You can learn a lot about a person by checking out their bookshelf.

Here’s a photo of some of the books I give credit for helping me become the person I am today.

Have you read any of these?

- James

During these interviews they revealed an amazing number of insider tips, tricks and resources they’ve used to succeed with their online businesses.

I did these interviews and put this book together to provide you with a TON of new, unique and AWESOME ideas, inspiration, resources and motivation for your own online projects in 2011.

For example, inside Online Income Blueprints Vol. 1 you’ll discover:

• How to travel the world with nothing but your laptop and an internet connection.

• Insider techniques for brainstorming “can’t fail” internet venture ideas.

• How to become world-famous on a shoestring budget.

• An in-depth tutorial on starting an info-product business from scratch.

• How successful internet entrepreneurs take advantage of traditional media to gain massive free exposure for their websites.

• The top mistakes to avoid when setting up your first online business (these guys have already made them – learn from them!)

• How to associate with leaders in your market to ramp up your business.

• Step-by-step blueprints for starting and running e-commerce sites, online service businesses, software businesses & profitable blogs.

• The FASTEST methods of going from idea to profit – no matter what online business model you choose.

• Customer support strategies that will save you time and money – right from the start.

• Tested and PROVEN guerrilla marketing methods that can generate targeted traffic, leads and customers to your online business – FAST and CHEAP

…and much more.

All this jam-packed into a 146 page easy-to-carry, easy-to-read, easy-to-highlight and take notes in paperback edition.

And you can purchase your copy here for just $12.95 on Amazon right now.

Sincerely,

James B. Allen

P.S. Kindle edition is now available too!

Sunburned And Relaxed

It’s Easter Sunday morning as I write this.

I’m sitting on the veranda outside my room at a small inn, one minute’s walk from the beautiful white sand beaches of Boracay.

My wife took this picture just a few minutes ago as we came back from our morning walk across the beach.

Before that, I swam at sunrise with my daughter in the warmest, clearest water I’ve ever been in.

Breakfast – rice, chicken, corned beef and beef soup was less than $3.00 – total – for all three of us.

Beers here are 90 cents each – at the bars!

Absolutely one of the most beautiful and relaxing places I’ve been to in my life – so we’re going to stay for at least another week.

Best part is, I didn’t have to take time off from work to come here.

I just brought my Toshiba netbook with me. Even this Island has internet access – wifi here at the inn. I can manage all my sites and check in with my clients from here on the deck.

Only takes a few minutes out of my day.

Get the “work” part of your life – the income generating part – moved online. Then, you can be as mobile as you want to.

Tropical islands, hot sand beaches and cheap beers are real – and attainable.

I do it – you can too!

Sincerely,

James B. Allen

Last week, I had the pleasure of doing a one-on-one full day workshop with Lem Fugitt a tech-wizard and the webmaster behind one of the world’s top robot websites, Robots Dreams.

As a successful webmaster, Lem also provides consulting to other businesses here in Japan, showing them how to increase sales and conversions on their own websites.

One thing Lem hadn’t done though, was package up these tips and tricks he’d been showing his consulting clients and start selling this information online to other business owners and consultants.

He asked me if I would show him how.

And so I did.

At the end of our busy day, Lem filmed the following video where I describe what we covered:

Lem also wrote a very kind review of our day together on his website, which you can read here.

It was a real pleasure sharing this information with someone who I already knew was a hard-working take-action type of person. I’m looking forward to seeing Lem’s first info-product online and ready to sell, and imagine I’ll be one of the first folks to promote it too!

RESOURCE:

The main resource I recommended to Lem for setting up and selling digital info-products online (eBooks, videos, audios, etc…) was the Rapid Action Profits script.

This is the software I install on my websites to set up instant e-commerce sites for digital info products. It automates the sales and delivery and digital downloads and includes an automated affiliate system which turns customers into instant resellers of your products. This means, when my products go live, a viral effect occurs often causing a snowballing influx of sales during the first few days – very, very powerful.

