It’s a pop quiz…

If you received my newsletter for June, you’d probably know the answer.

I accidentally set the paper color to #24 Canary.

Shoot… I hope nobody notices!

Here’s where you can sign up for my newsletter:

http://www.aaronbrandon.com/newsletter/

But you probably won’t get the special #24 Canary edition.

- Aaron =)

The June edition of my print newsletter is ready to be mailed out!

This month, I’ve included the following articles:

*How to Drain your Advertising Budget in 30 days or Less* - Talks about the large numbers of businesses that run print advertisements, but fail to track them. I reveal two methods to track these advertisements.

*If Only That “Guru” Were My Friend* - Is about my old way of thinking prior to starting this business. You don’t need to be friends with a “guru” to succeed in internet business.  You don’t need to be waiting for an opportunity to sit down with someone and have them show you everything step-by-step.  Some people still believe this is what’s required when learning the ropes.

*Competition - “I already checked.”* - reveals the truth about the other digital product vendors, and why you should not be afraid of potential competition.  I recently sat down with someone who had apparently “checked”, and found competitors.  But, I didn’t tell him to “find a less competitive niche”.  I share the importance of adding more value than your closest competitors.

I’m sending this newsletter out on Friday, June 27th to my current subscribers.

BUT… if you subscribe to my newsletter by Monday, June 30th, I’ll send you two complimentary issues of my newsletter… (That’s a $50.00 dollar value!)

Here’s where to subscribe to my newsletter:

http://www.AaronBrandon.com/newsletter/

- Aaron Brandon

The other day I came across Richard Lee’s blog and saw a different theme than the usual.  The title “Internet Business” still appeared at the top of the page, but the rest of the content was “lipsum” text, a common content placeholder among web designers, used to imitate the look of a page filled with content.

But, lately on his blog (before this change) he was frequently posting about his #1 rank for “internet business” on Google.  Now this change?  What’s going to happen now?  His ranking will plummet from the #1 spot, and he’ll have to work his way back to the top… right?  Well, honestly,  I don’t know what will happen.  At the moment, he has been able to maintain his #1 spot, even with this new theme… or blog, with no real content.  Amazing.

What’s your take on this?

Is he doing this just to prove a point?

Has he abandoned his blog for good?

- Aaron Brandon

Considering that you can buy unregistered domain names for less than $10 dollars per year, how much are they really worth?

Just this morning, I listened to an NPR story about some of the latest high dollar domains that have been sold.  Some people are still shocked when they hear about a domain being sold for $40,000, but that’s chump change considering some are sold for multiple millions of dollars.

Here’s the link to the NPR story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91054770

And then there’s James Brausch, who must be out of his mind…

He’s selling some great domains for just $500 a domain!  There’s no doubt in my mind that most of them are worth far more than $500.00.

Check out his full list here:

http://www.jamesbrausch.org/last-of-the-domains/

- Aaron Brandon

The May edition of my printed newsletter will be sent out Thursday May 28th.

In it, I’ve included the following articles:

“What NOT To Do With Blogs” discusses using blogs effectively as a marketing tool for business.

“Video Testimonials” describes a neat way to add video from a DVD to a website and reviews a new online video player.

“Like-Minded? How Hard Could It Be?” is about effective networking. 

“Make An SOP - Standard Operating Procedure” explains why using standard operating procedures in your business can be very beneficial.

Right now, you can subscribe to it for just $25 dollars each month.If you subscribed to my newsletter in the month of May, this is the first issue you’ll be receiving.

If you subscribe after tomorrow, May 31st, your first issue will be June.

To subscribe, simply go to http://www.aaronbrandon.com/newsletter/ and click the “Subscribe” button.

- Aaron Brandon

I’ve just added a new page to the blog.

http://www.aaronbrandon.com/books/

On that page, you can view a number of books I’ve read which have helped expand my knowledge in business, marketing, copywriting, and in several other areas.

Enjoy!

- Aaron Brandon

James, your newsletter has done miracles for me in more ways than I ever imagined.  Today, a fly was in my room, and the stack of newsletters I’ve received from you over the last several months made an awesome fly swatter.  One hit with them and the fly was out cold.

Of course, your newsletters also have another use…

I had to glue my office chair recently.  Since I didn’t want my carpet floor full of dripping glue, I used a newspaper and placed it under my chair while it was drying.  Since the drying time for the wood glue took several hours, your newsletters came in handy to pass the time, and I was able to keep up with your latest traffic, product, and copywriting tips.

Thanks.  They are worth every penny.

Yours Truly,

- Aaron Brandon

Mark Russell just wrote a blog entry in support of my printed mailed newsletter.

You can see what he wrote here:

http://www.markdrussell.com/specials

Unfortunately, it is too late to get the April edition of my newsletter and to take advantage of Mark’s offer.  However, you can subscribe at any time and get the next months issue. 

If you sign up now, the first issue you will receive will be the May issue.  I’ll post the summary of this months issue very soon.

To subscribe, all you need to do is click on the newsletter picture on the right side of this page, or just head over to:

http://www.aaronbrandon.com/newsletter/

- Aaron Brandon

I just finished reading an interesting article about Toyota.

As some of you may know, I’m a big a fan of their company.  Their approach to lean manufacturing amazes me.  There is an overwhelming amount of information that can be learned from them, even if you run an online business.

Here’s the article I just read:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24457074/

- Aaron Brandon

The April edition of my printed newsletter is ready to be sent out.

