Monday, June 18, 2012

How to Earn $1000 a Week Selling Web Services in 5 Simple Steps

The biggest secret about earning a full time income online is NOT difficult to understand. It's not complex, it's not complicated and the truth is, you don't even need all that much experience to be able to do it today.

In my own view, the REAL enemy of achievement online is the idea that you have to learn a complex set of skills, or invest hours and hours and weeks, months or even years of your life "learning" how to build an online business.

The truth is, at least from my standpoint, the whole "secret" can be boiled down and disseminated with 2 simple words.

BUILD SOMETHING.

That is the mandate, and the mantra that I use in my own business whenever I find myself being seduced by promises of push button profits, overnight riches or outrageous (and expensive) opportunities I know in my gut are never going to amount to much.

In a recent article I described the super simple strategy I used to make my first 1 thousand dollars online, and in this one... I want to lay out the simple sequence of 5 simple steps you can use to have similar success, starting today.

1 - Create a Marketing Menu of products and services you'd like to offer to people in your local community (preferably professionals who already have a budget set aside for building their online business)

2 - Register a premium domain name that has real value in your local marketplace, and serves a specific profession as above (attorney, realtor, contractor, credit consultant, etc)

3 - Get the site hosted, (a simple shared server you can use for multiple clients is fine) and install Wordpress.

4 - Develop the Site with onsite content, a social media profile, a little bit off offsite content for incoming links (articles like this one are perfect), and overall, prepare the site to be presented to the professional public in the niche you've selected in step 2.

5 - Advertise the site using simple local newspaper classifieds, online classifieds, direct mail or MOST effective and expeditious, simply contact the local professionals in your niche of choice by email or through their online contact form, letting them know you have a site for sale in the hyper competitive local market, and you wanted to give them the opportunity to take advantage of it.

Each site you "sell" SHOULD have a minimum bottom line value to your business of at least $1000. (most likely... much MORE) The best part about this approach is, you can literally give the sites away... and still earn $1000 + for every one, simply by back-ending each transaction with the marketing menu you created in step 1.

For example?

You could GIVE a site away to a local attorney, if he agrees to a 12 month SEO contract at $200 a month. (very reasonable price-wise, and you just signed a $2400 client)

You can offer email marketing services at 4 or 5 hundred dollars a month, and give away sites with landing pages, or email capture forms in the blog sidebar as well. ( I know a girl who charges doctors $200 plus per HOUR for the very same thing)

Building something, and then offering massive value to prospective clients and customers is the absolute easiest way to get an avalanche of eyeballs in front of your offers... and building a viable, valuable and enduring business that will make you a guru and marketing hero in your local community to boot!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7115020

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Website Marketing: Practical Layout Tips

In the creative realm, visual ideas and good design matter most. This goes hand in hand with website design as well, only this time, you're coupling those concepts with concrete information in the effort to boost sales, promote your product and your brand, and in general, make your website work for you. Here are some ways to make life easier for the reader to take in your message, whether it be on a magazine ad, an ad on your website, or your website as a whole.

Use easy to read typefaces. Most newspapers are set in serif type. Serifs the little feet that are found at the bottom of letters that line up to keep the eye moving horizontally along the line, rather than straying below to the next line. A study has also found that using sans-serif type on a regular space reduced comprehension from 67 to 12 percent! The eye also recognizes shapes more than letters and a word in all capitals has less shape than the word in caps and lower case. The eye also finds it tiring to read reversed out type in any great volume. 'Reversed out' refers to the setting of the text in a light color, and then putting it against a dark or high contrasting background. Reversing out has been known to halve response. So, learn to use sans-serif, capitals and reversing out in moderation.

Just as reversed out type is difficult to read, type set over tints or textures or colors is even more difficult to read, because it does not stand out that clearly. Equally, very small type is not a good idea. Lots of people can't read it very easily. This goes for being consistent with the typeface you use throughout, and don't change typefaces unnecessarily. Constant changes in typeface are ugly and imply an immaturity in the design process. Our eyes don't like constantly having to readjust.

