New Milestone Reached For ChrisHoyt.com
This blog has been up for roughly 4 years…and I have to admit that for much of that time I rarely updated it. But as of Feb 1st I had surpassed 10,000 visitors in a single month! March 1st was over 11,000! Thanks to all my visitors and readers.
I intend to start offering more freebies to help you with your online venture. Whether you’re an aspiring blogger or someone that’s just looking to make a few extra bucks on the web, I hope to help out. I don’t think we can truly be successful until we help “others” be successful!
Thank you for visiting!
Chris
I Really Like Using Artisteer!
I use both Wordpress and Drupal quite a bit for websites I build. I love these content management systems, (CMS), because #1…they’re free. And #2…they have so much support. There are tons of “plugins” for Wordpress and “modules” for Drupal.
Something else I love about them is if you don’t like the way your blog or website looks, you simply change the “theme”. There are a lot of free themes available or you can purchase custom made themes. While I like the ability to use the free themes that are available, I also had a desire at times to “create my own” website look. Unfortunately, I knew absolutely NOTHING about themeing for Wordpress or Drupal, and didn’t really have a desire to learn. Well…I had the desire, I just didn’t want to take the time to learn it.
So then a “web designer” friend turned me on to Artisteer. He had been using it to create themes for some sites he was working on and was really impressed with it. The first time I used it I was hooked! It makes it SOOOO easy to create my own themes!
It’s really cool because you have so much control over the theme. Color schemes, blocks and image placements, menu’s, sheet layout’s, sidebar placements and on and on! For those of us who wanted a custom theme but didn’t want to learn CSS, it’s a dream come true!
I will say that the software has felt a little cumbersome at times. Part of that is just the sheer amount of options that are available to you. It can be a bit overwhelming. But the more you use it, the easier it all becomes.
After saying all this, I have to admit that the theme that I’m using for chrishoyt.com was NOT created with Artisteer. I was using this theme before I purchased Artisteer and I really like it for this blog. But…when it comes time for a change, I’ll no doubt be using this software.
Give it a test drive. There is a demo you can watch on the site and you can actually download and use the software but I believe it puts a watermark on the themes until you actually purchase the software. It gives you a chance to try it and see if you like it.
Let me know what you think.
Choosing The Right Domain Name For Your Blog Or Business
When I first started out in internet marketing, I didn’t know the first thing about “domain names”. All I knew is that I wanted “chrishoyt.com”! (Which thankfully was available).
In the years that followed, I learned so much more about domain names and why it’s important to pick the “right” one.
I’ve bought many a domain name over the last few years. Some of those have been pretty good and some were not so good. I’m at the point now where I put a lot more research into my names before I make a purchase. When I’m researching a domain name for a niche, I want one that as soon as it’s indexed, will rank pretty high in Google for at least one or two decent keyword phrases. Now I’m positioned to move to the top of the heap with the least amount of effort.
What does it mean to get a “good” domain name? “Who cares” you ask? There are various reasons for picking the right domain, but one of the most important in my opinion, is the free web traffic that you can pick up if you’ve done your research.
I created a guide that I’d like to give away to my visitors. Please visit this page, provide your name and email address and click the submit button. The guide is nothing fancy, but hopefully it will help people who may not already have a domain name. And if you do have a name, you can always pick up a 2nd, 3rd or more for future websites.
If you download this little document and have questions, please don’t hesitate to use the contact button. I tend to write something like this and I’m blind to the obvious things I might have forgotten to include. (I really need a proofreader!)
I do plan to follow this up with several more documents that will take you through the steps of getting a domain name, making sure it’s available, registering it and then actually setting your website up with a web host. Who knows where it will go from there. So…even if you have a domain name, go ahead and download this guide anyway so I can include you on my list for future documents I put out. I hope to do these over the next few weeks. If you’re just getting into business…these might be really beneficial for you.
Let me know if there are questions and I’ll be happy to try and help you.
Wishing you much success!!!
Chris
PPC Mastery Course Is Open
This course is now open and ready for you to sign up. If you’re interested in cutting edge training to obtain leads & customers using Pay Per Click advertising, visit the web page and check it out.
The signup for training is only open for 7 days and there are some “early bird” bonuses for those who sign up quick. So if signing up for this class is on your list of things to do…don’t delay!
