors down is a grocer and by grocer I mean he sells just fruits and veggies. But so does the local supermarket. The only advantage to shopping with him is that his items are more expensive, huh?? Ok, so its more exclusive, his peppers look redder. In this neighborhood there are 1000’s of young women who are students for a year or two. They support the local frozen yogurt biz. I suggest to him to make prepared salads. Girls love salads. They are all in dormitories, and want healthier food (to compensate for their ice cream). It will cost him NOTHING, but the plastic containers to put it in, some plastic cutlery, and salad dressing packets.
This list can go on and on..
Guess what happens when I talk to these people behind counters or the phone?
I get a Shrug. Maybe. A quick thanks.
What are they saying to themselves??
It would seem
“mind your own business”.
“get a life”.
and other unmentionables that I would be happy to say in private.
I want to differentiate my suggestions from .. well lets say.. from something my Mother would say (you know I love you Mom!).. but I am not talking about returning food since it’s cold, glasses because they are dirty, although suggesting that the Bagel Shop sell muffins everyday and not every few days (especially when they sell out in hours) was not a bad one
. I want to know.
Why are these people such idiots?
I dont mean that they are idiots for NOT having implemented these ideas already. beforehand. Why dont they take my advise? Why don’t they consider that they could be more successful if… I see other businesses who incorporate changes, and they improve!
Now the hardest part of this all is turning the tables on MYSELF.
Marketers a little higher up on the food chain are probably shaking their heads at me.. and rightly so! I could be making SO much more money IF I were to: (and this is not a complete list)
- Outsource MORE.
- Get an AWESOME assistant - Virtual or otherwise - who understands my market.
- Sleep.
- Purge from my life what is not working. Expand on what is.
How are YOU being an IDIOT?
What ‘easy’ steps can you take to work on this?
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- Sep 3rd, 2008
- 8 Comments
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I am juggling about 10 - 15 videos / blog posts.. and my challenge lately has been in which order to deliver this information, and honestly, how can I share it in a way which will help YOU the most.So first a question.. If there is something you want to hear about FIRST, or MORE, let me know. You may be able to influence the future of this blog. Wow. What POWER YOU Have
.meanwhile.. as I was pulling my hair out saying “Andrea! It’s Wednesday! Get it together! The week is almost finished!
This happened:
Go here NOW to learn how to get a top ranking site in Google! For FREE!!
When you work so hard to give something away for FREE.. How do you think they are going to deliver when You PAY? .
I mention ‘TODAY’ A few times in this video. The truth is I dont know how long this offer will be running. So, if you happen to find this page because I used Stompernets’ tactics to rank for the Keyword of How to get a Top Ranking Site in Google, well go check out the offer!
Not many of you are aware.. but come Friday.. sometime south of Sunset, I unplug.. well I unplug from my life, reconnect with the family, my bed, and the mess surrounding me! That last part I could do without. … but this is a secret.
I often cheat.
No, I don’t turn on my computer, but yes… if you suddenly notice that I am gone, I may be found hiding in my room with an Entrepreneur Magazine.. or the like. The way I feel when reading those magazines is proof that ‘offline print’ is not going to disappear anytime soon.
I am really excited about the ‘Net Effect’ and love that it’s entirely possible, likely, going to happen, that my name will make it to those pages at some point, ya think?? Especially when I raid the offices in January when I visit my hometown of Atlanta. Watch out guys. Consider yourselves warned.
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- Aug 29th, 2008
- 11 Comments
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Pay Attention:
The following WORKS because its done with:
a) HEART
b) DEPTH
c) INTELLIGENCE
Rich Schefren will be the FIRST to tell you and SHOW you that you can duplicate this concept I will share with you,.. and in fact many of you actually DO..
.. and I am not just dedicating a blog post to this because I am a fan or because we are friends (although I MIGHT have said that to sound self important
)As Strategic Profits, with Rich at the helm, are on their way to releasing another eye opening report, you should really be doing 2 things.
1. Getting ready to read the report. I know it is going to be a great read; Rich is only getting better and better, offering more and more value, not to mention, he is actually a sincerely intelligent person. This will not be outsourced rehashed garbage. This is HIS business, he takes it seriously, and I suggest you do the same. As always, his reports are FREE. Again, check out his video highlighting some ideas you can expect to see.
2. As we are currently conducting a series on ways to make money online, lets also witness what Strategic Profits has done in the past, and how you can learn from this and perhaps adopt similar practices in your own business.
It goes something like this:
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a) Find a fundamental problem in a market, step up to the plate and IDENTIFY the problem. Can you say it better than it has been said in the past? Can you create a bigger issue out of this problem? Can you highlight a New Trend?
