Tag Archives: Internet Marketing

Article Marketing – Why It’s Still a Fantastic Way to Get Free SE Traffic

Posted on 15. Dec, 2010 by .

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When it comes to tried and true marketing tactics, few have stood the test of time. However, article marketing has always been a fantastic way to get free search engine traffic. Today it’s still true. If you’re looking for a quick way to drive traffic to your website, few tactics work as well as article marketing. Here’s how to make it work for you.

#1 Create content that offers value. Article marketing works best when you’re publishing top quality content. The more value and benefit your article offers, the more attention it will get. On article marketing sites this means you’ll get more readers.

It also means you’ll have more website owners publishing your content. The more people who publish your content, the broader your exposure. From there it’s a simple process. As each person reads your article, they’ll click through to visit your website. More readers then means more website visitors.

#2 Write a headline that captures attention. Your article may be the best article ever written. However, if the headline doesn’t grab a reader’s attention, it’s probably not going to be read. No one will know how wonderful your content is. Your headline plays a very important role. To grab attention there are a number of headline styles that work. They include:

* Numbers – 10 tips to look younger today
* Benefit – Discover how to look younger today
* News – Newly discovered secret promises fountain of youth
* Question – Do you want to look younger without spending a fortune?

Take a look at headlines that attract your attention. With a little practice you can quickly discover how to write attention- grabbing headlines. Also, be sure to pay attention to the data. Look at your article data to find out what articles are published most often, what articles generate the most click throughs and what articles are read the most often. That will help you learn what your audience responds to.

#3 Make sure to include a call to action. Each article directory has its own guidelines about what’s acceptable. Some allow you to include embedded links in your content. Some allow photos and graphics. All of them allow an author’s box. This little box is where you include not only a brief sentence about who you are, but also a call to action and a link to your web page. If you’re driving traffic to your website, then you may link to your landing page.

A call to action is an important element many article marketers overlook. However, it’s essential if you want to drive traffic to your website. People need to be told what to do next. If you don’t ask them to visit your website, chances are they won’t.

Article marketing is still a very effective marketing tactic. Choose one or two quality article directories, create a content plan and start using this free marketing tactic today. You’re going to love the results.

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Need Outsourcing Help?

Posted on 08. Dec, 2010 by .

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Many extremely successful internet marketers say they would do one thing differently if they could. They say they’d outsource earlier in their business. In fact, many experts advise outsourcing almost from the very beginning. If you’ve come to a point where you’re ready to seek outsourcing help, congratulations! This is an important step. Where you go from here will help determine your success.

Your First Step

Your first step may be surprising. It’s not to start asking for referrals or to do a Google search for freelance help. Your first step is to sit down at your desk and plan.

You want to begin with a definition or a list of the tasks you need help with. These tasks will also likely include systems or a step by step of how you want the task to be accomplished. For example, if you’re outsourcing your customer service, you want to outline your customer service system so whoever you hire can step right in and do the job correctly.

You also want to plan how you’re going to outsource the task. For example, are you going to start small and outsource only a portion of the responsibility? Do you want to be able to add tasks and responsibilities as you develop a working relationship with your help? Do you want to be able to add more tasks as you can afford them? What’s your long-term outsourcing plan? That takes us to your second step.

Creating an Outsourcing Budget

How much can you afford to pay? This is going to involve two key questions:

* What is the task worth to you? (This is in terms of both time and money.)
* What is your hourly value? (How much do you make per hour?)

Your hourly value can be calculated by dividing your profits by the number of hours you work each week, month or year. For example, if you make $50,000 in profits annually and you work 2080 hours annually, then your hourly value is $24/hour. This information can help you decide if it makes financial sense to outsource a task. If it costs more than $24/hour then it might not be a wise financial step.

Where to Find Outsourcing Help

Once you have determined exactly what you’re looking for and how much you can afford to pay, then it’s time to start looking for outsourcing help. You can find good contractors in a number of places.

1. Ask associates for referrals
2. Network online
3. Search engines
4. Freelance websites like Elance
5. Search engines

Evaluating Your Candidates

Once you have a few candidates in mind, review their work samples and references and consider giving them a test project. You want to evaluate their communication skills, professionalism and ability to do the job you requested.

