You may have seen Terry's amazingly thorough responses in my Expert Briefs posts including the following:

• How to Only Work One Hour Per Day
• How to Regain Focus

If you're newer to the scene, Terry is an established marketer who I respect and enjoy very much.

Here's his official bio so you can be suitably impressed.

Terry Dean started his online business from scratch in 1996. He went from delivering pizzas for a living to building a million dollar Internet business promoted primarily through the Internet. Within a few years he was also consulting with home based businesses, local companies, and million dollar corporations. His original company and websites were sold in 2004, and he founded MyMarketingCoach, LLC. which is dedicated to coaching entrepreneurs in the 10 key principles of success in business and life.

I am a paying member of his Mentoring Club – and I love the content.

Click here to Check out Terry's Mentoring Club

Be sure to check out the bonuses on that page. They. Are. RIDICULOUS!

Now that you know that we have a rock star in the house, read on for an awesome article.

The Problem We Are Discussing Today.

Terry's going to talk today about the new Gmail tabs. If you're not aware of this new feature this is what it looks like inside my own Gmail account. Gmail is automatically filtering emails for me that I may or may not want filtered.

As an email marketer – the concern is that less people on your list will be seeing your emails and that your open rate will decline.

Here's how you can still get your emails read.

5 Ways to Profit from Gmail Tabs

by Terry Dean

You've probably heard the news if you do any type of email marketing.

Google has been rolling out primary, social, and promotional tabs inside of Gmail since May 29th.

This was greeted by a chorus of marketers screaming, “The sky is falling again!”

Sometimes I wonder if people are hoping for a disaster just so they can finally be right to be so upset.

Of course smart marketers have been testing to see if there is a way to land in the primary tab instead of the promotional tab.  And so far, there is no consistent way to do so.  Google is smart.  I wouldn't be surprised if they're tracking the unsubscribe link we legally need attached to email newsletters.

You have a choice.  You can use this as an opportunity to give up.

Or you can take advantage of this change while competitors hide their heads in the sand.

Here are 5 quick ways to take advantage of the new email tabs.

1. Tell subscribers to look in promotions box.

A lot of people don't even realize all their newsletters are landing in “promotions.”

Let them know to look for your email there on your thank you page.

You can even tell your subscribers how to move your emails from the promotional tab into their primary tab.  Wouldn't that be a masterpiece of marketing…if you're the ONLY newsletter in the primary tab?

Simply grab an email with your left mouse button and slide it over to the primary tab.  You can also right click it and choose “move to tab” to move it to the primary tab.

A little note will pop-up to ask you if you want to make this change permanent.

Say, “Yes.”

You won't have to worry about missing your favorite emails again.

2. Get subscribers excited about what you'll be sharing.

Tease your subscribers with the information you have coming up.  End your story on a cliffhanger.

They will be LOOKING for your email when it comes.  If they miss it, they'll contact you.  It's the perfect opportunity to have your support suggest they move you to the primary box so it doesn't happen again.

3. Write series (part 1, 2, 3)

Create emails in a series with part 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on.  If you got message #2 and #4…you'd want to know where in the world #3 went!

This is all about making your emails useful to your audience.  Make them something they look forward to receiving…not like all those sales emails being sent by everyone else.

4. Scarcity in Offers

The one negative is that subscribers may put off opening emails in their promotional tab until later.  And we all know what happens when it gets put off.  It likely gets forgotten or deleted in mass.

Consider adding more offers that are scarce in time frame.  If they don't open the email in time, they miss out on the offer.  Your best sales days will almost always be the last day before a deadline.  Use deadlines more often.

5. More Frequent Emails

Mailchimp recently reported they reviewed the open rates of emails on their system.  The average open rate before the change for Gmail users was just above 13% for weekdays.  After the change, there was a noticeable drop in open rates to just about 12%.

That's a pretty small drop, and some of it could easily be attributed to the system being new and subscribers not being able to find their emails.

The easiest fix is to simply add one more email a month.  That will make up for the drop.  And you'll see an increase in your open rates with more frequent emails…as subscribers start expecting them more often from you.

Even if Google does relegate you to the “promotional” category, you can brand your emails as something they look forward to receiving instead of just another promotion.

Find out how here in my new course Autoresponder Alchemy

Your Marketing Coach,
Terry Dean
“The Internet Lifestyle Mentor”
Earn More. Work Less. Enjoy Life!

