Sweetie Saturday Winners: You Guys Rock!

I am really amazed by all the detailed answers provided for this week’s Sweetie Saturday Giveaway. Everyone put so much thought into it…it was tough to decide on a winner.

First, I have a few comments & helpful (hopeful words) for the entrants and then I’ll announce the winners:

Robert Ragan: First of all, nice to see you again. I think it’s been a while! You definitely have a very useful website on genealogy and what a cool subject. Do you have a mailing list somewhere? I didn’t see one and I’d really recommend (as I’m sure you know!) that you have a way to keep in touch with your visitors long after they’re gone.

Also, at the end of each article, you seem to link to more resources on your site - which is great - but are there some relevant products you can also include there that carry an affiliate commission? Your articles are really detailed and very helpful…but if you can just leave out a little bit out and direct them to a product where they can get more complete information or tools to meet their objective, I bet you’ll see some more income coming in.

Erin: I absolutely agree with you on today’s consumer society…it makes it really tough to stay organized. Your site Home Organize It is much-needed resource.

One thing to realize is that so many moms feel too busy to get organized. Of course, if you’re organized - you take a lot of things off your plate, so taking the time to be organized is IMPORTANT - but many of us can’t slow down to consider that. Just like when you actually did the organizing for people, you might want to try to think of away to bring in the “work is done for you” type of stuff online. No, you can’t virtually reach through your visitor’s computer screens and organize their homes. But think about it…which products could you create or promote as an affiliate that makes organizing a near no-brainer? Advice is good, but the tools to make it easy are even better…you can combine both into your business.

Emilie Nottle: You have some very nice designs and good for you on making good design affordable AND effective for your clients. I really appreciate that your company takes the time and effort to create a marketing-smart presence for your clients by working with copywriters, making an effort to make the websites sticky, etc. MOST designers don’t do that and they charge more.

Your pricing is really reasonable, but not too dirt cheap. Of course, I don’t know what your costs are, so make sure you’re getting paid well for your time. It’s nice to be helpful to those on a budget, but it needs to be worthwhile for you, right?
Aurelia Williams: I am so proud of you and am amazed at the great strides you’ve been taking in your business. We’ve known each other for over 4 years now and it’s great to see the growth in our businesses. I know that everything you do is to help - whether it’s women, parents of teens or teens themselves - it is AWESOME! I also know that you have made changes from spending a lot of time helping people one-on-one to making your life a whole lot easier by working for the “greater good” and increasing your profits at the same time. Great job!

Denise Willms: Your building a business helping work at home moms get noticed. That’s terrific. One thing that struck me is you said that you personally review and edit each article. Obviously, you should be going through content before publishing on your site (it reflects on you!), but be careful that you don’t get bogged down in all the little details and get away from the bigger picture of gaining more exposure for the directory and turning more profit.

Tamo Willsat: What an interesting project. Who knew there was scientific evidence to back-up the Internet Marketing Sweetie concept? You mentioned the issue of raising funds and you’ll definitely want to come up with a solid plan that shows how people will benefit from contributing. Sometimes the “being nice” thing is a tough sell, but when you show them how it benefits them, it can help.

Your site is very academic and I assume you are targeting an academic audience. But if you wanted to reach others with your message, you could certainly come up with new marketing plans to reflect the audience you’re seeking. Best of luck to you!

stlva4u: Awesome! There is no competition - they’re your potential partners. And good for you for keeping an eye out and protecting your community.

Charlotte: Your hydroponic gardening site is beautiful and so well organized. You’ve done a great job. The project at school sounds like fun and could definitely help bring exposure to hydroponics in your community. I notice that your “supplies”, “grow systems”, etc. links at the top go to helpful articles, but it might be an idea to really showcase the products that are being promoted in those articles. Include some pictures, descriptions, etc…sell those products!

So, Who Wins?

Well, everyone had great answers but I must make a decision. The winners are:

- Emilie Nottle: The web designer who is serious about her client’s success.
- Charlotte: Who is spreading the word about eco-friendly horticulture.

