Is There Anything Google Doesn't Have? And Kudos to You!

From the best search engine to highly useful online calendars to downloadable video to superior free email accounts and very recently, an online payment processing service, it seems Google it all. But I missed something.

I was surfing Carrie Lauth's blog who was previously surfing Lynette Chandler's blog and discovered that Google now offers online spreadsheets with it's free Google Spreadsheets service. What an awesome resource for working virtually with others.

This information and the great information shared by my blog readers in the XSite Pro thread have really given me some new perspective to truly moving my outsourcing and project management into the 21st century. With Google's useful tools, Martin Avis's recommendation for BeInSync.com and Sharon Tucci's nods to Box.net, there are definitely plenty of options to be in synch (pun intended, I guess!) with the people who you work with virtually.

Thanks for sharing everyone! What would we do without good online friends who aren't afraid to share resources and tips for success?

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (XSite Pro)

Sigh...I've been thinking about what Rich was talking about in his video. Rich preaches what I preach and I USUALLY practice...especially in regards to outsourcing.

In recent months, I started using the XSite Pro website builder. It's a great tool and makes it way easier to build medium-sized content sites. The problem is that using XSite Pro basically makes it a nightmare to outsource website updates to someone else. Every time you want to update the site, you have to have the latest version of the complete site. That means that my VAs and I would have to swap files each and every time before we did any work or we'd overwrite any work done previously. That's way to cumbersome. If XSitePro allowed you to load your site with a regular FTP program, it would be much easier...but for some reason it doesn't.

So, here I am with my "to-do" list today and it's things that I REALLY shouldn't be doing in my business. These are tasks that should always be delegated to assistants including:

- adding content
- adding graphics for my affiliates to use
- making corrections to pages

...but instead I'm doing the little tasks that keep me away from managing my business.

Sure, I could give my assistants the responsibility of maintaining the sites and they could keep the latest XSP files, but that isn't the greatest solution. I want to be able to access and conduct tests on my own sites at any time. And even if I did give them the full responsibility, what happens when they get sick, have to go out of town with no notice or just plain old disappear? Even though my gals are reliable, these things happen. If I don't have that stupid XSP file that, in effect, holds the key to that site, I'm screwed.

So, here I am deciding if I should stay or if I should put my sites into FrontPage (which would initially be a whole lot of work)...so I can continue on the path of managing my business and using my time wisely. I've mentioned this problem to the kind support people at XSite Pro and I sure hope they listen soon...because a tool that is supposed to make things easier for me is making me go backward.

If you're using XSite Pro and working with others to update your sites, let me know how you're managing it. If you're having the same problem as I am, please take a moment to contact the folks at XSite Pro and suggest they find a solution. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, you know!

Why You Might Be Exhausted & Your Online Business Isn't Making Enough

As written to my Internet Marketing Prescriptions subscribers (feel free leave your comments at the end of this message):

A few weeks ago (Correction, it was last week...but it seems so long ago! It's been a busy week.), I told you about Rich Schefren's "Internet Marketing Manifesto" that would show you how to ensure your company's longevity and continued growth.

Hopefully, you've taken advantage of that offer. If you did, you would have received an email from Rich to watch a video of a presentation he made previously at one of Armand Morin's BigSeminars (this is a must-go to event if you haven't been to one before, by the way).

The video re-emphasizes the need to build a business for the long-term and to finally get rid of those self-destructing quick-money habits.

The video is here (no opt-in required):

http://www.aliceseba.com/richvideo.html

There's also a useful PDF there of the tools and resources Rich recommends for building an online business. You can grab that with no-cost or obligation as well.

Enjoy..and as always, comment below to let me know what you think.

http://www.aliceseba.com/richvideo.html

In Direct Sales? This is For You!

Over the past few years, Linda Stacy (my G.M. at InternetBasedMoms.com) and myself have been helping people get ahead online with their direct sales business. Most of the support that uplines provide seems to be geared toward offline sales...and any online information is usually lacking. It consists of buying ads or wasting your time on free classifieds to generate leads to the company-provided site. NO! NO! NO!

That's not how to maximize your online presence in direct sales. We've seen it over and over again. The people who move ahead online take a different road. If you're still trying to figure it out, sign up for our free tips at Online Direct Sales Leads.

To your direct sales success!

Buy a Word on My Site - Ha Ha --- Just Kidding

There's been a lot of emails flying around with people asking you to buy a "word" on their link farm-ish websites. I don't have much comment on that, except that I want to give you a link for FREE...no strings attached.

Submit yours here:

http://www.allkindsofinfo.com/submit.php

Normally, for a free listing, you'd have to provide a link back to the site, but if you submit your link before Friday, July 14, 2006...you don't have to do anything but submit your link.

A link back is always appreciated, but certainly not expected. Just choose the no-charge listing and you're good to go.

We expect a mad rush of links, so give us several days to get yours up...but we promise to get to them all and we'll add new categories where necessary. So, even if you don't see a category for your site...submit it.

