Posts from — February 2005

How to Create Self Extracting Zip Files
by Ed Zivkovic

What is a Self-Extracting Zip File?

A self-extracting zip file enables your computer to unzip
zipped files without installing any new software. The zip
file gets converted to an exe file which once opened,
unzips the contents to a predefined destination folder or a
destination of your choice.

Why Create a Self-Extractor?

The other day, a customer purchased a resale rights eBook
from my site then emailed me because she thought that I had
not included a special file which would enable her computer
to read files of the zip type.

Part of this is my fault because I had not clear
instructions on the download page. I had used a generic
“thank-you” page from the original author which did not
explain the need to unzip the product.

The Solution? There was two options.

Option 1 – I could instruct the customer to go to
winzip.com and download an evaluation version of WinZip.
The customer would then have to install the software which
in my opinion would be a bit time consuming and could cause
confusion, frustration and maybe even resentment. After
all, all the customer wants to do is access the product.
Right?

I have been in a similar situation before and I know from
experience that when I think I am getting “Instant Access”,
that is exactly what I want. I do not want to hear about
the shortcomings of my computer system. I want my product
and I want it now.

Option 2 – Create a self-extracting zip file. Because I own
a registered version of WinZip, I am permitted to create
zip files and self-extracting zip files and distribute
them. This is exactly what I did in about three seconds
flat. I then uploaded the file and emailed the customer
with the download link and explained the situation.

Later I received a thank you email which I think I would
not have received if I had chosen option number one.

How To Create a Self-Extracting Zip File

I myself only know how to do this with WinZip available
from winzip.com. You need not have a head like Einstein for
this.

1. Ensure you have WinZip Installed on your system.

2. Right mouse click on the zip file you would like to
create a self-extractor for.

3. From the WinZip Menu, select “Create Self-Extractor
(Exe)”.

4. A Window will appear. Click OK and WinZip will create a
self-extractor in a couple of seconds.

You can also select a default “unzip to” folder if you
wish. If you leave this option blank, the self-extractor
will unzip to a temp folder.

Notes

You will need to have a registered version of WinZip in
order to distribute any file you create with WinZip. Files
created with an unregistered version will display an
UNREGISTERED message once the file is unzipped.

The author, Ed Zivkovic owns his own website which contains
articles with all sorts of tips for work at home
webmasters. Here is the site: http://www.ezau.com .

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How To Obtain A Merchant’s Credit Card Account by Dominic Ferrara

It’s a proven fact that mail order marketers can increase sales substantially by offering their customers a credit card option.

Some marketers enjoy increases of 10% to 30% in sales when they get up with a Visa/Mastercard merchants account. Others have reported increases up to a whopping 100%, or even more!

If all of your sales are made by mail, you can expect to up your total sales by at least 10%, and more likely 15% to 30% simply by offering the credit card option. If you plan to use the telephone a great deal as a marketing tool, offering a credit card buying option could double or triple your sales.

Credit card buying is seductive. Many people like the option of buying something today that they won’t have to pay for until later. Also, most consumers tend to spend more using their
plastic, than when they’re writing a check, or paying cash.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A CREDIT CARD MERCHANT

There are many good reasons why you can benefit from securing credit card merchants status. Here are some of them…

* People with credit cards are more affluent than those without plastic. They can afford to spend more money. * They tend to be better “credit risks”, if you want to sell
“open account.”

* Overall, they buy more by mail than those without cards.

* You cannot effectively sell from commercials on radio or TV without offering credit card purchasing. Visa and Mastercard are
by far, the cards most consumers have.

* They often will make credit card purchases even when they are short on cash, and/or when their checking account balance is low.

* You can sell on installments, obtaining permission to charge the buyer’s card on a monthly basis.

* You can ship goods with the secure knowledge that payment has been secured before shipment is made.

THE PROBLEM

By now, you’re probably convinced that accepting credit card orders is a darn good idea. But how can you obtain credit card merchants status? Truth is, it’s not always a piece of cake. In
recent years banks have been playing hard-ball with many business people, especially anyone doing business by mail. It’s the same old story, a handfull of mail order crooks have almost totally screwed-up a good thing for honest dealers. The major credit card companies have told the banks to be very, very selective in
issuing merchant accounts to mail order sellers and home business operators.

