The Market Outfit

One Country, Three Systems? Unlikely

By Sean King

Unfortunately for Beijing, democratic virtues, or lack thereof, are only the beginning of the end of Hong Kong’s parallels with Taiwan. History is the key differentiator.

Hong Kong was first incorporated into China under the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). Even Hong Kong’s most ardent pro-democracy Anglophiles would never dispute that Hong Kong is a millennia-old, inalienable part of China. The same cannot be said for Taiwan.

Almost any English language article on cross-Strait issues inevitably includes some variation of the following stock sentence, “China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war and China has long vowed to attack Taiwan if it declares formal independence.” This leads one to think Taiwan was forever part of China, and that one day, events tore them apart, much like the two Koreas today. But that’s not the case.

Bear with me here, but Taiwan was originally settled by Malay-Polynesians, thereafter “welcoming” centuries of Han Chinese migration. China’s Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.), and its eventual exiles, did exert considerable influence over Taiwan’s affairs. But the island was in fact home to Spanish and Dutch settlements before it was first formally made part of China in 1683 A.D., when it was annexed as a prefecture under the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Taiwan was also later a Japanese colony from 1895-1945.

Sean King’s full editorial is currently available at The Seoul Times main site.

Sean King has been working for Park Strategies LLC as the Vice President, since 2006.

“To have respect for ourselves guides our morals; and to have a deference for others governs our manners.” Lawrence Sterne, Irish novelist & satirist (1713 - 1768)

Etiquette, or good manners, is an important part of our day to day lives. Whether we realise it or not we are always subconsciously adhering to rules of etiquette. Much of the time these are unwritten; for example giving up your seat to a lady or elderly person, queuing for a bus in an orderly fashion according to who arrived first or simply saying “please” or “thank you”. All are examples of etiquette; complex unwritten rules that reflect a culture’s values.

Etiquette accomplishes many tasks. However, the one noteworthy function that etiquette does perform is that it shows respect and deference to another. By doing so it maintains good interpersonal relationships. Ultimately, it could be argued, etiquette is about making sure that when people mix together there are rules of interaction in place that ensure their communication, transaction or whatever it may be goes smoothly.

We all now how we or others feel when a lack of etiquette is shown. If someone jumps the queue, does not thank you for holding the door open for them or forgets to shake your hand, we naturally feel disrespected and perturbed.

International Business Etiquette

Keeping the above points in mind, now consider the complexities of working on the international stage. Modern business is global and demands people travel to foreign countries and mix with foreign clients, colleagues or customers. Each one of those cultures will also have their own etiquette rules, many of them unwritten. When two or more different cultures mix, it is easy for small etiquette mistakes to be made that could have negative consequences. Just as you may have felt annoyed when a foreign businessman did not shake your hands upon greeting you, imagine how your Chinese client must have felt when you wrote on his business card or your Indian colleague reacted when you flatly rejected an offer of a meal. Sometimes, not understanding the etiquette of another culture means you show a lack of manners and as Lawrence Sterne said, a lack of deference. This can and does lead to soured relationships, lost deals and in the end poor business results. Anyone working on the international stage needs to understand international business etiquette.

International business etiquette manifests in many shapes and sizes. Throughout the world people from different cultures have varying etiquette rules around areas such as personal space, communication, gift giving, food, business meetings and much more. For those wanting to make a good impression and understanding of international business etiquette is crucial. By way of introducing some of the key areas within international business etiquette we shall look at the following common areas…

Business Card Etiquette:

When you exchange business cards (even if you exchange them) do you simply pass it over and forget about it? In many countries the business card has certain etiquette rules. For example in the Arab world you would never give or receive a business card with your left hand. In China and Japan you should try and use both hands to give and receive. In addition it is always good etiquette to examine the card and make a positive comment on it. Whereas in the UK it may be OK to sling the business card into a pocket, in many countries you should always treat it with much more respect such as storing it in a business card holder.

The Etiquette of Personal Space:

How close do you stand to people? Is it impolite to touch somebody? What about gender differences? In the Middle East you may get very touchy-feely with the men, yet one should never touch a woman. A slap on the back may be OK in Mexico but in China it is a serious no-no. Touch someone on the head in Thailand or Indonesia and you would have caused great insult. Without an appreciation of international business etiquette, these things would never be known.

