Secret To Success: Positive Mind and Dedication. When you start your own
business be prepares
for lots of set backs andblows. Its all part of the process
Brought to you in partnership with Rod Beckwith - http://mrjv.com
Highest Education: High school graduate
Year Started Business: 2000
Type Of Business: "I own a few companies. Advent-Marketing is my main marketing business, which is founded by myself and business partner, Lawrence Pryor. I also am co founder of TextandMeet.co.uk, a text message dating service. Just recently, I opened up my own company, Specialist-Marketing. It also deals with Internet Marketing."
Target
Market:
"Someone, any age, working from home, trying to run an Internet business.
I have services that generate traffic to people's Websites like
http://myquickpaypro.com/qpp.cgi?adminid=1112&id=73259 and http://myquickpaypro.com/qpp.cgi?adminid=1112&id=73259.
My newest site at http://www.secretmarketinglab.com/ shows people live video
demonstrations of how I conduct my latest marketing campaigns. Its proving to
be very popular."
Number Of Employees: Three—Lawrence, business partner; brother, who does customer support; and a part time programmer
Best Month (Gross Revenues): $46,000
Hours Worked Per Week During Startup: "Easily 16-18 hours a day. I worked Christmas day, New Year's Day...you name it."
Hours Worked Per Week Now: "Five to 12 hours or more, but it really depends. There is a lot I want from life. I do plan on owning several multi-million-pound homes, a boat, and jet so it's keeping me motivated. I make no secret of the fact I want to be extremely rich. A comfortable house and nice car are boring to me. If I'm not going after something, I'm bored."
Favorite Business Magazine: Fortune
Favorite Business Books Or Authors: Losing My Virginity —by Richard Branson. (Its an incredible story), Rich Dad, Poor Dad —by Robert Kiyosaki
Relaxes By: Going out with friends, watching films, and spending time enjoying cars
Keeping In Shape By: Training three times a week regularly in the gym—swimming, weight training and running
Favorite Part Of The Job: "I love not having a boss, not having to get up in the morning to an alarm clock - I hate them! Definitely the flexibility."
Least Favorite Part Of The Job: "E-mail spam...but then again, you can see what people are advertising all the time, so you can see what sells. There is always a plus side on the worst things."
Companies Admired: Virgin—"Richard Branson is a cool guy"; Microsoft—"Have to admire Bill Gates for what he's done"; Hotornot.com—"Cool idea. I like unique things that sell. So many 'average' people are always criticizing new ideas, which is why they don't get anywhere. Always have an open mind."
Favorite Quotes: The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true. —James Branch Cabell
The Person Who Most Influenced His Life: "I can't attribute this to one person. My business partner, Lawrence Pryor, has always been very positive as we've worked through things. Yanik Silver is a good friend and has helped me out with contacts and testimonials for my products. He's a real decent guy."
Heroes: "I like Richard Branson for his dedication and constant new ideas."
Special Business Achievements/Honors: "I spoke at the Internet Super Conference in July 2002. I was 21 years old. It was pretty scary. I was asked to speak, as I had achieved a lot with my online businesses in a short space of time. The next youngest speaker was Terry Dean who was 28 years old.
Months Before Achieving A Profit: About three months
Any Books/Tapes/Reports Authored: My newest product is at http://www.secretmarketinglab.com/ I author videos in this each month. People are finding this really helpful is designing ad campaigns for their businesses.
Contact Andrew At: 44 7866 748 224 (Ireland) or andrew@secretmarketinglab.com
GETTING STARTED TIPS:
I'm
starting a home business next month. I have a maximum of $3000 in start-up capital.
Where should I invest it?
Well, my advice is look for a market that you can sell to first. Use the search
term suggestion tool at http://www.overture.com/ to see what people are looking
for. Get a good auto responder. I use AWeber at http://www.aweber.com/.
I've
just started a home business. My spouse has given me six months to make it work.
Any advice?
First, understand that it always take time. It's amazing how 10% of your efforts
give back 90% of your rewards. At the start, it is always harder. But you gotta
start somewhere
They
say it takes money to make money. Should I try to get a small business loan
for my start-up capital or just try to get by with my own limited finances?
Well, it depends. Do you have any existing business experience? If you use your
own money, you may be more careful with it. Test the water first before borrowing.
TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS:
How
quickly do you adopt new technology for your business?
Not as quickly as I should.
How
do you use e-mail in your business?
E-mail is very important. I use it to answer customer support inquiries and
send promotions out.
How
do you utilize the Internet?
We're 100% Internet-based...so a lot!
How
many of your own Website(s) do you have?
I own quite a few. I have traffic-generation services, a text-message dating
service, and a marketing tutorial site:
http://www.iahbe.org/interviews/a%20href="http://myQuickPayPro.com/qpp.cgi?adminid=1112&id=73259
http://myquickpaypro.com/qpp.cgi?adminid=1112&id=73259
http://www.textandmeet.co.uk/
http://www.iahbe.org/interviews/http;//www.secretmarketinglab.com
Do
you use autoresponders?
I use AWeber. I use them for following up with customers and selling additional
products to them.
If
you use a toll-free number, what is its primary use?
Just for customer support.
Describe
your computer system and how you use computers in your business.
Just my laptop. My partner and I have scanners and a digital camera in case
we need it.