Because a few scum-bags have ripped off some banks, and run off with the money, your local friendly banker may not be too “friendly” when you tell him you want a merchants account. It has
become increasingly more difficult for mail order sellers to secure a merchants account, and if you only sell by mail, but also do consider setting you up for Visa and Mastercard
processing. That happens to be reality…but always remember WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE MUST BE A WAY! In this special valuable report I’m going to cover some of the best way to obtain
your merchant’s status.

THE BEST WAY TO OBTAIN YOUR MERCHANT ACCOUNT

Although your banker may have already told you that they “cannot” accept you for a merchant account, the simple, unvarnished truth is that he/she can. Visa and Mastercard do set some rigid
guidelines for their affiliated banks to follow, but ultimately the banks must approve or disapprove each application. Excuses concerning “doing business by mail”, “operating a home-based business”, “not having a long business track record”, are just that-excuses! A somewhat polite way to tell you “no”!

Could a mail order businessman, (books, home-study courses, etc.) but how also conducts his business exclusively in his home get a Merchant Account? Fat chance of him getting a merchants
account. Right? Wrong: He happily processes credit card orders for his customers will full knowledge and cooperation from his bank.
How did he do it? He never stopped asking for what he wanted.

When his own bank refused to even consider him for a merchant account, due to the fact that he was in mail order, and also doing business from his home, he beat path to several other
banks.

The first four banks he visited also said “no”, (2 were large institutions, 2 mid-size), so he decided to try some smaller banks. Guess what? The very first bank he went to said “Maybe”.

They asked him to transfer his account to their bank, so that they could “monitor” it for six months. He told the bank official that he would consider their proposal, and the proceeded
to another small bank one block up the street.

He liked what the second small bank said. They said “Yes!” All he needed to do was establish a checking account with them and maintain a modest $1,000, business checking account balance. This
he quickly did!

He is not unique. But he was very persistent and kept asking for what he wanted, and you must also. Probably th two best ways to get a merchant account are:

(1) Keep pestering your own bank about granting you charge card privileges, until they agree to do so.

(2) If your bank outright refuses, make a list of all banks in your immediate area, putting some special attention on small banks. Next, get out a pair of your most comfortable shoes and
get to it! Ask…Ask…Ask..Ask.. Ask! You have nothing to lose, and much to gain by being persistent, and by constantly asking for what you want (that’s good advice in all areas-business and
personal) of your life!

CREDIT CARD MERCHANT ALTERNATIVES

If you absolutely have no success in obtaining a merchants account from a local bank, you should consider the alternatives. Here are some of them…

***Ted Nicholas, best known as the best-selling author of “How To Form Your Own Corporation Without A Lawyer For Under $50.00″, has established a small business organization entitles “Entrepreneurs of America.” Membership is $50.00 per year. This organization intends to offer reasonable rates on credit card processing to their members. For more information write to: Entrepreneurs of America, 2020 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 224, Washington, DC 20006.
Phone: (800) 533-2665.

*** The Late Howard E. Welsh is the founder and director of the fast growing National Association of Publishers and Mail Order
Dealers. His association has many exciting programs to help small order tabloid publishers and small mail order dealers succeed. Just prior to printing this report, For more information,
write: NAPOD, 12 Westerville Square, #355 Westerville, Oh 43081.

***If you sell books, manuals, magazines, or forms of “paper and ink” products, you may wish to join the American Booksellers Association (ABA). This is the No. 1 booksellers professional
association in the United States. In addition to many other benefits (National and regional conventions and trade shows, educational programs, etc.), members also can have their credit card orders processed through the ABA’s Merchant Service Discount program. Write to: American Booksellers Association, 122 E. 42nd
St., New York, NY 10168.

***Barry Reid, owner of the Eden Press, has advertised that he can help mail order marketers obtain credit card processing. Write: Eden Press, Box 8410, Fountain Valley, CA 92728.

***Mountain West Communications of Colorado offers a business telephone answering service that handles inquires or orders. When
you subscribe to their service, they can also process your credit card orders for you. Write: Mountain West Communications, P.O.
Box 216, Hotchkiss, CO 81419. Phone: (800) 642-9378.

NEVER GIVE UP!

Although this special report gives you various sources that might be able to help you with your credit card processing, the main
message of this report is “NEVER GIVE UP” Never take “NO” for a final answer. Keep asking for what you want! Those who keep asking and seeking, usually obtain what they want.

