Secret to Success: "Positive thinking, self confidence,

and hard work."

 

Miles Baker

Best Month (Gross Revenues): $25,000

Brought to you in partnership with Rod Beckwith – http://mrjv.com

Highest Education: One year of college

Year Started Business: 2002

Type Of Business: Software sales, information and affiliate marketing—"My main business at the moment is a software program called Audio Maker Pro that allows Webmasters to easily put their voices on their Website."

Market: Web Designers, Webmasters, affiliates, and Internet marketers

Best Month (Gross Revenues): $25,000

Hours Worked Per Week During Startup: 50 to 60 hours per week

Hours Worked Per Week Now: Approximately 25 to 35

Favorite Business Magazines: Entrepreneur, Business 2.0, Fortune

Favorite Business Books Or Authors:
As A Man Thinketh, by James Allen—"A fantastic book! The fact this book was written over 100 years ago proves that the concepts in it are timeless. As you think, so you are!"

The Magic Of Thinking Big, by David Schwartz—"As long as you are going to be thinking, you may as well think big! I really like this book because it illustrates the fact we are only limited by our thoughts and our ability to believe in them."

Awaken The Giant Within, by Anthony Robbins—"One of the most influential books I have read. This book is not only inspiring, but it provides a wealth of ideas and knowledge that will help anyone increase the quality of their life."

Relaxes By: Playing the guitar and recording music—"I also love spending time in the Colorado Rockies hiking and camping."

Keeps In Shape By: Working out about four times a week, running, and playing a lot of racquetball

Favorite Part Of The Job: The challenge and competition; things move so rapidly online and there is so much competition that it really keeps things exciting and fresh.

Least Favorite Part Of The Job: There's nothing I dislike in particular. If there is something I have to do, I try to learn how to enjoy it.

Companies Admired:
Netflix—Admirable because of their ability to take a standard business model (movie rentals) and adapt it to a more customer-oriented and friendlier service: no late fees, no per-title rental fees, no due dates, etc.

The Burrito Stand in Fort Collins, Colo.—"A burrito stand? Yes, this guy gives the most incredible customer service I have ever seen. He even has a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all his food! I know several top companies that could learn something from this tiny operation."

Dell—They strive to provide excellent customer service and have excellent products that they stand behind.

Favorite Quotes:
You can do anything you wish to do, have anything you wish to have, be anything you wish to be. - Robert Collier

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. - Michael Landon

Rarely is anything a matter of being able to do it, yet more often than not it's a matter of just doing it. - Miles Baker

The Person Who Most Influenced His Life: "My father, who has been an entrepreneur ever since I can remember. Growing up and watching the successes and failures of someone trying to make it on their own taught me a lot of lessons. I learned first hand that persistence and commitment pays off."

Heroes:
Arnold Schwarzenegger—He did whatever he had to to make it. He overcame major challenges and obstacles to achieve success. His drive and determination are inspiring.

Terry Dean—"This Internet marketer inspired me to take my online business to the next level. What I admire most about Terry is his impeccable honesty."

Special Business Achievements/Honors: " I believe that starting and running a successful business from home is an incredible achievement in and of itself. When I started, it was just a dream, but the more people I saw and heard about who were working from home, the more encouragement it gave me to do the same. Turning that dream into reality has been one of my biggest business achievements to date."

Months Before Achieving A Profit: "I started making a profit my first month when I started selling online. My startup costs were extremely small, so making a profit was easy because I only had to make a few sales."

Books/Tapes/Reports Authored: "I author a monthly newsletter called 'Real Marketing Secrets' that outlines the methods and tactics I use to market my business online. Readers can join at http://www.realmarketingsecrets.com."

Contact Miles At: Phone—(800) 373-7680, Fax—(720) 240-4664, or E-mail—miles@realmarketingsecrets.com

GETTING STARTED:

I'm starting a home business next month. I have a maximum of $3,000 in start-up capital. Where should I invest it?
First, just because you have $3,000 doesn't mean you need to invest all of it right away. The goal is to spend as little as possible when starting your business. Once you have a product or service to market, you should then test small amounts of money in various forms of advertising until you find a method that works. Once you find advertising that is steadily turning a profit, invest more into it.

I've just started a home business. My spouse has given me six months to make it work. Any advice?
If you are willing to adapt, then you should have no problem turning some kind of profit within six months. The key is "willing to adapt." This may mean totally changing the direction in which you are going. At one point, I was so determined to make money with a certain business opportunity that I was blinded to the fact that I was losing money. I wanted so badly to make it successful, I couldn't see that I was going in the wrong direction.

They say it takes money to make money. Should I try to get a small business loan for my start-up capital or just try to get by with my own limited finances?
It doesn't cost much at all to get started online. Remember, you are in business to make money, not spend money. Spend as little as possible. Depending on your business, you may not need more than a few hundred dollars to get started. I started with nothing but a computer and about $300. My recommendation is to start as small as possible. Once you have proven that your business will work, you should consider getting a loan if you need it.

TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS:

How quickly do you adopt new technology for your business?
If I see something new that I know will help my business, I jump on it immediately. Just yesterday I saw a new service that allows you to create surveys that you can use to follow up with your customers. I immediately joined and created my surveys and started getting customer responses. If you don't act immediately on new technology, you can get left behind real fast.