Use narrow measure. You will notice that on newspapers and magazines that the words are set in narrow columns. That is because the eye likes to travel down the center of a column rather than having to go back and forth along one large column all the time. Similarly, long, unbroken blocks of text are hard to read. Simply put, big blocks of type are daunting. For this reason, you should break up your copy with lots of crossheads, sub headers, or images. These make your content more approachable and interesting to look at. It also enables the reader to learn the essence of your message from the subsidiary headings, which boosts their comprehension and encourage them to read further.

Justify your columns. Comprehension goes down if the edges of columns are ragged, that is to say, unjustified. Once again, this is simply because the eye has to work harder. Also, minimize your use of large headings. Art directors love them, but people do not generally read your website from across the room. Large headings are oftentimes, a waste of space, and more importantly, a waste of time.

Remember that first impressions last, and this is also very true for websites. Your layout and your choice of typeface contribute heavily to your website's impression on your visitors, so consider them very, very well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7108276

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

What Is Content Marketing?

Content Marketing goes by so many names... custom publishing, custom media, branded media, branded content, attraction marketing. Content marketing can take various forms. It could be a video, an article, or a blog post. Whatever your choice of name for this type of marketing, boils down to one major point. If you're not content marketing, you're not marketing.

The definition from CMI (content marketing institute):

"It is a marketing technique of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience - with the objective of driving profitable customer action". It's the procedure in which your target audience locates a piece of your content on the internet and responds to a call to action which guides them to your capture page where they can become a lead. In plain English: this is when someone finds your content online and decides to learn more about you and what you have to offer them. If you have something to offer them they can become a customer or business partner.

This type of Marketing has been around for a long time. It simply works.

Pros and cons of Content Marketing.

Pros:

1. Inexpensive form of marketing.

2. Leads coming to you. You are being the hunted instead of the hunter.

3. Content is interesting, informative and adds value. Your potential customers will get to know you and the added value you bring. Focuses on earning, not buying a persons attention.

4. Free Traffic from the search engines. Pre sells your leads on you. Brand marketing.

Cons:

1. Learning curve

2. Takes time.

3. You need to generate a lot of content to be found and create daily leads for your business.

It is the art of communicating with your customers and prospects without selling. It is non-interruption marketing. Another read can be found on mashable - The New Inbound Marketing vs. The Old Outbound Marketing.

Education is critical to your success when creating content online. You must learn basic skills of keyword research, search engine optimization both on page and off page SEO, the word or phrase you want to rank for, building back links and more. If you liked this post and want more information on content information connect with me. For now, get familiar with the terms of content marketing and what is content marketing. Google has a great tool that is free and will guide you in your keyword research: Google Keyword Tool.

I highly recommend you grab your piece of real estate online with establishing your own blog and create content that will generate traffic and sales for your business. Education is critical to your success when creating content online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7055290

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Digital Marketing Trends 2012


Recently, the Australian Marketing Institute Breakfast meeting held a meeting with a theme "Where to Next?" Three of the best digital marketing trends in Australia were presented and the insights were given emphasis.

One of the presenters was Steve Sammartino, a planning and integration directory from Grey. He discussed how the integration of technology changes the way people normally do their business. He supported his idea by presenting some of the insights from the Eye on Australia 2012 research.

The examples given by Steve are similar to what the author of UnMarketing, Scott Stratten. Having an Australian perspective that have a research results to back up the claims makes the topic more interesting.

Fragmentation on Media
Time will come that it is advertisers will have a difficulty and would spend more money just to reach specific audiences. This is due to the more and more people have the luxury to subscribe on the channels they like online. While it is true that there will still be people that are going to print ads and television, it is also true that building a channel for your brand will become popular soon.

It is a wise decision to start building a brand channel that people can interact with.

Shifting from Interruption Marketing to Permission Marketing
Spamming social networks with the business you are promoting is not helpful at all. How you talk in the social communities should also be similar to how you talk personally.

The internet is now becoming a medium where people can interact without seeing each other personally. It is an interesting way to still communicate and facilitate conversation virtually.

The trend today is for businesses to think out of the box and engage in a conversation rather than merely blabbing about their product.

Anyone can make anything
Nowadays, people are not interest on what company makes what. They are more interested in how certain brands can enhance the quality of life. Thinking how we can improve people's lifestyle is the key.

