This touched me…

What would you do?….you make the choice.
Don’t look for a punch line, there isn’t one. Read it anyway.

My question is: “Would you have made the same choice”?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: “When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?”

The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. “I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.” Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, “Do you think they’ll let me play?” Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and said, “We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.” Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.

His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, “Shay, run to first! Run to first!” Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, “Run to second, run to second!”

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball … the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, “Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay” Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, “Run to third! Shay, run to third!” As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, “Shay, run home! Run home!” Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

“That day”, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, “the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world”. Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you’re thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you’re probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren’t the “appropriate” ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the “natural order of things.”

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:

1. Delete
2. Forward

May your day, be a Shay Day.

Makes you think doesn’t it. Please post your comments

Humbly

Wizzer

Wizzer Newsflash

Just in today.

MyMegalist launches - this Very Special List building and Free Traffic program has been in the making for 10 months! And today marks the official Launch of this long awaited, much heralded, program!

The #1 key to online success is building and marketing to your own mailing list. Now, build your own MEGALIST - FREE - It’s an awesome viral autopilot machine

Take a look - if you want to build a list (and if you don’t you’re probably in the wrong place :) ) this may be just right for you. Just click the link above.

Go on - “Do It Now”

Wizzer

Wizzer Update 8

Many people are not up to speed yet with RSS and syndicated feeds etc - there lost some of you already :) - so I have added an automatic email feed to the WizzerNews blog.

All you need to do is enter your email address in the box and hit the button.

Every time a new item is posted you’ll receive an email copy.

You can also use this same service to receive email updates from other blogs.

Once you receive email notification & you confirm your sign up to WizzerNews you’ll be automatically taken to your control panel at FeedBlitz. You’ll find full instructions there and you can simply add the URL of any blog you want to your list.

One more thing - this really is cool and there’s no cost at all.

I hope you like this new feature.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment.

Wizzer
“Do It Now”

Affiliate Marketing is TOO Expensive

Far too many subscribers are still under the impression that running a business on the internet costs too much. I really don’t agree and my guest article today covers that point with some great examples…

Affiliate Marketing is TOO Expensive

I once got an email from a gentleman who asserted that affiliate marketing as a business simply wasn’t for him.

Why?
Because it is too expensive!
Huh? Too expensive?
WHAT’s too expensive?

Let’s assume that because he sent an email, he already has the basic equipment and software that he needs to start an affiliate marketing business - that being a computer, email software and an Internet connection. I’ll also assume that he has a desk on which to store that stuff, a chair on which to perch and a telephone line. Nothing extra to buy or lease there.

Perhaps it was the huge initial outlay of $8.95 at godaddy.com to register a domain name? He must have overlooked the discount. You can save two bucks a year when you register for ten years in advance. That’s got to be it.

Then again, there are those ongoing monthly $9.95 web hosting and $17.95 autoresponder charges. That’s $27.90 a month.

Yup, that’s pretty steep. (Sheesh.)

What about all those products to buy and stock?

Oh ya, you don’t have to buy SONY’s TV’s or Dell’s computers to sell them as an affiliate. Not having to buy them will also save a big chunk of change in storage fees at the warehouse as well.

Hmmm…. that ALSO means that as an affiliate, you don’t have to ship those heavy items.

Actually, those affiliated merchants are pretty good guys all around. Not only don’t you have to buy, store or ship the product, you also don’t need to deal with those pesky customers. Just send them from your site to the merchant’s site, and the company will handle all the sales details. They’ll take the customers’ money, figure out your share and send you a check.

Pretty sweet deal.

Maybe it was the cost to build a web site that bothered him. Yes, graphics programs and HTML editor software can get pretty expensive, but there are plenty of low and no-cost options available. If building the site yourself proves too time-consuming, there are also excellent graphic designers who sell beautifully designed web site templates for less than twenty bucks.

Oh, I know! It must have been the cost to advertise. Hmmm… the last time I checked one of those national magazines, it cost about $1200 to get a 1/12th of a page ad in black and white. Your ad could be seen by up to three quarters of a million people. But how many of those readers would actually be interested in your message?

