I just came back in from playing frisbee with my dogs. I was out there getting some fresh air and enjoying the sunshine (while it lasts). We’re supposed to be getting more snow in the next few days.

I’ve been thinking about how to not let myself get overwhelmed with the information available and everything I feel like I need to learn about internet marketing and specifically list building. It’s really simple, but I make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Last week I posted my plan and here are the results.

2 new subscribers to my list

Revised my video for Alex Jeffreys video competition

Traffic to my blog remained about the same

Added Free Traffic Secrets book to my site

Submitted Free Traffic Secrets to a giveaway site

Even though I didn’t finish everything on my list, I am happy with what I did accomplish.

As with everything new, there was a learning curve when I went to revise my video. At least now I know how to add a free gift to a giveaway site and that process won’t take as long as the first time.

Plan for Week of January 26-31

Monday - Visit blogs with similar information and leave comments; Alex Jeffreys refers to this as oil rig hopping. Visit high traffic blogs that are related in subject to your blog and leave comments that are relevant and helpful.

Tuesday - Submit ads to sites like Free Ad Depot and US Free Ads and write articles

Thursday - Visit forums – Warrior Forum and Internet Marketing Forum and Yahoo Answers

Friday – Submit site to directories

Saturday - Write a blog post to record what my results are.

Check back with me soon. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Please let me know your thoughts about what works for you.

To your success,
Theresa

Get your Free List Building Report

I have been so impressed with the quality of videos that I see my fellow coaching students (of Alex Jeffreys) submitting.

A week or so ago, I submitted a video to Youtube and included music. At the end of the video I also gave credit to the group. I did receive a couple of comments about copyright issues and decided to pull the video myself instead of risk any problems. I also want to be a responsible role model for anyone following me, so thought this would be a better way to go, even though it puts me behind in the competition.

No one realizes the learning curve that goes along with doing even these small activities. Maybe some of you have the technical skills and software required to produce video, but there are many of us who are learning all of the skills as we go.

My Flip camera’s sound quality was so poor that I went back to using my webcam. The problem with that was the software must have been corrupted. I ended up deleting the software and downloading a newer version.

So, now the end result is a simple introduction of myself and talking about my experience with finding a coach for my online business. It’s not going to win the creativity competition, but it is uploaded to Youtube and now I can move on to learning more about video so that the next one will be even better.

Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t made a video yet. Let me know if I can help you . . . I’ve certainly had my share of set backs with it. The other people who are really skilled at video production are Steve Gracia and Rob.

Watch my video and let me know your thoughts.  I’d love to help you if I can.

I was just over visiting at JT Martin’s place and read his post on “I Broke Alex Jeffreys’ Golden Rule”. He was talking the trials of trying to run an online business while working a 40 hour week and take care of a family.

It was a great reminder to “not chase the money” as Alex says. JT got back on the horse so to speak and started creating videos and went back to what he does best, which is provide super tutorials for his readers.

My work week started with a sit down at the dining room table away from my computer. The computer is a wonderful invention, but it can be a bit distracting when I’m trying to focus on one thing at a time; like goal setting.

I don’t know how it is for you, but I’m really working hard on not multi-tasking.

Please stop by and check in with me to see how I’m progressing. Your comments are sure welcome. If you have an idea or way you create your weekly schedule, I’d sure love to hear about it.

Goals for this week:

Increase traffic to my blog and PPP

Get 20-50 people to opt-in to my list

Re-do the video for the competition

Make a how-to video

Write two articles and submit them to Ezinearticles.com

Set up giveaways on my site (I’m going back to JT’s place and watch the videos he created for this, thanks again JT)

Make a Squidoo lens on blogging and how it helps to get traffic, build trust and credibility, etc.

Daily Schedule:

Blog hopping                                                                     60 minutes

Education -
key word research, watching how-to videos      60 minutes

Visit forums                                                                       30 minutes

Writing                                                                                 30-60 minutes

Gary Simpson wants to know where you stand on the Alex Jeffreys issue.

You see, Gary is on page one of Google in position 1 and 2  for “Alex Jeffreys Brainstorming” and “Alex Jeffreys scam”

He’s got a poll on his site where you can give Alex the thumbs up (or down). He wants to show all the folks who don’t know whether to believe that Alex is for real or not just what kind of person he is.

All of us in Alex’s coaching course know first hand the quality of mentoring we are receiving. Hope you get a chance to find out for yourself.

Head over to Gary’s place and vote!

In the last coaching module on getting traffic to your web site, Alex Jeffreys brought up a few points that I’d like to share with you.

But, first I wanted to let you know what’s been going on with me.

I got a little side tracked with some health issues and a few other obligations that required my attention. This kind of thing happens and I’m learning how to stay focused and get things done.

Pretty soon the name Alex Jeffreys and list building will be synonymous. Alex Jeffreys’ name will be the definition for list building on Wiki.

Module on Traffic

The winner of Alex’s contest for getting traffic was Jim Gallagher over at Kotobot. Jim has done an amazing job of outlining his traffic tactics and I’d suggest you hop over there and take a look to see how he got over 43,000 hits in a matter of a week or two.

