Okay, you've decided you want to make money with Affiliate Marketing. So, you join some affiliate programs and start submitting free ads to newsletters and free advertising classifieds sites. You're going to make BIG money now -- right?
Nope! Sorry! Just sending out a few ads is not going to do it. Not if you want to be a real success.
You must first determine your passion. I mean other than making the money! What is your hobby? What do you know how to do REALLY well? What is your job? Everyone has something that is their own special talent. Find yours.
You probably have more than one thing that you are very interested in and do well. See if you can find five (ten if you're really ambitious). Write them down in a list. Remember, you are going to be spending a lot of time working with this subject. Make sure you enjoy it!
Go down each item on your list. Start writing a rough outline of everything you know about the topic. It doesn't have to be elaborate. This is just to give you an idea of how much information is available for a given subject.
Try mind mapping. Write down the main subject of your idea. Draw a circle around it. Now, start thinking of sub-categories that are related to your main category. Draw a line from your main category and end it with a circle. Put the sub-category title inside this circle. Find as many sub-categories (and sub-sub-categories) as you can.
Go through each of your interests with this procedure. Choose the one that you know the most about and that you can write about comfortably.
What if you "think" you don't know enough about your topic? Then, do some research. Read books and magazines. Do some searches on the Internet. Who knows? You might find an area, a niche, that is just waiting for you to fill it with useful information.
There's a lot more to affiliate marketing, of course. But the first step is to find your passion. Your "passion" doesn't have to be making money on the Internet. It can be cooking, sewing, billiards, or whatever. In fact, it's better if you find a niche that isn't in the online marketing arena because that's what nearly everyone else is doing.
Make your topic unique. Make it yours. And make it your passion. It will pay you well.
Showing posts with label marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marketing. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
What *Queer Eye* Can Teach You About The Media
1. Show your passion.
The Queer Eye Boys are into what they do. You can tell. Their show has such a different feeling than the spin-off *Queer Eye for the Straight Girl* which lacks chemistry and authenticity. The synergy between the hosts and guests comes through when you connect to the host and audience through your passion. Things come alive. I hate that saying, *If you can't be sincere, fake it until you can.* That's such a cop out.
It's like all this new veneered furniture with one thin layer of real wood masking pressboard or
plywood. Yuk. Are you telling me you can't tell the difference between what is solid and what is fake? In *The Practician's Manual of Legerdemain* Ottawa Keyes says, *When it comes to the requirements for pleasing an audience, all the knowledge and instruction and apparatus in the world is worth less than one ounce of soul.* Ain't it so?
2. Be cheeky.
When Carson, the head Queer Eye guy says, *Is it hot in here or is it just you?* and then almost licks some shirtless hottie blond boy we're right there with him. Yup, temperatures are rising. He makes us laugh and sweat at the same time. Loosen up a little and see what happens. Be playful. Say something a bit dangerous. Or better yet, DO something dangerous.
3. Give good tips.
After each segment the boys give their take-home tips. These are little gems that help you remember to properly tame your tangles, manage your manners, or bolt your belt at just the right angle. Provide your audience with saucy soundbites that linger so they can keep enjoying you. Give them solid ideas that they can implement asap. I've come to think that it's not the big idea but the minutiae that is most important. Take your ideas down to the smallest level of detail so they are easy for people to implement.
4. Show tangible visible results.
Visible transformations make audiences swoon. Can you do a before and after? In one show the *boys*
helped a balding man who was married to his toupee give it up. His wife and his kids hadn't seen his head without the fake hair for many years. His willingness to finally be *seen* was dramatic. His transformation was both inner and outer. These kinds of transformations keep audiences spellbound. Think about how you can devise one for a show you want to be on.
5. Have fun.
What makes Queer Eye so great is that everyone has such a grand time. What good is all the publicity in the world if you dread it? M. Scott Peck says *The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.* If you can let go of the outcome (no matter how important--because those are the hardest ones to let go of), you will free yourself to have a good time, anytime, anywhere, with anyone. What could be better?
The Queer Eye Boys are into what they do. You can tell. Their show has such a different feeling than the spin-off *Queer Eye for the Straight Girl* which lacks chemistry and authenticity. The synergy between the hosts and guests comes through when you connect to the host and audience through your passion. Things come alive. I hate that saying, *If you can't be sincere, fake it until you can.* That's such a cop out.
