Let me tell you a true story.

Some years ago I was walking down beach strand, absolutely eager about my new position in National TV News station I worked for. I finally achieved being promoted and was, at last, a department chief editor. Wow.

I was hungry and happy enough to provide myself with a treat. Yummy. I wanted a big cheese burger. Although I hate junk food (its so bad for your health), I decided to go for it. Sitting at a table, with my sunglasses on and my beach towel ready for a swim after my lunch I noticed something that gave me KEY.

"www(I can't recall what) .com Burger Order delivered to your door."

I was absolutely shocked by that. Right there, printed with a groovy logo right in my tray. This was a real new and great idea. I talked with restaurant's manager in order to feature his service in TV. He finally shut his service down. But what I learned was so important.

I now call it "Cheese Burger Effect".

Just by sitting there, doing nothing really, I discovered what an Internet niche was (although I didnt know what that word really referred to then). I understood that there were people out there that would buy online just because it was easy, fast, and they don't have to move from their sofa.

This is when I first decided to brainstorm and research a bit. I found out that a great deal of men and women claimed to be making money online easily -Yes know I know most of them were just trying to make money by saying that they made a lot of money-. I payed to put a simple website online that promoted all kinds of stupid things that now I'm ashamed to mention. I spammed. I thought I was going to make tons of money.

Hugh! I didn't. Not a single red cent. I gave up.

A few weeks later I gave my cheese burger hidden addiction another treat. While sitting, thinking about banal matters I came up with another idea. What if I tried to sell real things online and not just bogus "systems" "randomizers" and lies? What if I sold old books standing on my room's shelf. I got a website up with photos and then posted URL in a free classified newspaper. People went there, saw my books and called me if interested. You know what ? I sold them all!

In another article (See "Marketing On The Cheap: Become a Joiner") I wrote about joining a service club to get exposure for you and your business. Those same organizations are always looking for speakers. Most, if not all, Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary and a number of other service clubs have programs during their regular meetings. They are always looking for speakers on any variety of subjects of interest.

Regardless of what business you are in, you can develop a program to fit needs of those organizations. However, you don't want to develop a program that is a blatant and direct sales pitch. You'll have to develop a program that is somewhat indirect.

If you're in insurance business, you probably don't want to do a 30-minute program on why everyone needs life insurance. Instead you may want to consider developing a presentation on ways small businesses can save on their worker's comp insurance. You may also want to think of developing a program that has nothing to do with insurance at all. A few years back a local insurance agent became talk of local "rubber chicken circuit" when he returned from a hunting trip to China. He put together an remarkable slide show that included incredible shots of local culture and scenery, but it included absolutely nothing about insurance at all. Of course, he and his business were listed on hundreds of agendas and program guides and mentioned during every introduction.