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E-mail marketing is hands down the most powerful and effective form of online marketing. Nothing comes close. Seriously. Even search marketing with all its hype and tried-and-proven success can’t even hold the candle to just how effective list marketing can be. It’s easy to see why, survey after survey, marketing firms keep putting e-mail marketing at or near the top of their advertising preferences. Here are the reasons why.

Through e-mail marketing, you can get in front of the eyeballs of your audience members anytime anywhere. That’s right. You can be at a beach in the Bahamas somewhere writing an e-mail update. Plug that in to your e-mail service provider and your audience, regardless of where they may be in the world and regardless of what they’re doing, are sure to get your e-mail. After all, most people check their e-mail inboxes. Isn’t that awesome?

This enables you to sell more products. Since you have a de facto relationship with people who voluntarily got on your mailing list, you are able to keep the conversation going. You don’t get just one bite at the apple in trying to get list members to buy. Every time you send an update, you get a chance to convert some of your audience members into buyers.

Through e-mail, you also get to keep in touch with the needs of your audience. It’s like you’re plugged in to what they need, what they’re looking for and the problems that they face. After all, that’s the reason why they joined your mailing list in the first place. They’re looking for solutions and answers that your list can provide.

This enables you to keep a steady flow of traffic to your blog or online store. Now, this traffic may not convert right there and then but the fact that it is constant enables you to get many bites at the apple. You don’t just get a one-shot chance at converting online traffic. That traffic can come back again and again with each and every update that you spend.

If you’ve heard great things about social media, you might want to think again. Social medial marketing faces many challenges because of the evolving algorithms of platforms like Facebook. As the years go by, Facebook is sending less and less organic traffic.

Even if you have a big Facebook fan page with a gigantic following, you’d be lucky for your page posts to reach a tiny fraction of your following. It’s getting worse and worse with each passing year.

With e-mail marketing, you have a higher chance of reaching your complete mailing list instead of being at the mercy of these changing social media platform algorithms. It really all boils down to how well you write your headlines and how targeted your list recruitment is. If you did your homework and you played your cards right, you stand to reach a much larger percentage of your list audience. This is not the case with the typical Facebook fan page.

Finally, with your own e-mail list, you stay in control of your access to your audience. You can even download your list members’ e-mail addresses as you move from one e-mail service provider to the next. This list is your asset. It’s not going away anytime soon. Given all these amazing reasons, it’s no wonder lots of old-school online marketers say “The money is in the list.”

But wait… If you have just jumped in with both feet into e-mail marketing, I’ve got some bad news for you. You’re probably going to fail. There, I said it. You can fail by:

- Putting up a list but it doesn’t attract many members.
- Attracting enough people to your list but most don’t open your e-mails.
- Building a huge list of people with many opening your e-mails - but most don’t buy anything.

The sad reality is that the vast majority of people who try their hand at e-mail marketing have very little to show for it. They spend money every single month on their e-mail service provider only to come up empty handed.

Failure in e-marketing comes in many different forms because people try many different things. Marketers also have many different circumstances and priorities. However, they all lead to the same place: very low to no income!

If you want to get into e-mail marketing and enjoy the amazing passive income it can produce for you, you are reading the best book to get your started. Seriously. No other book comes close because almost all other books out there try to pump you up about e-mail marketing. They get you all hyped up but they leave you high and dry. How come? They do not step you through a systematic and methodical way of doing modern e-mail marketing.

Let me tell you the old tricks no longer work. Get rid of them. Don’t get excited by them. Otherwise, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Unfortunately, almost all the other e-mail list marketing books out there keep rehashing the same stuff.

In this guide, you are going to get just what you need to succeed in the highly competitive yet also highly lucrative world of e-mail marketing. Put simply, I will step you through the process of putting up a modern e-mail list - one that is engineered to succeed from the ground up. I have trimmed all the fat off. There is no fluff in this book. Instead, you’re going to get clear, easy-to-understand concepts that you need to wrap your mind around for you to be successful.

If you have a fuzzy idea of who your target audience is, you are going to fail with e-mail marketing. You really are.

You might as well give up now if you are chasing after some sort of vaguely defined market.