It's like all this new veneered furniture with one thin layer of real wood masking pressboard or
plywood. Yuk. Are you telling me you can't tell the difference between what is solid and what is fake? In *The Practician's Manual of Legerdemain* Ottawa Keyes says, *When it comes to the requirements for pleasing an audience, all the knowledge and instruction and apparatus in the world is worth less than one ounce of soul.* Ain't it so?
2. Be cheeky.
When Carson, the head Queer Eye guy says, *Is it hot in here or is it just you?* and then almost licks some shirtless hottie blond boy we're right there with him. Yup, temperatures are rising. He makes us laugh and sweat at the same time. Loosen up a little and see what happens. Be playful. Say something a bit dangerous. Or better yet, DO something dangerous.
3. Give good tips.
After each segment the boys give their take-home tips. These are little gems that help you remember to properly tame your tangles, manage your manners, or bolt your belt at just the right angle. Provide your audience with saucy soundbites that linger so they can keep enjoying you. Give them solid ideas that they can implement asap. I've come to think that it's not the big idea but the minutiae that is most important. Take your ideas down to the smallest level of detail so they are easy for people to implement.
4. Show tangible visible results.
Visible transformations make audiences swoon. Can you do a before and after? In one show the *boys*
helped a balding man who was married to his toupee give it up. His wife and his kids hadn't seen his head without the fake hair for many years. His willingness to finally be *seen* was dramatic. His transformation was both inner and outer. These kinds of transformations keep audiences spellbound. Think about how you can devise one for a show you want to be on.
5. Have fun.
What makes Queer Eye so great is that everyone has such a grand time. What good is all the publicity in the world if you dread it? M. Scott Peck says *The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.* If you can let go of the outcome (no matter how important--because those are the hardest ones to let go of), you will free yourself to have a good time, anytime, anywhere, with anyone. What could be better?
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Law of Averages
At First I Didn't Believe It
I heard about the law of averages only a few weeks after I started Internet Marketing.
I was told that after I had used a certain marketing method for a few weeks, I would notice a trend. For instance, if I was making phone calls, I would notice that for every 40 people I called, 5 would ask for more info, and for every 10 who asked for more info, 1 would join. Or, for every 100 people who visited my webpage, one would take action that resulted in my making a profit.
My personal statistics would differ, they said, depending on the quality of my page, the attractiveness of my offer, my skill in talking on the phone etc. I would have to keep track of my efforts and responses to know how much I would need to work to get the results I wanted.
This is what they told me, but I didn't believe them. I was told that for my webpage, 400 visits a day would make me a solid profit. Well then, I thought, if I get 50 visits a day, I should make a profit after 8 days. Day after day went by without any profits. Week after week, I struggled, checked my stats, and hung my head in dissapointment. I added up my visits for the month. Several thousand visits, and not one sale, or maybe two or three at best.
I remade my web page. Not once, but three times. No difference. The only way you can fail is by giving up. Keep trying. I was told.
Then I Saw It Working
After several months (it seemed like forever) I started noticing a few profit days each month. First I had three days of profit, then five, then eight. Of course when I added things up at the end of the month, I was still losing money. I felt helpless. What was causing the profit, and why was it so sporadic? Was I at the mercy of chance? And if so, why was I so unlucky?
Silly me, I never thought about looking at my webpage visits in relation to my sales. Sure enough, my magic number seemed to be 110. If I had 95 visits to my page in one day, I would lose money almost every time. If I had 100, I may lose money, and I may break even. It was a toss-up. If 110 people visited my site,
Wah-Lah! I was in profit mode!
This One Concept Could Ensure Your Success
Now I know this doesn't seem logical, but it really does work. If you will simply believe this principle, you will be on the fast track to success. Here it is again.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The Law of Averages: When you start marketing, you will notice a trend. You will achieve your desired result after a certain number of attempts. That number will tend to continue. All you have to do to achieve your desired result is multiply the number of attempts by this magic number.
Of course, you will get better at what you do. Your phone skills will improve. You will tweak your page or ad copy, and begin to get better results. Things will get easier as you progress.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
But if you believe this principle, your success will be inevitible, and even though it may take time, you will achieve your desired result. It will only take you four clear easily recognizable steps. I won't decieve you and say these steps will be easy, but you will know exactly what your targets are for each step.
