I just updated my report "25 Home Businesses You Can Join Without Breaking The Bank". I added quite a bit of FREE opportunities.
Be sure to grab your FREE copy here
http://www.mommyenterprises.com/free-business-report.htm
Enjoy
Stefani Partin
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Looking for places to plug your button?
For those of you looking for free traffic to your site, I have put together a list of sites today I found with plugboards. These are for the button size of 88x31 only. I started to plug and within a day it was bringing extra traffic to my site.
Here is my list of places to plug your button:
http://www.mommyportal.com/places-to-plug.htm
Enjoy!
Stefani Partin
Here is my list of places to plug your button:
http://www.mommyportal.com/places-to-plug.htm
Enjoy!
Stefani Partin
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Search Engine Marketing: 20 Strategies to Compel People to Link to Your Website
It is essential to establish quality inbound links from websites with high page ranks to attain a high ranking amongst search engines. The 20 guidelines listed below should be followed diligently.
1. Develop content related to your site with links on all pages. Offer other websites to post it on their sites free of cost. This will expose you more to your target audiences.
2. Permit other websites to publish your beneficial review of their business if they link up to your website.
3. Include your websites ad and link in every issue of your e-zine. Allow other sites to publish your e-zine on their site.
4. Let other sites give away free web book designed with your website title and contents on linking to your website.
5. Place a banner ad on the top of the article directory for your website. By linking to your site, visitors can add a free article directory to their site.
6. Allow other sites to use your discussion board by linking. Add your banner ad on top of discussion board.
7. Offer free membership to your "members only" websites.
8. Pay commission to visitors to sell your product or services, and an affiliate link to track their sales.
9. Create a graphic or text link award site for other websites. They will link on to it for awarding the winners, thus building traffic for your site.
10. Offer free consultation on e-mail on a particular subject i.e. astrology to people linking to your site. Traffic volumes will increase, as consulting fee is otherwise expensive.
11. Let other website publish your product approval testimonial by linking to your site.
12. Put your business ad on top of directory"s home page and let people add the directory to their site by linking to your site.
13. Exchange content of trade articles, lists etc. with other websites. All parties can include a resource box at end of the content.
14. Allow people to download software free of charge, if they link to your site.
15. Trade various forms of advertising with people who link up to your website.
16. Give web space to people for free. As a favor, request them to place ad banners of link for your web site.
17. Create a web ring by linking with a group of similar web sites.
18. Offer free membership to an online club or association, if they link to your site.
19. In exchange of linking, offer use of online services or utilities from your website.
20. Offer free e-book related to your audience to people linking to your web site.
Article by:
Sahar Aleenuh is a Work at Home Mom www.type-at-home.com Find the best deals here! www.officialdealfinder.com
1. Develop content related to your site with links on all pages. Offer other websites to post it on their sites free of cost. This will expose you more to your target audiences.
2. Permit other websites to publish your beneficial review of their business if they link up to your website.
3. Include your websites ad and link in every issue of your e-zine. Allow other sites to publish your e-zine on their site.
4. Let other sites give away free web book designed with your website title and contents on linking to your website.
5. Place a banner ad on the top of the article directory for your website. By linking to your site, visitors can add a free article directory to their site.
6. Allow other sites to use your discussion board by linking. Add your banner ad on top of discussion board.
7. Offer free membership to your "members only" websites.
8. Pay commission to visitors to sell your product or services, and an affiliate link to track their sales.
9. Create a graphic or text link award site for other websites. They will link on to it for awarding the winners, thus building traffic for your site.
10. Offer free consultation on e-mail on a particular subject i.e. astrology to people linking to your site. Traffic volumes will increase, as consulting fee is otherwise expensive.
11. Let other website publish your product approval testimonial by linking to your site.
12. Put your business ad on top of directory"s home page and let people add the directory to their site by linking to your site.
13. Exchange content of trade articles, lists etc. with other websites. All parties can include a resource box at end of the content.
14. Allow people to download software free of charge, if they link to your site.
15. Trade various forms of advertising with people who link up to your website.
16. Give web space to people for free. As a favor, request them to place ad banners of link for your web site.
17. Create a web ring by linking with a group of similar web sites.
18. Offer free membership to an online club or association, if they link to your site.
19. In exchange of linking, offer use of online services or utilities from your website.
20. Offer free e-book related to your audience to people linking to your web site.
Article by:
Sahar Aleenuh is a Work at Home Mom www.type-at-home.com Find the best deals here! www.officialdealfinder.com
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Are You Chasing Your Visitors Away?
To keep your visitors coming back, the main goals of
your website are for visitor participation and benefits.
Provide an interesting, beneficial and useful website
and they will come back!
If your site is annoying you can be sure they will find
another site to visit, never to come back to yours.
Here are some ways you can be sure to annoy your
visitors: (they might not annoy all, but probably the majority)
** Frames - Chopping up a site with frames is a great way
to get your visitors frustrated. These frames are very
obtrusive and make navigation and reading your site
much harder. They are also disliked by the search engine
spiders.
** Overbearing Graphics - Not only are these blinking and
flashing graphics distracting and unnecessary, they can
also cause your site to download very slowly. Most
people do not have the time to sit and wait for an
extremely slow site, and will leave before even knowing
what your site has to offer.
** No Contact Information - I cannot stress enough how
important it is to have your email address and other
contact info on every page. This will add credibility
to your site and always give your visitors a reason to
be assured that you can be reached when needed.
** Hard To Navigate -You want your visitors to be able
to get around your site without trouble. Have your
links all together in a place that is easily seen. Have
them in the same place on every page.
** Inconsistent Page Design - I have been on some sites
where after clicking on a link, I didn't even know if
I was at the same site. The page was totally different
and did not have any of the same information or links
as the previous page. After trying to find what I was
looking for and not finding it, I left. Please keep
your site design uniform and consistent. This will
make it much easier on your visitors.
** Spelling and Grammar – Always proofread your web
pages. Designing and building a professional website
is a waste of time if it reads like a five year old
wrote it. With spell checker, grammar checker,
dictionaries, etc. there is no excuse for poorly written
web pages!
** Too Many Banners -If you want banners on your site,
set up a banner exchange page for this purpose only. Do
not have your homepage or other pages so loaded with
banners that there isn't room for anything else.
** Hard To Read Text - Do not use fancy text or pale
text on a pale background. The easiest to read is a dark
text on a light background. Also, if you use a textured
or print background, be sure that it is not hard on the
eyes. One site I visited had a weave look background
that made the text so hard to read, after a few minutes
of looking around I had to leave because I was getting
a headache. If you think it is easy to see get a few
more opinions just to be sure!
** Music - Music used to be very common on the web.
Practically every site you went to had music. More and
more people started realizing that this was a major
distraction and annoyance to a lot of people. If you
really want music, have a choice for your visitors.
Let them decide if they want the music.
** Lack of Content -You've got to have content. People
visit a website to see what the site has that will
benefit them. Useful, helpful, practical content can't
be beat! This would include resources, freebies, tips,
ideas, information, interaction, contests, etc.
One thing you can do is visit several sites that pertain
to your business. Study these sites and write down
what you find annoying. Write down any reasons you
have for leaving the site. Take note of what you like
about these sites. Incorporate all these findings into
creating a sharp, clean, useful website with nothing
that will chase away your visitors!
*************
Find lots more tips, articles, and resources and a
chance to own your own profitable ebook store with
unlimited support at http://www.SeymourProducts.com
Seymour Products offers a huge selection of ebooks and
software only $1.00 each with resell rights. Business
Marketing Bulletin loaded with resources, tips, fun
and more! mailto:subscribe@seymourproducts.com
****************
your website are for visitor participation and benefits.
Provide an interesting, beneficial and useful website
and they will come back!
If your site is annoying you can be sure they will find
another site to visit, never to come back to yours.
Here are some ways you can be sure to annoy your
visitors: (they might not annoy all, but probably the majority)
** Frames - Chopping up a site with frames is a great way
to get your visitors frustrated. These frames are very
obtrusive and make navigation and reading your site
much harder. They are also disliked by the search engine
spiders.
** Overbearing Graphics - Not only are these blinking and
flashing graphics distracting and unnecessary, they can
also cause your site to download very slowly. Most
people do not have the time to sit and wait for an
extremely slow site, and will leave before even knowing
what your site has to offer.
** No Contact Information - I cannot stress enough how
important it is to have your email address and other
contact info on every page. This will add credibility
to your site and always give your visitors a reason to
be assured that you can be reached when needed.
** Hard To Navigate -You want your visitors to be able
to get around your site without trouble. Have your
links all together in a place that is easily seen. Have
them in the same place on every page.
** Inconsistent Page Design - I have been on some sites
where after clicking on a link, I didn't even know if
I was at the same site. The page was totally different
and did not have any of the same information or links
as the previous page. After trying to find what I was
looking for and not finding it, I left. Please keep
your site design uniform and consistent. This will
make it much easier on your visitors.
** Spelling and Grammar – Always proofread your web
pages. Designing and building a professional website
is a waste of time if it reads like a five year old
wrote it. With spell checker, grammar checker,
dictionaries, etc. there is no excuse for poorly written
web pages!
** Too Many Banners -If you want banners on your site,
set up a banner exchange page for this purpose only. Do
not have your homepage or other pages so loaded with
banners that there isn't room for anything else.
** Hard To Read Text - Do not use fancy text or pale
text on a pale background. The easiest to read is a dark
text on a light background. Also, if you use a textured
or print background, be sure that it is not hard on the
eyes. One site I visited had a weave look background
that made the text so hard to read, after a few minutes
of looking around I had to leave because I was getting
a headache. If you think it is easy to see get a few
more opinions just to be sure!
