I can’t believe you were involved!

       It’s disappointing to say the least!

       Maybe even comes as a complete shock!

       Yet, some would say that they expected it!

       And you were involved!   

       Okay, maybe you weren’t! But, you could be!

       Scandals seem to be popping up everywhere these days.

       Arnold confesses to affair! Weiner sends explicit photos via text!

       The list goes on!

      Is it still considered “shocking”? Sure it is!

       And you can capitilize on it!

       Yep, use it! Have fun with it!

       Why do you think “trash mags” stay in business?

       They recycle the torrid stories, spin them into a sensational, more believable, story. True or not, these magazines know how to hook you and keep you reading.

       You can use the same spunkiness in your marketing as well.

       Charlie McDermott (a marketing mentor and friend) loves to push the limit on entertainment while getting people hooked on his StandOut TV. In one of his early episodes, you’ll see how he used his affair as a marketing tool. Classic!

        http://www.standout.tv/episodes/time-for-your-affair/

       You can do this too! A headline, a story, a doctored photo, or a video!

       Be the scandal, if only in your marketing!

       You don’t need “Tiger Blood” to be a winner!

       Start thinking of ways to be different. To make a splash with your market! To stand out!    

   Until Next Time,   

    “Live with Passion!”

     Rob Anspach   

 P.S.  Charlie is an awesome resource of fresh, inspiring and yes even jaw-dropping marketing, follow his web show. If you haven’t listened to the interview I did with Charlie here’s the link (it was recorded in February 2010) but the information is still unbelievablely fresh and helpful. http://bit.ly/j0cZ2S

It works for them, why not you?

Can I get personal with you?

I’d really like to get to know you better!

Sorry, does that sound like a “come-on” line?

No, I don’t want to date you…but, I do want to know more about you.

I want to know the real you!

How did you start out in business? What made you the entrepreneur that you are today? Why do people feel comfortable using your service?

Yes, I know, lots of questions.

But, it’s these exact questions that most of your customers are dying to know too! They want to know you. They want to hear your story!

What makes you tick? What drives you? What do you read? How do you spend your time when you’re not selling a product or pleasing a client?

The entrepreneurs who have discovered how to share their story, ultimately make more money, have more success and yes, seem to get all the spotlight.

My friend Andrew Mazer of ModernCoupon.com tells people how he got started. He lets them know his background and what led to the development of his company. He’s open and honest.

In my interview with Charlie McDermott of Stand Out Video, Charlie shares his backstory. What he did before creating Stand Out Video, and how that shaped his future. He’s proud of his past. He’s passionate!

Anne Beiler the creator of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels would tell her story to everyone she met. In time her market stand was transformed into one of the most lucrative franchises in the world. Even though Anne is no longer involved with Auntie Anne’s she still tells her story. In fact, she ended up writing a book called, “Twist of Fate”.

Your life to you may sound uninteresting, or perhaps embarrassing…

but, it’s your story, and it should be shared.

Sharing your story of how you got started as an entrepreneur helps your customers get to know you. It forms a connection! It’s that’s connection that allows people to know you, and trust in you. And, the more they trust in you, the more they will buy from you and tell their friends about you.

Until Next Time, 

   “Live with Passion!”

 

   Rob Anspach 

  P.S. Actually tell your story! Not just a small bio that says, “Hi, I’m so-so and I’m Gemini and I like long walks on the beach”. This ain’t the dating game. Providing an open, honest, believable story will create a foundation of trust and a long lasting relationship with your customers.

Seminars designed exclusively for the self-employed!

Contact Information

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Email: rob@robanspach.com                                   Phone: (717)330-7947

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 Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube & WordPress!

                    

Rob Anspach is a “brilliantly savvy” entrepreneur who helps frustrated business owners regain the passion they once had by showing them how to be more effective in the marketplace, how to dramatically improve their business so they enjoy coming to work again and how to win over customers regardless of price. Discover how easy it is to make money in your online or offline marketing, to attract and retain clientele and profit from your passions… visit http://www.robanspach.com  today!

Rob is also the creator & dynamic force behind Success Secrets TV, the new online show dedicated to helping entrepreneurs stay successful… check it out by going to… http://www.SuccessSecrets.TV

It begins in 10 days!

Starting in 10 days and running for the next 30 I’m going to do what some would consider impossible. I’m going to raise $40,000!

Yeah, it’s a hefty goal!

And, in such a short time period.

