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Guest Post: Bootstrapping on Steroids- Build an Internet, Technology or Software Company for Zero Dollars Part 1

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This is the beginning of a 3 part series, courtesy of Alex Genadinik.

Introducing: Guest blogger and fellow Tweep Alex. Alex has a background in software engineering and is currently focused on building semantic systems for the business world. He is the founder of Semantic Valley, a web 3.0 start-up specializing in creating taxonomy and ontology based products. Their alpha-stage demo of a semantic search of shoes can be seen at MilderWilder.com. Say hello on Twitter too! @genadinik

There is a glut of overly optimistic blogs and articles giving advice and encouragement on entrepreneurship, innovation and fearlessness in the face of risk.

This can be quite misleading due to its authors’ success bias because they are the tiny percentage of people who have succeeded and are given a voice; among the infinitely many more people who have failed and whose stories are not widely read.

Unfortunately, chances are against most of us who try. The goal of this article is to offer suggestions on how to build a company and give it a chance to stand on its feet, while spending nothing more than the legal fee to register as a company. Hopefully it will afford you more time to try to build your company well.

What You Can Expect

During the bootstrapping stage the following milestones have to be accomplished in order to ensure the company is able to survive moving forward:

Copy and Messaging

Universal Laws of Good Copywriting Part 2

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In Part 1 of this series, we went over some important copywriting “rules” to follow in order to have the best possible copywriting material.

To refresh your memory, these rules were:

* Set out writing to one person.
* Use your prospect’s language.
* Use emotion.

In this article, I’m going to go through and give you even more tips you can use to make the most compelling sales material possible.

So, let’s get going.

Rule #4: Time’s ticking, make sure you keep their attention.

Your sales letter should be captivating from the beginning to the end. A lot of people liken a sales letter to a “slippery slope”, saying that the letter should be consistent and easy to read the entire time through.

Imagine falling down a slippery slope. The ride is easy from top to bottom, and you go down one clear path. A sales letter should be exactly like this.

If you have ANY disconnects, it will be very easy for a reader to lose interest and stop reading right away.

Think about it like this: people stay on websites for an average of 30 or so seconds. This is ESPECIALLY true if they think they’re being sold something. As you know, 30 seconds isn’t a lot of time. If you give your readers any reason to leave whatsoever, they WILL take it. Make sure that every point you write about makes complete sense. Don’t get too off topic.

It’s also important to have a compelling headline that will make your readers’ eyes bulge. Get them emotionally invested in reading on. Don’t over-hype or make promises you can’t keep, but really reel them in with the “wow” factor of your product or service in your headlines.

Don’t use wordy, verbose language that bores your reader. World class copywriter John Carlton actually says to write as if you’re writing to a third grader.

Copy and Messaging

Psychology of a Sales Letter

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If you catch the attention of the reader in the first paragraph of your sales letter, your reader will most likely read through to the second paragraph. And if you have convinced him to read on by your first paragraph, the more your second paragraph will be convincing because by now your reader will believe he has a need for your product or service because you’ve suggested that the product that you offer will satisfy a need. Make sense?

The content of your copy must briefly sum up three important aspects: attraction, necessity and urge.

The second paragraph can be called the “psychological paragraph” because it creates a psychological impact on the reader making him;

Copy and Messaging

Universal Laws of Good Copywriting Part 1

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Learning how to write a sales letter can be extremely difficult. It seems as if everyone has an opinion on how to write copy, and many of those opinions contradict each other – even amongst top copywriters.

That being said, there are some universal copywriting “laws” that will be the same for everyone. We’re going to go over a few of those fundamentals, as well as how you can use them to your advantage, in Part 1 of this series.

With that said, let’s get started!

Rule #1: Set out writing to one person.

Writing a letter or piece of copywriting material can be quite overwhelming if you’re constantly thinking about all the different people that are going to look at your material.

When you’re writing something, write to one specific person. Write to the ideal customer of your product.

Many top copywriters come up with a complete avatar of their ideal customer. They know the age, marital status, sex, and general demographics of their customer. They also know deeper things, such as the fears and frustrations of their clients, the conversations going on in their clients heads, and what the clients want above all else.