Audience identification is crucial for niche list marketing. You cannot just target everybody. You have to drill down to a specific population of people who are trying to solve a fairly narrow set of problems. This is how you define their needs. By directly addressing the needs of these individuals, conducting enough consumer research and speaking their language, you would be able to convert a high percentage of them from website visitors to list members to product buyers.

It is crucial that you go from raw traffic to dollars in your bank account. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time. All the traffic in the world is not going to add one red cent to your bank account unless you target a specific niche market and give its audience the solutions that they are looking for.

Finding the Right Audience So, how do you know which audience you should target? There are many different audiences out there. All of them cluster around a specific range of needs or problems. Well, it all boils down to commercial value of those needs. There are many problems out there that people are not going to pay top dollar to solve. Sure, people are looking for the right DVD set of headphones but there is a limit to people’s budgets. Different problems have different priorities.

You need to find a niche that has enough commercial value. One way to estimate this is to use Google AdWords Keyword Planner and do cost-per-click research on keywords related to your niche. If you notice that advertisers are willing to pay a lot of money per click on those keywords, then you’re in a good spot. Chances are there is enough commercial demand for that niche. People are willing to pay a significant amount of money to solve problems related to your niche.

It’s also important to make sure that you are targeting a niche that is big enough. Sure, there are lots of advertisers willing to pay a tremendous amount of money for “structured settlement” keyword traffic. We’re talking about more than $20 per click. The problem is the volume of searches for that niche is actually quite low.

Make sure the niche you are targeting has enough demand as indicated by Google Keyword Planner. This tool not only tells you how much advertisers are willing to pay per click but it will also give you an estimate of the volume of searches for keywords related to that niche. You’re looking for a nice combination of decent commercial value with decent traffic volume.

Finally, you should also pay attention to competition levels. If you pick a niche that is extremely competitive with gigantic brands monopolizing pretty much all the search volume for keywords related to that niche, you probably are going to have a tough time making inroads. You should look for a niche that is somewhat competitive but no so competitive that there’s absolutely no space for newcomers.

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The Name Of The Game

Hi there. Welcome to Evergreen Leads Business.

If you're new to doing business online, read with an open mind and leave behind your struggles and frustration. And if you're a seasoned marketer, good! Now it's time to go great.

Whatever business you're in right now, whether you’re...

Selling your own product as a vendor

Promoting other people's products as an affiliate, A coach looking for Clients, A service provider, An MLM / Network Marketing Distributor...

This book has the answers you seek. It is the missing puzzle that most business owners and marketers alike are seeking and when you put it all together, this will add another digit to your income. Maybe two.

You should have a reason for having this book in your hands. This book will change your life, the same way it did for other internet marketers out there. Bold statement? No, understatement is more like it.

If you are new and clueless on what to do, but all you know is you want to make money online, then this is going to save you months, or easily years of guesswork.

If you have been trying to succeed for a long time with no results, the coming pages will de-mystify Internet Marketing for you. Evergreen Leads Business is meant to take the complicated stuff and break it down to simple-to-follow steps.

If you have been buying one shiny object after another - STOP. This book is the missing puzzle that will show you how to put together the things you've purchased and transform them into a tangible, cash-generating machine.

If you have your own product, or bought the rights to another product, but don't know how to get Customers, the answers are staring back at you.

If you are an affiliate promoting other people's products for commissions, this book will show you how to build authority on par with the vendors you promote. The last thing you want to be right now is another 'me too' marketer.

If you are a Network Marketer and run an MLM business, the same holds true.

It's a red sea to compete with thousands, tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of other people promoting the same product as you. How would you like to discover an edge over your Cross-lines and even Uplines, and grow your network even if you have exhausted your own contacts?

If you are a service provider or a Coach, and you have trouble looking for Clients, often times the real problem isn't so much in the way you sell but rather it's a PROSPECTING problem. The good news is, the same method to sell products is also applicable to attracting high paying Clients.

All in all, every business needs one thing: LEADS.

Picked up a common pattern?

Every business has a lead problem.

Even if you have a proven sales system, you will still need leads. You can't possibly sell anything if no one even knows about you in the first place, yes or yes?