Find great information for getting a Merchant Account.
http://www.merchant-account-setup.info

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Getting Hundreds of Links to Your Website by Rick Hendershot

If you have begun exchanging links, you know how time consuming — and time-wasting — it can be. On the other hand, you don’t want to give up the process because you might actually unearth the occasional valuable link partner. After all, you know that getting links to your site is important because it brings in traffic, helps you find strategic partners, and enhances your Search Engine rankings. Your objective is to get hundreds of links, and you cannot get the job done unless you have a strategy that works.

First you have to accept that not all links are created equal. And that means that link partners have to be prioritized. Some are worthless because your links end up on pages that nobody looks at and have no PR.

But at the other end of the spectrum a few of your link partners will be very valuable because they will give you links on high value, high traffic pages.

Most of the rest of your inbound links will be marginally valuable. How you tell the difference between the valuable ones and the useless ones is the subject of many discussions and articles, some of which you will find at the Linknet Marketing Resource Library.

————————————————–

The fastest, most direct, and least painful strategy is to find link partners who will either sell or trade text ads on a number of high value pages. For example, at Linknet we do both of these things (selling and trading multiple links).

We offer up to 25 free links across 25 websites. And we also offer packages of 30 and 50 links for one small annual fee. For more information go to our Free Advertising page.

————————————————–

One solution is to put prospective link partners into three levels. This assumes that you have already rejected those that have negative value — the sites you don’t want to identify with for various reasons — pornography, violence, racism, pharmaceuticals, and so on. Here is a suggestion for three levels of inbound links (links pointing at your pages):

Level 1 – Basic Links
These links will often be from sites you have not taken a lot of time to study. So they may not have significant positive value. But they will not have negative value either. Therefore, if exchanging links with these partners can be done efficiently, there is no downside to doing it. These will usually be “reciprocal” partners and can be given links on properly formed “link directory pages”. The more time and effort you put into your directory, the more valuable it will become.

Level 2 – Self-Generated Multi-Links
The second category consists of “multi-links” that you generate yourself. You do this by seeding your articles, forum posts, blog entries and so on, around the web. Many of the strategies used to create these links are discussed in the “Power Linking” section of the Linknet Marketing Resource Library, mentioned above.

Level 3 – High Value Links
The third and most valuable category consists of “High Value Links” on sites that you specifically target. These include high traffic sites in your area of interest, highly rated directories, and sites where you can get a number of quality links all at once. In some cases these links will bring you lots of traffic. In other cases they will enhance your PR and Search Engine ranking. You need both kinds.

As I mention in other posts, there are a range of strategies to get these “Level 3″ links. For instance,

- Write glowing testimonials. Target 10 or 20 high traffic sites in your area of interest, and send your testimonial to the webmaster. Usually they can’t resist publishing it where everybody will see it.

- Write positive reviews of sites and/or posts. Target 10 or 20 high traffic products/sites. Post the reviews on your site or in your blog, and make sure to send a copy to the reviewee. Again, most webmasters or online entrepreneurs are hungry for this kind of exposure. You might even create a “review” section on your site to show you are serious.

But the fastest, most direct, and least painful strategy is to find link partners who will either sell or trade text ads on a number of high value pages. For example, at Linknet we do both of these things (selling and trading multiple links).

Check out how to get 25 FREE Links.

Sign up for our Free Course in How to Get Hundreds of Links to your Website.

About the Author
Rick Hendershot is a marketing consultant, writer, and internet publisher who lives in Conestogo, Ontario, Canada. He publishes several websites and blogs, Marketing Bites, SuperCharge Your Website with Powerful Linking Strategies, and many more.

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What You Need To Know About Incorporating Your Business by Diane Hughes

Most US-based small businesses are getting eaten alive in taxes! That statement has proven itself true over and over again. However, while small business owners want to save money, many are literally afraid of incorporating their companies. The paperwork, the additional reports, having a set payroll amount each month, and other visions swirl around their heads. Those visions could be costing you a ton!

Let me take a few minutes to explain what you need to know about incorporating your business. While it certainly isn’t a move every business will want to make, there are definitely some large benefits associated with incorporation.

MYTH
Incorporating means I can’t take money whenever I want it.

