Five Top Tips For A Prosperous 2004

According to many market forecasts, 2004 is likely to be a buoyant year online. These are my top tips for making the most of it, and ensuring a happy, healthy and prosperous 2004.

1. Seek out new markets and niches, and make them work for you.

This is a simple technique to find profitable niches for your business. Download the free Good Keywords software from goodkeywords.com - this is a virtual crystal ball into what you should be selling online. Find keywords that have a high number of searches, and a low number of pages for those keywords on the most popular search engine, Google. The ratio between the number of searches, and the number of results found for that keyword or phrase, determines the potential profitability of the keyword.

Another method is to use the free trial service at wordtracker.com.

Create a product or service around the profitable keyword, and you'll be onto a potential goldmine online.

2. Automate, automate, automate

If you find you are doing something repetitively, is it something you can automate? Automating a repetitive task is something that could save you hours, if not days or weeks of time, in 2004, all of which you could be spending doing something more worthwhile and profitable.

Automate almost everything you can, wherever possible. An Internet business allows for a great deal of automation, from list management to product fulfillment, so take advantage of it wherever you can.

3. Seek out non-email-reliant profit avenues

With spam filters, overloaded email folders, and increasing legislation proving ever-more troublesome to legitimate opt-in email marketers, it's wise to develop branches of your business that do not solely rely on email for profitability.

That's not to say email marketing is no longer relevant or important, it quite clearly is both of these when used effectively - but my tip for 2004 is to try to find other supplementary routes to profitability.

For example, a niche area in the search engines (as outlined in tip 1 above) will bring you a lot of traffic, without over-relying on email as a traffic and sales generation tool - and even if you don't have a specific product, if you combine great content with effective use of Google Adsense, that's another great income stream for your business.

Success online is all about not putting all your eggs into one basket, and developing 'multiple streams of income'. If you lost your email list(s) overnight, would you still be profitable?

4. Take more exercise

What? What's that got to do with doing business online?

Well, more than you think. For one, sitting in front of a computer for 12 hours a day can be detrimental to your health - and if you don't have your health, you won't have much of a business.

Getting some regular fresh air and exercise will not only help to keep you healthy, it will also:

  • Increase your energy levels, so you can get a lot more done in less time.

  • Clear your head, so you can concentrate more effectively.

  • Help you to relax and come up with some great ideas for your business (my best and most profitable ideas come to me when I'm on vacation, or otherwise relaxed and 'switched off').

  • Boost your confidence and self-esteem, the absence of which is often at the route of many business failures. When you're confident, you take more risks, and risk-taking is closely linked to profitability. If you stay the same, and take no risks, you're unlikely to move forward in your business.

And don't forget, while you are exercising, you can listen to educational tapes and CDs that will help you grow and learn, all of which can boost your business long-term.

5. Set goals

Close your eyes, and picture yourself at the end of 2004. Where would you like to be?

If you continue doing what you are doing now, where will you be, realistically?

Set some goals that will get you from where you are currently heading, to where you would like to be. Break those goals down into specific steps that know you can achieve, and will ensure you reach your goals by the end of 2004.

Refer to your goals regularly, don't be afraid to adjust them if necessary during the year, and take one step at a time.

About The Author

Steve Shaw develops software and systems for effective e-marketing. This article was submitted to hundreds of targeted publishers and multiple article directories on auto-pilot, using his powerful article submission service at http://www.SubmitYOURArticle.com.