Set up your business. Choose your company or product, and decide what avenues you are going to market it in. Are you going to get a list of leads and call them? Are you going to make a web page? Does the company provide a web page for you to promote online?
Plan your marketing strategy and get started.
Keep track of your statistics. How much exposure do you need to make one sale, or get one sign-up?
Decide how much you want to achieve, multiply by your required exposure, and work to obtain that much exposure. You will know exactly how much you have to work to achieve your goals!
That's all there is to it.
May you be successful beyond your wildest dreams!
I heard about the law of averages only a few weeks after I started Internet Marketing.
I was told that after I had used a certain marketing method for a few weeks, I would notice a trend. For instance, if I was making phone calls, I would notice that for every 40 people I called, 5 would ask for more info, and for every 10 who asked for more info, 1 would join. Or, for every 100 people who visited my webpage, one would take action that resulted in my making a profit.
My personal statistics would differ, they said, depending on the quality of my page, the attractiveness of my offer, my skill in talking on the phone etc. I would have to keep track of my efforts and responses to know how much I would need to work to get the results I wanted.
This is what they told me, but I didn't believe them. I was told that for my webpage, 400 visits a day would make me a solid profit. Well then, I thought, if I get 50 visits a day, I should make a profit after 8 days. Day after day went by without any profits. Week after week, I struggled, checked my stats, and hung my head in dissapointment. I added up my visits for the month. Several thousand visits, and not one sale, or maybe two or three at best.
I remade my web page. Not once, but three times. No difference. The only way you can fail is by giving up. Keep trying. I was told.
Then I Saw It Working
After several months (it seemed like forever) I started noticing a few profit days each month. First I had three days of profit, then five, then eight. Of course when I added things up at the end of the month, I was still losing money. I felt helpless. What was causing the profit, and why was it so sporadic? Was I at the mercy of chance? And if so, why was I so unlucky?
Silly me, I never thought about looking at my webpage visits in relation to my sales. Sure enough, my magic number seemed to be 110. If I had 95 visits to my page in one day, I would lose money almost every time. If I had 100, I may lose money, and I may break even. It was a toss-up. If 110 people visited my site,
Wah-Lah! I was in profit mode!
This One Concept Could Ensure Your Success
Now I know this doesn't seem logical, but it really does work. If you will simply believe this principle, you will be on the fast track to success. Here it is again.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The Law of Averages: When you start marketing, you will notice a trend. You will achieve your desired result after a certain number of attempts. That number will tend to continue. All you have to do to achieve your desired result is multiply the number of attempts by this magic number.
Of course, you will get better at what you do. Your phone skills will improve. You will tweak your page or ad copy, and begin to get better results. Things will get easier as you progress.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
But if you believe this principle, your success will be inevitible, and even though it may take time, you will achieve your desired result. It will only take you four clear easily recognizable steps. I won't decieve you and say these steps will be easy, but you will know exactly what your targets are for each step.
Set up your business. Choose your company or product, and decide what avenues you are going to market it in. Are you going to get a list of leads and call them? Are you going to make a web page? Does the company provide a web page for you to promote online?
Plan your marketing strategy and get started.
Keep track of your statistics. How much exposure do you need to make one sale, or get one sign-up?
Decide how much you want to achieve, multiply by your required exposure, and work to obtain that much exposure. You will know exactly how much you have to work to achieve your goals!
That's all there is to it.
May you be successful beyond your wildest dreams!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
How to Start Your Own Small Business
Opening your own business can be a real big gamble. If you do not do your research well, you will wind up like most small businesses, and that is out of business in less then 6 months.
The most important thing to remember when opening up new business is the location. When doing your research for your new business you want to make sure you are the only business of your time in the area. If you are opening a video store you do not want to open near another video store. Remember if you are exclusive to the area, you will automatically get the business of those living in that area.
The next most important thing about opening a small business is you supplier. Do not have just one place to get supplies from, you should have several. By having more then one you can assure yourself that you are getting the lowest prices from them. And if they know about each other they will try to outdo each other to get your business.
Make sure that the products or services that you will be offering are desired, do not just decide to open up a store with out doing any market research is like playing craps, dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.
Advertising is important. Remember just like a casino you are trying to make money and not lose it. By spending some money on advertising you will increase your sales from your opening day. It is best to have a professional help you with your advertising rather then dong it yourself, there is no point in spending money on advertising if no one in your target demographic is going to see it. An example of this would be like using facial expressions to bluff in a poker game against blind players.
