A couple of weeks ago I decided to put a steatlh email in my http://barefoot.ffafarm.com site. This way I can see what people in Veretekk are promoting, how well they understand what we are teaching etc. It's been a fun test... let me tell ya. I've seen some awesome marketing emails, titles and video's. Also I've seen marketing that could use some improvement. Last week I talked about creating a name or brand that stands out online. In some of the bully pulpit's sent out this week I noticed members saying Google them. A little word of advise; before you put that in an email, make sure they find YOU not someone else that has a name like you. In other words, if you have a common name you better do lots of SEO work before putting that in an email.

Another little pet peeve I noticed is, promising to take you step by step and guide you though Veretekk but asking you opt into another autoresponder service. Come on give me a break. Don't tell someone to follow you step by step through something and use a competing service to build your list! At least opt them into Veremail. No a newbie isn't going to realize what you have done, education is the key. In my training this week I will show you how to tell the difference.

There are many other uses for having a stealth email address in my http://barefoot.ffafarm.com site. Another way I use it is to help get to know the "community" better so I can make wise decisions on who I would like to partner with. I learned along time ago the internet is like a huge ocean and with many good fishing holes. When marketing on the net you can pick and choose who you want to do business with, just because they are breathing doesn't nessarily mean they are right for your business.

Cindy McAsey | Phone:888.272.6701 Barefoot Marketing System Best Web Conferencing Service

In our fast paced world, we are constantly bombarded with marketing messages that many times turn into just one big blur. To top it off most of us have a very short attention spans, your marketing message needs stand out and get noticed in a short amount of time. Names are often the best tools and sometimes the only ones for accomplishing this effectively.

To brand your company or product, your name should stick firmly in the mind and grab attention. It's important to be unique, but there are other factors to consider too. So, here are some simple rules to follow when choosing a name for your company, service, or product.

What Does the Name Do?

To make a company or product name truly memorable, it should convey its main feature or benefit. If I give you the word "Die Hard" for instance, you will think of a battery that dies hard. If I say "Jiffy Lube," you will naturally assume that it's a garage offering oil changes in a jiffy. If I say "Band-Aid," you will picture an adhesive bandage that comes to your aid.

Names that do not convey at least the basic nature of a company will be easily forgotten. This includes hard-to-pronounce words, abbreviations, and acronyms such as "BFD Holdings Limited." It also includes self-titled companies such as "Jones Enterprises"

Benefits are particularly effective because such a name would make a company, product,or service appear as if it had some added value. When placed alongside a competitor offering an identical product, a benefit-based name positions itself above the competition in the mind. As a result, the name will thus be quickly remembered when people make their decision to buy.

Rhymes Move Minds

Since the invention of the printing press, the written word has made it easy for us to forget names. In the same respect until recently, the process of rhyming has gradually declined. But strangely, what we remember the most are, for example, the nursery rhymes that we were told as children. In today's memory management courses, people are told to use rhymes and word association in order to improve their memory. Rhyming is therefore effective because it is pleasing to the ear and helps to hook words easily in the mind.

Beyond ease-of-recall, rhyming also tends to add credibility. Psychology professor Dr. Matthew McGlone has found that rhymes not only make a phrase more memorable, they also make it more believable. According to his research, people preferred "woes unite foes" over "misfortune unite foes" or "woes unite enemies." As he points out, "People often attribute the aesthetic quality of a rhyme to the statement's validity, which suggests that people may unknowingly relate beauty (a rhyme's singsong quality) with truth." In other words, rhymes have a greater sense of credibility.

While some names can easily rhyme since they use multiple words (e.g., "Blinds of All Kinds" or "Ronald McDonald"), most names are made up of only one word. If they can not rhyme at least within themselves (e.g., "Coca-Cola", "barefootmom.com"), then the job would be conferred unto their taglines -- those small sentences that follow and complement names.

For example, if I said "It takes a licking but keeps on ticking," you will probably remember this phrase if not instantly recognize the product with which this tagline is associated. And if the tagline rhymes with the name (such as  "When you need an edge, use Pledge", "Cinch the inch loss plan", "the Land of And"), the name will stick even more effectively as a result.

