Why Less Passion Is Better For Business

Hey! Why the Long Sales Pages?
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2009-04-01 | Word Count: 868 | Page Views: 405 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 2.40
So, you get one of those emails from someone whose business you kinda like. And it's got some enticing little message in it - so you click to take a look at the offer. And suddenly you find yourself in highlighter land. Broad streaks of yellow, lots of exclamation points, and pages and pages of words making all kinds of claims and promises. And when you scroll allllllll the way down to the bottom, there isn't even a price. You need to click on an 'order now' button before they even tell you the price.

How To Write A 300 Page Book In Four Months
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2009-02-26 | Word Count: 821 | Page Views: 517 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 2.60
There's a lot of hoopla about becoming an author of your very own business book. The promise of fame and fortune is very alluring. Yet your book remains perpetually 'about to be' written. Or, you've sequestered yourself for weeks or months to write your book, only to come out with something you feel luke-warm about.

How To Get Feedback From Colleagues That Makes Sense
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2009-01-27 | Word Count: 841 | Page Views: 883 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 2.75
Okay, you've just written a new website, or a new sales page. Or maybe you've just created a new product or offer. Or even just tried on a new suit. And you turn to your friend and ask: "Can I get some feedback from you? What do you think?"

The Role of Hunger in Your Business
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2009-01-21 | Word Count: 1016 | Page Views: 405 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 3.50
Hunger and fear are good for your business. Not abject hunger and despairing panic, mind you. That's too much. But a little touch of hunger and fear is very useful. I know there are many people out there who would prefer that not to be the case. And I'm one of them. I wish inspiration and love were big enough motivators for action. But for us humans who aren't yet enlightened, they don't seem to work so well.

Spirituality in Your Business Without Scaring Clients
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2009-01-05 | Word Count: 1101 | Page Views: 384 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 2.75
You've been deepening your spirituality, and it has seeped into everything you do, or is starting to. The thing is, will it freak your clients out if you go all woo-woo and bizarre on them? Even if you're already using spirituality strongly in your business, I'm guessing there are places you just don't want to go, things that are too blatant or strong. You don't want to evangelize, you're not looking to convert anyone. But something's missing.

How a Personal Secretary is Critical to Your Response Rate
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-12-23 | Word Count: 1037 | Page Views: 366 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 3.00
In a past Moneyflow class, one of the participants was promoting a seminar. 'People aren't responding to my emails. What do I do?' 'Well, tell me what you've done,' I said. 'Today the second email went out. I've only had 5 people respond so far on my list of 100. And I've been networking, and making phone calls, and sending out flyers.' What wasn't working?

Avoiding Financial Trauma Stress Disorder
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-12-01 | Word Count: 1002 | Page Views: 457 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 1.00
Day after day we're being treated to news of the global financial markets being flushed further and further down the toilet. If you run a small business, it can be hard to hold onto hope and inspiration, because maybe this time things really are doomed. Makes you wonder and doubt--did someone not buy simply because they didn't buy, or is this the beginning of the end of your business?

Marketing Without Spending Your Life Trolling the Internet
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-11-17 | Word Count: 1160 | Page Views: 394 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 1.83
"I'd rather be rock climbing, hiking, spending time outside than in front of a computer. And, it all feels so useless, like nothing works anyhow. I'm spending my life energy in front of the computer, I feel like , and it's not moving my business forward!" That's what a client of ours was telling us. And how about you? You're staring at a screen right now, reading this. How many hours do you have to spend in front of a computer to make your business work, anyway?

Why Clients Don't Buy-- and 8232;The Hierarchy of Choice
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-11-14 | Word Count: 1352 | Page Views: 369 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 2.83
So you struggle over getting all the details just right, like pricing and timing, and all the other features included in your offers so your best clients will buy from you. So why aren't they buying? It's because all of those details are actually the least important part of a purchasing choice. One common misconception says that human beings make choices based on what's best for them, but that falls apart really quickly in the aftermath of several empty tubs of ice cream, as you hold your stomach and groan, "Why did I do that again?!?"