Not sure if I should be commended for my efforts or told that I’m borderline insane.

I mean really, what are my chances of succeeding? Before you answer that…

Let me explain why I’m doing this, how you can help and why this WILL succeed!

Every few years and event comes along that stirs the souls, that gets kids involved, that pushes the limits of their beliefs, that strengthens their faith and provides a lifetime of experience. It’s called World Youth Day. And, it’s happening in Madrid Spain in August 2011.
( http://www.worldyouthday.com/home.php )

In my church (St. Philips Roman Catholic Church, Millersville Pa), a group of 10 youths and adult chaperones are planning to attend World Youth Day. The cost for meals, flights and hotels is being tagged at around $4,000 per person.

In the last few months, this group of dynamic kids has been trying desperately to raise the necessary funds to go to World Youth Day…it hasn’t been easy. Their fundraising events seem to be hit or miss lately…some making money…others losing money. And sadly at the rate they are going selling baked goods and subs, it would take them several years to reach the goal of $40,000.00.

So, I put the word out!

I contacted marketers from around the world. Who have agreed to donate some really cool stuff to help me entice you to give to this fantastic fundraising endeavor.

Let’s help these kids raise the money!

If just 400 people gave $100 – then it’s done!

It starts with you. Will you give $100?

Can you tell your friends about this and get them to help too?

Will you help me make this a success?

Well, I still have lots to do in the next 10 days to get ready…thanks for allowing me to plant the seed in your head and for sharing my goal with you.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. I’m going to “up the ante” and kick in a free gift to everyone who gives $100. You’ll receive Full Access for 1 year to my Passions to Profits Interviews Series. In this series of interviews you’ll learn the secrets to success from some of the industry masters; great minds like Joe Sugarman, Ken Glickman, Charlie McDermott, Barbara Hemphill, Pamela Yellen, Diane Conklin, David Kekich and Chris Voss just to name a few.

P.P.S. If you’d like to give to this event before I officially launch my 30 day drive (Aug 15 – Sept 15, 2010) – you can send it via PayPal and plug in my email address rob@robanspach.com – as soon as I’m notified you gave I’ll send you Full Access to my interviews. Plus enter your name to win some really cool marketing stuff.

Listen to the Pain!

I took a few days off, did you miss me?

After 6 months of what seemed like non-stop work…I felt burned out!

I needed some desperate me time. No phones! No computer! No checking emails or facebook! I just totally unplugged!

And why not I thought… it was the perfect weekend to escape.

I went dancing with my wife (something we haven’t done it awhile). Took the kids to see Toy Story 3, celebrated my 41st birthday, then celebrated Fathers Day, ate at a creperie, took a couple naps in between… it was awesome!

Now I’m back! Refreshed and ready to rock!

A few days before I left I was really starting to feel the passion slipped away…it seemed my mind was always intune to business, marketing and helping others…and I was losing focus on what really mattered. Oh, don’t get me wrong…I love helping people. But, after many months of non-stop, nose to grindstone, this marketing maniac was starting to feel the pain.

My friend, Charlie McDermott, shared this very important message with me, “Pain is good…it teaches us a lot “if” we listen”. He went to say, “sounds like your pain is speaking to you!”

Most entrepreneurs will eventually feel the pain. Some choose to ignore it. Others noticed the pain they are feeling and prescribe themselves with a few days of R&R (rest and relaxation).

My buddy, Scott Linde (yeah the bug guy from New Jersey) eliminates his pain by taking multiple vacations a year. He says, taking vacations actually makes him more money. Strange right? Not really! When he comes back from his trips, he is refocused, reenergized and recharged.

Taking time away from your business, getting away from all the distractions, enables you to focus on your goals. Focus on why you really started your business.

In the book, “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber, your business is suppose to fund your personal life, not your personal life funding your business. If we are focused on constantly building our business, we are taking away the time needed to build up ourselves.

What do you enjoy doing?

Why aren’t you doing it?

In the book, “The 4 Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferris, Tim loves to travel and experience all that life as to offer…his book will help guide you to refocus your business energies in such a way that you are maximizing your work load and spending more time on what you really enjoy. Work Less, Make More!

But, how do we get there?

Well, here’s Charlie again to share his thoughts on how you can do it. “Get away for a day or better yet two…no phones, email etc. Focus on your long range goals and dreams. Set up a plan or a timeline that will get you to the point where you are spending most of your time doing what you love. Then come back recharged and work your plan.”