By contrast, that $1200 could buy up to 120,000 clicks from a targeted audience on the Internet. What method do you think would be more worthwhile in terms of return?

Furthermore, when you use Internet pay per click advertising, you don’t have to spend the whole $1200 in one shot. You could try a $50 test ad. Analyze your ROI, return on investment. If it’s not satisfactory,rework your ad and try another test. In the worst case scenario, you’ll gain a few subscribers to your newsletter to whom you can promote other products later.

I personally work and rework my ads and aim for a 100% return on my advertising investment. Where else are you going to get that kind of return on your money nowadays?

The stock market? Your bank account? The race track? The latter probably has the best odds of the three.

OK, so let’s do a tally to see how much, or how little, it could cost to start an affiliate marketing business on the Internet.

The expenses are as follows:
domain $8.95,
hosting $9.95,
web site template $14.95
and $100.00 for a test ad.

Total outlay for the first month equals $133.85. Assuming a 100% return on your advertising investment, you’ll have earned $200.00.

In the first month you’d already be in the black - $66.15 richer.

Affiliate marketing on the Internet is one of the least costly businesses to start, and one of the very few that contains the possibility of profit in the first month.

If a C-note is too big an investment in a business that has brought financial freedom to thousands, then perhaps it’s best to stick with ‘the day job’.

And, I didn’t even touch on all the money and time you’ll save by working at home.

Next time.

Author’s Resource: Article by Rosalind Gardner, author of the best-selling “Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 in One Year Selling Other People’s Stuff Online“. To learn how you too can succeed in Internet and affiliate marketing, please visit NetProfitsToday

I think it is vital that we are realistic.

There really is no such thing as a worthwhile business where you do not need to spend anything. The most important point is to make sure that the money is spent on the right things. Cheap isn’t always best but on the internet it pays to be careful. How many products are set at $997 etc. Are they really worth that?

There are many, many great products and services available for nothing and low cost.

Rosalind mentions autoresponders and HTML editors as two potential expenses.

I will post articles on both in due course but in case you can’t wait I strongly recommend the following:

Autoresponder: AWeber - probably the best Autoresponder service available.

Unlimited  Autoresponders by AWeber

HTML Editor: Nvu - fully featured and really simple to use AND it’s free!

Made with Nvu

In keeping with my theme that an affiliate business is not TOO expensive - here is a brilliant FREE resource. Starting from scratch these videos will show you exactly how to register a domain name, set up and build a mini sales site - even if you know absolutely nothing about starting a web based business.

“Do It Now” - go to MiniSitesSecrets

Sorry if I’ve overloaded you today - but I can’t resist providing you with such low cost, relevant information - all without the usual hype.


Until next time

Good fortune

Mark “Wizzer” Wilson
“Do It Now”

Work at Home Plan

Here’s the Special Report I promised in my recent email.

I really believe this will help your business. When you’ve read the “sales” page scroll to the bottom and Click the Golden Key to bypass the order page and get it for Free.

FREE Work At Home GUIDE for our visitors!

Hope you find it useful.

Wizzer

It Borders Criminal Activity…


OK, that’s a bit strong.

But over the past 3-4 weeks I’ve been working away at my desk and the number of emails I’ve received selling me this or that new program that I simply MUST have or I may as well give up my business is beyond belief.

What makes it worse is that most of the emails come from the same group of “gurus”. My respect for these guys is dropping by the minute.

I had believed some of these guys really did care about helping the newbie get started but now I’m not so sure. They all seem to be promoting each others program, product or seminar and are offering sweeteners from “far too many bonuses to look at during a lifetime” to even “diamonds”!

My view is quite simple - YOU DO NOT NEED ALL OF THIS STUFF.

It sits on your shelf or hard drive rotting away and you don’t even look at it.

When you are starting out you just need a strategy: be that as an affiliate (as you know my favorite); creator of your own product or service or Adsense site promoter.

To be successful you MUST NOT flit from one idea to another. You need to look at yourself first and decide that you will “Do It Now”. If you are not prepared to “change” and do something different and now, not tomorrow, not next week not never - surprise, surprise nothing will change.

