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woensdag 7 oktober 2009

4 Things Web Analytics Can Teach You - What Your Traffic’s Telling You

Brick-and-mortar stores often change displays, move goods around, and put impulse items beside checkouts. The reason behind these changes is they’re analyzing customer traffic and studying behavioral patterns to understand how consumers shop. As an online retailer, you need to study your customer traffic as well in order to increase sales.

Listen: Your Customers Are Talking

There are a number of web traffic analytics companies, such as http://OneStat.com and http://StatCounter.com, that analyze your customers’ shopping patterns. They follow your customers’ clicks to and through your web pages and provide you with valuable info on how your customers experience your website:

1. You see which keywords bring you, not only the most hits, but also the highest conversion rates. People often find the generic words they use bring them a great deal of traffic, but that traffic averages a shorter stay on the site. The longer people spend on your site, the more likely they are to buy something. Analyzing that data allows you to see which keywords are effective for you.

2. You see the average amount of time users spend on your site. Due to latent conversion, this is a good indicator of how business will be in the coming months. If your users are taking their time, looking at things carefully, that tells you they’re really interested and will likely come back to complete the transaction.

3. You see if your traffic’s leaving as soon as they hit your landing page—if they are, you know you have a problem. As soon as users get there, you want to reinforce to them they’re in the right place. Says John Marshall, founder and CEO of http://ClickTracks.com, “Make sure the keyword the user clicked is associated with, and strongly connected to the copy in that landing page, and throughout the experience… Just paying attention to that could probably get you a 20% to 50% improvement in your conversion rate.”

4. You see where people are exiting your site. This is especially important when you have customers leaving in the middle of checkout. If you see a high rate of users, with full shopping carts, leaving on a particular page, you can pinpoint what’s costing you sales:

• If they’re exiting on the page where you explain shipping costs, you might see your shipping appears higher than your competitors’.

• If they’re leaving halfway through filling out the buyer’s information, you might consider that your buyer questionnaire’s too long.

Web analytics puts you in a position to see what’s working on your website and what isn’t. It’s a way to see where you need to make changes and then measure how effective those changes are.


woensdag 30 september 2009

3 Things All Affiliate Marketers Need To Survive Online

Every affiliate marketer is always looking for the successful market that gives the biggest paycheck. Sometimes they think it is a magic formula that is readily available for them. Actually, it is more complicated than that. It is just good marketing practices that have been proven over years of hard work and dedication.

There are tactics that have worked before with online marketing and is continuing to work in the online affiliate marketing world of today. With these top three marketing tips, you will be able to able to increase your sales and survive in the affiliate marketing online.

What are these three tactics?

1. Using unique web pages to promote each separate product you are marketing. Do not lump all of it together just to save some money on web hosting. It is best to have a site focusing on each and every product and nothing more.

Always include product reviews on the website so visitors will have an initial understanding on what the product can do to those who buys them. Also include testimonials from users who have already tried the product. Be sure that these customers are more than willing to allow you to use their names and photos on the site of the specific product you are marketing.

You can also write articles highlighting the uses of the product and include them on the website as an additional page. Make the pages attractive compelling and include calls to act on the information. Each headline should attract the readers to try and read more, even contact you. Highlight your special points. This will help your readers to learn what the page is about and will want to find out more.

2. Offer free reports to your readers. If possible position them at the very top side of your page so it they simply cannot be missed. Try to create autoresponder messages that will be mailed to those who input their personal information into your sign up box. According to research, a sale is closed usually on the seventh contact with a prospect.

Only two things can possibly happen with the web page alone: closed sale or the prospect leaving the page and never return again. By placing useful information into their inboxes at certain specified period, you will remind them of the product they thought they want later and will find out that the sale is closed. Be sure that the content is directed toward specific reasons to buy the product. Do not make it sound like a sales pitch.

Focus on important points like how your product can make life and things easier and more enjoyable. Include compelling subject lines in the email. As much as possible, avoid using the word “free” because there are still older spam filters that dumps those kind of contents into the junk before even anyone reading them first. Convince those who signed up for your free reports that they will be missing something big if they do not avail of your products and services.

3. Get the kind of traffic that is targeted to your product. Just think, if the person who visited your website has no interest whatsoever in what you are offering, they will be among those who move on and never come back. Write articles for publication in e-zines and e-reports. This way you can locate publications that are focusing on your target customers and what you have put up might just grab their interest.

Try to write a minimum of 2 articles per week, with at least 300-600 words in length. By continuously writing and maintaining these articles you can generate as many as 100 targeted readers to your site in a day.
Always remember that only 1 out of 100 people are likely to buy your product or get your services. If you can generate as much as 1,000 targeted hits for your website in a day, which means you can make 10 sales based on the average statistic.

The tactics given above does not really sound very difficult to do, if you think about it. It just requires a little time and an action plan on your part.

Try to use these tips for several affiliate marketing programs. You can end maintaining a good source of income and surviving in this business that not all marketers can do.
Besides, think of the huge paychecks you will be receiving…

dinsdag 29 september 2009

7 Search Engine Optimization Strategies That Work

the Internet becomes even more pervasive, the importance of search engine optimization continues to grow.You can make the most of your Internet marketing efforts by following the same steps that top ranking sites do for improvinge their rankings.You may think that top ranking sites have to spend lots of money to get there.The truth is that sites who come out on top, follow some basic search engine optimization guidelines.These guidelines are easy to follow and often cost little or nothing to put into practice.

1. Manually register your site with DMOZ, also known as the Open Directory Project.The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors and feeds other leading web directories.

2. Manually submit your site to Google.If you’d like to wait, Google will eventually spider your site and return it in search result listings related to your site name and keywords.However, this may take some time.For faster inclusion, visit Google and submit your site manually.

3. Purchase a listing with Yahoo! Directory Submit.Yahoo! like Google provides many search products.However, Directory Submit is essential for any business on the web. For a fee of $299 Yahoo! will include your web site in their directory that fuels websites like Yahoo!, MSN and AltaVista.

4. Make sure you are using keywords with a high KEI.This measure takes into consideration both the popularity and competitiveness of your keywords.By focusing on keywords with a higher KEI, you can optimize your chance for search engines to select your site for keywords at little or no expense.

5. Engage in a link building campaign. The more links you have to your site, especially if they have a high Google Page Rank, will signal Google and other search engines that your site is important.A great way to do this is through article submission or affiliate programs.

6. Make your site easily to crawl.Search engine do not like dynamic pages.Although this is changing with the advent of Google Site Maps, it is still important to ensure that all search engines can easily traverse your website.Make sure to use HTML coding and avoid dynamically created pages.

7. Be patient. Once you follow these suggestions, allow search engines time to re-index your site.In the Internet age, we’re looking for instant results.However, it does take some time for all of your search engine optimization techniques to take hold.

By implementing the suggestions we’ve discussed in this article, your search engine optimization efforts can generate positive returns.As the world of search engines continue to evolve, it's important to learn about the latest techniques and requirements for improving search engine results.Continue to focus on SEO.If you do, you’ll find yourself at the top of the rankings!

vrijdag 18 september 2009

5 Tips For Improving Your Site’s Search Engine Positioning

Almost all webmasters or website owners are looking for ways to get better results from their websites. They wish to improve their site’s standing and get better rankings in search engines. This quest for improved results, known as search engine positioning, can be satisfied by following a few basic procedures.

