The Power of Passion

Question: Are you passionate about what you do? Or just passionate about the money you make?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: It’s a lot easier to make money when you’re passionate about what you’re doing.

How many people are locked into a job they can’t stand, only because they get a steady paycheck and benefits? I’m willing to bet there are quite a few.

You don’t have to be one of them.

The career you chose obviously once sparked an interest in you … even if it was only because you deemed it a profitable venture. The profit potential of any career is, of course, important. But how you arrive at those profits is up to you.

For example, I love Internet marketing. I love everything about it — the strategies, the tactics, the implementation. Everything.

On top of that, I’m constantly searching for new and better ways to grow a business.

So when I made the decision to pursue a business that would give me the autonomy to spend more time with my family and friends, I went with the one thing I knew I could “hang my hat on” and pursue with a passion — helping others do the same.

Needless to say, it was the right choice.

I urge you to find those same strengths and passions in yourself. Then seek out ways to build a business around them.

Remember, success is not just about the numbers. It’s not all about how much you can cut from your company’s expenses or how fat your bank account grows over time.

Think about the people behind non-profit organizations.

They usually work for less money than their corporate peers, so you know they have to love what they’re doing. They might have a trait you don’t yet possess … the ability to define their success by how much they get to follow their passions and realize their dreams.

How fulfilled are you?

Do you dread going to work every day?

Do you find yourself wanting to call in sick because you can’t stand thinking about the work you have to do?

If so, you have to make passion part of your routine.

That means taking command of your future by starting your own business.

I’m not saying you’ll be able to meet every task associated with being an entrepreneur with enthusiasm. You may not like packaging and shipping or printing out invoices, for example. It may be a pain to source service providers.

But you can come into work every day and be excited about what you’re about to accomplish.

And because you’re the one in charge, you’ll be able to delegate most of the tasks that weigh you down and focus your attention and time on those that give you satisfaction.

By transmitting your enthusiasm to your employees, you will make that the driving force behind your company’s success. You’ll also be able to create an ideal work environment — not only for your employees but for yourself. That might mean working on a “nonstandard” work schedule. Maybe from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 in the morning so you can spend time with your young children during the day. Or working from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. so you can pursue other interests in the afternoon and evening.

Which brings me to another question …

Is there something you’ve been wanting to do that’s been impossible because of your current job and work schedule?

Let’s say there’s a cause you care deeply about — and you’d like to actively support it. As the owner of your own business, you could use some of the time you’ve freed up with your “nonstandard” work schedule to do some volunteering. Or you could have your business sponsor a charitable event. That way, you’d not only be earning your living by doing something you love … you’d be giving to others at the same time.

When you find ways to love what you do, success — yours and that of the people around you — will come naturally.

When you love the work you do, you’ll have a positive attitude. That will help you accomplish more in every aspect of your life.

And don’t be afraid to show off your passion. Because your energy and enthusiasm will inspire everyone around you to fuel their own success.

So let me ask you this again: Are you passionate about what you do? Or just passionate about the money you make?

What you work hard for should be something you believe in — something that will create a better life for you and your family. Maybe even the world.

It that doesn’t describe what you’re doing now … it’s time to make a change.$

[P.S. Ready to match your passion with a profitable business? Ray's personal team will create 10 six-figure earners before the year is over. Our system walks you through the process of growing your profitable online business using a proven online business model. Ray shows you exactly what he did to grow his six-figure business. To find out more about Empower Network, go here.]

Why Testimonials Work So Well

What do you do if your prospect knows nothing about you, as is often the case? How can you sway or “nudge” their thinking about your business, products, or services?

You do it by including plenty of testimonials in your marketing materials.

Testimonials overcome a prospect’s skepticism (“Who the heck are you? And why should I listen to you anyway?”) by helping them connect emotionally to other people who’ve used and liked your products. Reading those true-life stories makes prospects more receptive to what you have to say. And sell.

Testimonials are a cornerstone of direct-marketing success because they are real comments from real people. Not, as David Ogilvy said, “the puffery of an anonymous copywriter.”

Today, I’m going to show you not just how to get testimonials… but how to get really good ones.

Based on What I’ve Learned Over the Years, Here Are Some Tips…

1. If you know the customer on a somewhat personal level, just call them. Say that you’d like a testimonial about your product, service, or a particular experience they had. (“I was lost in the woods with bears all around, and your plane-in-a-suitcase saved my life.”) If they seem open to it, ask if they can give you the testimonial right there on the phone. You can write it down or use a handheld recorder. When you hear a particularly good snippet, say, “That’s good. May we use it?”