Steve has been marketing full-time online since March 2002, developing software products and systems for e-marketing, including PopUpMaster Pro, the Click Bank Toolkit, and most recently, the free list building system at ListInferno.com.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Extra-Cash-Holidays-Anytime-With/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B1A073D42-6DC3-45F6-BD71-7DC25C63DC4B%257Dcid=1276911817ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHNRBJ_sXTvWEcE5m2Wf3HD21H6awExtra Cash for the Holidays or Anytime With the Launch of Diamonds b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Bayshore Solutions integrates technology and bInternet marketing/b services to ensure measurable results for clients. For more information about Web site b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-businesses-thrive-amidst-recession-thanks-live-help-/2008/12/02/3827313.htmcid=1276911817ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHU_idb2WgHeITloMRkBwVg2uJ2HgBusinesses Thrive Amidst a Recession Thanks to Live Help/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTMCnet/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081202/bayshore-solutions.htmcid=1276911817ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNH0tfsIkEFSnGFNdK7oS7caMcmHbwExtra Cash for the Holidays or Anytime With the Launch of Diamonds b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInternational Business Times/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276911817hl=ennobrall 11 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2008/12/1/bargain_hunters_go_online_for_cyber.htmcid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHVvjTlDcmn0vo7uxBCs0V-p9VBuQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=Tbx6NqcettkJimgurl=www.hispanicbusiness.com/_client_common/images/news/online_tech_shopping_lg.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2HispanicBusiness.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Consumers-Benefit-a-Frenzy-Around/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B3EA6E82C-6D99-450C-B19E-D86692E11361%257Dcid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGUrg29a_2YjJFLJZ3Kpgm9WftXEQConsumers Benefit from a Frenzy of Around-the-Clock Online Shopping/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Additionally, Bath and Body Works added social networking to their bmarketing/b efforts by offering their first online friends and family promotion. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D-0iz1s7QEc4cid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFgjh9cFogRqr-9c9qRQH0AjATK0QVideo: Online Retailers See Monday As Black Friday/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAssociatedPress/nobr/fontobject width=448 height=356param name=movie value=http://www.youtube.com/v/-0iz1s7QEc4/paramparam name=wmode value=transparent/paramembed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/-0iz1s7QEc4type=application/x-shockwave-flashwmode=transparentwidth=448height=356/embed/objectbr/fontfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122817819658170827.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGR9RoZe7C_dKlyk7y9Bg9_crp0xAOnline Retailers Dangle Free Shipping, Discounts/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWall Street Journal/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/02/cybermonday.htmlcid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFMfLEVDs0qgBlEPXk1YuQs7E-KJwbINTERNET/b SHOPPING: ‘Cyber Monday’ drives seasonal employment/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrAtlanta Journal Constitution/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1862938,00.html%3Fimw%3DYcid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGEvaJpmMYl-nLD3bkHiY4hq6RbnAnobrTIME/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11115641cid=1273809014ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEzaE_h6y1Dz6-bgNwpmsvSX7PYpAnobrSan Jose Mercury News/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1273809014hl=ennobrall 1,467 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/SEO/Blogini/prweb1672954.htmcid=1276806463ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEGwo-kT2HrC5snLHq3-q7w616BSQSocial Networking Site Helps Effectively and Easily Build Blogs b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bInternet marketing/b through blogs has spread gradually over the years. The relaunch of professional blog hosting and social networking site for binternet/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickthrough-marketing.com/PPC-internet-marketing-growth-due-to-reliability,-says-eMarketer/18907861/cid=1276662413ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEweW6TCZeoN8h31oexNH76SkWojQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=d0Wh4iVfSh0Jimgurl=www.clickthrough-marketing.com/clicknews/ai/Laptop_920_18907861_0_0_6000056_300.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Internet Marketing News/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickthrough-marketing.com/PPC-internet-marketing-growth-due-to-reliability,-says-eMarketer/18907861/cid=1276662413ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEweW6TCZeoN8h31oexNH76SkWojQPPC binternet marketing/b growth due to reliability, says eMarketer/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInternet Marketing News,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b advertising in the first half the year, up 28 per cent compared with the same period in 2007, according to figures from the bInternet/b Advertising Bureau./fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2008/12/01/online-ad-spending-outlook-lowered-by-13-billion/cid=1276662413ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFCwLsQyUYECUpBaRDugyKwdipdiQOnline ad spending outlook lowered by $1.3 billion/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081202/FREE/812029995/1078cid=1276662413ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNG9NJtqlF4oJmgGRipKWm6nCUF_SQEMarketer lowers online ad spending productions/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBtoB Magazine/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.digitalresponsemedia.com/news-3-search-engine-marketing-news/lower-online-ad-forecast-sees-ppc-still-showing-high-gr-465.aspxcid=1276662413ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEtBzo91WbVDmN1n1TZvfDniKuzXQLower online ad forecast sees PPC still showing high growth/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDigital Response Media/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276662413hl=ennobrall 7 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.addpr.com/articles/seminars_and_training/18317.htmlcid=0ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNGrot0kQNV7B0jLZ5G7AhBaKd7mugOnline Training bMarketing/b Services Announced by FindOnlineTraining.com/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAddPR.com (press release),nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b related websites and domain names owned and operated by Allied bInternet/b Solutions Inc. a Houston Texas based bInternet marketing/b and consulting firm./font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb1685654.htmcid=1276807735ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNESQ4lY4Qxina3Ns3azdjURfHaWfADental bMarketing/b Firm Goes Green/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPR Web (press release),nbsp;WAnbsp;-/font nobr14 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Dental bInternet marketing/b firm also plans to support clean energy by donating some of its profit to this cause. If you would like to learn more about b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.businessfeet.com/internet-marketing-news/items/overlaying-the-future-of-internet-marketing-1228226460.htmlcid=1276904316ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNFqMA6sjvJFUef1bcM7vO5qvR74iQOverlaying the future of binternet marketing/b?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBusiness Feet,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Overlaying video with adverts might just be the future of binternet marketing/b - as well as finally generating some revenue for YouTube. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Online-Marketing-Veteran-Doug-Broujos/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BE2D47090-C970-4CB8-998E-374D5608E8A3%257Dcid=1274361811ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNEaBohzoFkcIWTHG9uNTorfP7QoWAOnline bMarketing/b Veteran Doug Broujos Joins Blue Sky Factory as COO/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrNov 25, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Previously, Broujos served as senior vice president of client services at TIG Global, a hospitality-focused bInternet marketing/b company, where he led client b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.creativematch.co.uk/viewNews/%3F96600cid=0ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNE1jpbVaNuYljJftQm70Ib4LBoh7gimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=SMhqkWBE_iYJimgurl=www.creativematch.co.uk/newsfiles/bg-welcome-box-inner-2.jpg width=80 height=37 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Creativematch/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.creativematch.co.uk/viewNews/%3F96600cid=0ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNE1jpbVaNuYljJftQm70Ib4LBoh7gA third way of bInternet Marketing/b has been launched/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fCreativematch,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr12 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1After intensive and very successful beta-testing, a “third way” of bInternet Marketing/b has just been launched at E-Commerce Expo by Strategy bInternet/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/clickbooq-RedCart-Team-Up-Give/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B32F92F93-A0D3-4951-AD8A-B0715BE01882%257Dcid=1276873882ei=y7U1Se2eGKqi9gSN64Efusg=AFQjCNHxnWu6w-TT-jLrvWl7nuREAhQokQclickbooq and RedCart Team Up to Give Professional Photographers b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1b.../b their business with flexible and easy to use ecommerce solutions. Media Contact Jennifer Wu bMarketing/b Manager clickbooq, inc. (310) 264-0099 Email Contact./font/div/font/td/tr/table
internet marketing - Google News