** Music - Music used to be very common on the web.
Practically every site you went to had music. More and
more people started realizing that this was a major
distraction and annoyance to a lot of people. If you
really want music, have a choice for your visitors.
Let them decide if they want the music.
** Lack of Content -You've got to have content. People
visit a website to see what the site has that will
benefit them. Useful, helpful, practical content can't
be beat! This would include resources, freebies, tips,
ideas, information, interaction, contests, etc.
One thing you can do is visit several sites that pertain
to your business. Study these sites and write down
what you find annoying. Write down any reasons you
have for leaving the site. Take note of what you like
about these sites. Incorporate all these findings into
creating a sharp, clean, useful website with nothing
that will chase away your visitors!
*************
Find lots more tips, articles, and resources and a
chance to own your own profitable ebook store with
unlimited support at http://www.SeymourProducts.com
Seymour Products offers a huge selection of ebooks and
software only $1.00 each with resell rights. Business
Marketing Bulletin loaded with resources, tips, fun
and more! mailto:subscribe@seymourproducts.com
****************
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Hot WordPress Tips
If you're looking for a way to optimize your WordPress blog and have it start earning you money instead of costing you money, then you've got to check out this ebook package.
Click Here To Visit OptiNiche WordPress eBook
Sincerely,
Stefani Partin
Click Here To Visit OptiNiche WordPress eBook
Sincerely,
Stefani Partin
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Blog Your Way to More Traffic & Sales
Blog is short for web log. A web log is a journal of sorts that is updated frequently to keep your visitors’ interest. Blogs are generally of a personal nature and express the opinions and thoughts of the webmaster. Blogs also contain links and other resources. Many people think of blogs as “online diaries.” Blogging is becoming a very popular method of publishing as it does not require any technical knowledge and it can greatly increase the popularity of your site. Some blogs allow the visitors to post and enter there thoughts and opinions as well.
A blog keeps people coming back to your site and a blog is also very helpful with the search engines because of the ever changing content. Search engines love new content!
Starting a blog is not hard. There are sites that provide this service for free.
First step is to take a look at some other blogs to get a feel of how they are done. Simply pick your favorite search engines, do a search for blogs and spend sometime reading and studying them. Get familiar with different styles, formats and content until you feel like you know what you would want to do with your blog.
You can then get started on your own blog. There are lots of sites where you can start your own blog for free:
BlogDrive.com
Blogger.com/start
LiveJournal.com/
Take some time to design your blog. Decide what color scheme you want to use and the type of layout you want. Some sites will have pre-designed layouts and templates to choose from or you can edit your own.
After you get your blog designed and set up, test it out with a few posts. Make any necessary changes you feel it needs. Once you have it tweaked, it is time to get started with your new blog.
Once you start your blog, be sure and promote it heavily. Post it in blog directories, announce it in groups and on boards. Put it in your sigtag.
Blog Directories:
BlogWise.com
BlogCatalog.com
BlogHub.com
Do a search for blog directory or submit your blog and you will find many
more places to post your new blog!
Be sure and update your blog frequently and make it interesting. Give it
some personality! DO NOT neglect your blog!
Don't get discouraged if your blog is not an overnight sensation. As with any marketing, it takes time to get noticed. Keep it fresh and new and interesting and before long, you will be a master blogger!
Find lots more tips, articles, and resources at
http://www.SeymourProducts.com Seymour Products
also offers you a chance to own your own successful home
business with unlimited support. Start your own ebook
store - huge selection of ebooks & software only $1.00 each.
http://www.seymourproducts.com/ebooks-resell
A blog keeps people coming back to your site and a blog is also very helpful with the search engines because of the ever changing content. Search engines love new content!
Starting a blog is not hard. There are sites that provide this service for free.
First step is to take a look at some other blogs to get a feel of how they are done. Simply pick your favorite search engines, do a search for blogs and spend sometime reading and studying them. Get familiar with different styles, formats and content until you feel like you know what you would want to do with your blog.
You can then get started on your own blog. There are lots of sites where you can start your own blog for free:
BlogDrive.com
Blogger.com/start
LiveJournal.com/
Take some time to design your blog. Decide what color scheme you want to use and the type of layout you want. Some sites will have pre-designed layouts and templates to choose from or you can edit your own.
After you get your blog designed and set up, test it out with a few posts. Make any necessary changes you feel it needs. Once you have it tweaked, it is time to get started with your new blog.
Once you start your blog, be sure and promote it heavily. Post it in blog directories, announce it in groups and on boards. Put it in your sigtag.
Blog Directories:
BlogWise.com
BlogCatalog.com
BlogHub.com
Do a search for blog directory or submit your blog and you will find many
more places to post your new blog!
Be sure and update your blog frequently and make it interesting. Give it
some personality! DO NOT neglect your blog!
Don't get discouraged if your blog is not an overnight sensation. As with any marketing, it takes time to get noticed. Keep it fresh and new and interesting and before long, you will be a master blogger!
Find lots more tips, articles, and resources at
http://www.SeymourProducts.com Seymour Products
also offers you a chance to own your own successful home
business with unlimited support. Start your own ebook
store - huge selection of ebooks & software only $1.00 each.
http://www.seymourproducts.com/ebooks-resell
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
How To Build Traffic To Your Blog
With the growing interest in blogging as a means of online promotion and branding, a lot of marketers are starting blogs to promote their opinions, products, books and services.
But a blog is like a website. "Write and they will come" isn't exactly a magic formula to bring in traffic by the boatload.
If you need to promote your website in order to build traffic to it, you need to promote your blog as well.
Here are some ways you can become a well-read and influential blogger.
1. Write Posts That People Will Want To Read
This should be common sense, but many marketers tend to forget that their readers are real people and that you need to use the principles of online copywriting to make your headlines and copy interesting to your readers.
If you write posts that people enjoy reading, they will reward you by returning to your blog regularly.
Make your posts conversational, pithy and topical. Keep them short and stick to one topic per post.
Write often and regularly so that both readers and search engines visit your blog more often.
2. Optimize Your Posts for Search Engines
I cover this topic in detail in my article on "Search Engine Optimization For Blogs" http://www.blog-maniac.com/blog-seo.htm
But here are the most important rules to follow to get your posts listed for keywords of your choice.
* Make sure your blog URL contains the primary keyword you want to optimize for
* Use your primary keywords in the title of your post
* Use your secondary keywords in the body of your post
* Use your keywords in the anchor text of links in the body of your posts
3. Submit Your Blog and RSS Feed To Directories
If you publish a blog you should submit your blog and RSS feed to big directories like Yahoo and Dmoz, as well as the numerous blog directories and search engines.
Here is the best list I've found of places to submit your feed or blog, compiled by Luigi Canali De Rossi, who writes under the pseudonym Robin Good.
Best Blog Directory And RSS Submission Sites http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/
Another list of sites to submit your Blog. http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-submission.htm
4. Ping The Blog Services
There are a number of services designed specifically for tracking and connecting blogs. By sending a small ping to each service you let them know you've updated your blog so they can come check you out.
Bookmark the Ping-O-Matic ping results page so you can visit it and quickly ping a number of services with a single click.
http://pingomatic.com
5. Build Links To Your Blog
I recommend the methods here as the best ways to get links pointing to your blog
* Link to your blog from each page on your main website
* Trackback to other blogs in your posts
* Post legitimate comments on other blogs with related topics
* Offer to exchange links with other similarly themed blogs and websites
6. Edit Your Blog Posts Into Articles
One of the best methods for promoting your website is to write articles and submit them to article directories.
The suggestion for extending this to edit your blog posts into articles and submit them to directories came from the coach at "Explode Blog Traffic" who also has other noteworthy suggestions at his blog here. http://bloghit.blogspot.com/2004/11/how-to-explode-blog-traffic.html
You'll find an extensive list of article directories here http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/write-articles/submit-articles.htm
7. Create Buzz About Your Blog
Creating a buzz about your blog posts and topic in the local and online media will give your marketing a viral component.
* Create a controversy around your blog or it's topic.
* Distribute bumper stickers or other merchandise with your blog's URL and tagline.
* Write a press release about something newsworthy and tie it in with your blog topic.
8. Capture Subscribers By Email
It may seem strange for a blogger to send out updates by email, but email is still the #1 choice of most people who want to receive news and information.
Using a free service like Bloglet to manage your subscriptions is easy and it allows your subscribers to manage all their subscriptions from one interface. http://www.bloglet.com
However, if you want more control over your list and don't mind mailing out the updates yourself, you can use an autoresponder system to capture and follow-up with subscribers.
RSS responder is a new script that allows you to keep in touch and follow-up with your subscribers without the hassle of email. http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/rssresponder.htm
These tips should give you a good start to building your blog traffic.
Receive Our Daily Email of Breaking eBusiness News
About the Author:
Priya Shah is a partner in the search engine marketing firm, SEO & More http://www.seoandmore.com Request the whitepaper Boost Your Search Engine Visibility With Blogs And RSS http://www.seoandmore.com/blogs-rss/
But a blog is like a website. "Write and they will come" isn't exactly a magic formula to bring in traffic by the boatload.
If you need to promote your website in order to build traffic to it, you need to promote your blog as well.
Here are some ways you can become a well-read and influential blogger.
1. Write Posts That People Will Want To Read
This should be common sense, but many marketers tend to forget that their readers are real people and that you need to use the principles of online copywriting to make your headlines and copy interesting to your readers.
If you write posts that people enjoy reading, they will reward you by returning to your blog regularly.
Make your posts conversational, pithy and topical. Keep them short and stick to one topic per post.
Write often and regularly so that both readers and search engines visit your blog more often.
2. Optimize Your Posts for Search Engines
I cover this topic in detail in my article on "Search Engine Optimization For Blogs" http://www.blog-maniac.com/blog-seo.htm
But here are the most important rules to follow to get your posts listed for keywords of your choice.
