John Dilbeck Musings

Healthy Coffee House (Murphy, NC US)

Come visit the Healthy Coffee House, Bed & Breakfast, and Bakery.

Have a drink on us!

Buy one, get one free any drink in the Healthy Coffee House.

Stay one night, second night half price.

Free wireless internet service.

Expires: This coupon expires on January 24, 2009.

Restrictions: One coupon per week per customer

Click the “Get Details” link below. You will go a new page where you can have the required coupon e-mailed to you instantly. Then print out the coupon and redeem at:

Healthy Coffee House
215 Peachtree ST
Murphy, NC 28906, USA

Questions on this offer?

Contact: Healthy Coffee House via Phone: 828-837-1515

Get Details and Money-Saving Coupon

I’ve been working over the last few days to create a new social networking site for SFI Marketing Group affiliates, and I’m announcing its presence to the world today.

If you are an existing SFI affiliate, or would like to learn how to join SFI, I hope you will join us at the SFI Marketing Group affiliates business networking site.

Please restrict your conversations to topics of interest to SFI Marketing Group affiliates. You are welcome to use your SFI affiliate links in the conversations and on your profile pages, but you are not welcome to spam the site with unrelated topics.

Spammers will be banned with no recourse.

You are invited to come and join us at the SFI Marketing Group Affiliates networking site. Of course, it’s free.

Act on your dream!

JD

In late December 2007, I created a new social networking site for Murphy NC 28906 on Ning.com.

If you live in, visit, or want to know more about Murphy, NC, come join us at the Murphy NC 28906 social networking site.

You can customize your profile, write a blog, discuss topics related to Murphy, NC in our forum, meet and get to know fellow residents, upload photos, and much more — all for free!

Anyone living in, visiting, or wanting to know more about Murphy, NC is welcome. Come join us today.

If your business is located in one of the major metropolitan areas of the United States, you may want to try the new Shop For Ethernet service offered by Telarus and Cognigen.

Why is Ethernet the future?

Ethernet is a matter of plugging your network directly into a telecom provider’s network and bypassing your local phone company. Having direct access to customers allows the broadband Internet provider to control the user’s experience from end to end and reduce the cost.

These savings are passed on to you.

How does Shop For Ethernet work?

1. You enter your building address in the form at Shop For Ethernet.

2. You will see a map with your location along with markers of surrounding buildings who have been “lit” by the major telecom service providers.

3. If you would like to learn more, you can enter you contact information to receive a phone call from our staff of Ethernet service experts.

How is Shop For Ethernet valuable?

The GeoQuote Ethernet locator is valuable for people or business who are looking to:

* move into a building with existing carrier facilities.

* substantially upgrade their current broadband connections.

* establish a direct relationship with a provider without the local Bell in the equation.

* find a carrier who provides QoS (Quality of Service) guarantees. Since the carrier you select is in complete control of your connection, it is much easier for them to provide QoS.

* gather information that will be helpful in the planning stages of broadband deployment for a new real-estate development.

Is Shop For Ethernet free?

Yes. We do not require that you pay a fee to access this information - however, we do require that you purchase service through us if you decide to buy. We are compensated from the participating carriers when you order through us, which pays for the development and maintenance of this web site.

Can I order Ethernet service online?

Not yet. Even if our Ethernet lookup tool shows you are in an On-Net building, we must still go through a manual check on both pricing and service availability. However, know that our Ethernet Experts are here to assist you with every step of the process.

Shop For Ethernet is not for all businesses

Shop For Ethernet is for the largest businesses that need lots of bandwidth (100 to 1000 mbps) and are located in areas with buildings that are served by fast ethernet and gigabit ethernet providers.

It is not for all businesses and certainly not for residential broadband provisioning.

Other alternatives: Business T1, DS3, and faster

If fast ethernet isn’t available in your location, or if you just don’t need that much bandwidth, you can find what is available in your area. Shop For T1 offers real-time lookup of broadband providers offering T1, DS3, and other Internet connections. Our broadband experts have helped hundreds of companies provision better service connections and most of them have saved money in the process.

Small business and residential DSL, Cable Modem, and Satellite broadband

If you are looking for affordable broadband for your small business or home use, Shop For DSL offers real-time lookup of DSL, Cable Modem, and Satellite broadband providers in your location.

We can’t find a broadband connection for everyone - I live in an area without DSL access, for instance - but the first-class providers we help you find are extending their networks every day.