When picking your stock it is sometime better to have a better selection of items and maybe not so many of each item, this way you can see which items sell best and order more of those more popular items, and less of the less desired ones.
In business you should not try to open a business unless you already have experience running a related business. You may think you know how to, but to do it correctly you really need experience, after all if you were in a casino and looking to play poker you would not want a roulette dealer who is trying to figure out the rules as he goes would you? Chances are you would want an experienced poker dealer.
Depending on the type of business you are opening try keep your staff as small as possible, and if it is possible try to get friends and family to help you out. This will allow you to keep your costs low until you can really get a good idea of if you are making money or not. Once you are making money you can go out and hire people.
The most important thing to remember when opening up new business is the location. When doing your research for your new business you want to make sure you are the only business of your time in the area. If you are opening a video store you do not want to open near another video store. Remember if you are exclusive to the area, you will automatically get the business of those living in that area.
The next most important thing about opening a small business is you supplier. Do not have just one place to get supplies from, you should have several. By having more then one you can assure yourself that you are getting the lowest prices from them. And if they know about each other they will try to outdo each other to get your business.
Make sure that the products or services that you will be offering are desired, do not just decide to open up a store with out doing any market research is like playing craps, dangerous unless you really know what you are doing.
Advertising is important. Remember just like a casino you are trying to make money and not lose it. By spending some money on advertising you will increase your sales from your opening day. It is best to have a professional help you with your advertising rather then dong it yourself, there is no point in spending money on advertising if no one in your target demographic is going to see it. An example of this would be like using facial expressions to bluff in a poker game against blind players.
When picking your stock it is sometime better to have a better selection of items and maybe not so many of each item, this way you can see which items sell best and order more of those more popular items, and less of the less desired ones.
In business you should not try to open a business unless you already have experience running a related business. You may think you know how to, but to do it correctly you really need experience, after all if you were in a casino and looking to play poker you would not want a roulette dealer who is trying to figure out the rules as he goes would you? Chances are you would want an experienced poker dealer.
Depending on the type of business you are opening try keep your staff as small as possible, and if it is possible try to get friends and family to help you out. This will allow you to keep your costs low until you can really get a good idea of if you are making money or not. Once you are making money you can go out and hire people.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Fun Email Quiz
Are you creating a positive, professional impression when you email your co-workers and customers? Or, is Miss Manners shrieking in horror every time you hit the send button? Are you being efficient and effective when you send messages, or are you wasting time? To find out, take this fun quiz.
1. The tone of a professional email message should be:
a. Conversational.
b. Formal.
c. Casual – like the tone you use with friends.
d. “Yo, dude! Whassup?”
Answer: A. You may be as casual as you like with friends, breaking all the grammar and punctuation rules you want. But, that isn’t true for communicating with clients and colleagues. Business correspondence should be professional. In email, professional translates into conversational – not too casual and not too formal.
2. One method to achieve a conversational tone is to:
a. Use slang terms and jargon.
b. Use contractions.
c. Use acronyms.
d. Stand up and yell across the office. See if you can start “the wave.”
Answer: B. When you speak in a conversation, you use contractions. So, it’s acceptable to use them in email to create a conversational tone.
3. When beginning to type an email, start with:
a. The addressee’s email address.
b. The message.
c. The addressee’s name.
d. “Yo, dude or dudette!”
Answer: C. Starting a message with the addressee’s name is not only more personal, it will help avoid miscommunication and confusion. If you begin a message without the addressee’s name, the person won’t know if the message is intended for him/her.
4. When writing an email message, paragraphs should:
a. Be long.
b. Be short.
c. Be indented.
d. Be invisible – no one can mess it up that way.
Answer: B. People aren’t willing to invest time reading messages that appear too long or tedious. Short paragraphs appear easier to read because there is more white space. There is also less chance that the reader will miss a point.
5. The best way to make several points in an email is:
a. Include all the points in the first paragraph.
b. Include all the points in the last paragraph.
c. Use lists with bullets or numbers.
d. Put it on a banner and rent an airplane to fly over the office pulling the banner.
Answer: C. If you put more than one point in a paragraph, it may be overlooked. Lists and bullets make your points stand out. They are also easier for the person to see.