The Etiquette of Gift Giving:

Many countries such as China and Japan have many etiquette rules surrounding the exchange of business gifts. International business etiquette allows you an insight into what to buy, how to give a gift, how to receive, whether to open in front of the giver and what gifts not to buy. Great examples of gifts to avoid are anything alcoholic in Muslim countries, anything with four of anything in Japan and clocks in China.

The Etiquette of Communication:

Some cultures like to talk loudly (US and Germany), some softly (India and China); some speak directly (Holland and Denmark) others indirectly (UK and Japan); some tolerate interrupting others while speaking (Brazil) others not (Canada); some are very blunt (Greece) and some very flowery (Middle East). All will believe the way they are communicating is fine, but when transferred into an international context this no longer applies. Without the right international business etiquette it is easy to offend.

By way of conclusion we can state that etiquette helps maintain good relations with people. When dealing with people from a shared culture, everyone knows the rules and there is not much to think about. Those that lack etiquette are branded as uncouth and rude. However, this is not the same when working on the international stage. Someone may very well come across as being rude through a lack of etiquette but this may be because in their culture that behaviour is normal. As a result international business etiquette is a key skill for those wanting to be successful when working abroad. Through a great appreciation and understanding of others’ cultures you build stronger and longer lasting business relationships.

Neil Payne is Managing Director of Kwintessential, a consultancy specialising in a range of Intercultural Communication services.

When I began shopping for a business I could do from home, I was amazed by all the promises made to me by all of the fast talking reps trying to sell me on their wonder product.

Occasionally they would tell me that they can only they could guarantee the price was if I signed up right now, because the offer was ending at midnight. Well I just had to pass. Tomorrow came and the same gentleman called me again. Wow, I couldn’t believe it, the company decided to extend their promotion another day. Lucky me!

Let’s talk about what I look for in a company that claims they’ll change my life, and promises me an early retirement.

1) Is the company in a Niche market? Does it have a product that people Need, and will they continue to use year after year? Is it an industry that will play an important role in the future?

2) Is it a national company and how long have they been in business? In the past 5 years have they shown consistent growth or are they stagnent?

3) What role will they play in the next 5 years? If they’re not moving forward then their moving in the wrong direction.

4) Are people in the company building large amounts of repeat residual incomes? If so , they will have a large retention rate from customers who keep the product year after year.

5) Does it cost you alot to get started? Do you have products to buy and money to lay out? Not what I’m looking for.

6)Does it provide a mentoring system ,training, web sites at no cost to you? This is what I look for.

Working from home is a very profitable source for many of us. There are respectable work at home businesses out there, in fact there are thousands of people making millions of dollars. If it’s your investment and your future, It should be your interview not theirs. You know what to look for and you know what to look out for.

You can secure financial freedom for yourself. Ask quetions and choose wisely. Good luck and happy hunting.

About The author: Jay Bartels is a single father of two lovely girls.
Jay works full time from the comfort of his home in South Florida.

Feel free to visit Jay at http://www.jaysplan.com

Jay can be reached at Jaybartels@aol.com

Many people have already been hit by the pensions’ crisis and are turning to the internet, hoping to find a way in which to earn a residual income to support them in old age. As baby boomers worldwide start turning 60 and the number of young people entering the labour market decreases, governments, companies and individuals are realising that existing pension provisions are completely inadequate.

The British government is considering raising the retirement age to 67 and many companies have already stopped their final salary schemes for new or even existing workers, meaning that they will now receive a lower pension than originally anticipated.

For young people starting out, the prospect of putting money aside for retirement seems ridiculous. After all, who even gives pensions a thought at the age of 18 or 21? But with more of us experiencing an increase in life expectancy, the situation is grim. Will we be forced to work until we drop, or to settle for a life in which we just scrape by on state assistance?

If we can no longer rely on our employers or the government to provide a sum which will maintain our current lifestyle after retirement, what is the alternative?

Earning a residual income was once enjoyed only by authors, songwriters and others in similar professions, but the idea of working for a period of time and then reaping the benefits in the form of an ongoing income for life is certainly very attractive.

The internet has opened up a whole range of new opportunities for those who wish to build a second income, with many sales letters claiming that the writer has made a phenomenal sum, say $60,000 in 24 hours. This is usually true, but there is a big but.