When you write to the one specific person you’ve uncovered in your research, the letter writing becomes a lot less overwhelming, and a lot more fun.

Copy and Messaging

Elicit Emotions: Using Writing as a Marketing Tool

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If you want to be able to earn a lot of money with your marketing, writing (in the majority of cases) is going to be very essential to you.

You are going to have to learn how to appeal to prospect’s emotions (remember – most people buy due to emotion, not logic) so that you can really prove your point as to why your product or service is so beneficial.

You may be wondering, what kinds of emotions cause customers to get itchy hands and pull out their wallets? That’s the real question for people who want to take advantage of this technique.

Copy and Messaging

Helpful Copywriting Tips: World-Class Copywriter Responsibilites

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The term “copywriter” is a pretty broad one, and covers a lot of different areas. One copywriter can solely write direct mail, while another can do online sales letters, press releases, auto-responder copy, or a combination of all 3.

Even if you know the type of sales material you want your copywriter to come up with, the lines can even be fuzzy from there.

In this article, we’re going to discuss some things you should expect any time you hire a copywriter. If your writer isn’t doing these things, there is a problem.

Copy and Messaging

Hiring a Freelance Writer- Where to Look

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Can a great writer be an asset to any business? Of course he or she can! Good writers can be great helpers, especially to small businesses that equate time and money to the survival of their business.

There are a number of situations in which you might need a writer. Some of these would include if you are not a good writer, if you need a technical writer to do a specific job, or if you are too busy to write. If any of these circumstances apply to you, then these guidelines will help you find a qualified writer.

Mindset and Inspiration

What are Your Promises to Yourself in 2010?

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It’s almost time for Santa! And the New Year is quickly approaching. So I’m curious as to your plans on making 2010 your best year ever. Have you thought about it?

Typically, the New Year is a time for resolutions and promises to yourself to make more money, lose more weight, or spend more time on yourself, etc. Resolutions are great! Unfortunately they usually don’t last very long.

So my homework for you this New Year is to not make wild resolutions you likely will not keep. My homework is for you to sit down during a few quiet moments and really think about your goals for 2010. Get specific, and keep them doable, but just lofty enough to inspire you.

Mindset and Inspiration

Not So Secret Fundamentals to a Positive Mindset

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Yesterday I talked about a positive mindset and how a lack of sleep can really put a damper on it. And I feel that a positive mind is really important to running a successful business as well as achieving personal goals, so I wanted to talk about a few key fundamentals to keeping your brain happy and focused.

First of all, figure out what the heck it really is that YOU want from your life. Not just business related, but your LIFE, in all its glory. And I’m not talking about what your great aunt Mimi wants for you, or your loving but disapproving dad wants from you; or anyone else for that matter. Nor am I talking about those things you think you SHOULD want in order to be a happy and well functioning person. Screw that, I’m talking about what YOU want in your secret little heart of hearts. Sit down with yourself, have a lunch date with your notebook, and FIGURE IT OUT.

Mindset and Inspiration

The Sandman’s Secret Hostage Hold Over YOUR Positive Mindset

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More and more everyday my belief in the power of a strong and positive mindset grows. There is nothing you can’t achieve if you focus your thoughts and intentions on it, and believe that you will get it, regardless of how hard it is or how long it takes.

For some people though, it can be tough. Heck it’s tough for me at times too. And I notice that I am especially susceptible to a poor and negative mindset, as well as procrastination and a lack of motivation when… I don’t get enough SLEEP. Go figure!

Seriously though, I have been monitoring this for awhile now and it’s completely true. Your body needs rest, and it needs the right AMOUNT of rest. Just a couple days ago, there were two nights I went to bed fairly late, but no more than usual.

I then had to awaken an hour earlier than usual the next morning. Come alarm time, I could barely keep my eyes open. And guess what? That lethargy continued throughout the day and eventually merged with a pounding headache to make the picture complete. Woot!

And I’m sure it goes without saying that my irritability levels were high, (OK, super high… let’s face it, I’m a bi*** when I don’t get my sleep!) and my patience level was practically nil. NOT conducive to a good day or a positive mindset, let me tell ya!

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