BUSINESS: Online training course aimed at small businesses

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration launched a new online training course to help strengthen access to contracting opportunities for small businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, disadvantaged individuals and veterans.

The training course, "Recovery Act Opportunities: How to Win Federal Contracts," is part of a federal government-wide initiative announced last month.

As part of the initiative, federal agency procurement officers are participating in more than 200 events over the next several weeks to help connect small businesses with contracting opportunities.

Additionally, SBA and Commerce are expanding their outreach to contracting officials across the federal government to ensure they have the tools to meet their annual contracting goals and increase opportunities to small businesses, including those owned by veterans, women and minorities, as well as those in designated HUBZones.

As part of the outreach to small businesses, the comprehensive online course uses both audio and script to provide information about the federal marketplace, contract rules and, most importantly, how to sell to the government and where to find contract and Recovery Act opportunities.

The new training portal is a free online training course designed to assist entrepreneurs during this period of economic recovery. This self-paced, instructional guide provides an overview of the federal procurement process.

The Recovery Act Opportunities

Small Business : Starting a new small business now !

Well, last night I was checking examiner.com and I check and interesting article by Jim Fletecher, and I understand that how to get some more money and some tips that can help somebody...

The desire to own and operate a successful business is one that is familiar to most of us. We dream of the independence, wealth and fulfillment that our own businesses can provide. Our motivations are as varied as our ideas. Some of us need the money, some need to have something to fill our day, and some of us need to make our mark on the world. Whatever our motivation, desire is only the kindling for our bonfire; but, all fires start with a very small flame. From there, we must carefully build and tend to our fire until we either allow someone else to tend it or decide to douse it. The trouble is – many of us don’t know how to build a fire, and a good number of us don’t even know how to strike the match. Even worse, some of us just aren’t capable of the task. The good news is that, no matter which category we fit into, we can be successful with our businesses if we go about it correctly.

If there were one piece of advice I’d offer over any other, it would be to utilize every available resource to us, whether it be our friends and family or professional consultants. Recognizing our own shortcomings is important to our success. I also advocate the use of the resources available through the Small Business Administration. This wing of our government can provide us all with the necessary information to begin and operate a successful small business, and best of all, it's a free resource, paid for with our tax dollars.

A number of years ago, I attended my very first seminar aimed at helping the small business person get started. The most significant statistic shared with me in the opening presentation was an eye-opener, to say the very least. Many more small businesses fail than succeed. The numbers vary according to the sources, but they generally point out a sobering reality: it isn’t enough to have a great idea.

Commitment to the excellence of the idea and to the small business it supports makes the difference. Another way to say it is “survival of the fittest.” The reasons for failure or success are many and varied, but in almost every case, the successes are guided by actions that have their roots in commitment and tapping into the plethora of help available to us in our journey. In truth, most small businesses don’t create great wealth – but they do provide us with the opportunity to obtain wealth.

Wealth is typically the result of sacrifice and hard work. There is no magic formula that ensures we don’t work harder, faster or better in order to succeed. In fact, just the opposite holds true. Assuming that our idea is a good one, our success is directly proportionate to the level of commitment we apply to it. That commitment begins with the idea and is evident in everything we do. At this critical stage, our commitment is simply to decide whether our idea is one that has merit. The worst mistake we can make is to jump on the bandwagon without carefully thinking it through – a sanity check, if you will.

Let’s look at a very simple, but far from complete, sanity checklist:

a. Why do I believe my idea is great?
b. Why do I believe people will buy it?
c. Do I have (or can I make) the time it takes to do it right?
d. Do I have (or can I get) the resources to see it through?
e. Do I believe in it enough to make the sacrifices?
f. Am I willing and able to overcome setbacks?

Just looking at this short example should tell us something – there’s a lot of soul searching for us in this phase that requires our honesty with ourselves. We can’t lie to ourselves if we intend to succeed. Remember, the worst thing we can do is to fail ourselves by not being thorough in our sanity check; however, the second worst thing we can do is to let it drag on too long before we reach a conclusion. Momentum is very important to our business, and if we cannot make a decision in a reasonable time, we’ll sit in our think tank forever doing nothing - while someone else takes action. More opportunities are lost by lack of action than we know.

A true entrepreneur will be able to “go for it”; however, many of us don’t have one or more of these essential traits. It’s imperative that we recognize our own shortcomings and either change them or find a way to productively deal with them.

Great ideas are often left unrealized due to our own lack of commitment. As an example of tenacity, let’s look at Thomas Edison’s electric lamp. Most people think the electric light bulb was Edison’s idea, but they don’t know that his patent wasn’t for the light bulb. Inventors had successfully created light bulbs for almost 50 years prior to his patent; rather, his patent was for a filament that made the life of the bulb long enough to make it commercially viable. Edison’s labs began working on the project in 1878 and experienced thousands of failures before they succeeded. They viewed each failure as a success in how NOT to make a light bulb. It took two years for them to strike pay dirt, and they created a business with the success of their idea. It is this same commitment to our idea that is absolutely necessary. Perseverance is key.