Repetition Expands the Power

What do "Saran-Wrap," "Willy Wonka," "GI Joe," "Barbie," "Barefoot Boss," "Crispy Crunch," "Blockbuster," and "Green Cream" all have in common? Similar to rhymes, the repetition of consonants give a name that pleasant and effective singsong quality. Repetition makes a name more memorable by making the pronunciation more simple. In other words, it is definitely easier to remember a string of similar sounds than it is to remember a combination of totally different sounding words. Did you "see the softer side of Sear's" lately?

Through my research I discovered rhymes and repetitious consonants used in order to make a name more memorable are called mnemonics. (My english teacher would be proud!) Mnemonics are not only useful but also effective, especially in the branding process. From the simplest product to the most complicated technical service, a memorable name helps to make the company, product or service memorable as well.

Cindy McAsey | Phone:888.272.6701 Barefoot Marketing System Best Web Conferencing Service

Inspiration for the Soul

This morning I thought I would share a short inspirational movie will re-ignite your dreams and help you remember that anything is possible if you want it bad enough.

 What is your hidden Secret? Too many people either drift through life accepting mediocrity or go full-steam ahead in the direction of other people’s dreams. They are basically following the majority.

Mark Twain once said, "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect”

The life of your dreams awaits you, irrespective of your age, race, religion, creed or color – However, there are a few things you have to do to get from Step 1 to 2 to 3 etc...

One Step at a Time...

Step 1: Stop and take time to reflect what you really want and WHY you want it. Your why has to be really strong, so strong that nothing will get in the way. Your why has to be at 100% don't move on til it is.

Step 2: Start planning. Lay out your plan as if it's just a matter of time before you get your dream.

Step 3: Work like your plan like there is no tomorrow. 

Consider a success coach to help you with the process. Most great achivers do. 

Cindy McAsey | Phone:888.272.6701 Barefoot Marketing System Best Web Conferencing Service

This morning when I checked my email I had a message from my upline asking me what I thought of this "new site". I get messages like this pretty often and I really like getting stuff like this because it keeps me "in the know", but at the same time it makes me realize what happens to many new distributors who are always looking for the next best deal too!

This site isn't anything out of the ordinary for online marketers. They utilize tools from a web conference room to record a presentation, they have a link to the company's powerpoint presentation etc. Personally I've seen better sites, but I'm sure the person marketing the website will do well because they have one of the top leaders and trainers in the company endorsing it. The title of his email to her was... A Excellent Business Building Tool.

As a marketing strategies coach here was my response to her question "what do you think?"

Good Morning Brenda,

 The site you have from Shaklee Canada is 10 times better!

I personally have the skills, tools and can teach how to build a site like this, but I'm not in the website building & selling business.  I'm in the marketing "my brand" business, and use my knowledge to train, recruit, and market.

 Again, this is another example of someone building a business marketing to other Shaklee people.. not that there is anything wrong with that. I would personally recommend the Shaklee Canada site for people who didn't want to learn how to build their own site and brand online. I associate with the "Shaklee" name when I can, because Shaklee has done a wonderful job of getting their "image" to the media.

Bottom line people buy from people... all the fancy pants tools in the world won't build your business for you (they may help) but it all falls back on you, your customers and the team members you recruit in the end. I have found either people come into this business already with the skills OR they need to develop the skills to succeed.

 I would stick with what you already have and focus more on bringing people in than finding the next best greatest tool.

Cindy

So there you have it... sometimes you have to put the blinders on and focus on your end result not on the how's.

Cindy McAsey | Phone:888.272.6701 Barefoot Marketing System Best Web Conferencing Service

How good is your business at adapting to change? Are you really serving your target market? Are there significant differences between older adults and their younger counterparts? The latest research says there is. If you are in business, you need to know exactly who it is you sell to.(target market) And, if you sell to older adults, listen up!