Before you even begin, you have to realize that you are competing against hundreds, and in some categories, thousands of websites offering similar products and services. In the case of affiliate marketing, many of the competing websites may even be identical! If you want to get the edge over these competitors and improve your search engine positioning you have to fine-tune your website and actively work to make it better.

1. Make Sure that your design is search engine friendly:

Your design may look good to your eyes, but it may also be the cause of you present difficulties and poor search engine positioning. How is that possible? Look at your web page using a text editor or the html view of popular editors such as Dreamweaver and Frontpage. On what line does your first line of copy begin? If your actual copy is pushed far down the page, it is more difficult for search engines to pick up the crucial information that would have helped you to improve your web page ranking.

If you have this difficulty, first take out all unnecessary spaces in the html code. If there are long strings of java script, put these in external files. Similarly, put style information in external Cascading Style Sheet files. Simplifying your table structure may also help. If this starts getting too complicated for you, then consult with a professional search engine positioning specialist or your web designer.

2. Make sure your keywords are strategically placed in your copy:

It is not possible to improve web page ranking if the readable copy on your web page does not contain the words you wish to be found by. Many people erroneously think that just putting your important keywords in meta tags is enough. This is not true, some search engines hardly use the meta tags and look more to the copy on the page. Make sure that your important copy is in the first paragraph of text, in headlines (using headers such as H1, H2, H3) and in the active or clickable portions of link text on your page.

3. Use a site map and text link navigation on your pages:

If you want to improve your search engine positioning for all the pages of your website then you have to be sure that these pages actually get indexed or included in the search engines. You can help this process along by making a site map, a web page that has text links to all the sub pages of your site. Another good practice is to include a text link navigation system on your web pages, even if you already have a graphics based navigation bar elsewhere on these same pages. Remember, search engines follow text links more easily. A robot that lands on your main page or site map page will follow the text links and then visit and index your lower level pages.

4. Increase the quantity and quality of inbound links:

In fiercely competitive categories it will be difficult to improve web page ranking without obtaining a good number of links to your page from other websites. If you have very good and valuable copy, other sites may link to you because you are a valuable resource. However, if you want to speed this process along you will have to actively request links from other websites, either by trading links or by getting your content (with a link back to your site) placed on other websites.
When it comes to links you should keep in mind one important principle: it is not the quantity of links that is important, but the quality. One good link from an authority site such as CNN or Wikipedia is worth more than dozens of links from other sites. To get these quality links, there is no short cut. You will have to earn it by having a site that provides a lot of useful information.

5. Keep up with Search Engine Developments:

The challenge of improving your web page ranking and search engine positioning is dynamic. Search engines are not static. Most of the big search engines of yesterday have disappeared or are only minor players today. You should keep up with changes in the world of search engines by taking part in online forums or subscribing to newsletters which deal with topics such as search engine optimization, web ranking, and general webmaster related issues.

For years I have been getting great information from the Led Digest, a subscription list which is sent out several times a week. You can see samples online at www.led-digest.com

If you do not have the expertise or the time to tackle these matters by yourself then you should take advantage of skilled professionals who can help you to improve your site's performance in search engines. Whether you rely on professionals or are able to do it yourself, these five tips can provide a good point of reference for starting the work.


woensdag 16 september 2009

5 Things You Should Know About Blogging

So you want to join in on the blogging phenomenon? Before you get started, there are a few things you should know about blogging. Blogging is a lot like an online journal. There are thousands of bloggers online posting each day. It is a trend that started in 1997 and has continued to grow steadily. If you are interesting in blogging, but have not yet began, read over these five things you should know before you begin.

You Can Be Personal

Many times new bloggers are really not sure what to post. They know that their blog is a personal space, but they are afraid to make their posts personal in any way. The best bloggers do put themselves out there via their posts. They will post what’s on their mind and their views or opinions on pressing issues. They may do so in a humorous manner or be quite serious. Sometimes new bloggers are afraid to post their true thoughts because their blog can be commented upon. The fact is however that not everyone will agree with your thoughts and posts, but you should not let that hold you back. These are people who don’t personally know you, so their comments really don’t matter much anyway. Don’t be afraid to let your true feelings show on your blog, after all, that it what an online journal is all about.

Don’t Be Too Personal

Although it is fine to be personal in your posts, you might not want to be too personal in how much you disclose about yourself. For example, including your phone number or address in a post or on your profile is probably not a good idea. You should think smart and only allow people to know things that you want them to know. For your own safety, you might not want to post your last name either. When someone has a lot of information about you, it is easier for them to victimize you through identity theft, harassment, or other crimes. So, stay safe and never post really private information.

Never Use Real Names

When you are posting, and keeping it personal and real, there can be times in which other people in your life come up in topic. Be very careful including other people in your posts. First, never use their real names. This is a huge mistake. Unless the person gives you permission to write about them, you should never do so. It will only lead to trouble. If the person you mention reads your blog, they could get offended that you are writing about them. Even if the post is positive, it can be seen much like talking behind their back. Try to keep the posts about you or celebrities or other public figures. Let everyone else’s business remain their own.

Keep It Fresh

One of the best things you can do as a blogger is to keep your blog fresh. This means that you should be posting often and changing things around when doing so. Post on different topics so your audience can stay interested. Also, post at least twice a week. People who will become fans of your site will want to read as much as possible on your blog. Updating your blog regularly will allow them to be entertained. If you only post once a month, chances are no one will remember to keep checking your blog and your traffic will not be impressive.

You Can Blog For Free

Before you pay an arm and a leg for a blogging space, you should know that there are sites where you can blog for free. Yes, for no charge at all you can set up your own blog. These sites are great for the new blogger. If you want something a little more sophisticated, you might have to pay for it. The free sites are very well maintained however. They are easy to use and offer several different templates for you to use when designing your blog. They automatically update your posts for you, which make them a breeze! Remember, you should not pay a large fee for your blog, especially if you are new to blogging. Do your research and find the free sites!

vrijdag 11 september 2009

Best online directories

Is well known that above all DMOZ directory is the best online directory. DMOZ, also known as The Open Directory Project (ODP), is a large, categorized directory of websites and pages, which is staffed by volunteers. Every website and page that is added to the directory has to be manually reviewed before it is included. Being listed in the directory is free.

But when you try to list your site in DMOZ you are in trouble. After you add your site an editor will approved it ... or not. And this can take months, even years.

So what is the solution ?
A good alternative until your site is listed to DMOZ is to submit your site to online free web directories. Submitting site to online free web directories will fast increase your PageRank. PageRank is an integral part of Google's ranking algorithm, and higher PageRank helps towards higher rankings. The PageRank within a website is increased by pages from other sites linking to it, and the higher the PageRank of the pages that link to it, the better it is for the receiving site.

When submitting a site to online free web directories, always take time to find the right category for it. Don't be tempted to submit it to a category that is higher up the tree than it belongs, because it won't be accepted there and, doing so, could cause unnecessary, self-induced delays.


dinsdag 8 september 2009

$60,000 Mugging

I was referred to a prospective client recently that had their website redesigned. They paid $60,000 for a site that really does nothing for them. It is a simple brochure site that provides visitors nothing and it certainly does nothing to convert traffic into sales. Since all their budget went to design, they have no money left over to properly market the site. Mistake #1, don't pay $60,000 for a branding exercise.