And no matter how big your business grows, you will still need and want MORE leads.

Unfortunately for most people, the only experience they have is frustration. That's why most marketers desperately resort to hard-sell, hype and heavyhanded sales tactics. And as a result, they betray their insecurity to their prospects. And what happens? Either most prospects leave, or the few Customers they close will become disgruntled buyers.

There are a few recurring 'themes' or common causes of failure when it comes to internet marketing businesses. Most of the time, the reason why most businesses suffer has to do with lead generation.

Sure, there are other factors - like having a compelling message, converting sales funnel, quality products, etc. but if you have no one to show your offer to, then you can't make any money. Period.

Evergreen Leads Business addresses the root of the problem.

Is this the ultimate book and last word in marketing? Absolutely not.

And neither is any other book.

But for everything else to make sense and come together, Evergreen Leads Business holds the answer. If you know how to find and generate leads, you not only solve a big part of the problem in your business but you can very well scale your business and turn yearly income into monthly income, or monthly income into weekly income.

But first, make sure you’re honest with yourself. It's time to confront some of the limiting beliefs that has been holding you back from achieving greatness.

A lot of people approach this business, hoping to make money as a newbie. There is nothing wrong with being a newbie, but there is something very wrong with trying to succeed as a newbie.

Think of the experts and leaders you know in ANY industry, niche or profession. Did they get to where they are today by staying a newbie? Or did they invest time, effort and money to hone their skills and mastery? Yet for some strange reason, most people don't want to level up. Maybe because it takes effort and that's a put off. Look, your business isn't going to build itself. If you're planning to do nothing or want everything handed to you on a silver platter then you might as well stop reading here. There are no millionaire earners that got results just by staying ignorant or refusing to grow out of their comfort zone.

Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a newbie. No one starts out being an expert. But success is earned, not given.

Pursue mastery. Make it your craft. And don't worry if you've not done this before. No one has ever died from learning how to make money online!

We are living in the most exciting time of human history and the sheer amount of opportunities is unprecedented. Believe it or not, you already have access to some of the most powerful leverage easily afforded to mankind.

And this book will help you achieve the power to earn up to 7 figures.

Are you ready to do this?

Chapter 1: The Alpha Marketer

If you've been in the Online Marketing scene for at least a few months, then you will have already learn of some of the marketing top guns. The guys who are crushing it in this business.

You will have also come across more marketers in the making.

And then, there is the rest of the crowd. The majority of the people who are not making much money - or any at all.

After so many years of Internet development, evolving technology, abundance of training products, software, and more opportunities than ever before, how is it that the odds of success had hardly improved?

Is the playing field still far from being leveled?

Or hmm... could the culprit be the individual himself?

Most people might find it unsettling to learn that they are responsible for their own success (or the lack thereof) but in actual fact, it’s good news.

Isn't it great to be able to forge your own path and be the master of your own destiny? Or would you rather surrender that power to someone else and be at the mercy of external forces you have little to no control over?

The main point is this: if you've been struggling to make sales, be it online or in person, the first thing you've got to do is take responsibility for your actions - or the lack thereof.

For success is found within you, not outside you. It's not found in the e-book you've just bought, or the seminar you're about to attend. I mean, sure, these are great time savers and a compass in the right direction, like this book you're reading right now.

However ultimately, your business isn't going to build itself. Not in the initial stage, at least. And these books, courses, programs, software, etc. they're just tools for you to use and leverage on. If you're a lousy carpenter, you can have the best saw in the world and still produce mediocre work. But put average tools into the hands of an expert and he can craft beauty.

It's hard not to see where this is going.

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Chapter 1

What Is REVERSE AGING?

Turning Back The Biological Clock

Who doesn’t want to look young? The concern becomes more paramount as we start to advance in age and mature in years.

But despite every effort towards advancement, the one thing that we as human beings have not been able to control is time.

The clock keeps ticking and with it our biological age. And given our obsession with looking young, feeling young and staying that way, it is no wonder that a lot of research has gone into finding ways to stop the aging process. But before you can actually do the right thing to RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH, you need to get an idea of what is causing the change.