Can Branding Ever Be Heart Centered?
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-10-27 | Word Count: 807 | Page Views: 414 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 3.00
Sometimes the world delivers up vocabulary words that are just plain wrong. Painfully wrong. Words like "branding," which the world of marketing seems to love, but regular folks and cows just seem to hate. And it's because of how branding has often been used. Companies have done psychological studies on how to craft an environment that gets you to react in the way they want you to. It's like herding cattle into the searing-hot iron--ouch. Of course you don't want to use branding. Why would you ever want to do THAT?

All of Author's Articles on this site: Mark Silver Articles

Not Your Grandfather’s Press Release
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario | Distributed: 2010-09-02 | Word Count: 847 | Page Views: 103
Sometimes the various means of branding a business overlap. Blogs, video archives, promotional pages, the online press room and press releases all seem to bleed into each other without distinction. So what is it that makes any one element distinct? Press releases have their clue in their name; they are released to other locations in order to get information out to a wider audience than a brand's own immediate readership. When that is considered, the various ways a press release can be leveraged to capture that audience become much more evident.

Online Brand Marketing - 4 Ways to Use Social Media in Promotions
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario | Distributed: 2010-08-26 | Word Count: 853 | Page Views: 99
Social media marketing has earned its place as one of the fastest-growing, most competitive marketing fields in the history of advertising. The best social media tools combine simplicity with an extensive reach, allowing messages to target thousands of people in seconds, thus serving as an outstanding tool of brand promotion. Briefly, here are a few of the more interesting and simple ways you can use social media to arrange a short-term promotion for your brand.

The Fastest Way To Reducing Residential Energy Demand
Written by: V Rory Jones and Stephen Malloy | Distributed: 2010-08-03 | Word Count: 1437 | Page Views: 128 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 5.00
How do you get a consumer to take action? Of course, you make it in their overwhelming interest to act, and you enable them with guidance and a few tools. Clearly, if you have an outcome in mind, it is critical to understand what is actually in the consumer's best interest, and to arrange motivators to deliver the desired action.

The Photocopier,The Firewall and Google
Written by: Jennifer Robinson | Distributed: 2010-08-03 | Word Count: 420 | Page Views: 179 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 2.00
China, following on from its censorship of the Internet, has identified photocopiers in Tibet as a potential threat to the state... Continue reading to get the details of this odd story...

The Future of the Office Photocopier Industry
Written by: Jennifer Robinson | Distributed: 2010-07-29 | Word Count: 635 | Page Views: 168
Since Xerox first invented and sold the first commercial photocopy machine companies and organisations have paid for use of the machine on a cost per copy basis. This has traditionally included full maintainance and toner supplied under a service agreement. In-fact the office photocopier is unique in the fact its one of the only pieces of equipment that comes without a warranty from new. But photocopier expert Online Connect UK claim all that is about to change.

Building Brand Identity: The Shining Success of Penny Arcade
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario | Distributed: 2010-07-28 | Word Count: 856 | Page Views: 80
As brands go, few are as successful as Penny Arcade. Begun in 1998 as a web comic focused on videogame culture as seen through the eyes of the writer and artist, it has grown into a cultural touchstone and an example of how a brand can develop from humble roots into a true powerhouse.

Online Fax Solutions For Your Small Home Business
Written by: Titus Hoskins | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 812 | Page Views: 88
Anyone operating a small business or home office will know you have to keep a close watch on your operating expenses. These expenses can balloon out of control and eat into your profits. Here is one solution concerning online fax.

Maximizing Profits by Lowering Health Care Costs in an Obamacare Society
Written by: Thayne Carper | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 920 | Page Views: 97
Health care costs are a growing concern amongst small and large business owners throughout America. The cost of medicine in the United States is out of control. Because of the rising health care costs, employers are forced to reduce bonuses, reduce spending, and sometimes layoff employees, which increases stress.