A corporate website is about supporting the business. The beauty of the Internet is there is no guessing. You can measure pretty much anything. What are you trying to accomplish? Increase traffic? Generate leads? Increase sales? If it is yes to one of these questions, then a $60,000 investment should get you another $600,00 to your bottom-line? Can a brochure site deliver a 80-95% ROI?

Web design is a commodity today. The cost of design should represent about 25% of your total spend. Design costs are competitive today, so spending more than you have to should be the last thing you do. There are excellent open source Content Management Systems (CMS) that give you the power to manage your own content. The cost of the software is $0 to you. We recommend using either Plone or Joomla. Both of these platforms provide you with Web 2.0 compliant back-end at low cost for setup and maintenance.

The value in web design is working with companies that can properly market what you do. To properly market the site, you should be spending 10-12x what you should spend in design. So, it is possible to get a Web 2.0 website at an affordable cost. If you are a small company that is spending $4,000-$8,000 on a basic website, you should plan over 12 months to spend an additional $30,000-$80,000 on marketing. The dollars spent on marketing brings the traffic to the site. Simple rule, more traffic through the front door means more business.

Unlike other advertising, you can control your spend and measure your ROI pretty quickly. You can turn your marketing dollars on and off depending on the performance, it is all measurable.

DeFabis Photography is an example of a client that went through the redesign process. We built a Search Engine Friendly website that allows him to manage content on the site. Prior to working with us, his website was not listed in the top 100 on Google for the popular keywords. Since working with us, his visitors and page views have increased. But most important, he has doubled his bookings from this time last year. And, he did not spend $60,000 on his web design.

If you need help in evaluating a prospective vendor, here are some question that may help you understand their knowledge:

1. How do capture visitor traffic off the Internet? Can you track their movement through my site? If so, how?
2. How do manage pay per click advertising dollars to ensure I am maximizing my spend and not wasting money?
3. How do you measure whether my site is friendly to my users?
4. How many page views would you estimate my site would get to determine the right level of hosting?
5. What things will you need to change on my website? What things can I change on my own?
6. If I want to change the look, does it require changes to the backend scripting on the site?
7. What will it take to add a new page to match an ad we are running to the new site? For instance, I want to advertise a special and build a page specific for it, what will it take for us to do this?
8. What do you anticipate the average cost per lead for the website to be?
9. Who owns the source code to the site?

So, think about your objectives. Think about what you want to accomplish and spend your money according to the results you want to achieve. A pretty website just does not generate the type of results you should and can get using the Internet. Don't get mugged for $60,000. It's bad for your business.


maandag 24 augustus 2009

5 Ways To Think Up A Great Domain Name That's Still Available

I'd be a zillionaire if I earned a dollar each time someone complains that all the great domain names are already taken. It's just not true, however. Even in a highly competitive industry, you can think up original, appealing domain names for businesses by using naming tactics that few people use, such as these:

1. Focus on results. What is the outcome or end result that people want to have from buying a certain product or service? How do they feel when they have finished the transaction? My own company name, Named At Last, falls into this category.

2. Look for puns. Make a list of relevant keywords, say each out loud and play around with the sounds. Puns are much less likely than other kinds of names to have been registered because their component parts are not actual words. For instance, the name Sitesfaction, for a web design company, was a finalist in our first naming contest - and an available domain at that time despite tens of thousands of web design firms in the English-speaking world.

3. Think slang. Let your imagination and memory fly around for pleasing-to-the-ear expressions. As of today, the domain BoyOhBoyToys.com for an online toy store is unregistered, as is a domain for its sister store AttaGirlToys.com.

4. Go symbolic. Suppose you're an expert on the horror genre and want to start a paid online community for horror fans. Horrorific.com, horrorgate.com and Horrornet.com are all taken, but as of today, the less obvious and more vivid FrightOwl.com is not.

5. Vary real words. "Google's name is a play on the word googol, which refers to the number 1 followed by one hundred zeroes," says the Press Center of the world's most successful search engine. "The word was coined by the nine-year-old nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner," it continues - providing another hint for creative naming: consult a kid.

Happy Naming!

vrijdag 14 augustus 2009

7 Step: How To Create And Publish Your Own E-Book

In this simple article, I will show you step-by-step how to create your own e-book.

Step 1:
Open your HTML editor (Dreamweaver, FrontPage or etc); if you do not have one, go to search engine and type, "free online editor WYSIWYG".

Step 2:
Type your message or idea into your HTML editor or copy and paste it from your text editor. Design your page and make it simple. After you, finish your work, save your file into specific folder. When designing your page, consider creating your file in single page or multiple pages that link to each other like website. If you new to website design, better you design it in single page.

Step 3:
Compile your file into ebook using ebook compiler. Go to (http://www.ebookcompilers.com) and download ebook compiler. This is directory of ebook compiler and there are free ebook compilers too. Download and install ebook compiler into your computer. On the other hand, go to search engine and type, “free ebook compiler.”

Step 4:
Open your ebook compiler and browse your file (html file you create in step 2) and follow the instruction in your ebook compiler until finish.

Step 5:
Go to www.winzip.com, download WinZip, and install it. Open WinZip application and create a new Zip file. Add your ebook file and zip it.

Step 6:
FTP or Upload your zip file (example - ebook.zip) into your web server. You can also sign up for free web hosting. Go to search engine and type, “free website hosting.”

Step 7:
Publish your ebook on the internet. Submit it to the ebook directory or freebie directory (if your ebook is free). Go to search engine and type, “free ebook directory" or submit it to www.download.com. Submit first your e-book to www.upload.com because their website received high traffic every week. Allow your website visitors to download your e-book free.

Now you have successfully created your own e-book, publish it on the net but your e-book only can be view by Windows user. So, how your e-book can be view both Windows and Mac users. It is very simple just type your message or idea in word processor and save it in text format. Go to https://createpdf.adobe.com and follow the instruction on how to compile your text into PDF file. After you successfully create your PDF file, follow step 5, 6, 7.

Good Luck.

dinsdag 11 augustus 2009

3 Free Website Marketing Ideas - Easy And Quick

Online marketing is not cheap. You can spend thousands of dollars on Pay Per Click (Google Adwords) and thousands of site-targetted dollars (AdBrite), and you can spend thousands just buying text links from individual sites. Trust me, I've spent thousands on advertising.

However, my favorite form of marketing is the free kind. Anything free I like, especially if it helps my websites make more money without increasing my advertising costs.

Here are three easy and quick ways to market your website at no additional cost.

1. Free Business Cards

Free business cards are a staple in my advertising arsenal. You can leave them everywhere and give them to anyone. The best part is, they are free! Use them where you want, when you want, and as often as possible. That is the motto I live by whenever I get a shipment of free business cards in the mail.

2. Link Exchanges

Link exchanges are a great way of spreading Page Rank, but also of sharing visitors. Most people who like a site will bookmark it. After they have read everything they want, they will read the site that you link to. You get the visitors, and share the visitor through a link exchange.

3. Business card networking

After you have received your free business cards, use them to network with other people. Everytime you meet someone, hand them one of your free business cards. After that, ask for one of their business cards in exchange. If they don't have one, make sure you mention what you do, and the website address that is also listed on your free business card. Free business cards make a great networking tool if you will put them to use. Never forget, they are free, and should not be used sparingly. Use them in any situation you can think of. People will take them home and visit your site when they pull your business card out of their pocket.