6. At the end of an email message, you should include:
a. Only your name.
b. Only your name and company.
c. All your relevant contact information.
d. A picture of your pet python and twin tarantulas.
Answer: C. Provide people with all the information they need to contact you – in whatever way is most convenient for them. They may prefer the telephone or regular mail over email.
7. If you know the recipient reads emails quickly and is often in a hurry, the best way to send a supporting document is:
a. Paste it into the body of the message.
b. Attach it as a separate document.
c. Type slowly.
d. Have it delivered by carrier pigeon.
Answer: A. When the recipient is in a hurry, he/she will be less likely to open an attachment because it takes extra time. The person is more likely to read something that’s pasted right in front of him/her.
8. When sending a message, you should copy (“cc”):
a. Everyone in the department – just in case.
b. Your boss and your boss’ boss – so they know that you’re working hard.
c. Only those people who absolutely need to know.
d. The whole world. Why not? Everyone else does.
Answer: C. The “cc” function is the most abused function in email. Don’t be a pain!
9. When writing a Subject Line:
a. Use something general, such as “Greetings” or “Hello.”
b. Be specific, but brief.
c. Use several sentences.
d. “If you don’t respond, I’ll send Uncle Guido to break your knee caps.”
Answer: B. A generic Subject Line doesn’t tell the recipient anything. The
more specific you are, the better chance you have of getting the recipient to
open the message.
10. To write a concise email message:
a. Omit wordy phrases.
b. Use very small font (8 point).
c. Type fast.
d. Omit every other letter. “Oi eey ohr lte.”
Answer: A. An effective method for concise writing is to omit unnecessary
words. For example, use, “now” instead of “in the immediate future” and
“twice” instead of “on two different occasions.”
11. When possible, email messages should be:
a. Extremely detailed, even if the message is quite lengthy.
b. Kept to one screen.
c. Forwarded to the author of a cartoon for future material.
Answer: B. Most readers won’t take time to read more than one screen. The shorter the message is, the better chance you’ll have of getting it read.
12. How much space can typically be viewed in the Subject Line?
a. 25 - 35 characters.
b. 25 – 35 words.
c. 50 – 75 characters.
d. 50 – 75 words.
Answer: A. Characters are defined as every letter or space. In other words,
every time you move the space bar, it counts as one character. The subject
line that appears in most people’s email will display approximately 25 – 35
character.
13. When responding to a message regarding the best time for a meeting, you should select:
a. Reply All.
b. Reply.
Answer: B. The “Reply All” button will send a response to everyone who was
sent the original message. They don’t need to know your schedule. You
should “Reply” only to the meeting coordinator. Then, he/she can select the
best time and notify everyone.
Score:
13 = You’re perfect. (But, you knew that already.) Keep emailing!
10 -12 = You’re okay. Be a little more cautious, though. You could learn a few tips from my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
7 - 9 = You could use some help. Try my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
Less than 7 = Ugh! Call me now! We’ll schedule your intense therapy immediately.
1. The tone of a professional email message should be:
a. Conversational.
b. Formal.
c. Casual – like the tone you use with friends.
d. “Yo, dude! Whassup?”
Answer: A. You may be as casual as you like with friends, breaking all the grammar and punctuation rules you want. But, that isn’t true for communicating with clients and colleagues. Business correspondence should be professional. In email, professional translates into conversational – not too casual and not too formal.
2. One method to achieve a conversational tone is to:
a. Use slang terms and jargon.
b. Use contractions.
c. Use acronyms.
d. Stand up and yell across the office. See if you can start “the wave.”
Answer: B. When you speak in a conversation, you use contractions. So, it’s acceptable to use them in email to create a conversational tone.
3. When beginning to type an email, start with:
a. The addressee’s email address.
b. The message.
c. The addressee’s name.
d. “Yo, dude or dudette!”
Answer: C. Starting a message with the addressee’s name is not only more personal, it will help avoid miscommunication and confusion. If you begin a message without the addressee’s name, the person won’t know if the message is intended for him/her.
4. When writing an email message, paragraphs should:
a. Be long.
b. Be short.
c. Be indented.
d. Be invisible – no one can mess it up that way.
Answer: B. People aren’t willing to invest time reading messages that appear too long or tedious. Short paragraphs appear easier to read because there is more white space. There is also less chance that the reader will miss a point.
