What action did you take today that will end up generating income?

We, solo professionals, often work, work, work, and work..., only to find ourselves after weeks and months of work, getting nowhere. What's happening is that we often get caught in trying to build the perfect brochure, the super-duper website, the highly attractive business card, and tons of other "important" stuff... Which is great, we need all that; however, if we don't spend time on activities that pottentially will generate income, guess what? We will not generate income.

So what did you do today that had the pottential to generate income?

I'll be honest - I slacked off. I woke up with marvelous intentions to contact some HR managers at large companies, but I ended up checking up on my articles that I've submitted online in the past, and got caught up in submitting more articles. Well, yes, in the long run this might bring in something. But maybe not. On monday I'll need to do better. (Yes, it's still early, I could do something more productive, but I'm set to flood every article submission site with my articles).

I'll put together, though, the marketing materials that I'll use on Monday. Ok, let me get down to it, then I'll get back to the article submission.
(I don't know... maybe in the future I'll share some of the links to my articles. Right now I'm not very proud of a few things, so I choose to keep "quite.")

Resource of the Day - More Sources to Submit Your Articles & eZines

Here are some more sources where you can submit your articles, eZines, and online newsletters:

https://www.triond.com
http://www.bestezines.com
http://www.goarticles.com
http://www.marketing-seek.com/index.php
http://www.connectionteam.com
http://www.homebiztools.com
http://www.addto.com
http://cerebuswebmaster.com
http://www.netterweb.com
http://www.business-dynamics.com
http://www.ezinearticles.com/
http://www.ezadsuccess.com/ (I can't find the link to submit articles to this one, but if you type in "submit article" in their search box, you'll get a ton more article submission sites. If you figure out how to submit articles to them, let me know)

There is no sweater publicity than FREE PUBLICITY. One of the most effective ways to do this is by submiting articles to online sources and to print publications (starting with the small ones in your backyard and shooting for the big national papers, magazines, and industry-specific newsletters).

Besides getting some FREE PUBLICITY, publishing articles online at several different sites, will result in HIGHER SEARCH ENGINE RANKING, which we all want, right? For example, the owner of the site www.egsebastian.com wrote a series of articles on promoting his Inscape DiSC Assessments/Profiles. Due to the linkbacks (and the quality of the content on his site), he ranks on the top of most search engines when you type in his top-selling profiles. Type in DiSC 2.0 or DiSC PPSS into www.msn.com, www.yahoo.com, or www.google.com 's search engine and he pops up on the top. See some of his articles at http://www.articlewise.com/6057.html (on How to REcognize the Personality/Behavior Style of YOur Audience Members) or http://www.articlewise.com/6056.html (10 Tips to Better Public Speaking).

You can do it too!
Write a top 10 article, or a series of short articles on a topic related to your field, and put a signature line with a link to your website. Also, it's great if you can include a freebie or an E-course that will entice your readers to share their E-mail address with you. Your (online) business success depends greatly on the quality (and a bit on the quantity) of your eMail database.

So, what' you waiting for??? "Write that Top 10 Ways to... " or other type article and submit it to these sources!

Resource of the Day - FREE Marketing Postcards

Get now 100 FREE POSTCARDS at http://www.vistaprint.com/. Click on Marketing Material on the left side menu, then click on postcards.
(They can also provide you with FREE Business Cards for a lifetime; or get a better quality card for an affordable price. I've been using them for the past 4 years, and I'm very happy with them)

On the mailing I got from them, it says that the offer for the free postcards ends on May 15th, 2007; but on the website there is no end date, so check it out.

Postcards are one of the greatest way to market yourself; and the greatest way to stay visible in front of your customers. I like to send out to my database a card every 60 to 90 days, to keep my name in my client's and pottential clients' eyes. This way, when they need someone to speak at one of their events, I'll (hopefully) be one of their top choice.

I always include in the card a freebie, such as a FREE E-Course or a free article on their area of interest (each accessible online).

YOu can use cards to thank your clients for their business, to promote a product, or for a gazilion other reasons.

And when it's free, you have no reason not to try them...

Resource of the Day - Nature Trails & More

Do you like to travel? Here are a few cool links that will help you find hiking trails, parks, kayaking, mountain trails, etc., etc.

http://www.llbean.com/parksearch

www.trails.com

And before you hit the road, find out what gear you'll need, what will the weather be like, accomodations, and restrictions and safety tips at www.outdoorexplorer.com

Enjoy!