* Make sure your blog URL contains the primary keyword you want to optimize for
* Use your primary keywords in the title of your post
* Use your secondary keywords in the body of your post
* Use your keywords in the anchor text of links in the body of your posts
3. Submit Your Blog and RSS Feed To Directories
If you publish a blog you should submit your blog and RSS feed to big directories like Yahoo and Dmoz, as well as the numerous blog directories and search engines.
Here is the best list I've found of places to submit your feed or blog, compiled by Luigi Canali De Rossi, who writes under the pseudonym Robin Good.
Best Blog Directory And RSS Submission Sites http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/
Another list of sites to submit your Blog. http://www.rss-specifications.com/rss-submission.htm
4. Ping The Blog Services
There are a number of services designed specifically for tracking and connecting blogs. By sending a small ping to each service you let them know you've updated your blog so they can come check you out.
Bookmark the Ping-O-Matic ping results page so you can visit it and quickly ping a number of services with a single click.
http://pingomatic.com
5. Build Links To Your Blog
I recommend the methods here as the best ways to get links pointing to your blog
* Link to your blog from each page on your main website
* Trackback to other blogs in your posts
* Post legitimate comments on other blogs with related topics
* Offer to exchange links with other similarly themed blogs and websites
6. Edit Your Blog Posts Into Articles
One of the best methods for promoting your website is to write articles and submit them to article directories.
The suggestion for extending this to edit your blog posts into articles and submit them to directories came from the coach at "Explode Blog Traffic" who also has other noteworthy suggestions at his blog here. http://bloghit.blogspot.com/2004/11/how-to-explode-blog-traffic.html
You'll find an extensive list of article directories here http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/write-articles/submit-articles.htm
7. Create Buzz About Your Blog
Creating a buzz about your blog posts and topic in the local and online media will give your marketing a viral component.
* Create a controversy around your blog or it's topic.
* Distribute bumper stickers or other merchandise with your blog's URL and tagline.
* Write a press release about something newsworthy and tie it in with your blog topic.
8. Capture Subscribers By Email
It may seem strange for a blogger to send out updates by email, but email is still the #1 choice of most people who want to receive news and information.
Using a free service like Bloglet to manage your subscriptions is easy and it allows your subscribers to manage all their subscriptions from one interface. http://www.bloglet.com
However, if you want more control over your list and don't mind mailing out the updates yourself, you can use an autoresponder system to capture and follow-up with subscribers.
RSS responder is a new script that allows you to keep in touch and follow-up with your subscribers without the hassle of email. http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/rssresponder.htm
These tips should give you a good start to building your blog traffic.
Receive Our Daily Email of Breaking eBusiness News
About the Author:
Priya Shah is a partner in the search engine marketing firm, SEO & More http://www.seoandmore.com Request the whitepaper Boost Your Search Engine Visibility With Blogs And RSS http://www.seoandmore.com/blogs-rss/
Friday, March 17, 2006
Blog Traffic Exchanges
I have been a member of BlogExplosion for quite some time and absolutely love it. I usually don't participate too much with traffic exchanges but this one is fun. You can rent blog space on your blog, buy blog space, chat, review blogs, battle with other blog owners in battle of the blogs and much more. I noticed though that I while surfing Blog Explosion there are many other blog traffic exchanges out there.
Below is a list of some of the other blog traffic exchanges I feel you may enjoy:
BlogMad
Blogazoo
Blog Advance
Blog Soldier
BlogXchange - 50 free hits for signing up
Below is a list of some of the other blog traffic exchanges I feel you may enjoy:
BlogMad
Blogazoo
Blog Advance
Blog Soldier
BlogXchange - 50 free hits for signing up
Friday, March 03, 2006
The Skinny On Article Directories
Article directories (also known as article archives) are searchable on-line databases of articles contributed by multiple authors. The goal of an article directory is to collect articles on certain topics and offer them to publishers to place on their website, in their e-zine or in print. Each article directory has unique guidelines for both authors and publishers.
The benefits of submitting your articles to directories are numerous and include:
1. Most directories give you a separate page for each article and some publish your photograph along with your articles. This allows an author to promote their articles without needing a website of their own.
2. Directories are a magnet for publishers. Most publishers are looking for specific articles on a specific topic and they are more likely to find such articles in a directory rather than in an individual e-zine that offers reprintable articles.
3. Many directories allow you to edit your articles and change your by-line as many times as you want.
4. Some directories offer a news feed that automatically adds your new articles to dozens of websites.
5. Article directories may have a good search engine page rank that that makes them ideal for providing a one-way link to your website.
There are hundreds of article directories on the internet. I am constantly searching the internet for new directories to add to my list but I have found that I receive the most benefits from older directories. Over time I have discovered a few directories that I absolutely love that I visit for submission and for research. A few of these are:
Alumbo! Magazine - This on-line magazine doubles as an articles directory and offers a free membership that allows you to submit articles in some very interesting categories such as ecology & environment, love relationships, paranormal & divination in addition to the normal business and career topics. Alumbo permits you to choose more than one topic for your article and often suggests additional topic pages where your article would be a good fit.
Article Alley - Allows you to register as an author for free and submits your articles across a network of sites. Allows for update of author profile, editorial access to your articles and a unique web page listing all your articles.
BPubs.com - Although this is a business site only it does accept articles in a wide variety of business subcategories.
Google(tm) visits often because it knows that BPubs.com adds fresh content from many authors every day.
Constant Content - This is a unique article directory that allows you to sell or give away your content. You must register prior to submitting your articles in many different formats - all of which are editable at any time.
EzineArticles - Owned and operated by one of my favorite article submission experts, Christopher Knight. This directory offers more submission topics than other directories and much of the enhancements done to the site are based on author and publisher feedback. When I submit an article to this directory I receive more attention and traffic than I do from any other submission site on my list.
IdeaMarketers - You absolutely must register for a free author's account at Idea Marketers. Topics covered include business, holiday, lifestyles/self-help, technology, Christian, home/family/parenting and marketing. You are provided with a professional looking author's profile that includes your by-line and your picture after completion of a lengthy form.
Establish yourself as an expert in your topic area and take advantage of the many benefits of adding your content to every established and credible article directory. You are guaranteed to be delighted with the response you will receive from publishers who find your articles in the directories they frequent.
(c) 2006, Davis Virtual Assistance. Reprints welcome providing the article and byline are published intact with all links made live. This article may not be sold individually or as a part of a database.
Bonnie Jo Davis has over a decade of experience in article submission both on-line and off. She offers an article submission service and membership site for serious article marketers. Visit Article Submission Sites for free articles, e-zine, e-books and paid access to her submission list.
The benefits of submitting your articles to directories are numerous and include:
1. Most directories give you a separate page for each article and some publish your photograph along with your articles. This allows an author to promote their articles without needing a website of their own.
2. Directories are a magnet for publishers. Most publishers are looking for specific articles on a specific topic and they are more likely to find such articles in a directory rather than in an individual e-zine that offers reprintable articles.
3. Many directories allow you to edit your articles and change your by-line as many times as you want.
4. Some directories offer a news feed that automatically adds your new articles to dozens of websites.
5. Article directories may have a good search engine page rank that that makes them ideal for providing a one-way link to your website.
There are hundreds of article directories on the internet. I am constantly searching the internet for new directories to add to my list but I have found that I receive the most benefits from older directories. Over time I have discovered a few directories that I absolutely love that I visit for submission and for research. A few of these are:
Alumbo! Magazine - This on-line magazine doubles as an articles directory and offers a free membership that allows you to submit articles in some very interesting categories such as ecology & environment, love relationships, paranormal & divination in addition to the normal business and career topics. Alumbo permits you to choose more than one topic for your article and often suggests additional topic pages where your article would be a good fit.
Article Alley - Allows you to register as an author for free and submits your articles across a network of sites. Allows for update of author profile, editorial access to your articles and a unique web page listing all your articles.
BPubs.com - Although this is a business site only it does accept articles in a wide variety of business subcategories.
Google(tm) visits often because it knows that BPubs.com adds fresh content from many authors every day.
Constant Content - This is a unique article directory that allows you to sell or give away your content. You must register prior to submitting your articles in many different formats - all of which are editable at any time.
EzineArticles - Owned and operated by one of my favorite article submission experts, Christopher Knight. This directory offers more submission topics than other directories and much of the enhancements done to the site are based on author and publisher feedback. When I submit an article to this directory I receive more attention and traffic than I do from any other submission site on my list.
IdeaMarketers - You absolutely must register for a free author's account at Idea Marketers. Topics covered include business, holiday, lifestyles/self-help, technology, Christian, home/family/parenting and marketing. You are provided with a professional looking author's profile that includes your by-line and your picture after completion of a lengthy form.
Establish yourself as an expert in your topic area and take advantage of the many benefits of adding your content to every established and credible article directory. You are guaranteed to be delighted with the response you will receive from publishers who find your articles in the directories they frequent.
(c) 2006, Davis Virtual Assistance. Reprints welcome providing the article and byline are published intact with all links made live. This article may not be sold individually or as a part of a database.
Bonnie Jo Davis has over a decade of experience in article submission both on-line and off. She offers an article submission service and membership site for serious article marketers. Visit Article Submission Sites for free articles, e-zine, e-books and paid access to her submission list.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
SuperWAHM.com
Hi Moms,
I met a WAHM tonight online tonight who is the manager for
SuperWAHM.com
It is a new site that is like a WAHM directory. I wanted to encourage
Everyone to go add your links to the site now.
Link is www.SuperWAHM.com
Looks pretty neat. I love free advertising!!!
Stefani
I met a WAHM tonight online tonight who is the manager for
SuperWAHM.com
It is a new site that is like a WAHM directory. I wanted to encourage
Everyone to go add your links to the site now.
