February 25th, 2009 → 8:17 pm @ Zo
Writing is not something that comes easily to everyone; for some its just a matter of putting pen to paper and out it all pours and great article is produced while others can spend hours and produce very little content.
I must admit that I come into the second category rather than the first. Even at school writing or composition as it was called in my days was not a subject I ever looked forward too. It was a chore. However as in life writing skills are a necessary form of communication and it is something most of us make an effort to accomplish, at least the basics.
When wrting an article for your blog the first thing you need to do is to decide on the subject of your post, your targeted audience and then just make a list of points that you want to cover. The simplest way to start is to write a draft. Just write and let it flow, writing down exactly as you would be saying it. Personally, at this point I save my draft and go do something else for a short break.
Going back to my draft I see it with different eyes and here I make a few corrections, spelling corrections, restructure points, etc. Again I will leave this draft. Coming back to it, re read, correct. All this I do in notepad and not on the blog. Once satisfied with the draft I then paste it into a new blog post, give it the required headings, add the images,[you can import images into your editor or use a plugin like 'Tagaroo' that will help you add relevant images to your post] save and preview.
In the preview I check the layout/headings/images/categories/tags and signature. If totally satisfied, publish. A blog does not require you to be a top class author so do not hesitate to hit that publish button. If you don’t publish you end up with a whole collection of drafts and an empty blog. If I am really not sure about my article I will ask a friend to give me an opinion, give it the once over and make any neccessary corrections.
This may not be the way most people work, but it works for me. Somedays of course things just flow and I get more done as far as writing is concerned, other days its really a ‘no go’ chore. You can get very techie as to the sort of structure your article should/should not have, layout etc and there are whole books written about the subject on the ‘how to write a book or article’ but unless you want to be a ‘professional author’, I feel that for a blog its really a matter of finding what suits you, your style best as long as you convey your message to your targeted audience.
Of course, the more you practice writing blog articles, the easier it gets as in most skills that you want to acquire. Your articles do not need to be long. Short to the point is fine, but do write. I’m no author but I am finding that writing articles for my blog can be fun!
Uncategorized
February 25th, 2009 → 8:17 pm @ Zo
Writing is not something that comes easily to everyone; for some its just a matter of putting pen to paper and out it all pours and great article is produced while others can spend hours and produce very little content.
I must admit that I come into the second category rather than the first. Even at school writing or composition as it was called in my days was not a subject I ever looked forward too. It was a chore. However as in life writing skills are a necessary form of communication and it is something most of us make an effort to accomplish, at least the basics.
When wrting an article for your blog the first thing you need to do is to decide on the subject of your post, your targeted audience and then just make a list of points that you want to cover. The simplest way to start is to write a draft. Just write and let it flow, writing down exactly as you would be saying it. Personally, at this point I save my draft and go do something else for a short break.
Going back to my draft I see it with different eyes and here I make a few corrections, spelling corrections, restructure points, etc. Again I will leave this draft. Coming back to it, re read, correct. All this I do in notepad and not on the blog. Once satisfied with the draft I then paste it into a new blog post, give it the required headings, add the images,[you can import images into your editor or use a plugin like 'Tagaroo' that will help you add relevant images to your post] save and preview.
In the preview I check the layout/headings/images/categories/tags and signature. If totally satisfied, publish. A blog does not require you to be a top class author so do not hesitate to hit that publish button. If you don’t publish you end up with a whole collection of drafts and an empty blog. If I am really not sure about my article I will ask a friend to give me an opinion, give it the once over and make any neccessary corrections.
This may not be the way most people work, but it works for me. Somedays of course things just flow and I get more done as far as writing is concerned, other days its really a ‘no go’ chore. You can get very techie as to the sort of structure your article should/should not have, layout etc and there are whole books written about the subject on the ‘how to write a book or article’ but unless you want to be a ‘professional author’, I feel that for a blog its really a matter of finding what suits you, your style best as long as you convey your message to your targeted audience.