According to David Wolfe, author of "Serving the Ageless Market," there is a big difference in thought patterns and values between older adults and their younger counterparts. For example, in middle age, quality begins to gain over quantity in importance. This leads many middle-aged and older folks to spend more on goods for the sake of quality. With a growing baby-boom population, it's very important information.

People who have a middle-aged perspective look for deeper psychological meaning, and grasp the relationship between concepts more quickly. They want to be self-sufficient, have social connections, attain personal growth, and personal vitality. Once these values are understood, a business' next step is to find advertising and sales cues that will cause this market to take action.

This might mean changing your advertising and sales strategies. On the internet what works and what doesn't is constantly changing. Lets face it we are in a very fluid market. To stay on top of your market you must be constantly changing to give your target group exactly what they are seeking.

Are you using marketing strategies that attracts your target market?

hummmm kind of makes you stop and think doesn't it...

Cindy McAsey | Phone:888.272.6701 Barefoot Marketing System Best Web Conferencing Service

 What if the word "work" was changed to "dance-with-life,"?

 Instead of it being viewed as an alternative to fishing or a way of "paying your dues," it was seen as a chance to meet a parade of new friends, discover your own untested potentials and unpolished gifts, and open avenues for abundance to come pouring into your life?

Yea, and I bet lottery sales would plummet

I tend to look at life as a journey, an adventure and most certainly internet marketing as a big adventure where else could you sit in the middle of Kansas on a farm and have such great adventures? All the best marketing strategies in the world won't help you if you aren't thankful for being able to dance with life the way we do online.

We constantly get bombarded with business opportunities online. I personally have stuck with the same primary business product and opportunity since before I jumped into the online adventure that some miserable sole's call "work"...

One of my latest adventures has been expanding into video and what  ride it has been. Here is one of my first debut videos giving you a short 3 minute overview of my primary business opportunity.

Learn more visit: www.barefootsuccess.net

Cindy McAsey | Phone:888.272.6701 Barefoot Marketing System Best Web Conferencing Service

A couple of  weeks ago I wrote about using current events as a marketing strategy. It's a well known fact that this world turns on current events. If you take what is happening in the world and use the power if it marketing it will take your business to new hights.

A perfect example of this type of marketing partnered with another powerful marketing strategy "contests"  is exactly what Tom Prendergast has done in Veretekk. Here is his announcement via his email blast out to all the Veretekkies:

Major Contest ANNOUNCEMENT! Could you use $10,000 or more?

It's BONUS TIME!
Let the contest begin! You could earn up to or more than $10,000 by April 01!

Veretekk Economic Stimulus plan campaign

For the month of March we want to share the profits with one of you. What the heck does that mean? Read on, I think you will see a great contest in the making.

We want to grow Veretekk and we want you to help. So we have bench-marked the number of Gold subscribers as of March 01, 2008. All increases above that benchmark will represent a serious reward for the winner. So how do you win and what do you win. Well keep reading and I will explain.

The winner will be the Gold subscriber (NOTE: You must be a Gold subscriber to earn this bonus) that signs up the most numbers of Restored and new Gold Veretekk subscribers in your front line. Incase of a tie the rewards will be shared equally.

So to summarize it: The Gold member that has the most upgraded Gold accounts in the month of March wins.

The reward will be $20 times the total increase of Gold accounts over the benchmark. Let me illustrate it below. Lets say the benchmark is 1000 Gold subscribers as of March 01, 2008. If the number increases by:

People come online searching for information to fix a problem or for information about something. I can't tell you how many times I use google to research something. Last Friday I did some posting to several blogs about the gas situation. (current event) It was amazing to see the traffic double on several of those posts.

Here is what I mean... Links to Gas Prices (current event) posts...
http://barefootmlmtraining.blogspot.com/2008/02/good-times-or-depression.html

http://barefootgarden.blogspot.com/2008/02/can-you-save-money-on-gas.html

http://barefootwebconference.blogspot.com/2008/02/web-conferencing-answer-to-gas-price.html

The last couple of weeks I've been testing the disaster marketing technique too. It's amazing the results I've gotten from this kind of marketing. Now granted I did really have this happen in my business, as I have had several situations before this is the first time I used it for marketing. Again my testing proved it... drama works.