Great advice Charlie…thanks!

So before you get to the breaking point and start to feel the pain or have that feeling where you want to go “postal” on everyone, maybe it’s time to take a break and schedule some days away so you can refocus.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. Nothing is more important than your health and well being! If you’re constantly stressed, then it’s time to take a few steps back, unplug and get away for a couple of days.

SEO Secrets Revealed!

Once a month I travel to West Chester Pa to attend a high impact kick butt marketing meeting. This my friend is not your typical rah-rah meeting…no way, no how!

Each 2 hour meeting is filled with more “in your face” real world, proven marketing tips, secrets, and advice than most people get in a year or maybe even in a lifetime.

And, I’m going to share with you some of what was revealed to me in this private members only closed door session. (I hope the other members don’t find out I’m sharing this or I might get in deep trouble…so shhh! don’t tell anyone I’m doing this okay!)

The secrets I’m about to share with you are critical to getting you to the top of Google page ranks and being number #1 with your keywords. So if page rank, Google or keywords bore you to tears…well, maybe you need to stop reading this right now!

Good, you’re still with me! That means that you are a true marketer and understand the power SEO, Google, keywords and page rank mean to your website and your wallet.

When using keywords for your site use those words or phrases that attract at least 10 thousand searches a month. You want to avoid generic terms, words or descriptors that link to more than 100 thousand competing pages. What this means is that if you want to compete with big name companies (such as McDonalds, Nike, Walt Disney) it’s very hard to use their descriptors as your keywords… they have dominant page rank keywords and a team of SEO experts who are trained to keep their brand in top spots.

A keyword search for “marketing” is too generic and would generate 510,000,000 results. I don’t know about you…but I really don’t have that much time to devote to seach 510 million pages. Use keyword phrases instead…it narrows the fields and creates an easier to search ranking.

If we use the term… “marketing, media and money” in our google search… my wordpress blog ( www.robanspach.wordpress.com ) came up #1 on Google. Yay me!

Or how about the term “stand out marketing” and you’ll see my buddy Charlie McDermott’s company Stand Out Video and Marketing ranks #1 on Google.

If you ever wanted to add a spark of flair to your site and give it that just wrote on look you might type “copy doodles” in a search… and you would come across my buddy Mike Capuzzi’s website listing on Google for copwriting cosmetics in the #1 spot.

Here are 3 easy to use websites that will help you uncover search words, phrases and terms that you can use as keywords on your site and help you with your page ranking.

www.googlekeywordtool.com -keyword tool, analytics, gadgets and more
www.google.com/sktool – search based keyword tool
www.seoquake.com – only available for Firefox and Chrome

Here are a five simple tips you can use that will help your Google rank!
1. Each page of your website should be optimized with it’s own keywords and phrases.
2. Each page should act as a stand alone site.
3. Every page of your website should have an opt-in form to gather visitors email addresses.
4. Your title tag (the words at the top of the screen that describe your site, that show up on the browser banner) should be no more than 9 words long. Should be relevant to your content.
5. Backlinks are important… but not all are created equal. Your backlinks (links coming from other sites) need to be relevant to your content or Google will not rank your page high on the charts. If you offer gardening tips on your website, but all of your backlinks are from sports related sites…sorry, you just won’t get the ranking from Google that you desire.

There ya go…a few helpful search engine optimization tips that when implemented will have you soaring up the google page rank charts.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. Not all web designers are created equal…and sadly some don’t really understand SEO, page rank or optimization. Sometimes it’s better to hire 2 separate companies – one to design an eye-catching site and the other to optimize your site for page rank.

Can you be bribed?

Another Manic Monday!

Just typing that and the song Manic Monday from the Bangles (circa 1986) starts playing in my head… aaahhk! (Make it stop!)

I was reading the newspaper earlier today and I came across an article about some Washington politician.

For some odd reason… I started thinking about bribery!

Can you be bribed?

Don’t answer that yet!

But first, I want to fill you in on some things…

My revamp of my own website is going slow, only because I have a boat load of projects I’m working for others.

I did want to update you and let you know that my buddy Charlie McDermott did indeed win the “Outrageous Marketer” of the year award….and here’s one of his outrageous marketing videos… www.outrageouscharlie.com

Did you watch the video! Kinda cool right?

Well, bribery works…

Ethical bribery that is!

Charlie used ethical bribery to do several things…he used it to build his lists and to get people to make a video testimonial that Charlie could use later. Charlie also enticed people with prizes to get them to take action right now.