With those three free website marketing ideas, your website will not only be more successful, but you won't have to spend any of your hard earned money on marketing!

woensdag 29 juli 2009

Shopping Online: Its Many Benefits

Besides instant communication, and more knowledge at our fingertips than we could ever read, the internet offers us an ease of shopping never before available, especially when shopping for hot tubs. It’s as if a magic genie has given us all our shopping wishes: optimum choice, access no matter the location, and the best of prices.

Shopping on the internet allows us to select a particular store or even a brand name manufacturer if that is our shopping style. We can search by product or brand name, but either way, we are able to choose the store we feel most comfortable with to make our actual purchase. We can choose our favorite leading department store, favorite discount distributor, or even go right to the manufacturer if they offer online purchasing.

Our choice of who to buy from is only the beginning; our buying experience is further enhanced by the ability to make unlimited price comparisons. Only the internet makes it possible to compare prices of 10 different distributors of a hot tub without ever leaving the comfort of our home. Some sites offer cost comparisons within a single site, allowing a person to designate an item and to then see prices from several discount online merchants.

Because buying on the internet eliminates the need for an actual store location and staffing, prices are often at a considerable discount. Whether you are buying large items for health purposes, such as a hot tub to help your arthritis or fibromyalgia, or buying something small for spiritual purposes, such as a tiny bronze Buddha, or a medium item for purely decorative purposes, such as a brightly colored abstract framed jazz poster—all can usually be found at a fraction of the cost you might expect to pay if you purchased them in a specialty store.

Another benefit of doing our shopping online is the ability to find various ratings or evaluations of the products you are thinking about purchasing. Frequently web sites will offer various customer rankings and even customer reviews of the products, as well as web sites that offer more objective evaluations of items. Researching what you are buying can help guide your final choice, and in the end can lead to increased satisfaction with your ultimate decision.

One thing you need to consider when shopping online is the cost of having your purchase delivered. Frequently, you will be offered various speeds of delivery, with the longer you are able to wait to receive an item, the less expensive the delivery charge. Even for instant shipping, such as overnight or two-day delivery, often the discounted price is more than enough to offset the shipping. This is something you will need to think about when you make your cost comparisons. If the item will be taxed, that is, the distributor has a store in your state and is required to charge state sales tax; this should also be factored into the cost of the item.

When buying online, always consider the date that you want to have the product in your hand; ask yourself if there is a particular date that the item must arrive. This date, if it exists, will guide you in your choice of shipping method, and may, in fact, dissuade you from making a purchase that is not available by the time you need it. If your delivery requirements are more open-ended, and you have no specific time that you must receive the purchase by, you will have more flexibility in both shipping methods and who you order from.

Since more and more people have turned to the internet for their shopping needs, companies have developed ways to safeguard your personal information, especially credit card information. Look for assurances that your information is protected. If you are still wary of giving such information online, many internet companies allow you to print out order forms, and mail or fax them with your check or credit card information. While this may take a bit longer, it can be reassuring if you still do not feel comfortable providing such personal information, like your credit card number and expiration date, online.

Internet shopping also makes record keeping a breeze; printing a copy of your online order is often as simple as pushing your “print” button. The shipper almost always provides an order confirmation or code, which can be quickly jotted down and kept in a safe place near your computer. Many shippers, besides confirming your order by e-mail, will also confirm the date of shipment and inform you of the tracking number for the shipment. Some merchants even have places on their web sites where you can check the progress of your order, where it offers you several responses, such as awaiting shipment, shipped on a specific date, or expected arrival date.

If you are seeking a very specific or unusual gift, online shopping is often a wise choice. Want a specific animal breed cup for a loved one, or a towel featuring a certain college sports team? Instead of becoming frustrated when your local stores do not carry exactly what you want, the internet can locate even the most esoteric characters and team mascots. It is as if you are able to travel the world, shopping for that special gift to delight your loved one, that gift that says how much you truly care. Sometimes, if the item is very specific, you may have to search several sites before locating exactly what you want, but your chances for procuring a specific item are definitely enhanced by shopping online.

On a cold, rainy day, many of us dread taking an unnecessary trip outside the house. On just such days, we can easily do our shopping online, wearing our most comfortable clothes, sipping our favorite hot chocolate and watching the weather from a cozy vantage point in our own home. Imagine doing almost all of your holiday or birthday shopping for the year in a single afternoon? With the internet, this becomes a real possibility, saving you time, stress and money. Makes you glad to be alive in this day and age, doesn’t it?

dinsdag 28 juli 2009

5 eBay Selling Tips for Newbies

I’m directing this article to those who are just starting their eBay Selling Venture. Whether you’re selling books, DVDs, CDs, collectibles or clothing, all things (with the exception of eBooks and services) need to be mailed. And it’s the postage, handling fees and mailing that seems to cause a great deal of angst among new sellers.

You’ve heard the advice – don’t overcharge for shipping. That is very good advice, indeed, as nothing turns off potential buyers like sellers who gouge you on the shipping costs. It’s also a practice that can rack up bad feedback.

However, I’m going to play Devil’s Advocate here and suggest that you don’t go overboard and give so much of a break on shipping that you’re chipping away at your profits. It’s good to remember the “hidden costs” of shipping: bubble wrap to secure your breakables, tape, shipping envelopes, boxes, etc. Then there’s the gas you put in your car to take all those trips to the post office.

You might think I’m being cheap, but, if you added up all your eBay expenses for the year (as some did for their recent taxes) you might be shocked to see how all the packing materials and gas for your car added up and took a little chunk out of your eBay profits. And, believe me, they do add up.

Some people are even more surprised to find they underestimated the weight of their packages, causing their profits to shrink even further.

How can you be fair to both you and your buyers?

1. Buy a scale. It may sound simple, but purchasing a scale can save you a bundle in shipping. If you’re just eyeballing the weight of the package, you can often times guess too low, and be in for quite a shock when you go to the post office and see the package is going to cost twice what you thought to ship.

2. Know the dimensions of your packaging before listing the item. Some packages cost more to ship because of their dimensions. Knowing the weight alone isn’t enough.

3. Offer the buyer a variety of shipping methods. Some prefer speedy delivery with Express mailing, while some prefer to save money with parcel post even though the wait is longer. It’s always a good idea when using parcel post or other slower ground shipping to alert the buyer by email that it can take anywhere from 8 to 10 days.

4. Save yourself money whenever possible by using boxes that have been used. Most stores are more than happy to let you rummage through their old boxes and take some home with you. But, do remember to choose boxes that are presentable, secure and strong enough for your items. And, if you have breakables, don’t skimp on the bubble wrap.

5. Give yourself a small handling fee that will cover your expenses. Some sellers add on an additional $1 or $2 to the shipping fees for their handling fees (depending on the cost of the item and how much packaging you have to use). I really advocate doing this because your expenses will add up if you do a lot of selling on eBay. Be sure to be upfront with your buyers that you have a small handling fee so they can’t complain about it later.

Being fair to both yourself and your buyer will keep you both happy, and keep more of your profit in your pocket.


maandag 27 juli 2009

WYSIWYG?

Many web sites seem to have graphics and moving images on their pages, some even have music, personally I think that music Is just wasted space on a website anyway, as a large percentage of people don’t even have their volume on. If you want to incorporate music it is good practice to let the visitor decide if they want to listen to it or not and give them a play and stop button.
The problem with this is the time it takes for the page to load.