Think about it do you or someone you know watch soap opras?  When I was growing up I used to stay up on what is happening on "The Young and the Restless"  Back then there wasn't tivo but I can remember my athletic bus driver telling every day what happened. A couple of months ago I was caring for Jayce while he was sick and sat with him and watched it. The amazing part is I could still follow part of it. 

Here are a couple of those drama emails:
TITLE: (it's cindy i think i'm in trouble)
If this was the Mafia, I'd be dead by now...

Here's Why:

I'm known as the internet gruru in my primary company. You might be thinking so what... I've made an amazing discovery and wanted to share with you so you won't have to go through what I have the last couple of months.

When you become the person online that everyone knows in a company "other distributors" will spend countless hours digging into what you do to learn and if possible bring you down. This is very simple to do when your business is totally online. It's the old "your on top of the mountian and I'll do what ever it takes to knock you off" stuff.

Now don't get me wrong most of the "other distributors" would never dream of stooping to such low tactics to take their place on the mountian. I'm part of one of the largest, oldest and fastest growing (30,000 new distributors last month alone) companies... and there is always one bad apple in the crowd.

As an advanced Veretekk trainer, you probably know the crowd I hang out with... some CEO's of top companies. I have learned over the last few years this sort of stuff happens all the time. In fact a few of these CEO's told me to get a good lawyer.

Here is something you might not know - There has always been a "Code of Silence" - on this stuff because people would be shocked at what goes on behind the scenes when money and family businesses are involved.

We'll here is something else you may not know - my primary company head of the legal department, Marjorie Fine knows her stuff.
I strongly suggest you listen to this recording of Marjorie. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN I'll tell you why in my next email, but I'll give you a hint now..
"Lilly White Hat"

(I'll also go over why that "bad apple" is so threatened)

Talk Soon,
---------------------------
Here is the next one..
TITLE: bad news
Lets get to the bad news first so I can get to the cool stuff.

Remember in my last message to you I said there was a bad apple? Well nosy people like (bad apple) are bad news when it comes to running a business online, because online our businesses are so transparent. If people want to know our business a little research on google will show em.

This "bad apple" apparently doesn't understand the power of the internet. (hence they were very threatened by my marketing) Marketing online is so much different than offline. Offline finding customers and business partners are limited to your center of influence and geographic area. Online there are plenty of customers and business partners to go around, there is no reason to destroy someone elses business to take over the mountian.

THE UGLY TRUTH! 

I want you to look at this as a *turning point* in our relationship right now. This is where you and I go down what I call  "ZERO BULLSHIT EXPRESSWAY"

Here's what I mean..

If I had been part of another company other than the "Lilly White Hat" company that was very apparent in the video I showed you last week. I wouldn't be writing this now.

But here's the GOOD NEWS

Your decision to stick with me is going to pay off, because

I'VE PAVED THE WAY FOR YOU!

You can very simply have your cake and eat it too so to speak..here's why

• Learn marketing in the fast lane with me as your mentor
• Have plenty of cash flow to build your residual
• Have the cash flow to hire others to do what you don't want to do
• Ride the wave of our Lilly White Hat company growth (30,000 new reps last month)
• Do your business totally online building multiple streams of income

Learn more about me and why I do what I do: www.cindymcasey.com

Oh yea.. the cash flow stuff... check out www.barefootmarketingsystem.com this was the system I was raked over the coals for and came out the winner paving the way for YOU!

No point trying to hide my motivation here :-)

OK so that's it. Onward...

ABOUT THE TERM PAPER DEFENSE REBUTTAL ARTICLE

Stay tuned... Talk soon,
------------------

It's a good idea to get on a couple of email lists of experienced marketers too... not to buy everything they are selling but to learn from their marketing style.  Probably the simplest way to opt into my list is go to http://barefoot.veretekk.com and sign up for a free silver system. This way you will be on my list when I do send marketing messages out via email.