I use ethical bribery too!

Most marketers do!

You see I bribe people with some really great audio interviews to get them to sign up for my newsletter. (oops cats out of the bag!)

Hey you can do it too!

Offer a free report, or a product sample or heck come up with some really off the wall outrageous thing that people must have or can’t live with out and offer it as a way to entice (or bribe) them to sign up for your email list.

Whatever you decide to use as a bribe (give away) to people to get them to sign up (or opt-in) to your list, make sure it is relevent to what it is your selling or promoting.

And, since non of my clients are politicians and very ethical in what they do…I would highly advise that your giveaway (ethical bribe) be low cost and convertible! By convertible I mean able to be sent through email, or downloaded.

But really, and truth be told, and I’ll be the first one to admit it…

…the ultimate goal of building a list is to be able to sell to them.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. I bet the answer to the first question above was YES!

Promises & Sacrifices

I should be in Dallas right now!

 

  Yep, I should be attending the GKIC Superconference.

 

  Basking in all the new and exciting marketing ideas from brilliantly savvy people all over the world.

 

  Cheering on my buddy Charlie McDermott when he proudly wins that coveted “Outrageous Marketer of the Year” award.

 

  But I made a promise!

 

  You see, today my first born turns 21. (She’s all grow’d up!)

 

  I made a promise to all my kids that no matter what was happening in my world (the marketing conventions, the meetings, the on-location visits, etc)…I would always be there on their special day.

 

  I’ve had to sacrifice learning from some of the best marketers in the world…but being with my kids as they celebrate their birthdays is priceless.

 

  When I started my service company way back in 1995…I was always told I would have to make sacrifices. Family would come second or third…maybe way down the list.

 

  And, frankly that never went over well with me.

 

  I did miss some birthdays early on…and I regret that.

 

  So, the promise was made.

 

  Now, my kids come first.

 

  I created my company to fund my personal life…not my personal life to fund my business.

 

  Now, it’s a question I ask every entrepreneur I meet. What do you want from your business? Usually the answer can be summed up in four words… “I want it all!”

 

  Wrong answer!

 

  In order to have it all (which by the way is not possible), you have to make sacrifices along the way… you have to choose which is more important to you at that given moment. Sadly, most entrepreneurs give up family time for the almighty dollar.

 

  Make time for your kids…make time for your spouse…make time for yourself – the business can wait.

 

   Yes I said it…the business can wait. Believe it or not, your clients will understand and the majority will be flexible to your family schedule.

   

    Until next time,

 

  “Live with passion”

   Rob Anspach

  www.robanspach.com

 

P.S. Happy Birthday Becka!

 

P.P.S. By the way…”I want it all” a fantastic song by the rock band Queen was released on May 2, 1989 – 2 days after my daughter was born. Brian May (a member of Queen) wrote the song about having ambitions and fighting for one’s own goals. If you’d like to here the song… here’s the link to the video… http://bit.ly/b3BteR

Stand out, be outrageous and have passion!

Did you listen to the great interview I did with Charlie McDermott?

 

 You know the StandOut Video guy!

 

  Outrageous Charlie?

 

  Humor me and say you did! If not, I’ll include the link below.

 

  Well, Charlie is up for an award…

 

  …the outrageous marketer of the year award…

 

  yep, and he owes it all to me! 

 

  Just kidding…although that would be cool if he did owe it all to me.

 

  I have actually picked up some great tips listening to Charlie.

 

  Well, as much as I like talking about Outrageous Charlie…let’s talk about you!  What makes you outrageous? What makes you stand out from your competition?  What’s the passion that drives you?

 

  If you’re afraid of taking risks or making a fool of yourself, then sorry you don’t fall into the category of being outrageous. If you follow and do what your competitors are doing than you will never be a stand out. And, if you dont let your passions drive you…you will never have a successful business.

 

 How do you be outrageous? That’s a great question! It’s about being different, it’s being wild, it’s using creativity in way that has never been done before in your industry. It’s about getting noticed. Yes, you want that attention. Believe me! When you are outrageous, people will see you in a whole new light and will gravitate towards you.

 

 And, when you are outrageous…you will stand out!

 

  Passion is what drives us, it’s what makes us excited about what we do, its gives us motivation to see the bigger picture. It’s proven that entrepreneurs that have passion  make more money. Don’t be the unmotivated, non-passionate, grumpy all the time, blame the world for all their problems type entrepreneurs, they dont stay in business long. As, I always say… “live with passion”…that passion will make you money.