5. The best way to make several points in an email is:
a. Include all the points in the first paragraph.
b. Include all the points in the last paragraph.
c. Use lists with bullets or numbers.
d. Put it on a banner and rent an airplane to fly over the office pulling the banner.
Answer: C. If you put more than one point in a paragraph, it may be overlooked. Lists and bullets make your points stand out. They are also easier for the person to see.
6. At the end of an email message, you should include:
a. Only your name.
b. Only your name and company.
c. All your relevant contact information.
d. A picture of your pet python and twin tarantulas.
Answer: C. Provide people with all the information they need to contact you – in whatever way is most convenient for them. They may prefer the telephone or regular mail over email.
7. If you know the recipient reads emails quickly and is often in a hurry, the best way to send a supporting document is:
a. Paste it into the body of the message.
b. Attach it as a separate document.
c. Type slowly.
d. Have it delivered by carrier pigeon.
Answer: A. When the recipient is in a hurry, he/she will be less likely to open an attachment because it takes extra time. The person is more likely to read something that’s pasted right in front of him/her.
8. When sending a message, you should copy (“cc”):
a. Everyone in the department – just in case.
b. Your boss and your boss’ boss – so they know that you’re working hard.
c. Only those people who absolutely need to know.
d. The whole world. Why not? Everyone else does.
Answer: C. The “cc” function is the most abused function in email. Don’t be a pain!
9. When writing a Subject Line:
a. Use something general, such as “Greetings” or “Hello.”
b. Be specific, but brief.
c. Use several sentences.
d. “If you don’t respond, I’ll send Uncle Guido to break your knee caps.”
Answer: B. A generic Subject Line doesn’t tell the recipient anything. The
more specific you are, the better chance you have of getting the recipient to
open the message.
10. To write a concise email message:
a. Omit wordy phrases.
b. Use very small font (8 point).
c. Type fast.
d. Omit every other letter. “Oi eey ohr lte.”
Answer: A. An effective method for concise writing is to omit unnecessary
words. For example, use, “now” instead of “in the immediate future” and
“twice” instead of “on two different occasions.”
11. When possible, email messages should be:
a. Extremely detailed, even if the message is quite lengthy.
b. Kept to one screen.
c. Forwarded to the author of a cartoon for future material.
Answer: B. Most readers won’t take time to read more than one screen. The shorter the message is, the better chance you’ll have of getting it read.
12. How much space can typically be viewed in the Subject Line?
a. 25 - 35 characters.
b. 25 – 35 words.
c. 50 – 75 characters.
d. 50 – 75 words.
Answer: A. Characters are defined as every letter or space. In other words,
every time you move the space bar, it counts as one character. The subject
line that appears in most people’s email will display approximately 25 – 35
character.
13. When responding to a message regarding the best time for a meeting, you should select:
a. Reply All.
b. Reply.
Answer: B. The “Reply All” button will send a response to everyone who was
sent the original message. They don’t need to know your schedule. You
should “Reply” only to the meeting coordinator. Then, he/she can select the
best time and notify everyone.
Score:
13 = You’re perfect. (But, you knew that already.) Keep emailing!
10 -12 = You’re okay. Be a little more cautious, though. You could learn a few tips from my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
7 - 9 = You could use some help. Try my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
Less than 7 = Ugh! Call me now! We’ll schedule your intense therapy immediately.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Fun Email Quiz
Are you creating a positive, professional impression when you email your co-workers and customers? Or, is Miss Manners shrieking in horror every time you hit the send button? Are you being efficient and effective when you send messages, or are you wasting time? To find out, take this fun quiz.
1. The tone of a professional email message should be:
a. Conversational.
b. Formal.
c. Casual – like the tone you use with friends.
d. “Yo, dude! Whassup?”
Answer: A. You may be as casual as you like with friends, breaking all the grammar and punctuation rules you want. But, that isn’t true for communicating with clients and colleagues. Business correspondence should be professional. In email, professional translates into conversational – not too casual and not too formal.
2. One method to achieve a conversational tone is to:
a. Use slang terms and jargon.
b. Use contractions.
c. Use acronyms.
d. Stand up and yell across the office. See if you can start “the wave.”
Answer: B. When you speak in a conversation, you use contractions. So, it’s acceptable to use them in email to create a conversational tone.
3. When beginning to type an email, start with:
a. The addressee’s email address.
b. The message.
c. The addressee’s name.
d. “Yo, dude or dudette!”