Can you see why I love this guy?

Let me remind you about Terry's Marketing Mentor Program, so you can see if it's right for you.

In my opinion, this is for people who have already gotten past the initial hurdles and are ready for some serious butt-kicking.

Should you buy it?

NO. I would not recommend it for you if you're brand new and don't even have a blog or list yet.

YES! – If you're already building a list and you have a product under your belt and want to learn more about running a profitable business – then this can DEFINITELY help you to grow your income.

Here's the link to check it out again, if you think this is something that can help you.

Click here to Check out Terry's Mentoring Club

I love how Terry doesn't just call this article “How to survive in the day of Gmail tabs” but instead “How to Profit with Gmail tabs”. Clever.

One of the things I'm going to experiment with is an idea that I learned from my friend, Deb Drum, which I'll have her share over here in the next week or so – or possibly make this topic another Expert Briefs discussion – if you're interested.

Let's talk.

• What do you think about the new gmail tabs?
• Got any questions for me or Terry?
• Want more on this topic?

Let me know in the comments below.

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. If you are not ready for the Mentoring Program, check out Terry's free reports here -> Terry Dean's Internet Lifestyle Manifesto

PS again. Terry and I are not related nor married, by the way, in case you were wondering. (People ask all the time.)

You may have seen Terry's amazingly thorough response in my Expert Briefs blog post the other day “How to Get Other People to Promote You“. If not, click on that. It will open in a new window so you can read it later. It's awesome.

If you're newer to the scene, Terry is an established marketer who I respect and enjoy very much.

Here's his official bio so you can be suitably impressed.

Terry Dean started his online business from scratch in 1996. He went from delivering pizzas for a living to building a million dollar Internet business promoted primarily through the Internet. Within a few years he was also consulting with home based businesses, local companies, and million dollar corporations. His original company and websites were sold in 2004, and he founded MyMarketingCoach, LLC. which is dedicated to coaching entrepreneurs in the 10 key principles of success in business and life.

I am a paying member of his Mentoring Club – and I love the content.

Click here to Check out Terry's Mentoring Club

Be sure to check out the bonuses on that page. They. Are. RIDICULOUS!

Now that you know that we have a rock star in the house, read on for an awesome article.

How to Write an Article or Blog Post in 30 Minutes or Less

by Terry Dean

Content is currency online…especially when it’s attention grabbing and entertaining.

The more great content you publish, the more likely it can be shared, attract your target eyeballs, and build a relationship with your audience.

Here are 10 quick ideas to help you produce content quickly and achieve better results consistently.

1. Fill a notebook with ideas.

A blank page is a painful experience.  So never start with one.

Look for ideas constantly.  Keep a notebook with you to jot down ideas for your articles, videos, podcasts, and any other form of content.

I’m a little old fashioned and keep a small notebook and pen handy whenever the ideas comes.

You can also use the digital recorder on your phone.  The point is to capture the concept when it’s fresh.

When you sit down to write, you have a collection of ideas ready to go.

2. Keep an eye out for stories and metaphors.

Everything that happens in your life is potential fodder for a story.

For example, I regularly share marketing concepts from my dogs.  They’re a part of my life.

We live in the age of the celebrity.  You become a “mini-celebrity” in front of your audience as you let them peek inside your life.

The key here is to always relate the stories and principles back to your message.

3. Write first.  Edit later. 

Don’t confuse the two.  Write first.  Come back and edit it later or the next day.

If you’re trying to do both at once, it’s like writing with the brakes on.

You’re not going anywhere.  If you find yourself constantly editing while you write, you can even turn your monitor off to keep from distraction.

And don’t even think about trying to write with your browser open to other sites and distractions.

4. Use a series of tips.

A tips article like this one is much quicker to produce.

It only takes a couple of paragraphs about each tip.

Plus, these types of articles are easy to read as well.

I’ve done anywhere from 3 tips up to 21.  A bonus to the 21+ tip articles is they can often become series as well.

5. Create an ongoing series.

Break up your content to multiple days.  It becomes part 1, part 2, and part 3.

That one idea quickly morphs into a week of content or more.

The best use of this is when you have a large topic that needs to be broken into easy to follow bite-sized chunks.