Emilie and Charlotte, you can claim your prize by emailing news @ internetmarketingsweetie.com - Please include “Internet Marketing Sweetie Prize” in the subject line. Mel will take great care of you, but please remember that it’s still the weekend and she’ll get back to early in the week.

Congrats everyone on your Sweetie-friendly businesses!

Silly Sunday: Chris Crocker Possesses Dr. Mike

I woke up today wondering what I should share on Silly Sunday, but a quick trip to Jason Moffatt’s blog showed me exactly what I needed.

It’s a little spoof on Chris Crocker, an extreme fan of Britney Spears. Apparently, Dr. Mike feels the same way about John Reese (and takes a moment to promote his own product!).

Today’s Dot Com Deal: Marketing Graphics Pro

Sweetie Saturday: Internet Marketing Sweetie Could Be Yours!

What better way to celebrate “Sweetie Saturday” than to give away 2 copies of the original Internet Marketing Sweetie course? This is our flagship course that showed that YES, there is no need to be cutthroat to get ahead in your business.

You can win by telling me what you do in your business to help others with the aim to make a profit at the same time. After, we may be Sweeties, but we’re still business people with a profit plan.
Here’s How It Works:

1. Find out what’s in the course, so you know what you’re getting into!

2. Post 150-400 words in the comments area to show your business helps other people (and is still designed to give a profit back to you!). If you’re new business and aren’t turning a profit yet, that’s okay…just share how you’d like to achieve those goals.

3. Deadline for entry is 8 AM (08:00) PST tomorrow (September 30, 2007 - Click here to see what time it is in PST).

4. I’ll announce a winner sometime tomorrow. I’ll announce it on the blog and give instructions on claiming the prize.

By the way, if you’d like to contribute a product for Sweetie Saturday, go here.

Today’s Dot Com Deal: Niche Blueprint

Freebie Friday - Mom Masterminds Free Preview

This Friday’s freebie is just for the ladies, but have no fear, next week’s freebie will be for everyone AND be sure to come back for Sweetie Saturday tomorrow…you won’t regret it.You may have known that I was one of the founders of Mom Masterminds, an amazing resource for any Internet marketing mom. Whether she needs help getting started, wants to tweak her Internet marketing skills and/or wants to connect with other like-minded and success-driven mamas…it is THE place to be.

I recently passed on my part of the business over to Kelly, who was my co-founder in the original project. And even though I am no longer part owner in the project, I am still heavily involved BECAUSE Mom Masterminds is an essential part of my business. Besides, Kelly has done some pretty rockin’ things since she got my lazy butt out of there!
Now, let me back up a bit, in case you aren’t familiar with Mom Masterminds. Here’s a little tour.

Meet Kelly McCausey & Lynette Chandler:

Kelly & Lynette are your hosts at Mom Masterminds and have put together a resource center filled with Internet marketing education, tools and amazing peer-to-peer support and networking opportunities.

Kelly is your go-to-gal if you need help with finding focus in your business or want to get a little creative with your marketing. Lynette, A.K.A “A Mom Mastemind’s Secret Weapon” is the tech-gal that can show you how to cost-effectively make technology work for your business…even if you’re a bit of a technophobe like me.

When you take the FREE 7-day preview you are greeted by a special welcome section just for you. You can see a little screenshot below. The ugly red markings were made by me, but I wanted to highlight a few things for you:

At #1: You’ll find a helpful welcome message from Kelly. This recording gives you an overview of Mom Masterminds and how to use your membership.

At #2: Fill out the new members questionnaire and post it to the member’s forum. This will help you take a helpful inventory for yourself and helps everyone understand where your business is at and where you might need some extra help. Kelly’s audio also has some great tips to help you fill this out for best results.

At 3#: Go through the Mom Masterminds Code of Honor. Kelly takes you through the MM Code of Honor step-by-step in the audio, but print out your copy, so you have it handy at all times. This guide gives you further help in using the member resources and making the most of the valuable connections you’ll be making with the members of Mom Masterminds. These ladies rock, I tell you!