Of course, the more you practice writing blog articles, the easier it gets as in most skills that you want to acquire. Your articles do not need to be long. Short to the point is fine, but do write. I’m no author but I am finding that writing articles for my blog can be fun!
Uncategorized
February 17th, 2009 → 8:23 pm @ Zo
Blogging has become such an amazing phenomena online, everyone is blogging! Everywhere you look there are blogs.
From its humble beginings as just a ‘web log’ today its totally commercialised and serves as a publically displayed journal for a company, business or just individual. Anyone who authors in a blog is a blogger. Type in the term ‘blogging’ into Google it brings up 83,600,000 returns.
There are many companies out there like Blogger or Wordpress who offer ‘free blogs’ which provide a very basic template for you to post your articles. Of course these are a good way to get to understand the concept of blogging and to get the feel of what its all about, but then after that there is very little scope to broaden your horizons. You are limited to the parameters of the free version.
Catch the ‘blogging bug’ and you’ll want to fly. There are gadgets and widgets out there, all those little ‘toys’ to add to your blog to make it more atrractive and of course attract readers and comments. So next step is… a blog that you have total control of and where you can add those widgets, extra plugins etc.
To set up your own blog where you have complete control you will need a domain and hosting. Its not as complicated as it sounds, and you dont need to know html. Today’s server ready applictions like a blogging script are so easy to install and simple to use. You just follow a few simple steps of filling in your name etc and click!, its all done for you.
And now the the real fun starts, as here you now have the potential to customise your work by adding pictures, graphics, videos, podcasts, audio, widgets, advertising etc. lots of creativity, lots of blogging fun.
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February 16th, 2009 → 5:48 pm @ Zo
The internet is a forever evolving platform, what is ‘in’ today will be ‘out’ tomorrow. If you are a home based business owner this requires you to stay well-informed about your industry, be adaptable to the changes and to stay one step ahead of your competition if you desire to be in profit.
Of course to keep your finger on the pulse its important to be well read and equally well versed in the latest marketing techniques and their application. But really, where do we find the time for all this? One of the best ways is to attend offline seminars at designated venues, but these can be time consuming and costly. So, how about increasing your learning curve with a ‘live’ Ycademy seminar?
What is an Ycademy Seminar?
Ycademy seminars have been in existence since the begining of 2007, running a 2day seminar once a month on various topics pertaining to online business and marketing online. They are not only full of the latest uptodate information but also include hands on workshops where you actually apply what you learn with step by step tuition. Thats 2 whole days of training and material at a fraction of the cost of many other venues. The February Ycademy seminar topic is Content Management, Editing and Publishing.
The only difference is that you attend online and listen through a headset or speakers to a ‘live presentation’ and watch the presentation through your web browser. Thats it! all you need is a good internet connection and that you have already if you are working online.
Seminars or webinars as they are sometimes called are fast becoming the latest choice in online learning.
* Totally accessible
* Low cost [no transport or hotel costs]
* No baby sitter fees
* No expensive meal costs
* All from the comfort of your own home
* ALL that is required is YOUR TIME and EFFORT!
Your success with your home based business needs your time, your effort and your commitment. Expanding your learning curve will keep you ahead of your competition and expand your profits.
Ycademy ‘ROCKS’
Zo Nicholas
P.S. February Seminar tickets are nearly all sold out!
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February 14th, 2009 → 10:46 pm @ Zo
If you are a YORGOO or Ycademy member then you have probably heard the news about the lastest joint venture from YORGOO and Chihosters: Hosting South Africa.
For those who use web hosting services you already know that that you can get good cheap web hosting at Chihosters - Unlimited Shared Hosting cPanel for only $35 a year!
However, some of our members from South Africa who use the ZA web services pay extortinate prices for web hosting and domain registration, and yet the service is of lesser quality than that which we receive here in the U.K., U.S.A or Europe.
To address this inequality and help our members in their global marketing ventures YORGOO has teamed up with Chihosters to provide top quality hosting services to those members who most need quality for their bucks. In todays economic climate it pays to shop around to get unbeatable value for your money.