6. Batch content.

You already have ideas in your notebook.  When you have a quiet writing session, such as in the early morning, churn out multiple pieces at once.

Once you’re flowing, don’t stop.  Keep going.  As soon as the first article is done, start the next one.  And keep it up until the inspiration is gone.

Getting the momentum going is the hard part.  You’ll get much more accomplished if you just hold on when it’s already moving for you.

7. Concise is better.

When you shooting for 30 minutes or less, you’ve got to keep it short.

You’ll not going to produce a monster sized 2,000 word foundational post for a blog in that timeframe.

But the majority of your content doesn’t need to be that anyway.  Most of my articles hover at 500 words or less.

There’s nothing wrong with 150 words if you can get your message across in that time frame.

People have a short attention span today.

8. Paste extra ideas in another document.

As you’re writing, other ideas will bounce through your head.  Don’t veer off in the wrong direction in your current piece, but you don’t want to lose the idea.

Anytime other ideas pass through your mind, toss them over in another document or idea file.  You can work on that idea for the next article.

9. Look for Q&A opportunities. 

Here’s another of my favorites.  People likely ask you questions by email or social media.

Use those questions as launching points for future content.

If one person has the question, others will also.  Publish the question (or the relevant portion) and answer in your article.

10. Become a reader.

The more you read, the easier it is to write.

You should also expand your reading outside of just “business materials.”

What other interests do you have?  Read on those subjects as well.  You’ll expand your knowledge base and your idea file.

Can you see why I love this guy?

I will give you a few of my tips, but first, let me remind you about Terry's Marketing Mentor Program, so you can see if it's right for you.

In my opinion, this is for people who have already gotten past the initial hurdles and are ready for some serious butt-kicking.

Should you buy it?

NO. I would not recommend it for you if you're brand new and don't even have a blog or list yet.

YES! – If you're already building a list and you have a product under your belt, then this can DEFINITELY help you to grow your business.

Here's the link to check it out again, if you think this is something that can help you.

Click here to Check out Terry's Mentoring Club

So, what else can help you to be a prolific writer? Three more tips from me.

I have three tools in my arsenal that I use. A ding, a draft, and a doodle. (Cute, eh?)

1. A ding.

I have two timers on my desk at all times. Setting a time allows me to brain dump an article quickly, rather than taking my sweet time in writing it. The quality of the article (after editing) is pretty much equal whether I write it in 20 minutes or 2 hours, so using a timer gives me more time to enjoy life.

I do need to upgrade my timer, though, after seeing this little owl timer! I SO need him! Isn't he adorable?!

Kikkerland Owl Kitchen Timers

2. A draft.

Whenever I get an idea for a blog post, I click on “Add New” in my blog's dashboard and I start a new blog post with that title. I then save it as a draft. That way, the next time I run into writer's block, I can open my drafts and see if anything catches my attention.

3. A doodle.

When I'm stuck in writing a longer piece, like a report or ebook, I doodle. I grab a notebook and start bubbling out my entire piece. That pen on paper action, combined with the freedom of linking things together while scribbling really helps me to make sense of the way that I want to teach something.

Here's an example of one that I doodled before a presentation that I did about Outsourcing.

What about you?

Let's talk.

• What are your best tips for writing quickly?
• What are your biggest frustrations with creating content?
• Got any questions for me or Terry?

Let me know in the comments below.

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. If you are not ready for the Mentoring Program, check out Terry's free reports here -> Terry Dean's Internet Lifestyle Manifesto

PS again. Terry and I are not related nor married, by the way, in case you were wondering. (People ask all the time.)

I wanted to share my experiences with content creation and repurposing with you so that you will be able to turn your ideas into content that will increase your visibility, credibility, and your bottom line…

When I came online in 2006 I quickly realized that I needed to start creating content if I was going to build a profitable business. The only problem was that I believed my writing was not very good, and that my ideas did not seem very original or innovative. Everyone else seemed to already have this content creation thing figured out.

Instead of giving up, I gave myself a needed boost of self-confidence by taking action and moving forward.

This served me in two ways; immediately I felt better about what I was working to achieve and my writing started to improve.

Writing articles and blog posts was an arduous process in the beginning. I would spend about two hours on each one, making sure that I was presenting my topic in a way that could be easily understood by my readers. The directories only required your articles to be two hundred fifty words at that time, but it was still a struggle for me to get my thoughts and ideas out of my head and on to the screen. I still type with only two fingers, so this probably seemed comical to anyone who saw me tapping away on my keyboard each day.

