NEW TO HOME BUSINESS 1. Points to consider before going into Business 2. Why would you want to start your own Business ? 3. Home Business idea you can use 4. Global Business opportunities
Personal Foundations 1. Making the most of your time 3. Business ethic & people skills 5. Leadership
MARKETING SOLUTIONS 7. Blogging 10. Motivation 11. Technology 12. SEO Strategies 13. SEO Tool OUR PARTNER The International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs ( IAHBE ) Bali Global Market others view 1. Bali Global Market tourism (Let us see what ?) 2.Bali Global Market hobbies( Let us see how ?) 3. Bali Global success profile ( Let us see why ?) 4. Bali Global Testimony ( Let us hear their voice ! ) 5. Bali Global Health (Let us try !) 6. About us 10. Contact Us
to the free Weekly Tips Internet Marketing Newsletter and Monthly Bali Global Market Ezine. GIVE TESTIMONY HERE |
Web
Marketing In Malaysia & Beyond: An Interview With Kidino by Gobala Krishnan, IAHBE Staff Writer
Introduction & Background Information Imbue a talented programmer and Web designer with ingenious Internet marketing skills and you’d get a killer combination of awe and admiration. Such is the story of Malaysian Iszuddin Ismail, better known in the Internet marketing circle as “Kidino." I catch up with Kidino just in time to see him successfully escape the rat race and the confines of a dull and limiting office cubicle to dig deeper into his thoughts of Internet marketing, e-commerce, and the art of making money online from strangers halfway across the world.
Interview GK: Hi Kidino, thanks for taking the time to participate in the interview. I was just reading your blog at MoneyClicking.net and signed-up for one of your DIY courses. I must say it’s refreshing to be interviewing a fellow Malaysian Internet marketer, and I hope this will benefit the readers as much as it does for me. KD: Hey, I am honoured. Thanks for picking me for your interview. GK: Could you give us a brief account on how you got started, and what drove your decision to build your own Internet based home business? KD: I started reading about Internet marketing and affiliate programs since 1999 or 2000 or so. But it was not until December 2001 that I actually had a Website up and running. That Website was a two-page content Website about computer cases. Actually, I built it and forgot all about it. Two months later, I remembered again and I checked my CJ.com account; I had $13 in there. From there, I started to update the Website, put more content…and later started more Websites But it has been drummed into my ears to build my own list. In middle 2004, I gave that a shot. I started with MoneyClicking.net. I even started to create my own product. I was selling DIY eBook Cover until middle 2005. Sales were alright, but I decided to take it down. As with the list building, things were slow. But in 2005, I started a few other projects like DIYMinisite.com and WOWPopUp.com. And that really took things far off the ground for me. GK: In your opinion, what is your greatest accomplishment so far? KD: From 2006, I am no longer an employee…30 December 2005 was my last day of work in an insurance company here in Malaysia. GK: What type of Internet business model do you prefer and why? (e.g., e-book, direct marketing, affiliate Websites, newsletter publishing, etc.) KD: I have built content-sites and doing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for traffic. I have created my own products. And starting in the of middle 2004, I started to build my own list as well. From all those, I have to say that I prefer to publish an ezine.
With content-sites and SEO, I have seen my sites go up and down the rankings...and even disappear. And I have also experienced situations where affiliate merchants stopped their affiliate programs. And with Adsense, sometimes you get high CTR (click-through rate), and sometimes you get pennies. I feel that I don’t have control. That is why I prefer publishing an ezine or ezines. With a list of potential buyers, you build relationship and trust, and they will be your greatest assets. Revenue can come from your own product, affiliate programs, etc...but as long as you have a good list, you have money. But I want you to know, though, my main focus right now is on list building and promoting related products to my subscribers on the sidelines. I still build Websites for Adsense and affiliate programs. GK: I followed your posts on the “1k Project,” where you challenged yourself to make $1,000 from scratch, and it was an interesting read. Would you mind sharing your preferred Internet marketing methods and how well they have worked for you? KD: Ah this...I challenged myself and others to make $1,000 in seven days, or 30 days at max. But there’s a catch. You have to do this as if you are a newbie. You can’t use your lists, you can’t seek joint-ventures from your friends, and you only have $100 to start with. Let me start with mine. I did two $1K Projects actually. One is where I created a lead capture page offering a 10-day course and at the same time try to sell them an affiliate product. I did get about 60 subscribers but no sales. Another project is where I offered a 6-week online course. I contacted people that I haven’t contacted before and asked them to promote my course. I did get six partners to do this but still, no sales. At last I cheated and promoted this to my list instead and the class