The Numbers Dont Lie!

It's true. They don't.That's why you should look at the... Read More

Getting A Solid Internet Marketing Foundation

As we look at building our online businesses, many of... Read More

Online Sales: 10 Mind Boggling, Electrifying Tricks To Ignite Your Sales

Do you want to unleash a tsunami of sales at... Read More

Online Advertising: 10 Flaming Hot Ways To Heat Up Your Sales

If you have a website but not making a lot... Read More

Enough With the Upsells Already!

It happened twice during the same week. All I wanted... Read More

Increasing The Perceived Value of Your Product or Service

Whether online or offline, small businesses often show little faith... Read More

Flat Tires, Slow Leaks, and Online Marketing

Does your online marketing campaign have a flat tire? Or... Read More

The Seven Tips That Ensure Your Success Online

Whether you are now looking for opportunities to start your... Read More

How To Produce The PERFECT Viral Ebook

Viral marketing is probably the number one method for generating... Read More

Differentiate and Grow Rich: The Importance of a Strong USP

"With 50 other companies selling the same products and services,... Read More

5 Sure Fire Ways To Send Visitors Away For Good

Way No. 1 - Clog Up Their Internet ConnectionImagine it.... Read More

Many Small Revenue Streams Are Best

There's an old story about a guy who had a... Read More

Marketing Maxims for Todays Challenging Times

These are turbulent times for all businesses - necessitating streamlined... Read More

What Great Online Advertising Really Is!

Many business people have a distorted view about the distinction... Read More

Internet Marketing is Changing Right Before Your Eyes!

There's no doubt about it . . .Big changes are... Read More

FREE Classifieds-Advertising: Your Online Work From Home Business

If you are on a shoestring budget and need to... Read More

Internet Marketing Simplified! 2 Pillars For Achieving Massive Results

Are you confused by the flood of information on how... Read More

Now, Even A Monkey Could Easily Accept Online Payments

I just came across this web site called PayDotCom.comAfter reviewing... Read More

Competitor Analysis - How Writing Rubbish Can Give You an Edge

The Gobbledygook Competitor Analysis TipWhen typing cap can tell you... Read More

Exploring Beyond Keywords Into Behavioral Research

If you have ever studied search engine optimization, then you'll... Read More

A Business Guide For The Very New Internet Entrepreneur

Did you recently buy your first computer and just started... Read More

8 Excellent Ways to Sell Your Back-end Products More Successfully!

A back-end product is a product that you attempt to... Read More

Internet Marketing Requires Persistence

Marketing your company online requires patience and persistence. Like every... Read More

How to Start an Internet Business

The first thing I must say is it's a mine... Read More

Internet Marketing Promotion And Advertising Can Build Your Business

Internet marketing promotion & advertising are crucial for your website's... Read More