Simple Online Systems http://simplepublications.com/blog More Profits - Less Moving Parts Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:18:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 The Tools for Your Success http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/the-tools-for-your-success/ http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/the-tools-for-your-success/#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:38:31 +0000 admin http://simplepublications.com/blog/?p=29 Last week I was speaking to a friend about a program called “Ventura Publisher.” Back in the early 1990’s, this was “the program” to use for writing or publishing books. It was so expensive, at least for me at the time… I couldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. By the time the late 1990’s rolled around, I finally had some money to burn, so I went ahead bought it. Was I disappointed? Absolutely.

I think in the back of my mind I subconsciously believed buying expensive products and having the best of everything would make me capable of performing on another level. But that’s like saying buying expensive golf clubs will make you a better golfer. Or buying an expensive tennis racket will make you a better tennis player. These things can assist you in doing the job… but they do not create talent, know-how, ability or success on any level.

The tools are only as good or as effective as the person using them.

When it comes to the world of online publishing – the tools of the trade are cheaper than ever before. Not only are they cheaper, many of them are free! Content management and blogging systems such as Joomla, Drupal and WordPress are absolutely free.

The designs and themes available for each of these systems are very affordable and some of them are absolutely free as well. You can now create an online business at a fraction of what it would have cost you – even five years ago.

As I look back, I still marvel at how much time and energy I wasted in search of the “right tools” that would practically guarantee success. My focus was in the wrong area, which is why it took me so long to get going.

Here’s an excellent example about how your ability to focus plays such a large part in the outcome of the things you do. Until about a year ago, Tiger Woods seemed to be well on his way to surpassing and breaking all the records set by another all-time great – Jack Nicholas.  Then, the news of his infidelities went public. His image and reputation took a beating. While the details of the mess became cannon fodder for the press on nearly a daily basis, he took a break from the game. I can’t say that I blame him there.

Recently, he returned to the game and the PGA tour. Since his return, however, his level of play is far cry from what it used to be.

Same man, same tools, different outcome.

This is a perfect example of what an important role the mind and the ability to focus plays in a person’s life and individual situations. A focused individual can perform to the top of their abilities. An unfocused individual may not even be aware of what they’re actually capable of producing as some people go through their whole lives this way.

Many times, success or the lack of it has nothing to do with the not having the right tools, not having enough money or lacking in overall opportunity. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of dealing with and removing the things that are distracting you and affecting your ability to focus.

How far are you capable of going with in business and in life as a whole? It may all come down to your ability to focus and what you’re choosing to focus upon.

- Jimmy Krug

]]> http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/the-tools-for-your-success/feed/ 3 Building a Better Web Presence http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/building-a-better-web-presence/ http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/building-a-better-web-presence/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:03:52 +0000 admin http://simplepublications.com/blog/?p=20 There are lots of shortcuts available today when it comes to creating a solid presence for your online business. The days of people paying thousands of dollars for a website are few and far in between. I know because I was one of the people building them in the mid-2000’s. That’s because today, if you have a good webmaster, you can pay them several hundred dollars and get the same product that used to cost several thousand dollars.  They can use a template or modify an existing one to make something totally unique.

If you’re going to update your site regularly, a content management system may be just what you’re looking for. Products like Joomla, Drupal and WordPress are three of the most popular content management systems available today. In case you’re not familiar with the term “content management,” the term simply means being to add content such as text, photos, videos, etc., without having to know html or other programming languages.  They are basic “what you see is what you get” systems that take care of all the technical “stuff” without you having to worry about it.

Content management systems take a lot of moving parts and puts them together under a single “hood.” Once in place, the content management engine then drives or automates many of tasks that used to take webmasters hours to accomplish. What used to be a laborious, time-consuming task is now done very simply in a matter of moments.

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13 Years in the Making – Simple eBook Publishing (The 2010 Version – Coming Soon)

]]> http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/building-a-better-web-presence/feed/ 1 Getting More out of Social Media http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/getting-more-out-of-social-media/ http://simplepublications.com/blog/likes/getting-more-out-of-social-media/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:49:53 +0000 admin http://simplepublications.com/blog/?p=12 You don’t have to be a social media expert to make money on Facebook. Some people are using Facebook in a way that’s very similar to Craig’s List. They’re listing cars for sale, apartments or homes for rent… and even little knickknacks.  If you have quite a few friends, you’d be surprised how quickly the word can get out among your network.

Many people on Facebook make the mistake of immediately trying to sell things to people they don’t actually know and overlook the “social aspect” of the site completely. If you want to make money online and intend on using Facebook as a tool for doing so, you’re going to have to take the time to be social with others! There isn’t a shortcut. Imagine meeting someone for the first time and they immediately try to sell their product or service. There are millions of websites already doing the same thing. Regardless of what you’re selling, there are already crowds of people out there with the same or similar products.

Take the time to say, “Hello” and interact with people. If they seem uninterested in doing the same, move on. Generally, people have the “what’s in it for me” approach times ten when it comes to their online activities, what they support and buy into… and what they pass on in favor of something else.

The same social skills that enable you to connect with people offline will come into play when you interact with them on Facebook. If you try too hard, people will sense it and what could have been a good opportunity will be wasted. When it comes to the photos you upload into your photo albums, consider the message you may inadvertently be sending to others. In many cases, it would be better to keep one profile for friends and family… and another for your business.

In some cases, Facebook profiles will play a large part in determining who “not to do business with” at a future point in time. Whatever you say or whatever pictures are posted in public on Facebook have come back to haunt more than just a few people!

- Jimmy Krug

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