In Their Own Way: Stories of Online Branding Success
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 977 | Page Views: 104
Here are a few web branding success stories. These are not the names that are usually thrown about, like YouTube or Facebook. Rather, these are people who have developed a niche success in their own field, and have become world-famous brands in their own way, and their own time.

Business Lessons from the Soccer World Cup
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2010-06-24 | Word Count: 487 | Page Views: 157
Here's what's interesting: at half-time I was listening to the commentators and they said something which I found interesting...

How To Write A 300 Page Book In Four Months
Written by: Mark Silver | Distributed: 2008-07-15 | Word Count: 821 | Page Views: 36078 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 1.40
There's a lot of hoopla about becoming an author of your very own business book. The promise of fame and fortune is very alluring. Yet your book remains perpetually 'about to be' written. Meanwhile your business has ground to a halt. Hmmm... might there be a better way to get a book written?

The Best Marketing Book I've Ever Read (You'll Be Surprised)
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2007-05-09 | Word Count: 1522 | Page Views: 33230 | Votes: 15 | Rating: 3.60
From time to time someone asks me to recommend marketing books. Here's one of my favorite marketing books that always surprises people. Curious? Read on.

The Bizarre History Of The HOLLYWOOD Sign
Written by: Morris Timlen | Distributed: 2008-11-05 | Word Count: 1211 | Page Views: 25765 | Votes: 19 | Rating: 3.26
The most famous sign in the history of mankind is the one that graces the side of the hill above Hollywood, California. As famous a landmark as the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, the Eiffel Tower in Paris France, the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, The Church of the Savior on Blood in Saint Petersburg Russia, and the Statue Of Liberty in New York City, the Hollywood sign is known around the world as the symbol of the American movie industry.

What Does It Take To Be A Successful Salesman?
Written by: Casey Moher | Distributed: 2008-08-05 | Word Count: 930 | Page Views: 5853 | Votes: 33 | Rating: 3.12
In the course of my average workweek, I meet people who tell me that they have no sales experience, and very literally, many will tell me that they could not sell if their lives depended on it. Do you fit into this mold? Do you seriously believe that you can sell me on the idea that you cannot sell things?

Selecting Between a 401(k) And 403(b) For a Nonprofit
Written by: Daniel Lamaute | Distributed: 2007-10-11 | Word Count: 333 | Page Views: 3460 | Votes: 15 | Rating: 2.80
Newly released IRS regulations impose several new requirements and fiduciary responsibilities on employers with 403(b) plans. While the regulations generally don't take effect until January 1, 2009, there are some provisions that apply sooner.

Pitch A No-Hitter With Baseball-Themed Flower Gifts
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2007-12-25 | Word Count: 413 | Page Views: 3045 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 1.70
Want to send a gift to the baseball fan in your life that's sure to knock one out of the park? Send flowers with a baseball theme! Everyone loves flowers and when you personalize them to include the recipient's favorite hobbies, like baseball, they're sure to make an even greater impression.

You Can Turn Complaints into Cash!
Written by: Judy Murdoch | Distributed: 2006-08-08 | Word Count: 795 | Page Views: 3013 | Votes: 24 | Rating: 3.54
Most of us don't like listening to complaints. We can't imagine the value in listening to someone rant and rage about something they're dissatisfied with. But here 's a secret: There's gold in those complaints—-if—-you know what to listen for.

A Wedding Competition Worthy Of American Idol Status
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2007-12-11 | Word Count: 392 | Page Views: 2709 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.00
Past American Idol contestants Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks, and Kelly Clarkson may have stood up to the pressures of the American Idol competition, but could they handle the stress of the Designer Wedding Challenge.

The Pros And Cons Of Postcard Marketing-direct marketing offline
Written by: Cheryl Miller | Distributed: 2006-11-29 | Word Count: 675 | Page Views: 2673 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 2.60
Postcard marketing is one of the oldest methods of marketing. Its concept is simple but can be quite effective. It is just sending out your message to your mailing list on a postcard. Postcard marketing is a powerful and cost effective way to advertise and will keep building in momentum when done correctly.