Answer: C. Starting a message with the addressee’s name is not only more personal, it will help avoid miscommunication and confusion. If you begin a message without the addressee’s name, the person won’t know if the message is intended for him/her.
4. When writing an email message, paragraphs should:
a. Be long.
b. Be short.
c. Be indented.
d. Be invisible – no one can mess it up that way.
Answer: B. People aren’t willing to invest time reading messages that appear too long or tedious. Short paragraphs appear easier to read because there is more white space. There is also less chance that the reader will miss a point.
5. The best way to make several points in an email is:
a. Include all the points in the first paragraph.
b. Include all the points in the last paragraph.
c. Use lists with bullets or numbers.
d. Put it on a banner and rent an airplane to fly over the office pulling the banner.
Answer: C. If you put more than one point in a paragraph, it may be overlooked. Lists and bullets make your points stand out. They are also easier for the person to see.
6. At the end of an email message, you should include:
a. Only your name.
b. Only your name and company.
c. All your relevant contact information.
d. A picture of your pet python and twin tarantulas.
Answer: C. Provide people with all the information they need to contact you – in whatever way is most convenient for them. They may prefer the telephone or regular mail over email.
7. If you know the recipient reads emails quickly and is often in a hurry, the best way to send a supporting document is:
a. Paste it into the body of the message.
b. Attach it as a separate document.
c. Type slowly.
d. Have it delivered by carrier pigeon.
Answer: A. When the recipient is in a hurry, he/she will be less likely to open an attachment because it takes extra time. The person is more likely to read something that’s pasted right in front of him/her.
8. When sending a message, you should copy (“cc”):
a. Everyone in the department – just in case.
b. Your boss and your boss’ boss – so they know that you’re working hard.
c. Only those people who absolutely need to know.
d. The whole world. Why not? Everyone else does.
Answer: C. The “cc” function is the most abused function in email. Don’t be a pain!
9. When writing a Subject Line:
a. Use something general, such as “Greetings” or “Hello.”
b. Be specific, but brief.
c. Use several sentences.
d. “If you don’t respond, I’ll send Uncle Guido to break your knee caps.”
Answer: B. A generic Subject Line doesn’t tell the recipient anything. The
more specific you are, the better chance you have of getting the recipient to
open the message.
10. To write a concise email message:
a. Omit wordy phrases.
b. Use very small font (8 point).
c. Type fast.
d. Omit every other letter. “Oi eey ohr lte.”
Answer: A. An effective method for concise writing is to omit unnecessary
words. For example, use, “now” instead of “in the immediate future” and
“twice” instead of “on two different occasions.”
11. When possible, email messages should be:
a. Extremely detailed, even if the message is quite lengthy.
b. Kept to one screen.
c. Forwarded to the author of a cartoon for future material.
Answer: B. Most readers won’t take time to read more than one screen. The shorter the message is, the better chance you’ll have of getting it read.
12. How much space can typically be viewed in the Subject Line?
a. 25 - 35 characters.
b. 25 – 35 words.
c. 50 – 75 characters.
d. 50 – 75 words.
Answer: A. Characters are defined as every letter or space. In other words,
every time you move the space bar, it counts as one character. The subject
line that appears in most people’s email will display approximately 25 – 35
character.
13. When responding to a message regarding the best time for a meeting, you should select:
a. Reply All.
b. Reply.
Answer: B. The “Reply All” button will send a response to everyone who was
sent the original message. They don’t need to know your schedule. You
should “Reply” only to the meeting coordinator. Then, he/she can select the
best time and notify everyone.
Score:
13 = You’re perfect. (But, you knew that already.) Keep emailing!
10 -12 = You’re okay. Be a little more cautious, though. You could learn a few tips from my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
7 - 9 = You could use some help. Try my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
Less than 7 = Ugh! Call me now! We’ll schedule your intense therapy immediately.
1. The tone of a professional email message should be:
a. Conversational.
b. Formal.
c. Casual – like the tone you use with friends.
d. “Yo, dude! Whassup?”
Answer: A. You may be as casual as you like with friends, breaking all the grammar and punctuation rules you want. But, that isn’t true for communicating with clients and colleagues. Business correspondence should be professional. In email, professional translates into conversational – not too casual and not too formal.