Hosting South Africa will provide a top quality service and support. Services will include control panel, emails and server ready applications. Further details will follow shortly.
Uncategorized
February 12th, 2009 → 6:01 pm @ Zo
A brand is a collection of symbols, experiences and associations connected with a product, a service, a person or any other artifact or entity. Brands have become increasingly important components of culture and the economy, now being described as “cultural accessories and personal philosophies”.Source: Wikipedia
As we move from the world of offline to online marketing the impact of branding takes on an even greater role than before. As advertising is seen continually on every inch of a potential customers computer screen it has to be visually compelling.
The brand name, design and colour all add to the the visual impact on the customer. It creates that most important first impression, grabs attention and stimulates a call to action. A brand with clear intentions, trusted values and attributes helps the customer with his online purchase decisions. Branding definitely does plays a very important role in today’s competitive world.
Today, Hanno Coetzee is Name Branding, creating an own memorable brand identity. ‘Lalakoi’ does this speak to you? is it unique and easy to remember; and if a picture says more than 1000 words which would you choose?
Its all about communication and differentiating yourself from the mass of competition out there.
An appealing logo/image creates good brand recall [eg: Coca cola ]and eventually turns it into a global appeal. A good bold ‘inspired’ logo and design can prove to be even more aggressive than any traditional forms of advertising. The most famous logos are simple in design yet capture the eyeballs of the public.
Uncategorized
February 6th, 2009 → 7:08 pm @ Zo
or ?
It seems that everyone has some sort of comment about this new printing venture ‘The Printed Blog’ set up by Joshua Karp in the USA. The net is full of blogposts on this topic, both positive and negative.
Here in the YORGOO team it all started with Bianca’s ‘Printed Blog Review’which sparked another load of comments and posts and then the latest ‘Printed Blog Keyword Challenge‘ post by Yorgo.
However, in reality, it will be interesting to see how long the The Printed Blog actually stays in print…. A free newspaper printing twice daily? Once the initial interest and novelty wains will there be enough substance to keep readers coming back. Will advertisers keep paying?
There is a saying…’Today’s news is tomorrow’s chip wrapper’ we will have to wait and see.
Its very much becoming a visual and audio world rather than a literary one out there. People turn on radios and TV’s to listen to national and local news, the main reason why newspaper readership is in decline.
Uncategorized
February 3rd, 2009 → 3:13 pm @ Zo
Path to Profitability seminars always hit the bullseye!
Want to know why the seminar participants are streets ahead of the crowd when it comes to viral traffic and search traffic, then read Bianca Gubalke’s ‘Printed Blog Review‘ to understand why.
The bottom line: Your home business:
Communication, Niche Blogging, Authority, and most important of all - Making Money.
There are “Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.” Are you a watcher or a doer? In todays economy I know where I am going to be.
P.S. Tickets are available for the February Seminar - Build your own Publishing Network
Uncategorized
January 25th, 2009 → 11:15 pm @ Zo
Ode to those who cried outside the doors……..
While inside were heard peels of laughter……
From peanuts to dalmations to Pink poodles and creations,
Pink hamster considerations to wordpress configurations.
Enable, disable, get plugins in action,
Make sure your top gear works with no traction.
Dating, mating, improbable matches
All with those little keyword catches.
Facebook, friends and relations
Rss, technorati and seo optimizations.
News and views and dispatches
Lets not forget the microsoft patches.
Writing, posting, comments, pings and blasters
All those nitty gritty things to master.
And of course, last, but definitely not least,
The wise young ancient guru greek,
Full of knowledge and specialised skills
All wrapped up in fonts and quills.
Learn the skills to be prolific
Just truly focus on being specific.
Where does all this fun lead too, this furore…
To true amazing internet marketing glory….
From little Peanuts A big Income Stream story!
If you missed this months fun and hilarity,
Just book next months episode with complete clarity.
February 21 & 22, a YORGOO-Ycademy seminar not to be missed!!!!!!!
