Bricks From Clicks

Microsoft may be considering a takeover bid for its main competitor, Yahoo!  Once the leading search engine, Yahoo! has, over recent years come in a distant second to the apparent market leader Google.

It now seems like it is down to 2 in the battle of goliaths…Microsoft vs Google!

I think it is ironic that the Microsoft bid for Yahoo! comes in the same week that its greatest rival in the 90’s, “Netscape” has officially folded.

Microsoft is loosing big time in terms of market share when it comes to revenue, its as simple as that, however, there is no reason that they can’t take Google down a few notches just through the power of their marketing.

I’m not saying that its an ‘us’ against ‘them’ battle, but Microsoft has been the underdog before and have always come out on top.

It’s past the “1984” style of “Big Brother” however if they put their greed on the backburner they can take Google down a few notches easily. They have the resources to build a much better search engine portal and advertising system if they choose to invest in it.

I think that Microsoft will offer whatever it takes to win this one.

Personally, I give it 4 years before Microsoft controls the search engine market as well as the web browser market!

It just goes to prove that the net must go on.

Competition will be healthy for Google. It may bring prices down  for advertising but I suspect that Goggle will now enforce themselves in some way to reduce the threat of Microsoft.

How it happens will all be revealed once the transaction takes place.

What ever it is I’m sure the consumer will benefit in the end.

Rumours are circulating again that Microsoft is considering a takeover bid for competitor, Yahoo!  Once the leading search engine, Yahoo! has, over recent years come in a distant second to market leader Google. 

The creation of this mega-search engine would provide well needed competition to Google who appear to be dictating to the market as of late with their search rankings, Google Slaps and questions raised over their analysis of sites in determining the Google Page Rank which many online marketers look to as a firm indicator of a sites value.

In addition to the Microsoft / Yahoo combination providing a valuable competitior to Google, it would also have major repercussions on the Australian market, with NineMSN and Yahoo!7 operating as competitors.

Do you remember what your New Years Resolution was?

If succeeding with it was based on ‘will power’ then the odds are that you have probably failed already.  The reality of the matter is that people can rarely alter a habit through ‘will power’ alone.

Many of the experts claim that you can change any habit in just 21 days! 

So, if you have a habit of sitting on the couch watching television before dinner, why not spend an hour reading marketing books or any books for that matter, books on money, personal finance, investment, real estate, marketing and in 21 days you will be more equipped than ever before to tackle your goals.

You should only ever try to change one habit at a time using this method so choose which one you want to break over the next 21 days carefully and consider that if you continue to change your habits in 21 day cycles you could break or improve at least 17 habits just in any one year.

To your success

Brad

Here’s a large forum thread I cam across with lots and lots of pictures of Guerilla Marketing. Some very cool ideas that I thought were really worthwhile sharing.

Brad

read more | digg story

Smart Company has suggested that “Small and medium business owners could have less than a month to sack failed employees before Labor introduces new IR laws that make sacking workers much more expensive”.

You can read about their bold claimes in their article The Clock Is Ticking - Sack Dud Staff Before It’s Too Late. Smart Company says “For businesses with less than 100 employees, that means there could be less than a month left to remove problem employees without the threat of unfair dismissal claims and go-away money.”

Personally I think that it is time to look deeper into this problem. If companies have been carrying the underperforming and failed employees for this long, the question is Why?

Have you not noticed that your business is not performing as well as it could? Or did these companies just continue to tolerate poor performance because it was someone to do the work and you knew you could sack them at the drop of the hat, whenever you felt like it without any concern for the employee or their family.

If the employees are not performing they should be having regular reviews and if necessary, being performance managed to give them the best chance to succeed in your company.

It is far better to train an employee and have them leave than to not train them and have them stay.

It seems to me that the underlying attitude that the Liberal govenrment’s IR laws have brought into play are that you don’t have to worry about the employees because they are expendible at your whim.

So they don’t get well trained (an that is obvious from the poor level of customer service being displayed these days), the get reduced rates, hours and conditions and get potentially no warning that they are underperforming but just told “Don’t Come On Monday”!

It is an absolute disgrace that these type of articles and attitudes are being displayed before the new Government has even taken office.

Brad

Hi All

I mentioned to you yesterday that the ComputerMaster, Jurgen Schmechel has just released his latest e-book, Master Your Spreadsheet.

Jurgen has just sent me one of the testimonials that he received for the product and I wanted to share this with you just in case you were not sure exactly how this book can help you get the most out of Microsoft Excel:

“I’ve always considered myself as being pretty handy with Excel.

I know now that I have only been using a fraction of the massive power in Excel, thanks to Master Your Spreadsheet.

It has made Excel much more useful, and fun too!

Get a copy…it is worth a 100 times the investment!

Glen Rothquel, Managing Director, Capital 4 Business

Wow, that is quite a proof statement for such a new product.  I have seen this e-book and have to agree with Glen that it has the power to expand your productive use of Excel.  I am a fairly strong Microsoft Excel user myself and even I learnt a thing or two.