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b) Engage your readers without losing YOUR momentum. Trying and figure out their thoughts on the subject. Of course, YOUR answer is just around the corner. It should be a work in progress, because how can it possibly be complete without having HEARD from your prospects? Allow their voice to help you complete your product accordingly
- c) Now … you are almost ready to pounce. Combined with Your Expert knowledge in the subject, and their fears, you PROVIDE the solution. There are really a few possibilities how to deliver this last piece:
1) Free: This works for Strategic Profits, and it may for you, since they offer a variety of other services / products, and I think they (like many) enjoy offering Free value, and charging for those who are serious. They can afford to theoretically ’solve your problems’ for free, because most likely, real success will come from being accountable to yourself and becoming part of a community, coaching club, mastermind, like his (not sure of the terminology), where you are not in this alone. This is actually a HUGE deal. The dent in my wall is clear evidence of this.
2) The buck stops here .. This is your product / service. This is where YOU get paid. Solve their problems! This works for MOST small niche market products / services. This model is highly recommended as a way to break into a new market, and build up a list of supporters. From here you can see where to take it. I personally witnessed Rich’s stratospheric rise to the top of the heap, and I am certain he was as surprised by the reception he received and by the success he has enjoyed since..
Dont OVERPLAN, just Start DOING.
A force you want to make sure exists whether this is a new project, or a repeat occurance is ANTICIPATION. You may think it’s easier for Rich to get eyeballs on his new report due to his history, but in reality, he may have to work harder to convince you that this is something new (oh, and it is!)
so you have to create a ‘what will he think of next’…
For those of you who are new to my blog, new to Rich Schefren.. check out how I personally, if unintentionally, helped build up anticipation for his last report. (Yes, this is my easy way out for having a new video today
)
WOW! Rich - Can you believe this video was ONLY 9 months ago?? A lot happened since
This time Strategic Profits has done an excellent job from where I left off.
.. and have their own video creating anticipation for the new report. It’s right here. Bonus for anyone who has read this far: When I clicked to watch the video, Andy Jenkins from Stompernet introduces Rich. My 5 year old was playing and hears ‘Rich Schefren’.. For those of you who saw the video above and the other, well several… this is a household name! He said ‘Rich is a REAL PERSON? Yeh, Mommy, he is REAL??’ .. this if from a kid who has never heard of Hannah Montana, so I think someone here should be flattered.
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- Aug 27th, 2008
- 8 Comments
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HOW CAN I BE SO CERTAIN That This is Why I succeed…. and my be why YOU have not? (sorry if that sounds harsh)
Simple…. because
the areas I have a harder time succeeding are where my knowledge ends and someone else’s begins. Put simply, YOU (and I) just do better at what we know. Even if it means asking someone else to do it.
What do I know that you MAY NOT?
Watch this:
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
(PS - we will be conducting an interview with Jason soon. Basically stripping him of everything he knows. for YOU. Should be fun)
This is what I know. How to create a simple website. How to FTP. How to make a table, add an image, yada yada.. I can tweak, edit, and shift things around a webpage without having to make a phone call, or pay ridiculous maintenance retainer fees to web design companies….
and you know what?
It took about as LONG to learn all that as it did for me to figure out how to put this Flash Video on this blog.
So now YOU (and that means you too MOM) can learn along with your 8 year old children / grandchildren (who learn this as a matter of course in Elementary school), and build your OWN website. (yes - the text before this is underlined for a reason - it means it will take you where you NEED to go to learn how to tie your shoes, excuse me, I mean build a website!)
I am trying to imagine a difficult task for an adult to equate the difficulty required to Create a website. This is what I came up with:
If you can fill up your own tank of gas (self-serve), or manage to cook a recipe by following the list of ingredients, you can build a website.
It has nothing to do with taste, geek stuff, art (I cannot draw a stick figure), digital cameras, fancy expensive software, or how many degrees you have.
It’s just a matter of getting something to happen at Point A
and making sure it appears at Point B.
I know there are ways to make money without a website. BUT not If you want a Business that will LAST, which others will take SERIOUSLY, and that YOU control.
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SERIOUSLY?
Great. I knew you were.
Here is your ACTION PLAN:
1.
Check out the Web for FREE resources. However.. be warned.. you can find everything under the sun for FREE on the web, but it will NOT provide you with what a complete product should look like. You will have to be the Master of the Outcome, and fill in all those pieces that are left out based on not knowing YOUR needs, or YOUR skill level.
I prefer to PAY to save me time and energy of the learning curve. Especially when you can find what you need so affordably.
2.
Check out Jason’s 7 minute Set up. It’s amazing how many Marketers took YOU knowing this for granted, so thank you Jason for creating this important product!
3.
I am only a member of 2 memberships now. This is one of them. They offer a complete Website Builder as just one part of their extremely robust membership package. Sort of like building blocks, you build your site.