What they fail to tell you, is that it took 2 or 3 years of very hard work to build up a list of subscribers and develop a relationship of trust with them. Then the advertised product was probably hinted at over several weeks before it was released. In addition, an affiliate programme may have been set up with other marketers who also have large mailing lists. Only then was the product launched to a large and very receptive audience. So, it is possible to make a lot of money overnight, but if you are starting from scratch, it is likely that you will have a few penniless years ahead of you before reaching that point. However, as long as you produce good products, there is a good chance that, once you’ve gained initial success, you will be able to repeat the process.

Creating your own products may seem like a daunting task, but it’s not the only way to build up an online income. Many ordinary people are setting up sites in which they share information about a hobby or interest. They earn an income from several different sources, for example, by selling other people’s products, putting advertisements on their sites or referring visitors to services.

Let’s look at an example: a travel site focusing on a particular region could attract advertising from local tourist attractions, refer visitors to hotels or car rental companies. Other people’s products, such as books, maps, clothing or sports equipment could also bring in another stream of income.

Once you have the site set up, you need to focus on marketing and adding new content to keep the visitors and the search engine spiders coming back. To start with, all this will be time consuming, as you learn what works and what doesn’t. But once you are established and have a list of subscribers who can be alerted every time you have a new product or service to offer, you’ll find you can work less and the income will keep coming in, even when you take time off.

When you reach this point, you’ll know which aspect of your site is the most profitable. You can use that knowledge to create your own E-book or audio book, a distance-learning course or CD, which you can sell on your site and create another stream of residual income.

This might take a few years, but choose a niche you enjoy and you could secure a comfortable retirement.

© Waller Jamison 2006

Waller Jamison is a freelance careers advisor, university lecturer and website owner.
For more information on earning a residual income, sign up for tips and general start-up information at:
Coolinfoshop
For advice on career change go to:
CoolerCareers

In order to have a successful home business, you do need to work at it. Even though you are working your own hours and you are your own boss, you still have to put in time growing your business. The power of the Internet lets you conduct international business because your website is available all over the world. The Internet has become the way people do business and has led to many people having their own very successful home business. It is very possible to set up a successful home business on the net without spending a lot of money.

If you want a successful home business, then you are not alone. This is something that everyone wants, whether it is on a part time or full time basis. Most people start working at home as a hobby and work at it until it becomes so successful they can quit their regular job and devote all their time to their home based business. You might be operating out of your garage or basement selling products that customers want. To become truly successful and reach the largest possible number of customers you do need to have an online presence with an international Internet business.

The best place to start setting up a successful home business is to find a product or service that customers need and that you really like. If you have a product that you don’t really care too much for, then you’re not really going to be that successful because you won’t want to spend time promoting it. When you set up your own website, you pay for the domain name and the web hosting and that’s it. That’s all you pay to have your own international Internet business.

Finding affiliate companies where you can sign up for free and add a link to your site is really simple. When customer click through your site and make a purchase, you make money with your successful home business too. It may be a percentage of the sale or a set dollar amount for each purchase.

You don’t have to worry about the cost of shipping products all over the world with an international Internet business. The affiliate company takes care of all that as well as processing the credit card orders. You don’t necessarily have to focus on one product because you can have many pages on your site. The successful home business owners are really diversified and offer many options to customers. The most successful home business sites right now tend to be in the field of travel, hard to get items, health products and exercise equipment. Become part of the Internet shopping experience and start your own successful business operating online out of your home.

You can have a successful home business on the internet, but you have to work at it. If you do then the opportunities are endless.

To download a free copy of Peter’s Guide To The Ideal Home Business visit Peter’s Website Work From Home Solutions and find out about Internet Home Business and more, including Home Based Business Ideas.

Internet and home based businesses have virtually exploded since the 1980’s. To have an Internet presence these days for most companies is not just a desire, but a requirement for any company serious about attracting new customers and retaining existing ones. Even home based businesses have benefited from the Internet revolution. Today, payments can be made online and a person may never have to see, or even talk to, a real person. What a change from the old days, when one had to either speak with someone on the phone or live in a particular city to buy a product or make a sale! These days, anyone can have a home business and be successful, if they have the right systems and support in place.

Now, even small home businesses can put the power of the Internet to work for them. And you, as a savvy Internet Marketer and someone with a home based business, can and should put it to work for you. The days of having a home business with a “tangible” product and maintaining inventory (which is riskier), are just about over. That is the old way of developing a successful home based business. Now, you no longer have to spend thousands on advertising, and you don’t even have to consider print, radio or TV ads. The Internet has changed all that. What you do have to do is market your home based business wisely online.