Link is www.SuperWAHM.com
Looks pretty neat. I love free advertising!!!
Stefani
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Avoid These 5 Web Site Blunders!
by Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen”
The Web is intended to help people find information quickly and easily. So why do so many sites make it difficult for users to get what they need? While neat design can add impact to your message, make sure the message itself doesn’t get lost in the mix.
As president of a copywriting firm that writes and edits dozens of online projects a year, I've come across several common blunders that prevent effective communication via the Web. Here are my top five:
BLUNDER #1: Hiding who you are and what you do.
It's sad that many sites make it a challenge to figure out what they're about. Yes, it may be cool to have a giant dancing logo on your home page, but don't forget WHY your visitors are there: to learn what you can DO for them!
Be sure your home page includes a *short overview* that clearly and concisely describes what you have to offer. It's also a good idea to repeat your tagline or a short mission statement on *every page* of your site. Why? People can pop in and land on an inside page via a search engine/directory link that you may not be aware of. Make sure they know who you are right away.
BLUNDER #2: Writing for print.
Reading copy on a computer screen is different than reading printed text. We read online text more slowly, and we tend to scan rather than read because, visually, the words are harder to digest. Help your users find key words and concepts quickly by making your copy "scannable." Instead of intro paragraphs, use subheads. Use shorter sentences, paragraphs, and pages. Use bulleted lists. And use hyperlinks to give readers more info if they want it.
BLUNDER #3: Writing too formally.
Online readers expect a personal, upbeat tone. If you write like a bureaucrat, you risk turning off many users. Think ACTIVE voice rather than passive. (For example, instead of saying “the computer must be turned on” say “turn on the computer.”) Write to your customers like you'd talk to them, and nix any industry jargon they may not understand.
Interestingly, I occasionally see the opposite problem. For example, a respected law firm's site shouldn't shout excitedly at customers as in a sweepstakes offer. Ask yourself: "How do my customers like to be talked to?" and that's your answer.
BLUNDER #4: Designing cryptic navigation.
Unfortunately, many sites don't seem to be truly designed with the end user in mind. Consider why users are visiting your site, then turn those reasons into your main navigation choices. Try to limit them to 8 or less. Then, create sub-navigation within those choices. But if there's an especially popular page on your site, why not put a special direct link from the home page? For example, on the home page of our site, we keep a direct link to our latest article or information about new awards we’ve won.
BLUNDER #5: Making it difficult to contact you or place an order.
I recently visited the Web site of an acclaimed furniture manufacturer, and I was ready to order one of their renowned ergonomic chairs. I clicked around, found the chair I wanted, and then quickly grew irate. Not only couldn't I find where to order it online, I couldn't even find their phone number to call and order one or find the nearest dealer! The results? One lost customer.
Put your phone number, an e-mail link, and a link to your order form (if you have one) on EVERY page of your Web site. Don't rely on your users having the patience to take a few extra steps. Make it as easy as possible, and they'll be much more likely to follow through (and return)!
(c) 2002 Alexandria K. Brown
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.ezinequeen.com.
The Web is intended to help people find information quickly and easily. So why do so many sites make it difficult for users to get what they need? While neat design can add impact to your message, make sure the message itself doesn’t get lost in the mix.
As president of a copywriting firm that writes and edits dozens of online projects a year, I've come across several common blunders that prevent effective communication via the Web. Here are my top five:
BLUNDER #1: Hiding who you are and what you do.
It's sad that many sites make it a challenge to figure out what they're about. Yes, it may be cool to have a giant dancing logo on your home page, but don't forget WHY your visitors are there: to learn what you can DO for them!
Be sure your home page includes a *short overview* that clearly and concisely describes what you have to offer. It's also a good idea to repeat your tagline or a short mission statement on *every page* of your site. Why? People can pop in and land on an inside page via a search engine/directory link that you may not be aware of. Make sure they know who you are right away.
BLUNDER #2: Writing for print.
Reading copy on a computer screen is different than reading printed text. We read online text more slowly, and we tend to scan rather than read because, visually, the words are harder to digest. Help your users find key words and concepts quickly by making your copy "scannable." Instead of intro paragraphs, use subheads. Use shorter sentences, paragraphs, and pages. Use bulleted lists. And use hyperlinks to give readers more info if they want it.
BLUNDER #3: Writing too formally.
Online readers expect a personal, upbeat tone. If you write like a bureaucrat, you risk turning off many users. Think ACTIVE voice rather than passive. (For example, instead of saying “the computer must be turned on” say “turn on the computer.”) Write to your customers like you'd talk to them, and nix any industry jargon they may not understand.
Interestingly, I occasionally see the opposite problem. For example, a respected law firm's site shouldn't shout excitedly at customers as in a sweepstakes offer. Ask yourself: "How do my customers like to be talked to?" and that's your answer.
BLUNDER #4: Designing cryptic navigation.
Unfortunately, many sites don't seem to be truly designed with the end user in mind. Consider why users are visiting your site, then turn those reasons into your main navigation choices. Try to limit them to 8 or less. Then, create sub-navigation within those choices. But if there's an especially popular page on your site, why not put a special direct link from the home page? For example, on the home page of our site, we keep a direct link to our latest article or information about new awards we’ve won.
BLUNDER #5: Making it difficult to contact you or place an order.
I recently visited the Web site of an acclaimed furniture manufacturer, and I was ready to order one of their renowned ergonomic chairs. I clicked around, found the chair I wanted, and then quickly grew irate. Not only couldn't I find where to order it online, I couldn't even find their phone number to call and order one or find the nearest dealer! The results? One lost customer.
Put your phone number, an e-mail link, and a link to your order form (if you have one) on EVERY page of your Web site. Don't rely on your users having the patience to take a few extra steps. Make it as easy as possible, and they'll be much more likely to follow through (and return)!
(c) 2002 Alexandria K. Brown
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.ezinequeen.com.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
High Rankings® Seminar in San Francisco / Oakland
Don't forget about the next High Rankings® seminar on March 30-31, 2006.
Learn more and see the agenda here: http://www.highrankings.com/seminar.
Seminar will discuss all aspects of search marketing so that you will come away with a good idea of how to optimize your site from start to finish, which will bring you many more targeted search engine referrals than you are currently achieving.
Learn more and see the agenda here: http://www.highrankings.com/seminar.
Seminar will discuss all aspects of search marketing so that you will come away with a good idea of how to optimize your site from start to finish, which will bring you many more targeted search engine referrals than you are currently achieving.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
"Procrastination Marketing -- It Actually Works!"
by Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen"
I'm guessing that right now there are several marketing tasks you've been putting off. Perhaps it's revamping your website. Or sending out your first e-zine. Or getting listed in the search engines. Or putting together a media kit.
So why haven't you done it?
Believe me, this is a battle I fight with myself too. But you know what I realized?
Procrastination is NOT evil!
Instead of seeing procrastination as a terrible thing, I now see it as a tool that helps me learn how I work best.
In fact, I've arrived at six different reasons why we all seem to procrastinate. Here they are, along with what you can learn from (and do for) each.
Reason 1: You are procrastinating because you don't enjoy the entire task or job.
Solution: One of my life coaches told me several years ago that if I didn't like doing something, I should "delete it, delegate it, or automate it." What a great way to look at things! I'm a big fan of ONLY doing tasks I enjoy or am good at. The rest I outsource to people who are good at it and/or enjoy it.
Reason 2: You are procrastinating because you don't enjoy a PART of the entire task or job.
Solution: If you're putting off a whole project just because there's one part you don't want to do, figure out how you can get away without doing that part. Again, delete it, delegate it, or automate it.
Reason 3: You are procrastinating because you don't know how to handle the task or job.
Solution: The answer will not drop in your lap. Get help -- a consultant to teach you how, a book or home study course to show you how, or even better, outsource it to someone who can just do it for you.
Reason 4: You are procrastinating because you simply can't find the time.
Solution: Schedule future time to do it, or get rid of other tasks to create the time you need. If you still can't do this, then you need to find someone to do it for you.
Reason 5: You are procrastinating because you feel stuck.
Solution: You may just need to get momentum going. Give yourself permission to do just one small part of the project only. Or do the easiest part first. (That's how I started writing my entire home study course.) This usually creates momentum, and you end up doing a lot more than you intended to!
Reason 6: You are procrastinating because you don't really want to do what you thought you should do.
Solution: This means you may have the wrong objective or strategy in the first place! Is this something you really want to do, or do you just think you SHOULD do it? Or is it an old goal that doesn't fit you or your business anymore? Your answer may surprise you. Let the goal go for awhile and see what happens. : )
Start Paying Attention!
Once you start paying attention to which activities you put off regularly, you'll know sooner when to be stricter with yourself or find help to get those tasks accomplished in a more timely manner.
So take a minute and make your list right now of what marketing tasks you've been putting off! Don't beat yourself up about it, just make a note and figure out how to get them done. (Or delete them entirely. : ))
© 2004-2006 Alexandria K. Brown
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Alexandria's Small Business Marketing Blog.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 18,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.EzineQueen.com
I'm guessing that right now there are several marketing tasks you've been putting off. Perhaps it's revamping your website. Or sending out your first e-zine. Or getting listed in the search engines. Or putting together a media kit.
So why haven't you done it?
Believe me, this is a battle I fight with myself too. But you know what I realized?
Procrastination is NOT evil!
Instead of seeing procrastination as a terrible thing, I now see it as a tool that helps me learn how I work best.
In fact, I've arrived at six different reasons why we all seem to procrastinate. Here they are, along with what you can learn from (and do for) each.
Reason 1: You are procrastinating because you don't enjoy the entire task or job.