Failures should not be perceived as setbacks; rather, they should be viewed as learning experiences that lead to our eventual success. Once we have confidence in our idea and our commitment to see it through, we’re ready to look outside ourselves to obtain more objective data that can help us to make the right choice for our business.

Internet Marketing News: Zippo Banners Got Results

By Luis Galarza - Internet Marketing Tips.

Internet Marketing Works! So, Don't Believe Is Someone Tell That Your Product Can't Be Advertise Online... If It Works For Zippo, Can Work For You Too!

After an online banner advertising campaign Zippo the lighter manufacture saw a big increase in their sales in the past holidays, which make them rethink their overall marketing plan for this year, which didn't include online advertising of any type. Zippo only used online marketing when it need it some extra push to increase sales, but this time that random push gave them better noticeable results, that make them add Internet marketing to their strategic sales plan.


Let's take a look at the type of banner that provide those results.

The lighter company decide to use banners that appear to be static image ads, being born by a Zippo lighter, then it will turn on the animation showing stylish design of their product... This is an excellent converting online banner ad strategy that can be use successfully for businesses selling items like:

- Clothing.
- Real Estate.
- Toys.
- Kids Products.
- Furniture.
- Cars.
- Watches.
- Etc.

So, if you are selling products that a simple picture of it can have people click-through to find out how they can put their hands on such a item, or to get more information, you can definitely put this marketing strategy to work for you.

Note: Zippo used a flash animated banner.

Why It Worked?

To make this banner advertising campaign delivered those good results, Zippo knew what type of audience will be interest in there product... so, they advertise on high traffic websites with a targeted visitors in the age range that the company was looking to expose their message to. They knew that the people most interested to buy their goods were males from ages 21 to 34, so they target sites with this type of audience.


Adjust and Match.

If you are selling other type of products or services you can still use the basics of this display marketing method, it doesn't matter if you're selling software, ebooks, or want to increase traffic to your blog, you can successfully use this tactics and have successful results.

How??? By adjusting the techniques of the banner or image ad design, but keeping the psychology of the method intact. What's the psychology behind this method?

1. The perfect hook: Grab visitors by the eye ball with a good relevant hook.
2. Hot relevant items: showcase your best products targeting a segmented audience.
3. Brand exposure: Even if visitors don't click you still want to have them know who your company is and where to find you.

Also make sure you do your research and find the most relevant websites or blogs with a big inventory of unique visitors and page views that you can use to successfully put this Internet marketing strategy in place.

To learn how you can be part of an online association full with Internet marketing experts and marketing advisers by visiting the Internet Entrepreneurs Club.

In Conclusion: It doesn't matter what you do, make sure you have a good testing and tracking system in place to get data and see how this online marketing method is working for you. Make sure to test different versions of your banner ads, until you find the one that gets the best conversions, and even then try to make that one better.

To your success,

Luis Galarza, Internet Marketing Consultant In Massachusetts.

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News: AzoogleAds Becomes Epic Advertising Because of Fraud or...

By Luis Galarza - Internet Marketing Strategies.

AzoogleAds Network Is Now Own By Epic Advertising... Company Fraud Problems or Expansion Development. Let Check The News!

Lately many companies has been changing names, or sold to bigger players in the market place for many reasons including fraud, this time is AzoogleAds a company that was making a lot of noise for some time... even top online marketers were recommending this CPA base contextual advertising network as a great way to make money online from blogs or PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising campaigns.

Then the noise when away... even those marketers using it as a main source of income took their AzoogleAds contextual ads down. Many didn't said why, Azoogle reps said that the name changing was a part of their new business development plan... and selling the company to Epic Advertising will give them the opportunity to increase their global market reach.

Here is some information I found on Clickz:

"The move essentially establishes a parent company name under which AzoogleAds and the firm's SEM management service, Bazaar Advertising, will be sold. "As of tomorrow, the entire company, executive team and sales team will all be Epic Advertising employees," said CMO Michael Sprouse, adding, "We actually have been thinking about a name change for some time."

The company also aims to ramp up its overseas expansion, and hopes consolidation under the new moniker aids that process by clarifying its business offerings. It recently aligned with London's 77Agency and Israel-based AdsMarket to build out international ad inventory in its network. "AzoogleAds is also a distribution arm; we really wanted to have a brand that sits above our distribution arm," said Sprouse.

Regarding the new partnerships, he continued, "We plan to replicate that model through Europe or whatever countries we end up doing business in." The firm will also launch a platform allowing small and medium-sized businesses to create targeted display, search, and coupon ads sold on a performance-basis."

Yeah, yeah, yeah... what about the fraud investigation AzoogleAds guys?