Special points:

Don’t get it right, get it going

Know who you want to follow and who is following you

Useful sites are:

Alexa.com

Yahoo Answers

Frank Haywood is one of Alex Jeffreys’ mentors who has a very helpful site on internet marketing.

Market Link find out who’s linking to your site

Friend or Follow find out who is not following you on Twitter

The subject of staying focused on your business came to me because I’ve been struggling with it lately.

It’s easy to come up with excuses about why I’m not accomplishing as much as I’d like. There are always distractions that seem important at the time. Do you know what I mean? It happens to everyone.

I have a list of things I’m doing to help with this problem of not being able to focus my attention.

Here goes:
1. Do not turn on the computer until my list of tasks for the day is written. This should really be done the night before, but in case it didn’t get done, then take care of that first.

2. Stick to blocks of time for each scheduled task. This really helps to keep me on track and I get a reality check of how long each task should really take (minus the distractions).

3. Talk with the people in your house about not interrupting you while you’re working. Even those one or two minute conversations will make me lose momentum and focus.

4. Turn off the email pop up that shows you have a new message.

5. Take breaks and get some fresh air and exercise. This helps me clear my thoughts.

6. Going back over the goals I created for myself reminds me of what I want to accomplish with my business.

Hope this helps. Let me know what works for you.
To your success,
Theresa

The bonus module in the Alex Jeffreys coaching course tonight was on using video to grow your business.

Alex’s guest coach was none other than the Video Queen herself, Maria Andros.

What a dynamic speaker and presenter! Maria’s personality emanated through the phone and we all felt her presence as if she were in the same room with all of us.

If she could do that over the phone, just think what she can do with video! Just go to Youtube and search her name. Better yet, watch this video of her talking about video and your business.

One of the most important things I got from the class was that communication is more than what you say  . . . it’s how you say it. When you can actually see and hear the person, you get more of a feeling like you know them.

The other thing that happens with video is that you begin to be seen as an expert in your niche.

Maria Andros shared a very interesting story about something that happened after she had spent some time doing videos for her business. She went to a class and was recognized by Mike Dillard. Her point was that you can create  a following that turns you into a celebrity. The power of video . . . “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.”

I loved Maria’s positive, open attitude about life and the possibilities that are available to all of us when we leverage the power of video for our businesses.

Alex ended the class with the announcement of the next contest.

We are to create a video about our business. It needs to have the following elements in it:

An introduction of ourselves and our website.

An introduction of Alex Jeffreys and mention his site Marketing With You.

The video needs to be uploaded to Youtube.

There will be two winners . . . the most creative video and the one that gets the most traffic to their website before February 5th.

Harry Harris is doing a video for the class of 2008, so if you want to be included, go visit Harry’s blog and let him know. What a creative, generous fellow.

Hey every body, how’s it going?

Are your comments being seen? If you’re wondering why some of your comments are not getting on the posts, it could be that they are being intercepted by the spam filter.

I don’t know about you, but I do look at the comments that land in the spam file. Right now I don’t get so many comments that I will just ignore those . . . yet.

I received a comment from someone this morning and wondered why it landed in the trash bin. The content of the note was complimentary and relevant to my post; however he used his url for a site that I am also an affiliate of which lead the reader directly to his squeeze page.

In his signature file, he included three other links. I believe this is why it happened.

The link to your blog is fine, but including your ppp or other squeeze page sites may land you in the spam folder permanently. This is all part of our education.

Let me know your thoughts,

Theresa

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

Breaking news, everyone!

This just in from David D’ Arcangelo:

They listened to the pleading, begging, and offers of first born’s (well, not really) to extend the WebProsperity Pre-Launch for another 7 days.

They will accept free sign ups until next Tuesday, January 13th at 12 noon Eastern time. This is big news because it means that the company listens to the requests. I think this is an excellent way to start off a relationship, don’t you?

There are currently 62,000 users signing people up every few seconds. Yesterday was a record breaking 10,000 sign ups and they expect the same for today.

Go to and sign up now for your free membership.

Upcoming Conference Calls: Make Sure You Put
These Dates & Times in Your Calendars NOW!

When:  Today, tomorrow and every day thereafter for the next 2 weeks.
Times: 9 AM PST (12 noon EST) and 5:30 PM PST (8:30 PM EST);
Dial-in Details:
US Dial-In Number: (712) 432-1001
International Dial-In Number: +1 712 432-1001
Access Code: 460589621# (Get on early!)

I had a request to publish my schedule of daily tasks.

This is something that I had intended to do anyway just to keep myself organized and on track with my goals.

It’s also a way to keep myself accountable. I will make another post tomorrow to let you know what I was able to accomplish, so I hope you’ll check back.

1.  Post on my blog    15 minutes

2.  “Oil rig hopping”/visiting the blogs of class mates and other related blogs to learn from and leave constructive comments.   JT’s place is my first stop. 60 minutes

3.  Use BlogClicker to get credit for traffic to my blog and find interesting blogs to visit.   15 minutes

4.  Visit Warrior Forum and Internet Marketing Forum . Spend 30 minutes reading and posting comments.

5. Write an article about WebProsperity and post to Squidoo or Hub pages. 45 – 60 minutes.

Okay, that’s my plan for today. Do you have yours? You’re welcome to share your comments below about what your plan consists of or how you get traffic.

See you later,

Theresa