is currently in progress. GK: Well, seven days is a tall order for $1,000 if you want to start from scratch. What are your favorite software applications to save time, boost productivity and achieve better marketing results? (i.e. auto responders, CMS [content management system], etc.) KD: My favorite software has to be an autoresponder. That is where I made most of my money. I started with e-mailAces.com because it allows me to start small from $8.95 per month. After that, it’s a text editor where I write my e-mail messages. I use Edit Pad Lite. As for Web building, I have fallen in love with XSitePro. Really easy to use and speeds up development a lot. When I was building content-sites a few years back, having XSitePro would’ve really sped things up. All the things that I used to do manually now can be done a lot quicker with XSitePro. As for graphics, I use Adobe Photoshop. I am with version CS right now . I use this quite a lot, actually. I use BCL’s EasyPDF to convert Words documents to PDF. Easy PDF will also convert your links into live links, and also your table of content into bookmarks in PDF. I bought this for just $9.95. I have BBFlashBack Express, a software that will record your every movement on the computer screen and turn them into Flash. This is great for creating tutorials...even products. The Express version is $39. But there’s also a pro version with editing capabilities. As for payment processor, I use Plimus.com and Stormpay. Sometimes I use Paypal but I don’t like to do that often because Malaysians can’t withdraw the fund. So when I do have Paypal money, I will pay my domain names at GoDaddy.com or purchase something with it. GK: In your opinion, what is the current situation of e-commerce and online shopping in Malaysia? Does it bode well for the e-commerce industry? KD: I think Malaysians are starting to get more familiar with this. More and more people are starting to do transactions online. GK: What do you think is the No. 1 disadvantage of operating a home-based business from Malaysia, and what is the No. 1 advantage? KD: The disadvantage—you tend to slack off and get fat. Well seriously, you may not be taken seriously if people know that you are actually working from your closet office, or your bedroom next to the toilet. But you can always find a virtual office or a PO box for that. The advantages? A lot...one of the best is having control of your own time. And being able to watch movie sneak previews when everybody else is out to work. And also not having to rush with other people to work, pay the bills, do groceries. Most of the time you can choose to go out when it’s not busy. GK: What do you like most about being your own boss, and what do you dislike? KD: I like the fact that I don’t have to report to anyone. No datelines, no due reports, no due assignments, etc...but what I don’t like is that now you have to do your own financial papers. Previously you have your EA form (tax return form) and that’s all that you need. Now you need to keep track of everything nicely to send over to the IRB (Inland Revenue Board). I am not such an organized person. GK: What are your plans for the future? KD: Before I send in my resignation notice, I consulted my wife, my mother and my father. I have to say that I was actually seeking blessings. My father, though he didn’t understand the Internet so much, he said this, “Whatever it is, you are going into business. Business is like a rollercoaster. You have your ups and your downs. Remember, when you make a lot – SAVE A LOT.” So my plans...I want to build my list further. And I want to relate more with my subscribers. I plan to offer more valuable tips and tricks, and also worthy offers. The more they trust you, the more they’ll buy from you. Apart from that, I am also looking for longer lasting income source like recurring commissions. I also started online MLM recently. We’ll see how this one goes. By the way, I have a few products in the pipeline... GK: Seems like you’re booked solid for 2006. Do you mind sharing titles of books, publications and Websites that have helped you gain the knowledge you have now, as well as provide inspiration for your overall personal growth? KD: Books The E-Code – Jo Han Mok, Joe Vitale, et.al. The Affiliate Masters Course – Ken Evoy Search Engine Visibility – Shari Thurow The Ultimate Salesletter – Dan Kennedy Web Copy That Sells – Maria Veloso Permission Marketing – Seth Godin Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki Cashflow Quadrant – Robert Kiyosaki Simple Steps to Impossible Dreams – Steven K. Scott The Ultimate Gift – Jim Stovall Websites http://www.associateprograms.com/ http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/ http://www.turningideasintodollars.com/ http://www.webmastermalaysia.com/ GK: What advice can you give to new home-based entrepreneurs, especially those from Malaysia who aspire to follow in your tracks?
GK: Yes, I’m aware of that mentality among some people. They spend all their time and resources finding ways to manipulate the system instead of building a real business. Thank you so much Kidino. For the record, I find your articles and DIY (Do It Yourself) resources extremely useful. Keep up the good work! KD: No...thank you...It’s great to know that you feel that way about my work. Will definitely inspire me to share more. GK: I wish you all the best in 2006. CONTACT INFORMATION Iszuddin
Ismail aka Kidino,
|