Do you use a fax machine with a dedicated line? How do you use it?
Yes, I have a fax machine with a dedicated line. I use it mainly for sending signed documents back and forth, such as joint venture agreements, etc.

How do you use e-mail in your business?
E-mail is the lifeblood of my online business. It's the main way I communicate with people. I use follow up e-mails and also run an e-mail newsletter.

How do you utilize the Internet?
The Internet is my business. I only sell online and only sell virtual products, such as software, e-books, or affiliate products.

How many of your own Website(s) do you have?
I have about 20 different Websites. I have a dedicated support Website for customer support. I have sales Websites, lead-generation Websites, and even some Websites designed just to rank well in search engines. Most of my Websites, whether they are selling something or not, are designed to collect the visitors' e-mail addresses. Once I have a visitors' e-mail addresses, I can promote all my Websites to them forever.

Do you use autoresponders?
I use several autoresponders. I automatically follow up with my customers, my potential customers, and my newsletter subscribers. I even have an auto-responder that follows up with anyone who asks a question about my products. The responder follows up with customers two days after their initial contact with me. The e-mail message makes sure their questions were answered and offers my assistance if they need anything. I can't tell you how many people have made additional contact with me and how much extra business it has generated. Just a simple automated follow up to let your customers know you care can make a huge difference.

If you use a toll-free number, what is its primary use?
My toll-free number is for customer support, as well as for anyone to contact me to discuss business opportunities.

If you use voice mail, what is your primary use for it?
Voice mail is only used for missed calls. Nothing special.

Describe your computer system and how you use computers in your business.
I have two computers and three flat screen monitors. One of the computers is hooked up to two of the monitors allowing me to drag applications from one monitor directly to the other. Not only does this give me twice as much desktop space, but it allows me to look at documents or Web pages while I am working on something else related to it. For example, when I do Web design I can look at other sites for ideas while I am working on my Website. If you can afford it, I highly recommended hooking up two monitors to your computer. I use a laptop when I travel. All my computers have Windows XP installed on them. I have a scanner, digital camera, and a professional microphone. If you are going to be doing any Web audio recording, I recommend getting the best microphone you can afford; it makes a big difference.

What software do you consider in the "must-have" category?
TypeItIn Pro—If you're tired of typing in the same things over and over, this software is for you: http://www.wavget.com/typeitin.html.

Audio Maker Pro—Of course, I couldn't have a must-have list without mentioning my own software. ;) Audio is proven to increase sales when used effectively on the Web. If you want to easily put your voice on your Website, check out Audio Maker Pro: http://www.audiomakerpro.com/mrjv

RoboForm—This is an absolutely MUST-HAVE software program. It securely remembers all your passwords, your credit card information, everything. You will never have to manually fill out a form or log into a Website again: http://www.roboform.com.

What other technology do you use in your business?
I use a service called LiveResponse that allows me to chat online directly with my customers. It costs $19.95 a month and can be found at http://www.kayako.com. I also use Voice Over IP (VoIP) telephone service. It's a telephone line that goes through your Internet connection. The cost is cheaper than regular telephone service and cell phones. They provide toll free numbers, dedicated fax lines, and unlimited long distance for one low monthly fee. The service I use is called Vonage and can be found at http://www.vonage.com. (IAHBE members: See the Tool Review on VoIP in the Book & Tool Reviews section of the IAHBE Website.)

Name up to five personal favorite business URL's our readers can benefit from:
http://www.elance.com - Great place to find people to design Websites, graphics, software, etc.
http://www.godaddy.com - Cheap domain names
http://www.downloads.com - Excellent source for freeware and shareware
http://www.htmlbasix.com - Great tools for Webmasters
http://www.bored.com - Take a break; you can't work all the time. This Website is very entertaining.

Of all the technology you use, rank the top three.
1. My Dell Computer with Dual RAID Hard Drives. Not only does my computer allow me to run my entire business, but having two hard drives being written to at the same time makes sure I always have a secure backup copy of my files.

2. Autoresponders—They allow me to follow up and communicate with unlimited customers and prospects 24/7.

3. Audio Recording Equipment—Allows me to record audio to put on Websites or CDs. I can record audio and use it to create products I can sell or use it to sell products by placing audio on the Web.

MARKETING & ADVERTISING:

How do you market on the Internet?
I use search engines, pay-per-clicks, and some paid advertising. I also use the power of link exchanging and affiliates to bring traffic to my Websites.

Approximately what percent of your sales originate from Internet marketing?
100%

Do you recommend using a toll-free number in advertising?
Yes, you should offer every means possible to allow your customers to contact you until you are too busy to handle it.

Where do you market? (locally, nationally, internationally, all three?)
Only online.

THE HOME OFFICE:

How should someone set up his/her home office to maximize its effectiveness?
Make it inspiring! Whether it's putting in a bay window or just hanging up pictures of your goals and dreams, your office space should motivate and inspire you.