Would You Ever Join FHTM Poll
A month or two ago I decided I’d take a little informal survey. I was curious to see “who” was visiting my site with regards to FHTM, so I put a little poll up and asked the question, “Would You Ever Join FHTM?”
95 votes later, I’m actually a little surprised by the results. So far, and overwhelming majority, (66%) have said that “No”, they wouldn’t join. I really expected that number to be lower, but it is what it is. It’s possible that people could have voted more than once and skewed the results, but I’m guessing that overall…they’re fairly accurate.
So it makes you wonder what reasons people have for saying that “would not” join? I wonder if this would apply to “MLM’s” in general or if it’s specific to FHTM? (I now have the question for my next poll 
)
Got thoughts? Please share… Got questions? Please ask.
If you’re one of the people who would like to join FHTM or are considering it, and you would like to talk to someone about joining…let me know. I’ve been approached by a couple of teams that go out of their way to help new reps. You’re not required to join a local team so you might be better off and get more support from a team that is located in another state. Please use the contact form and I’ll pass along your information.
So Just What Is The Trump Network?
While not a huge fan of MLM’s, I am intrigued by them. I recently found a website that ranks network marketing companies by how they have been performing recently. Looks like they use website traffic statistics to determine whether an MLM is on gaining or losing popularity. One of those companies that has seen a large gain recently is, “The Trump Network”.
So when you see the name, “Trump” in something…you gotta look a little further, right? This is a man who pretty much has it all, so it’s easy to wonder “why” he would have created a network marketing company? But…who am I to question his motives?
The Trump Network promotes health, wellness & weight loss products. Best I can tell from the website, it looks like at this time, it’s about $48 to join which gets you the “Marketer Kit”. I honestly don’t have a lot of details on the compensation plan as it appears you’ve got to request additional information to find out exactly how everything works. Their website doesn’t provide a ton of details.
If you’re thinking this is a “Trump network scam”, I wouldn’t be quite so hasty to jump to that conclusion. Think about it…this is Donald Trump. His name, face and videos of him speaking to everyone are plastered all over the website. I find it hard to believe that someone of his status would be perpetrating some kind of scam? You may not agree with how network marketing works, but I don’t think I’d call this a pyramid scam.
Like any network marketing company, they recommend you start out by telling your family and friends about it. I don’t know about you but I absolutely “hate” the thought of doing that! You’re out here calling on people you haven’t talked to in years, and as soon as they hear you utter the words “opportunity”, they start thinking…”old Bob has gone and got mixed up in some crazy pyramid scheme”! At that point…they don’t even want to hear what you have to say.
Well wouldn’t you much rather promote a product to people that are actually interested in what you are selling? Wouldn’t that make life much easier? And lets face it…you may have a huge family and tons of friends…but you’re eventually going to run out of people to sell to. These are reasons why I recommend you promote your network marketing via the internet. And thats easier said than done if you’re not an internet wiz. There is a science to promoting your business on the web. There are lots of ways to advertise…sometimes that advertising costs money but many times it’s free! Thats what I’m talking about!
If having the “entire world” as your list of prospects sounds exciting, (and it should), then you absolutely must get your business on the web. The best and easiest way to do this is typically NOT what your company recommends. They aren’t in the internet business. No the best and easiest way is to go with someone who has already put together a complete “internet system” that makes it a snap to get on the web and start getting leads quickly! If you’re like most people, you don’t have months to wait around on the leads and income to start rolling in. You need something to happen fast! A proven internet business guru with proven strategies will take the frustration out of the web and will likely be the best investment you can make at this point.
Best of luck to you and if you ever have questions that I can help with, don’t be afraid to ask!
Will You Stop Smoking In 2010?
As we approach the end of 2009, I want to give thanks for my wonderful friends and family. As each year passes, I feel myself appreciating those people more and more.
And with each year that passes, I realize how fragile life is. More friends and people I know, die each year. I find myself appreciating my own life more and more. I think about my own health and what I can do to improve it. And while I try not to dwell on the past, I do find myself reflecting on the harm I’ve done to myself over the years.
I quit smoking back in 2003 and that was a huge accomplishment that I wish every person who smokes, could experience. I realize that many people “enjoy” smoking…& I have to admit that I did as well once upon a time. But something inside told me that it wasn’t right and that I needed to give up the habit and I did. Haven’t looked back since.