Many visitors to a website will not wait for the graphics to download they will simply back out and go to the next website in the listings and you have just lost yourself a sale.

High resolution graphics and music is fine for most people with a high speed broadband connection, but if you have anything less than that then waiting for graphics to download on a web page is very frustrating.

For the web designer themselves it is wise to test the website you have created on a 28.8 connection speed and see how fast your site downloads, it should be viewable within about 3 – 4 seconds maximum. It is recommended also that a site be no larger than 50k, you can still fit great graphics and content into a site with around 30k of content.

A tip is to make your graphics smaller in size and to use fewer colours, instead of a million, use 216 and try to keep your images smaller than 4k.

Instead of using graphics you can try colouring the cells, or changing the colour of borders. If you experiment a little the effects can be fantastic and obviously the less graphics you are using, the faster your webpage will load.

The thing to remember when developing a website is that less is more, we live in a world where we want everything now, so give the customer what they want!

zondag 26 juli 2009

5 Big Internet Business Lies

You have heard from people saying Internet Business is a waste of time, you will not make any money, there is no real money to be made online, it will never work and so many others negative words coming from people who don’t really understand in this Internet Business industry.

The thing is, it does work. Why some people make a fortune and some don’t even make money at all? Simply because the people who make thousands or millions of cash knew all the lies in this business and they will not trust these lies.

So what is this big internet lies? Below here are the 10 big internet lies that you should know:

1. Starting And Running A Business On The Internet Is Expensive

Do you know that you can start your business with zero cost? You can actually earn your income by joining a very high quality affiliate program. Usually, as an affiliate marketer, your job is concentrating on marketing only. All the follow up, delivery of the product, answering questions from customers and so on are done by the owner of the program.

Usually the ‘expensive’ statement often comes from people who are living in non-U.S. countries, especially if the country’s local currency is smaller than that of the U.S. Dollar. If it is not a currency issue, it is a vision issue. See and think small to get small. See and think big and your results will have a tendency to match your thoughts.

2. You Can Make Easy Money From The Internet

Most people believe you can make money overnight and by not doing anything at all. If it is what you have in mind right now, this myth is what sets the realistic apart from the unrealistic. You have probably heard of stories of how people make 5 to 6 figure incomes in the shortest period of time imaginable.

These stories might be true but did you know most of them have failed so miserably several times before they can really make money? They have learned from their mistakes and move on. It may seem as if some gurus are overnight successes with the wild numbers some people have brought in during a day or a week selling information or products online.

Some interesting facts about overnight success – it normally takes months if not years to realize. In other words, they prepare, they create a joint ventures, they get ready and then build up anticipation for a launch – then BOOM it explodes!

3. You Must Know HTML, Programming And Graphic Designing In Order To Start Your Business

You don’t need to know all of these at all. Period. In fact, one of the biggest shockers was the discovery that most of the biggest on the gurus today do not have the first clue as to how to build a web page.

These gurus earned more money because they knew how to reach people. They either outsource for professional help or establish Joint Ventures with other individuals who can compensate their lack of knowledge in any one of these areas.

As a matter of fact, most successful people are true successes because they only focus their time on what brings them successes.

If you want to create your web pages without having to learn programming, HTML and designing skills, just find someone else that can do it for you. There are many professional web designer you can find on the Internet which you can hire them to design your web pages exactly like you wanted.

4. On The Internet, There Is No Need To Know How To Sell

This statement has make people who hate selling are attracted to ads that read “no selling required”. Think for a moment, is there any logic at all you can make money without doing anything at all? Usually these programs are usually unworkable and some are run by fly-by-night operators.

In this business, don’t try to sell to other people. Instead, you inform your potential customers. Show people what their lives would be like with what you offer and you will have a sale without selling anything at all!

5. You Don’t Have To Build A Mailing List At All

Laughing out loud – that is like saying, “I don’t want to be in business”. Put this in your head, your mailing list is as important to you as the “Yellow Pages” is to a conventional B2B business.

“The money is in the list”. You probably heard this from most gurus out there. But you should also have this word in your mind, “The money is in the relationship”. The idea of networking with people is unattractive to most who hate to sell.

Remember though, you are not selling anything. You are just showing people their life and how it can easily be enhanced by what you have to offer.

All the above are just some of the big Internet lies. Actually there are a lot more Internet lies you should stay away from. You have to be smart in order to really achieve success that you could possibly imagine. Success is like enlightenment. It is a path and not a destination.

zaterdag 25 juli 2009

3 Simple Tips For Making Money Online Even If You Don’t Have Anything To Sell!

Have an idea about making money online but don’t know where to start?

There are several ways to make money on the Internet – even if you don’t have a product to sell. Keep in mind that running an online business takes time and effort, just like running any business. However, you can get started without any products, which is one less roadblock for most people wanting to start a business.

You don’t need to be a computer expert to run an online business, but you do need to either be able to set up a website, or have the resources to pay someone else to do it for you.

Here are 3 simple ways to make money online even if you don’t have your own product:

Affiliate programs
Being an affiliate means you are selling other people’s products, and you get a percentage of the sale, or you make a small fee for each person who requests more information. Most major retailers offer affiliate programs, along with many smaller retailers (with lots of good products and services). It’s not a good idea to try to compete with an established retailer like Wal-Mart, Target, or Circuit City. A better way to make money is to find a “niche” that serves a smaller group of people, that you can easily reach.

For example, rather than selling sporting goods to everyone, you might start a fishing site that sells canoes and fishing products to people who like fresh water fishing. You can also find smaller retailers who may offer more specialized products to those who know a lot about fishing, while selling the basics from Wal-Mart to beginners.

A good place to start is Commission Junction (http://www.CJ.com), and you’ll get an idea of the products you can offer. Be creative in finding your niche, start with something you know a little about, or enjoy doing, and before long you can be making money online!

Adsense from Google
Adsense is an advertising program from search engine Google.com (there are other advertising programs you can offer, but for now Google’s is the biggest and most popular). By placing ads on your site, you earn money for each person who clicks on the ad. Google will automatically determine which ads are best for your site, based on the topic of each web page. All you have to do is place the code on your web page, and Google does the rest.

You can also sell individual ads, and determine your own terms and price. But using a program like Google is simple, and if your set gets a lot of visitors, you can make good money. Again, the best way to succeed is to find a niche, create a website around that topic, and Google will be able to determine the best ads for your visitors.

Write a “How-To” booklet
If you don’t want to sell other people’s products, but don’t have a lot of money to create your own, a simple way to get started is to write your own “how-to” booklet. Pick a topic you know enough to write about, and start writing. Information products are always good sellers – the key is to solve a particular problem. “How to catch fresh water fish” or “How to plan a fishing vacation on a tight budget” are possibilities for the fishing niche mentioned above.

To learn more, do a search for “creating information products” or “writing e-books”, and you will find lots of resources. Once you create your product, Clickbank.com offers a simple service to help you sell your information product, and there are others to help you get started.

Again, be creative, there are lots of problems out there that people need help with. And offering a good solution can make you lots of money!