Solution: One of my life coaches told me several years ago that if I didn't like doing something, I should "delete it, delegate it, or automate it." What a great way to look at things! I'm a big fan of ONLY doing tasks I enjoy or am good at. The rest I outsource to people who are good at it and/or enjoy it.
Reason 2: You are procrastinating because you don't enjoy a PART of the entire task or job.
Solution: If you're putting off a whole project just because there's one part you don't want to do, figure out how you can get away without doing that part. Again, delete it, delegate it, or automate it.
Reason 3: You are procrastinating because you don't know how to handle the task or job.
Solution: The answer will not drop in your lap. Get help -- a consultant to teach you how, a book or home study course to show you how, or even better, outsource it to someone who can just do it for you.
Reason 4: You are procrastinating because you simply can't find the time.
Solution: Schedule future time to do it, or get rid of other tasks to create the time you need. If you still can't do this, then you need to find someone to do it for you.
Reason 5: You are procrastinating because you feel stuck.
Solution: You may just need to get momentum going. Give yourself permission to do just one small part of the project only. Or do the easiest part first. (That's how I started writing my entire home study course.) This usually creates momentum, and you end up doing a lot more than you intended to!
Reason 6: You are procrastinating because you don't really want to do what you thought you should do.
Solution: This means you may have the wrong objective or strategy in the first place! Is this something you really want to do, or do you just think you SHOULD do it? Or is it an old goal that doesn't fit you or your business anymore? Your answer may surprise you. Let the goal go for awhile and see what happens. : )
Start Paying Attention!
Once you start paying attention to which activities you put off regularly, you'll know sooner when to be stricter with yourself or find help to get those tasks accomplished in a more timely manner.
So take a minute and make your list right now of what marketing tasks you've been putting off! Don't beat yourself up about it, just make a note and figure out how to get them done. (Or delete them entirely. : ))
© 2004-2006 Alexandria K. Brown
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Alexandria's Small Business Marketing Blog.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 18,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.EzineQueen.com
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Get More Visitors To Your Website
Create A Mailing List
I listed this first because creating a mailing list or newsletter is probably the single most important thing you can do for your website. If you are going to go through all the work to get visitors to your site, why not turn them into repeat visitors. Generating traffic is very important, but creating a mailing list is critical if you want to keep your visitors.
An auto responder is a powerful tool that will allow you to automatically interact with your subscribers. When choosing an auto responder, there are several things to consider. First, do you want to do everything yourself, or is an auto responder service the way to go. Second, how many mailing lists can you create? Don’t limit yourself. The ability to create several targeted mailing lists will increase your ability to generate maximum traffic and sales. Finally, how many messages can you have in the auto responder? You may want to automate a months worth of messages for your list.
NOTE: If you have an auto responder on your server, all mail will be sent from your server. If, for some reason, you are reported as a spammer, all mail from your domain may be blocked. I strongly recommend that you use an auto responder service to avoid this problem.
Create A Special Report – And Give It Away
A special report is generally longer than an article and shorter than an ebook. Create a special report on a specific topic that compliments your website. Announce your freebie every place you can. When visitors arrive to collect their freebie, make sure you get their email address.
Write Article And Submit Them For Reprint
For best results, write articles that relate to the topic of your site. Create a compelling byline that encourages readers to visit your site. Submit your article to all the major article directories. One thing that many people forget to do is check popular websites on their topic. Some of these may accept article submissions. Don’t completely rely on the large article directories to get your article out there.
These are just a few of the ways to drive traffic to your website. By increasing the traffic to your website and keeping in contact with those visitors, your online business can only improve.
--------------- Author Information ---------------
Jess Knutson - FutureSAHM.com.
To learn more about getting quality traffic to your site and improving your interaction with those visitors stop by http://www.futuresahm.com/wahm_resources.shtml.
I listed this first because creating a mailing list or newsletter is probably the single most important thing you can do for your website. If you are going to go through all the work to get visitors to your site, why not turn them into repeat visitors. Generating traffic is very important, but creating a mailing list is critical if you want to keep your visitors.
An auto responder is a powerful tool that will allow you to automatically interact with your subscribers. When choosing an auto responder, there are several things to consider. First, do you want to do everything yourself, or is an auto responder service the way to go. Second, how many mailing lists can you create? Don’t limit yourself. The ability to create several targeted mailing lists will increase your ability to generate maximum traffic and sales. Finally, how many messages can you have in the auto responder? You may want to automate a months worth of messages for your list.
NOTE: If you have an auto responder on your server, all mail will be sent from your server. If, for some reason, you are reported as a spammer, all mail from your domain may be blocked. I strongly recommend that you use an auto responder service to avoid this problem.
Create A Special Report – And Give It Away
A special report is generally longer than an article and shorter than an ebook. Create a special report on a specific topic that compliments your website. Announce your freebie every place you can. When visitors arrive to collect their freebie, make sure you get their email address.
Write Article And Submit Them For Reprint
For best results, write articles that relate to the topic of your site. Create a compelling byline that encourages readers to visit your site. Submit your article to all the major article directories. One thing that many people forget to do is check popular websites on their topic. Some of these may accept article submissions. Don’t completely rely on the large article directories to get your article out there.
These are just a few of the ways to drive traffic to your website. By increasing the traffic to your website and keeping in contact with those visitors, your online business can only improve.
--------------- Author Information ---------------
Jess Knutson - FutureSAHM.com.
To learn more about getting quality traffic to your site and improving your interaction with those visitors stop by http://www.futuresahm.com/wahm_resources.shtml.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Sure Fire Ways To Drive Customers Away!
Call it a blind spot. Call it regimented thinking. Call it the-way-we-have-always-done-it. But by any name, there are actions and practices that far too many businesses engage in that can unknowingly drive customers away.
When I observe such practices, I move from being angry to just plain sad. Really sad. Because the truth of the matter is that no one CONSCIOUSLY set out to ruin my day. No one sat in a board room and dreamt up procedures that would have us leaving in droves. No one woke up and said, "I can hardly wait to make you miserable." It happened "because". Because the truth of the matter is that it takes courage to stop and ask the critical
question: Does this serve our customer? Our member? Our community?
We all "know" the rules of service. But sadly, sometimes we don't take the time to think through just what our actions might be do or say to the customer. Here are some actions guaranteed to drive folks from the doors of an enterprise. It's time for all of us to sit up and notice!
Over promise and under deliver.
Bring people to the conference with the promise of cutting edge material. Lure attendees into thinking that the hotel is a four-star marvel. Tell customers that they'll have all the material they need in three days. Promise the meeting planner that the press kit will go out overnight. Then sit back and watch. Really watch. If it isn't true 100% of the time, it's a bait and switch promise.
Take the idea of "cutting edge material". I've attended conferences in which the only cutting edge was the serving knife on a buffet table. Same ideas. Same methodology. Same format.
Get a clue! Shake it up. Be provocative. If we say it, we better deliver.
How about that four-star hotel? Brochure looks great. The conference walk through is stunning. But then, could that ghastly-looking luncheon plate REALLY be the same chicken marsala you were served in the tasting? And, how about the fact that the hotel "forgot" to tell you that the major dining room would be undergoing renovation. Yikes!
The three-day guarantee. If you can't deliver it all the time, it's not true! Now, perhaps Three Day Blinds has reversed its practices, but years ago, I ordered window coverings for our new house. My mother was coming to visit us over Christmas and I needed shades. Alas, the third day came and went. I discovered that only "some" shades are three-day, not all. Beware of the implied promise.
Never walk the talk.
The brochure for the conference said, "a celebration of members", a "community that listens." Too bad it didn't play out in reality.
The setting is New Orleans. A couple thousand folks have gathered for the "celebration" and the "community". Alas, the reality is another fact. I discover that people are invited to parties based upon their status in the organization. The luncheon session I am addressing has some 50 "important people"
file into the banquet hall and take their places on a stage that is three tiers deep. Talk about a "we"/ "they" set up. I am told, "This is the way we have always done it." The intent to "honor"
these 50 people was to have hundreds watch them eat and to also set up the boundary between the "us" and the "them".
Come on. There are a few more creative ways to showcase the "us"
that is far more inclusive, educational, and community building than a camera shot of folks eating. I end up addressing an audience while have my back to 50 plus people. It's rude, off-putting, and the exact opposite of what the organization, in all good intentions, wishes to create.
Our lives had better mirror the words we use and the beliefs we profess to all. Otherwise, we're merely impersonators. I watched a very well known speaker who specializes in relationship building turn into a snarling, demanding customer who treated the flight attendants like personal servants. How many disbelievers were created on that day?
Make technology your primary form of communication.
Make sure there's a voice mail doom loop from which someone will never emerge to actually speak with a live human. Conduct all business via e-mail, assuming that a message sent is a message received. And while you're at it, hit send as soon as a message is written.
These three practices can doom any business relationship.
Amazing isn't it: having a person answer the phone can actually be a competitive advantage! How easy do we make it for people to do business with us via the telephone or even our web site? I tried to book a reservation in a lovely hotel, only to be treated to a lovely online tour of the property without ever finding a contact number!
E-mail is great for data but not perfect for relationship building or critical pieces of information. In fact, often the E in e-mail stands for escalation and error. Two colleagues almost became bitter enemies over rapid fire e-mails that had the sting of a viper and the warmth of the Arctic. Neither thought to pick up the phone and talk things out. Thus, the lop-sided "chats"
turned into internecine warfare. Talk about beating folks up!!
I discovered fascinating information about a client when we talked through my normal pre-program survey rather than depend upon an electronic transmission. I had thought my online survey was a time saving device. Instead, what it became was a gatekeeper, preventing me from digging deeper into an issue.
Likewise, multiple choice answers on written or online customer service surveys will never result in information of substantive depth.
Forget the wisdom of the outer circle.