Remember, you can buy Master Your Spreadsheet for only $12.70 AUD until Saturday 10th November when the price goes up so CLICK HERE to grab your copy now.

To Your “Spreadsheet” Success

Brad

I just wanted to let you know about an exciting new product that has just been released by my friend and ComputerMaster, Jurgen Schmechel.  Modelled after Jurgen’s top selling Master Your Inbox ebook, he has now put the finishing touches on his latest e-book Master Your Spreasheet. 

If you find yourself wishing that you knew more about Microsoft Excel but don’t have the time to go off and complete a course then this e-book is the solution for you.

Most people are only using about 5% of Excel, not because that is all that they need, mostly because they just don’t know how powerful Excel can be (and don’t have an easy way to learn).

Master Your Spreadsheet from ComputerMaster is a high quality product and I know that Jurgen has put a lot of time and effort into making sure this is an easy-to-follow process that will have you as the Master of Micrsoft Excel in no time at all.

There are 79 pages of detailed tips to help you get more out of Excel.  Each tip is clearly explained with screenshots to help you along the way so that you know exactly what you should be doing.

To celebrate the launch of this product, you can buy Master Your Spreadsheet for only $12.70 AUD until Saturday 10th November when the price goes up.

If you have ever wanted to get more out of Excel, but didn’t know how then Master Your Spreadsheet is the solution for you.

Click Here to visit the site and check out the special offer now.

To Your Success

Brad

Here is one simple formula that you can use in developing a profitable Internet Business.

It is quite simple, really - so simple that its simplicity is often overlooked by most people.

Just identify and recognize which online guru is already making money online doing what you want to do. After that, just model your business after theirs.

It is just that SIMPLE!

Yes, you are allowed copy his or her Internet Business system or conduct of business.

There should be no legal issues, you are not stealing their secrets, just following a proven formula to success. Anyone you are modeling should see that as a compliment, not a threat.

Having said that, you can imitate after an Internet Business owner or Marketer who is already doing and achieving the kind of profitable results you so desire.

You can imitate his conduct of business. You can imitate his system.

If he uses bonuses each time he makes an endorsement, you can do the same - each time you endorse a product or service as an affiliate, you can throw in your own special offers.

If this their response rate to customer service is 24 hours, you can do the same or even better - under 12 hours.

If this internet marketing guru is making most of his money from list building - what is stopping you from building a profitable mailing list then?

While this may sound absurdly simple, but you can set up your Internet Business in the exact or almost similar manner and even sell the same product, assuming you have the rights to sell the same product, of course.

One of the most successful people I have modeled is Ewen Chis and his Auto Pilot Profits system.  Ewen has put together such a simple, step by step system and it makes sense to model after a system that is already working that there is nearly no need for one to re-invent the wheel.

Why rediscover the same mistakes when you can save time and effort (and money as well) on doing what is already proven?

That is food for thought on your pursuit in Internet Marketing.

To Your Success

Brad

The secret to any business success is the ability to generate qualified leads.  While the internet has made this task easier for most people, most people still have a long way to go to learn how to do this ultra-successfully.

However, there is a solution!  Dr Mike Woo-Ming and Howie Schwartz recently released Lead Supreme 3.0 and already 133 people have taken the step towards a better business and a better life.  With the help of Dr Mike and Howie, Lead Supreme subscribers can learn the step by step process they have used to make literally thousands of dollars in their own lead generation business.

Opportunities like this don’t come along every day.  People like this normally keep their secrets close to their chest however Dr Mike and Howie have done all the work, they have tested the system and pulled the pearls from the oyster so that you don’t have to do all the leg work….you just get the leads and start making sales.

This system has been proven time and time again and it could transform your life.

Click Here to check out Lead Supreme 3.0 so that you can truly create the lifestyle you desire.

Time is running out, there are only 367 spots left in this program so don’t wait.

To Your Success

Brad

It doesn’t matter if you are promoting an online or offline business.  The reality of growth is that you must promote to be successful.  While a lot of people grow successful businesses primarily through referrals, not everyone has that luxury.

I was reading an email today that was talking about why three particular people were far more successful than everyone else in a recent promotion.  This was for an online affiliate program but there was one thing that set these people apart from the pack so that they could make 3 and 4 figure commissions in just one week.

What was it?  Well, it was regular and customised promotions.  Over the week, they contacted their customers 3 times each with a different message and a different theme, but all, in essence, promoting the same thing.  You see, not everybody has the time to read every email that you send.  And to some, different features are more important so you benefit greatly from covering the same product from different angles with each mailing.  It helps you attract attention in different ways and gives you a far better chance to connect with your readers not just by telling them about the product but also by telling them how to use it.

A consistent, integrated approach to any promotion is a must and it is the biggest key to making it online or communicating with your customers via email.  You have to make the effort to get the exponential results you desire.

Remember this next time you are promoting something to your customers.

To Your Success

Brad