The Internet is open 24/7. That means that anyone, anywhere in the world can visit your website or buy your products at any time. Your home business is your livelihood. This means that you need to be smart about how you manage your limited time and resources. As far as your home based business is concerned, this means having your sales and advertising systems on autopilot so they don’t require any driving from you. It also means separating the customers that are serious about buying your products from the “tire kickers”.

There are really only a few systems on the market for home based businesses that can save you valuable time and money by doing the advertising and sales work for you. Even fewer will send you real, targeted, qualified customers. But you don’t just need a computer system for your home based business, you need someone who will take you by the hand and show you the ropes. Many companies will sell you an Internet home business system. Not many will actually show you how to make it work for you. You need to find the one that will, because the success of your home based business depends on it.

Copyright 2006 www.eliasg.com

Elias Georgi makes it easy to build your home based business and earn a substantial income quickly. Learn how to increase your income in the comfort of your own home with minimal effort by visiting:
http://www.eliasg.com

How to Boost Your Affiliate Earnings in 3 Easy Steps

(c) 2003 Pencil Dude

Often the difference between affiliates who drive traffic and
sales to their affiliate programs’ sites depends on little
things that they do month after month. I know this is the case
for me. Here’s what we do.

1. You Have To Do Something - Anything.

I was on the phone with an affiliate manager for one of the
large Internet Marketing courses and during that conversation he
told me an interesting thing or two. He told me that they get a
lot of e-mails and phone calls from affiliates wondering why
they haven’t made any money from their program.

Every single person that has asked that question all had the
same problem. They hadn’t bothered to do anything at all. These
people hadn’t even bothered to put up a banner that was readily
available on their websites, let alone do any of the better ways
of promoting a program.

You have to do something. Start with the easy stuff. If your
affiliate program gives you banners or text ads to put on your
site, use them. Put them up immediately. There - you’ve just
taken your first positive action towards making some money from
your affiliate program.

2. Keep In Contact With Your Affiliate Manager:

Hopefully your affiliate program keeps you up to date by way of
a regular newsletter or some sort of affiliate update. However,
regardless of whether they do or not it’s important to keep in
contact with your affiliate manager yourself.

Send them an e-mail and introduce yourself, tell them what you
are doing in the way of promotion for their program. If they
sell more than one product or service, find out what product is
doing really well currently. Ask them what types of creative are
working best for that product. Is it a particular classified ad,
HTML e-mail ad, banner, pop-up?

There are numerous instances where this really worked well for
me. Let me share one with you.

I was writing an article about word-processing for a recent
issue of my ezine and I was thinking of using an ad for a
certain piece of software (which was a cost per action
campaign), in my top ad spot. So, I asked my affiliate manager
of the CPA network that I belong to if this campaign was still
going to be around when I published my article. He replied back
and said, “Yes, but no-one likes that offer, why don’t you try
advertising this other software instead”.

As a result, instead of advertising an offer that probably would
have flopped, I ended up selling several pieces of software that
week and got myself a nice check in the mail.

3. Spread The Word.

Get an ad into your own e-zine, rotate that ad for a few issues
and see how it does, and then when you’ve got a winning
responsive ad, try some other e-zines that would be a good match
for the product that you’re advertising.

Here’s the one that really works well for me. Send out a solo
mailing to your opt-in ezine list.

There are two key elements as to why this works so well. If
you’ve been building a good subscriber list, they’re more
inclined to listen to what you have to say than some stranger
that they run across somewhere on the web. For me there is an
additional factor here. My list tends to be more receptive to
solo ads because I don’t send them a lot of solo mailings in the
first place. So, they’re less inclined to say “Oh no not another
one - Delete!”

The second reason, and this is perhaps the more important one -
I personalize it. This doesn’t mean that I address everyone by
their name, (although that would really helpful but my list
server is kind of behind the times ). What I mean, is that
the e-mail reads less of an ad and is more conversational in
tone. “Advertorial” is the correct term for this type of an ad I
believe.

It comes off far more believable than most of the ads out there.
Instead of pushing against a brick wall and saying “Here’s a big
long ad - read it and buy what I’m flogging”, I’m dropping in
for a friendly chat with a neat suggestion or answer to your
problem, want, or need. It works great!

There you have it - Three easy steps to help boost your
affiliate earnings. Implement them and you’ll be on the road to
seeing better results.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Pencil Dude aka Robin
Forbes is the Proud Publisher of Pencil Dude’s Picks
http://pencildude.com/ and is on the road to affiliate success.