If you are VERY new, I strongly recommend Jason’s product, as this membership site could be (will be) overwhelming. If you have been around for a while, and could benefit from knowing Web design to enhance your other knowledge, I cannot recommend this membership site enough!
Tell me.. What do you know? How did you learn it? Has it benefited you? or..
What do you NOT know… and has it HARMED your business?
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- Aug 21st, 2008
- 20 Comments
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I think the video says it all. However, you MUST read on to hear my story about last night. It’s the ultimate in making it happen, going against my nature, in a crowd not necessarily as like-minded as could be, etc..Read between the lines and find opportunities where you may not even expect them. Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Airplanes!
Here is mine:
‘About Last Night’
I had heard about a local Blogger convention (aka - an evening affair) and understood it to be more of a ‘cultural’ event, then ‘marketing’ event. Hence, I decided not to go.
Last minute I was thinking that right in my backyard are going to be over 100 people who spend a lot of their time doing what I do - staring at this screen I am typing on, and probably at all hours of the day (and night). There has to be some overall chemistry, who knows what can happen.?? Oh, and free food.
I did peg the evening correctly, and therefore am not sure why I was surprised at the lack of conversation about promoting your blog + monetization (which drew laughs from the crowd when it was even suggested). Clearly these people dont know what I know and will be sharing with YOU soon about earning from BLOGGING..
Did you watch my video yet? Well, the funny thing is that I did want to be a little of both ‘wallflower’ and ‘hard to get’.. First of all, I have a long history of thinking that works for me. Not too boisterous, a little mysterious, perhaps even intimidating.. However as a DIRECT response to my OWN video, I shmoozed, I met fellow twitterati, I met other bloggers, other Atlantans, and yes..
I even met..
what could become..
the beginning of a beautiful (business) relationship.
The possibilities are ENDLESS..
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- Aug 18th, 2008
- 10 Comments
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Listen here to a full length call with Ben Shaffer, as we divulge some of our secrets and tips to successful outsourcing. This is a FREE listen. And a MUST.
Enjoy working hard? Then Work SMARTER and just earn a heck of a lot more!
Next.
Here are the companies I use for outsourcing:
1) RentaCoder - Excellent for sophisticated, more expensive projects
2) Scriptlance - Excellent for small fast projectsThere is a LOT of great information BELOW the video. Make sure to scroll down
.The 3 BEST WAYS to Earn from Outsourcing
1) Arbitrage
Although it’s origins are related to ‘finance’, this term has been adopted to refer to any way you effectively manage to pay for something and sell it for more. Buy Wholesale, sell Retail. It is the basis of how most everything is done in this world! We WILL talk about it in future posts (as I am sure we have in the past), because we HAVE to.
Outsourcing Arbitrage? Here you purchase work from an outsourcing company and resell it for a higher value. Articles, Graphics, Ebooks, Websites, even major development projects. Find a few good resources at the companies listed above. You may find some duds along the way, but if you listen to our call, you will find out how to quickly weed out the losers from the keepers.
2) Tedious, Repetitive Tasks
Time consuming tasks done on the cheap. Although you had me at ‘DONE’. Want to write 50 articles in 2 days, comment on 100 forums, or collect leads for a potential JV? This is where outsourcing becomes a DREAM come true, as you are able to move forward with other tasks, while someone else is putting food on THEIR table, doing tasks you would rather poke yourself in the eye with a knife than have to do. Well, maybe thats just me.
3) Recognize your weaknesses. Hire Strengths.
The Ultimate Outsourcing Plan. You manage. Everyone Else builds. Get that project done. You know the one. The one that you have been dreaming to do, or that is sitting half finished on your desktop.
Here is how to get this done:
a) Draw it up.
Write up a list of exactly what needs to get done for the project to be complete. Break it down into tasks such as:
Project Management
Content
Design
Copy
Programming
etc.
b) Claim YOUR stake and by WHEN
What will YOU be able to do? - Put your name by what YOU can / will do (if any) and put a deadline.
c) Whats left over?
Whatever tasks have no names beside them needs to be outsourced. It should be extremely clear.
Advise: If Design + Programming are to be outsourced, you will do better to create 2 separate projects as it is unlikely to find someone who excels at both. Why settle for someone who is average at all tasks, when you can find someone fantastic at each?
d) The Glue
When all pieces are complete, will you need to hire someone else to make sure all the pieces are put together, function, and placed where it needs to be to call it ‘live’? Well, this missing piece is why many people have projects that are 90% complete hanging around. Make sure to add project manager to your list of tasks needed outsourcing, although if your business warrants it, this may be a good task for a member of a staff.
You can sign up here for free access to the call..
Or read here if you want more information on what you can expect from this call
Or read here if you want more information on what you can expect from this call
Watch, Learn and Earn or your money BACK! (hahaha - it's 100% FREE!!)
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