At #4: Then explore your Preview Resources. During your preview, you’ll have access to a carefully selected group of educational materials. The full membership is OVERFLOWING with resources and new members often expressed feelings of overwhelm, so Kelly shaved it down and made the resources much easier to digest in your preview period.

And don’t forget about your Special Advisors:

The cool thing about Mom Masterminds, is that is member-led mentorship and the member list includes some of the most successful Internet marketing moms online today. Kelly and Lynette have also hand-picked some special advisors to give you extra guidance when you need it.

On the left, you’ll see Kelly & Lynette’s team of special advisors including:

- Some girl named Alice Seba…she seems pretty smart to me.
- Mila Sidman is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to content creation and copywriting, plus she’s full of ideas to help you work smarter and not harder.

- Carrie Lauth is a Mom Mastermind’s graduate and the homeschooling mom of 4. She definitely knows what it takes to balance a busy family and busy business.

- Nell Taliercio was one of the very first members of Mom Masterminds and has become an incredible asset to those who came after. Her expertise lies in telecommuting and helping moms work from home.

- Darina Loakman was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Ireland and brings plenty of helpful advice to the table. One of her favorite topics is building a business on a budget…something moms love to hear!

If you want to learn more and claim your 7-day preview, definitely go to the Mom Masterminds website right now. When you get to the order option near the bottom of the page, click the “Click Here for Instant Mom Masterminds Preview Access” as shown below:

You’ll then be taken to a page where you can select your Preview Membership. You just need to include your name, email address, choose a user name and password - then you’re off! No credit card information required. If you decide to continue after your 7 day preview, the choice is completely yours!

Just make sure you check the “Mom Masterminds 7 Day Free Preview” option as shown in the picture below:

Again, to get the full details and to choose your free preview, visit the website now.

And then, I’ll see you at:

…it might be one of the most important decisions you make for your business.

Today’s Dot Com Deal: Sales Page Tactics

Swiss Chalet - Ayo, I’m Tired of Using Technology

Last night I tried to order delivery from Swiss Chalet.

Yes, I tried.

And sadly, I failed. Thus, the sad and lonely empty plate. Or more accurately, the technology that their call center relies on failed me.

At first, I wanted to order online. My husband said, “No, don’t use the online ordering. Me & Brian did it a couple times and they never receive any special requests you put into the form. The orders came wrong both times. You should call instead.”

Bummed out that I had to speak to a customer representative person (oh how little did I now what I was up for), I dialed the phone anyway. When they answered, I said I wanted to make an order for delivery. The friendly girl on the phone took my phone number and then asked for my address.

I gave her my address…including my city and province (Delta, B.C. - a suburb of a large city in Canada).

She asks, “Do you live in blah, blah, blah Nova Scotia?”

(She didn’t really say “blah, blah, blah“…I just can’t remember the city she said)

I said, “No.”

“Do you live in blah, blah, blah Alberta?”

I said, “No.”

“Do you live in Dawson Creek?” (And no, she wasn’t talking about the TV show Dawson’s Creek…there is a city in my province called Dawson Creek. Swiss Chalet isn’t THAT nuts)

Of course, I said, “No.”

“I’m going to have to transfer you to customer service.”

I wait on hold for 5-7 minutes. I put it on speaker phone, so I’m kind of patient, but it’s 5:45 by this time and I want my chicken!

So, I hang up and call my local Swiss Chalet. I tell them, “I tried to call your call center and they can’t figure out where I live.”

It was the bartender who answered. She laughed and was baffled, so she went to talk to the “delivery girls.”

The bartender tells me the delivery girls said I have to call the call center. There is nothing they can do. I said can a manager at least call on my behalf to get this sorted out because if I call back, I’m going to get nowhere.

Anyway, it went back and forth, with me never getting my chicken. I guess this is how people feel when they can’t download their PDFs…for that, I am very sorry.

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