In organizational life, there's always an "inner circle" of power and control. Boards of Directors wield it. So do powerful departments. When practices and policies come only from the inner circle, the rank and file is not only unheard, but can turn its back on the organization. Members leave associations when they feel discounted and "not in the know".
Never say "thank you".
Mother was right when she made us kids write notes to relatives after Christmas. It's a forgotten habit that can go a long way to letting people feel appreciated. Likewise, pick up the phone and call a client or member who has a complaint and THANK THEM for making that complaint known. You'll discover a huge dividend in goodwill after they recover from the shock of your call.
Three Practices to KEEP customers and members.
Common courtesy isn't common. Be uncommon.
Service is an unnatural act. It takes emphasis away from ourselves and gives it to others. Be unnatural.
Time is the only non-renewal resource. Never waste people's time.
Hope I haven't wasted yours!
(c) 2005, McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to all venues so long as article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links are made live.
Named by Executive Excellence Magazine as one of the top 100 thought leaders in business, Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE authored one of the first books on work/life balance. Eileen is an award winning professional speaker, consultant and facilitator. Find free articles, surveys, book reviews and more at her professional speaker website.
When I observe such practices, I move from being angry to just plain sad. Really sad. Because the truth of the matter is that no one CONSCIOUSLY set out to ruin my day. No one sat in a board room and dreamt up procedures that would have us leaving in droves. No one woke up and said, "I can hardly wait to make you miserable." It happened "because". Because the truth of the matter is that it takes courage to stop and ask the critical
question: Does this serve our customer? Our member? Our community?
We all "know" the rules of service. But sadly, sometimes we don't take the time to think through just what our actions might be do or say to the customer. Here are some actions guaranteed to drive folks from the doors of an enterprise. It's time for all of us to sit up and notice!
Over promise and under deliver.
Bring people to the conference with the promise of cutting edge material. Lure attendees into thinking that the hotel is a four-star marvel. Tell customers that they'll have all the material they need in three days. Promise the meeting planner that the press kit will go out overnight. Then sit back and watch. Really watch. If it isn't true 100% of the time, it's a bait and switch promise.
Take the idea of "cutting edge material". I've attended conferences in which the only cutting edge was the serving knife on a buffet table. Same ideas. Same methodology. Same format.
Get a clue! Shake it up. Be provocative. If we say it, we better deliver.
How about that four-star hotel? Brochure looks great. The conference walk through is stunning. But then, could that ghastly-looking luncheon plate REALLY be the same chicken marsala you were served in the tasting? And, how about the fact that the hotel "forgot" to tell you that the major dining room would be undergoing renovation. Yikes!
The three-day guarantee. If you can't deliver it all the time, it's not true! Now, perhaps Three Day Blinds has reversed its practices, but years ago, I ordered window coverings for our new house. My mother was coming to visit us over Christmas and I needed shades. Alas, the third day came and went. I discovered that only "some" shades are three-day, not all. Beware of the implied promise.
Never walk the talk.
The brochure for the conference said, "a celebration of members", a "community that listens." Too bad it didn't play out in reality.
The setting is New Orleans. A couple thousand folks have gathered for the "celebration" and the "community". Alas, the reality is another fact. I discover that people are invited to parties based upon their status in the organization. The luncheon session I am addressing has some 50 "important people"
file into the banquet hall and take their places on a stage that is three tiers deep. Talk about a "we"/ "they" set up. I am told, "This is the way we have always done it." The intent to "honor"
these 50 people was to have hundreds watch them eat and to also set up the boundary between the "us" and the "them".
Come on. There are a few more creative ways to showcase the "us"
that is far more inclusive, educational, and community building than a camera shot of folks eating. I end up addressing an audience while have my back to 50 plus people. It's rude, off-putting, and the exact opposite of what the organization, in all good intentions, wishes to create.
Our lives had better mirror the words we use and the beliefs we profess to all. Otherwise, we're merely impersonators. I watched a very well known speaker who specializes in relationship building turn into a snarling, demanding customer who treated the flight attendants like personal servants. How many disbelievers were created on that day?
Make technology your primary form of communication.
Make sure there's a voice mail doom loop from which someone will never emerge to actually speak with a live human. Conduct all business via e-mail, assuming that a message sent is a message received. And while you're at it, hit send as soon as a message is written.
These three practices can doom any business relationship.
Amazing isn't it: having a person answer the phone can actually be a competitive advantage! How easy do we make it for people to do business with us via the telephone or even our web site? I tried to book a reservation in a lovely hotel, only to be treated to a lovely online tour of the property without ever finding a contact number!
E-mail is great for data but not perfect for relationship building or critical pieces of information. In fact, often the E in e-mail stands for escalation and error. Two colleagues almost became bitter enemies over rapid fire e-mails that had the sting of a viper and the warmth of the Arctic. Neither thought to pick up the phone and talk things out. Thus, the lop-sided "chats"
turned into internecine warfare. Talk about beating folks up!!
I discovered fascinating information about a client when we talked through my normal pre-program survey rather than depend upon an electronic transmission. I had thought my online survey was a time saving device. Instead, what it became was a gatekeeper, preventing me from digging deeper into an issue.
Likewise, multiple choice answers on written or online customer service surveys will never result in information of substantive depth.
Forget the wisdom of the outer circle.
In organizational life, there's always an "inner circle" of power and control. Boards of Directors wield it. So do powerful departments. When practices and policies come only from the inner circle, the rank and file is not only unheard, but can turn its back on the organization. Members leave associations when they feel discounted and "not in the know".
Never say "thank you".
Mother was right when she made us kids write notes to relatives after Christmas. It's a forgotten habit that can go a long way to letting people feel appreciated. Likewise, pick up the phone and call a client or member who has a complaint and THANK THEM for making that complaint known. You'll discover a huge dividend in goodwill after they recover from the shock of your call.
Three Practices to KEEP customers and members.
Common courtesy isn't common. Be uncommon.
Service is an unnatural act. It takes emphasis away from ourselves and gives it to others. Be unnatural.
Time is the only non-renewal resource. Never waste people's time.
Hope I haven't wasted yours!
(c) 2005, McDargh Communications. Publication rights granted to all venues so long as article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links are made live.
Named by Executive Excellence Magazine as one of the top 100 thought leaders in business, Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE authored one of the first books on work/life balance. Eileen is an award winning professional speaker, consultant and facilitator. Find free articles, surveys, book reviews and more at her professional speaker website.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Ignore At Your Own Peril - Article Submission Mistakes
The most important task in the world of marketing with articles is to create relationships with editors. This is not to say that you need to invite them to dinner or even call them on a regular basis. You do have to be polite, reliable and submit quality articles. If possible, engage the editor in conversation via e-mail and let them know to ask you for additional articles when they have a need. Don't be one of those authors that drive editors crazy. If you do, editors are likely to make sure your articles end up in the "delete" folder. Follow the best practices below and editors will likely put you at the top of their "favorite authors" file:
* Be courteous and use professional language when approaching editors. Treat editors the way you expect to be treated.
* Using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation is vital. Experienced editors will throw out an article with even one of these mistakes.
* Format articles properly in a text editor. Never use a traditional word processing program when writing your articles or your format will be garbled.
* Avoid boring titles and boring text. Tell a story, add a twist and have some fun while writing. Editors love receiving something new and exciting.
* Write only about things you know. You are not an expert on everything.
* Submit only your own original documents. Don't copy from someone else.
* Read the guidelines and view archived articles to make sure you follow all the rules.
* Submit on-topic articles only. Today I wasted time getting rid of articles about diving, nursing and frugal living. My guidelines clearly state I only accept articles about article submissions!
* Fill out forms completely and include contact information with e-mails.
* Savvy article writers never submit articles that are thinly disguised sales letters or advertising.
* Some editors will send you an e-mail when they use your article and some don't. Never, never, never bombard an editor and ask when and if your article will be published.
* Remove editors from your list promptly when asked. If you continue to submit when told not to then you are in violation of spam laws.
* Submit only one or two articles per week to your list. I know writers who submit dozens of articles a week to their list. This is annoying and can be seen as "spamming" even if you follow all the rules.
Remember that editors are busy people just like you and me. Don't waste their time, be professional and let them know you appreciate the opportunity to work with them. Carefully cultivate your relationship with editors and your article submission efforts will bloom!
(c) 2005. Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights reserved.
Permission to publish online or in print granted provided the
article and byline are printed intact with live links.
Ready to launch your business into the stratosphere using the proven marketing with articles technique? Learn from an article submission expert, Bonnie Jo Davis, and benefit from her wisdom by visiting http://www.ArticleSubmissionSites.com. Sign-up for her no cost monthly e-zine focusing on marketing with articles by sending a blank e-mail to subscribe-956607489@ezinedirector.net
* Be courteous and use professional language when approaching editors. Treat editors the way you expect to be treated.
* Using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation is vital. Experienced editors will throw out an article with even one of these mistakes.
* Format articles properly in a text editor. Never use a traditional word processing program when writing your articles or your format will be garbled.
* Avoid boring titles and boring text. Tell a story, add a twist and have some fun while writing. Editors love receiving something new and exciting.
* Write only about things you know. You are not an expert on everything.
* Submit only your own original documents. Don't copy from someone else.
* Read the guidelines and view archived articles to make sure you follow all the rules.
* Submit on-topic articles only. Today I wasted time getting rid of articles about diving, nursing and frugal living. My guidelines clearly state I only accept articles about article submissions!
* Fill out forms completely and include contact information with e-mails.
* Savvy article writers never submit articles that are thinly disguised sales letters or advertising.
* Some editors will send you an e-mail when they use your article and some don't. Never, never, never bombard an editor and ask when and if your article will be published.