Making money online takes more than just building a website. You need to pick the right products or services. Then you need to find the right audience to sell those products and services. Then you need to promote your website to enough people so you can make money. For now, you should have enough ideas to get you started – even if you don’t have a product to sell yet!

vrijdag 24 juli 2009

3 Legitimate Reasons For Getting An Immediate Product Refund

So now that you've finally decided to purchase that product and can't wait to try it out, you have to find out that it does anything else but what you've expected. Don't worry, you still have a chance to get your money back with the following tips for getting an immediate product refund.

1. False advertising

"Get 10.000 hits to your website in 24 hours". Such tempting promises might sure make you wanna flip out your credit card immediately. But when you apply the methods or use the software and have to find out that those 10.000 hits might really result in 10, then this is a legitimate reason for requesting a refund. Unfortunately it's not always that easy. Many vendors get around such false advertising by stating in the fine print that these results cannot be guaranteed. Therefore always keep an eye on such statements and if you cannot believe what's advertised then search for product reviews using your favorite search engine.

2. Product outdated

Believe it or not, but I've seen products that were still advertised and happily took the money out of the customers' pockets but were totally outdated or didn't work anymore. I once bought a product that could not be downloaded anymore but still had the sales page up and running, it even displayed the current date indicating the end of a special promotion. Every attempt to contact the creator of the software failed and after I read in a forum that I wasn't the only one not being able to download the software, I contacted the credit card processing company and got my money back.

3. Usability

Not every software is as user-friendly as Windows (you got the joke, right?!), which can be frustrating if you want nothing more than use it immediately. For most complex software products there exist written tutorials that exactly describe how to use them and sometimes even video tutorials that make the product handling even easier. If you've read and watched all tutorials and still cannot manage to use the product, then state this to the creator and you should get that refund.

If you've contacted the product creator and still were not able to get a refund despite some legitimate and acceptable reasons, not all hope is gone. Most marketplaces offer a refund guarantee for products that were sold through them (e. g. Clickbank offers its customers a general refund policy of 8 weeks after the product purchase, for a vendor like PayDotCom you have to contact the credit card processor like Paypal which has a refund policy of 60 days).

It is always suggested to clearly state the reason for your product refund and to keep a friendly communication style. Even if the product is not worth a single penny it doesn't make things easier when you insult the creator. Try to show that you've really tried to use the product in an efficient way, maybe attach some screenshots, include suggestions what could be better, etc. The product creator might loose you as a customer but still can benefit from your experience and will most of the time happily give you the refund.

Whatever you do, please be fair. It's just not right to purchase a product which you badly want and then request a refund to get your money back but still continue to use the product. Most marketplaces (Clickbank, PayDotCom) tolerate 2 or even more refunds, but after that you might not be able to purchase anything again through the specific company.

donderdag 23 juli 2009

Magazine Online Subscriptions – Staying Up to Date

Online commerce and content distribution has changed the face of the publishing industry and most well known magazines have an online version available. However, if you are still a firm believer of reading a magazine when reclining on a lazy-boy then you can go ahead and subscribe to the print version of the magazine. However, the process of subscribing for the magazine can be completed online within a few minutes and you can start expecting you magazines within a few days rather than the long wait which is normal when subscriptions are sent in by post.

One of the key things you will need to complete the process of magazine online subscriptions is a valid credit card. You should also ensure that the subscription page is officially from the website of the magazine and is secured. You will see a small lock at the bottom of the browser to confirm the security status of the page. Apart from the credit card, the online form will require complete shipping address where the magazine is to be delivered. It is always useful to add a landmark.

Since many magazine publishers are looking at online users, you are likely to get a good bargain (sometimes better than the subscription leaflet in the print version). Publishers having multiple magazines often club subscriptions or promise a few issues free of charge in order to capture the subscriber’s interest. One of the most prominent offers which have been doing the rounds online is the Time magazine offer for three free issues and then subscription if you like. So if you are keen on a particular magazine, do check the online site to see I there is any subscription facility available online.

woensdag 22 juli 2009

The Four Principles of Making an Income Online

Making an income online really can be as simple as you'd wish.

It need not seem complicated or force you to feel out of your depth.

There are four key aspects to being successful on the Internet with a website:

*Bring traffic to your website-

And there are so many different ways to get that traffic. Including the one you are reading right now-writing articles. Others are such as, pay per click, viral marketing, and ezine ads, to name just a few.

*Capture the emails of visitors to your website-

Now this could be a 'squeeze page', or a pop up or even just a simple form on your main webpage. Capturing emails and therefore building a list is vital to your internet business success. Using a 'bribe' to get them to opt into your list is also very important. Otherwise you won't capture many email addresses.

*Make the first sale from your list, offering them a product or service that will genuinely help them with their goals. (Usually this will be an entry level product and relatively inexpensive, say $20 - $40). And this aspect is very important. You want people on your list to know you are wanting to sincerely help them, not just flog them some junk for a quick buck. Which unfortunately seems to be what many lists, especially those in the Internet Marketing field are all about.

*Make additional sales from that person on your list offering them further valuable products and services. These products and services are of a higher level, what is known as a 'back-end', and also much more expensive in price. You will find these repeat customers are the lifeblood of any business. It is much easier, and cheaper, to sell to someone you have already sold to, than to a new customer.

Its as easy as 1 2 3 4!

So many people and so called 'guru's' make it seem like some kind of mystical, reserved for a privilaged few, information. But in reality, at its core, its nothing more than these four steps. Do these well and you will make money online, make ALOT of it. It is virtually impossible not to, once you have all the steps properly streamlined.

The fact is, all successful business on the internet have these four ingredients. Those that choose to skip one or more of them are the ones which tend to struggle with their own online business.

So which would you like to be.....?

dinsdag 21 juli 2009

Organizing URLs 101

Every traffic exchange and program on the planet gives you a URL to promote. You may not be interested in promoting every one, but you may still want to have those URLs in a place that’s easy to find.

Why is that?

Well, if you belong to traffic exchanges, most of them have downline builders, right? So, even if you don’t belong to a dedicated downline builder, you’ll still need your usernames and affiliate links at some point and it’s great to have that information at your fingertips.

My solution is to build a table in Word or any other word processor with table-making capability. You need only two columns. The first column is for the program or traffic exchange’s name, and the second is for the affiliate URL.

I also list my banners in their respective blocks. However, when adding a banner, I color it blue. You can color it magenta. It doesn’t matter. Just so it sticks out as being different from the affiliate links.

Other URLs I might add for the same program might be shortcuts, as with TinyURL. Or tracking links, as with LinkBrander. And, I color them differently, too. You’ll be amazed at how big a difference coloring links is. It will save you lots of time in the long run. You won’t have to read the whole URL to see what it relates to, only choose the right color.

Beside these URLs, I often add descriptions. For instance, I belong to Marlon Sanders’ affiliate program, and he has umpteen products to sell. So, next to each of my affiliate URLs, I describe the product it relates to with a short keyword or two in parentheses.

You can type all of this information into your table in any order. When you've finished, click on the first column and then go to "Table" in the top toolbar and then, "Sort." Your programs and respective URLs will then be in alphabetical order, making finding your URLs very easy.

After your table is complete and sorted, save your document. Then, go to your Start menu, click the icon for My Documents and navigate to your table. Drag the icon for it to your desktop. Each time a program asks for a URL or you need one to plug into a traffic exchange for advertising or another for a downline builder, the link will be right at your fingertips. Voila!

