Ready for a new year.

I have been preparing for the new year while recovering from my own holiday excesses. The computer and I are both on diets again starting today. After rereading my own advice I reduced the size of my inbox by relegating all the extra emails to their correct folders and deleting the rest. It is a pity we can’t do the same thing with our own inboxes and file storage devices.

In a few weeks you will start to see numerous offers for new and exciting ways to get rich using the Internet. Some advertisers have not waited but already have their promotions on TV.
When I started writing these articles I said you must create a product or deliver a service that has value to someone else. These are the only two ways to really make money with or without the Internet. The third and more common way is to help people delude themselves into believing that the computer is something akin to a money machine. I do not buy into the get-rich-quick schemes and neither do my readers.

People who read my column tend to be a savvy group. We do not believe in the tooth fairy, Easter bunny or Santa except as ways to humor children. As a group we do not expect the world to support us without any effort on our part. Many of you own a business or have a very responsible position in a larger business. Most readers are male but the percentage of females has increased over the past year. When I surveyed everyone this year the income figures showed a better than average level with many of you over the median figures for the country as a whole.

It was not a surprise when I considered the type of questions that get sent to me. A common question is how these marketers make money if their services are free. One way is for the websites to collect an affiliate fee from companies they promote. When you pay for a product you find through the free services they will get a commission. There is nothing unethical about promoting another business as long as you are open about it. I receive affiliate checks every month from a couple of programs I use myself. Since I am a customer I can say that the products are good or I would not use them. I wonder if the other promoters can say the same thing.

Another trait shared by many of my readers is the expectation that you can see real results from using a product or service. The usual disclaimer that “results are not typical” or that “income can not be guaranteed” that gets shown quickly in fine print is the way out for companies that want to play the numbers game. You and I both know that real success comes from people who are willing to work for it.

I have added an email newsletter to my writing schedule for next year. I plan on providing more detail about various parts of the Internet and how you can use them in your life. If you fit the profile of my readers you should get a copy for yourself at my website. You can always suggest topics you want to see covered or just ask questions. Have a Happy New Year!

Mike Myklin is an author, lecturer and Internet business owner specializing in Internet Marketing. You may contact him via email to mike@myklin.com or contact him through www.myklin.com where you will find these and other articles available for your research.

Google Maps Click to Call

Google has released a new local search tool that will benefit any business; even the ones that do not have a web site. You can find the feature in Google Maps when you are looking at local businesses.

If you enter a search term for a hotel in our zip code, beside each listing you will find options for “more information”, “reviews”, and “call” as well as the street address and phone number. Clicking on the name of the listing will move the map to the location of the business and display more information such as their web site address if they have one.

The newest feature here is the “call” button. If you click on this button, you will get a new screen that invites you to enter your phone number. Beside this you will see an offer to “connect for free”. When you enter your phone number Google will place the call to the business for you.

For now, this service is free including long-distance charges. Google is paying whatever fees may be involved with the exception of your cell phone airtime fees. In Google’s own words, “Google pays for all calls, both local and long-distance. However, if you give us a mobile phone number, the normal airtime fees or other fees charged by your phone provider may apply.” A person in Utah can make a local call to your business in Poteau without you having an 800 number.

This is an example of what I described in earlier articles when I talked about click to call search marketing. Even without a web site most businesses can use the power of the Internet to help improve their sales and customer contacts. Other companies offer to just deliver your business listing during your normal hours of operation.

What can this mean for you as a business? Even if you have not put your business on the Internet it is possible for you to benefit from what people do there. What you should be doing right now is making sure your business listing is correct and up to date. I found several old listings for our local businesses just in the hotel search returns. Google does provide a way for businesses to update their information so you should take advantage of this as soon as possible. If you need help you may contact me for assistance.

Mike Myklin is an author, lecturer and Internet business owner specializing in Internet Marketing. You may contact him via email to mike@myklin.com or contact him through www.myklin.com where you will find these and other articles available for your research.