2. If you’re on less familiar terms with the customer, write a short letter or e-mail first. Explain that you’d love to share their good experiences with your product with others, and ask them to e-mail their testimonial to you. If you don’t hear back in four or five days, phone them.

3. Say thank you. Even if you’ve already thanked the customer over the phone, write a thank you note. Include a copy of the testimonial. Tell them when and how you expect to use it. I’ve always included a small gift, too.

4. Before you call or e-mail a customer to ask for a testimonial, prepare some questions to help them get into it. Questions that will evoke more than a yes/no response. For example: “What’s your favorite dish on our menu?” “Could you share a little more about the day you got trapped in the snowstorm? How did our emergency beacon help the rescuers find you?” “How does the yield of our seeds compare with other brands you’ve used?”

5. It’s okay to edit the testimonials. A customer may give you a page-long story with rambling non sequiturs — but that’s not going to help your business. Cut it down to get to the point. Keep the meat and trim the fat.

6. Try to use all the testimonials you get. If you get something that’s not appropriate for the promotion you’re currently working on, use it in the future.

7. Keep a “testimonial file.” And remember that collecting testimonials is a process, not a destination. Always be on the lookout for good ones. Ask your customer service folks to do the same. (They will often receive calls and e-mails that can be turned into great testimonials.)

More Tips — From Some of My Own Marketing Mentors

From Bob Bly:

“What I look for in a testimonial — more than anything else — is SPECIFIC RESULTS. (‘I made a 100% gain in my portfolio in 12 months with the Trade Triangle.’) I’m less interested in superlatives. (‘Thanks to the Trade Triangle, I can trade with confidence and have shortened my learning curve.’)”

From John Forde:

“I like ‘real,’ so I try not to touch grammar mistakes or awkward writing. (Though I will do some editing if it speeds up the testimonial a bit.)”

From Michael Masterson:

“I much prefer testimonials with full names. And I don’t like testimonials that seem made up. The grittier they are the better. Testimonials that express doubts are terrific. In fact, I wish I had one for every doubt the prospect might entertain. A testimonial that states and then refutes the doubt … what could be better than that?”

Your Testimonial Action Plan

Every experienced marketer I know swears by the power of customer testimonials.

So start building your testimonial file today. And use those testimonials everywhere. Your website, direct-mail promotions, and pay-per-click campaigns. Your press releases, postcard mailings, and e-mail signatures.

Remember, all you have to do is ask.

P.S. Securing glowing testimonials for your products and services is one of the keys to growing a profitable business. They help set you apart from the competition. And they make your prospects feel like they are taking less of a risk by making the decision to buy from you. For more tips on marketing your Internet business, check out our Kalatu Blogging System. We are the ONLY Blog service online ANYWHERE that creates blogs for marketers specifically designed to increase sales and boost your bottom line regardless of the business or industry you're in.

Let Social Media Work For Your Real Estate Business This Year

Does social media marketing still work for real estate in today’s investing landscape? If so, how can you make it work for your company?

Social media remains one of the most challenging parts of business for real estate investors, agents, and other professionals. Many are still failing to see the results that they hoped for, if at all. That said, does social media marketing for real estate still work? Should businesses still expect results?

The New Social Media Landscape

Social media still works phenomenally well for some. In fact, some brands are seeing social working better than ever. So why the vast disparity? The most obvious answer is that some are just doing it all wrong, while others are following the road map, and doing everything right. However, the real answer is more complex than many realize. It may be true in some cases, but it is also equally about expectations, and recognizing the changing attitudes of social users, and the resulting best practices.

First of all, recognize that results can be dramatically inflated by a respective budget. If a brand or experienced wholesaler is spending a million dollars a year on buying likes and traffic, the individual agent isn’t going to achieve the same results with a $2,000 a month social media marketing budget. It’s not impossible, but there are obvious challenges.

What works in social media is changing too. Users are burned out. They are more than tired of spam, and abusive marketing. Even the ‘value’ posts that many have tried to put out are now starting to fall on deaf ears, if they are even being seen at all. This doesn’t mean that paid social media marketing is the only option, and it doesn’t mean viral potential is gone. However, it does mean that real estate pros and brands need to amp up the excitement if they want to see results.

The Right Social Media Platforms for Real Estate Marketing

One of the biggest questions many real estate marketers still have is which social media platforms they should be on. There are many viable choices:

• Google+
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

There are really no right and wrong answers. It would be best if you had a presence on all of the hundreds of networks out there, but there becomes a point when you can stretch yourself too thin. The only exception is place holding social URLs and user names so that no one else grabs them.