TRUTH
Yes you can! This is a MYTH that holds a lot of small business owners back from incorporating. If you set a payroll amount for yourself, then decide you want/need more money, you simply write yourself another check and call it an “owner distribution” or a “draw.”

MYTH
There’s too much paperwork involved once you incorporate. I don’t have the time.

TRUTH
There are some additional forms you have to complete. There are some additional taxes you have to pay. HOWEVER… read this carefully… for the three or four extra forms and the cost of the additional taxes, most businesses will still save when compared to counting every dollar you make toward personal income.

MYTH
The only good reason to incorporate is for personal protection. The difference in taxes isn’t that much.

TRUTH
While incorporating your business will help protect you from lawsuits and from having your personal property seized, there are more benefits than that. The tax savings can be quite significant.

MYTH
With the attorney’s fees, the CPA’s fees, the additional income tax returns, and the forms I have to file quarterly, it’s just not worth it. I won’t really save any money.

TRUTH
Every case is different; however, most small businesses will more than make up the $1500 – $2000 it costs to incorporate within the first six months to one year. Also, most small businesses will save about 50% on taxes after they incorporate. (A qualified CPA will be able to look at your books and give you a more accurate figure.)

MYTH
I’ll have to hold meetings and keep lots of records that I don’t have time to keep.

TRUTH
Not if you register as a “closed” S-Corporation. This means you have waived the requirement to hold all those meetings and keep all those records.

How Do You Get Specific Details?

Contact a qualified CPA in your local area. He or she can give you detailed information on how much it will cost to set everything up, and – most importantly – how much you will save in taxes.

Incorporation is not something to be afraid of. In fact, if you’re one of the many who will save 50% off your taxes in the next year, it’s something to go after with a vengeance!

About the Author
Diane C. Hughes * ProBizTips.com

FREE Report: Amazingly Simple (Yet Super Powerful)
Ways To Skyrocket Your Sales And Build Your Business
Into A Tower of Profits! ==>> http://madmarketer.com/diane

Seven reasons to use direct mail for sales lead generation. by Alan Sharpe

1. Personal
Unlike an advertisement in a trade publication, which can be read by anyone, your sales letter arrives at your prospect’s place of business as a piece of personal communication from your mind to his. Also, unlike any other medium, direct mail can be personalized (Dear Mr. Smith) and customized to each reader (“As an IT manager, you know that . . .”), showing your prospect that you know about him by name and understand his business in particular.

2. Cost effective
Advertising by its very nature is expensive. To reach a lot of people, you need to spend a lot of money. Direct mail, on the other hand, only targets the prospects you want to reach. Instead of pitching your product to a huge audience of potential buyers, you aim your sales message only at prospects most likely to buy.

3. Breaks through the clutter
Your ad can easily get lost among dozens of competing ads in a trade newspaper. Your sales message is also easily forgotten on radio or television unless you repeat it many times, which is expensive. But a simple letter, addressed to your prospect by name and arriving on her desk in the morning mail (which she must open), cuts through the media clutter and gets her attention.

4. Measurable ROI
Direct mail is one of the best mediums for measuring the return on your marketing dollar (or pound or yen). Simply code your business reply cards, and count how many return to you in the mail. Then calculate how many of those replies generate a sales meeting or a sale. Now you know immediately–and exactly–how effective your mailing has been. Direct mail numbers never lie.

5. Predictable
One advantage of knowing the success rates of your past mailings is that you can predict the success of future mailing. If you mail the same package with the same offer to a similar group of prospects at the same time of year, you can predict how many responses you will receive, and how many of those will translate into sales.

6. Can be improved through testing
Because you can measure your direct mail results, you can also test your mailings. Test one package against another, one list against another, one offer against another, and you’ll discover what works and what fails. That way you’ll spend your marketing dollars where they are most effective (without relying on guess work or hunches).

7. Immediate
General advertising builds brand awareness. Sales brochures inform. But a direct mail letter asks for action now. So if you need to generate sales leads, and don’t have time to wait for your ad to appear in “IT Buyers Quarterly,” send a direct mail letter and wait a week or so for a response.

About the Author
Alan Sharpe is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter, sales lead consultant and owner of www.sharpecopy.com. Alan helps businesses attract qualified prospects using creative, compelling, cost-effective direct mail marketing.

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