Never Write A 'Thank You' Letter Again
Written by: Perry Maisin | Distributed: 2008-08-12 | Word Count: 971 | Page Views: 2575 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.36
When I was in graduate school, I had a friend who interviewed at fortune 500 companies and succeeded at landing a great job. One day, I saw him sitting in the student union with a stack of cards. The cards said 'thank you'. He opened each card and signed his name. The inside of the card was blank. I asked him what he was doing and he told me that it was important to send a 'thank you' to every person you interviewed with. He believed that that was the difference between getting the job and being passed over.

Why Businesses Need Receivable Factoring In Cash Flow Management
Written by: Toby Seibert | Distributed: 2007-08-08 | Word Count: 866 | Page Views: 1060 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.60
In today's business environment, many businesses need to fine-tune the process of getting paid on invoices, in order to improve their cash on hand. Improving cash flow can be an ongoing challenge for businesses of all sizes, and it is an issue that must be addressed to ensure the long-term viability of the business.

Whose Restaurant Can You Find Online?
Written by: Rudy Vener | Distributed: 2007-07-09 | Word Count: 640 | Page Views: 832 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
What is so significant about Pizza Hut's latest TV commercial?

Business School for Non-Business Minds: Got a NAICS Number?
Written by: Melissa Mashtonio | Distributed: 2008-04-15 | Word Count: 423 | Page Views: 630 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
I’m a journalist. I spent a lot of my career in the news business. As my career has progressed, I’ve spent time at small and large companies, and I have sat through dozens of business meetings wondering what the heck the “money” people are talking about. They used acronyms as if they were a foreign language.

FDA's New Process Validation Guidance Recommends Team Approach
Written by: Norm Howe | Distributed: 2009-01-21 | Word Count: 665 | Page Views: 930 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
The November 2008 FDA draft guidance for process validation says "We recommend an integrated team approach to process validation that includes expertise from a variety of disciplines..." But when different people from different backgrounds work together, disagreements can stall your team. How do you get your project back on track?

The Problem With Swiping Sales Copy
Written by: Scott Bywater | Distributed: 2009-12-03 | Word Count: 480 | Page Views: 334 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 4.40
This is what people miss when they try to simply "swipe" sales copy from another advertisement.

Equal Opportunity Pizza Ordering
Written by: Rudy Vener | Distributed: 2007-10-19 | Word Count: 629 | Page Views: 819 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 4.38
With online ordering, your menu and restaurant suddenly become accessible to both the deaf and blind customers in your community.

The Secret To Making Successful Business Connections
Written by: Kate Smalley | Distributed: 2006-10-11 | Word Count: 672 | Page Views: 846 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 4.00
If you have a hard time making successful business connections, don't despair. Anyone can be good at meeting people-if they use the right technique. The whole secret to making a positive connection is knowing how to attract people and inspire them to want to give you a chance.

How to Build a Really Great Business? (Super Success Secrets from a Legendary Business Master)
Written by: Chet Holmes | Distributed: 2007-01-15 | Word Count: 1523 | Page Views: 902 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 4.00
Times are tough. The economy is in a constant state of upheaval. Is your company doing better than most? Are you placing greater emphasis on pure performance?

How to Charge More and Get It!
Written by: Kendall SummerHawk | Distributed: 2006-08-01 | Word Count: 290 | Page Views: 815 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 3.88
Why do businesses undercharge for their service? Fear. Fear of being rejected and fear of being disapproved of certainly. But the real fear is of not being good enough. Here are some tips to help you decide what the right price is for your products or service.

Online Copywriting Makes Content as the King
Written by: Steven Gerber | Distributed: 2006-12-11 | Word Count: 560 | Page Views: 973 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.86
The inverted pyramid is basically the placing of 4 W's in the primary sentences of the articles, supported by the other W and H on the following discussions. Four W's consist of what, when, where, and who. The other W which stands for why on the other hand, follows on the succeeding paragraphs, including the elaboration for the H which also stands for how, if necessary.