First, there are simple biological reasons that cannot be ignored or controlled (more like inevitable). For instance, aging is a natural process that occurs in all the body’s tissues, cells and organs. These cells undergo changes with aging by becoming larger and less adept at dividing and multiplying. Among other things, there is also a growth in fatty substances and pigments that start to collect inside the cells.

At the same time many cells also lose their potential to function properly or may start to function unusually. A pretty dismal picture so far, most would think.

And then there are factors like outside influences which can be controlled (these are the ones we can work on and will discuss in much detail in this book). If you have lifestyle habits like smoking, enjoy frequent night caps, or like to pop a pill every time you sneeze, you may unconsciously be promoting premature aging. Also, if you are not someone who likes to exercise regularly, you have just added years to your real age and unfortunately, these will show.

The results can be less than pleasant; fine lines and wrinkles way before time, greying and thinning hair as well as weak and brittle nails.

However, as far as aging goes, most of us tend to be concerned with only half the equation; the superficial half. But aging is not only about looking good on the outside. If anything, it’s about feeling great on the inside. If you are healthy on the inside, it will naturally reflect on the outside, giving you a youthful and vibrant appearance as well.

Of course, the way you appear to others is an obvious indicator of how successful you may have been in halting the aging process. But when you pair it up with feeling healthy on the inside, the benefits of RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH are boosted. A body that functions well, heals well and looks good too is the full package for successful RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH.

Advances in the medical field has allowed people to recover faster from illness and injury reclaiming their health back. It has also reduced the incidence of ailments and afflictions that were once considered fatal but are now fairly easy to prevent and treat. Plus, many of these have now been downright eradicated.

But while we may not be able to reverse the biological clock, we can do a lot to take better care of ourselves so that age doesn’t show and we can still feel youthful.

Biological vs Chronological Age

Just to clarify things a bit, as humans we have two different ages. First there is the chronological age which is the number of years a person has been alive and starts with your birth date. And then there is the biological age which is how old a person seems. When we talk about RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH, it is the biological age that we want to retain and improve on, since the chronological one keeps ticking, no matter what.

It is also the biological age that takes into consideration lifestyle factors and habits. So while how we age chronologically is beyond our control, there are things we can do to improve on our biological age.

The Natural Approach to RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH

Reclaiming your youth does not have to be an impossible task. It can be as simple as changing the things we do to ourselves because the damage that we bring on ourselves is the easiest to correct. There are a number of ways that you can optimize your health and prolong your life.

Step One

This part of the RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH program deals with making dietary changes, boosting the immune system, reducing systemic inflammation and removing toxic waste from the bodyall pretty basic stuff. In other words, this part of the damage control is up to you. You are in charge and play an active role in how effectively you can RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH, but more about that in later chapters.

Step Two

The second part of damage control involves preventing and reversing damage at the cellular level. This component of RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH may not totally be up to you as factors promoting aging are genetically programmed in your cells. Having said that, there are still some proactive measures you can take to prevent damage at the cellular level.

For one, you can incorporate more exercise into your daily routine to keep circulation moving, the heart pumping well, and the lymphatic system flowing freely. This will, among other things, nourish and replenish your cells well.

Second, you can invest in some quality anti-aging products that will work internally to regenerate cells and minimize aging effects. A lot more on this in upcoming chapters.

Step Three

The final step in this process addresses hormonal changes that affect aging at a macro level. Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers telling the body what to do and when. With regards to aging, hormones tell the body how to age and any fluctuations in hormonal levels affects aging.

While hormonal production cannot be completely dominated by any single treatment, you can make small but sensible changes to restore these imbalances. Some basics to boost the body’s ability to create and balance hormones include changing lifestyle and dietary habits while staying away from common stressors and detoxifying.

And then of course, there is all that hormonal therapy that you could get involved in, but do you really to go there? Instead follow a sensible age reversing protocol that will help you better control the way you age. These basics can not only prevent and reverse chronic illnesses but also the signs and symptoms of aging.

In this book we will look at the different factors that affect the production of collagen, on the external front, concerning the look and feel of skin. On the internal front, which is equally important, we will look at what is crucial to keep you young and healthy on the inside.