Having decided, you’ll need to select a program and focus on that and nothing else. Sure, you’ll need some extra tools, some help with traffic building, help with list building and copy perhaps but you will not need piles of different programs and ideas cluttering up the place.

Let me know what you REALLY think and what you REALLY need to move to the next stage - whatever level you’re at right now.

Good fortune

Wizzer

Can I Make Money Online?

Over the past few weeks many of you have commented “It’s alright for the gurus but can I make any money online”?

Without a doubt the answer is yes and today I have an article for you from Rosalind Gardner who has made a fortune by promoting other peoples’ products on line.

She has been an inspiration to me and if you take my advice and “Do It Now” I’m sure you too will get great benefit for your business from her words…

As an Internet marketing consultant, I often hear the question, “Can I REALLY make money online with affiliate programs?”

To me, that question speaks of the asker’s skepticism, so let’s put aside any question of whether money is REALLY being made online before we look any further.

Thousands of merchants have put resources into developing affiliate programs so that others can promote their products in exchange for a commission, which is usually a percentage of the product’s price. If there wasn’t money to be made, Sony, Dell and those thousands of other merchants wouldn’t waste their time and money building affiliate programs.

I personally know at least a hundred people who make marketing on the Internet their full-time occupation. If there wasn’t money to be made, that wouldn’t be possible.

I am one of those people. The secondary title of my ebook about affiliate marketing is ‘How I Made $436,797 Last Year Selling Other People’s Stuff Online’. Although I dislike that subtitle and its crass approach, it IS the truth, and it IS effective proof that money can be made online.

The statement is backed up on the Super Affiliate Handbook homepage with a picture of part of my income tax statement from 2002 which shows my earnings.

See it for yourself at: SuperAffiliateHandbook

So, having dispelled any question about whether there is money to be made online, let’s proceed to the REAL question.

Let’s take the emphasis off the word ‘REALLY’ and place it where it belongs - on YOU.

Can YOU really make money online?

Sure you can! IF you REALLY want to.

Desire is the first key to success. But here’s where it gets a little tricky. If your desire is for money, as opposed to what money can buy, your work will be made much harder, if not impossible.

‘Huh? Why is that?’ you may wonder.

Money is a concept. In and of itself it does nothing for you, unless you are very fond of small rectangular pieces of colored paper.

If you focus instead on the good that money will bring to your life, such as free time and all the fun ways to spend it, then you’ll give positive direction to your efforts.

Think about it.. what can that money buy you? The kids’ education, a new car, a new house, a second honeymoon… how about a sailboat?

Dream a little - dream a LOT, but create some desire, and a REASON to work hard for what you want to achieve.

And that’s the second key to making money online - Work.

Too many people still hold on to the notion of ‘get rich quick’. I’ve got news for them - there’s no such thing. You can get rich a little quicker on the ‘net, but the truth is that nothing worth having comes without a price. You must invest some time and money.

Not much money, but some. Compared to starting any other business, the amount of financial investment required to start an affiliate marketing business on the Internet is negligible. If you don’t have one or two hundred bucks - or can’t beg, borrow or steal that amount - then maybe you can get a part-time job and save up to start your online business.

No matter how you slice it, you won’t find another opportunity anywhere that has the potential for this much reward for so little outlay. This IS one of the least expensive businesses you can start.

Last but not least - can you stick with it over the longhaul?

Persistence is perhaps the MOST important quality shared by all entrepreneurs. That’s why you hear about those who make a million, lose a million and then make another million. They go up, then down, then up again, but they never gave up.

You can’t let the ups and downs get to you. Not everything will go your way all of the time. You’ll have to make some effort and it won’t always be easy.

But, if you keep your goals foremost in your mind, learn what you need to know and invest your resources wisely and with persistence, you virtually can’t help but succeed.

That’s how you REALLY make money online!

Article by Rosalind Gardner, author of the best-selling “Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 in One Year Selling Other People’s Stuff Online”.
To learn how you too can succeed in Internet and affiliate marketing,

please visit: NetProfitsToday


I have always wondered what it is that holds human beings back from their true potential. I’ve done it myself - bought the course; learnt the stuff; told myself this was the one… then not taken the necessary action.