 

  Sadly, your competitors don’t stand a chance if you are outrageous and have passion for what you do!

 

  Stand out, be outrageous and have passion!

 

   

    Until next time,

 

  “Live with passion”

   Rob Anspach

  http://www.robanspach.com/

 P.S. Heres the interview I did with Charlie if you’d like to listen… http://bit.ly/cvWJFI

Embracing technology

One of my first jobs after high school was working in a video rental store.

The store was called Video 54 – a take off of a old TV show called Car 54.

Video rentals back then (1987) were $3 a movie per night.

Beta was being replaced by VHS… and DVD’s hadn’t been invented yet.

Blockbuster had only started 2 years prior, and didn’t get a presence in our town until sometime in the 1990′s

Fast forward to the present and all the video stores, especially Blockbuster are all going the way of beta, vhs, the record player, and the dinosaur…extinct.

Netflix drove an already struggling Blockbuster to an early grave.

Netflix embraced new technology and marketed an easy way to deliver videos without ever leaving your home. Netflix realized a need and then capitalized on it.

Now Netflix is gearing up to revamp their business model as they realize that DVD’s will be rendered obsolete soon. They are utilizing technology to stream movies directly to your TV.

When websites first started gaining popularity as a means to advertise your business, video was not even an option. Now video on websites is the norm.

As technology changes so must our way of doing things.

Are we being proactive, or reactive to technology?

Do we embrace it or do we have a wait and see approach.

Well, I can tell you from experience that those companies that embrace new technology as a means to solicit, communicate, market or build awareness usually gain the dominance in the marketplace first.

A few months ago I wrote an article about my Stand Out friend Charlie McDermott…today I want to share something new about Charlie. You see Charlie embraces technology everyday to help him and hundreds of other entrepreneurs reinvent how they do business.

And, yes it has to do with video!

Charlie is delivering videos in a whole new dimension. It’s called StandOut TV ( www.standouttv.com ). Go ahead and click on the link and watch how Charlie does it.

Those that do not embrace technology or delay using it are prone to be passed over.

Until next time,

“Live with passion”

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com

P.S. Go ahead and embrace technology and be a game changer.

The OnStar Effect!

“This is OnStar how may I help you Mr Jones?”

“Yes, my marketing sucks, what can I do?”

Discover three ways to put your website on steroids and
give it that “Onstar effect”!

Imagine, if you could call a 24 hour service and be connected instantly to a marketing specialist.

And why not?

Your marketing doesn’t turn off when you leave the office. It’s needs to be like OnStar… helping callers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Unfortunately most website need to be more interactive, more helpful and be able to answer customer questions at all hours of the day (or night).

Live chat is a cool feature to have on your website. It can provide that “OnStar like” live solution to monitor and deliver answers at any time. There a many companies that can deliver a live chat – but the one I recommend is www.chatwise.com .

How would you like to direct your website viewers to highlighted areas, or items you want them to be aware of…kind of like OnStar directing you through traffic… well I would suggest you check out www.getstandout.com. I actually did an interview with Charlie McDermott – for my “Passions to Profit’s” series – what an awesome guy (you’ll see him & his son on the “get stand out” site) .

Another tool to use in your 24 hour marketing toolbox is a toll free consumer information hotline. This is where potential clients can call and listen to a free recorded message about your products, services or special messages at anytime of the day. One of the best companies I ‘ve found to help you automate this process is www.automaticsresponse.com

Well, there you go, three awesome ways to keep your marketing delivering 24 hours a day directing callers right to where you need them to go.

Wait, that third one isn’t a website feature! I see you’re paying attention!

You need to think outside the box on this one! The free recorded message can be advertised on your website. So if viewers don’t want to chat, they can call and listen without fear of being pressured or swayed. “Listen to our free recorded message and discover 3 ways to put your website on steriods and give it that Onstar effect” – call anytime!

Your website doesn’t have to be a static billboard!

It does need to attract, and direct viewers to where you want them to go!

Until next time,

Live with passion

Rob Anspach

www.robanspach.com
rob@robanspach.com

P.S. Go have some fun this weekend! Get out of the house! Go see a movie! Unwind! Do something! Take your mind off of business for 48 hours. Then on Monday, start implementing ways to attract & direct viewers to get more out of your website.