* Remove editors from your list promptly when asked. If you continue to submit when told not to then you are in violation of spam laws.
* Submit only one or two articles per week to your list. I know writers who submit dozens of articles a week to their list. This is annoying and can be seen as "spamming" even if you follow all the rules.
Remember that editors are busy people just like you and me. Don't waste their time, be professional and let them know you appreciate the opportunity to work with them. Carefully cultivate your relationship with editors and your article submission efforts will bloom!
(c) 2005. Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights reserved.
Permission to publish online or in print granted provided the
article and byline are printed intact with live links.
Ready to launch your business into the stratosphere using the proven marketing with articles technique? Learn from an article submission expert, Bonnie Jo Davis, and benefit from her wisdom by visiting http://www.ArticleSubmissionSites.com. Sign-up for her no cost monthly e-zine focusing on marketing with articles by sending a blank e-mail to subscribe-956607489@ezinedirector.net
Friday, February 03, 2006
How to Generate As Much Free Traffic As Your Server Can Stand
By Jimmy D. Brown
There’s no question that THE best web site traffic is the traffic that OTHER PEOPLE send you.
When affiliates and joint venture partners send their best subscribers and customers to your site, it’s as good as it gets. (It’s free, it’s targeted and it’s effortless!)
I’ve actually witnessed first-hand a server getting so much traffic that it forced the site to temporarily shut down!
So, getting others to send their visitors to your site should be a top priority on your internet marketing agenda.
The question is: “where can these affiliates and partners be found?”
Short answer: Google.com.
I’ve found Google.com to be the best free research tool on the planet for finding new affiliates and JV partners.
There are (at least) seven ways to search Google’s massive database for potential partners:
1. POPULAR PRODUCTS. Conduct a search for the title of your competitors’ products to see which sites are actively promoting those products. Those who are already promoting similar products are likely candidates to promote yours. (And, they are obviously already familiar with affiliate marketing - especially important in “niches”)
• Ex. If your product is about “niche marketing” do a search for “Nicheology”.
2. ARTICLE TITLES. Conduct a search for the title of articles related to your product. Identify which sites are currently showcasing those articles and see if they will load your article to their site as well. (Note: You can find article titles at popular article directories such as GoArticles.com)
• Ex. If you’ve got an article related to free traffic, do a search for “How to Sell 300% More Of Your Product in 72 Hours Than You Did All Month”. (Use quotations)
3. ACCESSORIES. Conduct a search for items that are related to your offer, but not identical to your offer.
• Ex. If your product is about “web site templates”, do a search for “hosting” or “salesletters”.
4. ADVERTISING. Conduct a search for terms that are related to your product and then look for those who are currently advertising using Google’s Adwords®. (The tiny ads in the right margin of the browser window). These will be more experienced marketers and more likely to be open to a joint venture proposal.
• Ex. If your product is related to “dieting”, then search for “diet”, “diet program”, “weight loss”, “exercise”, “lose weight”, etc.
5. AUTHORS AND EXPERTS. Conduct a search for the names of well known authors and experts within your field of interest. You’ll likely find NUMEROUS sites mentioning that expert ranging from promoting their products to posting their articles to making comments about their influence. Look specifically for those who are using affiliate links.
• Ex. If your product is related to “internet marketing” then search for “Jimmy D. Brown”.
6. URLs. Conduct a search for a word or phrase related to your topic of interest in the URL of the sites listed in Google’s database. You can do this by using the search string, “inurl”. I.E. inurl:”travel discounts”. This will return a listing of all indexed URL listings that contain that phrase.
• Ex. If your product is about “rose gardening” do a search for inurl:”rose gardening”.
7. TIPS AND ARTICLES. Conduct a search for a combination of a word or phrase related to your topic of interest, along with the words “tips” and “articles”. I.E. “marketing tips”, “time management articles”.
• Ex. If your product is about “UFOs” do a search for “UFO articles”.
Finding affiliates and joint venture partners is a MUST for anyone wanting to drive massive amounts of traffic to their site.
And using Google.com’s search features makes it easier than ever.
Jimmy D. Brown is the owner of the “List And Traffic” membership site, teaching thousands of internet business owners specific things they can do every week to multiply profits.
For video training, weekly updated content and printable
checklist “systems” for growing your business,
drop by ListAndTraffic.com
There’s no question that THE best web site traffic is the traffic that OTHER PEOPLE send you.
When affiliates and joint venture partners send their best subscribers and customers to your site, it’s as good as it gets. (It’s free, it’s targeted and it’s effortless!)
I’ve actually witnessed first-hand a server getting so much traffic that it forced the site to temporarily shut down!
So, getting others to send their visitors to your site should be a top priority on your internet marketing agenda.
The question is: “where can these affiliates and partners be found?”
Short answer: Google.com.
I’ve found Google.com to be the best free research tool on the planet for finding new affiliates and JV partners.
There are (at least) seven ways to search Google’s massive database for potential partners:
1. POPULAR PRODUCTS. Conduct a search for the title of your competitors’ products to see which sites are actively promoting those products. Those who are already promoting similar products are likely candidates to promote yours. (And, they are obviously already familiar with affiliate marketing - especially important in “niches”)
• Ex. If your product is about “niche marketing” do a search for “Nicheology”.
2. ARTICLE TITLES. Conduct a search for the title of articles related to your product. Identify which sites are currently showcasing those articles and see if they will load your article to their site as well. (Note: You can find article titles at popular article directories such as GoArticles.com)
• Ex. If you’ve got an article related to free traffic, do a search for “How to Sell 300% More Of Your Product in 72 Hours Than You Did All Month”. (Use quotations)
3. ACCESSORIES. Conduct a search for items that are related to your offer, but not identical to your offer.
• Ex. If your product is about “web site templates”, do a search for “hosting” or “salesletters”.
4. ADVERTISING. Conduct a search for terms that are related to your product and then look for those who are currently advertising using Google’s Adwords®. (The tiny ads in the right margin of the browser window). These will be more experienced marketers and more likely to be open to a joint venture proposal.
• Ex. If your product is related to “dieting”, then search for “diet”, “diet program”, “weight loss”, “exercise”, “lose weight”, etc.
5. AUTHORS AND EXPERTS. Conduct a search for the names of well known authors and experts within your field of interest. You’ll likely find NUMEROUS sites mentioning that expert ranging from promoting their products to posting their articles to making comments about their influence. Look specifically for those who are using affiliate links.
• Ex. If your product is related to “internet marketing” then search for “Jimmy D. Brown”.
6. URLs. Conduct a search for a word or phrase related to your topic of interest in the URL of the sites listed in Google’s database. You can do this by using the search string, “inurl”. I.E. inurl:”travel discounts”. This will return a listing of all indexed URL listings that contain that phrase.
• Ex. If your product is about “rose gardening” do a search for inurl:”rose gardening”.
7. TIPS AND ARTICLES. Conduct a search for a combination of a word or phrase related to your topic of interest, along with the words “tips” and “articles”. I.E. “marketing tips”, “time management articles”.
• Ex. If your product is about “UFOs” do a search for “UFO articles”.
Finding affiliates and joint venture partners is a MUST for anyone wanting to drive massive amounts of traffic to their site.
And using Google.com’s search features makes it easier than ever.
Jimmy D. Brown is the owner of the “List And Traffic” membership site, teaching thousands of internet business owners specific things they can do every week to multiply profits.
For video training, weekly updated content and printable
checklist “systems” for growing your business,
drop by ListAndTraffic.com
Friday, December 09, 2005
Are You Content With Your Content? 5 Ways to Immediately Drive Traffic and Sales Through the Roof
by Dina Giolitto
Following are Five Immediate Changes You Can Make to Drive Traffic and Sales Through the Roof!
1. Put More Oomph in Your Articles.
Don't tell the reader what he "could" do; tell him what he MUST do! Which of these sounds more dynamic to you: great copy, or brilliant copy? Speak in an authoritative tone, and you will be regarded as an authority. Go bookmark http://thesaurus.com in your favorites folder right now. You NEED power words to make your copy pop!2. Tell the Reader Exactly What to Do.
Ever read someone else's web page and find yourself going into "the zone?" That happens to your reader, too. Snap him into action while he's caught in the trance. Click Here. Buy Now. Pop Your Email Address in the Subscriber Box Below. Seems almost silly, right? But call to actions are everywhere because they really WORK.3. For the Love of God, Dumb it Down.
Here's a big goof that new web writers frequently make: writing copy that's too abstract, too esoteric, too philosophical. Translation: you MUST dumb it down. This is the web, we're all distracted as heck. I guarantee, nobody will think less of you if you simplify your concepts and language. Equate your web copy with a highway billboard. Surfers are cruising by, no heavy reading is going on here. Just trust me on this one, Smarty Pants.4. Tell Them How It's Done.
Another common content error: letting your reader know what he CAN do, but never telling him HOW to do it. Today's web has everyone falling all over themselves to give away free information. If you do not inform your reader with the basics of how to accomplish a task, perform a function or use a new tool, I guarantee he will find out from someone else. 5. Be a Branding Whore!
Spend enough time hanging out in online networks, and you will recognize the Power Players by their ID Badge - that signoff that distinguishes what they do and lists their URL. Brand your business in every single email, article, forum post and blog entry that you write. NEVER assume taht everyone in the group knows you. Someone new will always come by... and can leave again just as quickly. Make your mark everywhere you can.
Are YOU Content With Your Content? Get Top Secret Marketing Tips from the Web's Biggest Gurus and Expert Authors on The First Annual Web Content Awareness Day on FEBRUARY 9, 2006.
Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.
To become a contributor, please visit http://wordfeeder.com/wcad/landingpage.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with over 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more details.
Following are Five Immediate Changes You Can Make to Drive Traffic and Sales Through the Roof!