Smart Phones
The invention of smart phones has an impact on the people's lifestyle. This is because smart phones allow us to be connected with one another 24/7. It makes our lives easier by allowing us to talk, to instruct our phones, to search for the things we need or the places we want to go. It is safe to say that smart phones have become a necessity not just a luxury.

The massive use of smart phone is a proof that we are undergoing through a revolution. With this, it is not easier to have a voice and be heard.

Reinventing Ideas
There are a lot of ways on how we can integrate and make use of technology in our businesses. The key is to generate ideas and mash them up.

What is true today may not be necessarily true tomorrow. At some point, the Yellow pages was the popular "go to" item people who need something, now its Google.

Before, people would go to music stores and buy CDs. Now, nearly all music can be downloaded on iTunes and payments can be made online.

Constantly reinvent your business to be able to cope with the new technological trend. This way, we can be sure that we are securing our business with the number of customers rather than the infrastructure.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7063475

Web Promotion With Article and Directory Submission


Web promotion fundamentally involves a combination of directory submission to web directories and article marketing. You can also promote your site offline, but these are the two most profitable techniques that you can use in internet marketing to promote a website.

Sure, there are other ways such as on-page SEO and other similar techniques, but if you really want to get your web pages listed on Google and read by as many people as possible, you cannot rely on on-page SEO alone. The problem is that most people do not understand optimization that does not involve their web pages - and even then, most are confused!

Here is a brief outline of the off-page optimization techniques possible to you that involve submitting your web pages or the entire site to online publications such as article directories and social networking or bookmarking sites. Most have heard of these, but most of those also have no idea what they are or how to use them to their best advantage in web promotion.

Google Algorithm Updates

Most understand the basic principles of article marketing, although do you fully understand the algorithm change Google made in February of last year with Panda, or last month with Penguin? If you do then you will no doubt now be avoiding these poor quality article ghostwriting services offer on many websites. If you don't, you may have a shock coming!

I will say no more about this because it is you who must decide the best article services to suit your web promotion needs, but keep in mind that Google will no longer accept poor quality content of any kind: standard of writing or depth of content. Penguin is designed to detect scraped content and articles written using software. Those who relied on a software package to write their articles in the past are now liable to have all their current and future web content removed.

Those software developers that claim Google 'can't tell the difference' are wrong - Google can, and those that have paid for this software are soon to find out! The only safe way now to create articles for your website or for submission to article directories is to write it yourself or use an article ghostwriter.

Article and Directory Submission Services

However, having an article written and submitting it are two different things. Some directory submission services will submit your articles to article directories only, while others will go further. Your articles can also be submitted to PDF directories and to social bookmarking and networking sites. Your website can be submitted to web directories, social bookmarking sites and also to Craigslist!

These are the directory submission options open to you, and if you are paying for a submission service you should request that a full service is offered that carries all of these submissions mentioned above. Otherwise do it yourself - you cannot afford to leave money on the table with your web promotion because your competitors sure won't!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7066560

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Marketing Tools to Promote Business


Promoting is one of the most important things you should take care of when you own a business. This is true even in online marketing or sales. Fortunately for you, there are a number of available marketing tools to promote business on the net for you to take advantage of. One of the most famous is search engine optimization. You can also venture on the newest techniques of website optimization such as email and social media marketing. These days, even social networks like the overly famous Facebook are being used in promoting businesses. This is also the easiest way of promoting your business as you simply need to create a page and get as many friends and subscriber to like it, and you now have a long list of leads. The challenge here is to convert those possible customers into real consumers of your product or service. Included in these marketing tools to promote business are the user-based forums and message board sites. You can find a lot of these sites all over the web. It seems that every product is being discussed here and there. All you have to do is look for these sites on the net, post and provide links that will take these 'forum participants' to your site.