In fact, my info-products sold with this script have been responsible for a good portion of my online income over the past several years, (my latest course, Automatic eBook Machine Revealed is sold via this script) and is why I recommend it to others as an affiliate.

I’m looking forward to teaching my online marketing and income generation skills to more motivated folks in the near future!

So much has happened in the past few weeks since I started working “out of the house” – much more than I expected. In fact, since my last post, all the following have taken place:

• I was invited to give a presentation in front of 30 plus people on making my living online – an awesome opportunity. The event took place on February 2nd at The Pink Cow in Shibuya, Tokyo and gave me an opportunity to meet and network with like-minded entrepreneurs and other talented folks. Many thanks to promoter Anthony Blick for inviting me to speak and arranging everything. Full details of my presentation are here.

• I’ve was contacted by Appliya – a company that produces iPhone apps. They invited me to attend several workshops and meetings with them. During these, I learned to create my own iphone apps – and I have started helping them with SEO on their English website. My first two apps have already been built and I’m currently waiting for Apple to approve them and place them in the iTunes store.

Building My First iPhone App

• I’ve met and started working with talented fashion photographer and media production company owner Ryan Bruss. Ryan takes amazing pictures of beautiful Japanese models. We’re now working together to find new venues for his content online. In fact, the second iPhone app I have developed includes his photos of a famous Japanese model and former Miss Universe Contestant. Ryan was kind enough to invite me to the Metropolis Glitterball last week – a Valentine’s Day themed night-club party at A-Life in Nishi Azubu, Tokyo.  Ryan’s media company Infrared Media was co-sponsor. I was treated like a VIP – incredible time.

At Glitterball - Photo Courtesy Ryan Bruss

• I also got to hang out with William and Jesse – the insane videographers and animators & all around multi-media production gurus who are the brains at Metropolis Media (and who also freelance – shhh).

• I’ve also gotten to meet and have one-on-one masterminds with other fascinating entrepreneurs living and working in the greater Tokyo area including Mike Newton, Brad Hall and Jason Ball – with plans to meet up with more in the near future.

• On top of all this, the #1 Shimbun – the monthly magazine for members of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan (The Tokyo Press Club) just published an article I wrote for them on using blogs and online social media to help journalists increase exposure to their work. It’s the cover story in their February print issue and also available for download as a PDF. Thanks to editor Fred Varcoe for accepting my article proposal and publishing my piece.

Click To Download PDF Of This Issue

I went into the New Year with the intention of getting out of the house and out from behind the computer monitor, start networking with real people here in Japan and see what came of it.

I like the results so far!

Akihabara Maid & I Strike "TIGER" Pose

James B. Allen Looks 2010 In The Eye And Says, “Bring It On!”

It’s the year of the Tiger according to one of the calendars used by the Japanese. On top of that, my birth year was a “Tiger” year too.

Supposedly, this combination means it’s going to be a powerful and productive year.

I’m thinking, even without these superstitions, 2010 is going to be a blast.

Just to make sure, I’ve gone ahead and made an effort to start it off on the right foot, right away.

Instead of “Resolutions”, here’s what I’ve already gotten done:

1. No Longer A “Work At Home” Dad

I’ve spent the past seven years making my living online from the comfort of my home here in Japan. (With the occasional trip abroad.) I’ve learned to be focused and productive with a wife and child around me the whole time.

This Is No Longer My Office

It finally dawned on me, since I’ve been able to achieve as much as I have in this very non-work-friendly environment – maybe I could get a LOT more accomplished if I had a separate office of my own.

It took a bit of searching, and a bit of a risk – but finally – just today – I moved into my new and first non-home office of my own. It’s in Chiba city – about a 40 minute commute by train from my rural home – and just on the edge of Tokyo.

In fact, I’m posting this from the new office right now.