Maintaining the Relationship

Once you’ve had the opportunity to work with a few contractors and you’ve found the people you work best with, there are a few things you’ll want to do to ensure they stick around. The first thing is to work together to determine a method for communication that works for both of you. Some people communicate well with email. Others prefer phone calls or instant messaging. Make sure this communication system is established and works for both of you. Additionally, flexibility, constructive feedback and consistent work all help keep a contractor happily working for you.

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Top Viral Marketing Tactics

Posted on 05. Dec, 2010 by .

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If you’re like other motivated entrepreneurs, viral marketing plays an important role in your marketing strategy. Viral marketing, when successful, has the ability to skyrocket awareness and profits.

What Is Viral Marketing?

Viral marketing is content that’s captured the attention of the mainstream consumer. It’s content that people bookmark, forward, post on social networking sites and link to. Viral content has the ability to spread from one corner of the globe to the other. It spreads like a virus and can change a business overnight.

Nine Top Viral Marketing Tactics

First, let’s be clear. Viral marketing is content marketing. However, when you’re creating your content, your goal broadens. You want to offer value to your prospects and customers. However, you also want to go beyond offering basic value. You want the content to be so compelling that it goes viral. There are several types of content that can help you reach your viral marketing goals.

#1 Lists – People love lists. In fact there are many popular books that are nothing more than a long list. For example 101 Uses for a Dead Cat. This book was a big seller and was nothing more than a long, and perhaps humorous, list. Lists are easily downloaded and shared, and they’re often linked to. They make great viral content. Think about your audience and the value they’re seeking. What lists can you provide that might go viral?

#2 Quizzes – Ever notice that just about every magazine has some sort of quiz inside? That’s because people like their content to be interactive. Quizzes offer the opportunity to learn something about yourself or reinforce something you know about yourself. They also allow you to interact. Quizzes, like lists, can be funny, interesting and informative for the user or interesting and informative for you. You can use a quiz to learn more about your prospects and customers.

#3 Tools - Tools are things people can use. One great example of a tool might be an iPod application or a downloadable worksheet. A tool is also something that makes your prospect’s life easier. It offers value.

#4 Video - Video may be the most popular type of viral content. Most often the videos that go viral are funny, but they can also be informative or heart wrenching. Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture is an example of a viral video that is heart breaking and inspirational at the same time. Explore your audience’s needs and preferences and then brainstorm ideas for a video.

#5 Images – Photos and cartoons are common viral images. They can capture an idea, make people laugh, or inspire them to take action.

#6 “How to” content - When it comes to standard content forms, it doesn’t get better than the “How To”. Your “How To” content can be video, audio, or print – whatever your audience responds to.

#7 Funny story (or meaningful/touching story) – Humor tends to be the most popular type of viral content found online. However, a touching story, life lesson, or an inspirational story also spreads quickly. If you have a story to share, craft it well, make it public and then share.

#8 Controversy - Loud opinions about situations always stir up a controversy. Many people will want to weigh in and share their opinion too. Reports are a great way to create viral marketing content that’s controversial. Blog posts work quite well too because they provide people with a format to respond. One way to capitalize on controversy is to create a free report, promote it and discuss it on your blog. This way you’re reaching your audience quickly and the viral report will spread quickly.

#9 Sweepstakes, contests and giveaways – Finally, the last type of content that can easily go viral is a contest or sweepstakes. This is because everyone likes to get something for free and everyone likes to win. The bigger the prize, the more quickly word will spread. For example, if you’re giving away an iPad on your blog, you’ll likely gain a ton of traffic. People will be linking to your blog and there will be quite a commotion. Give away a free report and you’re not going to have as much activity. The key to capitalizing on this type of viral content is to build your opt-in list at the same time.

Creating viral content is the first step to a successful campaign. You’ll also want to integrate it into your overall marketing strategy. Use every tool available to get the word out quickly.

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Online Product Reviews for Fast and Easy Cash

Posted on 05. Jan, 2010 by .

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Getting a product out there is a very tricky business. It takes some creative thinking and good sense to make your product stand out and get the attention of customers not just in one area, but around the world. The advent of the internet has focused people on the fact that everything can be available to them. Now that information can be literally be accessible to you at the click of a mouse, there is an even greater chance for any product to make its success worldwide. But how does a product make itself known online?