"AzoogleAds was investigated by Florida's CyberFraud Task Force for unfair and deceptive trade practices relating to online ringtone offers. It agreed in November 2007 to pay the division $1 million. Investigators claimed consumers responding to the firm's Web ads for free mobile ringtones often ended up unwittingly registering for subscription plans automatically billed to their mobile phone accounts. The agreement with the Sunshine State requires Azoogle to disclose the true cost of promotions advertised as "free."

Since settling with Florida, the company has indicated a willingness to help clean up the mobile content promotions sector, and told ClickZ News it has been in contact with Truste and the Mobile Marketing Association regarding establishing best practices for ads and promotions pushing ringtones, wallpapers, and other mobile goodies. The company has also assisted the Florida AG's office in further investigations into companies accused of fraudulent online advertising."

Looks like the massive amount of online demand for ringtones is making even good companies go back, and this also include PPC affiliate marketing entrepreneurs.

Hopefully Azoogle realized that they can still make a lot of money using ethical marketing practices that can help them build a real brand authority in the industry.

To learn proven Internet marketing strategies, I recommend you to check Insider Secrets To Marketing Your Business Online 2008 Version. This is the number one Internet marketing training for over 10 years.


In Conclusion: As a online marketer you need keep your marketing practices ethical and clean to really build a long term business. And as an affiliate marketing business person you need to learn that even big profitable merchants can turn to the dark side, s keep your eyes and ears open. Hope you can learn a good lesson from this AzoogleAds and Epic Advertising merge after a fraud investigation.

To learn how can you be part of a small business association full with marketing experts for only $2.95 visit the Internet Entrepreneurs Club.

To your success,

Luis Galarza, Internet Marketing Consultant Massachusetts.

About Author: Luis Galarza is a respectable Internet Marketing and Small Business Consultant in the area of Leominster and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Also, he had teach 100's of entrepreneurs how to make money online and offline without their own product.

A proud member of

The International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs

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Technorati tags: Luis Galarza, Online Marketing, Azoogle Ads, Azoogle,

2006 Marketing News Flashback

By Luis Galarza - Affiliate Marketing Secret Training Guide Blog

Here Are A Flashback To Some Of The Thing That Happen In 2006 And Was Top Marketing News Headlines!

1.- The launch of a new site called Affiliate AIM List (AffAimList.com) by Adam Viener the presidnet of the well known IMWave.com site. This new site offers access to instant messenger contact data for many of the top marketers in the affiliate world.

2.- Three CJ (CJ.com) publisher managers decide to leave the company after Commission Junction starting enforcing their policy that provihivite any employees to be affiliates.

3.- At Linkshare, Steve Denton who used to be the Senior Vice President of client Services and Distribution was name new president of the company, This because CEO Steve Messer and COO Heidi Messer decide to exit the firm which they founded in 1996.

4.- Online advertising is a huge demand and catch the eye of Amazon.com. This giant e-tailer started testing a program that will deliver third-party contextual ad links to is current network of affiliates or associates.

If you looking to save some money this holiday visit Cash Back Rebates Shopping.

To learn how can you be part of the Internet Entrepreneurs Club click here.

To your success,

Luis Galarza, Internet Marketing Consultant


About Author: Luis Galarza is a respectable Internet Marketing and Small Business Consultant in the area of Leominster and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Also, he had teach 100's of entrepreneurs how to make money online and offline without their own product.

A proud member of

The International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs
.

News: Cheap Google Search Technology For Small Business

By Luis Galarza - Affiliate Marketing Beginners Training Guide Blog

Google Search Technology Now Available With A Cheaper Price Tag For Small Businesses!

As you know Google has been offering their search technology applainces called Google Mini for midium and large enterprises for a few years, but the price was just to high for small business to implement on their company sites. Now looks like Google wants to let you know that they want your business, that's why they just made a version of their enterprise search technology with an afforable price tag for small firms with websites.

The price for the search technology is only $100 here is what Entrepreneur Magazine blog have to said:

Good news: This week Google announced the “Custom Search Business Edition” of their search technology, with a price tag of only 100 bucks for up to 5,000 pages (other pricing models exist). You can be up and running within the hour, and with no hosting nightmares or additional, hidden costs. The Google Co-Op program requires a Google account, but it’s easy to sign up and you probably already have an email account with them.

“Millions of businesses have a web presence but offer users no ability to search their site,” said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager, Google Enterprise.

There some good features and benefits that can improve website usuability for any small business, check Entrepreneurs SEO blog post about Google Search for a list of features and benefits. I think this is great news for many webmasters that had been looking for such a tool to improve their firm's web site.

To learn proven online marketing strategies to promote your business on the Internet click here.

To your success,

Luis Galarza, Internet Marketing Consultant


About Author: Luis Galarza is a respectable Internet Marketing and Small Business Consultant in the area of Leominster and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Also, he had teach 100's of entrepreneurs how to make money online without a their own product. For more information about his Free Affiliate Marketing Course.

A proud member of

The International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs
.