Act on your dream!

JD

There are several ways you can promote your business on Merchant Circle: the contents of your basic listing, any items you post to your blog, coupons you create, photos you upload, and the bulletins posted on your directory listing page.

I just learned about Merchant Circle a few days ago and I’ve jumped all over using their system. You can see the profile I’ve created for Dilbeck Marketing on Merchant Circle. I’ve taken the time to use most of the tools and love their system.

(Your business is listed at Merchant Circle, right? If not, you can create a professional looking online listing for your business with our easy to use tools. Free! - MerchantCircle.com.)

There are probably other things you can do at Merchant Circle that I haven’t discovered in the less-than-a-week that I’ve been a member of the site.

What you may, or may not, already know is that every time you blog, create a coupon, upload a photo, or post a newsletter, these things are added to a newsfeed for you, automatically.

At the top-right of your listing, you’ll see “Subscribe to blog and coupon feed” followed by an orange chicklet that says “RSS/XML.” This is a standard news feed that can be syndicated on many services and can be read by anyone using a news feed aggregator or a news reader. Even without sending emails you are broadcasting to the world - potentially.

I’ll write a post later to explain more about making use of this. For now, suffice it to say that you can blog in one place and have it automatically republished in multiple places. This makes it very powerful for getting your news out.

If you don’t know anything about RSS, let me suggest that you read What is RSS?.

One place you may want to syndicate your feed is at Squidoo.com.

To do this, you’ll need to be a member.

Are you an expert on something? Build your own Squidoo lens and tell the world. It’s free, and you may even earn some money from it.

Of course, you’re an expert on your business, so join Squidoo and create a lens about it. It’s worth the effort to learn how to build free lenses on Squidoo, and it’s a perfect place to syndicate your Merchant Circle news feed.

For example, I’ve created a Squidoo lens about Merchant Circle and I’ve syndicated (re-published) my news feed and Merchant Circle’s news feed on that lens.

Also, as part of that lens, I’ve created a list where you can add a link to the Merchant Center listing for your business. I will be syndicating that list on some of my other websites, so you’ll get free advertising just by adding your link to the list. If you don’t understand, just comment on this topic and I’ll see what I can do to help you.

Act on your dream!

JD

So, once you get your listing set up on Merchant Circle, what else can you do to increase the likelihood of being found by a potential customer?

(Is your business listed at Merchant Circle? If not, you can create a professional looking online listing for your business with our easy to use tools. Free! - MerchantCircle.com.)

First, tell people how to find you here.

For example, my listing is located at:

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Dilbeck.Marketing.828-837-2901

I’ve used the custom URL feature to shorten this link to:

http://member.merchantcircle.com/dilbeckmarketing

This custom URL is much easier to pass along, put on business cards, and show in your advertising.

You can create your own custom URL by logging into your MerchantCircle account and then clicking Listing Configuration in the left column. When you click it, several other options will be displayed below that heading. Click Manage Links and then enter what you want in your Custom URL edit box.

You should be careful when you do this if you plan to advertise this URL. Make sure it is something that describes your business and is something you can live with for the next few years.

Remember, if you change this at any time, all advertising you previously did using your former custom URL will be wasted.

This is something you want to think about before implementing. Don’t do something hastily that you’ll regret later.

Also, while you are there, you can enter up to four links to other websites and blogs. Just enter the name and URL of the link and Save. If you have less than four saved links, it will automatically create a new empty listing. Add as many as you want - up to four - and save each time. In a couple of minutes, you’ll have additional backlinks to your websites and blogs from a highly-ranked and high-traffic site.

After you enter what you want in your custom URL box and/or link boxes, don’t forget to save it.

Act on your dream!

JD

First, if you’re not listing your business on MerchantCircle, why not?

Create a professional looking online listing for your business with our easy to use tools. Free! - MerchantCircle.com

Truly, even if you are not a highly skilled web designer or webmaster, you can use the tools provided by MerchantCircle to promote your business and the products and services you offer. It won’t take days, weeks, or months, either! You can get started in a few hours and can continue promoting your business as long as you want through posting to your blog, creating coupons, and publishing newsletters.

This is the kind of business promotion that every owner or manager of a small business should jump onto. It’s free, effective, and easy to use. What’s the downside?

Act on your dream!

JD

For the last several weeks, Pro Wealth Solutions has been in pre-launch and has taken the affiliate- and network-marketing world by storm.