Chapter 2

The Science Behind RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH

While a lot of research has been done on the subject, a recent one was actually successful in reversing the process of aging in mice. The study indicated that not only did the mice appear younger but that their lifespan was extended by approximately 30 percent. And while the study has only been done on mice, the researchers are hopeful that the same would be ready for human trials within ten years.

Epigenetics

The basis of this research was something called epigenetics. By definition, this means the study of inherent changes in gene function. As we move through life, our genetic makeup changes in many different ways.

For instance, outside factors such as environmental pollutants like smoking or lifestyle habits like alcohol and drug dependency can bring about changes. And with a change in our genes, our bodies change as well. When the body changes, it starts to age.

Whether these changes promote a predisposition to an inherited condition such as heart disease, diabetes or arthritis or create a new condition that the body remains unable to recover from, such epigenetic changes supply a lot of information for why these things happen. And when scientists find out why these changes happen they can work on a way of stopping them from happening, or even reversing them such as in aging.

Scientists have also determined an age reversing agent known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD+. This compound was present more in younger mice than older ones and is very important in repairing DNA damage. There is also another DNA repair agent called PARP1 which responds well to NAD+ levels in the human body. So the higher the NAD+, the more PARP1.

Younger individuals, much like younger mice, have higher levels and these levels start to fall as people age. This, in turn, makes it harder for DNA to restore itself. So with this in mind, scientists gave more NAD+ to older mice and sure enough, they started to appear younger, biologically.

As a takeaway, research findings concluded that by changing adult cells into their earlier stage, RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH may be set in motion.

But that is for the scientists to do. As for your part, what you can do to RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH is to take better care of yourself to stop cellular damage at different levels. Once your cells are working well, they are in a stronger position to repair DNA themselves and stop aging prematurely.

What Else Does Science Say?

Science has a whole lot more to say about RECLAIM YOUR YOUTH, but we will only look at some basics here. Just enough to get an idea about established research into the topic.

Genetic Component

Looking for a way to halt aging has undoubtedly stepped into science labs to unlock the mysteries of aging. In fact, research believes that not only may we be close to stopping aging but actually reversing it as well.

For starters, as mentioned earlier, your genes have a big role in how fast or slow you age. But because genes are something beyond your control, here is what you need to know about genes affecting the aging process.

DNA research has shown that specific genes are responsible for aging. Collectively dubbed as ‘late life cyclers’, this set of genes activate only in later life or during bouts of intense stress.

Stressors relators to aging such as molecular and cellular damage, oxidative stress and even some disease states cause these genes to respond. Plus some of these genes have been studied to be more active in individuals with cancer, creating more responses in such people and signalling a higher level of distress. All of this activity will quickly age you taxing not only your looks but also your health.

The same set of genes are also activated if something called the circadian rhythm is out of sync.

Circadian Rhythm

One of the elements that needs to be maintained well is a person’s circadian rhythm. This is roughly your 24 hour cycle, or body clock which determines your physical, mental and behavioral patterns. In other words, daily routines from waking up to going back to sleep all fall within your circadian rhythm. It is also known as your sleep/wake cycle.

So what you do during this sleep/wake cycle can actually determine the state of your overall health. Your circadian rhythm works best when you have regular sleep habits such as going to bed at a good hour and waking up early in the morning (incidentally, the circadian rhythm also coincides with sunrise and sundown).

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Introduction

What if I told you that making money online is really not all that different from making sales in the brick and mortar world? That's right. The rules of online selling haven't revolutionized how people sell. There's nothing new.

Indeed, the bad news is, if you're having a tough time selling stuff online, it's precisely because the rules of selling hasn't changed. You still have to work with these principles, or else you'll continue to struggle or continue to fail.

The good news? These can be easily adapted to the internet.

It's important to understand what these principles are and their online adaptations, so you can take full advantage of online traffic. Using these classic principles, online income success can be boiled down to six basic truths.

If you want to make money with a mailing list and enjoy financial freedom, you have to wrap your mind around these six basic truths. Make no mistake about it, your budding online income empire depends on it. It must address these six basic truths and the principles they contain.