My blog posts were flat and uninteresting. The mechanics of getting them written and posted took all of my energy, leaving little time for creative ideas to flow. I was also trying to maintain ten different blogs during that first year, but that's a whole ‘nother conversation.

The ‘ten tips' style was the model I used for my articles back then, making a list of tips on my topic and then writing a couple of sentences about each one. I would then add a paragraph at the beginning and another one at the end to get to my two hundred fifty word minimum requirement to submit them to the article directories. Each day I would start with a new topic, so this process started all over again. The result was that my business grew very slowly as I worked to come up with new ideas. That all changed when I discovered how to repurpose my articles into a variety of different formats to create an ongoing stream of content.

Repurposing is simply the process of taking your idea and using it over and over in different ways. I think of this as being the ‘Life Cycle' of our original ideas. Going back to when I was starting out, I knew that I needed to have content to use as my foundation. So I challenged myself to write one hundred articles in one hundred days. This was a huge undertaking for me at that time, but I was willing to stretch myself in order to have an excellent chance at success. Those hundred articles (which only took me 78 days to write) became the basis for all of the content I created during the next six to twelve months. I will explain how this ‘life cycle' can work for you.

As an example, you can write three articles, submit them first to an article directory, and then turn them immediately into a short report. Even though the content is roughly the same, a whole new group of people will be able to learn from you when they receive your report. You can also rewrite these same articles and use them as blog posts. After the changes to Google's algorithm (the Panda, Penguin, and other updates since February, 2010) you'll want to make sure to rewrite them significantly before using them on your own sites.

The next step in the repurposing cycle is to use this new short report as a free giveaway for your existing site or new optin page. You may be thinking that your prospects and clients will recognize what they are receiving as something they have already read, but the truth is that everyone is at a different point in your autoresponder series and in their connection with your business, so they may not have even seen it the first time around. Over the past six years only two people have ever told me they had read my report before, and that was because I mentioned concepts that were innovative and original, something I had longed to be able to do since the beginning of my online career.

Publishing your report as a book for the Kindle or Nook can be the next step. You will attract and connect with an entirely new audience when you do this. It has never been easier to have your writing available in this way, and becoming a published author is a way to build your credibility as well. Because I give away my short reports, publishing your material in this way may also be the first step of the monetization of your content.

The next stop in this life cycle is to make an outline of your topic and turn it into an information product to sell online. Then you can further repurpose this content by teaching it as an online course. I have done this more than thirty times since coming online and it has been very lucrative.

At this point I like to take my content offline to use as presentations and handouts for when I speak to groups both locally and around the country. By explaining my original ideas to a live audience I receive feedback that is extremely valuable.

Don't forget about repurposing your content into audio and video as well as part of this process. I started hosting my own teleseminars in 2007 and used my articles, blog posts, and short reports to write my outlines and study guides to use during the calls. Even though many of the people have already read my material, they are anxious to hear me discuss it on a regular basis.

For video, remember that you do not have to make a personal appearance unless you want to. Create a short PowerPoint presentation that highlights the key points in your articles and blog posts and then post it to your YouTube channel to reach even more people who are interested in what you have to say on your topic.

Other ways to repurpose your content include e-courses, Internet radio (Blog Talk Radio is very good), podcasts, eBooks, and in your membership site.

We all have different learning styles and repurposing allows your prospects to take in your information in a way that suits their needs. It is also a huge time saver as you can use your same ideas to create many different final products. The life cycle of your content will continue to flow for years to come if you will think of it in this way.

About Connie Green:
Connie Ragen Green is a former classroom teacher and real estate broker/appraiser who left it all behind to come online. She works with new online entrepreneurs to help them get started online with a successful business based on their passions and life experiences. Her most popular program is the 10K Laser Coaching, where you can be a ‘fly on the wall' as she mentors her students as they build their own online empire.

Recommended Resource:

You can eavesdrop in while Connie coaches her friend to $10,000 per month. And, the best part? You don't have to pay the big bucks for private coaching.

Listen in while someone else makes the mistakes – so you don't have to.

Check that out here: Listen in on Connie's Private Coaching Here

Warmly,
Nicole Dean