What's the easiest way to make money online?

Follow a proven business model that works.

I know from having coached people in building an online business that the term "business model" may scare you off.

Don't let that happen. It's a simple concept and, the truth is, you don't need to come up with a business model yourself.

In fact, you'll have a much better chance of online success if you don't create your own business model.

I know that because, after spending 2-3 years trying to make money by doing things my own way, I finally listened to my coaches, followed simple, proven online business models, and began generating an income online.

If following a proven online business model sounds logical to you too, your next questions like are "Where do I find proven online business models?" and "How much will a good business model cost me?"

I can't wait to give you my answer to those questions:

Free Online Business Models That Work

Visit that link (or click on the image at the top of this post) for an opportunity to hear John Rhodes of "The Rhodes Brothers" divulge one of the business models that I've used with great success.

The video of John plays as soon as you hit the page — no need to opt in or anything.

If you like what you hear in that video, you can listen to John as he explains four more online business models by supplying your email address. The additional models you'll hear John describe are well worth providing them your address. You can always opt out of their list after you've seen the 2nd video, but you probably won't want to (I'm still on their list with no intention of leaving).

So go check out these free online business models that work from the Rhodes brothers and then comment to let me know what you think, how you end up using them, or any other thoughts you have on them.

You may also want to check out this offer that I still have going with Liz Tomey, where you are provided several other business models for making online profits.

You honestly won't get as much free info there as you will from the Rhodes brothers videos, but you may find the offer that Liz and I have for you a no-brainer if you're struggling to profit online.

Interesting…

What is a Utility Post?

According to Jack Humphrey of Authority Site Center, a utility post is one in which you primarily link to other bloggers' link bait articles within your niche.

The idea is that, because you're not composing an entirely original link bait article of your own, you can more quickly create this type of post. Yet, because you're providing good content to your readers, you still are providing value to them.

On top of that, if done correctly, linking to other sources of great info in your niche is likely to net you at least a few links back from those colleagues.

As a concept, the idea rocks. In practice, it's not quite as easy as it sounds. It takes time to find great content and build links to it.

Thanks to Jack, however, you can create great blog content in much less time.

Utility Poster Software

With this software, you can very quickly search for related articles, then drag and drop those you like into your post. Here's an example post I did about building authority sites where I used Jack's software. Note the shaded box - the box and the contents were created very quickly by using Utility Poster.

It's a great tool. Even better, Jack's Authority Site Center has just released a similar tool or finding and embedding videos into blog posts.

Here's an example — fix golf slice videos — that I created within 10 minutes of downloading the new Video Utility Poster. Yeah, that's not much of a blog there yet, but how about the ability to create a post in 10 minutes or less (the first time out) that contains 5 embedded YouTube videos? The tool also supports Truveo.

Jack and ASC are coming out with great tools like these at a rapid pace. The absolute best way to get your hands on all of them, plus the knowledge to put them to great use, is to become an Authority Site Center member.

We'd all love to see you there but, whether you become a member or cherry pick Jack's software like Utility Poster and Video Utility Poster, you'll enjoy the benefit of great tools created by people who created them because they needed them.

The Small & Home Business Connections group in Kansas City has invited me to speak at its Monthly Meeting & Luncheon.

In the presentation, I'll discuss powerful ideas about where you can use technology to:

1. Make your small business appear larger;
2. Work efficiently and effectively with remote employees and contractors; and
3. Use technology to attract, track, and follow-up with leads to turn more of them into happy customers

The event was also mentioned by Bill Brelsford on his small-business marketing blog.

I just tried out www.animoto.com ("look Ma, no affiliate link there") and wanted to share it with you.

Here's the first sample that I created. I clicked a few buttons and filled in very little info. The images came from the photo samples you get with Windows Vista. The music was selected at the site.

With a couple more clicks, I was able to share my compilation on Facebook (lots of others are just as easy, including YouTube) and also get the code to paste so that it showed up in this blog post.

Very slick.

I'll be sending more details to the Backstage @ BMWE list about how I'm using this to create some useful marketing videos for myself and clients.