Optimizing all your resources and just anything on your site or in the office is another marketing tool you can use to promote your business. You can use everything that goes out of your site, like reports and emails, with links or signatures that will take your readers or recipients back to your site. You can also use your expertise and passion in writing as marketing tools to promote business online. You can upload your personally written articles to appropriate sites, which are so many so you get more advertisement. Just make sure that these sites channel to the right market. And don't forget to put links that will again, take your readers to your site. You can also make your own press releases and post them on famous websites online, and on your site of course. There is also a buddy marketing type of promotion you can use for your site or the product or service you offer. How it works? You always attach a leaflet or business card on any brochure, soft or hard copy, you send. That way, you will always get leads on everything that goes out of your site or office. Freebies are also effective marketing tools to promote business. In fact, in some surveys, freebies are among the things that possible customers go for. Going out of your way such as giving seminars and presentations are also promotions you can consider.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7066650

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

How To Earn Money In Online Marketing


Learning how to earn money in online marketing is an ongoing process. It's exciting and inspires hope because inside each one of us is the belief and understanding that "in this day and age, it is very possible for anyone to learn how to earn money from the comfort of home". You probably even know someone who makes their living online. There is a lot of money to be made online, and if you believe the hype, it looks really easy. The bad news is, it's not easy. At least not until you've learned a few things...

RULE #1: You Must Get The Proper Training on How to Make Money in Internet Marketing

This sounds like a pretty obvious statement, but there are millions of websites promising to teach you how to get rich online, and it's extremely tempting to reach for your wallet every time. Don't do that! I have on several occasions and learned the hard way! It doesn't matter how good the product or program is, if you don't understand how to earn money in online marketing, and you won't make a dime. And 99% of these products don't teach you anything!

For instance, let me ask you some questions:

  • If you sign up to promote a widget that you think everyone will want, how will you tell people about it?
  • Do you understand marketing techniques such as: article marketing, PPC, content blogging, seo, email marketing, list building, or social media marketing?
  • Do you know how to build a website or how to drive traffic to your affiliate link? You can't spam people and you can't just broadcast it constantly to your friends on Facebook (most would ignore it anyway). Free online classifieds don't work because they're swamped with spam. So how would you promote it?

There are many very effective online marketing strategies, but the #1 thing you must do is learn these strategies.

RULE #2: Only Promote Products You Are Interested In Yourself.

You'll make money in Internet marketing by promoting things you know well. And if you don't know about it, make sure you are interested in it enough that you will enjoy spending several hours thoroughly researching the topic.

When you begin learning how to earn money in online marketing, you must first learn how to find a product that you want to promote. There are millions to choose from, but you want to pick something in which there is high demand but not too much competition. Then you must know WHO to market your product to- it's called "finding your niche".

What to Avoid

There are a couple of things that you definitely want to avoid when you are looking for ways to make make money in internet fun...

  1. Paid Survey sites or any other offer that promises overnight riches. Think about it! If it was that easy to make hundreds of dollars per day, wouldn't everyone be doing it? Are there ways to make money in Internet surveys? Yes you can make a few bucks, but not much. Some surveys will pay you a couple of bucks, but usually you simply get your name entered into a draw. And they clutter your inbox. Don't every pay! If you have to pay, it's a scam. Just Google it, and you'll find plenty of legitimate survey sites.
  2. Programs that promise to train you how to promote their product or service. They may offer some training but it would just be some generic basic advice, and possibly some banners. This industry has a huge learning curve and you will need learn a lot, and have access to ongoing support and training from professional internet marketers. You may find the best product in the world to promote, but if you don't fully understand how to do effective internet Marketing, you won't be able to sell anything.

So if you get anything from this article, I hope it is an understanding of how important it is to get the proper training on how to make money in online marketing. It is the first thing you must do. Join an Internet marketing community that will teach you and support you properly. You will want to have experts on hand to help you when you need it otherwise you'll get discouraged when you get stuck (and you will get stuck). The #1 reason people fail to earn money in online marketing is they don't get the right training and support.

Do this and you'll soon be an expert in the best techniques of how to earn money in online marketing. Go learn and live the dream!

Karri Hull is a Work at Home Mom who loves to blog and help others make money online. Karri is an active member of the Internet Marketing University called Wealthy Affiliate University and implores you nou not to money ebooks, seminars, videos and other training tools that are usually outdated and simply designed to sell you something else, usually leaving you more confused than when you began. "Wealthy Affiliate University" is the most complete and powerful training platform on Internet, and you'll be amazed at how easy it is to create a steady FLOOD of leads, sales and cheques when you plug into the right system.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7060748