Don't Be Dumb - Don't let the IRS audit you and have NO Minutes Written for your REI LLC

Looks like the days of the kinder, gentler IRS are definitely gone.

Mark Everson has been the commissioner for almost 4 years now. One of the things he promised when he took the job was that he was going to get tough.

And, boy, he has. I did a search on "tougher IRS audits" and was astounded by all the press releases that listed all the places that the IRS demonstrated that they were getting tough:

• car dealers,
• manufacturers,
• real estate professionals,
• anyone with international transactions,
• anyone reporting on a cash basis
• - the list goes on and on.

It's likely that the call for more IRS audit staff (so they can audit even more people) is going to be successful as well. That's because the IRS has proven that their aggressive tactics at collecting money is working.

Now, here's the big question for you:

Are you ready for that IRS audit
that may be coming your way?

Get Permission! (email marketing)

Get Permission!

Just like in the online world, you only want to collect the email addresses
of people who want to receive your emails.

With so many situations that you can encounter offline, it's easy to think
that it's OK to add a given person to your list, when in fact they haven't
given you permission to email them.

To help guide you, we've published a set of situations, and whether or not
it's OK to subscribe someone's email address, on our Knowledge Base:

Knowledge Base: Can I Use This List?
http://www.aweber.com/faq/questions/263/#html

You can also read some commentary we've made about this on our blog:

Blog: Do's and Don'ts for Collecting Subscribers Offline
http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/collect-subscribers-offline-dos-d
onts.htm#html

www.Aweber.com

Collect Subscribers Offline

There are many opportunities to get a new subscriber when you're offline, in the "real world:"

People calling you by phone to ask questions

• You can take subscribers by phone. Come up with a short pitch/explanation of what you're offering via email (just like you would on your website) and ask for their email address.
• Put them in a spreadsheet and import the new addresses daily or every couple of days.

Visitors to your physical store-place of business

• Restaurants, bars, doctor's offices... if you have people coming in person to see you, ask if they're already getting your specials/newsletter/other information.
• If they're not already subscribed, have a signup sheet that they can fill out, or give them a card with the URL of your site/opt-in form so they can sign up there.

Conferences, Trade Shows, etc.

• If you have a booth at a trade show, or are going to a conference, you're bound to get a lot of business cards.
• Just like on the phone, come up with an "elevator pitch" for your list.
• When you're talking to someone and they hand you their business card, make your pitch. If they accept, write "Subscribe" or "Yes" on the card.
• When you get back from the event, import the addresses of the people who accepted.

www.Aweber.com