Check out the simple tools and resources that he uses to make
his ezine profitable: http://pencildude.net/ = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = = = =

There are a lot of Network Marketing companies out there, especially with the advent of the internet, and its marketing schemes. Everywhere you look, you hear people saying, “Get paid for reading emails!”, “Get money for traffic to your site”, “Get paid per click”, “Get paid to surf the web”. But what really is a good product to have for multi-level marketing? How do you recognize it?

First of all, I like products that are tangible, that you usually have to ship to the consumer. This allows the business to be “real”, it has a backbone, a core product. This can be telecommunications, health products, etc.

Second, the product needs to be unique. Don’t give me the products I can buy in the supermarket delivered to my door, it just doesn’t interest me as much as a unique product would. Therefore, if it doesn’t interest me as much, it certainly wouldn’t interest other people who aren’t as interested in Multi-level Marketing.

“The product needs to be unique”

Third, the product should be consumable. Why sell someone through networking… you want passive income? Do you get as much passive income from people that don’t buy regularly? Of course not! Why sell garage doors, when you can sell something they need to buy EVERYDAY!

It also needs to be a product that people need, more than want. In the majority of MLM companies, they ask for a “qualifying purchase” of product for you to be eligible for compensations. Are you buying the product for that reason? Or are you buying the product, like Donald Trump says, because you love it and have a passion for it?

“The product should be consumable!”

A while ago I was introduced to a “Get Paid for Clicks” advertising toolbar. The problem with this, is most of the people who used the product only used it for the reason of making money. There needs to be a BACKBONE. A backbone of core-consumers that needs or wants your product. Consumers in which you can rely on, to bring in income for you consistently. This is a fundamental neccessity that you need to find in that product. What is the REAL market for this product? Is this product self-sustaining, could it be sold outside of Networking? If the answer is YES, then you may have a promising product.

Before picking a product to distribute or represent, go to some close friends and get their opinions. If it is a health related product, then simply get them to try it. By doing this you can get honest opinions and if it works, promising testimonials and/or future business partners!

(c) mlm-free-articles.com 2005

Come check out more articles like this on Brandon’s website. He has loads on information on investment and href=”http://www.mlm-free-articles.com/marketing/” rel=”nofollow”>marketing.

Have you ever wanted to lock your teacher, coach, boss, youth pastor or other authority figure up in jail? A jail and bail fundraiser may be your chance to do just that while raising money for your group at the same time.

This is a great way to raise money for most any type of organization. Some department stores have even done a version of this event to raise money for a local charity. There is very little investment, and all you need is one person who is willing to be locked up for the cause.

The person selected to be placed in jail must remain locked up until a certain amount of money is raised. Some groups have worked with the local sheriff’s office and had their representative locked up in an actual jail cell (safely away from other inmates), but you don’t have to go that far to have an effective event.

One local store manager climbed onto the roof of his store. He wasn’t allowed to come down until $10,000 had been collected for a local charity. Other groups construct a jail cell out of plywood. They set the “jail” in a spot where there will be many people passing by that they can talk to about their cause.

While this event works for most any group, it’s especially effective when the group has a popular leader. There is something memorable about seeing your beloved coach or favorite teacher locked up. It not only helps raise more money, but it also makes for a more memorable event. Pretty girls do well as jailbirds also. Some guys just can’t resist a damsel in distress.

Another way to build excitement is to have a girl in one makeshift jail cell and a guy in another one nearby and have a contest to see who can raise the most money by a certain time. The winner gets released early.

Because of the playful and unique nature of this event, it makes a great local news story. While some fundraisers lend themselves to stories done before the event, this particular event is best covered as it happens. If you’re trying to get some press coverage to get the name and cause of your group out there, this is a good option.

What you’ll need:

• A willing “inmate”. Someone who is willing to sit in “jail” for a day or until the set amount of money is raised.
• A location. You’ll need someplace to set up your jail. A high traffic area is best, so that your inmate can appeal to those walking by to donate.

Once you hold a jail and bail fundraiser it’s sure to be an event that your group will want to do again and again. This is a great way to raise money, especially if your group has lost excitement over traditional events such as candy fundraisers.

On the Internet programmers and designers rule, not the writer. Yet words drive targeted traffic to your site, carry content, make the sale, convey marketing messages, persuade people to buy and make the difference between your site’s success or failure.