Is it fear? or not being sure what step to take? or being happy with the current situation?

I’m not really sure but the more I mix with successful people the more I hear that they expect something less than 5% of the people who buy anything to do with money making to actually do anything with it.

Don’t be caught in that trap - go on - “Do It Now”. It only take a little each day to make a real improvement. Commit to doing something each and every day that will move you towards your goal.

Until next time

Mark “Wizzer” Wilson

“Do It Now”

Wizzer Update 7


A large number of subscribers to WizzerNews have told me that they have had difficulties with their updates getting caught up by email and spam filters and html messages not always showing properly because of software configuration issues.

I have therefore decided to change the way WizzerNews is brought to you. From now on you will receive a brief text based email letting you know there is a new post on the WizzerBlog at:

http://wizzerblog.blogspot.com

All you will need to do is click the link and the full issue will be on your screen in seconds.

Try it now, click the following link
http://wizzerblog.blogspot.com to see this post (there’s also a great surprise waiting for you).

I hope you like this new delivery method.

Let me know what you think by posting a comment at the blog:

http://wizzerblog.blogspot.com

Until next time

Mark “Wizzer” Wilson
“Do It Now”

P.S. If you really prefer to have the full issue emailed to you as in the past please drop me a brief email to:

emailme@wealth-vault.com
with the subject line - WizzerNews

Top 10 Reasons to be an Affiliate

Top 10 Reasons to Become an Affiliate Marketer

I’m delighted to have reached agreement with Rosalind Gardner to be able to publish here some of her articles on affiliate marketing. She is without doubt one of THE most successful affiliate marketers and I love her hype-free style.

Back when my online business consisted ONLY of affiliate sites, I had no need for a personal assistant.

The sites were all in place, and my affiliated merchants handled everything related to orders.

Last week, one of my clients mentioned that he was moving AWAY from selling his own products to promoting more affiliate programs just for the simplicity and freedom.

Yup, he definitely ‘gets’ it.

Although there are many, many benefits to promoting affiliate programs with your own home-based Internet business, here are my top 10 reasons to become an affiliate marketer.

1. No Product Development Costs - The cost to develop and produce a new product is expensive! But you needn’t worry about that as an affiliate.

2. Low Cost Set-up - Got a desk, Internet-connected computer and word-processing software? You’re in business!

3. No Fees or Geographic Limits on Distribution - Affiliate programs are usually free to join, and market reach is limited only by the affiliate’s ability to promote his other web site.

4. Choose From Thousands of Products and Services - What isn’t sold online? With affiliate networks like CommissionJunction, Be Free and Linkshare, it’s easy to find products related to your current or planned web site.

5. No Merchant Account Required - Forget the problems associated with collecting and storing names, addresses, credit card numbers, etc. The merchant handles all payment processing, so you never have to lose sleep over chargebacks, fraud or losing your merchant account.

6. No Inventory to Carry - Even if you live in a small one-bedroom apartment, you can sell large items without storage concerns.

7. No Shipping Costs - Don’t worry about buying packing supplies or postal rates. The cost and hassle to prepare and ship products to customers worldwide belongs to the merchant.

8. No Customer Concerns - Do you hate the prospect of dealing with nasty people? Don’t worry about it! The merchant handles the snivelers.

9. Make Money While You Sleep - What other business allows you as a sole proprietor to keep your doors open and keep making money even when you take breaks or after you go home for the night?

10. High Income Potential - With your own affiliate business your income potential is limited only by your desire, effort and imagination - not your boss.
Relatively low outlay of resources with huge potential returns truly makes affiliate marketing on the Internet an outstanding business opportunity.


Article by Rosalind Gardner, author of the best-selling
“Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 in One Year Selling Other People’s Stuff Online”.

To learn how you too can succeed in Internet and affiliate marketing, please visit NetProfitsToday

Rosalind is without doubt someone who really understands the affiliate business. Her information is honest and straightforward. I’ll be bringing more information from Rosalind in future issues.

Until next time.

Mark “Wizzer” Wilson
“Do It Now”

Wizzer Update 6

“Nobody got anywhere in the world by simply being content.”