I’ve been using this system for almost three years and it works very well for me. Try it. I hope it works well for you, too.


maandag 20 juli 2009

Truth Behind Ebooks

For 10+ years now people have been searching for ways to make money on the internet. That means for 10+ years people have been writing ebooks promising you that if you read this book you will make money on the internet.

To put it to you the easiest way I know how, “They are all full of shit”. The only reason why 99% of the ebooks ever get written is for the sole purpose of making money for the writer. The writer could care less about helping you earn money on the internet after they have sold the ebook to you. I have never purchased an ebook but I have browsed through most of the ebooks that are supposed to be decent and never found any use full information that I couldn’t find easily for free.

Here is why none of these ebooks can ever make you rich. The main reason is because they always lack the idea. This is the most important part behind making a website for profit. You need to get that one idea that is unique and its something people will want. That is a must in order to make huge profits on the internet. No one is ever going to sell you that information so stop looking for it. You need to come up with that yourself.

Heres an example on what a real “how to make money online” ebook should look like:

First off I will give you the million dollar idea that is going to make you rich. Since you are the only person who bought my ebook you will have exclusive rights to all my information and you can rest assure no one will be copying you.

Through out this ebook I am going to walk you through step by step from the idea all the way up to cashing the checks. So lets get started with the idea right now.

The million dollar idea that you bought off of me for $59,95 because I am too lazy to put this idea into action is this. You are going to make and market a website that mimics the look and functions a computer desktop. Everything will work exactly the same from moving the icons to making new folders and icons.

What this is doing is giving users something that they are used to seeing with functionality that does not need to be explained. This will help out in that famous decision that will come up to everyone that sees your site down the road which is, “Make this page your homepage?” The purpose behind this site is to get users to use it as their homepage which will end up bringing a ton of traffic to you on a daily basis.

To build the site I would just hire a programmer to make it. There are quite a few freelance sites where you can go post your job and get it done easy. I would suggest to get the site done in AJAX because its probably the easiest to do all that functionality in right now.

The first step in marketing the site is we are going to get webmasters interested. To do this we are going to allow them to create their own icons for their sites and submit them. Why would a webmaster want to waste their time doing this? Well because the icon will be listed in our directory that are users will be browsing through to put icons on their internet desktop. So it will provide a link back to their site and it will also improve the chance of users picking their site to put on their desktop for the main reason of them having a custom icon.

Now that we got the webmasters involved you should start seeing your site being talked about throughout the internet and hopefully gaining some popularity. If you are lucky you will make it on popular websites that have the ability to send you a ton of traffic like Digg and Slashdot.

Now that we have the users we were looking for now we need to make some money. This can be done in two ways. The first way is just to sell simple banner space on the top of the site. The second is to use Google search to monetize it. Both ways are effective but I believe using Google search will make you more money.

Now I know that is incomplete obviously but that is basically how an ebook that is going to make you money online should look. They should not tell you how to make money without giving you the idea. That means the only idea that they are giving you is to write an ebook and sell it to people!

zondag 19 juli 2009

How To Find New Coupons

Years ago, finding coupons involved the time-consuming job of searching through newspaper advertisement sections for deals and discounts. You’d search for the coupons you needed and clip them out with a pair of scissors. Coupon clipping was tedious work back then and remembering to take clipped coupons along on shopping excursions was difficult for many people. Still, paper coupons provided good savings and many people used them.

Today, more and more individuals are turning to online coupons for saving money. Instead of fooling around with newsprint and scissors, they are using computers to find coupons and coupon codes. The Internet offers a wealth of coupons, and savvy users can save a bundle using them. Best of all, there is no clipping or storing involved and you can search for online coupons and codes anytime you need them.

Wondering how to find new coupons? It is surprisingly easy. First, think about the online stores and websites you frequent on a regular basis. Most of them probably offer some type of online coupons. Each time you are considering a purchase, check the online store or websites you normally patronize for coupon deals. You will likely find at least a few coupons this way.

Next, check out sites that offer online coupons and coupon codes. Such sites are often a bargain lover’s dream, featuring discount codes and coupons for everything from baby powder and diapers to clothing and fine jewelry. In fact, there are so many available coupon deals that you are actually doing yourself a disservice by paying full price for just about anything.

Online coupon sites are set up in a variety of ways. Some compile coupons under specific headings. For example, some online coupon sites list coupons for DVD players under the heading of electronics and magazine coupons under the book and magazine heading. Some online coupon sites place discount deals in easy to use databases, while others use links to advertise coupon deals. Many online coupon websites list coupons according to brand or manufacturer names, while others supply a daily listing of the best coupon deals.

Let your personal shopping style directly influence your online coupon search. If you’re a person who likes to dig and search for deals, you might like one of the coupon sites that throws hundreds of coupons together and lets you search for deals. However, if you prefer to have your deals and discounts provided for you, with little searching required, you might prefer one of the websites that sorts online coupons and coupon codes for you by category, brand, or manufacturer. You may also find it useful to peruse a few different coupon sites and bookmark those you like best for regular use.

You can find online coupon sites that feature coupons for hundreds of products or sites that feature only a specific type of product. For example, you can find coupon sites for electronics only or sites that have coupons and codes for electronics in addition to just about anything else you can imagine. Some coupon sites allow you to select the types of coupons you wish to view, enabling you to target your coupon search and avoid viewing online coupons in which you have absolutely no interest. There are even some websites that offer automatic e-mail notification of new coupons from particular stores or in certain categories. Automatic e-mail notification makes finding and using online coupons practically effortless.

Many people think online coupon sites are limited to coupons, deals, and discounts made only for the Internet. This is a misconception, as many sites feature coupons for use both on and off the Internet. For example, you may find a Gap coupon that can be used online, as well as in your local Gap store. By contrast, most print coupons cannot be used online. Online coupons can be easily printed for use in brick and mortar stores.

In addition to online coupons, many coupon sites feature product reviews. These reviews are typically provided by average consumers and can give you valuable insight into items you may wish to buy. This is especially true of items like electronics, which are manufactured by many different companies. Product reviews can assist you in choosing such items wisely.

You may wonder what the trick or gimmick is to online coupon sites. In many cases, such sites earn commissions when customers use the coupons listed. It is basically a win-win situation as you, the consumer, gain easy access to money-saving deals and the coupon site owner earns a little cash for presenting them to you.

Do yourself a favor and forget about clipping coupons. Wash the newsprint off your hands and toss your scissors in a drawer. All you need to find great coupons and online coupon codes is your computer and access to the Internet. Saving money has never been easier.


zaterdag 18 juli 2009

Is An Ebusiness Right For You

You need to make some money. Perhaps you'd like to change careers. Maybe you'd like a new challenge. Or you've just heard the rumors about the fortunes to be made on the internet.
Any one of these reasons might have led you to the decision to start your own internet business, but before you begin investing your time and money there are some important questions you need to answer to determine if an ebusiness is right for you.

First you should consider your familiarity and ease with the internet. If you don't know about negotiate the web or attempting to do makes you uncomfortable then this alone does not mean you should rethink starting an ebusiness. However it does mean that you need to spend time learning about how the internet works and getting familiar with basic tools such as email, web browsers, message boards, and search engines. If your discomfort was a simple result of ignorance then don't worry about it as you can acquire the knowledge and skills you need. However if you find that you simply don't like it even after you become familiar then that should be a red flag to consider another career path.