New Genki Marketing Office in Chiba City, Japan

I always hang out in Chiba city anyways – nearest Starbucks cafes are here. (There’s 5 of them within walking distance of the train station.) Now, I not only have a quiet focused spot to work with high-speed internet access – I’m also much closer to Tokyo. In fact, my favorite district in Tokyo  – Akihabara – is just a quick ride on the train from the nearby station. Which brings me to…

2. Get Out And Network

For years now, my online ventures have all involved customers and clients abroad. Because of this, I’ve never done much to network and get to know people in the business, technology or social scene here in Japan.

My few trips out of the country – especially my incredible month last summer in Auckland working with Mark Joyner – reminded me that I really need to stop being such a hermit and change this.

And so I have.

For starters, last week, I went to a very interesting networking event in Tokyo at the Pink Cow in Shibuya. I got to meet a ton of great folks and learn about a new social networking gadget called the Poken.

Even got one for myself.

My Poken - Get Yourself One!

On top of that, my good friend Fred Varcoe, who is secretary of the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Japan and editor of their magazine #1 Shimbun, invited me up to the club in Yurakucho, Tokyo to meet fellow journalists and writers. I took him up on that offer and got to meet some more fascinating people and hear some great stories.

I’ve also met up in person with fellow internet entrepreneurs James Brown, Fiden Felix and Mike Newton in Tokyo.

To make sure I continue with this networking, I’ve made it a point to start interacting more with the “In-Japan” folks in my social networking streams, including my Twitter account and my Facebook account.

I’ve also joined several Tokyo networking communities including Tokyo 2.0 and several Tokyo meetup groups.

I’ve also offered – and will continue to offer – to do live presentations here in Japan on the online marketing skills I’ve used to make my living from the internet. I already have two presentations tentatively scheduled in the coming weeks. Certainly looking forward to those.

I plan to continue meeting and networking with the great folks here in Japan in the coming weeks and months.

3. Centralize My Business

While working from home was great – I got to be with my daughter everyday for her first 6 years – my online projects tended to be sporadic. Luckily, a good portion of them were also very successful! This year though, especially with a more structured working environment and office away from home, I wanted my “businesses” to be more organized too.

With that in mind, all my projects are now organized under an umbrella entity – “Genki Marketing”. This includes online ventures, along with coaching and consulting for clients.

I’ve already redesigned my main website to reflect this new structure. I can now announce new projects, link out to my business related social networks, and connect with visitors, clients and customers all from one site:

http://www.GenkiMarketing.com

Meanwhile, I’ll keep this blog going for posting my personal rantings and ravings.

To help bring this online world into the real word – keeping in line with #2 above – I also had business cards printed up in English and Japanese with both my Genki Marketing URL and the URL to this blog, along with my iphone number on them.

Passing them out at every chance I get.

4. Get New Projects Rolling

Of course, all the above is wasted effort if I don’t start launching and promoting great new products and services for 2010. I’m no slacker though – I may have only moved into my office today, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t already getting it done this year.

In fact, I’ve already built and launched one new service website – Marketers Junction – a site where online entrepreneurs can post ads for their internet marketing related sites and services.

And what a launch! The site has only been live for a week now, but already 400 users have registered, posting well over 100 ads. On top of that, the site is already receiving over 100 unique visitors and thousands of page views each day.

Now, in front of me here in the office, is a stack of notebooks and paper covered with my next projects that are underway and ones I want to get rolling with ASAP too.

All in all, I’m pretty impressed with the way the first 19 days of 2010 have gone. What I’ve been able to accomplish these first few weeks has made me even more enthusiastic about the coming days, weeks and months ahead.

Here’s hoping that you are roaring your way into the New Year as well!

Sincerely,

James B. Allen

P.S. If you’ve just read this, be sure to leave a comment, say HI and let me know how YOU are attacking the New Year!

]]> http://jamesballen.com/grabbing-2010-by-the-throat/2010/01/feed/ 4 http://jamesballen.com/auckland-first-impressions/2009/07/ http://jamesballen.com/auckland-first-impressions/2009/07/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:41:16 +0000 James http://jamesballen.com/auckland-first-impressions/2009/07/ One week into my first trip to New Zealand, and I have to say, I’m quite impressed.