2. One method to achieve a conversational tone is to:
a. Use slang terms and jargon.
b. Use contractions.
c. Use acronyms.
d. Stand up and yell across the office. See if you can start “the wave.”
Answer: B. When you speak in a conversation, you use contractions. So, it’s acceptable to use them in email to create a conversational tone.
3. When beginning to type an email, start with:
a. The addressee’s email address.
b. The message.
c. The addressee’s name.
d. “Yo, dude or dudette!”
Answer: C. Starting a message with the addressee’s name is not only more personal, it will help avoid miscommunication and confusion. If you begin a message without the addressee’s name, the person won’t know if the message is intended for him/her.
4. When writing an email message, paragraphs should:
a. Be long.
b. Be short.
c. Be indented.
d. Be invisible – no one can mess it up that way.
Answer: B. People aren’t willing to invest time reading messages that appear too long or tedious. Short paragraphs appear easier to read because there is more white space. There is also less chance that the reader will miss a point.
5. The best way to make several points in an email is:
a. Include all the points in the first paragraph.
b. Include all the points in the last paragraph.
c. Use lists with bullets or numbers.
d. Put it on a banner and rent an airplane to fly over the office pulling the banner.
Answer: C. If you put more than one point in a paragraph, it may be overlooked. Lists and bullets make your points stand out. They are also easier for the person to see.
6. At the end of an email message, you should include:
a. Only your name.
b. Only your name and company.
c. All your relevant contact information.
d. A picture of your pet python and twin tarantulas.
Answer: C. Provide people with all the information they need to contact you – in whatever way is most convenient for them. They may prefer the telephone or regular mail over email.
7. If you know the recipient reads emails quickly and is often in a hurry, the best way to send a supporting document is:
a. Paste it into the body of the message.
b. Attach it as a separate document.
c. Type slowly.
d. Have it delivered by carrier pigeon.
Answer: A. When the recipient is in a hurry, he/she will be less likely to open an attachment because it takes extra time. The person is more likely to read something that’s pasted right in front of him/her.
8. When sending a message, you should copy (“cc”):
a. Everyone in the department – just in case.
b. Your boss and your boss’ boss – so they know that you’re working hard.
c. Only those people who absolutely need to know.
d. The whole world. Why not? Everyone else does.
Answer: C. The “cc” function is the most abused function in email. Don’t be a pain!
9. When writing a Subject Line:
a. Use something general, such as “Greetings” or “Hello.”
b. Be specific, but brief.
c. Use several sentences.
d. “If you don’t respond, I’ll send Uncle Guido to break your knee caps.”
Answer: B. A generic Subject Line doesn’t tell the recipient anything. The
more specific you are, the better chance you have of getting the recipient to
open the message.
10. To write a concise email message:
a. Omit wordy phrases.
b. Use very small font (8 point).
c. Type fast.
d. Omit every other letter. “Oi eey ohr lte.”
Answer: A. An effective method for concise writing is to omit unnecessary
words. For example, use, “now” instead of “in the immediate future” and
“twice” instead of “on two different occasions.”
11. When possible, email messages should be:
a. Extremely detailed, even if the message is quite lengthy.
b. Kept to one screen.
c. Forwarded to the author of a cartoon for future material.
Answer: B. Most readers won’t take time to read more than one screen. The shorter the message is, the better chance you’ll have of getting it read.
12. How much space can typically be viewed in the Subject Line?
a. 25 - 35 characters.
b. 25 – 35 words.
c. 50 – 75 characters.
d. 50 – 75 words.
Answer: A. Characters are defined as every letter or space. In other words,
every time you move the space bar, it counts as one character. The subject
line that appears in most people’s email will display approximately 25 – 35
character.
13. When responding to a message regarding the best time for a meeting, you should select:
a. Reply All.
b. Reply.
Answer: B. The “Reply All” button will send a response to everyone who was
sent the original message. They don’t need to know your schedule. You
should “Reply” only to the meeting coordinator. Then, he/she can select the
best time and notify everyone.
Score:
13 = You’re perfect. (But, you knew that already.) Keep emailing!
10 -12 = You’re okay. Be a little more cautious, though. You could learn a few tips from my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
7 - 9 = You could use some help. Try my book, Email Etiquette Made Easy (see link in resource box).
Less than 7 = Ugh! Call me now! We’ll schedule your intense therapy immediately.
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