Truth #1: Create demand out of existing demand

What if I told you that the cheapest source of new business does not involve printing out ads, putting together a Facebook campaign, or spending money on Google Adwords? Instead, the cheapest source of clients for your business are your existing customers. Whether they have bought from you in the past or they're just members of your list, they are the cheapest source of new business.

Truth #2: Credibility and authority builds trust that ensures sales When was the last time you bought something from somebody that you did not know? I would venture to guess that your answer would be never. Put in another way, when was the last time you bought something from somebody you did not trust? Again, I would bet that your answer would be never.

That's how most normal people think. They don't buy from people they don't know.

They don't buy anything worth of value from people they simply do not trust.

Email List Building

Unfortunately, a lot of online entrepreneurs are completely clueless regarding this. A lot of them are under the impression that they just need to show ads, drop links all over the place, and somehow, some way, enough trust would be built, and the people would join their mailing list. They've completely overlooked the fact that most people who have their wits about them will only trust if there is some sort of advanced proof that would warrant such trust. That's how normal people think.

Truth #3: Credibility and authority are earned over time

There is such a "get rich quick" atmosphere surrounding online income systems that people have completely overlooked the fact that you need your customer's trust to turn them from webpage visitors to paying customers.

To get that trust to materialize, you have to build authority and credibility. This is not achieved overnight. This doesn't happen instantly. Sadly, too many online entrepreneurs think that they just need to show the right page at the right time to the right people and they will make money.

It would be nice if it were that easy, but it isn't. You have to establish credibility first. You have to create the impression in people's minds that they know you enough for them to like you. Once they like your brand, to a certain degree, you can then build enough trust in their minds that they would want to take a risk by joining your mailing list. That's how it works.

People are not just automatically going to fall over themselves filling out your squeeze page just because you dropped the right page in front of them. You have to work with the elements of that page to earn their trust. Often times, you need to show that page several times or show content related to that page to become credible and authoritative enough for them to trust you with their email address.

Truth #4: Your existing customer base is your cheapest source of sales

Old school salespeople know this like the back of their hands. Unfortunately, a lot of online entrepreneurs are under the mistaken impression that they have to spend money hand over fist trying to chase after new leads, when it turns out that they could be squeezing more value for those hard earned dollars by simply marketing to their list.

Truth #5: Building relationships based on trust generates sales over the long haul

If you want to become the next internet millionaire among your circle of friends, listen up. If you take care of your list and turn it into an asset instead of letting it remain a

Email List Building

liability, you may be able to generate repeat sales off the same list over an extended period of time.

This maximizes your return on investment, this produces a very positive return on effort, and this can be quite profitable indeed.

The secret? Build a relationship. Those people who joined your mailing list are not wasting their time, at least they don't think they are.

The reason why they trusted you with their email address in the first place is because they want to hear what they have to say. Don't abuse this trust. Build on it over the long haul.

Avoid short term thinking. Don't believe that you have to convert all these people instantly, otherwise, you're going to drop them like a hot potato. That is a one way ticket to continuous business struggle and eventual failure.

Truth #6: Monetize based on interests

People joined your list for a certain reason. Focus on that reason.

Old school salespeople know that relationships are built on specific interests. When they keep the relationship focused on specific interests and related interests, they open up all sorts of potential sales and income opportunities. Apply these principles to your online business and you would not have to worry about finding new products to sell to your existing list.

This book reworks the old school sales truths listed above, and applies them to an online setting. This adaptation enables online entrepreneurs, such as yourself, to make money over the long haul.

I will present the whole sales process from the beginning all the way to full implementation. I will step you through the process. I need you to make sure that you don't race through the steps.

You need to understand each and every one of these steps, test them thoroughly, and tweak them to fit your particular set of circumstances. Once you've done that, you need to optimize them and maximize their performance before moving on to the next step. This is not a race. This is not a sprint. It's a marathon. If you're able to run this online sales development marathon properly, you are well on your way to making the kind of online income you have dreamt of.

Email List Building

But it all boils down to you. Nobody can make these results materialize for you. You have to implement them. You can't just keep this information in your head. You actually have to carry them out, test them, tweak them, make them fit your particular situation, until you get the results that you are looking for.

Remember, you are building a sustainable sales system intended to produce money, not just now, but long into the future.