What, if any, ground rules have you established for yourself and family in order to operate a successful home business?
Since I live by myself, I rarely get interrupted. The only rule I have is that I keep my business and office separated from the rest of my home. When I started my business, I was in a single room apartment, and no matter where I was, I couldn't get away from it. I would hear e-mail come in and I would go rushing to the computer, even while I was taking a nap or doing other things. Basically, I couldn't get away from my work. Now that I live in a larger house, I have a separate home office and don't work outside of it.

What are some of the advantages to working at home? What are some of the disadvantages?
Advantages: The biggest advantage is the time it saves. When you work from home, you have no commute, no dress code. You don't have to go anywhere for lunch, and you have complete control and flexibility over your time. Disadvantages: It's easy for your business to take over your life when you work at home. My suggestion is to keep personal life and business separated as much as possible.

MANAGEMENT STYLE:

What part(s) of your work do you farm out?
I farm out some graphic design and programming. I only farm out what I cannot do or have time to do.

What part(s) do you feel should never be farmed out?
Whatever you do best or enjoy the most.

Do you encourage or discourage Partnerships?
I encourage partnerships. It's always great to have a second opinion and someone whose skills and knowledge you can benefit from.

Do you encourage or discourage hiring family members? Why?
Well, it really depends on the family. I worked for my father for years, and we got in some pretty heated arguments to say the least. Over time we learned to work together very well. One advantage to hiring family is you can usually trust them more than anyone else. If you think you would enjoy working with family, it's definitely worth giving a try.

When legal issues arise, what's your usual response?
Deal with them immediately. Keep detailed records of everything, because you never know what you may need.

MONEY & INVESTMENTS:

What are the advantages of earning a lot of money. What are some disadvantages?
Advantages: Power, freedom, and security. Money gives you the power to help others, freedom of more options and choices, and security. Not having money worries can really free up your mind to focus on your life and business. Disadvantages: When people know you have money, they will treat you differently. Friends will try to borrow it, people will try to take advantage of it, and some people will expect more from you financially.

Best general tax advice?
Get an accountant. Find out what the best form of filing would be for you. If you don't know, don't be afraid to ask. My first year in business, I filed as an individual and paid higher taxes because of it. If I would have started an S-Corporation, I would of saved thousands of dollars. It pays to know your options, and the sooner you find out, the better.

Best general investment advice?
Educate yourself. Many people are too afraid to invest their own money so they have a financial advisor or someone else do it for them. I personally don't recommend having anyone else handle your money. No one, and I mean NO ONE, is going to care about your money more than you do.

You're in business already, and you've just received a windfall of $20,000. What would you do with it?
I would give some away to charity, spend some, and invest the rest.

THE ROAD AHEAD:

In five years I'll be...
Marketing online, holding seminars, doing public speaking, and selling information products to the Internet marketing community.

In 10 years I'll be...
If I'm lucky, I will be doing the same thing. I love it. I will also be writing and publishing books.

POWERFUL IDEAS:

What was the motivating factor that drove you to start your own business?
Money and freedom were the motivating factors for me to start working from home. Owning your own business gives YOU control. You make the decisions and you determine your own income.

What role, if any, did your family play when you were getting your business off the ground?
My family was there to encourage me and help me if I needed it. They never provided financial support and their advice was limited, but just knowing they were behind me helped a lot.

What motivates you now to continue building your business?
Setting goals keeps me very motivated. I set goals for every aspect of my business. The process of reaching them is not only challenging and exciting, but it gives me a sense of achievement once they are accomplished.

What's the best thing about being self-employed?
The best thing about being self-employed is being able to wake up and live life on my own terms. I never have to go to a job or do anything I don't want to. I am free to schedule whatever I want whenever I want. Everyday I get to do what I enjoy.

How often do you read books and/or listen to or watch tapes for improving your business skills or knowledge?
More or less, every day.

The most underrated activity in business is…
Customer service. Without customers there would be no business. You should do everything you can to please the customer.

The most overrated activity in business is…
Having employees.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to face when you were launching your own business? What's your biggest obstacle now?
My biggest obstacle was finding the right people and companies to farm out work to. This is still one of my biggest obstacles.

If you had to start your business all over again, what would you do differently?
I would back up everything on a consistent basis. I lost a ton of information by not backing up my computer. It set me back months. I will never have to learn that lesson again.

What was your worst business decision? Why?
Trying to do too much and take on too many projects. You can only do so much before you start to spread yourself out too thin. When you get involved in too many things, everything starts to suffer.

What was your best business decision? Why?
Just getting started. Most people fail before they even get started because they never take that first step. Just taking action to start my own business was the best decision ever.

What do you consider to be the main keys of your success? Why?
The main keys of my success have been my ability to focus on a desired outcome and adjust accordingly to make it a reality.

What's your success philosophy?
It doesn't matter exactly what you do, but you must DO something. Do anything that takes you in the direction of your dreams. Everyone talks about things they "want" to do. It's not what you're dreaming of or talking about, but what you are DOING that counts.

What about you has changed the most since finding success in business?
I have more confidence. I feel much more empowered to make changes in my life and business.

What is the legacy you hope to leave?
I hope to leave legacy of hope and encouragement for anyone looking to achieve their dreams.