I’d love to help others quit smoking, because I know how hard it can be to quit. I personally quit with the help of hypnosis and I think thats one of the easiest ways to “kick the habit”. But regardless…if there is anything I can do to help you stop smoking, please let me know.
I’ve created this new site that will be geared towards the use of hypnosis for smoking cessation. The link to the site is www.HypnosisSmoking.net. Please check it out sometime. It is an affiliate site, which means that I do receive compensation if someone purchases a program through the site…but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I want it to be useful and helpful to those trying to quit. I plan to add a lot of free resources and give out as much advice and help as I can. If you know someone trying to quit…please pass along the url.
I don’t know if I will post again before the end of the year or not? If not, I wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Chris
Kris Allen Comes Back To Conway Arkansas
Big day for us here in Conway Arkansas…Kris Allen is coming back home!
One of this year’s top 3 finalists in the American Idol contest, Kris Allen, is coming back for a whirlwind visit. I’m not sure that Kris was actually born and raised in Conway, but this is the town he calls home when not in LA performing for Idol. He will be performing a few songs at Simon Park in Conway this afternoon/evening. Get out and watch him if you get a chance!
We’re all proud of Kris and hope he continues his success on American Idol & beyond!
Make Crazy Amounts Of Money Fast On The Internet!
I really have to laugh when I look at some of the Google ads that show up on searches. This is one that I saw this morning when I was checking my Adsense account, (url removed out of respect for the poor soul thats paying good money to have this ad running)
2 Million? Count Me In!!!
It’s hard for me to even express just how crazy that sounds? I could believe $2000 in 4 days maybe…but 2 million? I wonder how many people actually click on the ad?
Funny thing is, I did go to the site just to see what more “amazing” information I could find, and the “video” thats going to reveal to me the “exact process” is not even there! Instead it says, “video coming soon”. sigh….guess my quest for 2 million in 4 days is shot without that video!
Of course…I won’t even go into all the other reasons why this ad is doomed to fail. I think it’s safe to say that this person is new to internet marketing, and they have a long way to go.
Here is a “spoof” site that was put up by a gentleman whose name is Fred Gleeck. BillionsInMinutes.com You have to check it out sometime. It’s great for a laugh!
Fred Gleeck is an incredibly talented information marketer and he gives away a ton of valuable information on his site. If you’re new to internet marketing and you think information products are the way to go, I highly recommend you check out Fred’s site. You won’t make 2 million in 4 days, but you will start building a solid foundation for your internet journeys.
Workers Left Behind More Stressed Than Those Laid Off?
I came across an article this morning that really hit home. It was a piece in TIME magazine and can currently be found at this link if you’d like to read it, h t t p://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1883614,00.html?cnn=yes
Basically, a study was done in Europe where it was found that those who had lost their job, pretty much hit “rock bottom” after about 6 months. From there, the outlook improved.
On the other hand, those still working had to endure the stress and uncertanty of what lies ahead for as long as they stay employed.
So the question…which is worse? It’s kind-of a “slippery slope”. It would be hard for someone to sit there and say, “well I don’t want the stress of not knowing…so I would rather be laid off”. Most of us have grown accustomed to the income we have, and to wish for that to be “gone” would probably not be in your best interest.
But on the other hand, I know many people who got laid off and while it was disturbing at first, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to them! Many went on to start their own businesses or found employment with a company the liked much better.
I think the big thing is that we have to find some way to tell ourselves…whatever happens is going to happen. You can work your butt off and someone 3 levels up from you in your company can end your employment no matter how hard you work. (But I’ve seen some of them get the ax the same way…so don’t feel too bad 
)
I believe that now more than ever, good companies should be keeping the lines of communication open with their employees. This is a time when a good company will pull their people together and do things to build and instill confidence. Openly squash rumors as soon as they surface if those rumors are untrue.
For employees…I think that you should always have some sort of backup plan. Be thinking about what you would do if you did lose your job? How would you cope? Where would you go in search of employment next?
And this is a time to put some money back so that if something does happen to your job, it doesn’t force you to lose your home. It’s a good time to sacrifice a little so you don’t have to be so stressed if something should happen.
I would love to hear your thoughts…I could ramble for hours! Please feel free to leave me a comment.
Have a good day!
Chris
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