Here are 10 tips for writing effective web copy:

1. Make sure content is easy to read

In the online world, less is nearly always more. Write your copy for the impatient, online reader. Here are some guidelines for the length of your content:

Headings: 8 words or less
Sentences: 15 - 20 words
Paragraphs: 40 - 70 words

Page word count: 250+ words

Eliminate pompous words and fancy phrases. Effective online writing is not about impressing the reader with your extensive vocabulary. It’s about communicating. Use short, simple words. Get to the point. And then stop.

2. Write from me to you

The most powerful word in the English language is “YOU”. Write for your reader, in a conversational tone, not for your ego.

Get to know your reader. Is there a common style or tone you need to use to reach her? Don’t forget, she’s come to your Web site to do somethingmake a purchase, obtain information, sign up for a subscription. Make sure every word you write moves her toward a solution.

3. Drive Actions With Content

Content is about getting the reader’s attention and keeping it. Content is about selling. Make sure your content is driving your customer’s actions. Then put that content on your home page.

4. Write for how people search

If you want your site to be found when people search the web, use words your target readers use. Before you begin to write, sit down and think carefully about the keywords you’re going to use. Then carefully weave those words and phrases into your copy. Here’s two Web sites that will help you find the right keywords and phrases for your site.

1. Overture

2. Wordtracker

5. Create Effective Headings

The heading is the most important piece of content you’ll write.

That’s because:

1. Internet users scan read and the first thing they read is your heading. If it doesn’t grab their attention, they’ll leave.
2. An effective heading can used in title tags (more about this later).
3. The heading can be placed on your home page as a link to content.

When writing headings:

Keep them to eight words or less
Include important keywords
Avoid the use of adjectives and prepositions (and, a, the, of).
Be clear and concise. Avoid wordy, wishy-washy phrases.

6. Write keyword-rich title tags

Title tags are a small piece of HTML code that appears in the top bar of your browser. “For example, “Acme Company Home Page.” Title tags, along with meta keywords and meta descriptions, are one of several important factors in achieving high search engine rankings.

Title tags appear in your site’s HTML code like this:

ACME COMPANY HOMEPAGE

You can view a site’s title tag by clicking VIEW then SOURCE on your browser’s tool bar.

Because search engines use title tags to gather information about your Web site you need to think carefully about what words you put in the tag. Don’t be tempted to put your company name in the tag (unless you’re a well-known brand like Nike or Microsoft).

Instead put specific keywords relating to your business. For example, if you’re a California real estate company, you would want your company to appear in search engine results for searches on keywords such as “California Real Estate” or “Realtors in California.” So, you would use the keywords “California Real Estate” or “California Realtors” in your title tags. If you wanted to be more specific, or you prefer seeking business in a specific geographic area you would use keywords such as “Silicon Valley Real Estate” or “Silicon Valley Realtors.”

7. Provide links and connections

The web is about linking information. Make sure your site links your reader to other information and other sites link to you. Never make your Web site a dead-end. Some search engines, including Google, are based, in part, on their ability to find you from links on other sites

8. Write effective summaries, sentences and paragraphs

An effective summary is who, what, when, where, how. It’s about getting the information across in 50 words or less. Keep your summaries short and factual. Make sure they encourage your reader keep reading.

Remember, keep sentences to between 15-20 words. Paragraphs between 40-70 words. Make your first sentence grab your reader’s attention or they’ll move on.

9. Sell Benefits not Features

If you want your Web site to sell your product or service you must write about benefits and not about features. A feature describes a product or service. A benefit is what the user gains from using that product or service. Don’t say, ” Our duvets are warm and comfortable,” say “You’ll be warm and comfortable in one of our duvets.” Tell your customers how your product or service will make them happier, sexier, healthier, wealthier. In other words focus on making sure every line of your copy is dedicated to what’s in it for them.

10. Edit. Edit. Edit. Then edit again

Mistakes in online copy are temporary and easily fixed, but by the time you’ve noticed your errors so have thousands of other people. Have two or three people proofread your text. Check it yourself for consistency in grammar, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations etc. And finally, read it backwardsyou’ll be surprised how many errors you’ll spot.

About the Author

Julia is an independent copywriter and consultant specializing in search engine marketing and copywriting, direct mail, press releases and other marketing materials businesses need to increase sales. Learn more about how Julia can help boost your companies profits by visiting www.juliahyde.com. Or email info@juliahyde.com. She’ll get back to you right away.