Your mailing list can be such a long term income producing asset. For that to happen, however, you have to set it up the right way. Follow the steps below. Feel free to experiment with them and make the necessary adjustments so as to maximize the results you get.

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Introduction

As a society, we have instant access to more information than ever before. With the arrival of the computer, the invention of the Internet, and the popularity of social media, we have entered into a world of 24/7 information. We have so much information coming into our brains that we don't stop and take the time needed to decipher, interpret, and apply meaning to the knowledge we've gained. We've become absorbed in the overpowering need to know everything about anything and everyone.

The world is changing at an exceedingly rapid pace. Life seems to have become much more demanding and stressful over the last several decades. We've officially entered the Age of Information that is being ruled by computers, smartphones, and a constant stream of information that we have a need to know relationship

with. We have a hard time separating ourselves from our phones for even five minutes. Technology has taken over our lives and overloaded our minds.

All the information that we obtain while surfing the web and browsing our social media sites has created a technology addiction in much of the population. We've forgotten what silence feels like and are overloaded with information that is available to us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This has led to the overshadowing of our ability to communicate face-to-face and has clouded our mind with digital information that has affected how we process and retain information. This addiction to technology has also resulted in more people trying to multitask, which results in decreased productivity and focus, and an increase in erroneous errors.

To bring ourselves back to the present and beat the information overload that we've become subject to, we have to be willing to disconnect from technology and reconnect with each other. This book will guide you through the process of beating information overload to have a clearer, more focused mind that will allow you to move forward.

Chapter 1 – What is Information Overload

Information overload is described as, an overwhelming feeling upon the receipt or collection of an indigestible or incomprehensible amount of information, the sense of being faced with an amount of data that one has no hope of completely processing, or when a person feels unable to read all the information that is presented or available to them, mainly where they need to make a decision based on that information but can't because there is just too much to take in, in the time available.

Today, thanks to the Internet and social media, we are always besieged by information regardless of whether we asked for it or not. This can best be seen in the obscene amount of junk emails that clog our inboxes daily. It can also be seen in the increasing number of sources where you can obtain information. People often interchange the word data and information. However, the two are distinctly different. Data refers to the elements or pieces of information that individually have little or no value, while information is the organization and interpretation of that data into a format that provides new insight. Information, unlike data, is directly associated with learning.

When you learn a new subject, you are implementing three simultaneous processes. First, you acquire the new information that may run counter to or replace information that you already know. Second, is the process of transformation where the knowledge gained is manipulated to make it fit new tasks. The final learning process is the evaluation of the information to ensure that it is adequate to the task. Therefore, information can be described as the acquisition of new knowledge from various sources and data elements, that when internalized can affect a difference in an individual's previous thoughts, education, or actions. Keeping this in mind, information overload can be simply put as too much information that one can comprehend at any given time causing feelings of stress, helplessness, and anxiety.

The Start of Information Overload

You may not know this, but information overload predates the advent of the Internet and popularity of social media sites. In fact, it has a long history that dates back to 1453, when Gutenberg invented the printing press. The printing press allowed the development of new communication patterns, with information being printed and distributed by the millions instead of being copied by hand. People went from reading just a few hundred words a day to being able to read pages and pages of information. This resulted in a massive transformation in society.

We can only assume that people were excited by the invention of the printing press. As a result of Gutenberg’s invention, books

became less expensive to produce, meaning they could be distributed to the masses. Books were no longer just for the select few and scholars. Symbolism and group presentation systems soon followed as a way to communicate messages. This included periodicals, associations, and new political parties. Shortly after, libraries began sprouting up everywhere as a way to organize all the new books of information.

It didn't take long for printing presses to start printing anything that came their way to make more money, with little attention being paid to the quality of information being printed. This resulted in scholars becoming overwhelmed with the access to this knowledge, giving birth to information overload.

In recent decades, advances in information technology have evolved from using carbon paper ditto machines to photocopying. This has made replicating information more accessible and led to information being digitized and copied in limitless numbers. The digitized information has allowed for the publishing of information that was previously restricted to the printing press. The introduction of the word processor has eliminated the need for a secretary equipped with a steno pad with access to a typewriter and white-out.