Affiliate product reviews. These are not so uncommon nowadays. When you have a product that you want to introduce to the market, it has no become the norm to get an affiliate to handle the review of a product because affiliates have a database of readers and has greater accessibility to the world at large. Consumers are more likely to trust affiliate reviews because they are more accessible and with the variety of other consumers, places a certain trust on its content.

Affiliate marketing is the gateway for most vendors to get their products across to the consumers. They handle all sorts of things and has access to most search engine sites that when consumers Google a product, they search results usually have the product featured in an affiliate website. Later on, the affiliate will redirect the consumer to the official product page so the consumer can purchase it. It is an effective marketing means to get people to you because affiliate marketing gets the job done for you by herding the people into your store.

There are many ways in which affiliates are rewarded or compensated by the seller when site traffic generated by the affiliate review reaches a certain level and interest generated from the consumers tend to be rewarding for all parties involved. Some offer rebates, get commissions, bonuses, and get other incentives for getting the product out there.

Becoming involved in affiliate marketing is tough work, but very rewarding if you play your cards right. There is much to be learned when you sign up and start learning about new products and services and you get to be the go-to guy when people need answers. Also, there are generous compensation measures doled out by the sellers who want their product to get a wider audience than they can accomplish. It also establishes a level of credibility for sellers and consumers who want to get the best they can from the money they spend online.

Doing product reviews can be a great way to earn some money, especially if you are keen on affiliate marketing. It is a very good way to build trust and consistency amongst your buyers and consumers despite all the work that you may have to put into it.

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Popular Internet Marketing Trends of 2009

Posted on 12. Dec, 2009 by .

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With the Internet becoming one of the most broad and reliable mediums for business these days, the study of how to make it big online has truly gone up to its peak. Every Internet businessman is constantly looking for ways on how to tap into the market and maximize their profits, which is why they feel it essential to be kept abreast of all the latest Internet marketing trends.

The year 2009 is no exception to the fickle, changing nature of online business. And as with any year, there are always trends being forecast. This is to answer the needs of the changing times and markets, economic events, new innovations, and new methods and each year is a chance to be able to tap into all of that. Especially now with the recession in place, digital marketing solutions are steadfast in gaining popularity as they offer relief from budget constraints. There are quite a number of new ways wherein Internet marketers can maximize their revenues and they have taken shape this 2009.

These days, increasing your market and maximizing your revenue doesn’t simply mean gaining new users – more doesn’t always mean more. Nowadays, there’s a need to look into new channels and new niches, and possibly even concentrating in just those small areas to make the most profit. And it doesn’t have to mean changing your entire strategy completely. Sometimes, a little tweaking or a small addition can work wonders for your Internet business.

Here are a couple of trends that have proven to be effective and some that show much promise for the year 2009:

1. Recession marketing and consumer thrift – these will undoubtedly continue to shape market movements all throughout the year. Savings and discounts will be at the forefront of consumers’ needs as spending power is lessened. Auction sites and online stores are most likely to see their number rocket.

2. Creativity is key – Internet marketing relies heavily on creatives and the more disruptive and eye-catching your advertising is, the more it is likely to be noticed and responded to. While aesthetics seem to be the at the bottom of the priority list, good creative is what evokes a consumer response, therefore gaining you returns.

3. Giving customers a voice – nowadays, more and more consumers are seeking for a way to get their voice heard by the company, and if they do not find this, they arelikely to go somewhere else. Incorporating forums, blogs where users can comment, and feedback forms will go a long way.

4. Mobile marketing – more and more people are now sporting digital mobile devices that allow them access to the Internet. This is a good thing for establishments such as restaurants, movie theatres, and any business targeting the younger (generation Y) market.
5. Social marketing – as social networking site continue to flourish and gain a massive following, advertising and linking in with these sites is a golden gateway. This will present a great opportunity, especially for smaller business, to get noticed and to build connections with the market.

6. Focus on customer relationships – as there are now fewer new customers (and the occasional lost customers) due to the recession, businesses now need to strengthen their ties with their customers. Continuous excitement for existing customers and establishing long0term relationships is key.

There are a lot of other trends that can be maximized and tapped into, especially with the remaining months of 2009. What is important is that you learn what techniques can be best applied to your business and continue to grow on those strategies that you have adopted.

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