Louis L’Amour

I like that quote. In my opinion the day you become content is the day you give up living.

WIZZER THOUGHTS - The MUST KNOW information

How did you got on with the website building videos I provided last time?

Haven’t got them yet? They’re still available for you - the package is worth $427 and it’s yours just because you receive WizzerNews. It will cost you nothing and whatever stage you are at with your business I’m sure you’ll find them of great use.

Get them now at Video Download

You’ll need to enter the secret code into the Promotional Code field. Simply enter the following code and follow the instructions:

wiznews

*****************************************************

OK, back to today.You’ll remember we last talked about finding the “thirsty” crowd. In other words the market into which you will throw your business. Have you identified yours yet? This is a really important stage and you must do two things:

  1. Make sure the crowd is thirsty - if they’re not you are likely to struggle selling them anything
  2. Make sure you have a real interest in the market - if you don’t you’ll find it difficult to keep motivated

Now you’ll need to identify whether there really is a big thirsty market in your chosen field. You’ll also need to think about the level of competition.

By the way, have you ever been to a city where there seems to be hundreds of shops next to each other all selling the same things? I used to think those business people were mad. With all that competition how could they possibly make a living.

But then after a while it sinks in. They’ve identified a thirsty crowd and are simply providing what that crowd wants. Undoubtedly some will be more successful than others. Why is that? Is it they’re cheaper, more expensive, better service, better sales people, better location?

I think the answer may be a combination of all of those but probably more to do with making themselves a little different.

I visited Venice in Italy earlier this year and there were small stalls selling exactly the same souvenirs everywhere. Eventually I convinced myself I needed something they were selling and chose something from the stall where the guy was most helpful and was interested in me rather than what he was selling.

The lesson is to focus on the customer and not the sale. Sure enough if you care about your customers the sales will come.

Some resources for you to check out the potential of your chosen market:

Froogle
Each time you refresh your browser you will see the recent items people have been looking to buy. If any of those product fits with your chosen market you could be on to a winner.

Pixelfast Overture
This site will show you the demand for a particular word, try entering - computer - for example. Apart from that word other related words and phrases people are searching on will be shown with the relevant number of searches. Again if the numbers are high it could be an indication of a good vibrant market. On the left side of the page you will also see the price advertisers are bidding for particular keywords. (More on this in later editions).

So, you should think of some relevant keywords relating to your market and enter them into the Keyword Tool to see what level of demand (number of searches) for that particular word.

For a much more in-depth study of this whole issue I strongly recommend you take a good look at the business building service over at The Complete Website Business at Sitesell. This really is so much more than just a web hosting service, it includes a full explanation of choosing a niche, researching that niche, identifying keywords, building a site using those keywords all very easy to understand and simple to do. There is extensive help and a wide range of case studies covering all sorts of markets. I really cannot recommend this high enough as a starting point.

I’m in the process of building a site using Sitesell relating to a property project I have in Europe - take a look at Frontline Golf

Don’t forget if there is anything particular you want me to cover in future issues simply answer my question at: Survey

WIZZER NEWS - General developments

Sorry about this but I’m just going negative for a while.

I’m kicking myself right now for getting taken in time and time again by all the hype!! This week I must have had at least 10, yes TEN, internet marketing “guru’s” telling me how this one particular program they’ve been using has changed their lives and I must go and get it.

In this case I actually know the guy who created this particular project and I’ll be really surprised if anyone else had heard about the product more than a few days ago. So how has the use of this thing changed their lives in such a short time?

Am I the only mug who believes this stuff?

I’m all for promoting good products that really will help - it’s the lies and the extreme hype I can’t take. Let me know what you think mailto:wizzer@wealth-vault.com

WIZZER REFLECTIONS - My personal thoughts

I’ve been too busy with “stuff” over the past few weeks to play any golf and to make things worse I haven’t made the time for any serious exercise.

I know this is bad for me and whenever I take time out to properly exercise I feel more alive and motivated to get things done. I wish I really understood what makes us do the wrong things even when we know what we should be doing.

If you have an answer to that one I’d really love to hear from you - email me

Until next time

Mark “Wizzer” Wilson
“Do It Now”

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