Here's to free links!

But I Already Knew That!

As written to my Internet Marketing Prescriptions subscribers (feel free leave your comments at the end):

This week I wanted to talk you about what you know, what you think you know and what you really don't know at all.

(And trust me, there's plenty that I don't know too!)

In the Internet Marketing community, we all have different approaches to our online businesses and we all have varying degrees of success. From working closely with other online entrepreneurs over the years, something has become clear:

To some degree, we sabatoge our own success.

We're in constant search of information and often we overload ourselves with to many ideas and just plain old too much information. And in most cases, we don't take action on most of the good information we receive. It's almost like we figure if the knowledge is in our heads, it will miraculously manifest itself in a successful online business, with little or no effort.

Sometimes it takes hearing the same information over and over agin before we take action. Other times, it takes hearing the information presented in a certain way, by a certain person before it even clicks.

I was thinking of this last week, when Rich Schefren released his Internet Marketing Manifesto and a popular Internet Marketing forum blew up in controversy over the report.

(You can find the report at: http://www.aliceseba.com/manifesto.html)

No, the report isn't controversial in subject. It discusses the very elements that keep people from being truly successful in the continued financial growth of their business.

So, what's all the fuss?

Well, some people declared that this was the most amazing thing they'd ever read and they were completely going to change the way they do business.

Others said, what's the big deal. This information has been around forever. It's so BASIC.

But you know what? Many of those people who said they already knew everything were not terribly successful in their online businesses. They also didn't have systems in place for the CONTINUED GROWTH of their business.

So, my opinion is that these people THINK they know it, but they don't really know it all because they don't live it.

In fact, part of the information Rich shares is stuff I've been sharing with my subscribers in regard to creating a business that grows without killing you in the process. Still I know many of my subscribers aren't implementing my rock solid advice - maybe you're one of those subscribers. ;-)

I know this, because I continue to get questions from subscribers who are working too hard for little return and they want to know what they're doing wrong and what they can do better. To be honest, I've already told them. But like I said, we're so inundated with information, that we're not really sure what we should do next.

So, maybe you need to hear it another way and it will all become clearer. Have a look at Rich's Internet Marketing Manifesto and leave a comment to let me know what you think.

Again, the report is here:
http://www.aliceseba.com/manifesto.html

The Money IS in the List

...the TO-DO list, that is.

I already know this (and you probably do too), but sometimes I forget. I wrote myself a business to do list last night and today has been a very productive day. I've got a product just about ready to launch, have secured a few JV partners, have my writers and VAs on track for the week, my newsletters written and am just about ready to take that vacation TODAY.

I really hate to-do lists and schedules. It's probably because I hate being told what to do, even when it's me who's telling me what to do. ;-)

But without the list, I'm easily distracted, forget about things and just feel kind of lost. I spend time wandering forums, logging into accounts and other useless exercises. Being armed with the to-do list is MUCH better!

Don't Think I Want a Brita Water Filter

Last night, I saw the oddest commercial for Brita Water Filters. I can only assume the ad execs were drunk or smoking crack when they came up with this idea.

There's a glass of water on the table and you can hear a toilet flushing. As the toilet flushes, the water level in the glass goes down and comes back up as the toilet finishes flushing. Then a woman comes out of the bathroom and drinks from the glass.

Brita then tells us that toilet water and tap water come from the same place...so we should use their filters.

What the heck? That's gross, especially the way they laid it out. Of course, I know that we aren't actually drinking USED toilet water, but they made it seem like that. And if that's the case, forget the Brita Water Filer, I think I'll go for bottled spring water.

Crazy corporate advertising!

The Online Entrepreneur's Vacation

This week, I'm off for a mini-vacation with my friend and our kids. That means 4 screaming kids under the age of 5 in a trailer, but we'll be having a blast by the beach!

And no, the laptop ISN'T coming with me, but a notebook will. I always come up with new ideas while away from the computer and I like to jot them down. I also find these breaks away from the computer to be totally rejuvinating and I'm ready to get back into things when I get back.

Are you taking a vacation COMPLETELY away from the computer this summer? Are you even able to? I think there's a lot of us who never take a true vacation because their business constantly needs them. It would be great if you could share your thoughts on what a vacation as an entrepreneur means to you.

I'd love to hear about your online entrepreneur's vacation.

Happy 4th & A Late Canada Day - Here's Some More Traffic for You!

Happy 4th of July to my American readers. And to my fellow Canadians, I hope you had a great Canada Day. Saturday was a whirlwind day of playing at the water park, riding trains and enjoying a delicious barbecue. But of course, it's now time for me to get back to work.

Moments ago, I sent out this week's issue of Internet Marketing Prescriptions. If you're subscribed you'll get yours shortly...I hope. You know how those darned email filters are, so I'm posting a link to the online version here. It's all about thinking outside the box in generating traffic and maximizing your income. I hope you'll enjoy it!

=> http://www.aliceseba.com/news/more-traffic.html