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3. Web Tools
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Macro-manage Your Success
© 2002 by Dale Sexton
Automation is key to time and money management in internet
business. As I was researching automated ad campaigns, I
came across some programs that I found interesting and
wanted to share.
I used to play with macros on Procomm Plus back in the
heyday of bulletin board services. It consisted of pressing
a button to bring up a common phrase instead of typing the
phrase out.
If you've never used macros before, or not used them
recently, they can do so much more. I've checked out two
programs that utilize macros for internet usage.
The first program is free and takes some learning, but is
the more versatile of the two. The second will cost, but is
much easier to use and is designed specifically for the
internet.
I'm going to work with the free program as low cost is the
focus of my articles.
MacroMaker
The simplest way to use this program is to use the record
function, then make a macro with it. In it's simplest form,
if you set it to record and go though a list of classified
ad sites, for example, it works great. Inevitably, you will
need to use the more sophisticated commands, because you
don't want to send the same ad each time you use MacroMaker.
If you've never worked with macros before, you need to read
Microsoft's articles on keyboard shortcuts. For the most
part these shortcuts will work with 95, 98, xp and me.
Keyboard Shortcuts
After reading the keyboard shortcuts and the MacroMaker help
files, you will find that making macros to send ads is not
as hard as it sounds. I learned the program in a little less
than an hour, but your time may vary.
To put together a macro to advertise to 20 classified ad
pages took me 2 hours. I can go in and edit the clipboards
whenever I want to change my ads and run this program in 15
minutes, and unless the pages change, that is the only time
I ever need to change or edit the macro. What is really nice
is I can add new classified pages through the edit button as
I find them.
You can automate safelists, newsgroups, ezine ads, search
engine submissions... get the idea? Your not limited to the
internet explorer with MacroMaker. Automate programs like
AdWizard and EzineAnnouncer that make sending classified ads
and ezine ads easier.
AdWizard
EzineAnnouncer
iOpus is strictly for internet usage. The operation is
easier, but you are limited to internet explorer or it's own
browser. The program works unrestricted for 60 days, then
becomes unusable until you register and pay for it. As an
easier alternative, you can't beat the cost of less than a
U. S. Grant ($50) and the documentation is much better.
iOpus
Automation becomes necessity when time becomes money. Note
that in your journal as a key to internet business success.
Work hard, but work smart. Macro-manage your success.
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Dale Sexton owns & operates 'PageCrafters.net', &
publishes 'Small Business Tools magazine'. Both
focus on tools & tips for small business.
mailto:pagecrafters@pagecrafters.net
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Here!
Sign up for 'SBT magazine' at:
http://pagecrafters.net/newsletter.html
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Here!
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