It’s not nearly as cold as I expected it to be. City is lovely, diverse, laid back and friendly. Although it’s been a bit of a shock being surrounded by English again, for the most part, I’m feeling very “at home” here.

I’ve spent most of my time in the Central Business District so far, as my hotel as well as the offices of the folks I’m working with are here. Both are within a block of Queen St, the main drag through the CBD.

I’ve also gotten a chance to hike around the city a bit. The waterfront area, especially the lively Viaduct is good fun. Going grocery shopping and taking myself out for food and drinks in the evening has also been a pleasant change of pace for me.

Besides the city, the gentleman I’m working with down here kindly gave me a tour by car up to the Mission Bay area and to the district across the harbor bridge. Beautiful volcanic islands and thousands of boats in the harbor. Lush green landscapes, and incredible houses everywhere.

I’ve also had a chance to meet some of the most amazing folks including:

• A local author who has written and published over 92 (ninety-two!) books.

• A local entrepreneur who runs a bunch of real estate and financial companies in three countries – who incidently ran his first marathon when he was just 12 years old. (The youngest New Zealander to enter and complete a marathon at the time.)

• A man who entered and completed the Iron Man competition – five times!

• A film director of television commercials – and his wife, an actress, writer and editor (and much more) who also works for the same company I’m currently working with.

• The CFO of Coca Cola New Zealand.

• An amazing man who coaches others to deal with conditions that cause chronic pain – based on his own incredible personal experience with it.

• The entrepreneur and best selling author I’m currently working with and his wife who have built up a number of profitable companies. Beside all the insight they’ve already provided me about running and growing a business successfully – and ethically, I also have them to thank for introducing me to all the other folks mentioned above.

The conversations I’ve had with all these people have been very eye-opening. Despite the short time I’ve been here, I must say this is already turning out to be a mind-expanding and life altering trip.

…And it’s just getting started!

I’m not a “last minute” type of traveler by any means.

Luckily, the airport has Wi-Fi so I can kill a few minutes typing up a few thoughts about the trip I’m about to take.

1. This is my first trip to New Zealand. On top of that, it’s my first trip out of Japan in over two years. I haven’t been in a country where people speak English for a long, long time. (I’ve been living in Japan for nearly 7 years now.) Looking forward to the culture shock.

I’m also looking forward to meeting and talking with people in person – as opposed to my mainly virtual interaction with my friends and clients during most of the past seven years.

2. It’s 30 degrees C and muggy here in Japan – getting right into summer. When I arrive in Auckland, it will be winter again. I notice the high is 11 in Auckland today. My carry-on luggage is loaded with warm, heavy clothes to change into on arrival. Everone I’ve spoken to whose ever visited the country has fallen in love with it though – I don’t expect to be the exception no matter what the temperature.

3. I’m very curious to discover the level of online entrepreneurship in New Zealand. I’ve heard internet connections are pricey in New Zealand, and I have no idea about the state of mobile internet usage in the country. I have a lot to learn.

At the end of the month, I’ll be attending the World Internet Summit in Auckland too, so I hope to meet plenty of  local online entrepreneurs then – if not before.

(If you read this and you’re going, be sure to let me know via my contact page – maybe we can meet up?)

4. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with my business partner in Auckland. He’s had me working on some incredible projects since the beginning of this year. The most in-depth of these is probably going to go live while I’m down there and I hope we get to celebrate the launch over cigars.

5. I have a couple of online “New Zealand” related side projects I started earlier this year and I’m hoping to work on those some more while I’m in country too.

Will be challenging myself to see how much I can crank out while I’m there!

Looking forward.

I’m looking forward to my first trip to New Zealand during the month of July. Currently my schedule involves meeting and scaling up projects with my clients in Auckland and also attending the World Internet Summit from July 23-26.

I also have a keen interest in sampling some of these New Zealand wines I’ve been hearing so much about!

If you are currently in Auckland or will be attending the WIS and would like to meet up with me in person, feel free to get in touch with me through my contact page. Time allowing, I’ll try my best to schedule meetups with those interested while I”m there.