Creating an Effective Social Media Funnel

There is a lot of bandwidth for entertaining posts. However, even Mark Zuckerberg has personally said that many brands simply aren’t including enough calls to action. Your real estate marketing dollars have to count for something. Put some thought into it. What actions do you want other social media users to take? Where do you want them to go? How are you making that happen? Where is the ROI?

Disrupting the Status Quo; Sticking to What’s Important

There has been an intense focus on inbound marketing, but outbound social media marketing can work very well today – if it is relevant. People are on social because they want to be heard and engaged with. Give them that.

While free social media is more difficult, and some hate paying, there is nothing wrong with both. Just know when each should be deployed, and the pros and cons of each approach.

Who will run your social media marketing? Freelancers have become one of the most common choices for independent real estate pros and small businesses. Some have turned to agencies, but often find them pricey. The biggest problem is often that existing team members are ignored. Every member of your team should be engaged in your social media efforts. If they aren’t loving it enough to engage, why should anyone else?

However, one rule that many are breaking, and shouldn’t, is blogging. The blog is the heart of online real estate marketing. The same can be said for offline marketing as well. Don’t stop blogging. Use that as the epicenter of all of your real estate marketing and lead generation. Make a plan, budget, and posting schedule, and stick with it.$

[Ed. Note: Need additional income to help support or supplement your real estate business? Ray is offering a complete blueprint to helping you take control of your financial future with a web-based business that you can operate from anywhere in the world – including a coffee shop, your kitchen table, or anywhere around the world where there is Internet access. Discover how you can achieve the American Dream and your financial independence here. You’ve never seen anything like this before.]

Rental Property Advice: 4 Ways To Promote Long-Term Wealth

Investing in rental properties is one of the best ways to generate long-term wealth. In addition to long-term wealth, you can also realize short term cash flow and build a portfolio that will give you options in the future. While rental properties can be highly profitable, not everyone will be a home-run. In addition to buying the right property, there are a few fundamental tips that every landlord needs to follow. There is often a very fine line between rental property success and failure. Here are four tips that will give you the best chance at rental property success:

1. Know the Local Market: It is critical for any potential landlord to know the market they are buying in. Market conditions and demographics can quickly change in a matter of just a few days. Before you make an offer, you need to know everything about not only the property, but the area you are buying in. The area you buy in will directly impact current market rents and demand for the property moving forward. It is far better to buy a lesser quality rental property in a better location. These will hold their value much better over time and make your job as a landlord much easier. Rental markets can quickly change, seemingly overnight. You need to know if there is a problem with the town’s budget that could cause taxes to rise. You need to know which areas have a high concentration of foreclosed properties. Before you make an offer, you should leave no stone un-turned. The more you know about your market, the better properties you will get involved in.

2. Buy With a Plan: There are differing opinions as to what the best strategy is for owning rental properties. One camp insists that you buy rentals with the thought of long-term appreciation in mind. The other side will tell you that the property needs to have cash flow. Both sides are correct, in that the property needs to be in an area with a good long range forecast, but it also needs to produce cash flow. Before you buy, you need to have a defined plan with the property. You need to know exactly what work you will do, how much you have to spend, how you attract tenants and who will take care of the property. These items shouldn’t be done on a wait and see basis. Time is money, starting from the first month you own the property. It is important to have a plan so you can hit the ground running.

3. Always Have a Reserve Fund: This is probably the single most important rule that successful landlords follow. Everything may run smoothly in your rental property for months, but there is always the chance that something will come up. Without the funds to take care of items, big or small, you will run into trouble. If you neglect seemingly small items like clogged toilets or a broken washing machine, you will lose the confidence and trust of your tenants. Instead of treating the property like it is their own, they will neglect it and may not disclose problems with the property. If the items are larger in scale, such as a roof or furnace, you have much bigger issues to worry about. These big ticket items require immediate funds to solve the problem. Without this money available, you will scramble to pull money from other sources. This could mean borrowing money at high interest rates or relying on credit cards. If you can’t find the money, your tenants will move out and you will have a depreciating assent on your hands. This can happen pretty quickly if you do not have a reserve fund in place.

4. Spend Time Finding the Right Tenants: Your property is only as good as the tenants that are in it. Not enough time is spent on doing everything possible to find the best tenants. Without good tenants that pay on time and take care of your property, the process will be a nightmare. You will have to constantly chase the rent or even worse they will stop paying rent altogether. This will cause you to devote a good amount of your time and energy to one property. Conversely, a good tenant will make being a landlord almost seem easy. While you can never really know what type of tenant you are getting, you need to do everything possible to increase your chances for success. This means going through the application process and following up with any references. Don’t automatically rent to the first person that shows interest. Even if you are having trouble finding tenants, it is better to rent to a more qualified tenant than run the risk of taking on a bad one.