Zo Nicholas
YORGOO-YcademY
Uncategorized
January 12th, 2009 → 9:28 pm @ Zo
Now that the holidays are over for most its back in earnest to the busy schedule of trainings, seminars and above all, Marketing!
If you’ve been listening or reading the news headlines over the past few weeks it really saddens the soul to hear so much doom and gloom being forecast. However, I feel the media have a lot to answer to here.
Starting on a positive note in 2009 despite the doom and gloom facts and figures that abound, there is still plenty of money making to be had for the home business entrepreneur.
Nielsen Consumer Insight reports: in 2009, consumers will spend 17% MORE time on eCommerce websites every DAY!
eMarketer report: online sales in the US alone will jump from $136.8 BILLION to $142.4 BILLION
Now if we read between the lines of these statistics….
Then we can see thats there’s going to be lots more people online: lots more buyers looking for products and lots more competition.. ..SO…..marry that with the economic situation it spells out, savvy shoppers looking to save money, looking for big discounts.
Marketers, time to roll your sleeves up and get to work. So what bargains and deals can you put together to get that sale? Time to get the thinking cap on and a bit of repurposing! let those creative juices go. Make sure that your sales pages are clearly visible online and stand out from the competition. Be bold, be daring. And don’t forget, THE MONEY is in the follow up. Is your follow up system all ready and set up?
There are going to be new people looking around to start up a home business for an added income stream. Looking for information, for business training. Time to take advantage and make sure that what you have in place is seen and heard. How about video. Video is a great way to convey your message and communicate with people. Who hasn’t heard of U-Tube and it doesnt take expensive equipment to upload your stuff to U-Tube or Google.
Think positive and be creative but on the otherhand, don’t forget those little mundane tasks that make your business spin.
Here’s to a busy 2009,
Uncategorized
January 5th, 2009 → 9:05 pm @ Zo
“….If you want to be truly successful invest in yourself to get the knowledge you need to find your unique factor. When you find it and focus on it and persevere your success will blossom.”
Sidney Madwed. [American Speaker and Poet]
In my last post, “Your home business in 2009″, I mentioned a very important task for the home business builder in 2009:
* Learn and develop your business: invest in yourself
Investing in yourself is the very best gift that you can give yourself this year. It has absolutely nothing to do with investing money in stocks or banks - its about developing your own personal assests, your knowledge, your understanding, your personal values. This you keep and take with you, wherever you go, whatever the situation in life. It’s priceless.
Its about taking the time, the energy to find out who you are, where you really want to go - and taking the steps to get there.
Developing your own personal and business assests goes hand in hand with personal development - it builds Confidence! confidence in not only knowing your yourself, your subject, your tools, your business but confidence in taking the next step, and then the next step and moving yourself/your business forward.
In business: Investing in Trainings and Seminars is taking step closer down the path to your ultimate goal. Learning will give you the confidence you need to progress, to take that next step in building your home business. When times get hard your skills and knowhow is what will keep you afloat.
Make it a resolution this year to invest in yourself: an intangible return, that in time will yields high profits. Life is short, get the most out of it.
Blossom in 2009,
Zo Nicholas
* Those who have their home business set up correctly will know that any training can be a tax deductable item.
Uncategorized
January 3rd, 2009 → 7:43 pm @ Zo
The internet has opened up a level playing field for anyone with a computer to start a small home business and generate an income, however small. Even on a small budget it is possible for anyone to have a professional looking website or blog that will generate some sort of income. Easy to join affiliate programs, such as Google Adsense, Amazon, Clickbank to name a few can soon create a steady income flow. There are many successful home business owners doing exactly that everyday.
If an ecommerce home business is the name of your game then you certainly are in the right place at the right time as the ecommerce forecast for 2009 is bright despite the political gloom and doom predictions that abound:
* Internet shopping is predicted to hit $145.1 Billion in the coming year, a significant 14% ===>increase despite the recession!
