New Year Resolutions...

[David Hurley]

Okay, somebody had to start this thread!

Do you make New Year Resolutions? If so, how many? How long to they last?

Maybe if we post some of our business-related resolutions here... we might be more inclined to keep them, especially if the results can be checked by everybody else!

Here are mine...

1. Alexa rank below 300,000 for http://grasp-the-nettle.com <== This will keep me focused on promoting my website...

2. Get onto the Empowerism.com top sellers' board <== This will keep me focused on the sales side...

3. Produce and sell an English language study package based around Success University membership, with online coaching, and also face-to-face classes for anyone in my area (Japan)... My name in Success University' magazine, Success Express, would be evidence that this is working! <== This will teach me how to bridge the gap between online and offline sales and marketing in a foreign country...



Happy New Year

David Hurley

[Alan Mater]

Good luck, David! Those are very specific resolutions, and I'm sure you'll meet them with no problem.

As for me, I would just like to break even with my business. I'm going to change my strategy a little, learn some new marketing tactics and try to capitalize on my current efforts.

[TheRainmaker]

I love resolutions and goals - they are a surefire way for growing and succeeding more.

For this year I would like to do the following:

dedicate 1 hour a day to reading, and reflecting, journaling etc.
dedicate 1 hour a day to exercise and health related things
i am not holding any meetings earlier than 10 am
i will hire 2 new account managers
secure 11 new clients this year
submit our company to the profit fast 50
open an office in arizona or miami by end of the year which will make 3 office locations and 2 satelite locations

[GT Bulmer]

Hello:

I don't think I make "resolutions." I do set goals to focus my efforts.

The only true resolution I think I ever made that stands out in my mind was a bit more than 30 (!!!) years ago. I resolved to quit smoking "sometime" that year. It ended up that I had instantly and unexpectedly and to my complete surprise fulfilled that resolution the moment I made it because I never smoked again.

As far as I can remember, since then, I just set goals for the year ... and I don't really focus on January as the exact time to do that, either. It is an ongoing process throughout the year. But since everybody talks about it in January, a person does think about it more and dwells on their goals and plans for the year a bit more, I think.

My goal is similar to Alan's: I plan to improve the profitability (that is, "profit - ability") of my Internet Marketing activities and learn and apply some new techniques and strategies.

I am an ongoing student of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (aren't we all?) and I plan to build on the techniques and successes in this area that I have been enjoying thus far.

GT

[JBunion]

I generally don't make resolutions - they just end up breaking anyway! But every January I do make a conscious effort to review my life and try to start over in areas that I've "fallen off the wagon" so to speak. One of my main goals at the moment is to become more active on the internet, and learn about how to make better business decisions.

[David Hurley]

It's quite funny to discover this thread near the end of 2009!!

The first resolution was certainly successfully achieved! I am now aiming to get my website below 200,000 by the end of the year and am close to hitting that target.

As for Empowerism, well, I am on the board for 2009, but not where I wanted to be, appearing on the leaderboard each month... I didn't keep my eye on the ball!

I still had high hopes for SU this time last year, but they underwent radical changes a few months back and I dropped them. Also, iLearningGlobal emerged as a top quality programme that I felt was better than SU. You can read about it on this thread:

viewforum.php?f=22

There's still over a month to go, but as I received my FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENT this evening (a bottle of Madeira from a couple of students who I won't see again until January), now seems like a good moment to dust off this thread...

[GT Bulmer]

Hi, David:

Thanks for reviving this topic thread and getting us to start thinking about the New Year.

The only goal I mentioned in my post at the beginning of this year had to do with improved SEO. I did make some progress in that direction, but I have more yet to do.

For the coming year, even though I was planning on scaling back the number of local writing clients I currently have ... well, they pay so well, I might have to hang onto them all a little longer.

My original plan was to allow more focus on Internet Marketing. Looks like I may have to go back to Plan A where I just practice better efficiency in all that I do.