There is a lot that goes into a successful rental property. It is important to stay disciplined and put the time into every new property you think about buying. All it takes is one bad property, bad tenant or unexpected repair to set your business back. Conversely, if you can keep the process moving from one tenant to the next, you will reap the benefits of cash flow, equity and future appreciation.$

[Ed. Note: Need additional income to help support or supplement your real estate business? Ray is offering a complete blueprint to helping you take control of your financial future with a web-based business that you can operate from anywhere in the world – including a coffee shop, your kitchen table, or anywhere around the world where there is Internet access. Discover how you can achieve the American Dream and your financial independence here. You’ve never seen anything like this before.]

How to Become Wealthier in the Next Year by Creating a Second Income

I have a suggestion for your 2016 wealth goal: To create a second stream of income by starting your own business.

This is not the only way to get rich, but it is — far and away — the most reliable way. It’s also the way that most wealthy people got that way.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of small businesses you could start. With the Internet, there is virtually nothing you like to do that can’t be turned into a business. And there is no limit to the number of new businesses the Internet, with its worldwide reach, can absorb.

If you have an idea for a product or service that is needed or simply wanted, you can be successful. And you will be successful if you make a commitment to become the smartest person you know about the business you want to start. You do that by reading the industry press voraciously, taking home-study programs, seeking the advice of experts, networking, and more.

Make yourself a promise to devote a good part of your time next year to starting a side business. Allocate learning time every week. Develop a business plan. Make at least one new contact every month — a contact that can help you build your business.

Set a specific financial target for your first year in business, and reach that target by figuring out what you have to accomplish every month to get there. Break those monthly targets down to weekly objectives, and the weekly objectives down to daily tasks.

Get going. Choose a business you like. Learn everything you can about it. Have fun with it. And make some money.$

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

Real Estate Investing: The Easy Way to Find New Tenants

The end of a lease is one of the most stressful times for any landlord. Between finding new tenants and getting the current tenant to the finish, it can be an overwhelming time. One of the worst things a landlord can ever do is to take the first tenant that comes their way. By not taking the time to vet prospective tenants, you open the door for problems. A bad tenant can be a source of constant stress, ruin your property or worse. Finding good tenants starts with having a good plan in place. The longer you wait to start this process, the more difficult it will become. If you want to make your life as a landlord as easy as possible, there are a few things that you need to start doing.

Advertise Early: The end of a lease can sneak up on you if you are not careful. Start looking for your next tenant as soon as you are 90 days from the current lease end. One of the most overlooked things landlords do is fail to ask the existing tenant if they have an interest in staying. Extending the current lease is not only easier, it will also save you time and money. Good tenants are difficult to find. If you have one you are comfortable with, you need to reach out to them. If you still need to find a tenant, you have to give yourself enough time. The closer you get to the lease end, the more desperate you become. The longer out you are, the more people that will apply and the more choices you have to choose from. Give yourself enough time to advertise .

Advertise Often: The method of advertising you used to find your current tenant may not work for your next one. Real estate advertising is constantly changing and you need to give yourself as many options as possible. The first place you should look for a new tenant is at the property. A simple $10 “for rent” sign on your front yard can attract more phone calls than anything else you do. Make it big enough for people in cars to read and keep it simple. You also need to utilize social media. Facebook, Craigslist, Zillow and Postlets are all places where renters look for property. Take a few minutes a couple times a week to update your post and place it at the top of housing searches. Even if you haven’t received any calls in a week, you can’t think that this isn’t important. All it takes is one tenant to fill a vacancy. The more places where your property is listed, the easier it will be to find a tenant.

Set Up a Website: In a perfect world, you will get a handful of inquiries a week. Instead of leaving your phone number on your advertising, you should direct interested parties to a website. Setting up a website for your property is cheaper and easier than ever. Since this is the only property you will use it for, it doesn’t have to have multiple pages or bells and whistles. The goal is to provide applicants with as many answers about the property as possible. List everything that is included in the lease and estimates on other monthly bills. Have an application ready if they would like to apply. Show everything about the neighborhood and the town the property is in. The more questions answered on the website the more serious any applicants will be.