It appears to be a good opportunity, based on the limited information I’ve been able to learn about it during the pre-launch period when many of the features are not available.

Don’t fall for the hype

Unfortunately, there is a lot of hype surrounding the business and there are a lot of misunderstandings and false claims being made by people who either don’t know any better or choose to be misleading in their marketing.

The company claims that you can join as an affiliate/member and earn up to $1000+ per month even if you do no recruiting and training. While this is technically true, don’t expect it to happen unless you are extraordinarily lucky.

Matrix structure and spillover

The structure for this business is a matrix and if you have hard-working sponsors above you, you may receive spillover and have members appear in your matrix, but it will take a long, long time - if ever - before your matrix would fill and you would earn the $1000+ monthly from a full matrix.

Compensation plan

There are other parts of the compensation plan that will help you earn some money, even if you have a partly-filled matrix, but you will not get rich by paying the $35 monthly fee and then doing nothing. You may eventually break even, or even make a profit, because you got in early. But, I don’t believe you will make thousands of dollars every month for doing nothing.

So, if you have the lottery mentality and want to hit the jackpot, you will probably make a mistake by joining this company.

However, if you are interested in the member benefits, educational opportunities, and the multiple income streams that are available - if you work to recruit new members - then you may do well with Pro Wealth Solutions.

You can take a free tour and study the compensation plan for yourself, and it won’t cost you anything at all unless you decide to become a member.

I am interested in a couple of the features that will become available for members and that’s the main reason I joined a few weeks ago.

I have received no spillover in my matrix, and I didn’t expect that I would.

It is interesting to see that I did earn $8.00 in August, even though I have not sponsored anyone and there is nobody below me in my matrix. I did not expect that. It’s not a lot, but it is proof that some money can be made by joining and doing nothing. But it’s nothing to build a business on.

Single powerline and update emails

One of the things that is generating so much excitement is the single powerline structure of the company. A lot of people mistakenly believe that they will be paid $1 per month for all members below them in the powerline, and that is not true. So, some early joiners were expecting to be earning thousands of dollars by now and it didn’t happen. Don’t fall for this hype or mistaken belief.

For example, on my genealogy page, it now says:

23507 Members and 247855 PreEnrollees have ALREADY signed up since you became a Member…and it’s still growing!

That’s pretty impressive. A quarter of a million people have signed up for the free tour after I did and over twenty thousand have paid the membership fee to become a full member.

I am not earning over $20,000 this month! As I said, I earned $8, and that’s a huge, huge difference.

I know several people who have already earned hundreds of dollars from their sponsoring efforts and I know they have already gotten paid. That’s good.

What will the company look like after it launches later today?

I still have not seen the member benefits nor the sales pages for the multiple income streams which should go live later today.

Because of this, I have not done any sponsoring. I don’t like to sell a “pig in a poke” and I don’t want anyone to read anything I write about this company and think they can get rich doing nothing.

Is this a good business opportunity?

I think this is a good opportunity for me - and possibly for you - so I joined to see what happens during the pre- and post-launch periods.

You can take a free tour and become one of the many PreEnrollees at no cost. I recommend that you do this. If you later decide to become a member, you will have a better position in the powerline. If you later decide it is not for you, you can delete your free account and it won’t cost you anything but some of your time.

If you are at all interested in joining this company, the earlier you do it, the better.

As a PreEnrollee, you have about a month to look around and see what you think about the company before you either lose your position or have to pay to become a full member. The first month costs about $70 or so and each subsequent month costs about $35 to remain a member.

During your PreEnrollee period, you will receive a lot of emails telling you how many people have signed up since you did and how many of them have joined as a member.

This definitely builds excitement and I’m sure a lot of people paid the membership fee without understanding the compensation plan and what they would receive as members because of all these emails.

Just be aware that this is how companies using a matrix plan create excitement and convince people to upgrade.

Don’t do it just because of this. Yes, it indicates that there are a lot of people signing up, there is a lot of interest in the company, and it is exciting to watch these numbers grow.

Just think, a quarter of a million people have signed up to take the free tour before the company has even launched. That indicates the level of buzz surrounding this company.

Is it right for you?

But, do your due diligence before joining and don’t spend money you can’t afford because you expect to hit a jackpot.

There is real potential here, and you may do well with the company down the road.

One of the true tests is whether customers want the products and services the company will offer. If customers buy, the company prospers and affiliates will have an easier time making money.