* Consumers will be spending more time at home, using their computers for everything from bargain hunting and product research to upgrading skills, training and business education. Whether you sell products, tools or training the demand will be there.
As a home business builder in 2009 your task is:
* Assess 2008 and plan 2009
* Set your goal: financial and personal
* Define your business: know your business
* Find your niche and position yourself on search engines
* Work consistently: daily, marketing your business
* Learn and develop your business: invest in yourself
As the recessions bites make sure your work from home business is set up the way it should be in order to take full advantage of any tax business benefits that you may be entitled to. Declare your business and file your tax claims. Done correctly it will bring long term benefits.
May 2009 bring you the success you desire,
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December 15th, 2008 → 3:47 pm @ Zo
What an amazing year 2088 has been.
12 superb monthly trainings: ‘The Path to Profitability’ provided by the Ycademy Educational Centre, each month providing participants with knowledge, understanding, step by step workshops and materials. You can check out the full Ycademy 2008 Shedule and see all the topics that were covered throughout the whole year. A very full timetable indeed.
The December Seminar has just finished: a complete roundup of the whole year with an exhaustive training on customer follow up, customer relations and Customer satisfaction.
Congratulations to all participants who took part in the December 2008 Seminar:
Nicole Hunt,Felisa Ryan, Alan Johnson, Ninfa Carpenter, Akiko Saki, Barry Bell, Boruch Rappaport, Eileen Cupido, Gene Line, Besma Bashier, Laetitia Paris, Brenda Baker, Larrie Perkins, Melford Woolery, Fodhil Abacci, Alex Neri,Toni Leuenberger, Ole Schneider-Konrad, Paul Bessent, Ralf Doberstein, Richard Taylor, James McGrane, Ute Schaedler, who are building their home business, authority and trust online.
The next cycle of seminars ‘Path to Profitability 2009′ is scheduled to start on January 24th 2009 with another very full time table planned.
With all the economics ups and down isn’t it time to take control of your own future and destiny in 2009 and learn how to develop a rewarding income stream by starting an own home business? Not only can it be rewarding but can have tax advantages too. All Ycademy seminars are LIVE and online so no worry about those added costs for transport, hotels, baby sitters etc. Just plug in and listen. Make it a New Years resolution: To take control of your own destiny!
Wishing everyone a relaxing Christmas and a Profitable 2009,
Zo Nicholas
P.S. subscribe to our newsletter to get all the latest seminar information, home business news and updates and of course marketing tips.
Uncategorized
December 4th, 2008 → 8:18 pm @ Zo
If you haven’t heard already, YORGOOBlaster has launched and delivering targeted traffic. Now if you are looking for more website traffic then this is the tool for you. You can create traffic with Traffic Exchanges, safelists, page exchanges, banner exchanges, search engines and social networks.
The most neglected is the search engine traffic, and yet the most important source of traffic. With the Yorgoo Blaster this becomes a much easier task as the blaster helps you conquer your niche, gain higher visibility, saves you money [especially if you do google adwords] increases traffic and of course ultimately sales. Every small home business needs one.
Once set up, in a few simple steps, you can promote anything you like, your mlm, your products; use it multiple times, its yours to use. Be creative! Of course it comes with complete step by step instructions and guarantee. An affiliate program will follow shortly as an added income. Grab you Blaster before prices go up.
Its Xmas time - time to give yourself a treat and explode your home business in 2009.
Happy Christmas!
Zo Nicholas
Uncategorized
November 21st, 2008 → 4:27 pm @ Zo
A long time YORGOO member Akiko, who has participated in many of the free Daily Info calls in yorgotalk.com and attended some of the monthly seminars, has understood the value and importance of good business training and team work; Akiko Saki from Japan, living in London U.K., has just become the lastest Ycademy Gold member.
Congratulations Akiko!
Investing in yourself is one of the most important steps in starting any business. Learning and developing a deeper understanding of basic business principles and marketing will provide you with a solid foundation to build a successful and profitable home based business.
Wishing you success Akiko!
Zo Nicholas
YcademY
Uncategorized
