Business Tools We Trust

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I’ve been a fan of Paul Myers for years now and I finally get a lot of what he is saying. I’m not sure why it took so long, but I’m just glad I’ve finally gotten it. He recently released the The Thud Report which I purchased, not quite sure of what it was going to be about, but after listening to the feedback of others, I knew I did not want to be left out. I’m so glad I bought it.

The subtitle of the book says it all…”Adding real and perceived value to make more money and happy customers”. This report is full of step by step information. Nothing is bloated and overstated. Just the facts…the way I like them. I highly recommend The Thud Report.

We have been looking for a relatively easy way to build websites quickly. The forums have all been abuzz about two different products. Well, we now own both products, and let me tell you…there is no comparison between the them as I was lead to believe.

XSitePro is a pleasure to use. It’s intuitive, comes with a 101 page tutorial, a 461 page manual and several videos – all of which walk you through the program with ease. If you have your content all together, you can have a site up and running in less than 2 hours (if you are green like me) and that’s right out of the box.

The other program we bought, while it makes nice sites, actually ended up having a steeper learning curve as the instruction manual left much to be desired, not to mention the frustration that we experienced. While it makes nice sites, it is not as flexible, nor is it as robust.

While it’s a breeze to build your pages, XSP also tells you what you need to do in order to optimize your pages. In addition:

• It automatically creates your site map
• Adds Google Adsense in easily allowing you to format your ads on the go.
• You can easily add in images and graphics.
• Create a links page easily.
• Automatically run several preinstalled scripts such as print this page and bookmark
• Make redirect pages
• Format your robots txt file
• Create pop ups –pop ins- pop-unders with a few clicks.
• Make global changes to your design and navigation in one place.
• And so much more…(I’m sure I’ll be able to tell you more as we continue to build sites)

I just know I’m going to be so much more productive with this software…I already am. And while much of this stuff is rather new. I recently heard from a hard core dreamweaver user that this program is unbelievable.

This is one program I cannot recommend highly enough. If you are trying to make a decision between XSP and another program, let me tell you, XSP is a no brainer.

Now if I could just find a graphics program that was as easy!

I recently completed the Product Factory where I worked on the development of ActingYourAge! It was a wonderful process (even though I missed the last two weeks due to a family emergency)! Often times we are so full of ideas it is difficult to get anything done. The PF breaks everything down into managable chunks. Your team becomes your mastermind team, the entire product factory gives you honest feedback and support, and you end your 90 days with a completed project.

I am looking forward to participating again! I highly recommend this program!

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomenâ„¢

I dont know about you, but sometimes its so easy to get off tasks and just not accomplish the things that I want to.

Well right now, Im participating in something called the 90 Day Product Factory. Its been wonderful. Its like a giant, supportive mastermind group where everyone is working hard to come out with a product in 90 days or less. Many are producing more than one. The support, education, and partners are wonderful. I can hardly wait to bring everyone the new resources, partners and products that Im discovering (and making).

But thats not what this article is about. In the Product Factory, I learned about something called an Integrity Day and its been awesome! What is it?

Basically, you commit to something that you are going to accomplish and then check in with the group (via a bridge line) on an hourly basis. For example, you commit to say…writing an article or a page on you website or even clean your bathroom. You call in on the top of the hour, say what you are going to do, and then hang up. The entire hourly call lasts 5 minutes or less each hour. When you hang up, you actually do what you said you would. When you call back in the next hour, you report what you have gotten done and tell them what you will do in the next hour. People get amazing amounts of work done!

Why?

First of all, you get totally focused on what you want to get done. Secondly, you are committing to what you want to do to a group of people not your partner or friends who may let you off the hook. What happens if you dont follow through? No one gets on your case…chances are you will do that yourself. Its your own word, your integrity that is at stake.

Give it a try…I think you too will be impressed. Personally, this is something I would like to keep going long after the completion of the Product Factory.

And by the way, check out the Product Factory. Its amazing.

Barbara
OlderWiserWomen

I recently answered a question that someone had about using pagemaker or another program to format her book in. She also asked about pre-selling. Hopefully, you will find it helpful.

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I don’t know anything about page maker. Do you have MSWord or WordPerfect or something similar? I believe you can produce your document in those programs and convert it to pdf. I know you can in Word. Adobe has an online service for converting up to 5 documents into pdf format for free or use a free program called pdf995.

• http://createpdf.adobe.com/
• http://pdf995.com/

The best place to get information on how to format etc, is from Dan Poynter. There is a bonus call recorded from the last product factory. Listen to it, but also get his book “The Self Publishing Manual“. Another excellent book that Dan has out is “Writing Nonfiction: Turning Thoughts into Books“. Both are excellent.

Also visit his website at www.parapub.com - he has lots of free tools. The call also spoke of a template (he gives you the link to get it - free).

I discussed this at length with a friend who just came out with her book. She is sorry she did not follow more of the advice laid out in the book, especially when it comes to getting a editor. One cannot possibly see what they have written. I totally agree with that one…we are just too close to it and our minds see what we want to say, not what we’ve written.

As far as pre-selling, you can do that easily (easy is relative). I’m working in this right now as I have a chapter in a book coming out in December. It goes to print this week, and I just got the final mms this weekend. So if anyone else has suggestions…I’m all ears.

Things to consider:

• Discount the price
• Offer free shipping
• Offer the ebook as a bonus so your customers can have a digital format now and the physical book when the printing is done.
• Offer other bonuses with the book
• Consider doing a teleclass as a bonus to discuss certain principals or aspects of the book to those who purchase pre-publication.

If the book is not yet completed, you can start with an e-course, first chapter, etc. I understand that Stephen King put out one of his books in digital format, chapter by chapter. I’m not even sure if the hard cover book was ever published.

Hope this helps,

Barbara C. Phillips, NP
OlderWiserWomenâ„¢