I have some Internet Marketing plans/goals/resolutions in mind, but I need to think them through a bit more before making note of them here.

GT

[Kevin Lee]

For the coming year, even though I was planning on scaling back the number of local writing clients I currently have ... well, they pay so well, I might have to hang onto them all a little longer.

My original plan was to allow more focus on Internet Marketing. Looks like I may have to go back to Plan A where I just practice better efficiency in all that I do.

I have some Internet Marketing plans/goals/resolutions in mind, but I need to think them through a bit more before making note of them here.

GT

Hi GT,

But if you're already experienced and being paid well in writing, then why not just go "all in" and become the best at it?

Why did you want to venture into Internet Marketing?

[GT Bulmer]

Hi GT,

But if you're already experienced and being paid well in writing, then why not just go "all in" and become the best at it?

Why did you want to venture into Internet Marketing?

Hi, Kevin:

I enjoy writing and one of my dreams (now being fulfilled) was to become a (well)paid writer, but when I am honest with myself, I have to admit that marketing and promotion have always been a "first love," although I haven't truly focused on developing my sales skills as well as I have developed my writing skills up until this point.

I have always been attracted to the concept of advertising "stuff" and getting people to send me money! When the Internet rolled around, I was slow to get on the bandwagon, but I've been trying to learn and catch up over the past few years.

Here is the main attraction, and one that I think many aspiring marketers can relate to: the idea is to set up a website that is fully automated and (once traffic is built and sales are steady on a monthly basis) requires a minimal amount of effort to maintain. The best scenario is to offer either digital products that can be delivered immediately, without shipping costs, or to have suppliers automatically dropship the products to your customers.

The difference between writing and Internet Marketing is that with writing, I have to write every article before I can get paid. It's like a J.O.B. - if you don't show up, you don't get paid. In contrast, with Internet Marketing, if you can get the system set up properly, you can reduce the need for physical interaction with your business and increase the amount of "free time" you have.

In my case, I will just use that "free time" to continue writing! Best of both worlds! But I am attracted to the idea of the residual income that can be possible through marketing on the Internet.

GT

[Kevin Lee]

The difference between writing and Internet Marketing is that with writing, I have to write every article before I can get paid. It's like a J.O.B. - if you don't show up, you don't get paid. In contrast, with Internet Marketing, if you can get the system set up properly, you can reduce the need for physical interaction with your business and increase the amount of "free time" you have.

Hi GT,

That's a good goal you've set for yourself and thanks for sharing! So how far away are you from making the transition from writer to full fledged internet marketer?

[Alan Mater]

My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now.

Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.

[Kevin Lee]

My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now.

Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.

Hi Alan,

Do you mean $500+ per month?

And when you're selling items on eBay from a reputable dropshipper... do you think it's still important to pick a product you're passionate about (like what an entrepreneur would normally do when starting a business)? Or is it just about moving a popular item for profit on eBay?

[Alan Mater]

My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now.

Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.

Hi Alan,

Do you mean $500+ per month?

And when you're selling items on eBay from a reputable dropshipper... do you think it's still important to pick a product you're passionate about (like what an entrepreneur would normally do when starting a business)? Or is it just about moving a popular item for profit on eBay?

Hi Kevin,

Yes, sorry I didn't clarify. My goal is to make $500+ per month.

I would say yes, pick products that you have an interest in. That's the best option if you're going to like what you do. Hopefully you can find a balance between products you're interested in and products that are in high demand.

[GT Bulmer]

Hi GT,
That's a good goal you've set for yourself and thanks for sharing! So how far away are you from making the transition from writer to full fledged internet marketer?

Hi, Kevin:

Unfortunately, I must admit that from an income point of view, I'm not even close. I feel that I need to restructure or replace my entire Starrbizz website, change my marketing focus and presentation style, and most importantly, step up my marketing in areas such as article marketing and social networking. A huge challenge, all considered.

GT