If it has products nobody but affiliates want, then it will not have a rosy future.

Only time will tell.

If you are interested, take a free tour and see for yourself.

Use caution and good judgement, though, before deciding if this makes sense for you as a business opportunity.

Some people will earn a lot of money in this company. Many will earn a bit. Some will earn nothing.

It’s only a business if you do the work

The people who earn the most will be the people that study the company, learn the compensation plan, develop a marketing strategy, and work to present it to the public.

I don’t believe more than a handful of people - if any - will earn the $1000+ per month for having a full matrix just from spillover. If that’s what you’re expecting, you might as well play the lottery.

Like everything, this is a business, and you only prosper if you know your product and can sell it.

I’m looking forward to seeing how it rolls out over the next few days and I’ve joined as an affiliate. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do.

All the best,

JD

If you own a business, you already know that all businesses need new customers.

Two months ago, a new online service was introduced with the purpose of making it easy for merchants and business owners to offer special offers to attract new customers (or reward existing customers).

Not only is it easy to do, but it costs absolutely nothing to register your business and create your special offers.

You, as a business owner or manager, can decide what kind of offer you want to make. You can offer a percentage discount on the next purchase. Offer a special price or a freebie. Buy one, get one free. Buy one, get another at half price. Buy lunch and get a free beverage. $500 off at closing when you buy a new home. Whatever kind of offer that works for both you and your customers or clients.

You know all about these kinds of offers.

So do your customers and potential customers.

And your competition.

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one.

You can advertise for free and set all the conditions of the offer. All we ask is that you pay a bounty for each coupon that is redeemed by a paying customer. And, to top it off, you decide how much you’re willing to pay for that customer to redeem the coupon. It’s entirely up to you. You advertise free and pay only for results.

How much are you willing to pay to acquire a new customer?

How much are you willing to pay to get new business from your existing customers?

What is the lifetime value of a new customer for your business? How much are you paying to acquire a customer now?

Are you willing to try something new where you control the offer and the amount you’re willing to pay, and to pay only when someone actually purchases from you?

You don’t have to pay for advertising and hope it works.

You don’t have to pay when someone clicks your advertising link.

You pay only when someone actually redeems your coupon and makes a purchase from you. Guaranteed results.

When you create an offer, won’t you think about making your expiration date at least a year from now? That way, more people will get a chance to try your offer, you’ll have less administrative efforts in renewing the offer, our affiliates (thousands of them) will have an easier time promoting your offer, and we’ll all save time and effort in promoting your business.

Of course, if an expiration date a year from now doesn’t suit you or your offer, you’re free to set the offer and the expiration date to exactly what you want. That’s one of the beauties of this new service.

We’re working hard to promote you.

I’m asking you to give us a try.

If it doesn’t result in new business for you, it won’t cost you a penny - just a few minutes of your time.

I’m also asking you to make an offer that is exclusive to our service.

How many people promote your coupon when you advertise in your newspaper?

We are ready to actively promote your offer. Since you’re saving money by not paying for advertising that doesn’t work, we’d like to ask you to make a offer that is better than your usual offer. You’ll benefit and so will your new customers.

I want to promote your business.

If you go to http://ShowYourCoupon.com you can see our service in action.

To register your business and start creating your special offers, go to http://merchant-info.showyourcoupon.com and sign up for free.

I’ll syndicate your coupon at http://SyndicateYourAd.com and to other websites, weblogs, and other venues — all at no extra cost to you.

Give us a try.

You have nothing to lose, and the potential of attracting new paying customers at a cost you set.

Remember, no customers, no sales, no cost.

Register your business for free and make your offer to new prospective customers.

I want your business and I’m willing to work to help you promote your business and make more sales.

Your coupon will be actively promoted at SyndicateYourAd.com and many other sites that are fed from that weblog.

Sign up today.

(This service does not accept offers for business opportunities. We are happy, however, to help you promote your products and services.)

Thank you, and I look forward to promoting your business.

I hope you have a wonderful 2006.

John L. Dilbeck
Dilbeck Marketing
Murphy, NC 28906

I’d like to welcome Appalachian Heritage Crafters as the latest Gold Member at the new Murphy, NC Business site.

Appalachian Heritage Crafters are having a 10% Off sale on everything in their crafts store from December 26-31, 2004. Then, they’ll be closing the store in January and February and will reopen in March, 2005.

Thank you for all your business and your support in 2004.