What
software do you consider in the "must-have" category?
An autoresponder service, a way to take credit card orders online, software
to track your visitors from ad campaigns, and affiliate program software.
Name up to five personal favorite business URL's our readers can benefit from:
http://www.surefiremarketing.com/
http://www.thestreetkid.com/
http://www.ozemedia.com/
http://www.thegurumarketer.com/
http://www.robotreply.com/
Of all the technology you use, rank the top three.
An affiliate program is a must. It accounts for 70% of our sales! Also, autoresponder
software and a credit card merchant account, which is essential to take orders
online. I recommend http://www.paysystems.com/.
MARKETING/ADVERTISING:
How
do you market on the Internet?
E-mail ads, Google Adwords, pay-per-click search engines.
Approximately
what percentage of your sales originate from Internet marketing?
95% +.
Where
do you market? (locally, nationally, internationally, all three?)
On the Internet; USA is the main market.
THE
HOME OFFICE:
How should someone set up his/her home office to maximize
its effectiveness?
Well, I definitely think having a separate room for business is essential. Keep
your work one place, your social family life another
What,
if any, ground rules have you established for yourself and family in order to
operate a successful home business?
Ha ha. When I'm in the room working, don't come in! If I need something, I'll
come out
What
are some of the advantages to working at home? What are some of the disadvantages?
Advantages are not having to get up and travel somewhere, sitting in traffic
wasting life. You can have lunch or tea breaks when you want. A disadvantage
is that you don't meet that many people.
MANAGEMENT STYLE:
What
part(s) of your work do you farm out?
Usually Web design, graphics, programming work
What
part(s) do you feel should never be farmed out?
You need to keep a close eye on your top affiliates and
sales
methods.
Do
you encourage or discourage Partnerships?
I was and am still in one for several years. Recently, I started working on
my own on some projects...not because of a dispute with my partner; I just felt
it inside me to do some things on my own. I enjoy working with and without a
partner.
Do
you encourage or discourage hiring family members?
My brother does my customer support, and it's been fine
When
legal issues arise, what's your usual response?
Don't put them off. Deal with them.
MONEY & INVESTMENTS:
What
are the advantages of earning a lot of money. What are some disadvantages?
Earning money is great to give freedom. You can buys things you may not be able
to afford in a conventional job. But the more money you make, the more tax,
and the more accountant's bills.
Best
general investment advice?
I am looking at property investments at present. Don't keep piling all your
money back into your primary business. Diversify.
You're
in business already, and you've just received a windfall of $20,000. What would
you do with it?
I'd probably buy something nice with it. Maybe split it between investment and
fun.
THE ROAD AHEAD:
In
five years I'll be...
Owner of three to five properties as a combination of investment/holiday homes.
I'll be working on some niche products, testing new marketing concepts.
In
10 years I'll be...
I really don't know. I'll see where my heart takes me. What I do at the moment
is fun, but I wouldn't say it's my vocation in life. I lived in Los Angeles
for three months last year (2003) and enjoyed meeting people around the film/entertainment
industry. Maybe I'll venture into that.
POWERFUL IDEAS:
What
was the motivating factor that drove you to start your own business?
I knew for the things I wanted in life, it would never come from a job. Besides
that, I didn't want a boss.
What
role, if any, did your family play when you were getting your business off the
ground?
My parents aren't bad people, but they have the mindset of "get a job with
good prospects." That's not for me.
What
motivates you now to continue building your business?
Well, I always like buying new cars, saving up to buy property. I enjoy the
challenges of becoming the No. 1 affiliate for different companies.
What's
the best thing about being self-employed?
Not having regular 9-to-5 constraints. I don't have to ask when I go on holiday.
How
often do you read books and/or listen to or watch tapes for improving your business
skills or knowledge?
Well, not as much as I should. I always like hearing success stories of others,
such as John Assaraf and Richard Branson.
The
most underrated activity in business is…
The idea that it's not a job. You are where the blame or praise stops.
The
most overrated activity in business is…
Money. If you have your own business and show any sign of wealth (ie: nice car
or house) people think "He owns his own business, which is why he's rich."
People don't realize the years of hard work that go into building that foundation.
What
was the biggest obstacle you had to face when you were launching your own business?
What's your biggest obstacle now?
Making that first bit of profit. Establishing your identity. Now it's a lot
easier
If
you had to start your business all over again, what would you do differently?
You know, I'm not sure, because I'm sure I've made mistakes…but mistakes
is what you learn from. If you don't, you don't learn as fast.
What
was your worst business decision?
Myself and my partner spent $50,000 in one day on a business launch party. It
didn't go too well and put us under a lot of strain for months after. But we've
learned from that.
What
was your best business decision?
I suppose to keep working on new ideas and
expanding into different markets.
What
do you consider to be the main keys of your success?
Perspiration and dedication.
What's
your success philosophy?
Work hard and be willing to admit if something's not going to work, then leave
it. Remember, keep doing the same things and you'll get the same results, good
or bad
What
about you has changed the most since finding success in business?
It's good and bad. Sometimes I find motivation very hard. As I said, I enjoy
what I do, but I don't feel it's my true vocation in life. It will be interesting
to see how it goes.
What
is the legacy you hope to leave?
I have to find out what I want before I can find out what I want to leave.
