How To Build An Email List From Real-World Foot Traffic

Chimpadeedoo just released an Android version making it even easier for storefront owners, musicians or artists of all types to build an email list, in person, even if there is no Internet connection.

Via MailChimp Blog:

“Ever since we released Chimpadeedoo for iPad, an app that helps you collect new subscribers from your tablet, many of our customers have been waiting for an Android version. If you’re not familiar with Chimpadeedoo, it’s an easy way for store owners, bands, and people who set up shop at trade shows or festivals to build their mailing lists. We’re happy to tell you that Chimpadeedoo is now available on Google Play for Android devices (and of course, the iPad version is still available on the App Store)….” [Continue Reading]

Effective Copywriting Is The Key To Online Success

It’s very easy to become overwhelmed when you’re trying to figure out exactly how to make a steady income online. Everybody has their own “system” for generating “mega bucks” online, and there are many ways to make money online, but wouldn’t it be great if there was one skillset that you could develop over time, a skillset that could ensure you never struggled to make a living online, ever again? Well, there is, it’s called copywriting.

So how do we start to develop this skill? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Write everyday. Sean Ogle makes a great suggestion in a recent blog post:

“They say practice makes perfect, right? Well, how can you get better at writing, if you don’t do it on a regular basis?  I’ve written at least 1,000 words almost every single day this past year.  It doesn’t matter what you’re writing — just going through the exercise helps to internalize some of the basic psychological elements of persuasive writing…”

2. Read How To Win Friends and Influence People. This book does a great job delving into what really makes people tick, and how to use this information to become more influential, both in person and in print. Obviously, this is very important for any aspring copywriter.

3. Read Ogilvy on Advertising. This is an older book but many of the principles still apply even in the modern, tech-drenched world we find ourselves in today.

4. Start selling something, anything. The only way to determine whether or not you’re getting better is to test your skills in the real world. You do that by putting together a real offer and asking people to buy! While you’re at it, write up two variations of the sales letter and split-test them against each using Google Experiments inside Google Analytics.

Have you started to develop this skillset yet? Leave a comment and let me know!

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40% of America’s workforce will be freelancers by 2020

Ahhhh, the age of the freelancer is coming! Maybe the freeways will finally start to unclog.

Via Quartz:

“By 2020, more than 40% of the US workforce will be so-called contingent workers, according to a study conducted by software company Intuit in 2010. That’s more than 60 million people.

We are quickly becoming a nation of permanent freelancers and temps. In 2006, the last time the federal government counted, the number of independent and contingent workers—contractors, temps, and the self-employed—stood at 42.6 million, or about 30% of the workforce. How many are there today? We have no idea since 2006 was the last year that the government bothered to count this huge and growing sector of the American workforce…” [Continue Reading]

My New Favorite Screen Share App

There are many instances where you want to either share your screen with a prospective client or you want them to share their screen. One of the most popular apps for this is Join.me, but unfortunately it doesn’t work on Linux, which is the operating system I prefer.

I went searching for something I could use with Linux and I came across Quick Screen Share from the makers of Screencast-o-Matic! I tested it out with my Mom to see if it was easy enough for even non-tech savvy people to figure out and since she runs Windows Vista, I was able to see how well it worked across multiple operating systems.

It was very easy to set-up and it ran just fine if you have Java up to date. If you have issues with Java on your computer, then it might not work, otherwise you’re golden.

Have you used Quick Screen Share before? Let me know what you thought!

5 Ways Startups Are Using Vine

Vine is definitely one of the hottest apps right now and as with any new social media apps, businesses of all types are interested in finding out how to use it to promote their business.

Mashable has 5 great ways startups are using Vine for us:

What is Martini?? Check out our new video to find out! #vineapp #artsandcrafts vine.co/v/bnbjzQUDjIY

— Martini(@martini_app) February 5, 2013

Click Here to check out the other 4!