If you would like to receive a copy, all it takes is a simple subscription using the following link:

http://www.aaronbrandon.com/newsletter/

The April edition includes the following:

- A newsletter exclusive special for CBMerchantPro.  The normal cost of CBMerchantPro is $200.00.  As a subscriber to my Online Business Newsletter, you’ll receive a link where you can order this brand new software for just $50 dollars.

- I reveal a traffic method I’ve used to drive search engine traffic to free blogs successfully.  This one isn’t something to shrug off.

- Do you ever get the feeling you’re in a market that’s just too competitive, and everyone seems to be selling the same product?  No worries.  This article will clear up how one multi-billion dollar industry allows numerous companies to sell the SAME EXACT product, and what they do to set their product apart from competitors.

- You can add as many videos as you’d like to YouTube.  Whether or not they’ll be seen around the world is up to you.  After reading this article, you’ll end of with a clear picture on how numerous YouTube video publishers are able to get tons of viewers in a small time frame with just one source.

If you want to get your hands on this issue, you’d better hurry.  I’m sending this issue out at 3pm PST on Wednesday (that’s today!). 

Get subscribed now for only $25/month by using the link below: 

http://www.aaronbrandon.com/newsletter/

- Aaron Brandon

Richard Lee pointed out that my blog is two years old today.

Way to go, blog!

It has been a great journey, and it continues….

- Aaron Brandon

I just got word from Dotster.com that they will be holding a “Happy Hour” event tomorrow (Thursday) at 1pm PST where they’ll be giving away free .com, .net, and .org domains to 500 people “on a first-come, first-served basis (1 domain name per customer)”.

Maybe you’ve been wanting to get started with an internet business and just haven’t gotten around to purchasing a domain.  Or, maybe you’re just finishing up a new course and haven’t gotten around to purchasing a domain for it yet.  Well, whatever the case may be, this is your chance to get a free domain.  Their usual price is normally around $15/year for a domain registration, so why not get in on the deal?  That extra $15 in your pocket could pay your first months of hosting (This is my affiliate link) somewhere else…

Here’s some more information about their event:

http://emailer.emailroi.com/r.pl?tX1po5U1kPpuFSu4_0bf7e83747759803http://www.dotster.com

By the way, that’s not an affiliate link or anything.  I’m not making a dime for recommending this to you (obviously).  I simply copied it right out of the e-mail I received from Dotster.  I currently have a number of domains registered with them, and have only had a positive experience with their service, so I thought I’d pass this information along.

- Aaron Brandon

Richard Lee’s headed somewhere…

He just posted a few videos on his blog.

Check this out:

http://richardlee.com/

- Aaron Brandon

I just came across a website with a number of “behind the scenes” methods which advertisers, magicians, movie producers, and photographers all use in their work.

Some of these methods rub me the wrong way.  Like food businesses which insert air into their products, selling you half the regular product and slap a different label on the product.

But I’m sure you can get something out of some of the other methods shown, and apply them in your own business.

Check them out here:

(link removed - no longer works)

- Aaron Brandon

A number of internet business folks have been mentioning mind mapping lately.  Some talk about it as being some sort of secret tool that will solve all of your problems.  In truth, it won’t.  But it is a neat tool, but that’s about all it is.

Think about how you create a PowerPoint presentation.

You know how it’s done.  You’ve got a topic, and a bunch of bullets.  Then, you might have some sub-bullets.

Sorry folks, that’s pretty much the same way mind mapping works!

Mind mapping simply changes how you’re visualizing those outlines.  Instead of a list, you’re creating a visual diagram of your notes.  Instead of a topic at the top, you’ll have a circle, or some sort of figure for a starting point in the middle of a page.  Instead of all of the bullets, you’ll have lines (or some graphic, like an arrow) pointing to each item in the list, and more pointing to the sub items.

Quite frankly, it’s more like a flow chart for a process, rather than having it in a written format.

But, I’m not actually bashing mind mapping .  To be honest, I use them for several of my own projects.

I believe giving myself the ability to visualize my notes in a more graphical way can help me be more organized.

Here are a few things I’ve used mind mapping with:

• Websites
• Business Procedures
• Instructions
• Presentation notes

I’ve even mapped out an entire online business.  The only problem I’ve had has been keeping it update constantly.  For example, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop adding more ways to get web traffic to a website.  I come across at least one new way every day!

That reminds me, I’ve been debating whether I should create a product for using mind maps. 

I’m interested in getting your input.  If I were to create a product which showed how I use and create mind maps, would you purchase it?  Comments are open.

- Aaron Brandon

Some of my newsletter subscribers have been contacting me asking questions lately, so I’ll take the time and answer them on here on my blog.

One is, when will I receive the March newsletter?

My March newsletter was sent out towards the end of March, so if you haven’t received the newsletter yet, you should very soon.  Sorry for the delay.  I was pretty ill during the month of March, so my first issue took me longer than expected to put together.

Another question was how to subscribe to receive my monthly newsletter.  I created a page just for that, located here: http://www.aaronbrandon.com/newsletter/

If you subscribe now, you’ll begin receiving my newsletter starting with the April issue.  I’ll have a blog entry up shortly describing what I’ve included in the April issue.

And last, I’m using USPS to send out the newsletters.  I was able to get the “Earn An Income By Publishing Your Own Printed And Mailed Newsletter” CD sent out to all of my March subscribers, so if you received that, you should now know exactly how I’m sending out my newsletter.

- Aaron Brandon