1. Put More Oomph in Your Articles.
Don't tell the reader what he "could" do; tell him what he MUST do! Which of these sounds more dynamic to you: great copy, or brilliant copy? Speak in an authoritative tone, and you will be regarded as an authority. Go bookmark http://thesaurus.com in your favorites folder right now. You NEED power words to make your copy pop!2. Tell the Reader Exactly What to Do.
Ever read someone else's web page and find yourself going into "the zone?" That happens to your reader, too. Snap him into action while he's caught in the trance. Click Here. Buy Now. Pop Your Email Address in the Subscriber Box Below. Seems almost silly, right? But call to actions are everywhere because they really WORK.3. For the Love of God, Dumb it Down.
Here's a big goof that new web writers frequently make: writing copy that's too abstract, too esoteric, too philosophical. Translation: you MUST dumb it down. This is the web, we're all distracted as heck. I guarantee, nobody will think less of you if you simplify your concepts and language. Equate your web copy with a highway billboard. Surfers are cruising by, no heavy reading is going on here. Just trust me on this one, Smarty Pants.4. Tell Them How It's Done.
Another common content error: letting your reader know what he CAN do, but never telling him HOW to do it. Today's web has everyone falling all over themselves to give away free information. If you do not inform your reader with the basics of how to accomplish a task, perform a function or use a new tool, I guarantee he will find out from someone else. 5. Be a Branding Whore!
Spend enough time hanging out in online networks, and you will recognize the Power Players by their ID Badge - that signoff that distinguishes what they do and lists their URL. Brand your business in every single email, article, forum post and blog entry that you write. NEVER assume taht everyone in the group knows you. Someone new will always come by... and can leave again just as quickly. Make your mark everywhere you can.
Are YOU Content With Your Content? Get Top Secret Marketing Tips from the Web's Biggest Gurus and Expert Authors on The First Annual Web Content Awareness Day on FEBRUARY 9, 2006.
Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.
To become a contributor, please visit http://wordfeeder.com/wcad/landingpage.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with over 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more details.
Monday, November 14, 2005
An awesome resource for checking links to your site
I got an email the other day with the subject "Awesome Website tool" and kept the email to read later. I always keep these types of emails because I absolutely love these tools made to help us fellow webmasters.
I finally had a chance to check it out today and I would have to say that the tool is awesome. Basically you go to the link and type your domain and it finds all your backlinks. It shows the link that is pointing at your site as well as the anchor test.
I am definately adding this site to my Favorites/Bookmarks to use later.
Want the link? Here ya go. Enjoy!!
http://www.helpfulinformation.org/seo-tools/anchortext.pl
Until Next Time
Stefani Partin
Mommy Enterprises
Helping Moms Make & Save At Home
http://www.MommyEnterprises.com
I finally had a chance to check it out today and I would have to say that the tool is awesome. Basically you go to the link and type your domain and it finds all your backlinks. It shows the link that is pointing at your site as well as the anchor test.
I am definately adding this site to my Favorites/Bookmarks to use later.
Want the link? Here ya go. Enjoy!!
http://www.helpfulinformation.org/seo-tools/anchortext.pl
Until Next Time
Stefani Partin
Mommy Enterprises
Helping Moms Make & Save At Home
http://www.MommyEnterprises.com
Monday, August 01, 2005
New Article I Wrote Today
Ideas on Promoting Your Home Business Opportunity
By Stefani Partin
Have you got yourself into a home business opportunity but don’tknow where to begin to generate yourself some leads? That happensamong many of us that join a home business opportunity, you arenot alone. Many will join and give up before really putting any effortinto the business. Those who are determined will put forth effort and succeed with effort.
When you become a home based business owner, you will want to getthe word out. First off,tell the people in your warm market, your friendsand family and maybe even co-workers. Don’t stop there. Create yourself some business cards on your computer or even order some online. Vistaprinto ffers 250 professional cards FREE of charge, you just pay the small shipping and handling fee. I have found these FREE cards very useful. What I would do is order some professional cards to hand out to those you
come in contact with. Then if you can, create a bunch on your computer that you will use as drop cards. Drop cards are business cards that you leave everywhere you go. Remember, nobody will visit your site if they can’t find you. The more cards you get out to the public, the better chance of getting someone interested in what you have to offer.
You might be thinking that you don’t know anyone to give business cards too, well if you think that you are wrong. Include a card in everything you send out in the mail. If you dine out, leave one with your tip. Always keep a stack in your car as you just never know when you will need one. There are many places you can leave cards, the sky is the limit.
Drive your car a lot? Why not use your vehicle as a method of advertising. I did this last year by buying two magnets for each side of my vehicle’s door. The magnets have a few bright colors on them, therefore catching attention. Be sure you magnet says something catchy and make sure you have ways of contact on your magnet. Be sure to include a phone number and your website link if you have one. I got mine online and very affordable at www.jalapenodesigns.com.
Another great method in generating leads is by online advertising. You got to do your research first before jumping into this one. You will find you can place ads on all sorts of websites and online newsletters. My preference would be placing ads in newsletters. Be sure that the ad is placed in your “niche” market. Don’t place an ad on a site or newsletter that is not similar to your companies market. Also, when placing ads on websites, be sure to ask the webmaster what their unique daily or monthly visitors is, not the hits. Most people, not familiar to webstats will look for the hits which is not an accurate number of the visitors to a website. Remember to do your research first, there is LOTS of places online that you can WASTE your hard earned money.
One of my favorite ways on generating visitors to my sites is through online message forums and discussion groups. There are millions of forums online. The forums range from every kind of topic you can think of. Find a message forum on a topic you can relate to and become an expert in that topic. Most forums will let you put a signature line at the end of your post. You will be surprised the amount of visitors that will come to your site coming from a signature line in a post. I have been very successful with this method and have tracked my website stats to verify it. It won’t bring in millions of visitors, but it’s better then nothing.
And lastly, don’t forget your signature line of your emails. If you send emails all the time and don’t have a signature file that goes out with each email, you are losing out on lots of free advertising opportunities. If you are the type of person that receives lots of say joke emails and forwards them, you are missing out on even more advertising. You just never know who is going to see an email, see your link and click it. Don’t miss out on any free advertising you can get. Every bit of effort counts.
Don’t give up in the beginning like most do. If you believe in your company, stick it out. There are always ups and downs and any real business takes work and effort to build it. Find something you have a passion for and you will fly upwards.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stefani owns MommyEnterprises.com as well as a few other
websites that focus on helping moms work from home. Subscribe
to her free newsletter "The Making Money Newsletter For Moms"
and receive a free work at home ebook and more. Subscribe by
sending an email to makingmoneymoms-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
By Stefani Partin
Have you got yourself into a home business opportunity but don’tknow where to begin to generate yourself some leads? That happensamong many of us that join a home business opportunity, you arenot alone. Many will join and give up before really putting any effortinto the business. Those who are determined will put forth effort and succeed with effort.
When you become a home based business owner, you will want to getthe word out. First off,tell the people in your warm market, your friendsand family and maybe even co-workers. Don’t stop there. Create yourself some business cards on your computer or even order some online. Vistaprinto ffers 250 professional cards FREE of charge, you just pay the small shipping and handling fee. I have found these FREE cards very useful. What I would do is order some professional cards to hand out to those you
come in contact with. Then if you can, create a bunch on your computer that you will use as drop cards. Drop cards are business cards that you leave everywhere you go. Remember, nobody will visit your site if they can’t find you. The more cards you get out to the public, the better chance of getting someone interested in what you have to offer.
You might be thinking that you don’t know anyone to give business cards too, well if you think that you are wrong. Include a card in everything you send out in the mail. If you dine out, leave one with your tip. Always keep a stack in your car as you just never know when you will need one. There are many places you can leave cards, the sky is the limit.
Drive your car a lot? Why not use your vehicle as a method of advertising. I did this last year by buying two magnets for each side of my vehicle’s door. The magnets have a few bright colors on them, therefore catching attention. Be sure you magnet says something catchy and make sure you have ways of contact on your magnet. Be sure to include a phone number and your website link if you have one. I got mine online and very affordable at www.jalapenodesigns.com.
Another great method in generating leads is by online advertising. You got to do your research first before jumping into this one. You will find you can place ads on all sorts of websites and online newsletters. My preference would be placing ads in newsletters. Be sure that the ad is placed in your “niche” market. Don’t place an ad on a site or newsletter that is not similar to your companies market. Also, when placing ads on websites, be sure to ask the webmaster what their unique daily or monthly visitors is, not the hits. Most people, not familiar to webstats will look for the hits which is not an accurate number of the visitors to a website. Remember to do your research first, there is LOTS of places online that you can WASTE your hard earned money.
One of my favorite ways on generating visitors to my sites is through online message forums and discussion groups. There are millions of forums online. The forums range from every kind of topic you can think of. Find a message forum on a topic you can relate to and become an expert in that topic. Most forums will let you put a signature line at the end of your post. You will be surprised the amount of visitors that will come to your site coming from a signature line in a post. I have been very successful with this method and have tracked my website stats to verify it. It won’t bring in millions of visitors, but it’s better then nothing.
And lastly, don’t forget your signature line of your emails. If you send emails all the time and don’t have a signature file that goes out with each email, you are losing out on lots of free advertising opportunities. If you are the type of person that receives lots of say joke emails and forwards them, you are missing out on even more advertising. You just never know who is going to see an email, see your link and click it. Don’t miss out on any free advertising you can get. Every bit of effort counts.
Don’t give up in the beginning like most do. If you believe in your company, stick it out. There are always ups and downs and any real business takes work and effort to build it. Find something you have a passion for and you will fly upwards.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Stefani owns MommyEnterprises.com as well as a few other
websites that focus on helping moms work from home. Subscribe
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