Video Tour of the Property: Pictures of the property on your website are nice, but a video can seal the deal. You don’t need to have this professionally done – just something showing the property. Start with both sides of the street and work your way towards the front door. There is no use trying to hide negative areas of the property because they will eventually see them. Show every room in the house while highlighting the best features. Instead of having to drive to the property every time you get an interested inquiry, you can direct them to the website. Inquiries from tenants that see the property are serious and most likely ready to act quickly.

Set An Open House Day: By giving yourself enough time between leases you can take your time finding the next tenant. If you have multiple calls to see the property you should set one day for all the showings. You are in a position of strength and do not need to hurry. Pick one day that works for you and schedule showings one after another. You can also pick an open house time and have interested parties show up during those hours. You need to make sure you always follow fair housing laws and have an open application process. Having demand is the goal but you need to treat it the right way.

Finding tenants and turning your lease over doesn’t have to be a stressful time. By setting up a system and thinking like a tenant, you can make the process much easier. The most important thing is to make sure you give yourself enough time. Busy investors have plenty going on. It is easy to get sidetracked. Before you know it, you could be within 45 days of a lease expiring and panic mode sets in. By following these tips you can make finding tenants as easy as has ever been.$

[Ed. Note: Need additional income to help support or supplement your real estate business? Ray is offering a complete blueprint to helping you take control of your financial future with a web-based business that you can operate from anywhere in the world – including a coffee shop, your kitchen table, or anywhere around the world where there is Internet access. Discover how you can achieve the American Dream and your financial independence here. You’ve never seen anything like this before.]

Relationship Goals: 5 Tips for High-Achieving Couples

I’d like to share with you 5 tips today that you and your partner can implement immediately and change your relationship for the better. 

These are all tips that Brittney and I have used over the past several months that have made a world of difference. We feel like we’re back on our honeymoon all over again.

Tip #1: Gratitude Jar – Giving gratitude is a powerful force. There’s no better feeling than complimenting a loved one and seeing their bright smile. A gratitude jar is the perfect way to show appreciation for your partner. Each day you will write a compliment on a piece of paper or sticky note and put it in the gratitude jar. At the end of the week you and your partner will sit down and read together the compliments. This is a great way to show appreciation and make the other feel special. It also gives you both something to look forward to at the end of each week.

Tip #2: Set Parameters at Home – One of the worst things you can do is come home from work and talk more about work. Perhaps you had a bad day at the office and the first thing you do when you walk into the house is talk about work. You immediately take out your frustrations on your partner. Here’s how you can avoid this situation. Make it a rule to NOT talk about work the first hour you come home. This way you and your partner can start the evening on a good note and not bring work home. What you will find too is that by not talking about work immediately upon arriving home, you will not want to talk about it later either. 

Tip #3: Date Night – I know this sounds like an obvious solution… but are you doing it? Pick a night during the week (NOT weekend) when you and your partner can have date night. This could be dinner out, movies or even just making a home-cooked meal together. This date night is non-negotiable. It is in your calendar each week for that specific night. If you have kids you will have a plan for a babysitter. If something comes up and you have a late meeting, you leave early. This is something you do not miss. Change it up each week and do something different to make it fun and exciting. 

Tip #4: Go to Bed Together – The most intimate moments with your partner happen in your bed. I’m not just talking about lovemaking either. Lying in bed together is a great time to talk and have that opportunity to be close to your partner. All distractions are cut off and it’s just you two together having that special moment. This is hard to do though if you both go to bed at different times. Make it a priority to go into the bedroom at the same time and experience this precious time together. 

Tip #5: Keep Open Communication – The worst thing you can do for your relationship is to stay closed off. The biggest thing I learned during our pre marriage counseling was the power of communication. You need to be an open book with your partner and always share your emotions (both positive and negative). Brittney and I got away from that for a while and it really hurt our relationship. We are both stubborn and didn’t want to talk about things or take responsibility. After we started opening up again and talking through our problems our relationship quickly blossomed. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. 

Having a high-stress-level career can put a huge strain on your marriage. I’ve seen it firsthand — it can tear apart marriages and result in bitter divorces.

It doesn’t have to be that way though. You and your spouse can have a prosperous and wonderful marriage while still working a demanding career.

Is it easy? Absolutely not!

Does it take work? You better believe it!

But it’s 100% possible to balance career and marriage by following these tips above. It will always be a struggle for Brittney and I with our busy careers, but we are in such a better place now by constantly working on our relationship.

Strive to always stay in your honeymoon phase. It’s a beautiful thing!

[Ed. Note: Ray's personal team will create 10 six-figure earners before the year is over. Our system walks you through the process of growing your profitable online business using a proven online business model. Ray shows you exactly what he did to grow his six-figure business. To find out more about Empower Network, go here.]