First of all, for 2008, we really didn’t see the potential that could of happened, and I really want to put a lax, but crazy year behind me. This year was a real test of pushing a new, aggressive marketing format, that I have never used before, and when I left Triada Lounge over a year ago, none of the current activities have crossed my mind.

Building the core purpose of Vanbrunt Group was to build a protective LLC for a small network of niche e-commerce stores, but we never got past the product sourcing stage. Why?

For one, my other partnership with my brother Josh, TWHowell, had a few website design deals that we needed to take care of before I would be really able to realize the time needed to start the e-commerce deals. To this day, not one store has opened.

For two, There was this interesting realm that I was about to view, and it would do something that would revolutionize the way I perceived business, and building an income stream. The change was one that I did NOT see coming, as it struck me from a blind angle.

Affiliate marketing was the sucker punch that made me think “well, if I don’t need to push inventory, or depend on someone else’s hard goods in their perpetual inventory, then how could I create cash flow?” Being introduced by the likes of Norb Czufis, GanceAnn, Stan Amazan, and MegaRudy, they opened up a rabbit hole, that would eventually become one of the core focuses.

The great thing with doing the affiliate marketing, was that to a fall, the income was somewhat sustainable, but not every product is going to have a permanent shelf life. SO every so often, you would have to create new campaign for certain items, and promote the heck out of them.

I have, aligned myself with several software publishers, primarily in the Forex software niche. While this is great, and some profits are seen, I need to thirst for more. Ferrari Just doesn’t sit back after Kimi Raikkonen wins a race, and thinks “wow, we can rest!” No! They think of Innovation, and how to expand and capitalize. Apple, after building the Mac Classic, just didn’t walk away after standing in awe! Hell no! They made bigger, badder, and better computers! And when Steve Jobs returned in 1997, things went ten fold.

2008 also welcomed, the new local advertising format, which is built on several different formats, depending on business structure and goals on case by case basis. We have our first client, and we are looking to expand rapidly through first quarter 2009.

A new reality…. Ready to hear the 2009 Agenda?

This is fucking exciting. And believe it or not, Real Estate is NOT one of the 2009 goals!
Vanbrunt Group will have several divisions as of First Quarter 2009: Web Promotion and Advertising, Digital Products, Local Affiliate Marketing and Local Lead Generation Services. Think I should have more? lolz!!!

1. Products Publishing: Later in 2009, I am looking into possibly forging relationships with some of my current acquaintances and building a small group of products to sell on the internet. Joint Venture Projects are truly the way to go! UPDATE: I am looking to release a software title very shortly in the Forex niche. Affiliates who want to come onboard send me a twitter here. I am looking at using Click2Sell, so setting up an affiliate account would be neccessary to sell my products.

2. Local Affiliate Marketing: Vanbrunt Group’s local affiliate marketing division is going to be interesting to those who haven’t worked with performance based marketing. I have already started a campaign with Howard from Captain Howard’s bait and tackle shop, which has a great selection of Airsoft guns. We are looking to make his current annual sales number and make that his MONTHLY number.

We are also in talks with another potential client and we have more irons in the fire! It is all about finding the customers and sending them in the right direction. I expect Local Affiliate Marketing to be a great success in 2009!

3. This Awesome Thing is now The Awesome Products Blog. Over the last 72 hours, I have rebuilt the structure into a blog format, which will reach more readers than the previous atmosphere format, which was lacking greatly. For the longest time, we would only promote digital products, and once in a while, a new service here and there. The Awesome Products Blog will now extend it’s reach with a nearly universal approach and will utilize RSS feeds, WordPress’ technology, and Twitter to engage visitors to come back for more.

4. ThomasHowell.org is back it’s classic format. This is the classic format that was liked and actually had some decent content in it’s day. We are throwing back the old content ideals of the classique era, and once in a while will post a “throwback” post or two.

5. ILiveInSuccess.com is going to become a new design, and I will probably ditch the scheduled posting schema (Weight Loss Mondays, Product Review Tuesdays, Adventures in Internet Marketing, etc.) in favor of just doing a post here and there. I might keep around the wednesday post as they were popular amongst internet marketers and the like.

6. More to come! It is seriously time to kick some ass, and I have to look at 2009 as I have nothing to lose. As time passes faster and certain opportunities knock, we will find ourselves answering the questions and building what will be, hopefully a great year.

PEACE OUT!!!
Tom Howell

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