I took a chance and submitted it to defunct Internet Day, which had thousands of subscribers then. To my surprise they e- mailed me next day to inform me they were publishing it and it came out on next issue. That article garnered for me more than 200 subscribers when it was published.

Writing is my strength and I use it often in my marketing efforts. You can read that article, "The Essence of Success," through this link: http://powermarketingtools.com/articles/essence.html

Many publishers still request to print it.

4. Assess what you're selling. It just may not be you. The affiliate programs that are not making money for me, I learn in hindsight, are programs I don't feel strongly about. This means you have to buy program you want to sell and be passionate about it.

If you're selling a service or your own product, assess it. Is it something people need or want? Are you mentioning its benefits? Look at it inside and out. Perhaps you need to re-package it.

5. Learn some more. Study sites of successful marketers, their copy, their products, their methods. Visit forums and ask questions.

There are also marketers out there who aren't well-known gurus but they sure know their stuff and are just ever willing to spill beans. In truth, it's from these unknown marketers that I've learned best marketing strategies.

So there! Frustration is just an emotion. You can conquer it. For all you know, it could be a sign that success is just around corner.

Copyright 2003 Dean F. Mapa

Mayberry Square is a quaint "old fashioned" planned community with business owners and home owners sharing community. Along with CookiePots is Floyds, an old fashioned Barber Shop, Mayberry Diner, Dessert Depot and a quaint coffee shop called Nautica.

The cookie designs are unique to CookiePots. I use every event, every opportunity in life to inspire me towards future designs. When a tentative idea becomes a full fledged CookiePot design, image is done first in pen and ink and supplied to two contract bakeries who manage to produce these into fabulous edible cookies! In addition to "stock" designs that we offer for occasions such as: new babies, birthdays, thank you - we offer unique items each holiday to compliment season. And so that people could look to CookiePots for a constantly changing line of ideas, we gradually added non food items to our offering. Now, a customer can not only welcome a new baby with a baby themed CookiePot, but can also include a keepsake handprint kit, a daddy's tool belt and a wonderful plush animal that plays a soothing melody.

This fall, we have designs that showcase children dressed up in Halloween Costumes, complete with cookies decorated like Trick or Treat Bags and perennial favorite (or perhaps just mine – a piece of Candy Corn). For Thanksgiving (CookiePots are a favorite centerpiece with my customers) we will feature bouquets of pumpkins, stalks of Indian corn and adorable scarecrows complete with gourmet chocolate pops of turkeys and pilgrims.

The only drawback to business is that I can hardly enjoy a holiday at appropriate time of year. In July I am planning Christmas designs and in October I am thinking about Valentine’s Day. I suppose many people in retail sales share same “hardship”, but to me, it’s not a high price to pay for doing something that I really love.