Who says you can’t run a business from a mobile phone?  When a major winter storm knocked out power to me and a few hundred thousand neighbors, I was left with no technology except my trusty iPhone – the modern day “Swiss Army Knife” for solopreneurs.

Even though I had no electricity, phone or Internet, I stayed connected to the outside world and – more important – my clients, solely via my iPhone.  In fact, using my iPhone web access and various apps, I barely missed a business beat!

I was not only able to check email and surf the net, but my Facebook app and TweetDeck for iPhone kept me connected to and communicating with colleagues throughout the 5 day power outage.  I could “tweet out” my tale of woe and, better yet, shoot video with my iPhone of the damage and destruction, then upload the video directly to YouTube – no computer required!

I could also check my projects in my “Highrise” project management software using my “Bungalow” iPhone app, and even track an order that came in via my PayPal app. (How cool that I could still earn some passive revenue online, even though I was in the dark at home!)

What about rescheduling that conference call?  There’s an app for that!  I used my “Tungle” for iPhone to reschedule meetings that had to be postponed due to the power failure.  I could still make my travel arrangements for an upcoming trip with my “Kayak” app on the iPhone, and then use my handly Flashlight app to find my way around my darkened house.

These smart phones may be smart, but they don’t run forever.  I had to venture out by car once a day just so I could charge the iPhone and maintain some battery power.   All in all, it’s probably not the best way to run a business, but it’s nice to know you can keep your company going in a jam just by using one tiny, but powerful, gadget.

Which just proves that given today’s technology, you don’t have to be powerless just because you lose power!

Lou Bortone is a long-time marketing consultant and branding coach who helps entrepreneurs build breakthrough brands on the Internet.  As an online video branding specialist and award-winning marketer, Lou provides services such as video production, brand development coaching, creative support and video coaching.

Lou is a former television executive who worked for E! Entertainment Television and later served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Advertising for Fox Family Worldwide, a division of Fox in Los Angeles. Lou is an author and ghostwriter of six business books, a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and a Book Yourself Solid Certified Coach.  His website is at: http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com.

Building your list is at the heart of creating a bestselling group coaching program.  Unfortunately, that's where most coaches struggle because they often don't quite know what to do to grow a great list.

List building was challenging for me, too…until I learned how to make the marketing conversation attractive for my ideal learner.  Today I know how to turn Twitter followers and Facebook friends into loyal learners in my group coaching programs.  How kewl is that?!

I'm really excited to share my strategies with you next week during List Attraction Week - March 8-12, 2010.

Gina Bell has assembled an amazing group of expert mentors, including Andrea J. Lee, Lisa Angelettie, Katrina Sawa, Michele PW, Mary Kay Morgan and me, to share top list building strategies.

We will share our secrets to EVERY aspect of effective list building:

autoresponders
double opt-ins
squeeze pages
ethical bribes/freebies/pink spoons (oh my!)
ezines/newsletters
virtual events
joint ventures
speaking
writing (i.e. article marketing)
blogging
social media
follow up strategies
how to monetize your list
and much, much more.

Tune in on Thursday, March 11th at 3 pm ET for my topic, "Build a Loyal Following of Ideal Learners for Your Groups (and Grow Your List, too!)"

It's a very kewl event and you don't want to miss this opportunity to discover how to truly leap your list into high gear.  Get all the details and enroll in this FREE event NOW

That is all.

WendyY

When writing marketing, advertising and promotional copy, there are specific formulas to increase response and effectiveness. Since your copy truly is the secret to sales success it’s important to familiarize yourself with the formula even if you aren’t writing long copy. Here’s why: There is a psychological process that readers go through regardless of copy length and regardless of reading preference ie: analytical reader who dives into all the copy or scanner who glances at the key points and quickly makes a buying decisions.

Knowing the formula for creating a sales letter will help you connect with your ideal learner. Regardless of the length of your copy you can incorporate the basic formula to ensure you’re providing all the information your customers need to make a sound decision about investing in your products and services.

The reason understanding sales letter copy is extremely important is not only because it follows a specific formula for success – it also allows you to infuse your own voice into a proven method for authentically connecting with consumers.

The formula gives you a solid roadmap to success once you dig in and pay attention.

The basic elements follow:

• Attention grabbing headline that is customer centered
• An opening that includes interesting facts and stories to further connect you with your ideal customers/learners
• Features to explain what your product is all about
• Benefits to demonstrate how life will be better with your product or service
• Testimonials to provide social proof of your claims
• An offer that showcases everything your customer receives for their investment.
• A call to action so your ideal customer takes the next step towards doing business with you or investing in your product or service.
• Add a P.S. to pull it all together and reiterate your offer
• Include captions under your pictures when applicable

It’s a little more complicated than it sounds, especially if you’re not wild about writing copy in the first place, but you get the idea. And, when you wrap your mind around this formula it’s much easier to create copy that works.

There are also specific sections of copy that are the most read. The first thing the majority of readers absorb is your headline. So, you’ll want to make that punchy and customer-centric. The second most read portion of copy is your P.S. So, make sure you include the details of your offer to capture the scanners. Finally, the third most read portion of copy is the captions under pictures.

Now that you have the formula, this information allows you to craft compelling copy to truly connect with your ideal market.

Take a moment to review your marketing materials today.

Does your copy incorporate the formula for sales success?

What can you do to make your message more authentic?

P.S. Still not interested in writing your own copy? Post your questions and let me know what you need.

Copywriting Expert

Lisa Manyon is the President of Write On ~ Creative Writing Services, LLC. and a Professional Copywriter and Marketing Strategist specializing in POWERFULLY communicating your marketing message to increase results. She’s a published author and is a featured in the International Association of Web Entrepreneurs Official AWE Guide to Emerging Trends Every Online Entrepreneur Must Know and has written promotional, advertising and marketing copy for internet gurus and a wide variety of brick and mortar businesses. She's completed Glazer Kennedy’s Creating Copy that Sells certification and is a Copy Coach for Lorrie Morgan Ferrero’s She Factor Copywriting Bootcamp. Manyon offers a free Copywriting Action Plan with 7 Power-packed Insider Tricks of the Copywriting Trade to Dramatically Increase Sales of your Products & Services on her website