Second you should consider your business knowledge and experience and then consider how that works for you or against you in the world of ecommerce. A simple lack of knowledge and experience simply means that you will need to spend time learning or filling in the gaps in your knowledge. The good news is that this information is readily available on the internet. Of course the bad news is that if you leap into business before you are ready it can cost you a lot of time and money. My advice is to read articles and ebooks to acquire a basic foundation then begin spending time in some online forums and ask questions. People are always willing to help. Don't spend any money while building this foundation knowledge. You don't have to so why do it? Latter on as you begin to delve deeper into your niche then you may decide that some information is worth paying for but hopefully by then you'll be a better judge. However you may discover during your studies that ecommerce bores you or confuses you. Again, that should be a red flag to consider another career path.

Third what need will your ebusiness fill? Obviously you have needs but that is not what I'm talking about. Think about your potential audience or customer. Start searching for other products that might compete with yours or other businesses that already exist. Visit forums, subscribe to newsletters, and study web sites that relate to this field. Eventually you will be able to determine if there is a need for your ebusiness, how big a demand exists, and how much competition is already in place. It is important to consider these angles because each fact will help determine how easy it will be to establish your new business, grow that business, and ensure its success. You can make a success in a highly competitive field but it is more work than finding yourself in a smaller, yet unexplored, niche.

vrijdag 17 juli 2009

Seven Secrets of Internet Millionaires

Internet millionaires don’t acquire their wealth and success by luck of the draw. They know the secrets to success. These secrets are so valuable that if you implement them, you will succeed in your own Internet business.

There are two general types of secrets that Internet millionaires know which include external and internal secrets. We will discuss these secrets in detail in hopes that you will use them to your advantage and become an Internet millionaire yourself.
First, let’s look at the external secrets that Internet millionaires have in their tool kit.

Internet Millionaire Secret #1: Internet millionaires recognize that strategy should be the foundation of any marketing plan. It is critical to have a marketing strategy and not just jump into marketing techniques. For example, we don’t have to use mass advertising anymore because mass advertising doesn’t have strength because consumers have choices. You would have wasted valuable time and money if you used mass marketing techniques without first strategizing about the state of the market.

Internet Millionaire Secret #2: Internet millionaires are not generalists. They focus on selling their products and services to specific niche markets. The business market in general is going in the direction of niche markets because customers have more choices regarding places to buy their products.

Internet Millionaire Secret #3: Search for and grab untapped markets. Seek out people that have not been able to have access to your product in the past. In untapped markets, you don’t have to deal with competitors which helps keep the marketing costs down. In addition, you will be able to establish a rapport and trust with your customers.

Internet Millionaire Secret #4: Your backend strategy is crucial to success.You want several profit centers that allow you to sell your products and services to more customers. The backend part of your company supports these profit centers. It diversifies your business so you are bringing in money through many different areas. You can’t rely on retiring early if you only have one profit center.

Internet Millionaire Secret #5: Try to automate as many services as possible. This will allow you to sell services 24 hours a day 7 days a week online. Automate your service centers to cut down on costs and help your customers at all hours of the day.

Internet Millionaire Secret #6: Set up your business so that you are replaceable. You can make yourself replaceable by branding. Branding encompasses yourself or the value that you provide. Branding yourself is lucrative, but it doesn’t allow you to take a break because you have to make every decision. Branding your value, on the other hand, sells your expertise and not your time.

Internet Millionaire Secret #7: Don’t work alone; build a team to support your business venture. Create a team of marketing, business, a mentor and accountability individuals. Remember, two heads are better than one so you can discuss ideas and strategies you have for your business.

Internet millionaires also have internal secrets. An Internet millionaire has self confidence and believes in their product. They are able to make decisions quickly. They have learned the correct information and modeled others that have proven success. They are not afraid to make a mistake and realize that their job doesn’t define who they are. One of the most vital secrets is that Internet millionaires persevere and never give up no matter what obstacles cross their path.

donderdag 16 juli 2009

Achieve Indepencence Through Web Lead Generation

Before setting up anything, it is important that you understand the high relevance of lead generation to your business' success. It is highly important for you to be able to find ways for lead generation because without lead generation, your business will really suffer. Leads potentially lead to shoppers, and shoppers potentially lead to sales and profits. Thus, with no leads, you can have no shoppers, and so forth.

1. Business Breeds Business
A poor quality of lead generation will end up costing you a lot of wasted time and money. The initial impression people have about your business is very important. And if people hear that many of their friends are shopping somewhere, they are likely to try shopping there also. Take command of your company's lead generation - never leave the sales of your business as well as its growth, efficiency, and image, to fate.

2. Growth Is More Important Than Profits
You always need to supervise your company's lead generation so that you won't be left in the dark when it comes to your company's growth (or lack of it). If you are now interested in taking command of your company's lead generation, here are some simple tricks of the trade.

3. Use The Internet
Since hundreds of millions of people are logged on to the internet every single day, whether they are looking for something specific or just browsing around, it is highly important that you are able to bypass all the lead brokers as well as the other competition on the internet and just directly connect to your desired customers straight to a company's web site. You MUST have a website. In this day and age, your customers not only expect it, they demand it.

4. Lead Generation
Choose a lead generation that you can efficiently control and which is highly dependable. Make sure that your lead generation system is cost effective and specifically targeted to internet lead generation. Start getting off the lead generation habit of merely doing internet sales leads. It is advisable for your company to be able to develop a type of lead generation program where you will be able to cut out the middleman. You will not only be able to increase your company's lead generation but it can also improve the quality of your company's internet lead generation wherein you will be able to cut your costs per lead.

It is important to note that being able to create an effective internet sales lead generation system or program comprises of being highly sensitive of what you prospective clients want such as the right keywords or phrases that prospective clients usually use in the internet search engines. It is to the client's advantage that he or she will be able to choose the right keyword or key phrase (the ones that are most likely to be used by their prospective clients) because the whole point of lead generation is to basically be able to gain as much exposure over the net as possible as well as being able to provide all relevant information to their prospective clients.

woensdag 15 juli 2009

How to build links the easy way with Pyramid Linking

Building quality links to your website has always been one of the most difficult and tedious methods of search engine optimisation. Good quality links are hard to obtain and with reciprocal linking being devalued by popular search engines such as Google the task is getting even harder.
A new free to use website called http://www.pyramidlinking.com/ is poised to make link building easy once again. In 2006 it’s not often that a genuinely new idea appears on the internet but Pyramid Linking looks to be one of the big new sites of the year.

With over 500 links exchanged between 100 users within hours of the sites unofficial launch its clear that webmasters are as keen as ever to build links.
Each website that signs up is given a list of sites to link to. Once the links have been validated the site is added to the link queue and will receive twice as many links as it donated.
The links obtained using the site are one-way static links in plain html so there are no scripts to install or tracking code to leave a footprint for search engines to detect. The links obtained are all relevant and, due to the nature of the program, are all of a higher PageRank than the links donated.

An innovative referral program will give all users the opportunity to earn 5 extra links for each new user they refer.
Pyramid Linking is run by a team of experienced programmers and SEO professionals with experience dating back to 1998. The site has been designed to be usable and offer maximum information about the program.
Why not take a look at the http://www.pyramidlinking.com/ website and see how easy it could be to build your links? It could be the best opportunity of the year for your website.

Freelance